Al McClain is a founder of RetailWire.com, the online community for the retailing and related industries. He has spent 30+ years building media businesses in the retail, tech, and CPG spaces. Al's career highlights include:

Unilever Bestfoods. Helped retailers increase sales via cross-merchandising, promotion, displays and shelf management, working in the New Orleans field office.

Red Rose Tea Company. Increased share of small company in highly competitive market using non-traditional marketing programs, including collectible premiums, promotions, and sampling events. Also managed transportation and logistics for the company.

Trade Dimensions. Salesperson of the year three consecutive years (award retired). Exceeded sales quota all four years with division, playing a key role in bringing the TD database into the personal computer era.

Progressive Grocer/Retail Insights. Developed successful video communications programs for leading companies including Phillip Morris, Coca-Cola, Wrigley, McKee Baking, Anheuser-Busch, Frito-Lay, Clorox, Procter & Gamble, Chep, Pepsi, the National Pork Producers, Tyson, etc.

IdeaBeat.com. Co-founded the most successful online b-to-b community in the retailing industry, attracting more than 100,000 monthly visits and 25 regular sponsors.

RetailWire.com. As CEO and a founder of the company, Al wears a lot of hats with primary involvement in sales and marketing. "Blue-Chip" sponsors include Campbell Soup, Nielsen, Unilever, P & G, SmartReply, DemandTec, Nestle Purina, Concept Shopping, Infosys, HCL, NEC, Oracle, Motorola, and Sterling Commerce. Readership is now at approximately 45,000 retailing industry execs. Al has also spoken extensively at industry events such as the NGA convention, IIR's Shopper Insights conference, the Magazine Publisher's conference, etc. and written for publications such as Nielsen Wire and Loyalty Management.