COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Danielle Bunch Kimberly Cowen Director of Sales, Regional Manager, Enterprise Strategy, Advantage Rising Stars Advantage Solutions Solutions To help increase Bunch provided EBITDA, Cowen crucial leadership and strategic stepped in to offer her organiza- direction as some Advantage tional skills for major events and Solutions employees became activations such as the SAS Services employees, LPGA Classic and Back to Col- ensuring that the transition went lege events. smoothly by holding 200- meetings with individual suppliers She maintains a regular and associates to communicate presence in stores and at events, the path forward and the added doing whatever’s needed, benefits of the partnership. whether it’s event prep, setup or cleanup, to help the team and She gained responsibility for her company. the retail analytics team, working with its leader to implement This past January, Cowen was new processes and technology given several additional responsi- enhancements to gain operation- bilities, including crafting weekly al efficiencies for the sales and client updates, summarizing retail teams. field execution, and highlighting key operational initiatives driving Bunch created the first web- innovation and creativity to meet based vendor portal for the Advantage’s platform annual largest retailer, giving it -time EBITDA and revenue goals. visibility to results.

Kelli Ficke Jennifer Gruber Brooke Heintz Amanda King Senior Category Senior Director, Client Service Sales Manager, Manager, Team Analytic Solutions, Manager, Advantage Leader, Advantage Advantage Advantage Solutions Solutions Solutions Solutions When Advan- Ficke’s analysis Gruber devel- Tasked with tage transitioned led to a brand’s expansion of its oped an online training program securing 30,000 in-store activa- to a new financial system, King twin-pack solutions business at a specifically focused on proper tions, Heintz surpassed the goal developed a new approach to major retailer, and she also iden- data use for all professional by an extra 2,000 events, equiv- the month-end reporting and tified opportunities in the retailer’s associates; the course was a alent to an additional 7 percent processes, providing enhanced divisions; the brand’s business critical element of Advantage’s increase to the overall profit. revenue detail and helping with subsequently grew more than efforts to ensure proper use of, the preparation of the month-end 6 percent, driving the retailer’s and compliance with, high-value For Family Meals Month in financial summary. eye care category growth of 3 data assets. September, she helped introduce percent. an event for ’ Uncle Ben’s She was recognized as a She led the development of brand; the customized event significant contributor to the She identified the right organic new data visualizations and strategy, featuring uniquely success of the headquarters items for a brand undergoing applications for Adlumina, a branded carts with recipe cards, sales services division’s ending SKU rationalization at a retailer, next-generation Speed to In- led to results exceeding those of the year 2 percent to budget. so that its business grew 16 per- sights analytic tool for clients and previous programs. cent with a reduced SKU count, internal users. King began serving as a coach while the retailer’s category rose Having determined that it for an Advantage leadership more than 5 percent. Gruber pioneered the creation would be beneficial not only to development associate team, of a three-part shopper analytics herself, but also to Advantage, which entailed collaborating with Ficke received a brand’s Cate- online workshop, in which Heintz is pursuing a business members on their responsibili- gory Manager of the Year award; 50-plus associates participated degree while continuing to excel ties and learning assignments, she also volunteers as a coach in a fun, engaging program to at her full-time job. and enrolled in the company’s for youth soccer and basketball develop their panel analytics and year-long Accelerated Career teams. storytelling skills. Experience program. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Amy Knox Amanda Reaves Crystal Rossel Bethany Account Executive, Sales Team Client Team Schwartz Advantage Leader, Advantage Leader, Advantage Client Team Solutions Solutions Solutions Leader, Advantage Solutions Knox secured Chosen as a re- In a year of a divisional part- tailer’s and a CPG declines for most Schwartz was nership with Kraft to promote brand’s Top Branded Broker, of the categories in which her a key member of the team that its Hockeyville local community Reaves achieved 16 percent over clients participate, Rossel led the RFP process to win a sports outreach initiative; the pro- last year and secured $14 million managed to deliver impressive German chemical and con- gram generated 370-plus events in gross shipments by developing overall combined growth of sumer goods business; during over five weeks in the Eastern and executing key promotional 108.4 percent compared with the transition, she integrated division. plans to gain top- and bot- the prior year. the Advantage organization tom-line growth. into the new business while She was instrumental in secur- Her dedication, analysis, and building trust and credibility ing ’ Eastern division’s Her focus on building new desire to create win-win situa- with senior leadership. first community involvement brands through category lead- tions for both Advantage and her program, facilitating the donation ership, commitment to identify- clients resulted in a more than She co-developed content and of 15 cases of food and toiletries ing and communicating trends, an $800,000 (four-point) margin led a course for Advantage mid- on behalf of Albertsons/ eye for developing presenta- improvement for her businesses. level managers, “Investing in Your to a local food bank. tions, successful track record Team Through Coaching.” in regard to the overall strategy, Rossel played a key role in Asked by Rasmussen Col- and expertise in identifying re- identifying and closing incre- Schwartz teamed with multiple lege to assist college students tailer opportunity gaps resulted mental business-to-business business units to finalize a con- in enhancing their interviewing in two new vendors/brands opportunities across her port- tract with a Turkish cookie com- skills to gain employment after being sold into a retailer. folio, successfully addressing pany focused on graduation, Knox volunteered specific client business needs expansion in the , her time to conduct mock Reaves is a board member of that have delivered $1 million leading to further business with interviews and provide coach- NFRA’s Central Chapter. in incremental revenue to allied companies. ing and feedback. Advantage.

Marilu Robles Lindsey Pruitt Elena Skaletsky Samantha Director, Marketing Director of Business Influencer Marketing Weinstein Operations, Development, Supervisor, Director, Media Advantage Advantage Advantage Operations, Solutions/ Solutions/Advantage Solutions/Advantage Advantage Advantage Media Solutions Media Solutions Solutions/Advantage Marketing Partners Media Solutions Pruitt drove Skaletsky Following various changes to more than 50 percent of 2017 implemented influencer trade- Working with upscale grocer the Advantage Retail Experience sales for her division across a desk capabilities and new ways , Weinstein Group, including the name, sales team of six people and of working that have brought in came up with a plan to improve Robles led efforts to promote the exceeded personal revenue goal three new clients and $382,000 the correlation between ad expo- “new” ARX, a strenuous educa- by more than 250 percent. in campaign budgets. sure and in-store traffic. tional task that involved collabo- rating with business leaders and She created and implement- She developed, maintained and She also boosted her team’s becoming fully knowledgeable new processes to ensure strengthened Advantage Media efficiency to keep up with on each new sector of ARX. effective program delivery; Solutions’ vendor partnerships, revenue growth of more than these processes have since and led a rebuild of the vendor 50 percent, without increasing She created initiatives to been rolled out across all sales platform, tailoring it to the com- incremental cost. keep business leaders ac- team divisions. pany’s needs to help streamline countable and showcase their process flow, reduce wasted time In collaboration with leadership work, including a monthly retail Pruitt formed a collaborative and improve campaign results. at Advantage Media Solutions, platform best practices phone partnership with an external as well as with Retailtainment, call, capabilities decks for ARX video team to produce new/ Skaletsky conducted an in- Advantage’s demonstration part- services and innovative pro- undiscovered company revenue; depth review of Advantage’s nership with , Weinstein gramming presentations. managed the creation, scripting campaign execution process was a key part of the team that and production of 10 documen- to identify areas of improve- devised a video demo product Robles was a mentor and role tary-style videos for client media ment, and subsequently put that could be delivered program- model to a new hire just out of programs; and led the testing of in place changes that have re- matically, thereby broadening college, providing personal and four new media initiatives. sulted in a 60 percent increase Advantage Media’s and Retailt- professional guidance. in operating margin. ainment’s digital demonstration capabilities. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Lynn Blasio Susan Voelkner Jane Anderson Bessie Berdusis Senior Director, Center Store Senior Manager, Director, Managed Operations, Operations Environmental Care, Albertsons Ecommerce Sales, Specialist Compliance, Cos./Corporate an affiliate of Albertsons Cos./ Albertsons Cos./ Acme Division Corporate Berdusis coor- Under Bla- Voelkner’s lead- An environmen- dinated flu-sea- sio’s leadership, the Ahold ership and organizational skills tal professional with more than son efforts across Ecommerce Sales facility was led to an increase in sales and 25 years of experience in due functional groups, with the result recognized by both internal and reduction in losses not just for diligence, contaminant transport, that Albertsons protected 13 external safety and sanitation center store, which she oversees and remediation and environmen- percent more patients than in the audits as a top-rated distribution for Acme’s District 9, but also for tal compliance implementation, previous flu season, contributing center in the area. the entire operation. Anderson created an innovative, $6.3 million in additional sales. extensive environmental module in Year-over-year customer She significantly reduced a database specifically designed She led the expansion of Alb- engagement scores improved back-room assets in her district, for risk management and safety. ertsons’ service offering to include as a result of her highly engaged from 12.13 percent in March 2017 innovative practice areas, among management and associate to a mere 6.21 percent this past She improved systems within them pharmacist-prescribed teams, which daily review cus- January. the environmental affairs group hormonal contraception and medi- tomer feedback and implement for annual reporting of hazardous cations for opioid overdoses. plans to improve service. Committed to driving sales material inventory and compli- by focusing on push items ance audits; the new systems When the specialty phar- The facility achieved the throughout her district, streamline the process while macy needed assistance with highest associate engagement Voelkner pushed own-brand ensuring accuracy in reporting. standardized processes and scores in the company, thanks to Signature Select K-Cups for a data, Berdusis took on addi- an aggressive associate engage- $109,000 sales increase, and Anderson participates in both tional duties so that one of her ment plan implemented by Blasio generated a $43,000 sales lift Albertsons’ Toastmasters Club coordinators could assume new that includes daily interactions for Snack Artist pretzel, and and Women’s Inspiration and In- responsibilities in specialty, and with associates as well as asso- a $123,000 sales increase for clusion Network (WIIN) to improve offered coaching and support to ciate events held each month. Rao’s pasta sauce. her networking, leadership and assure a successful outcome. presentation skills.

