Principal, Stantec ViBE
Henry Beer has been involved in the planning, design and branding of retail environments, shopping centers and entertainment venues for over forty years. In 1973, he teamed with Richard Foy to form Communication Arts in Boulder, Colo. CommArts is now Stantec ViBE (Visions, Brands, Experiences), a part of Stantec, a 12,000-person, Canadian-based engineering and architecture consultancy.
John Bricker
Principal, Gensler
John Bricker is a principal in Gensler’s New York office and a leader of the firm’s global Brand Design practice. With Gensler for more than 30 years, John’s holistic approach to the design process encompasses brand development, retail environments, branded workplaces, showrooms, exhibition design, identity, print, and environmental communications.
James Bry
Sr. Vice President, Development, Vornado Realty Trust
James Bry runs development and construction for the New York City–based Vornado Realty Trust retail division’s portfolio of 135 properties. He has been with Vornado for six years. Previously, Bry practiced architecture for 15 years, serving most recently as a senior associate at Greenberg Farrow Architecture.
Deborah Byrnes
President, Retail Resources Inc.
International retail and restaurant consultant and coach Deborah Byrnes has worked with Westfield, Mills Corp., Legal Sea Foods, Yale University and Harvard University. After working for Saks, Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, Byrnes learned property management at Faneuil Hall.
Graylon Melton
Design Group Manager, Simon Property Group
Melton is responsible for overseeing the design of regional mall projects, including The Mills projects and lifestyle/community center projects—both renovations of existing properties. Before that Melton had stints with Mills Corp. and RTKL Associates.
Ronette Riley
Principal, Ronette Riley Architect
Ronnette Riley’s design firm, founded in 1987, has won over 60 awards. Riley is past chair of the AIA National Committee on Design, current co-chair of the New York Chapter of the AIA Design Awards Committee and an adjunct professor at the School of Visual Arts. She spent eight years working for Phillip Johnson and John Burgee and was project architect for the Lipstick Building in Manhattan and Republic Bank, now the Bank of America Center, in Houston.
