Government Affairs Update 2026

What if your store managers could spend less time on paperwork and more time leading people? This session highlights practical ways to lighten the load, including centralized recruiting models and streamlined administrative processes that cut hours of daily work. Hear how companies like TXB are redesigning responsibilities so managers can focus on hiring decisions, team development, and culture, not tasks.

TXB Stores

Nathan Graham

Director of Human Resources

Retail media networks are quickly becoming a powerful revenue and marketing tool for retailers—but what exactly are they, and how can operators take advantage of them? In this session, experts will define retail media networks and share real-world case studies showing how retailers are using them to create value for both brands and stores. Attendees will also learn practical strategies for launching or participating in a network, including how smaller operators can get started and ensure their media offerings deliver measurable ROI.

Retail never stops, and neither does AI. This session explores how agentic AI is transforming store operations by moving beyond dashboards and alerts to continuous monitoring, decisioning, and action. Through real-world retailer examples across pricing, promotions, forecasting, and financial performance, attendees will see how AI can operate at a speed and scale to identify issues and opportunities before they impact the business. The discussion will highlight how shifting from lagging to leading indicators enables smarter, faster decision-making at both the store and enterprise