Leaders in Customer Loyalty, Powered by Loyalty360

Send us a textBrands currently face a variety of challenges including rising customer expectations, generational differences, and increasing desire for seamless omnichannel experiences. CORA Loyalty is answering that call with a comprehensive portfolio that integrates next-gen tech, deep personalization, and strategic services. At the helm is Beth McCoy, President of CORA Loyalty, who joined Loyalty360's Industry Voices series to share her vision and strategies for evolving loyalty in 2025 and beyond."CORA Loyalty is a newly created portfolio made up of three separate companies or entities that some people may be familiar with from the loyalty marketplace," McCoy explains. These include RewardOps, an API-based rewards marketplace; Carlson Marketing Solutions, an enterprise-grade points bank and engagement platform; and Points at Work, a channel incentives tool tailored to employees and manufacturers.Together, they form an end-to-end loyalty ecosystem, bolstered by a services layer offering data science, digital marketing, and curated marketplace solutions.

Send us a textIn the world of customer loyalty, few programs embody purpose as completely as AARP Rewards. More than a points-based platform, it’s a mission-driven engagement engine designed to empower people aged 50 and older to live better, healthier lives. By leveraging traditional loyalty mechanisms in non-traditional ways, AARP has built an emotional connection with its members that goes beyond incentives and aims for impact.At the heart of this innovative program is Arapit Patel, Vice President of Loyalty at AARP. With a background in technology consulting and systems integration, Patel brings a product-minded approach to loyalty that’s focused on outcomes over optics. His path to AARP was unconventional, but his commitment to member well-being is unmistakable.

Send us a textIn an era of short attention spans and digital overload, traditional loyalty communications are increasingly falling flat. For Yosef Peterseil, COO and Co-Founder of Blings, the solution lies not just in better content, but in a more engaging medium altogether. "We're all in a video world. We're all on TikTok and YouTube and Netflix, and that's what we're used to consuming."Founded in 2019, Blings is a technology company helping brands deliver personalized customer communications replacing static emails and generic SMS with real-time, dynamic video. At the core of this transformation is the company’s patented MP5 video format, which allows personalized videos to be rendered directly on the end user's device.

Send us a textFor over three decades, Noodles & Company has served globally inspired noodle dishes with a side of comfort. But in today’s competitive and value-conscious quick-service landscape, staying relevant, and resonant, requires more than just a beloved bowl of pasta. For Executive Vice President of Marketing Steve Kennedy, long-term success comes down to a deep commitment to customer experience, continuous innovation, and a loyalty strategy that transcends transactions.  With over 460 locations across the country, Noodles & Company has carved out a distinct niche in the fast-casual sector, offering made-to-order meals that emphasize bold global flavors and fresh ingredients. Kennedy, who joined the brand with deep roots in loyalty marketing from past roles at Domino’s, Nestlé, and Borders Books, sees the company's loyalty strategy not as a standalone program, but as a core expression of its brand ethos. 

Send us a textAs one of the NBA’s most recognized franchises, the Cleveland Cavaliers are deeply woven into the cultural and civic fabric of their city. Behind the high-octane action on the court is a strategic and increasingly sophisticated approach to fan engagement powered by the Cavaliers Marketing team. Central to the marketing team’s success is the role Jeremy Halek plays as the Senior Director of Consumer Marketing. With a background that blends data science and marketing strategy, Halek has helped the organization reshape how it defines and delivers value to fans, emphasizing emotional connection, personalized engagement, and long-term loyalty. 

Send us a textIn this episode of Leaders in Customer Loyalty: Industry Voices, Loyalty360 sits down with Chris Jones, Senior Vice President of Engagement Solutions at ITA Group, for a detailed discussion on the evolving strategies driving customer loyalty in today’s competitive landscape. With decades of experience spanning consumer products, financial services, and retail, Jones brings a practitioner’s perspective to agency strategy offering tactical insights and evidence-based guidance to brands seeking to create meaningful, lasting customer connections.

Send us a textHealth and wellness have become foundational to the modern lifestyle, with consumers redefining what fitness looks like shifting from traditional gym routines to more holistic and mobile-friendly approaches. Walking, hiking, cycling, and fitness-tracking apps are now integral parts of personal health journeys. This evolution has created new opportunities for customer-centric innovation, and few brands are leaning into this shift as effectively as Fleet Feet. Founded in 1976 by two women in Sacramento, California, Fleet Feet has grown from a single boutique running store into the country’s largest franchisor of locally owned and operated specialty running retailers. Today, it operates more than 280 stores across 40 states, offering expert outfitting, training programs, and a strong sense of community. At the heart of Fleet Feet’s loyalty strategy is its recently relaunched Fleet Feet Milestones program—an initiative that reflects both its legacy and its forward-thinking ethos. Joining us for this edition of Leaders in Customer Loyalty: Brand Stories is Abbey Gurley, Senior Manager of Customer Loyalty at Fleet Feet, who shares how the brand is building emotional loyalty, supporting franchisees, and using customer data with care. 

Send us a textIn a highly competitive and commoditized fuel retail landscape, Petro-Canada, a Suncor business, is refining what customer loyalty looks like. Celebrating 50 years of serving Canadians coast to coast, the brand is leveraging deep insights, digital transformation, and purpose-driven partnerships to build emotional loyalty and maintain its relevance in an evolving market. At the heart of this initiative is Amanda Mitchell, Head of Loyalty at Petro-Canada, alongside Monica Stevenson, Strategic Partnerships Manager. With decades of combined experience in loyalty, marketing, and customer engagement, the duo is leading efforts to make Petro-Points, one of Canada's longest-running loyalty programs, more impactful, accessible, and emotionally resonant. Mitchell and Stevenson recently joined Loyalty360’s Ethan Perry on the Leaders in Customer Loyalty podcast to discuss how Petro-Canada is innovating in loyalty, managing complexity, and preparing for the next generation of customer expectations. 

Send us a textFor brands aiming to deepen engagement and create meaningful loyalty experiences, the traditional "earn and burn" model is no longer enough. In today’s Industry Voices, Mary Luckey, Reward Strategy Director at Maritz, shares her perspective on how loyalty programs must evolve to remain relevant — and why reward strategy is at the heart of that transformation. With more than two decades at Maritz — and experience across both consumer and B2B loyalty programs — Luckey focuses on what she calls "the really fun part" of loyalty: shaping the rewards members earn. "My role is about working with account teams and clients to ensure they offer the right rewards — whether it's merchandise, gift cards, travel, or experiences — and crafting redemption experiences that truly drive loyalty," she explains. At Maritz, the approach to customer loyalty goes well beyond points and transactions. Luckey describes loyalty as a relationship, not a straight line, emphasizing that customer engagement must be seen as a living journey rather than a single outcome. "Since Maritz has always focused on people and behavior change, we design loyalty journeys that tap into emotions," she says. For example, encouraging members who redeem for a major travel reward to create a photo book afterward helps them savor memories and dream about the next trip — subtly pulling them deeper into the brand experience. 

Send us a textIn this Executive Spotlight, Loyalty360 CEO Mark Johnson speaks with Tim Glomb, Head of Operational AI at Wunderkind. Glomb’s unconventional journey—from touring the world with platinum-selling rock bands to producing for MTV and now leading AI operations at a marketing technology powerhouse—offers a fresh, candid view on the future of customer loyalty. With decades of experience on both the brand and tech sides of the fence, Glomb shares his no-nonsense take on brand integration, data activation, AI education, and why mentorship and community matter more than ever.