Delaware, Ohio — Mary Brett Whitfield is recognized nationally for her expertise in retailing business strategy and shopping behavior analysis. On March 18, Whitfield will provide her insight at Ohio Wesleyan University in a presentation titled "The Future of Consumption: When the Economy Rebounds, Will Conspicuous Consumption Return?"

During the presentation, Whitfield will discuss whether she expects a conscientious, environmentally, and socially conscious shopping mentality to emerge because of the current economy. She will focus on issues that will shape the future of demand during her presentation at 3:10 p.m. March 18 in the Bayley Room of OWU's Beeghly Library, 43 Rowland Ave. The lecture, which is free and open to the public, also will be streamed live.

Whitfield is senior vice president and director of the intelligence system for Retail Forward. Annually, her team publishes more than 200 reports and newsletters that analyze developments in retailing and shopping behavior. She also advises retailers and consumer products companies on strategic planning, analysis of competitive positioning, and industry and company analysis. She holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Smith College and an M.B.A. from The University of Oklahoma.

Her presentation is sponsored by Ohio Wesleyan's Woltemade Center for Economics, Business and Entrepreneurship. Founded in 1985, the center helps students to integrate business theory and practice, and provides lectures and other resources to benefit the business community.