The International Housewares Association’s 2026 Chief Housewares Executive SuperSession (CHESS) brought home and housewares leaders together September 29-30 in Rosemont, IL, for two days of discussion, networking and industry connection, captured in a new photo gallery highlighting the speakers, sessions and attendees at the event.
Held September 29-30 in Rosemont, IL, CHESS 2026 brought together home and housewares industry executives, retailers and industry experts under the theme “Refortifying the Value of the Human Touch.” The program explores how companies can embrace advancing AI technology while maintaining the human insight, creativity, relationships and trust that remain essential to the business.
Participants included Target’s Mara Sirhal, senior vice president of merchandising for home (pictured above with Tony’s Kircher, IHA vice president of buyer and exhibitor relations); Best Buy’s Christina Browning, senior manager of marketplace business development; Circana’s Joe Derochowski, vice president and home industry advisor; Pattern chief revenue officer John LeBaron; Wholescale CEO David Rapps; and executives from across the home and housewares industry.
HomePage News also covered CHESS 2026 throughout the two-day event. Read the complete recaps:
