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Rob Karr - Tumultuous 2020

Rob Karr, born in Chicago in 1967, grew up in Jacksonville, Illinois, and graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1985. He played soccer at Illinois College before transferring to Illinois State University, where he majored in Political Science. He built his career as a lobbyist, eventually becoming CEO and President of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) in 2014. He has also worked with the Illinois Food Retailers Association and the Midwest Hardware Association and serves on multiple advisory boards.

This interview examines the challenges Illinois retailers faced during COVID-19 through Karr’s role at IRMA. It covers early 2020 preparations, retail restrictions, and key issues like safety measures, government communication, financial relief, and the pandemic’s impact on staffing, supply chains, and regulations.