Keven Wilder is a Senior Consultant with extensive retail entrepreneurial and consulting experience. Since affiliating with McMillan|Doolittle, she has worked primarily with retail start-ups developing new concepts and with specialty retailers to improve their customers’ experience in the areas of marketing, merchandising and operations. Keven Wilder and Josh Lowitz, a McMillan|Doolittle colleague who also has hands-on entrepreneurial experience, together lead the firm’s Start-up and Advisory Services for Entrepreneurs Consulting Practice.

Keven’s clients include Harpo, Inc., ARAMARK, the Rouse Company, Wrigley, Ford, HUMMER, Harley-Davidson, FASTFRAME, the Custom Shop, TrueLook, Banner Wholesale Grocers, Merz Apothecary, Tabula Tua and numerous retail start-up ventures. She has also completed assignments with local non-profits such as the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Victory Gardens Theater. For the Chicago Urban League, Keven led the development of an accelerated curriculum to teach select candidates how to successfully launch new retail businesses in targeted neighborhoods.

In the mid-80’s, Keven founded Chiasso (www.chiasso.com), a chain of gift stores selling contemporary accessories for the home and office. (Chiasso, now primarily an Internet venture, is currently owned by Chris Segal, son of Gordon Segal, the Crate & Barrel founder). Keven was chief merchant/ CEO of the chain for 13 years growing it to five stores plus a catalog. While Keven was CEO/chief merchant, Chiasso registered record mall sales per square foot and same store sales increases well above national averages. Keven’s creative flair in merchandise selection, marketing, graphics and store design resulted in numerous awards for the company and considerable media attention including an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey TV Show.

An honors graduate of Harvard University, Keven also holds a JD from Boston University and a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Keven began her business career as a lawyer in the cable TV industry where she also held management positions in marketing and programming. Retail industry activities include work with the Women’s Business Development Center and mentoring entrepreneurs through the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center. Keven served as a Board member of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) and contributed to Small Store Survival, co-authored by Arthur Andersen and IRMA. Keven is often quoted on retail trends and analysis in the trade and consumer press.