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IRMA Business Day 2026 Digital Program
Welcome
Welcome to IRMA’s Business Day 2026!
The Illinois Retail Merchants Association is proud to welcome you to Springfield for our annual Business Day! We are thrilled to have you with us today and hope that you find today’s event worthwhile and enjoyable.
Retail is an economic anchor for the State of Illinois and the local governments within it. Illinois’ retail industry is the second largest source of revenue for the state and the largest for units of local government, making it the single most significant economic engine in Illinois. Retail is central to the services state and local governments are able to provide for the public. Additionally, retail employs one out of every four Illinoisans and accounts for 16 percent of the state’s labor income.
Beyond the economic numbers, retailers are an integral part of our communities, and they provide the essential goods and services needed to live and thrive. The breadth and depth of retail is vast; it includes but is not limited to hardware stores, pharmacies, grocery stores, restaurants, convenience stores, entertainment facilities and lodging. If you buy any type of good or service, chances are it came from a retailer, large or small.
Furthermore, retailers generously support local charities, teams, parks, food banks, schools, and countless other programs, and continually engage their local communities. Retailers are the first to fill needs during natural disasters and at other times of need, often starting to provide aid well before government assistance arrives. Retailers are the cornerstones of every community they serve.
If you have any questions throughout the day, please look for any of the IRMA staff members to assist you. Thank you and enjoy the day!
Agenda
- 11:00am
Check-in & reception - 12:00pm
Welcome remarks, Coca-Cola toast to America 250, & introduction of chairs- Rob Karr, President & CEO, IRMA
- Amanda Puck, VP of Communications & Brand Development for Roundy’s & Mariano’s Division, Chairwoman, IRMA Board of Directors
- Mark Denzler, President & CEO, Illinois Manufacturer’s Association
- Kara Demirjian Huss, Owner & Senior Vice President of Global Marketing, Sustainability & Government Affairs, TCCI Manufacturing, & Founder & President of DCC Marketing
- 12:15pm
Remarks from President Tim Killeen, President of the University of Illinois System - 12:25pm
Lunch is served - 12:45pm
Remarks from Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias - 1:00pm
Remarks from Don Tracy, Republican Candidate for US Senate - 1:15pm
Closing remarks & depart for State Capitol - 1:30pm-5:00pm
Capitol visits with state legislators - 5:00-8:00pm
Gala Reception – Tent on corner of 2nd & Adams Streets
Stop Swipe Fee Greed
We need relief from out-of-control credit card swipe fees. That’s why IRMA worked with state legislators two years ago to pass the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA).
The Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA) is a state law that prohibits payment processors, banks, and payment card networks from charging or receiving interchange fees (commonly referred to as “swipe fees”) on the portion of credit and debit card transactions that consists of state and local sales and excise taxes and gratuities (tips). It is set to go into effect on July 1, 2026.
Big banks and credit card companies want to stick Main Street businesses with extra fees every time customers swipe their credit or debit card, even on sales tax and tips. This raises prices for consumers and makes it harder for businesses to operate. The new Illinois law will eliminate swipe fees on the tax and tip portion of transactions, saving consumers and Illinois businesses of all types and sizes hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
But banks and credit card companies are trying to delay and overturn this law. We’re urging legislators to stand firm with retailers and end swipe fee greed.
Capitol Visit Resources
Below you will find attachments of resources to use during your state capitol visits with legislators, including talking points and facts about the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA).
Talking Points on the IFPA
Facts about the IFPA
Capitol Map
Stratton Building Map
List of Senate Republicans
List of Senate Democrats
List of House of Representatives
Today's Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors who made IRMA’s Business Day 2026 possible!
We Are Retail Campaign
Every retailer has a story to tell. From family businesses stretching generations to budding entrepreneurs, neighborhood staples and new pop-up ventures, retailers are the faces we see repeatedly, the answers to our everyday needs and the trusted contributors to life’s moments – big and small. The We Are Retail campaign shares the stories of independent Illinois retailers through videos, photos and blogs, and is designed to raise awareness of the impact retailers have on our lives and in our communities. We invite you to learn more about what motivates retailers, as they share how the profession can be challenging but also incredibly rewarding. Nominate a retailer to become part of the We Are Retail campaign by tapping on the button below.
ILORCA
The Illinois Organized Retail Crime Association (ILORCA) administers and oversees a statewide intelligence-sharing platform for improved coordination between retailers, law enforcement agencies, loss prevention specialists, and other stakeholders to combat criminal enterprises. Membership in ILORCA is completely free.
Join ILORCA for its first conference on July 14 in Rosemont! Visit www.ilorca.org or click the button below to learn more and register!
Retail Perspective
Retail Perspective is a retail-focused guide to policy, providing updates on legislation moving through the Statehouse and current issues facing Illinois retailers.