Christina Boyle Kendal Christy Duncan- Louise Gerber Senior Manager, Callender Anderson Director, Administration Director of Digital Executive Director, Ecommerce, Services and Partnerships and Albertsons Cos./ Albertsons Cos./ Facilities, Shopper Innovation, Corporate Corporate Albertsons Cos./ Albertsons Cos./ Corporate Corporate Creator of the Gerber led her Boyle assumed oversight of the An up-and-coming leader in the successful Hunger Is annual Northern team as the Deer Valley annual budget plan- shopper marketing and grocery campaign to eradicate childhood first division in the company to ning and monthly general ledger space, Callender has become the hunger, Duncan-Anderson also deploy the new Titan software follow-up, quickly developing person many CPG companies go developed the Hunger Is Advisory platform, and transitioned to a a strong understanding of the to for consulting and program- Committee (HIAC), which enables three-shift operation allowing operating budgets and becoming ming-mix recommendations, as CEOs of major food insecurity same-day delivery that signifi- the “go-to” person for questions well as shopper marketing inno- organizations to steer Albertsons’ cantly drove Albertsons’ value or resolution. vation investment and activation. work in this space. proposition to its customers and increased sales and cus- She also took on responsibility Under her guidance, Albert- Rather than selecting one tomer satisfaction. for the mailroom and receiving sons’ shopper marketing activa- national organization for funding, staff, as well as for managing the tion grew 20 percent nationally as is typical with most retailer She also led a focused market- reception staff. year over year. programs, she and the HIAC ing and operations campaign to mapped a network of 250-plus acquire and retain customers. Embracing yet more duties, Callender was a speaker at two organizations doing the best including those well outside of P2PI shopper marketing events anti-hunger work. Gerber’s efforts significantly her past and current expe- this year, as well as providing increased Albertsons’ sales, re- rience, Boyle now oversees keynote support at partner Duncan-Anderson is a trustee sulting in initial 300 percent cus- Albertsons fleet vehicles, and agency events, and she also took of the California Grocers Associ- tomer acquisition and 25 percent recently represented the grocer over Albertsons’ WIIN (Women’s ation Educational Foundation and sustained new customer growth, at the annual small-truck fleet Inspiration and Inclusion Net- sits on the Leadership Council with a 25 percent increase in event for vehicles used by its IT work) chairperson position this of World Wide Women, among sales across two geographic technicians. past January. other affiliations. markets. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Kim Hornett Kathy Hosek Sarah Long Angela Moore Ecommerce Real Estate Senior Product Director of Shopper Program Manager, Accounting Manager, Marketing Scale Albertsons Cos./ Manager, Albertsons Albertsons Cos./ Events, Albertsons Corporate Cos./Corporate Corporate Cos./Corporate

[ Selected to lead Taking on Long played a Under Moore’s the marketing effort in a Tiger additional responsibilities while key role in developing and exe- leadership, shopper market- Team, Hornett worked closely driving results and supporting cuting Albertsons’ college intern ing activation grew 18 percent with the division and company initiatives, Hosek led program for the own brands nationally year over year, with creative on an intensive six-week the real estate accounting pro- team, for which she developed Monopoly officially the biggest push, leading to 26 percent cessing team through several training tools and organized game event in the United States; year-over-year ecommerce order conversion-related activities. guest speakers. she’s become the person that growth, up from 5 percent before Albertsons’ CPG partners go to the effort, while new customer She provided support and Following the massive for consulting and programming counts grew from 58 percent to guidance to the corporate real fires, Sarah negotiations regarding scale na- 168 percent. estate accounting and property organized the collection of tional events, and to coordinate management business units, three truckloads of food and with national merchant leads. Key learnings from her highly overseeing the execution of var- other necessities, and, with successful program are now ious processes; these included her team, personally delivered She oversaw the building of being applied to the Portland and heading the team that performs items to a mission helping peo- new processes such as a UPC divisions. the common area maintenance ple affected by the fires. portal. (CAM) reconciliations, which Always ensuring accuracy identified additional CAM ex- Outside of work, Long and a Moore served as a key division of communications, Hornett pense rebills of $1.2 million. friend made festive Thanksgiving point of contact for decentralized helped develop marketing mes- lunches for homeless people marketing communication and saging and tactics for Albertsons Hosek found ways to make around , loaded management, and was recog- stores in four markets where efficiencies to offset the addition- up a bike trailer with the meals, nized as a leader for the entire service is provided by either al workload that these sorts of and handed out more than 100, company in this space. Safeway or . undertakings entailed. offering to pray with recipients.

Darcie Renn Maryrose Lisa Roach Leti Rodriguez Director, Rinella General Manager, Payroll Sustainability, Director, Own Merchandise/HBC Quality Assurance, Albertsons Cos./ Brands Product National Sales Regulatory Reporting Corporate Management, Manager, Albertsons and Tax Department, Albertsons Cos./ Cos./Corporate Albertsons Cos./ Renn led the Corporate Sidelined by Corporate development of major corporate Sales of own brand items a medical issue that caused Rodriguez built a strong and social responsibility policies and in Rinella’s product portfolio her to miss an important effective team as her department position statements at Albert- exceeded $530 million and grew overseas trip to , Roach was established to fill a critical sons, including the company’s 8.5 percent, significantly ahead meticulously planned the trip in need at Albertsons. chemicals policy, responsible of company and rest-of-market advance for her replacement, seafood policy, zero-waste goals sales growth. and accelerated her recovery Her results-oriented achieve- and sustainable palm oil goal. so as to return to work ahead of ments included overseeing a Her team introduced 44 new schedule and participate in the process to recover $1 million She helped position Albertsons items worth a combined $30 necessary follow-up. in merger-related tax refunds, as a leader on sustainability million in annual sales; this creating an upload process to issues by speaking on its behalf included the expansion of the She created a unique Easter eliminate additional manual W2-C at various public and private Soleil sparkling water line, which promotion that tied in with other work, compiling an MS Access forums, among them Conser- has an annual sales rate of more departments, leading to a $3.5 database to automate the quar- vation International’s Business & than $9 million. million sales increase. terly worksite reporting process, Sustainability Council. and implementing a review and Rinella and her team rede- Roach successfully mentored reconciliation process for com- Renn worked on several signed 700-plus SKUs to be two associates that had not pany health care cost data. initiatives with local universities compliant with new NLEA been achieving their potential, to engage and inspire the next packaging and added SmartLa- proactively meeting with them, Rodriguez donates personal generation of leaders on import- bels to all of the new packages; counseling them and guiding time to campus organizations ant business sustainability topics, the redesign also simplified and them into more conducive work benefiting local organiza- providing guidance and input on strengthened the brand portfolio. environments. tions, and contributes to fun various student projects. team-building activities. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Mei-Mei Stark Tina Lucero Lynne Lindsey Product General Barrington Ellingson Management Merchandise Floral Buyer, Bakery Operation Director, Own Sales Manager, Albertsons Cos./ Specialist, Brands, Albertsons Albertsons Cos./ -Osco Albertsons Cos./ Cos./Corporate Denver Division Jewel-Osco Taking over Assuming her Barrington leadership in ice cream and current role in February 2017, played a key role in developing Ellingson has developed and yogurt, Stark worked with her Lucero quickly identified catego- new Jewel specs and standards mentored seven associates to cross-functional team and ries and seasonal opportunities for floral department receiving; the position of bakery manager, self-manufacturing to ensure where her leadership had an the improved specs increased recruited two to be future bak- flawless retail execution. immediate impact on division floral sales across the board by ery managers and mentored results, developing ordering best 210 basis points. various other newly hired asso- She expanded own brands’ practices for sales and gross for ciates in her stores. yogurt assortment from 42 to 73 all store-level GM managers, and She helped improve the cus- items for a January 2018 launch, leading all training sessions. tomer service index in the floral Since she was assigned to with 30-plus new items across department quality category her district, some of her im- the new Aussie, Icelandic and She outpaced the division in by 70 basis points year over provements include increasing organic segments, along with sales IDs and made a significant year; this was accomplished by average weekly sales per store; Greek line extensions, while de- impact on the growth of various seeking suppliers offering the growing same-store sales from veloping and executing a strategy categories. best quality. -0.2 percent to 1.82 percent in to successfully launch 28 ice her first quarter; and improv- cream items in February 2018. By sourcing new items, For major floral holidays, ing shrink results in 14 of the introducing holiday merchan- Barrington organized meetings district’s 19 stores. Stark also executed numerous dising campaigns and identi- for the receiving and shipping de- other growth platforms, including fying areas within the division partments, laying out all inbound Ellingson helped spearhead Value-Added Fruit/Vegetables, where the tourist trade can be and outbound deliveries by day the district’s Bowling for Bucks Power to the Plants/Vegan, Pro- leveraged, Lucero built a plan to allow the warehouse to handle initiative, which raises money tein Power, Snackified Eating and that should continue to show the additional volume. to provide needy families with Convenience/Simplification. long-term growth. holiday dinners.

Mirna Franjul Melissa Hill Amy Jankauskis Sharee Sales Manager, Director, Community Assistant Sales Scapazzo Own Brands, Relations and Manager, Deli and Bakery Operation Albertsons Cos./ Government Affairs, Food Service, Specialist, Jewel-Osco Albertsons Cos./ Albertsons Cos./ Albertsons Cos./ Jewel-Osco Jewel-Osco Jewel-Osco Franjul and her Hill worked with Jankauskis de- Scapazzo team established the compa- the Retail Merchants veloped a new inventory sys- holds quarterly meetings ny’s best own brands pene- Association and a grass-roots tem for the 187-store division, to discuss previous results, tration in its history, growing organization to repeal the working with the corporate current challenges and future such items from 19.3 percent to sweetened-beverage tax in financial team, Jewel-Osco goals with her bakery man- 20-plus percent during the third Cook County, Ill. deli operational specialists and agers; she’s big on teaching, quarter of 2017. store deli managers to do it. coaching and training her She worked closely with the entire bakery staff, and leads She worked on a revitalized Des Plaines Chamber of Com- In the past year, she reviewed by example. O Organic launch in Q3 2017, merce to help establish the Veter- and updated all deli program growing weekly sales for the ans Back to Work Boot Camp, manuals and SOPs to make Under her leadership, all brand by 30 percent. an event Jewel-Osco helped them accurate and easy to use stores in her district exceeded support that allowed 20 veterans in stores, as well as developing a their projected profitability for To grow private label sales to transition to the workforce. process for tracking key tasks in the last three quarters, adding penetration and customer recog- the deli office. $4,251,719 in profit to their nition, in keeping with Jewel-Os- In 2017, Jewel-Osco partic- bottom line. co’s and her shared mission, ipated in a register campaign Jankauskis coaches and Franjul developed a first-class a month, raising millions for mentors the deli office’s support Scapazzo is skilled at pulling ad program for each week of the local charities; Hill worked with team and is the “go-to” person data from micro-strategies, month, followed with a buy ad Souper Bowl of Caring, Go Red for not only the deli department, analyzing the information and display plan to help build sales for Women, the Special Olym- but also Jewel-Osco’s other explaining it to managers so that and profitability for all stores, as pics and more to spearhead the merchandising teams; she also they know where their strengths well as personal store visits to campaigns at all 187 Jewel-Os- serves as the point person for the and weaknesses are and can each of the 10 districts. co locations. advertising team. correct sales trajectories. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Mary Frances Beth DaCosta Leah Sheryl Salazar Trucco Bakery Sales Giambarresi Produce Assistant Communications Manager, Division Pharmacy Sales Manager, Manager, Albertsons Cos./ Manager, Albertsons Albertsons Cos./ Albertsons Cos./ Seattle Division Cos./Shaw’s, SoCal Division Jewel-Osco After com- Salazar drove Trucco has grown Jewel- pleting Albertsons’ advanced In the last year, Giambarresi double-digit growth in such cat- Osco’s media exposure by 22 training, DaCosta was instru- met her sales expectations and egories as fresh-made cut fruit percent year to year, sharing mental in organizing Seattle exceeded her PGE (EBITDA) and vegetables, convenience her company’s stories as a division training sessions on expectation by 353 percent, vegetables and meat alternatives, local brand in print, radio and key programs to give others accomplishing this impressive and also played a key role during television. valuable skill sets that will help feat by motivating her teams and a system/warehouse conversion. them be more proficient in their creating healthy competition. One noteworthy feat she pulled jobs and learn new methods to She partners with local grow- off in the past year is getting Jew- manage business. Ranked as one of the top ers and companies to tell their el-Osco President Doug Cygan district pharmacy managers in story throughout the Albertsons upwards of 10 interviews with pa- She was pivotal in developing the company, she successfully and Vons produce departments, per, radio and television stations ongoing cake-decorator training led her team through a pharmacy working with various functional alone, a 75 percent rise from the classes for the Seattle division, systems conversion with no dis- groups within the organization previous year; she also increased which also help to feed the train- ruption to the patient experience. to bring such programs to life, story placement across all of the ees’ creative passion. while being first to market with major media outlets in the chain’s Giambarresi is an adjunct vendors’ unique offerings. operating area. DaCosta is a founding member professor at the Boston Phar- of the Seattle chapter of WIIN macy Practice Lab, where she Salazar is involved in the Fresh Trucco is active at Misericor- (Women’s Inspiration and Inclu- teaches and evaluates pharma- Produce & Floral Council, serves Heart of Mercy, a home for sion Network), and also an active cy students in clinical practice as a troop leader for the Girl developmentally and intellectually mentor, helping others achieve guidelines, and offers instruction Scouts of Greater , disabled children and adults. their career and personal goals. on the care and treatment of and is a member of the Boys & chronic illnesses. Girls Club of San Gabriel Valley.

