About the Global Retail Executive Council

GREC was launched in February 2009 and its leadership team is based out of Portland, Oregon, USA.

Mission Statement


The Global Retail Executive Council (GREC) is an international association of retail executives, service providers and industry experts. GREC is the most comprehensive source of information, education and community for the retail industry worldwide.

Operational Principles & Goals


  • To offer the most inclusive content aggregation and delivery of trends, best practices and mission-critical information for the global retail market
  • To offer for our members unparalleled opportunities networking, collaboration and interaction through an innovative online community, mobile interaction and physical world events at venues around the world
  • To create and deliver original thought leadership and insight into retail trends and topics
  • To unite existing, emerging and future retail leaders and organizations to create a truly global world community of retailing
  • To take a leadership role in providing insight into the political, environmental and human aspects of global retailing and serve as an example for sustainable practices in retail.

Engaging GREC


Learn how partnering with or sponsoring GREC can help your company. Click here (PDF) for more details.

GREC Staff


JIM CRAWFORD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Retail industry veteran Jim Crawford serves as executive director of GREC. In Jim's unique history as an industry analyst and technology executive, he has worked with hundreds of retailers all around the globe. Widely respected as an industry expert and speaker, Jim has authored reports on topics ranging from next-generation store design to the use of RFID in the retail supply chain and spoken at virtually every major industry event. Prior to joining GREC as executive director, Jim has held positions at SAP, Intel, Retail Forward and Forrester Research.

Contact information:

Jim Crawford, Executive Director
email: jcrawford@globalretailexec.org
phone: +1 503 334 3127
time zone: GMT -8, available 0800 to 1800 local time


MELISSA FRYBACK, DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

With 15 years experience in senior strategic marketing roles, Melissa Fryback serves as development director of GREC. An expert in experiential marketing and social networking, Melissa has created and led marketing campaigns and product launches across the non-profit, public and private sectors, receiving the American Marketing Association campaign award in 2005, and established herself as an leader in the green and sustainable building industry. A fluent Japanese speaker, Melissa is an expert in Asian consumer behavior and has led several projects in Asia including study tours and hospitality/retail events.

Contact information:

Melissa Fryback, Development Director
email: mfryback@globalretailexec.org
phone: +1 503 564 8593
time zone: GMT -8, available 0800 to 1800 local time