In this next chapter of the Discover event, we’ll break down some of the biggest trends that will drive retail and restaurant success in 2026.
Ethan Chernofsky
CMO
Ethan Chernofsky is the CMO at Placer.ai, the world’s most advanced location analytics platform. Prior to Placer.ai, Ethan was the Director of Corporate Marketing at SimilarWeb and the Vice President at Headline Media. He is considered a key thought leader in the retail space and has featured in Forbes, Reuters, CNBC and Bloomberg.
RJ Hottovy
Head of Analytical Research
R.J. Hottovy, CFA has covered the restaurant, retail, and e-commerce sectors for 20 years as an equity analyst and strategist for Morningstar, William Blair & Co., and Deutsche Bank. Over the past three years, he advised over 50 food service companies on more than $200 million in early-stage capital raises and M&A transactions.
Caroline Wu
Director of Research
Caroline Wu is the Director of Research at Placer.ai and specializes in retail, CRE, entertainment, media, CPG, and tourism. She holds an MA in Sociology and a BA in International Relations from Stanford University. Previously, Caroline was US Director of Consumer Insights at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and VP/Head of Retail Insights and Intelligence at Omnicom.
Elizabeth Lafontaine
Retail Strategist and Director of Research
Elizabeth Lafontaine is a Director of Research at Placer.ai, having most recently served as Chief Retail Analyst at EnsembleIQ. Backed by a decade of retail experience, she uncovers emerging trends in consumer behavior to help retailers and brands tap into new insights and create winning strategies in the ever-evolving world of commerce.
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