President's Message

We are standing at the intersection of great challenges and great opportunities. Retail will be redefined and will re-emerge, shaped by unconventional forces and faces. Yet, the creative equity that our profession has invested in and developed will serve us well if we stretch beyond our combined knowledge and search for these new thoughts and behaviors. Fortunately we have the tools in place to achieve this. Never before has The Retail Design Institute been poised in such a way to appeal to other creative sources and also support our existing community of Retail professionals. Our networking capabilities, events, and broad channel distribution of our unique professionals and their massive experience in combination with the energy behind maintaining and building our Retail community will attract the next generation of professional thought and practice. But...we cannot just rest on our combined laurels. No stone can remain unturned, no idea will not be worthy of discussion, and every partner on our collective team is key to unlocking the future. These challenging times are also the cusp of our most exciting times. It will be one thrill ride but the destination will be exhilarating. Buckle up!

Best Regards,
Parke Wellman, AIA, RDI
Texas Chapter President