Mark Sciortino
Vestcom
Senior Vice President & General Manager, Retailer Technology & Solutions
Future of Frictionless Commerce
Mark Sciortino joined Vestcom in May of 2018 and serves as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Retailer Technology and Solutions business. His responsibilities include leading Vestcom’s Retail client development teams to deliver leading edge solutions that make the shelf-edge more engaging to shoppers and enabling store team members to execute their tasks more effectively. Mark previously served as Senior Vice President Strategy and Corporate Development, overseeing Marketing, Product Management, and Innovation.
Prior to joining Vestcom, Mark led Brand Strategy and Planning for Walgreens Co where he stewarded investment across broadcast and digital marketing mediums to engage customers, build brand equity, and maximize return on investment. Previously, Mark worked as a Principal strategy consultant at the Boston Consulting Group, in brand marketing at Kraft Foods, and software development at Cintas Corporation.
Mark earned his MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School where he was named a Siebel Scholar. He earned a BS in Business from Miami University with cum laude honors.
Vestcom
Senior Vice President & General Manager, Retailer Technology & Solutions
Future of Frictionless Commerce
Mark Sciortino joined Vestcom in May of 2018 and serves as Senior Vice President and General Manager, Retailer Technology and Solutions business. His responsibilities include leading Vestcom’s Retail client development teams to deliver leading edge solutions that make the shelf-edge more engaging to shoppers and enabling store team members to execute their tasks more effectively. Mark previously served as Senior Vice President Strategy and Corporate Development, overseeing Marketing, Product Management, and Innovation.
Prior to joining Vestcom, Mark led Brand Strategy and Planning for Walgreens Co where he stewarded investment across broadcast and digital marketing mediums to engage customers, build brand equity, and maximize return on investment. Previously, Mark worked as a Principal strategy consultant at the Boston Consulting Group, in brand marketing at Kraft Foods, and software development at Cintas Corporation.
Mark earned his MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School where he was named a Siebel Scholar. He earned a BS in Business from Miami University with cum laude honors.
Dave Steck
Schnuck Markets, Inc.
Vice President, IT Infrastructure & Application Development
How an Innovative Regional Is Using ESLs and Complimentary Partners to Amplify Their ROI
Dave Steck is Schnuck Markets’ Vice President of IT Store and Emerging Technologies. He has worked for Schnucks since 2014. Dave, in partnership with Schnucks Store Operations, led the implementation and rollout of Simbe robots, known as Tally, across all stores of the regional grocer. Also in partnership with Store Ops, he and his team are leading the chainwide rollout of Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs) and as of April 1, 2024 have over 2.7 million tags paired in 84 stores. Dave was recognized by RIS in 2021 as one of the top 10 Influentials in retail and was recently named the Omni Talk Omni Star to recognize him and Schnucks for their industry leading innovations.
Schnuck Markets, Inc.
Vice President, IT Infrastructure & Application Development
How an Innovative Regional Is Using ESLs and Complimentary Partners to Amplify Their ROI
Dave Steck is Schnuck Markets’ Vice President of IT Store and Emerging Technologies. He has worked for Schnucks since 2014. Dave, in partnership with Schnucks Store Operations, led the implementation and rollout of Simbe robots, known as Tally, across all stores of the regional grocer. Also in partnership with Store Ops, he and his team are leading the chainwide rollout of Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs) and as of April 1, 2024 have over 2.7 million tags paired in 84 stores. Dave was recognized by RIS in 2021 as one of the top 10 Influentials in retail and was recently named the Omni Talk Omni Star to recognize him and Schnucks for their industry leading innovations.
Andrew Sussman
Preferabli
Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer
Using AI to Increase Sales in Wine, Spirits and Cheese
Andrew Sussman, co-founder and CTO of Preferabli, has over 25 years of experience in computer technologies. Sussman, a named inventor on 11 patents, was honored by Goldman Sachs as one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs. Sussman has also been a featured speaker on AI for WSJ Tech Live.
Preferabli is the leading B2B2C product discovery and recommendation software for the wine and spirits industry, including specialty and grocery retailers, hospitality and travel, and DTC marketplaces and distribution. Preferabli licenses software to help the industry market and sell to individual taste preferences in the way a human expert would – at scale.
Preferabli software uses a novel form of machine learning that was built by PhDs in physiology and applied mathematics, and the largest group of Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers in the world. The Preferabli database is the most comprehensive in the industry, with hundreds of characteristics for millions of products. Preferabli has users in over 70 countries.
A frequent speaker on technology and the law, Sussman was previously lead partner for the technology law practice at Buchanan Ingersoll and was named a 'Tech Titan' by the Pittsburgh Technology Council. Throughout his career, Sussman has regularly advised early-stage and growth technology companies on commercializing intellectual property assets.
Preferabli
Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer
Using AI to Increase Sales in Wine, Spirits and Cheese
Andrew Sussman, co-founder and CTO of Preferabli, has over 25 years of experience in computer technologies. Sussman, a named inventor on 11 patents, was honored by Goldman Sachs as one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs. Sussman has also been a featured speaker on AI for WSJ Tech Live.
