RGCA 2024 FORUM AGENDA
Come early to enjoy San Diego!
Arrive on Sunday to enjoy festivities in the area and at the Mission Bay Resort. Take advantage of the pickleball courts (reserve here), the spa, or other resort amenities such as the tennis courts, pools, or of course, the beach! You will also only be 2 miles from SeaWorld of San Diego, a few miles from Balboa Park, and the Birch Aquarium. There is so much to do! Find more activities here.
All Day
Open Meeting Time
Early arrivals can take advantage of this time to meet and network!
3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
RGCA Board of Directors Meeting | Private Dining Room at Covewood
MONDAY, OCTOBER 7
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Registration Open | Foyer
Stop by registration and check in to collect your name badge and welcome information!
Registration sponsored by eGifter
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
First Time Attendee Mix & Mingle Breakfast | Sorrento & San Marino
Breakfast is served! Join us for a first-time attendee focused continental breakfast and get to know our newest attendees and members! *Breakfast is open to all attendees.
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Open Meeting Time
For those not attending the First Time Attendee Mix & Mingle events or the IGCC Member Meeting, take advantage of this open time to connect with your peers. The areas near RGCA Registration will be open for whatever you need—meetings, networking, checking emails or just a chat.
9:15 AM – 10:00 AM
First Time Attendee Mix & Mingle Event (Sponsored by Optimum) | Sorrento & San Marino
Led by Arel Moodie*, Keynote Speaker
Join this event to meet other attendees and kick off the week with a fun networking event! *Arel has done extensive work on understanding human relationship dynamics to understand what makes people tick and how to positively use these universal truths. Get to know your peers and keynote to kick off the 2024 Forum!
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
IGCC Member Meeting | Capri - St. Tropez
Led by your peers, Incentive Gift Card Coalition (IGCC) Board Members
Are you exploring or actively involved in selling or supporting the sale of gift cards in the B2B channel (for incentives/rewards)? Or maybe you’re unaware that this is a possibility? Join us for a discussion on the latest trends and insights related to this gift card sales channel. In an estimated $44B market in the US alone, where do you fit? Discover the “what?”, “so what?”, and “now what?” to gain actionable insights for your benefit and profit. This session is presented by the Incentive Gift Card Coalition (IGCC) – a strategic industry group of the Incentive Marketing Association. Both Members and Non-Members welcome!
12:00 PM
Innovation Lab/Networking Lounge Open | Terrazza Ballroom
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch & Headshots | Sorrento & San Marino
Enjoy lunch and get a free professional headshot taken with our photographer (headshots sponsored by Disney Gift Card Services).
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
General Sessions | Capri - St. Tropez
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM
RGCA Open
Led by Gabriel Resendez, Manager, Gift Cards and Strategic Partnerships, Darden Restaurants & Abby Teigland, Director- Sales, AMC Theatres
Join the afternoon kick-off and welcome from RGCA Forum Co-Chairs: Gabe Resendez - Manager of Gift Cards and Strategic Partnerships at Darden Restaurants and Abby Teigland, Director- Sales, AMC Theatres; as well as a word from Pete Davison, RGCA Chair, Disney Gift Card Services and Co-branded Credit Card at The Walt Disney Company.
1:45 PM – 2:15 PM
RGCA Legal Update & Actionable Insights (Sponsored by STL)
Led by Elish Meyers, Attorney, Rouse Frets White Goss Gentile Rhodes, P.C.
Are you up to date on the statutes going into effect that may impact your gift card program? This session will fill you in. Elish will share the latest updates and actionable insights on the legal landscape.
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM
Break (Sponsored by Macy’s) | Foyer & Terrazza Ballroom
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM
Panel Discussion: Navigating Change: Insights from the Maryland Bill 760 (MB760) Task Force (Sponsored by KURZ)
Led by Catherine Easterling, Director, Global Treasury, Payments and Financial Services, Walmart
What’s new with Maryland Bill 760 and what can we expect across the country and in our gift card programs? Join this panel for the latest updates and actionable insights for keeping your program up to date.
