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 Susan Milhoan
President/CEO
smilhoan@retail-alliance.com
Susan L. Milhoan joined Retail Alliance in February 2007 as the organization's sixth president and CEO since its founding in 1903. In her role at the helm of the organization, Milhoan oversees 20 employees and provides strategic planning, management and leadership to the 2,000-member organization. She was previously the president and executive director of the Greater Jackson County (Michigan) Chamber of Commerce and the Jackson County (Michigan) Convention and Visitor Bureau. Milhoan has more than 30 years experience in organizational management and public relations. Prior to moving to Michigan in 1998, she served as vice president of the Jacksonville (Florida) Chamber of Commerce. She also served as corporate communications officer for a major bank, director of public relations for an advertising agency and the managing editor of a medical journal in Florida. She received the Accredited Public Relations Practitioner (APR) designation in 1985. She holds a master of business administration degree from the University of North Florida and a bachelor of science degree in journalism from West Virginia University. Milhoan also completed a six-year program for Chamber of Commerce Executives at the University of Georgia in 1996 and is a certified Covey facilitator.
Recognizing that the retail sector is the second largest employer in the Hampton Roads area, Milhoan is actively engaged in a diversity of efforts to enhance the community, including Peninsula Workforce Development, Norfolk Convention & Visitors Bureau Training Foundation, Red Cross of Hampton Roads, Greater Norfolk Corporation, and the Advisory Board of Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters.
 Raymond J. Mattes III
Executive Vice President
rmattes@retail-alliance.com
757-455-9321 (office)
Ray Mattes has a long history with the Retail Alliance, joining the organization in 1984. In his position, he oversees the Business Services arm of Retail Alliance; Equifax credit reporting and the HireVu pre-employment services. Ray is active in the community, serving as chairman of the Board of Directors for Child and Family Services of Eastern Virginia in 1998-99 and again in 2004-05. He also served on the Virginia Beach Education Foundation Board of Directors, and he is a former board member of the Tidewater Mortgage Bankers Association and the Great Neck Athletic Association and is past chairman of the International Credit Association. A native of Norfolk who now resides in Virginia Beach, Ray attended Tidewater Community College and Old Dominion University.
 Margaret Ballard
Vice President, Advocacy
mballard@retail-alliance.com
757-455-9395 (office)
Retail Alliance is the voice of retailers on the local, state and federal legislative fronts, and in her position, Margaret Ballard plays a key role in representing retailers. She brings more than 25 years of association/nonprofit experience to the job, with experience in legislative and marketing campaigns, business management, sales, media relations and community relations. She joined the Retail Alliance in 1998 as director of partnership development and was promoted to her current position in 2003. Prior to this, she was executive director of DRIVE SMART Hampton Roads for five years. She has also held positions as a CPA firm marketing director, vice president of a financial public relations agency and legislative director for a congressman. Margaret is very active in the community, serving as treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau Research and Training Foundation. She also serves on the boards of the D’Art Center of Hampton Roads and Norfolk United Facing Race. Margaret has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina.
Margie Smith works in the accounting department and has been with Retail Alliance for 16 years.
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