CHESS 2026: Refortifying the Value of the Human Touch
Technology has become a fast-advancing cost of entry to viability and success in all aspects of business. But will it come at the expense of organic intuition and innovation?
CHESS 2026 will examine the dynamics of a home and housewares marketplace on the doorstep of renewed growth amid ongoing volatility. It is a period that will be defined by how companies balance the irresistible pull of game-changing agentic and generative automation with the dependable value of interpersonal ideas and practices that for generations have served an industry built on bringing people together.
Learn how breakthrough technology and the human touch can join forces to lead the home and housewares industry into a new phase of sustainable growth.
CHESS—Chief Housewares Executive SuperSession
CHESS is the International Housewares Association’s (IHA) annual senior-level conference for industry leaders. This strategic education and networking event allows attendees to access high-profile industry experts directly and share information and ideas with other housewares and home goods decision-makers. Held every fall, CHESS attracts the chief officers of IHA’s most prominent member companies. The program includes keynote speakers, panel discussions, general sessions and networking opportunities—the most valuable part of the 2-day event according to past participants.
Additional 2026 speakers, sessions and details coming soon.
CHESS is the International Housewares Association’s (IHA) annual senior-level conference for industry leaders. This strategic education and networking event allows attendees to access high-profile industry experts directly and share information and ideas with other housewares and home goods decision-makers. Held every fall, CHESS attracts the chief officers of IHA’s most prominent member companies. The program includes keynote speakers, panel discussions, general sessions and networking opportunities—the most valuable part of the 2-day event according to past participants.
2026 speakers, sessions and details coming soon.
2026 Sessions
Tuesday, September 29
Wednesday, September 30
Tuesday, September 29
9:30 A.M.
10:00 – 10:30 A.M.
Presenters: Derek Miller, President & CEO, International Housewares Association; Tom McMahon, President, Jura Inc., Incoming Chairman, International Housewares Association
10:30 – 11:30 A.M.
For this annual CHESS kickoff panel discussion, industry insiders will share how they have integrated AI into their businesses. What has worked. What hasn’t. And how the technology is enabling them to optimize their teams and organizations for future success.
Moderator: Peter Giannetti, Editor-In-Chief, HomePage News
Panelists: TBD
11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
As economic pressures continue to reshape consumer priorities, understanding where demand is headed has never been more critical. This session will examine the economic forces influencing household spending, identify the categories competing for consumers’ wallets, and reveal where growth opportunities are emerging across the housewares industry. Leveraging Circana’s latest insights, Joe Derochowski will explore the key consumer trends and behaviors expected to shape future demand and conclude with a look at how artificial intelligence is transforming analytics, helping industry leaders make faster, smarter business decisions.
Speaker: Joe Derochowski, VP, Home Industry Advisor, Circana
12:30 – 2:00 P.M.
2:00 – 2:30 P.M.
Shoppers no longer scroll — they ask. David Rapps of Wholescale will sit down with a retail marketplace executive to examine the trust-building connection between a strong base of product reviews and AI systems that are now reading reviews as a critical component of product recommendations. The session will demonstrate how AI is now shopping alongside your consumer; why marketplaces are a prime outlet for AI-guided shopping; and why AI systems are prioritizing authentic reviews.
Moderator: David Rapps, Founder & CEO, Wholescale
2:30 – 3:15 P.M.
Join Dennis Cantalupo, CEO of Pulse Ratings, for a timely update on the retail landscape and the financial health of key retailers. The discussion will cover recent retailer results and forward-looking outlooks, along with key macro factors influencing the consumer.
Speaker: Dennis Cantalupo, CEO, Pulse Ratings
3:15 – 3:45 P.M.
The founders of Conduit AI will demonstrate how AI can augment housewares suppliers’ day-to-day workflows while amplifying team performance and value. The session will incorporate interactive surveys assessing and analyzing audience responses to questions about 20 different areas of potential AI implementation and the hurdles to such implementation to outline the potential positive impact on staff productivity, sales and profits.
Speaker: Rohan Shah, Co-Founder & CEO, Conduit AI; Anand Prabhu, Co-Founder & COO, Conduit AI
3:45 – 4:00 P.M.
4:00 – 5:00 P.M.
New Target leadership under CEO Michael Fiddelke has put in motion a strategy to drive growth by refortifying the retailer’s reputation as a design-, style- and trend-forward mass merchant with unique items at affordable prices. In her CHESS keynote, Sirhal – who joined Target in November of 2025 as senior vice president of merchandising for home — will provide insights on the significant role home products play in these plans.
Speaker: Mara Sirhal, Senior Vice President, Merchandising, Home, Target
6:00 P.M.
Mortons Steakhouse
49525 W Bryn Mawr Ave
Rosemont, IL 60018
Wednesday, September 30
7:00 A.M.
8:15 – 9:00 AM
AI is changing how consumers search, discover, and evaluate products — but it is also accelerating the value of trusted human voices. As traditional digital discovery becomes increasingly AI-mediated, creators are emerging as a critical layer of authority between brands and consumers.
Abbey Fish and Chandice Probst of Tastemaker, a platform for connecting food creators and consumer brands, will explore how AI, creator commerce, social shopping, and changing consumer behavior are reshaping retail. Drawing on current industry research and firsthand experience in the creator economy, the session will examine why creators are becoming the new retailers — and what brands and industry leaders need to do now to stay relevant, build trust, and capture emerging revenue opportunities.
Speakers: Abbey Fish, Founder & CEO Tastemaker; Chandice Probst, COO, Tastemaker
9:00 – 9:30 A.M.
Craig Akers of the International Housewares Shippers Association will examine the global shipping industry, highlighting recent transformative shifts to project future trends. He will analyze the impact of geopolitical realignments, volatile trade policy, economic fluctuations and ongoing supply-chain adjustments on shipping lanes, freight volumes and pricing with the aim to equip shippers with insights for informed decision-making and supply-chain resilience in an uncertain environment.
Speaker: Craig Akers, Executive Director, International Housewares Shippers Association
9:30 – 10:30 A.M.
10:30 – 11:00 A.M.
Beyond the AI hype and hand-wavy hacks are a new generation of housewares leaders who are using technology to generate deep insights, scalable automation, and competitive intelligence to maximize profitable growth across ecommerce marketplaces, social commerce and agentic platforms. Join John LeBaron, CRO at Pattern, for a hands-on, interactive workshop that will give you free access to the tools and insights that can unleash the next level of growth for your organization.
Speaker: John LeBaron, Chief Revenue Officer, Pattern
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Rafe Morrissey of IHA’s Washington D.C. office will update CHESS attendees on key legislative issues impacting the home and housewares business. Morrisey will be joined by trade attorney David Forgue to discuss the latest tariff developments, including the recently imposed Section 301 “forced labor” duties, IEEPA refunds and more.
Presenters: Rafe Morrissey, CEO, Morrissey Strategic Partners; David Forgue, Partner, Barnes, Richardson & Colburn, LLP
12:00 – 12:15 P.M.
Speaker: Peter Giannetti, Editor-in-Chief, HomePage News
12:15 P.M.
Additional 2026 speakers, sessions and details coming soon.
CHESS—Chief Housewares Executive SuperSession
CHESS is the International Housewares Association’s (IHA) annual senior-level conference for industry leaders. This strategic education and networking event allows attendees to access high-profile industry experts directly and share information and ideas with other housewares and home goods decision-makers. Held every fall, CHESS attracts the chief officers of IHA’s most prominent member companies. The program includes keynote speakers, panel discussions, general sessions and networking opportunities—the most valuable part of the 2-day event according to past participants.
Participating in CHESS enhances your seniority position for exhibition space at The Inspired Home Show in 2028.
CHESS—Chief Housewares Executive SuperSession
CHESS is the International Housewares Association’s (IHA) annual senior-level conference for industry leaders. This strategic education and networking event allows attendees to access high-profile industry experts directly and share information and ideas with other housewares and home goods decision-makers. Held every fall, CHESS attracts the chief officers of IHA’s most prominent member companies. The program includes keynote speakers, panel discussions, general sessions and networking opportunities—the most valuable part of the 2-day event according to past participants.
Participating in CHESS enhances your seniority position for exhibition space at The Inspired Home Show in 2028.
2025 CHESS Sponsors
2026 Speakers
Craig Akers
Executive Director
IHSA
Craig Akers, in his role with Executive Director of the International Housewares Shippers Association (IHSA). he oversees all aspects of IHSA’s operations, from marketing and sales to IT and contract negotiations. His leadership has been instrumental in fostering corporate alliances, expanding the Association’s reach, and cultivating strong relationships with both clients and vendors.