3:15 PM - 4:15 PM
Creating the Ultimate Work Environment: Unlocking Your Potential at Each Stage of Adult Development
Arel Moodie, Professional Speaker, Entrepreneur, Tech Co-founder, Disney+ Host
Every one of your individual team members is currently undergoing a separate and distinct stage of their adult development. As a leader, your ability to decipher and empathize with the specificities and intricacies of these stages will help you and your team understand how each individual reacts to the world around them and how these reactions drive every action we take professionally. The work of understanding these stages of Adult Development will create a roadmap for your own growth and for those around you as each stage comes with common pitfalls and traps to avoid, but also opportunities to utilize. Understanding these stages will assist in creating a culture of transparency which will inevitably lead to deeper relationships and a higher quality of collaboration organization-wide.
4:15 PM – 6:00 PM
Networking & Free Time
Check in with home, unpack your meeting gear, and get ready to join us for the Welcome Reception & Dinner.
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Welcome Reception & Dinner (Sponsored by InComm Payments) | Bayside Terrace
We're California Dreamin' of Gift Cards! Come dressed in your best retro 60s gear and enjoy a groovy night of delicious food, cold drinks, and camaraderie with your RGCA cohorts.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8
ANIMAL PRINT DAY
We are Wild About Gift Cards & for every animal print worn by our attendees today, a donation will be made to Girls Rising!
Thank you to our donation sponsor, Blackhawk Network
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Breakfast (Sponsored by SVS) | Sorrento & San Marino
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Innovation Lab/Networking Lounge Open | Terrazza Ballroom
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
General Sessions | Capri - St. Tropez
9:00 – 10:00 AM
Panel Discussion: RGCA Fraud & Abuse Mitigation (FAM) Task Force
Led by Julee Schmaus, Account Manager, SB Collectiv Gift Card Growth Engine (RGCA FAM Task Force) & Investigators from Department of Justice and Department Homeland Security
This session will revisit our incredible FAM Task Force Update from 2023 “Catch Me? Yes, we can!” where we took a deep dive into a real-life twelve-million-dollar scheme utilizing millions of fraudulent gift cards. You’ll hear from DOJ and DHS investigators on what’s happened since then, Project Redhook updates, and some actionable takeaways around the type of fraud out there today.
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
Panel Discussion: Mitigating Fraud - Expert Insights and Solutions (Sponsored by Givex)
Led by Kim Sobasky, RGCA Consultant
Hear from service providers about the tools and processes program managers can utilize to mitigate and combat fraud. Panelists include: Cara Renfroe, SVP Global Operations & Transformation, Blackhawk Network; Rob Hadden, SVP Fraud Operations, InComm Payments, Mark Willis, General Manager, SVS; and Jurgen Ketel, EVP, Givex.
10:45 AM - 10:50 AM
Break
10:50 AM – 11:30 AM
Panel Discussion: The Future of Gifting - How AI is Transforming the Customer Journey
Led by Jim Schulz, Financial Services Associate Manager, Gift Cards, Best Buy (RGCA Fraud & Abuse Mitigation (FAM) Task Force) & Apurva Ghelani, Director, Product Management, Blackhawk Network
This session explores AI and its implications for the gift card customer journey. Join our panelists as they dive into AI implications to: The Customer Experience; Combatting Fraud & Analyzing Risk; Business Intelligence; and the Business Ecosystem.
11:30 AM
Animal Print Group Picture!
Right before lunch, come gather on stage for a quick group photo in our animal print. Thank you for showing your support for Girls Rising!
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Lunch & Headshots | Garden by the Bay
Enjoy lunch and get a free professional headshot taken with our photographer (headshots sponsored by Disney Gift Card Services).
