Scott Benedict

As part of the Doing Business in Bentonville platform, I host The Digital Front Door, a podcast series focused on how brands and retailers engage consumers through digital storefronts and omnichannel strategy. The show features in-depth conversations with industry leaders on topics such as adaptive retail, retail media networks, personalization, and emerging shopper expectations.

Past episodes have featured insights from experts like Shaun Brown, Jim Okamura, and Toby Willse, covering… Show more

As part of the Doing Business in Bentonville platform, I host The Digital Front Door, a podcast series focused on how brands and retailers engage consumers through digital storefronts and omnichannel strategy. The show features in-depth conversations with industry leaders on topics such as adaptive retail, retail media networks, personalization, and emerging shopper expectations.

Past episodes have featured insights from experts like Shaun Brown, Jim Okamura, and Toby Willse, covering subjects including:

• The democratization of AI in retail marketing (Ep. 98)
• The impact of Gen Alpha on future retail strategy (Ep. 95)
• Electronic shelf labels and the future of in-store pricing (Ep. 85)
• Adaptive retail models and dynamic supply chains (Ep. 88)

I also produce and host Scott’s Thoughts, a weekly audio segment offering sharp, executive-level commentary on current developments in global omnichannel retail. Topics include AI ethics, digital loyalty, supply chain innovation, and the growing influence of generative commerce and responsible retail technology.

Together, these series showcase my commitment to advancing retail innovation and helping businesses navigate digital transformation with insight and impact. Show less

I volunteer as a mentor and advisor for the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP)—a business incubation initiative at the University of Arkansas focused on accelerating entrepreneurs and startups developing innovative products and services within the outdoor recreation industry.

Through this role, I provide strategic guidance, industry insights, and practical support to help emerging founders refine their business models, strengthen go-to-market strategies, and build scalable… Show more

I volunteer as a mentor and advisor for the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP)—a business incubation initiative at the University of Arkansas focused on accelerating entrepreneurs and startups developing innovative products and services within the outdoor recreation industry.

Through this role, I provide strategic guidance, industry insights, and practical support to help emerging founders refine their business models, strengthen go-to-market strategies, and build scalable, purpose-driven ventures. Show less

I support ARise in its mission to drive entrepreneurial economic growth throughout Arkansas by empowering innovators, startups, and early-stage tech companies. Through my role as an advisor and mentor, I help founders refine their strategies, navigate challenges, and prepare for scalable growth.

ARise provides a dynamic platform for emerging businesses by offering:

• No-cost coaching and consulting
• Access to venture capital and investor networks
• Workshops, events, and… Show more

I support ARise in its mission to drive entrepreneurial economic growth throughout Arkansas by empowering innovators, startups, and early-stage tech companies. Through my role as an advisor and mentor, I help founders refine their strategies, navigate challenges, and prepare for scalable growth.

ARise provides a dynamic platform for emerging businesses by offering:

• No-cost coaching and consulting
• Access to venture capital and investor networks
• Workshops, events, and community connections
• Support in building high-wage, high-demand tech jobs across the state

Together, we help transform bold ideas into successful ventures that strengthen Arkansas’s innovation economy. Show less

For two consecutive years, I supported the Northwest Arkansas Tech Summit, the Heartland’s premier technology conference dedicated to advancing innovation, fostering economic development, and broadening the region’s tech ecosystem.

Through this role, I’ve contributed to programming, speaker engagement, and strategic initiatives that help position Northwest Arkansas as a hub for technology, entrepreneurship, and inclusive economic opportunity.

Developed and delivered the Retail Business Series, a five-part course designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills required to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving retail landscape.

The series covered:

• Emerging challenges facing retailers and consumer brands
• Evolving definitions of retail business acumen
• Core, evergreen retail skillsets essential for long-term success
• Critical digital merchandising and omnichannel competencies

Through… Show more

Developed and delivered the Retail Business Series, a five-part course designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills required to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving retail landscape.

The series covered:

• Emerging challenges facing retailers and consumer brands
• Evolving definitions of retail business acumen
• Core, evergreen retail skillsets essential for long-term success
• Critical digital merchandising and omnichannel competencies

Through this program, I provided practical insights and strategic guidance to help professionals and aspiring leaders adapt and thrive in a digital-first retail environment. Show less

As a member of the Advisory Board for the Texas Retailers Association (TRA), I supported the organization’s mission to represent and advocate for the businesses and professionals who power one of the world’s largest and most dynamic retail economies.

TRA provides a unified voice for Texas retailers at both the state and federal levels, while also delivering critical value through:

• Government advocacy on legislative and regulatory issues
• Industry insights, education, and… Show more

As a member of the Advisory Board for the Texas Retailers Association (TRA), I supported the organization’s mission to represent and advocate for the businesses and professionals who power one of the world’s largest and most dynamic retail economies.

TRA provides a unified voice for Texas retailers at both the state and federal levels, while also delivering critical value through:

• Government advocacy on legislative and regulatory issues
• Industry insights, education, and networking opportunities
• Support for scholarship programs and workforce development initiatives

In my advisory role, I contributed strategic input to help shape TRA’s programming, policy priorities, and member engagement efforts—ensuring that the needs of retailers and their customers are recognized, protected, and advanced across the state and beyond. Show less

The Dallas/Fort Worth Retail Executives Association (DFW-REA), established in 1978, is the premier networking and professional development organization for executives in the retail, restaurant, and hospitality industries across North Texas, as well as the solution providers who support them.

As a member of the Advisory Board and Vice President of Membership, I help shape the strategic direction of the organization and drive membership growth among senior-level professionals. I also… Show more

The Dallas/Fort Worth Retail Executives Association (DFW-REA), established in 1978, is the premier networking and professional development organization for executives in the retail, restaurant, and hospitality industries across North Texas, as well as the solution providers who support them.

As a member of the Advisory Board and Vice President of Membership, I help shape the strategic direction of the organization and drive membership growth among senior-level professionals. I also collaborate in curating our seasonal programming (September through April), which features monthly events with C-level speakers and expert panels addressing timely, high-impact topics facing the retail sector.

Our mission is to foster meaningful connections, deliver thought leadership, and elevate business excellence within the North Texas retail ecosystem. Show less

Contributed as a cross-departmental committee member supporting Mays Business School’s mission to “Advance the World’s Prosperity.” The committee was charged with evaluating how societal impact is reflected and reinforced throughout the undergraduate and graduate curriculum, faculty research, hiring practices, and community engagement.

In this role, I collaborated with faculty and staff across multiple disciplines to:

• Assess the current integration of societal impact themes in… Show more

Contributed as a cross-departmental committee member supporting Mays Business School’s mission to “Advance the World’s Prosperity.” The committee was charged with evaluating how societal impact is reflected and reinforced throughout the undergraduate and graduate curriculum, faculty research, hiring practices, and community engagement.

In this role, I collaborated with faculty and staff across multiple disciplines to:

• Assess the current integration of societal impact themes in academic programs.
• Recommend enhancements aligned with AACSB standards and the school’s strategic vision.
• Support the development of impact-driven curricula, faculty incentives, and communication strategies.
• Promote Mays’ leadership in equipping students to address global challenges through responsible business practices.

Our work emphasized the importance of aligning business education with community needs and global sustainability goals, contributing to the school’s ongoing evolution as a transformative force in higher education and society. Show less

The explosion of digital shopping has upended the industry, forcing both retailers and consumer goods companies to completely alter their business models to compete. But that disruption has brought with it a great opportunity: an opportunity to leverage big data analytics to reimagine what the path to purchase is, and will become. In this session a panel of industry leaders shared how they embraced this digital transformation and are using innovative digital tools to win shoppers’ hearts… Show more

The explosion of digital shopping has upended the industry, forcing both retailers and consumer goods companies to completely alter their business models to compete. But that disruption has brought with it a great opportunity: an opportunity to leverage big data analytics to reimagine what the path to purchase is, and will become. In this session a panel of industry leaders shared how they embraced this digital transformation and are using innovative digital tools to win shoppers’ hearts, minds and wallets. Show less

The Home Improvement eRetailer Summit is the only face-to-face North American event that focuses on home improvement ecommerce through networking, education, and one-to-one meetings. It is designed for all types of retailers, manufacturers, distributors and industry professionals who are interested in gaining intelligence and insights on how to optimize the internet as a distribution channel to sell more home improvement products.

Served as a panelist for a discussion on the impact of the emergence of eCommerce on retail in general, and in the Home Improvement industry specifically.

Served on the Steering Committee for the WalStreet Speaker Series, a professional development initiative composed of industry leaders who work directly with Walmart, Sam’s Club, and their network of suppliers—both direct CPG and third-party partners.

Collaborated with Chamber leadership and fellow business professionals to develop a compelling lineup of events and thought leadership sessions designed to serve and strengthen the local supplier and retail community. Contributed to… Show more

Served on the Steering Committee for the WalStreet Speaker Series, a professional development initiative composed of industry leaders who work directly with Walmart, Sam’s Club, and their network of suppliers—both direct CPG and third-party partners.

