The National Retail Federation (NRF) presented the 2024 J. Thomas Weyant Award to Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Alliance. The award was given at NRF’s Retail Advocates Summit in Washington, D.C., where retailers, industry leaders, and policymakers gathered for the retail industry's premier advocacy event.
"Cailey Locklair models excellence in association leadership, and NRF is proud to recognize her as a fierce advocate for the retail industry," said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. "I began my career at a state retail association, and the record of growth and success by the Maryland Retailers Alliance shows that Cailey and her team work tirelessly, passionately and effectively to create a healthy environment for retailers to operate in Annapolis and throughout Maryland."
The award, named after a former president of the Pennsylvania Retailers Association, was established by NRF in 1995 to honor individuals who dedicate their careers to leading state retail associations and advocating for the retail industry.
Locklair represents the retail, chain drug store, and food industries in Maryland. With nearly 20 years of experience in state and local politics, she has pushed issues such as the state budget, labor, and taxes to the forefront of the Alliance’s advocacy agenda while emphasizing the need to address retail crime across the state. She is a past Chair of the Council of State Retail Associations and a member of the Leadership Maryland Program Class of 2024.
"It’s an honor to be named a J. Thomas Weyant Award recipient. I am proud to represent hundreds of Maryland retailers, their employees, and the local communities they serve on a daily basis," Locklair said. "I look forward to continuing our work at the Alliance to promote a thriving retail industry."
Previous recipients of the J. Thomas Weyant Award include North Carolina Retail Merchants Association President and General Counsel Andy Ellen; Retail Association of Maine President and CEO Curtis Picard; and Nebraska Retail Federation President Jim Otto.
NRF’s Retail Advocates Summit brings together retailers ranging from independent local sellers to national brands to meet with members of Congress and discuss various issues impacting the industry. This year’s event features The Retail Experience, an interactive showcase designed to highlight the power of the retail industry.
About NRF: The National Retail Federation advocates for people, brands, policies, and ideas that help retail succeed. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., NRF supports an industry that powers over one-fourth of U.S. jobs — approximately 55 million working Americans — contributing $5.3 trillion annually to GDP.