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
RGCA Member Meeting
Led by Pete Davison, RGCA Chair, Disney Gift Card Services and Co-branded Credit Card at The Walt Disney Company
*Please note this is a session for RGCA members only*
We invite all RGCA members to attend the member meeting. There will be a brief overview of the health of the association followed by discussion and sharing of deeper insights and information that will benefit your brand.
If you're interested in membership, please visit our website for more information.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Framing your Gift Card Program’s Sustainability Story in an Emerging Compliance Landscape (Sponsored by Monadnock)
Led by Karen Brooker, VP of Growth Strategy (Marketing Card Technology (MCT)/Card Manufacturing, GC Production, Personalization & Packaging)
With more gift card issuers migrating from PVC to paper, and with Mastercard's 2023 announcement mandating the full transition from virgin PVC to recycled or sustainable card materials by 2028, environmental labeling in the card industry is an increasingly hot topic. The card industry has yet to unify around a single set of standards or best practices, and the danger of green-washing is ever-present. This presentation will take a look at current industry practices, share highlights from globally recognized environmental labeling standards, and offer guidelines for brands who want to use clear, credible environmental labeling to differentiate their gift card program and promote responsible industry practices.
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Break (Sponsored by CFA Servco) | Foyer & Terrazza Ballroom
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
RGCA Collaborative: Gift Card ThinkTank (Sponsored by Digimarc)
Led by Abbie Wang, Sr. Product Marketing Manager, Blackhawk Network
Join us for an engaging ThinkTank session where attendees can participate in dynamic discussions with peers. This no-pressure environment will feature conversation prompts centered around the hottest industry topics for gift cards, offering valuable insights and collaborative dialogue.
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Networking & Free Time
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Reception & Dinner | Garden by the Bay
Join us for dinner, dessert, and drinks with beautiful views of Mission Bay. Enjoy lawn games sponsored by SVS and stay tuned for the announcement of the 2024 Cardies, our awards to recognize the members who go above and beyond for the RGCA each year!
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Breakfast (Sponsored by SVS) | Sorrento & San Marino
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Innovation Lab/Networking Lounge Open | Terrazza Ballroom
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
General Sessions | Capri - St. Tropez
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Gift Cards Unwrapped: Industry Insights Panel Discussion
Led by Steve Kane, SVP Client Development, SVS
Join an insightful panel discussion with industry leaders from Applebee’s, H&M, Wayfair, and GCVA as they explore the future of the gift card sector in 2025. Panelists Armineh Sarkissian, Ella Yanai, Colleen Heafey, and Hannah Shimko will discuss key topics, including market insights, challenges for gift card programs, global trends, and innovations. Engage to gain valuable insights and explore the latest developments in the gift card industry!
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
RGCA IMPACT | Charitable Update
Led by Abby Teigland, Director- Sales, AMC Theatres
Hear from Caitlyn McTaggart, Fundraising & Grants Manager, of Girls Rising to learn more about their impactful organization! We’ll share the impact of the week so far, and how you can further the mission.
10:45 AM – 11:15 AM
Break & Hotel Check Out (break sponsored by SVS)
Use this time to gather your bags, checkout, and take a break!
11:00 AM
GIFT CARD GAMES CLOSE
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
RGCA Coffee Break & Close
Come together to make our weekly virtual coffee breaks a reality! Discuss key takeaways from the week, share your feedback on 2024 RGCA Forum, and meet the new Board of Directors! You will also discover the location for RGCA Forum 2025!
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Grab & Go Lunch
Take your lunch to go as you head to the airport or stay and eat around the resort and enjoy the beautiful Southern California weather.
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Networking Time
Although RGCA sessions will be done, the RGCA meeting rooms and areas will still be open for whatever you need—meet new members, catch up with those you know, or catch up on your emails!
NOTE: For those wishing to stay in the area, the San Diego Mission Bay Resort has offered the discounted room rate for RGCA Forum attendees to extend their stay up to 3 days post-Forum (based upon availability). Reach out to Annie at the resort to extend your stay: aalbright@noblehousehotels.com; (619) 275-8946.
*This agenda is subject to change