Akers leverages his extensive experience in the industry, combined with his academic background in computer science and information technology from the University of Cincinnati, to drive innovation and ensure that IHSA remains at the forefront of the ever-evolving shipping landscape.
Dennis Cantalupo
CEO
Pulse Ratings
Dennis Cantalupo is a recognized business credit expert specializing in fundamental financial analysis, retail sector turnarounds, and risk mitigation for unsecured creditors dealing with distressed corporate entities. As CEO of Pulse Ratings Inc., he leads an independent financial analysis firm that provides credit evaluations, risk assessments, and balance sheet monitoring for suppliers, landlords, and creditors with exposure to major retailers. As partner for Riemer+, he helps direct the long-standing business credit network founded that delivers credit reports, educational programming and professional networking in the New York metropolitan area and nationwide. Frequently cited as an expert voice in supply chain, logistics and retail media regarding corporate restructurings, supplier leverage, and bankruptcy risks. Pulse partners with The International Housewares Association on the Housewares Credit Group to provide value-added retail credit reports.
Joe Derochowski
VP, Home Industry Advisor
Circana
For than 30 years, Derochowski has helped manufacturers and retailers identify growth opportunities, strategic and tactical, related to planning, product innovation, marketing, and merchandising. For Circana, Derochowski works closely with home and home improvement manufacturers and retailers, sharing his knowledge of behavioral trends across many categories and his perspective on what consumers do and why they do it. He is a frequent keynote speaker at The Inspired Home Show and International Housewares Association events, and he collaborates with IHA on exclusive market research reports. Prior to Circana, Derochowski held positions at General Motors Parts, AT&T, Procter & Gamble and Nielsen.
Abbey Fish
Founder & CEO
Tastemaker
Abbey Fish is the founder and CEO of Tastemaker, a leading media, events, and community platform shaping the future of the food creator economy. With more than 17 years of experience in digital media, Abbey has built her career at the intersection of creators, brands, commerce, and live experiences.
Over the past decade, she has grown Tastemaker into an influential industry platform connecting food creators with leading consumer brands through conferences, community, partnerships, and experiential programming. Her work also extends to major industry trade shows, including The Inspired Home Show and the Summer Fancy Food Show, where she develops programming and experiences designed to connect makers, creators, buyers, and emerging ideas.
Additionally, Abbey’s graduate research explores how power and influence are shifting across the creator economy, particularly through AI, platform capitalism, evolving commerce channels, and the changing relationship between creators, brands, and consumers. She brings a unique perspective on how these forces are reshaping consumer influence, product discovery, media, and the future of retail.
David Forgue
Partner
Barnes, Richardson & Colburn, LLP
David Forgue’s practice is focused on the representation of importers and exporters facing issues of compliance with United States law. These issues include classification and valuation of imported merchandise, country of origin marking, investigations, audits, and penalty proceedings. He also has significant experience both in addressing the scope of antidumping duty orders and developing strategies for minimizing the impact of antidumping and countervailing duties on importers. David has assisted importers with issues related to import requirements for other agencies, such as the EPA and FDA, as well as structuring business strategies to maximize available international trade benefits.
of major importers, and a variety of other situations.
Forgue was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1996 and admitted to practice before the United States Court of International Trade and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in 1997.
Forgue is a frequent speaker on international trade topics and has presented at several international trade conferences. He has also been active in the alumni association of the University of Illinois College of Law and served as an Associate Editor on the American Bar Association’s International Law Newsletter for five years. In 2013, Forgue was elected to the Board of Directors of the International Trade Association of Greater Chicago.
Peter Giannetti
Editor-In-Chief
HomePage News
Peter Giannetti joined IHA in March 2021 as director, editorial, content and education. In his role with IHA, Giannetti directed the development and launch of HomePage News, the authoritative B2B news platform for the home and housewares business, and has helped create exclusive IHA research reports, including the IHA Occasions Report, HomePage News Consumer Outlook Report and the just-released HomePage News InSight Trend Index.
He has reported on the home and housewares business since 1990. Before joining IHA, Giannetti served for 14 years as editor-in-chief and 14 years before that as editor of HomeWorld Business, a leading B2B print and digital publication.
