Barbara J. Barrett, MPA, CAE, is an Educational Entertainment Speaker who makes automotive, architectural, manufacturing, music, and world history come alive in a fascinating and entertaining way. She has presented programs for C-SPAN, American History TV, the Studebaker National Museum, the Gilmore Car Museum, community colleges, church groups, private clubs, public libraries & senior living communities. She holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from the University of Illinois and a Master in Public Administration (MPA) degree from Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL.

Long before there was Amazon, there was Sears, Roebuck and Company – where you could purchase any product or service available on the face of the earth at fabulously low prices. Just how did this retail icon influence architecture, commerce, merchandise, lifestyle, and popular culture? Come and explore the rich and fascinating history of the World’s Largest Store (WLS) from its humble beginning in 1886 to the present.