Maha Eldabaja Janet Bishop Julie Spier Katherine Chin Center Store Rowan Director, Pharmacy Sourcing Director, Operations Bakery Sales Operations, Albertsons Cos./ Specialist, Manager, Albertsons Cos./ Supply Chain Southern Division Albertsons Cos./ Albertsons Cos./ Chin success- Southern Division Southern Division fully leads a team After becoming Spier helped responsible for center store operations specialist Rowan grew share ensure that all store identifying, negotiating and — a position sought after by sev- in Albertsons’ Southern Market were operating in Hurricane managing spend of more than $5 eral highly qualified candidates area by 1.06 percent over the Harvey’s aftermath, even billion annually. — Eldabaja brought her district past 59 weeks, and also drove setting up a mobile pharmacy from rarely placing in company a 12 percent sales increase over outside of a flooded store to She planned and executed contests to excelling in many. last year while the rest of the serve local residents. the retailer’s biggest own brands market remained flat. event ever, bringing in 1,000 She provides consistent, infor- She worked to ensure the people from the retailer’s vendor mative weekly district calls with She worked with the team in quick reopening of Randall’s community who were all focused all stores, showing her leader- to renovate Store #1057 Houston stores affected by the on helping position Albertsons ship and coaching skills, and is after it was flooded by Hurricane hurricane by networking with own brands as a leader in prod- supported by her team. Harvey and gathered donations pharmacists to staff certain uct innovation; suppliers raved from vendors to help feed storm stores when others were that it was the most organized, A former Tom Thumb store victims, personally working in the flooded. fun and informative meeting of its director, Eldabaja has backed store to ensure that customers kind that they’d ever attended. a number of district promotions and employees were cared for. Spier is active in leg- since her promotion, including islation and a member of the Chin planned a “Shark Tank”- July’s Summer Palooza, August’s Winner of the President’s Texas Federation; additionally, like event to meet with suppliers Coupon Redemption and Sep- Award as Outstanding Innova- she’s pursuing a Texas Board and determine win-win ideas for tember’s Own Brands Contest, tor of the Year for 2017 in her of Pharmacy seat, and, with driving sales, ending with a pipe- among others, resulting in high division, Rowan mentors and her husband, leads a Cub line of 1,600-plus new private rankings for her division. trains women who have a desire Scout troop and serves at label items to launch and a larger to move forward in the industry. their church. number of vendor partnerships. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Rosie Connolly Heather Meaghan Robin Human Resource Standifer Tetreault Leatherwood Manager, Category Employee Services Technical Services Albertsons Cos./ Manager II, Specialist, Manager, Blount Supply Chain Associated Foods Inc. Fine Foods Wholesale Grocers Connolly imple- Tetreault helped Leatherwood’s mented key changes to recruiting In addition to her normal cat- transition 1,000 new employees recipe improvement efforts in the and hiring practices, including egory duties, Standifer added a to Big Y’s culture through consis- past year have led to the removal the automation, re-engineering fifth Seasonal Candy rotation to tent store visits, training and team of 3.8 million parts-per-million of and streamlining of processes to her duties with the introduction building in eastern Massachu- sulfites and 5.1 billion milligrams enable more efficient operation. of Associated Wholesale Gro- setts, 100 miles from her home of sodium, converting more than cers’ (AWG) Summer Seasonal and family, and also provided 1.3 million pounds of meat and She enhanced employee Candy event, helping to grow support for two store remodels in poultry raised without antibiotics. retention within the first 90 days sales of seasonal candy by the district. of employment by modifying the $2.5 million for the year. She has already completed retailer’s orientation program She created and implemented one degree, in culinary arts, and to appeal to a wide diversity of She oversaw and managed a management development another, in engineering, and is candidates; one of her ideas was the transition of all cookies and workshop for 75 employee currently working on a third, in a home-grown internal video crackers from DSD to warehouse services representatives in the food science and industry, with a reflecting “a day in the life of a distribution for a major national company to strengthen their skills focus on technology. warehouse employee.” vendor, leading to an increase in as true advocates. warehouse sales of more than Leatherwood is an active Connolly mentors and de- $90 million annually. Tetreault co-founded Big Y’s member of the Institute for Food velops others through succes- first employee resource group, Technologists, both the national sion-planning strategies; this Standifer sits on AWG’s Women LEAD, and currently and the chapters, has included creating a new Annual Innovation Showcase heads a team of women mem- and volunteers at a local tech- leadership development program committee, which highlights bers that developed a women’s nical high school’s culinary arts for high-potential employees creative initiatives from 100- mentorship program for the department. with individualized development plus supplier partners. entire company. strategies for each person.

Deborah Bailey Damaris Risa Jenkins Danielle Senior Manager, Hernandez Senior Category McBreairty Customer Service, Manager, Customer Manager, C&S Manager, S&OP/ C&S Wholesale Service, C&S Wholesale Grocers Demand Planning, Grocers Wholesale Grocers C&S Wholesale Jenkins drove Grocers Among an array Hernandez and outstanding results of achievements, Bailey ex- her team played an integral role in top-line sales and gross McBreairty led a forecasting ceeded all customer service key in bringing an entire line of per- profit, exceeding budget in ice project that resulted in a com- performance indicators by more ishable business, both meat and cream (up 28 percent in sales; pany reduction of inventory of than 10 percent. produce, to her customer base; 34 percent in gross profit) and $100 million. she traveled extensively to build frozen (up 1.5 percent in sales; She implemented a customer key relationships that prepared 2.8 percent in gross profit). She took on a small, struggling service outreach program to her team to support the initiative. team with highly operational build relationships and quick- She led center store category responsibilities, turning it into a ly address issues with C&S She has operated her contact managers in creating almost $1 best-in-class team. Wholesale Grocers’ independent center with zero turnover in the million in incremental sales in the customer base, and also piloted past year, compared with a 23 Robesonia, Pa., division through McBreairty developed sales a revenue generation program percent rate across the other C&S’ National Display Program. and operations planning as an that yielded more than $50,000 customer service centers — internal capability within C&S during the pilot period alone; evidence of her outstanding Jenkins more than doubled Procurement and is a founding this program is currently being “hearts and minds” approach to the frozen sales projection in member of an internal career deployed to the entire customer leadership. the January 2018 Robesonia networking program, leading the service network. Web-a-Thon, and she completed development and expansion of Hernandez is active with the an extensive Frozen Food Month an initiative providing career-path Bailey is an active participant Network of Executive Women program for C&S Wholesale exposure to associates at the in the Network of Executive and BragNet, C&S Wholesale Grocers’ national independent corporate office; she was also Women, WiNGs and C&S’ in- Grocers’ internal networking and footprint, generating $250,000- chosen to represent C&S at a ternal mentoring and networking mentoring program. plus in revenue. women’s leadership development program, BragNet. conference in , D.C. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Heather Savant Gail Somers Crystal Melissa Pulliam Director, Human Senior Director, Gonzales Director, U.S. Sales, Resources, Chain Sales, Director, , Robesonia, Pa; C&S Wholesale Merchandising, The Coca- Co. York, Pa.; and Grocers C&S Wholesale Aberdeen, Md.C&S Grocers/Grocers Partnering with Wholesale Grocers Supply Taking on a team the Coca-Cola Working with leadership to with the potential to improve, brand team, Pulliam developed identify HR-related needs of the Somers transformed it to be Expanding her director role, a marketing plan specific to business, Savant held a workshop more efficient, boost sales and Gonzalez has become more Costco for the Coke Zero Sugar to review SMART goal setting and grow customer satisfaction. The involved in developing and relaunch that included impactful exercise for participants to design sales portfolio she oversees is strengthening vendor relation- displays and in-outlet sampling to goals and development plans, and expected to exceed annual bud- ships through collaborative generate a 41 percent increase in also helped coordinate a talent get by more than 5 percent. planning sessions. dollar sales versus the prior year. review process for distribution lead- ership and the sales group, which She enrolled to prepare for the She has worked with her team She developed a demo identified high-potential employees Professional Project Manage- to grow the company’s regional strategy for Costco around key and authentic development and ment exam, whose courses have show attendance by as much as holidays to bring awareness to succession plans. helped her expand her interactive 25 percent, and has developed Coke de , which result- leadership, issue resolution and item assortment to grow season- ed in a 2017 sales increase of She coordinates events for problem-solving facilitation skills. al sales by about 40 percent. 9 percent. both employees and their fami- lies, including a Family Fun Day Somers is a teacher and men- Gonzalez also strove to assist Winner of the Coca-Cola involving games, tours and other tor inside and outside of C&S associates in becoming more Emerging Talent Award, Pull- fun activities. Wholesale Grocers, including decisive through a more robust iam collaborated with cross-func- roles with the company’s internal planning process, which includes tional teams to plan and execute Savant is a volunteer for networking group and the Net- year-over-year comparisons and a successful KO Lab (R&D/inno- for Humanity, Oppor- work of Executive Women New goal setting for all programs; this vation) with Costco’s corporate tunity House and her local England committee. process has resulted in a more leadership and buying team. school district. collaborative relationship with suppliers and internal teams.

