When you’re launching a retail conference designed to challenge, inspire, and spark innovation, there’s no better way to start than with a voice that’s seen it all.
Steve Frenda, Founder & CEO of Inspiring-Retail, took the stage as the first speaker at Bay Cities’ Winning@Retail 2025 and and set the tone perfectly. With more than five decades of experience across consumer goods, retail, and data intelligence, Steve brought a blend of historical perspective, industry foresight, and genuine humor to kick off the event.
Known to many of us at Bay Cities as my (Bay Cities CEO Greg Tucker) “Dad," Steve has been part of Winning@Retail since its very first iteration. His rich career includes leadership roles with POPAI (Point of Purchase Advertising International) and companies like Nielsen, where he worked to bridge the gap between shopper behavior data and in-store marketing strategies.
Steve’s session, Winning at Retail, tackled the seismic shifts happening across the industry, from the rise of e-commerce and AI to the evolution of shopper expectations and retail media. But what truly resonated was his ability to connect the past, present, and future of retail in a way that felt both grounded and forward-thinking.
With anecdotes from decades in the field and insights on how brands, retailers, and solution providers must now collaborate differently, Steve reminded the room what leadership and longevity in retail really look like. His talk left the audience not just entertained, but energized.
Bay Cities is proud to bring together retail speakers like Steve who blend wisdom with actionable ideas. For us, selecting the right speaker to open the event isn’t just about experience, it’s about setting the tone for collaboration, innovation, and impact. And Steve Frenda delivered on all counts.
Stay tuned for more speaker spotlights from Winning@Retail 2025 and learn how Bay Cities brings together the voices that are shaping the future of retail.