Advisory Board
Sal Babbino
Sal Babbino is the co-owner of NYS Collection sunglasses New York. With over nine years of retail and wholesale experience Mr. Babbino is currently Director of Planning and Operations for the industry leading sunglass company. He began his Specialty Retail career in the heart of Manhattan and has fostered the growth of NYS Collection worldwide. His continued commitment and hard work ensures that NYS Collection will remain the Leaders in Style.
Shai Benamo
Shai Benamo is the Chief Executive Officer of Nova Point of Sale, a worldwide leader in point of sale systems for the retail industry. Shai is a well-known veteran in the specialty retail industry and brings a wealth of knowledge from his years in retail sales, training, partnerships, and owning a store chain with more than 30 locations. He is highly experienced in running management training programs for kiosk owners and is a recognized leader on a range of topics including business development, process improvement, and integrating technology in retail management. Using best practices and techniques from his training seminars, he set out to develop the all-in-one point of sale solution for the cart and kiosk industry – Nova Point of Sale. The system enables the retail owner to convert impulse shoppers into repeat customers, which results in less aggressive sales tactics and a steady increase in sales. Since launch, the software has experienced dramatic growth and is now used at thousands of retail locations worldwide.
Heidi Cardall
Heidi Cardall is Senior Director- Specialty Retail with CBL & Associates Management, INC. CBL is one of the largest and most active owners and developers of malls and shopping centers in the United States. Heidi has been with CBL for more than 12.5 years; and oversees the Specialty Retail operations in more than 46 regional malls in 13 states with responsibilities of varying specialty retail capacities for 86 regional malls/ open-air centers.
Offering over 22 years experience in the Specialty Retail industry both as a retailer and a developer, she has held positions in management, been a trainer, retail owner, visual merchandiser, gift buyer, national leasing manager, and now a senior director for a major mall developer. Heidi is an active member of the ICSC and served on the former Specialty Retailing Conference Committee (now FUSION) for 3 years. She was a co-leader of the education committee during the Specialty Retailing Conference in 2007. She is also an active member of the Specialty Retail Report Advisory Board.
After receiving a BA degree in Marketing from University of Central Florida and taking classes such as Consumer Behavior, Retail Management and Retail Marketing, it wasn’t surprising that Heidi ended up with the position she is in today. Growing up in Orlando, FL she insists she was sprinkled with pixie dust at birth! She smiles most of the time, loves life, loves the people she meets and works with and still loves her job!
Suzanne Cayley
Suzanne K. Cayley is Vice-President, Specialty Leasing and Partnerships with Ivanhoe Cambridge. Ivanhoe Cambridge is a pre-eminent Canadian-based global property owner, developer and investor. Ivanhoe Cambridge owns, manages and develops a portfolio of some 70 market-dominant regional and super-regional shopping centres, totaling more than 46 million square feet of retail space throughout North America, Latin America, Asia and Europe. Suzanne has been with Ivanhoe Cambridge for 15 years; and oversees the Specialty Leasing and Partnership department in Canada and Europe.
Offering over 24 years experience in the Specialty Leasing industry, Suzanne is an active member of the ICSC and served on the former Specialty Retailing Conference Committee for 5 years. She was Chair of the Specialty Retailing Conference in 2007 and is serving on this year’s FUSION conference committee. Cayley was added to the Specialty Retail Hall of Fame in 2011.
She is active volunteer in her community, sailor, skier and mother of two daughters, Courtnay 23 and Sarah 18. Happily married to Chris for 26 years. And after all these years in the industry – she still loves coming into work everyday!
Jeff Gern
Jeffrey Gern is a Principal and Vice President of Sales for Bella Group. Started in 2006, Bella Group designs and manufactures carts, kiosks and trade show exhibits worldwide.
Prior to Bell Group, Jeff acted as an Account Executive and Vice President of Sales for T L Horton for six years. He has worked for a variety of store fixture manufacturers and rolled out stores for Southwestern Bell, Fastsigns, and a variety of retail chain stores.
Before specifically working with the specialty retail industry, Jeff was an engineer and marketing manager for HON Industries office furniture for 10 years and holds design and engineering patents for office furniture.
Jeffrey has a BA in Business Economics and Marketing from Edinboro University.