Tara Robbe Danna Cox Sara Herring Meghan Pennell Director of Sales, Director, Customer Director, Club Senior Director, Warehouse Juice- Development Channel, Customer Walmart US, II, Coca-Cola Coca-Cola Development, The Coca-Cola Co. Co. Bottling Co. Bottling Coca-Cola Consolidated Consolidated Co. Bottling Consolidated Overseeing Cox’s 95 Herring exceed- a 10-member team across stores in , ed her 2017 revenue goal by Pennell was pivotal in multiple functions, Robbe led and delivered dead $2.3 million and volume plan by launching within Coca-Co- a complex strategic direction net revenue of $48 million, 312,000 cases; her largest club la Co. Bottling Consolidated, change that resulted in a which was 2.5 percent growth customer surpassed goals by via internally aligned demand successful chilled-juice launch; over the prior year. $2.8 million and 365,000 cases. planning, operations and sev- her leadership saw warehouse eral department VPs, to bring juice retail sales growth of $48 She developed exclusive as- She created a process for the emerging chain to market million — a 6 percent increase set partnerships for in-market bringing a new sparkling soft- and develop a price plan with over the prior year — for programming with the Tennes- drink package from concept Coca-Cola North America. Walmart. see Titans, Nashville Sounds, to reality, and developed and Dollywood, City of Nashville implemented a multichain club Under her team’s guidance, She created a three-year and Kroger, which led to accel- product that filled a flavor gap in exceeded budgeted reve- growth strategy for the Fairlife erated growth in key categories the sparkling soft-drink category. nue by 28 percent and volume milk brand in the Walmart and brands. by 27 percent. value-added dairy category, Herring mentored a securing a 60 percent A member of the Network of cross-functional teammate on She also helped Walmart distribution gain. Executive Women, Cox, as an the customer management implement its first-ever com- 11-year breast cancer survi- team, and educated, trained mercial plan; the implementation Robbe has set the stage for vor, has a passion for raising and supported a team of included advising manageable her portfolio to deliver up to 9 awareness for early detection 12 customer development operations parameters, targeting percent growth for Walmart in and maintaining a positive mental managers on club strategy and and coaching effective in-store 2018, with 5 percent volume and outlook when facing a crisis. best-in-class execution. tactics to tackle each strategic 14 percent net revenue growth point of interest, and developing for the mega-retailer. classroom sessions. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Tonya Price Stephanie Clark Shari Wagner Emma Bryan Customer Director of Client Business Account Senior Director, Development Operations, Manager, Kroger Daymon Director II- Crossmark Team, Crossmark Super Markets, Bryan’s lead- Coca-Cola Co. Bottling Clark assumed Wagner ex- ership led to an Consolidated leadership of three ceeded budgeted increased supplier teams and implemented process revenue growth on average of representation in the past year, Price collaborated with Publix changes on third-party teams to 13 percent across all clients while she significantly mini- Super Markets and Carowinds reduce process invoicing from 29 through an active collaboration mized representation losses to create the first regional pro- days to seven days. with clients and customers that through team training and new motion in the ; initia- delivered sales and profit growth. processes for overall consistent tives such as these led to 11.5 She worked to implement performance. percent growth in volume for an inactive-user billable “seat” She was responsible for more her territory, with double-digit cleanup to reduce monthly fees, than $15 million dollars in annual She led an on-site team of growth expected in 2018. and created a process to actively sales to all Kroger divisions 36 associates and worked manage seat count to ensure across eight categories, main- with more than 200 supplier In the new Charlotte divi- real-time invoicing, which led to taining close relationships with partners; during the time she sion, she helped strategize a cost savings of $43,000 in the category managers, buyers and has served as a key liaison for Publix’s launch into fourth quarter. management, as well as working Daymon corporate support and open eight stores in the with five manufacturers’ sales to retailers and suppliers, the Richmond market. Clark also reduced costs and and marketing departments. account has never missed its increased revenue incentives budget, even exceeding bud- She serves as the subject-mat- on fulfillment through the She was recognized by Cross- get for the past three years. ter expert with Publix headquar- implementation of a new batch mark for always giving her best, ters in Lakeland, Fla., to develop process, working with IT and no matter the size of the client, to Bryan was a founding mem- and implement a unique retail the fulfillment vendor to create help a business grow; outside of ber of the Daymon Women’s plan specific to the Charlotte a system that works for all client work, she volunteers annually to Network. division to help keep the chain teams; fulfillment costs were help raise funds for the Freestore competitive and relevant. reduced by 69 percent. Foodbank, in .

Lisa St. Germain Hannah Zipp Kristen Baird Misty Fontanini Senior Manager, Director of Client Senior Director, Business Daymon Services, Daymon Analytics and Manager, Daymon/ Insights, Daymon/ Interactions Interactions Marketing Using her ability Zipp helped Marketing to assess the retail launch a digital Fontanini lis- landscape, St. services pilot for When a client tened to partners Germain delivered more than a key client last year and main- representing club/warehouse to create demo events that 60 customized projects for field tained an active role in helping retail believed that there was delivered real connections teams, all of which were well re- transform traditional broker no way to use the manual through numerous multivendor, ceived and led to new business. service offerings to include a process of data collection recipe, health market and meal new wave of content, digital to analyze how effective the solution programs; the result She also developed a and microsite management sampling program was for was an expansion of a retailer’s perspective and a solution on where ecommerce meets brick category growth, Baird collab- program to twice its original category prioritization for center and mortar. orated with internal teams to size. store alignment by connecting find a way to digitally repre- data and category trends to She led multiple webinars to sent in-store sales. Last fall, Her demo account help others understand where educate on new product launch- expanded into another 50 stores consumers are going and how to es to help grow private-brand Additionally, she was able to in new markets; the program is capitalize on product develop- shares, which resulted in a nearly quantify the value of the program currently running 120 percent ment opportunities. full share point of growth. while working with client contacts to budget as well as above last to help them understand how to year’s average. A leader on the category solu- Zipp expanded the reach of use sales performance data to tions team who’s been promoted Daymon’s national coverage drive smarter decisions. Fontanini also is delivering twice in three years, St. Ger- initiative through expansion dis- at 119 percent to budget main’s influence extends across cussions with manufacturers that Baird provides mentorship to for the first quarter on an all private-brand customers in the extended into major grocers and three field team members, dis- adult-beverage program. dairy and frozen departments. strategic channel accounts. cussing opportunities with each of them several times a week. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Melinda Wing Annette Taylor Crystal Jennelle Senior Manager, Director, Category LaCourse Nystrom Operations, Management, Transportation Head of Product, Daymon/ Dean Foods Co. Operations Manager, Farmstead Interactions Delhaize America Marketing Taylor developed Distribution LLC Nystrom space mapping launched a Buy Wing led her retail operations for Publix Super Markets to LaCourse took the lead on de- One, Give One campaign team, a $6.8 million division optimize assortment for milk and veloping new delivery schedules encouraging customer dona- responsible for executing nearly creamers, growing DairyPure to help local brands balance la- tions to help end childhood 40,000 interactive consumer and TruMoo distribution by 22 bor, which also eliminated driver hunger; in nine weeks, the events, to a 95 percent execution percent. miles and has a potential savings program donated 3,500 rate in 2017, a 14 percent in- of $1 million. pounds of fresh produce to crease from the previous year. She optimized assortment needy kids in the Bay Area. for Mayfield Ice Cream and Even in a challenging weather She played a key role in the highlighted display execution year, she still outperformed Farmstead has grown five planning and successful launch opportunity in Publix locations, expectations with her flexibility in times in sales under her leader- of a Midwest retail program that resulting in full store distribution implementing an ever-changing ship, with new customers twice expanded late last year, and a and dollar sales growth of more plan flawlessly; she person- as likely to order again. brand-new, multiplatform demo than 51 percent. ally worked countless hours program in early 2018. to ensure that the local brand By introducing AI for smart Taylor also secured distri- received the high level of service recommendations and hy- The key to Wing’s success bution for eight key grocery expected. per-speed checkout, Nystrom is her “personal touch” mind- accounts and divisions off is on target to meet the goal set, which ensures that each cycle for the national launch of By setting clear expectations, of reducing shop time to 15 person feels like an important DairyPure Mix-ins by illustrat- LaCourse become a model minutes versus 45 minutes in part of the team. ing the growth in single-serve leader and improved the culture brick-and-mortar stores, and and conversion opportunity of the transportation department, 30 to 40 minutes on other among Millennials in the cot- as evidenced by increased asso- ecommerce platforms. tage cheese segment. ciate engagement survey scores.