Collaborated with Chamber leadership and fellow business professionals to develop a compelling lineup of events and thought leadership sessions designed to serve and strengthen the local supplier and retail community. Contributed to strategic planning, content development, and speaker engagement to support continuous learning and operational excellence across the Walmart and Sam’s Club ecosystem. Show less

Served as moderator for the third edition of the WalStreet Fireside Chat series, leading a strategic discussion on consumer insights and emerging retail trends. The session explored how brands can leverage data to better understand shifting shopper behavior and position themselves for success in the evolving Walmart ecosystem.

Featured expert panelists from Nielsen and NPD shared forward-looking insights, offering attendees a valuable line of sight into what’s next in retail and how to… Show more

Served as moderator for the third edition of the WalStreet Fireside Chat series, leading a strategic discussion on consumer insights and emerging retail trends. The session explored how brands can leverage data to better understand shifting shopper behavior and position themselves for success in the evolving Walmart ecosystem.

Featured expert panelists from Nielsen and NPD shared forward-looking insights, offering attendees a valuable line of sight into what’s next in retail and how to activate those trends to drive performance in the year ahead. Show less

Served as the moderator for the second edition of the WalStreet Fireside Chat series, leading an in-depth discussion on Walmart’s OTIF (On Time In Full) initiative—a critical supply chain performance metric for retail suppliers.

Guided the conversation with industry experts and supply chain professionals, exploring the operational, strategic, and collaborative implications of OTIF compliance, and how brands can align more effectively with Walmart’s logistics expectations to drive mutual… Show more

Served as the moderator for the second edition of the WalStreet Fireside Chat series, leading an in-depth discussion on Walmart’s OTIF (On Time In Full) initiative—a critical supply chain performance metric for retail suppliers.

Guided the conversation with industry experts and supply chain professionals, exploring the operational, strategic, and collaborative implications of OTIF compliance, and how brands can align more effectively with Walmart’s logistics expectations to drive mutual success. Show less

Served as co-moderator for the first-ever WalStreet Fireside Chat, a thought leadership event focused on the evolving role of omnichannel retail and the growing impact of digital on shopper engagement and brand performance.

The session featured a panel of industry experts, including:

• J.P. De Villiers, Walmart
• Mary Heman, MaxPoint
• Matt Harp, ACOSTA
• Eric Howerton, WhyteSpyder

Co-moderated alongside Alex Patterson of What’s Ahead, guiding a dynamic… Show more

Served as co-moderator for the first-ever WalStreet Fireside Chat, a thought leadership event focused on the evolving role of omnichannel retail and the growing impact of digital on shopper engagement and brand performance.

The session featured a panel of industry experts, including:

• J.P. De Villiers, Walmart
• Mary Heman, MaxPoint
• Matt Harp, ACOSTA
• Eric Howerton, WhyteSpyder

Co-moderated alongside Alex Patterson of What’s Ahead, guiding a dynamic discussion on how brands and retailers can adapt to a digitally driven marketplace and meet the demands of today’s connected consumer. Show less

Participated in a panel discussion on how Walmart and Sam's Club suppliers can invest their energy in driving omnichannel success.

Delivered a guest lecture titled “Building Customer Loyalty in the Age of the Consumer” to MBA students in the Retail Strategy course, focusing on the evolving expectations of today’s empowered consumer, omnichannel engagement strategies, and loyalty-building techniques that drive long-term brand value.

This speaking engagement helped lay the groundwork for my eventual appointment as a faculty member at Texas A&M University, where I continued to teach and develop curriculum on retail… Show more

Delivered a guest lecture titled “Building Customer Loyalty in the Age of the Consumer” to MBA students in the Retail Strategy course, focusing on the evolving expectations of today’s empowered consumer, omnichannel engagement strategies, and loyalty-building techniques that drive long-term brand value.

This speaking engagement helped lay the groundwork for my eventual appointment as a faculty member at Texas A&M University, where I continued to teach and develop curriculum on retail strategy, digital transformation, and customer experience. Show less

Served on a judging panel for business case preparation and presentation by incoming MBA Students.

Invited to speak at the Council on Small Business event during the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s America’s Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C. Represented Sam’s Club and shared insights on our commitment to supporting small businesses nationwide.

Highlighted the impact of Sam’s Club Member Services programs, designed to meet the evolving needs of small business owners through value-added services, operational support, and tailored membership benefits that help fuel business growth and… Show more

Invited to speak at the Council on Small Business event during the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s America’s Small Business Summit in Washington, D.C. Represented Sam’s Club and shared insights on our commitment to supporting small businesses nationwide.

Highlighted the impact of Sam’s Club Member Services programs, designed to meet the evolving needs of small business owners through value-added services, operational support, and tailored membership benefits that help fuel business growth and efficiency. Show less