From the most coveted award in retail — The Visionary — to our annual List of People Shaping Retail’s Future, celebrate the retail professionals who are sparking innovation and inspiring incredible change. Join the hundreds of retailers who support the work of the NRF Foundation in New York City to celebrate retail professionals and the next generation of retail leaders.
This video – highlighting current and former honorees – premiered at the start of the 2026 NRF Foundation Honors.
NRF Foundation Board Chair and Goodwill Industries President and Chief Executive Officer, Steve Preston, and National Retail Federation Board Chair and BJ’s Wholesale Club Chairman and CEO, Bob Eddy, host the 2026 NRF Foundation Honors.
Gucci Store Leader and 2022 NRF Foundation Next Generation Scholarship top recipient Robert Davison Long shared how the award has helped him jumpstart his career and reach new heights in the retail industry.
Shamya Banks from Columbia College Chicago, Madison-Jade Bishop from Drexel University, Jacquelyn Dufner from the University of Minnesota, Emme Serafino from Drexel University, and Sarah Starko from Babson College.
2025 top recipient Miri Chan introduced the top five finalists and announced the 2026 honoree: Sarah Starko.
The 2026 top recipient, Sarah Starko, receives a $25,000 scholarship. The runner-up, Shamya Banks, receives a $15,000 scholarship. The remaining finalists receive a $10,000 scholarship.
NRF Foundation board member and Amazon Vice President of People eXperience and Technology (PXT) Tonya Hallett highlighted Amazon's support of the NRF Foundation Bright Futures Scholarship and the success of the NRF Foundation Student Program while celebrating this year's top teams.
Featuring the three top teams in the NRF Foundation University Challenge:
From Columbia College Chicago: Ashley Corona, Yasmine Karkouch and Mihir Patel.
From the University of North Texas: LaTasia Burton, Angel-Maryann Ntenyi, Marcos Rodriguez and Natasha Sturdevant.
And from the University of Texas at Austin: Ella Baird, Eva Sharma, Aahil Tharani and Vanneza Walimohammad.
The 2025 top team from Columbia College Chicago — Graeme Cote, Natilee Strey and Michelle Flores — introduced this year's top three teams and announced the top team from the University of North Texas: LaTasia Burton, Angel-Maryann Ntenyi, Marcos Rodrigues and Natasha Sturdevant.
They receive a $30,000 scholarship. The remaining teams also receive a $20,000 scholarship.
Dr. Nina Medyk from the 2025 NRF Foundation RISE Up Partner of the Year - the College of the Florida Keys - shared the impact of the award on her students and her campus over the past year.
The NRF Foundation RISE Up Partner of the Year is presented by Old Navy and this video highlights how NRF Foundation RISE Up training is used by the NRF Foundation RISE Up Partner of the Year The Door – an organization serving young people across New York City with education, healthcare, counseling and career training.
NRF board of directors member and Old Navy President and CEO Haio Barbeito shared how Old Navy helped this year's honoree — The Door in New York City — integrate RISE Up training into their program to impact the students they serve.
The Door & Broome Street Academy CEO Kelsey Louie accepted the award.
NRF Foundation Executive Director Adam Lukoskie shared his retail experience and celebrated the first-ever NRF Foundation Store Leader Spotlight honorees.
This video features the five honorees in the first-ever NRF Foundation Store Leader Spotlight:
Ashley Baker, Macy’s Store Manager, Paramus, NJ
Jordan Dusett, DICK’S Sporting Goods Store Manager, Orchard Park, NY
Sophonias Gabremariam, BJ’s Whole Club – Club Manager, Dedham, MA
Jennifer Mitchell, CVS Pharmacy Store Manager, Las Vegas, NV
Bill Ryan, Lowe’s Store Manager, Kerville, TX
PepsiCo US Chief Commercial Officer Bryan Santee shared that the PepsiCo Foundation has committed one million dollars to support the NRF Foundation Retail Workforce Development Fund and encouraged other companies to join the project and to support the work of the NRF Foundation.
This video – highlighting the work of the NRF Foundation – premiered at the start of Act Two of the 2026 NRF Foundation Honors.
The List 2026 was presented onstage by American Express President of U.S. Merchant and Network Services Colleen Taylor and PwC Vice Chairman of Consumer Markets Barbra Bukovac.
This video features the honorees on The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future 2026:
Brooklinen CEO Billy May
e.l.f Beauty Chief Marketing Officer Kory Marchisotto
American Eagle Outfitters Chief Global Asset Protection Officer & Chief Security Officer Scott McBride
Walmart EVP & Chief Sustainability Officer Kathleen McLaughlin
Pacsun Chief Executive Officer Brieane Olson
National Retail Federation President and CEO Matthew Shay highlights the NRF Foundation’s impact and puts a spotlight on the people building great careers in retail with programs and resources from the NRF Foundation,
The NRF Foundation lights the way for retail’s future by raising funds for programming that focuses on retail training, retail scholarship and retail careers.
The Visionary honor was presented to Fran Horowitz by her children, Abbey Bonadies and Matt Bonadies.
The Visionary honor was presented to Fran Horowitz by her children, Abbey Bonadies and Matt Bonadies.