Leslie Atkinson Brandi Langford Jamie Osborne Hannah Walker Director of Brand Human Resources Associate Creative Senior Director, Communications, Business Partner, Director, Technology and Food Lion Food Lion Nutrition Policy, Working with Food Marketing Atkinson over- Langford orga- an ad agency, Institute saw an integrated nized the first HR Osborne managed and holistic campaign, which Centers of Excellence strategic the creative development that Walker was instrumental in included in-store visual design, to initiative meeting, which led to won two ADDY awards for the FMI’s efforts to work with Con- support two successful remodel the development of HR plans Food Lion holiday TV campaign gress to preserve pro-competi- market launches in Greensboro, that aligned with each functional and the Food Lion Feeds It tive debit reforms in the passage N.C., and Richmond, Va. leader’s business goals in 2017. Forward “Out of Reach” video of the Financial CHOICE Act of campaign. 2017. She was instrumental in the During the evolution of the Food Lion MVP merger integration, she partnered The holiday campaign set She worked tirelessly with the , Shop & Earn, with functional leaders on organi- the highest connection scores public affairs team to preserve as well as leading the campaign zational design, assessing each with consumers and was more USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition to launch the next generation of functional area and executing the memorable and relatable than Assistance Program’s (SNAP) Food Lion’s shopper marketing staff and selection process. previous campaigns. efficiency by collaborating with promotions. the agency and engaging SNAP In a year of change, Langford Osborne led the creative customers in a digital format with Atkinson received ADDY supported ongoing talent con- development for a new digital more product information, menu awards for her work involving versations with the leadership loyalty program with the Shop planning and better budgeting. the brand campaign evolution team, which resulted in the & Earn Celebrate campaign to ensure that the company built company’s maintaining an en- that helped its successful During the extreme weather an emotional connection with gagement with associates that launch, as well as campaigns situations of 2017, Walker raised customers, as well as for work in ended the year exceeding the for new market remodel awareness of the portability of support of Food Lion Feeds. goal on talent retention. initiatives and digital shopper SNAP, as well as of Disaster marketing programs. SNAP, which is established after a federally declared disaster. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Debbie Tammy Kelli Hall Deanna L. Gustafson Kampsula HR Business Marion-Wilson Senior Application Director of Bakery, Partner, District Director, Manager (IS), Giant Food Giant Eagle Using a three- Kampsula part approach, Hall On a special Gustafson led a oversaw a labeling met her aggressive assignment, cross-functional team of multiple system enhancement at Giant recruiting targets by using job Marion-Wilson created Giant’s vendors, business partners and Eagle for more than 2,000 boards and job fairs to find the Customer Care Service Initiative, IT analysts to prepare Giant individual SKUs that included right candidates while chang- in which she worked closely Eagle’s payment technology for cleaner, more transparent ing the onboarding process to with 22 underperforming store credit card chips, resulting in ingredients and recipes. ensure new employees’ smooth management teams to improve a seamless rollout that saved transition to Giant. customer engagement and thousands of dollars in cost She initiated a reorganization service behaviors. avoidance. of staff roles and responsibilities, She managed a mentor as well as improving the training program in which supervisors Once she transitioned back She was a key player in the and development of baker and acted as mentors to every new to district director last October, launch of the Fuelperks loyalty decorator positions. hire while reviewing their training she was able to inspire and lead program, providing technical progress. the management teams of 18 leadership to ensure that the Kampsula also played Giant stores; within a short time, POS could meet the demands of an essential role in creating With associate engagement a the stores in her district had the new initiative. innovative offerings to enhance top priority, Hall planned multiple significantly improved their net the in-store bakery’s reputation events to keep employees en- promoter scores. Gustafson also oversaw the and drive bottom-line sales and gaged; as a result, supply chain transition of Giant Eagle gift profits, including the introduc- saw the highest-ever participation She leads a WAV (Women cards from IBM to ACI, a more tion of signature brownie bars, rate in the associate survey and Adding Value) mentoring circle stable, highly redundant platform premium cakes, authentic French an 11 percent increase in overall that consists of eight women at with additional security. baguettes, imported gelato and a engagement compared with 2016. various levels of leadership in the gourmet dipped-candy store. company.

Amy Melanie Mnich Cynthia Volk Summer McAllister-Flynn Manager, Digital Category Manager, Monnett District Director, and Loyalty Giant Food Category Manager, Giant Food Strategy, Giant/Martin’s Giant Food Volk’s per- Recognizing McAllister-Flynn As digital formance as a the need for helped boost planning manager, category manager assortment optimization and bottom-line results in her district Mnich aided in the training and for ethnic and specialty has ex- additional space for growing significantly: Her stores improved onboarding of a new marketing ceeded portfolio goals, and she’s segments in the soup cate- fresh shrink by 0.46 basis points, and digital agency; she helped building a strategy to continue gory, Monnett implemented a and her district ranked the to develop new processes, time- the momentum. new planogram flow; through highest in the region for associate lines and ways of working, which key vendor collaboration and engagement, with a score of 81. ensured a successful working She launched Giant’s first the creation of store-specific relationship yielding high-quality store-brand spice packet line, planograms, she helped spur She followed up on every creative material. which features 23 items, acting strong base unit and dollar customer service complaint, as a decision-maker in choosing growth for the entire category. looking for accountability; in She planned and executed the assortment, packaging, dis- this way, she was able to im- more than 350 digital offers to play and launch programming. She took on additional catego- prove customer service scores drive trips into Giant stores, in- ries and helped increase sales dramatically in her district, crease basket size and generate Volk was recognized as a lead- and volume for the total edible reducing complaints by 35 incremental sales. er for developing the Learning grocery portfolio. percent. Circle, a group that encourages Throughout the process of knowledge sharing and career Monnett also worked with McAllister-Flynn raised Giant’s reorganization, Mnich development; in addition, she other departments to drive cus- $148,000 for the Children’s worked to provide training doc- was chosen to participate in a tomer engagement and category Cancer Foundation in 2017, uments and direction to help the three-day national Network of growth through the creation of making hers the highest-selling retailer’s various teams stand up Executive Women Rising Star meal solution programs; this district in the region for the as seamlessly as possible. conference. helped tie the center store into second year in a row. the perimeter. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Kimberly O’Hara Jennifer Scott Dana Sherwood Kim Totaro Deli/Bakery Field Category Manager, Design Manager, Finance Director, Merchandising Giant/Martin’s Giant/Martin’s Giant/Martin’s Specialist, Giant/Martin’s Scott achieved Responsible Totaro devel- bottom-line for creating the oped and trained While still a store performance as marketing “look” a new team with manager, O’Hara became an a category manager with less for the new Giant/Martin’s brand, the aim of streamlining, simpli- interim deli/bakery specialist, in than two years of experience in Sherwood represents the cre- fying and improving processes which role she helped strengthen merchandising; she implemented ative voice ofr the division. in regard to margin manage- the departments by focusing on a winning strategy during the key ment; she was able to gain training and customer engage- selling seasons on the baking As the company relaunched better visibility and accuracy of ment; she earned her position desk, which resulted in the cat- its Nature’s Promise brand, she fresh margin results, as well as permanently last January. egory’s overdelivering on sales directed a marketing initiative to improved reaction times. and profits for 2017. create a campaign that would She improved her district’s support the lifecycle of con- She led profit-and-loss basic shrink opportunity dollars in She contributed to an initial sumers’ shopping experiences; training for more than 300 focus stores by 35 percent in deli concept redesign for the baking her work helped the company associates and in-depth mar- and 52 percent in bakery, saving category, and helped to bring the exceed its $1 billion sales goal. gin training for 65 associates the company about $34,000. packaging concept to reality. across the organization in just With a cross-functional 10 weeks. O’Hara implemented regular Apart from her work at Giant/ team, Sherwood played a key mystery shops with Boar’s Head Martin’s, Scott is a director for role in creating a period market- Totaro spends a lot of time partners and teamed up with her local school district and vol- ing calendar that has enabled the volunteering in her communi- a neighboring district to drive unteers in many programs in her company to align key dates and ty: She was recognized as a “slice, show and offer” initiatives; community, including the Central processes for the entire busi- Woman Who Rocks in 2017, as a result of her efforts, one of Food Bank’s Raider ness; beyond work, she offers an in support of International her stores received a regional Packs initiative, which ensures hour of free yoga in a local park Women’s Day. customer service award. that students don’t go hungry in exchange for 30 minutes of outside of school. trash pickup.

Jan Caruthers Mary Beth Hart Melissa Vogel Charlotte Ess Training Supervisor, Director, State Assistant VP, Deli/Bakery Sales Hy-Vee Inc. Government Marketing Projects, Manager, The Relations, Hy-Vee Inc. Kroger Co./ Hy-Vee Inc. Caruthers has A key leader in In 2017, deli/ been a key player Hart’s efforts in launching online bakery sales in in Hy-Vee’s con- sharing information marketing project Ess’ 186 stores tinued expansion into the Twin and building relationships helped tracking, Vogel helped integrate in , and Cities market, leading the training move along crucial legislation in the platform into all marketing Alabama rose by 6 percent, and onboarding of more than and that was team members’ work for project $20 million over the previous 500 employees in advance of a favorable to Hy-Vee’s customers progress and goal success rates. year, and gross profit dollars new store opening. and employees; the respective increased by $10 million over laws passed through the states’ She worked with the entire 2016. She was named to the Hy- legislatures and were signed by district leadership team on the Vee Hall of Fame in December their governors. openings of two new stores in She led a focus on King’s 2017 as the winner of the the Twin Cities area, and she Hawaiian products that result- Community Involvement Staff She revamped all government was a leader in Hy-Vee’s new ed in No. 1 sales, gross mar- Member award. relations communications, in- marketing strategy designed gin dollars and gross margin cluding the government relations for the media habits of today’s growth in her division. Caruthers’ community service newsletter, and engaged suc- customer. efforts are part of her daily life, cessfully with legislators across Ess assisted the Atlanta divi- most notably through her work to her four-state territory. Aiding the evolution of sion in leading the whole com- help create Count the Kicks, an the grocer’s approach to pany in a breakfast commodity initiative that encourages preg- Hart’s previous work with polit- advertising, Vogel and her team promotion that brought a 102 nant women to track their babies’ ical committees provided created the new Hy-Vee “Mega percent increase in sales and a movements during the third insight into how Hy-Vee’s political Ad” distributed each month, as 126 percent lift in units; she also trimester; the educational effort action committee can function well as other mailings customized championed United Way for deli/ has gained national attention. more effectively while improving for different customer segments bakery by helping to raise funds enrollment and communication. and markets. for the organization. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Jennifer Barnett Terri Coffey Maria St. Danielle Gordon District Meat Division Meat Germain Operations and Seafood and Seafood Division Deli/Bakery Specialist, Coordinator Merchandiser, Merchandiser, The Kroger Co./ The Kroger Co./ The Kroger Co./ The Kroger Co./ Columbus Cincinnati, Dayton Cincinnati, Dayton Cincinnati, Dayton Gordon became Overseeing operations and Coffey and her team rolled In addition to St. Germain’s an Our Promise specialist for 25 merchandising at 10 high-volume out meat/seafood expert responsibilities in her divi- stores last January; previously, meat and seafood district stores, training to teach store man- sion, she oversaw the Chef’s she was a store manager and Barnett also serves her division agers at 109 stores across Choice Catering business and was promoted to drug/general as a subject-matter expert for the the her division about the all functions that fell under the merchandise coordinator for two meat and seafood departments. department; the training catering umbrella; in 2017, she districts in 2017. helped managers respond to launched Fresh Kitchens within Since she assumed this role the needs of an ever-changing the division to offer pre-made She increased weekly sales in August 2017, sales have customer base. lunch and dinner solutions for in both districts by 4.7 percent increased by 2.8 percent, shrink customers. and 5 percent, respectively, has dropped by 1.1 percent and She saw a need to reinforce and customer satisfaction department friendly scores are best practices within the depart- Under her leadership, the scores also rose, thanks to up by 1.5 percent. ment and so implemented train- division saw an increase of her coaching of associates ing to reduce shrink by creating a 5.5 percent in deli/bakery and store leaders in merchan- A 25-year company veteran, new cutting test that was given to sales in 2017; identical sales dising, inventory control and Barnett graduated from Kroger’s 500-plus associates. increased 3 percent, and back-room best practices. Women’s Associate Group Re- she achieved positive bakery source Management Develop- Challenging the mundane shrink versus last year. Gordon boosted the district’s ment program; she helped build sales-planning process, Cof- center store sales and opera- the resource group and is now a fey introduced new promo- Currently mentoring four tions, working with department committee chair. tions in a market where cus- associates, St. Germain guided leaders to implement inventory tomer-shopping patterns had seven of her associates to management practices to im- changed, leading to growth in promotions in 2017. prove sales forecasting. sales and units.