Ben Goldfarb
Ben Goldfarb is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Creations Global Retail (“CGR”). Founded in 1963 by M. B. Goldfarb, CGR is a global leader in the design, manufacture and installation of Retail Merchandising Units and Kiosks for Shopping Center Malls, Lifestyle Centers and Airports. A global reach has been made possible with the advent of yet another initiative, a partnership with Creations Asia Shanghai Trading Company, based in China. This partnership positions the organizations to leverage 20 years experience, garnered through involvement in the growth of Specialty Retail in North America, toward significant participation in the rapid expansion of retail in Asia and other parts of the developing world. Creations Asia’s team works in tandem with CGR’s Dallas-based team performing design, estimating, sourcing and project management. Combined they have the ability to deliver leading edge and value-based custom design throughout the world. Ben holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at Austin, has four grown children and resides with his wife Elaine in Dallas, Texas. He has proudly served on numerous boards of charitable organizations.
Linda Johansen-James
Linda Johansen-James is currently the CEO/COO of American Kiosk Management. She oversees in excess of 1200 employees and over 770 carts in the US and Canada representing Proactiv Skin Care and Sheer Cover Mineral Make-Up. She is responsible for setting the companies strategic direction and delivering on the company’s mission to caring for customer’s concerns.
Linda joined AKM in 2002 and has held many positions within the company including: National Recruiter and Trainer, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and currently Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer.
Under Linda’s leadership, the company has continued to have unprecedented growth and the company has become the largest Specialty Retailer in the world. Her strong leadership skills have lead AKM through their most successful years of business, and she continues to lead the company’s growth and profitability. Her top priorities include strengthening and growing brands, maximizing sales while increasing profits and attracting and retaining top talent.
Linda is a frequent speaker at the International Council of Shopping Centers and Specialty Retailer Conference. She is on the board for the International Council of Shopping Centers Annual Conference and is currently on the Education Committee for writing the criteria for the Global Certification for Leasing Managers. She also currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Camp Soaring Eagle Foundation,a medically based camping program for children with life threatening illness. Linda is also active with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in many aspects and sits on the Leadership Council Board. Linda also supports many other charitable organizations.
Deborah S.Kravitz, SCLS
Deborah S. Kravitz is a partner in Pro Retail, Inc. (PRI), a specialty retail leasing real estate consulting firm. PRI creates, leases, merchandises and manages specialty leasing programs for shopping centers, lifestyle and entertainment venues, municipalities, airports and other transportation locations. PRI has worked on high profile projects for Steadfast Properties; Trademark; Miller Capital Advisory; Jamestown Properties; Festival Companies; Vestar Management; CBRE; the Los Angeles International Airport; San Diego International Airport and many others. In addition, PRI developed, owns and manages the high profile Denver International Airport RMU/Kiosk program, which is the largest common area program in an airport location. Deborah is a frequent speaker at ICSC conferences including ICSC RECON and Fall Conventions; ICSC ASIA Conference and the ICSC FUSION Conferences. She has conducted seminars on Specialty Leasing for the Middle East Council of Shopping Centers (MECSC) in Dubai, UAE. She is on the advisory board of Specialty Retail Report and SPREE.
Rob McCoy
As Senior Vice-President and CEO, Rob’s responsibilities include development of marketing strategy, sales management and new product development for STAK Design, Inc., an international custom design and manufacturing firm offering solutions for the tradeshow and retail industries.
A graduate of Ball State University, Rob is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), a Senior Certified Marketing Director and serves on the Fusion planning committee for ICSC.
David Palomo
More than 15 years of shopping center experience. Currently employed with General Growth Properties as a Group Vice President, Business Development, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, overseeing some of the countries most successful shopping centers; Fashion Show, The Grand Canal Shoppes, The Shoppes at the Palazzo, Meadows Mall, The Boulevard and Red Cliffs Mall located in St. George, Utah.
Anita Saleh
Anita Saleh, Vice President, Specialty Leasing for Taubman Centers Inc., has been an industry leader in Specialty Leasing for more than a decade.
Since she joined the Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based Taubman in December 1997, she has spearheaded the creation of a new department as well a comprehensive specialty leasing program for RMU’s, kiosks and temporary in-line stores at 30 Taubman shopping centers nationwide.
Saleh came to Taubman from Compass Retail in Atlanta, GA, where she spent five years as Vice President of Specialty Leasing. During that time, she created a start-up Specialty Leasing Department for the organization.
Saleh has also worked in various capacities in retail and commercial real estate for Equity Properties & Development Limited Partnership, First Capital Financial Corporation and VanKampen, Morris and Stone (VMS) Realty Partners, all Chicago based companies.
Born and raised in Chicago, Saleh holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Loyola University of Chicago.
Shannon Shinn
Shannon Shinn, Vice President of Short-term Leasing, is responsible for the short-term leasing activities for 37 malls within Simon Property Group. She oversees the performance of 12 short-term leasing representative, monitoring the use of carts and kiosks, maximizing leasing of vacant inline space and developing unique retail and service concepts. Simon Property Group is the largest publicly traded retail Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) in North America and the country’s largest owner, developer and manager of high quality retail real estate, primarily regional malls, Premium Outlet¨ centers and community shopping centers. Through its subsidiary partnerships, it currently owns or has an interest in approximately 296 properties. Simon also holds interests in 58 properties internationally.
Taki Skouras
Taki Skouras, 35, is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cellairis®, a wireless accessory company headquartered in Alpharetta, GA specializing in protective and fashionable mobile accessories.
Taki has over 15 years of financial management and operational experience and has worked in a variety of industries including real estate, franchising and national retailing. His diverse background has enabled him to best analyze all aspects of a business to help identify areas for improvement and develop solutions.
With plans for Cellairis® to open their 1000th store location by the end of 2012, Cellairis® strives to provide exceptional, personalized service at one of their convenient, cutting-edge store locations throughout North America, Canada and Europe. Taki holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Finance from the University of Florida and resides with his wife, Emily in Alpharetta, GA.
Jennifer Thomas, SLD
Jennifer Thomas is Director of Specialty Leasing for Morguard Investments Limited. Morguard is one of Canada’s largest integrated real estate companies with a diversified portfolio of more than $9.2 billion in properties owned or under management.
With over 14 years of shopping center experience, Jennifer started her career with Cadillac Fairview holding various roles in Customer Service Management, Marketing and Specialty Leasing. Joining Morguard in 2004, Jennifer currently oversees the National Specialty Leasing program in more than 17 shopping centers across Canada. In this role, she is responsible for establishing national partnerships, implementing new corporate strategies, and maximizing revenue across the portfolio.
Jennifer is a member of the ICSC and a registered salesperson with the Ontario Real Estate Association.
Vicki Leiknes
Ms. Leiknes is a National Accounts Manager for Jones Lang LaSalle Retail and is responsible for negotiating and executing all national specialty leasing deals for their retail portfolio. Her primary responsibilities include securing new national specialty leasing accounts, developing and maintaining existing relationships to expand properties’ retailer mix and to generate additional net operation income. Ms. Leiknes also works directly with national specialty leasing retailers on creating growth strategies to help meet the needs of properties..
Experience
Prior to her role as National Accounts Manager, Ms. Leiknes served as Regional Specialty Leasing Manager where she was responsible for the management of specialty leasing team’s strategies involving current and prospective tenants, planning and implementation of specialty leasing programs, reviewing property budgets and the coordination of kiosk space designs. With 19 years of real estate experience, Ms. Leiknes’ expertise includes leasing both common area kiosks and carts as well as temporary in-line stores. Her retail career includes serving as an Analyst in New Business and Project Manager for Corporate Specialty Leasing. Her responsibilities included negotiations with regional and national retailers, contract negotiations and interaction with all properties in the Jones Lang LaSalle portfolio.
Education and Affiliations
Ms. Leiknes is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and is a licensed real estate salesperson in the State of Georgia and Pennsylvania.
Liad Biton
Liad Biton 33, is the Chief Executive Officer of CSS LivePOS. LivePOS® was developed in 2001 and is now the leader in Point of Sale Solutions for the Cart and Kiosk Industry; with over 11,000 customers and 50,000 daily users in 20 different countries.
Liad is a serial entrepreneur and a speaker on the topics of retail technology, computerized management solutions, and business innovation. At a young age Liad is continuing to expand his business success together with his teams around the globe (USA, China, Philippines, and Israel).
Brian Reiss, SLD
Brian Reiss is Director of Temporary Leasing, Community Centers for DDR corp.
In this role, Brian oversees ancillary income generation for DDR’s community center portfolio, to include temporary and seasonal leasing, solar power initiatives, and wireless technologies relationships.
Brian received his BA in Real Estate & Finance from the Fisher School of Business at The Ohio State University.
Joe Purifico
Joe Purifico has been the CEO and General Counsel at Masquerade LLC for over 20 years.
Masquerade operates two distinct concepts: Halloween Adventure, which is a seasonal and permanent costume retail chain and Smart Toys which is also a seasonal and permanent retail toy chain. The company operates primarily in the North East from Massachusetts, to Western Pennsylvania to Virginia.
He a seasoned business attorney in practice for over 40 years including a big six accounting firm, a publicly traded transportation company and a private practice specializing in helping entrepreneurs to create, buy, sell and finance businesses, from retail, to environmental, to manufacturing, to professional and many more.
He is honored to be a part of the Advisory Board for SPREE.