The Council of State Retail Associations (CSRA) is proud to announce its Annual Meeting, taking place this year in Chicago, Illinois, the Windy City, from August 25 to 28, 2025. This signature event will bring together approximately 160 retail executives from across the country, including state retail association leaders and corporate government affairs professionals, for several days of collaboration, learning, and strategic discussion.
This year’s Annual Meeting will be chaired by Renée Sunde, President and CEO of the Washington Retail Association, who was elected Chairwoman of the CSRA in August 2024. Under Renée’s leadership, the conference will continue to strengthen the vital connections between state retail associations and their national retail partners, while spotlighting the most urgent issues and forward-looking strategies shaping the retail industry.
A major highlight of the program will be a dedicated workshop on succession planning and board leadership, led by Curtis Picard, CAE, President & CEO of the Retail Association of Maine. This session is designed to support SRA executives and boards in preparing for long-term leadership transitions and organizational sustainability.
Additional sessions throughout the meeting will cover a wide range of high-impact topics, including:
- Artificial Intelligence and its role in transforming retail operations
- The Future of Pharmacy: Sustaining Access and Advancing Care
- Navigating Evolving State Policies in the Food Industry
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and environmental regulations
SRA executives will also hear directly from corporate retail government affairs leaders who will share their top priority issue areas, ensuring alignment and strategic collaboration on policy matters across the industry.
The CSRA Annual Meeting is not only an opportunity to dig into complex legislative and regulatory issues, but also a time to build relationships, share best practices, and strengthen advocacy efforts on behalf of the retail sector.
We look forward to welcoming all participants to Chicago for this impactful gathering of retail leadership.
For more information, visit www.Councilsra.com.
