A high-profile, high-fashion designer will be participating this year in the Global Retailing Conference in Tucson.

Vera Wang, who is chairwoman and CEO of her own fashion house, will be joining the group of retailing experts at the annual event, hosted by the University of Arizona Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Powering the Innovation Wave.” It will focus on how leading innovation can mean organizational approaches across the supply chain, which then affects the bottom line.

Melinga Burke, director of the Lundgren Center said industry experts are expected to talk about how emerging opportunities as well as challenges in the marketplace can help the way some companies do business.

Terry J. Lundgren, chairman, president and CEO of Federated Department Stores, Inc., will address how differential experiences and best practices in customer relationships can mean success.

Other sessions will include innovative business strategies, driving growth, meeting customer expectations, consumer behavior and multi-cultural branding in a global marketplace.

Participants will include retail personnel, managers, consultants, franchisers, marketing executives, business representatives, educators and students. The conference is open to the public and will take place April 12-13 at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort.

For registration information, call (520) 621-1715 or log on to globalretailingconference.org/globalRetailing07/speakrs.html.