RALEIGH, NC – The Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA) is proud to announce that three leaders from the RSPA community have been recognized as RETHINK Retail’s Top Retail Experts for 2024.
RSPA Advisory Board Members Michael LeBlanc, host of the Remarkable Retail Podcast, and Jay McBain, Chief Analyst at Canalys, as well as RSPA President & CEO Jim Roddy were named Top Retail Experts this year.
RETHINK Retail’s Top Retail Experts is an annual recognition of the most influential voices in the retail industry. The Top Retail Expert award pays tribute to industry experts, academics, analysts, association leaders, and media members who are at the forefront of retail industry thought leadership.
LeBlanc is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc., host of several popular podcasts, and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada and the Bank of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing and e-commerce leadership experience and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career.
McBain is one of the most visible and respected thought leaders in the global channel. He has spent his near 30-year career in various executive channel sales, marketing, and strategy roles within IBM, Lenovo, Autotask, ChannelEyes, and Forrester. McBain is Chief Analyst at Canalys, a research firm with a distinct focus on channels, partnerships, alliances, and ecosystems.
Roddy has been active in the retail IT channel since 1998, including 11 years as the President of Business Solutions Magazine, six years as an RSPA Board member, one term as RSPA Board Chair, and several years as a business coach for VARs, ISVs, and MSPs. He is the author of two books and is host of the award-winning RSPA Trusted Advisor podcast.
The Top Retail Expert honor is presented annually and includes nine categories: Academia, Analysts, Associations, Consultants, Finance, Media, Real Estate, Specialists, and Technologists.
The RSPA leaders were recognized under the following categories:
- LeBlanc – Media
- McBain – Analysts
- Roddy – Associations
You can meet these three leaders and many more through the RSPA Community and its signature events, RetailNOW® and Inspire®.
About RETHINK Retail
RETHINK Retail is a go-to destination for executive-led insights into the trends and innovations that are transforming the global retail landscape. Through award-winning podcasts, fresh, original and thought-provoking content series, and partnerships with the world’s leading retail events, RETHINK Retail reaches a growing audience of the top retail decision-makers and industry thought leaders.
About RSPA (Retail Solutions Providers Association)
The RSPA is North America’s largest community of VARs, software providers, vendors, and distributors in the retail, restaurant, grocery, and cannabis verticals. The mission of the RSPA is to accelerate the success of its members in the retail technology ecosystem by providing knowledge and connections. The organization offers member-to-member warm introductions, education, legal advice, industry advocacy, and other services to assist members with becoming and remaining successful. RSPA is most well-known for its signature events, RetailNOW® and Inspire® which provide face-to-face learning and networking opportunities. Learn more by visiting www.GoRSPA.org.