John LeBaron
Chief Revenue Officer
Pattern
John LeBaron runs the SaaS and Services business units for Pattern and oversees all global go-to-market activities for the company and its partners. Prior to joining Pattern, LeBaron ran marketing for the Google Cloud business at Rackspace and has held a variety of global marketing roles with leading tech companies including Apple, Cisco, and Ciena. He holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, an MSW from Columbia University, and a B.A. in Communications from Brigham Young University.
PresidentRafe Morrissey
President
Morrissey Strategic Partners
Rafe Morrissey, a member of the International Housewares Association government affairs team, has more than 20-years of public policy experience. Before starting Morrissey Strategic Partners, Morrissey managed legislative and public policy issues on behalf of clients for EnGage, LLC, primarily in the areas of postal affairs, consumer privacy, and regulatory matters. In 2012, he was promoted to vice president, public affairs for the Greeting Card Association.
Before launching MSP, Morrissey served as senior vice president, government relations for Evans Capitol Group, a public policy firm specializing in corporate, non-profit, and trade association representation. Morrissey managed a wide range of issues including labor and employment policy, tax, trade, telecommunications and Internet privacy issues.
Anand Prabhu
Co-Founder & COO
Conduit AI
Anand Prabhu leads operations and go-to-market at Conduit Commerce, working directly with distributors and brands to deploy AI agents across sales, catalog, and order workflows. Before Conduit, he was a technology investor at B Capital and a consultant at Boston Consulting Group. He holds a BSE in Mechanical Engineering and a BS in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
Chandice Probst
COO
Tastemaker
Chandice Probst is COO of Tastemaker and a 20-year veteran of the creator and digital media industry. As a longtime creator and business executive, she brings a firsthand understanding of how creators have evolved from content producers into powerful media, marketing, and commerce institutions. At Tastemaker, Chandice oversees brand sponsorships and partnerships, working at the intersection of creators and consumer brands to build meaningful, results-driven collaborations. Her career has also included entrepreneurial ventures and national advocacy work, including raising awareness for celiac disease through a venture developed in partnership with Mark Cuban. exploring the growing authority and influence of independent creators.
David Rapps
Founder & CEO
Wholescale
David Rapps is President of Wholescale, a commerce ratings and reviews platform. While leading Calego International Inc., Rapps grew Calego’s revenue and market share through strategic retail partnerships and proprietary brand development, which included iFLY, the top- rated and reviewed luggage brand in America. Rapps helped Calego win Walmart’s Supplier of the Year in the Home department in 2018 He is an expert in ratings and reviews and built Wholescale to serve national brands and private label suppliers with its unique suite of consumer data, content and analytics solutions.
Rohan Shah
Co-Founder & CEO
Conduit AI
Rohan Shah is a repeat founder building at the intersection of retail and supply chain infrastructure. Prior to Conduit, he co-founded and exited multiple technology companies, and he has now scaled Conduit to facilitate over $250M in sales in a single year for distributors and retailers including Universal Music Group and Stark Carpet. He holds a degree in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania.
Mara Sirhal
SVP, Merchandising, Home
Target
Mara Sirhal joined Target in November 2025, bringing more than 20 years of experience in merchandising, brand development and sourcing across department and specialty retail. She previously held several senior leadership positions including Chief Merchandising Officer at QVC & HSN US, Chief Merchant and Brand Officer at Saks Off 5th, Brand President at Bed Bath & Beyond and various roles at Macy’s.
CHESS Pricing
Members
Exhibiting – $1,000
(Additional Attendees $800)
Non-Exhibiting – $1,500
(Additional Attendees $1,200)
Non-members
Exhibiting – $2,000
Non-Exhibiting – $3,000
Manufacturer Representatives
$1,000
Location
Hilton Rosemont
5550 N River Rd
Rosemont, IL 60018
+1 847.696.1234
Please click this link to receive the group rate if you require hotel accommodations for the event. You can also call Hotel Reservations and mention the Group Code “CH26” at +1 888.452.6943. The last day to make a reservation with the discounted rate is Monday, September 14.
Become a CHESS Sponsor
A Look Back at CHESS 2025
Presentations from CHESS 2025 are available for download for event attendees only.
