Retail Data Security Forum Features Former Counsel to Federal Trade Commission

Business Wire, Oct 3, 2005

NEWTON, Mass. -- Retail Systems Alert Group announced today that Robert Belair, Editor, Privacy & American Business and formerly Counsel to the Federal Trade Commission, will present the opening keynote lecture at the Retail Data Security Forum, held November 2-3 at the Marshall Field's conference center in Chicago, IL.

The Retail Data Security Forum will investigate retailers' growing need to protect customer specific information, explore how data can be safely used and shared with partners, and offer insights on how to prepare and protect against a security breach. Industry leaders will provide attendees with information, best practices, and solutions to manage and keep their customer data secure.

Robert Belair will present a macro-view of the current usage of consumer data security and its impact on the retail industry. He will explore the possibilities of global privacy law and what steps are needed to achieve this precedent. He will also illustrate what the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is looking for in an effective security compliance program following the eruption of recent security breaches.

In addition to serving as Editor at Privacy & American Business, Belair is a partner in the Washington D.C. law firm of Oldaker, Biden & Belair and, with Alan F. Westin, serves as a principal of the Privacy Consulting Group, a privacy and information policy consulting firm. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Belair served as an attorney for the Federal Trade Commission with responsibility for Fair Credit Reporting Act matters. Belair later served as Deputy General Counsel of the White House Office on the Right of Privacy.

Additional featured speakers include:

--Jay Cline, Data Privacy Officer, Carlson Companies

--Simson L. Garfinkel, Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Center for Research on Computation and Society

--Lucian Gandolfo, Former Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge of White Collar Crime Matters, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Office

--Erik Goldoff, IT Systems Manager, The HoneyBaked Ham Company

--Brian Kilcourse, Chief Strategist, Retail Systems Alert Group

--Davi Ottenheimer, Director of Information Security, West Marine, Inc.

--Marty Smith, Business Intelligence Officer, ChoicePoint, Inc.

--Jim Walsh, Director of Loss Prevention, Vontu, Inc.

For more information or to register please visit www.retailsystems.com/RetailDataSecurity.> About Retail Systems Alert Group

Retail Systems Alert Group is the leading provider of objective, high quality information resources for the extended retail industry. The Extended Retail Industry (ERI) is a term coined by Retail Systems Alert Group to define a broader consumer-focused ecosystem encompassing retail, manufacturing, transportation, distribution, logistics, warehousing, solution providers, and other supporting organizations.

Retail Systems Alert Group has followed the advancements of technology and business process innovation in this industry for almost two decades, and they deliver their insights and analysis through high-value conferences and tradeshows, publications, research, training, and web-based services. For more information, please visit www.retailsystems.com.