Preferabli is the leading B2B2C product discovery and recommendation software for the wine and spirits industry, including specialty and grocery retailers, hospitality and travel, and DTC marketplaces and distribution. Preferabli licenses software to help the industry market and sell to individual taste preferences in the way a human expert would – at scale.
Preferabli software uses a novel form of machine learning that was built by PhDs in physiology and applied mathematics, and the largest group of Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers in the world. The Preferabli database is the most comprehensive in the industry, with hundreds of characteristics for millions of products. Preferabli has users in over 70 countries.
A frequent speaker on technology and the law, Sussman was previously lead partner for the technology law practice at Buchanan Ingersoll and was named a 'Tech Titan' by the Pittsburgh Technology Council. Throughout his career, Sussman has regularly advised early-stage and growth technology companies on commercializing intellectual property assets.
Robert Thomas
District Market Green Grocer
Founder & Owner
The Independent Spirit: How Indie Operators Tackle Tech
Robert Thomas is the owner of District Market Green Grocer. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. Although he has lived in many places throughout his life, he made Houston his home in 2010. In his early years in Houston, he opened up a restaurant named The House of Gumbo. He later sought an interest in the night club industry and had a successful night venue since 2016 until the pandemic. Due to the industry being non-essential, Mr. Thomas was forced to shut down. At this time, is when he started reconsidering his purpose in life. The term “non-essential” did not sit well with Mr. Thomas and he started regaining a new vision for his future. Prior to the pandemic, he was always conscious about living a positive life by being aware of his health, body, and mental state. His way of living catapulted him into creating a business to help his community be aware as well. District Market Green Grocer was born, where Mr. Thomas’ motto is For the Community, By the Community. On Black Friday, November 26, 2021 the doors opened. The store gained notoriety when it began to be featured in several news outlets such as the Houston Chronicle, Fox 26 News, Channel 2 News, BET, Inside Edition, Official Black Wall Street and CBS Mornings just to name a few. The highlight of Mr. Thomas’ new beginnings was when he was invited to the Ellen Show.
District Market Green Grocer
Founder & Owner
The Independent Spirit: How Indie Operators Tackle Tech
Robert Thomas is the owner of District Market Green Grocer. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. Although he has lived in many places throughout his life, he made Houston his home in 2010. In his early years in Houston, he opened up a restaurant named The House of Gumbo. He later sought an interest in the night club industry and had a successful night venue since 2016 until the pandemic. Due to the industry being non-essential, Mr. Thomas was forced to shut down. At this time, is when he started reconsidering his purpose in life. The term “non-essential” did not sit well with Mr. Thomas and he started regaining a new vision for his future. Prior to the pandemic, he was always conscious about living a positive life by being aware of his health, body, and mental state. His way of living catapulted him into creating a business to help his community be aware as well. District Market Green Grocer was born, where Mr. Thomas’ motto is For the Community, By the Community. On Black Friday, November 26, 2021 the doors opened. The store gained notoriety when it began to be featured in several news outlets such as the Houston Chronicle, Fox 26 News, Channel 2 News, BET, Inside Edition, Official Black Wall Street and CBS Mornings just to name a few. The highlight of Mr. Thomas’ new beginnings was when he was invited to the Ellen Show.
Joe Wood
Sendik's Food Market
Chief Marketing Officer
The Independent Spirit: How Indie Operators Tackle Tech
Joe is Chief Marketing Officer at Sendik’s Food Market. Prior to Sendik’s Joe spent 29 years at Kroger’s Milwaukee Division, the parent company of Mariano’s and Pick ‘n Save, two leading grocery chains in the Midwest. He served as their VP of Marketing. Joe is an innovative Marketing professional with demonstrated success in driving profitable sales in the retail channel. He brings proven leadership in strategic sales plan development and execution, managing cross-functional teams. His success milestones include increasing market share in competitive trade areas, orchestrating new retail pricing concepts, designing a CRM loyalty platform and developing revenue-generating advertising and promotional programs. Joe earned his MBA from Cardinal Stritch University and his undergrad from Concordia University of Wisconsin, where he has served as adjunct Marketing Professor for the last 19 years.
Sendik's Food Market
Chief Marketing Officer
The Independent Spirit: How Indie Operators Tackle Tech
Joe is Chief Marketing Officer at Sendik’s Food Market. Prior to Sendik’s Joe spent 29 years at Kroger’s Milwaukee Division, the parent company of Mariano’s and Pick ‘n Save, two leading grocery chains in the Midwest. He served as their VP of Marketing. Joe is an innovative Marketing professional with demonstrated success in driving profitable sales in the retail channel. He brings proven leadership in strategic sales plan development and execution, managing cross-functional teams. His success milestones include increasing market share in competitive trade areas, orchestrating new retail pricing concepts, designing a CRM loyalty platform and developing revenue-generating advertising and promotional programs. Joe earned his MBA from Cardinal Stritch University and his undergrad from Concordia University of Wisconsin, where he has served as adjunct Marketing Professor for the last 19 years.