How Relationship Building Leads to Better Outcomes: Henderson Retail Symposium 2026

Being a good partner means being a good listener and creating space to share valuable insights. Henderson was proud to host the 2026 Henderson Retail Symposium at our headquarters in Lenexa, Kansas. This year’s symposium featured three sessions, with listening at the core. We took the opportunity to pull in some voices from beyond traditional retail to highlight how the growing focus on client experience transcends our industry. Here are some of our favorite takeaways:

• As the industry evolves, the way we engage clients, manage projects, and execute design work continues to change. The traits we look for in new hires and the skills we develop in current staff center around receiving constructive feedback and utilizing failures as an opportunity to learn and grow.
• Overcoming design challenges starts with active listening. Every retailer, airport lounge, facility, etc. has their own set of unique challenges. Our conversation about United Airlines’ aggressive aviation lounge push showed us where listening to desired outcomes can inform better design decisions.
• The best partners are open-minded and willing to try new things. Embracing our authentic selves builds relationships that lead to better project outcomes centered around end-client hospitality

Thank you to Team Henderson’s Darrell Stein, Ryan Haug, Alex Carroll, and Alex Carnahan for moderating and to our client panelists this year:

• Rachel Zsembery, Bergmeyer
• Brian Critzman, TPG Architecture
• Rob Hussa, Berkshire Hathaway Jewelry Group (Borsheims, Helzberg, Ben Bridge)
• Travis Christ, United Airlines
• Tali Hungria, Live Nation
• Christopher Gorney, CommonArts Architecture
• Tom Fenton, Schimenti

Watch this year’s symposium below: