Mr. Stern is recognized as a key thought leader in the retail arena.  Since 1990, he has been a senior partner at McMillan Doolittle, a dynamic customer-driven retail strategies firm specializing in strategic planning and the development of new retail concepts.  In addition to general retail consulting, Mr. Stern leads the company’s food consulting and due diligence practices.  His list of clients include: McDonald’s Corporation, ChevronTexaco, T-Mobile, Lands’ End, Procter & Gamble, Target Stores, Sears Roebuck, and General Motors.

Mr. Stern serves as the editor of McMillan Doolittle’s Retail Watch newsletter, which is widely regarded as the premier publication on new concepts and trends.  Mr. Stern is a frequent U.S. and international speaker concerning retail trends and has given dozens of presentations to internal company meetings as well as key industry trade groups.  In addition, he is frequently quoted in major business publications and often featured in the national media.

An honors graduate from Columbia University and attendee of Northwestern’s Kellogg MBA program, Mr. Stern has been named to Crain’s Chicago Business 40 under 40 list of prominent Chicago business leaders and in 2002 was also named as one of the 40 Rising Stars in Retailing by Chain Store Age.