April Markiewitz Felicia Delk Rachel Booker Jade Hoefer District Human Division Talent Grocery Deli/Bakery Resources and Development Merchandising Coordinator, Manager, Manager, Sales Manager, Kroger Co./ The Kroger Co./ The Kroger Co./ The Kroger Co./ Columbus Dallas Delta Although Hoefer only started her Markiewitz was recently Delk achieved division reduc- In 2017, Booker led key current role in October 2017, selected to be an Our Promise tion in turnover from 93 percent initiatives that helped push the she helped increase total de- specialist in her district; while still to 80 percent, with a bottom-line grocery department to an esti- partment sales at four locations a district human resources man- cost savings of $3.1 million. mated $1.7 billion in total sales, within one quarter, and she ager, from April 2017 to January which was a 4 percent increase wrote a manual for successful 2018, she improved her district’s She led the streamlining of over 2016. deli inventory processes. turnover rate by 12 percent. the pharmacy staffing process in her division, which was the She lobbied the Gen- In one store, she helped the She helped cut the turnover only one to undertake such a eral Assembly to allow expanded department turn a negative sales rate at two Toledo stores in her project, leading to a signifi- variety wine sales throughout the trend to positive with increases district; the first store went from cant drop in background er- state, except in dry counties. of 4.5 percent in deli and 4.3 85 percent to 64 percent in just rors; the new model has been percent in bakery. under a year, while the sec- recognized by the pharmacy Booker led the rollout of wine ond store’s rate plunged by 18 compliance committee and is in 19 stores across Arkansas When another store un- percent. being considered for adoption after gaining approval from the derwent a total remodel, a company-wide. state legislature, taking on such was added; with Markiewitz spearheaded duties as merchandising, pricing effective associate training, Kroger’s Six Steps to Success Delk successfully piloted a and training wine stewards; her Hoefer helped the coffee retention program in her district retention program that was ad- efforts resulted in an estimated shop achieve some of the to prepare HR managers for opted by 110 store locations and $7.8 million increase in wine sales highest daily sales perfor- success. reduced turnover; total head- in the state. mances in the division. count rose by 1,201 associates. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Marcie Wiles Inshirah Rhonda Etnire Katie Taylor Customer 1st Marchan District Human Division Talent Manager, Division Talent Resources Manager, and Development The Kroger Co./ and Development The Kroger Co./ Manager, Dillon’s Manager, The Kroger Co./ The Kroger Co./ Fred Meyer Wiles created Etnire oversees uplifting experiences for custom- Responsible for human the human resources opera- Taylor covers four states, ers, communities and associates resources talent for more than tions of 19 locations and 4,500 supporting talent initiatives and through her collaborative work on 11,000 associates across 129 associates. leading division hiring/retention, customer-based metrics, coach- stores, Marchan also oversees diversity and performance man- ing organizational teams and the company’s executive devel- Last year, she led her teams agement goals for about 39,000 working with associate cultural opment program. to reduce annual turnover, associates. councils. equaling $750,000 in savings to Recently promoted to her the company; she also conduct- She took on that role in July She developed a new current role, she modernized ed town hall meetings in seven 2017; since then, she has approach to standards walks, hiring, promotion and training locations selected as opportunity reduced the projected turnover bringing the entire leadership processes for her division, locations, helping to create action rate and saved the company an team to stores weekly for training including partnering to roll out a plans that led to improvements estimated $1.2 million. and development of manage- Start Fresh process for the Food in associate satisfaction surveys ment teams; the division and dis- 4 Less division; she also com- during a time of major organiza- Earlier this year, Taylor was tricts improved in all key overall pleted the USC-FIM program this tional change. asked to join the company’s customer satisfaction metrics. past year, in which her team won 9-Block Advisory Board, working the capstone project. Etnire’s fundraising effort to develop and roll out initiatives She is active in Kroger’s Wom- earned her a 2016-17 Gold for talent calibration; she also en’s Edge associate resource Marchan joined the mentoring Level Sponsor Award from Junior takes part in the Gold Star Club group and participates in several program for NEW of Southern Achievement of ; outside and the Gold Star Family Holiday community programs, from soup California and is a board member of work, she’s a member of the program, both of which offer kitchens to a “random act of at nonprofit Nerdrules Inc. American Heart Association’s assistance to associates affected kindness” event. Idaho executive leadership team. by financial setbacks.

Janine Whelan Rachel Browne Anne DiFilippo Rebekah Manis Division Produce Business Owner, Senior Digital Director of Investor Manager, Deli/Bakery, Marketing Manager, Relations, The Kroger Co./ The Kroger Co./ Corporate Digital The Kroger Co./ Fry’s General Office Marketing, General Office The Kroger Co./ General Office A 25-year Fry’s Browne part- Just promoted employee, Whelan most recently nered with division teams to DiFilippo develops marketing to a new role, Manis formerly took on the role of overseeing a create and roll out new solutions strategies to grow Kroger’s developed strategic planning sales territory of 122 stores, one in test stores, many based on ecommerce business, includ- initiatives and coordinated of many leadership positions associate feedback. ing ClickList pickup, home sales planning efforts across she’s held. delivery and ship-to-home, and all of the supermarket division, She and a team created a new also leads the corporate digital with budget oversight over In her short time in pro- training curriculum across 10 marketing plan for omnichannel $90 billion of retail sales and duce/floral, she’s spurred her store divisions, resulting in in- shopping experience. $26 billion of related gross department to exceed goals, creased performance indicators profits. achieving $8.3 million in citrus for deli/bakery; she designed She helped Kroger net a 188 sales for the fourth quarter; she operational best practices for the percent gain in new ecom- She developed merchandis- also championed the company’s launch of Kroger’s Prep+Pared merce customers, a 28 percent ing efforts associated with the Charmelia floral selling contest, meal kits and was instrumental increase in new digital accounts company’s Restock Kroger leading her division to the top of in the operational design of the and a 21 percent leap in digital strategy refresh in 2017, and the company. retailer’s first , which engaged households. also worked with cross-func- opened in 2017. tional teams to improve report- Whelan recently finished DiFilippo led a departmental ing and processes. her sixth term of the board of Active in Kroger’s Women’s resource group that improves directors for Chrysalis, a shelter EDGE associate resource group, associate engagement, and was Manis is junior board member for domestic violence, and is Browne is working on a black team captain for Cincinnati’s’ for the Children’s Home of actively involved in Fry’s volunteer belt in Six Sigma’s business Corporate Olympics benefiting Northern Kentucky and trea- activities. management strategy program. Special Olympics. surer for the Kroger United Way Campaign. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Alicia Pitocco Dana Thomas Kim Hryhorchuk Rene Kendrick Collaborative Category Manager, Human Resources District Category Cosmetics and Manager. Merchandising Optimization Nail Care, The Kroger Co./ Manager, The Manager, The Kroger Co./ Houston Kroger Co./ The Kroger Co./ General Office Louisville General Office Leading 17,500 Delivering a budget of $95 Thomas decides the full associates in Texas and Loui- Kendrick began 2017 as a million in strategy savings and assortment of cosmetics and siana, Hryhorchuk assists the pharmacy merchandiser for 95 category margin improvements, develops accompanying pro- division in driving training and pharmacies; later, she assumed Pitocco helps improve category motional strategies in all 2,700 development, oversees annual a special role as district mer- profitability. Kroger stores. workforce planning for 212 retail chandising manager. locations, and is responsible After a company reorganiza- She grew sales across several for health, welfare and pension As a pharmacy merchandiser, tion, her team doubled to 20 categories last year while driving benefits of hourly associates. she headed the second-busiest direct reports and she became a cost savings in hair care by col- division at Kroger; she also led key point of contact for multiple laborating with supplier partners; Ahead of Hurricane Harvey the Louisville division to be the merchandising leaders; in 2017, Thomas and her team identified last fall, she developed a hur- first chain in Kentucky to give she took on several high-priority three key strategies to deliver ricane contingency plan and Naloxone training to pharma- projects, all while working on a right assortment, pricing and secured leaders from across cists and provide the drug CCO process redesign. shopping experience in beauty. all regions of Kroger to help via protocol to those who’ve restock products and recover overdosed on opioids. In fewer than four years, Thomas completed the in the wake of the disaster. Pitocco has had four level YWCA Rising Star Leadership Kendrick is co-chair of the advancements at Kroger, and Program in 2017, recently went Hryhorchuk also launched a Louisville division chapter of gives back outside of work on a mission trip to South company-wide campaign that Kroger’s associate resource with organizations like Habitat Africa and is an active member raised more than $183,000 for group for women and an active for Humanity and her fami- of the women’s associate flood-affected associates in the volunteer in her church and ly-founded charitable group. resource group’s professional region. community, as well as in pro- development team at Kroger. fessional organizations.

Cynthia Logan Tracy Mobley Amanda Puck Kendall Thomas District Manager, Plant Manager, Director of Ecommerce The Kroger Co./ Cheese Center of Strategic Brand Specialist, The Louisville Excellence Leader, Development, Kroger Co./ The Kroger Co./ The Kroger Co./ Mariano’s Going into her Manufacturing Mariano’s 25th year at Kroger, For the Logan leads store teams in Under Mobley’s leadership, Puck has been described Mariano’s banner, Thomas planning, implementing and ex- year-end 2017 total plant effi- as one of Mariano’s biggest oversees day-to-day store ecuting merchandising and op- ciency was the highest since cheerleaders, heading brand operations for ClickList. erations initiatives to help build 2011, having seen a dramatic development for that banner store sales and gross profits. 14 percentage-point improve- through social media, public re- In the past six months, she ment in 2016 and another five lations and special events; she’s has helped open 17 locations Her district netted the high- percentage-point rise in 2017. also involved in culinary and and train store teams on the est sales volume for the Louis- marketing initiatives and guides system and service expectations, ville division and experienced Other milestone metrics that relationships with Mariano’s streamlining the training process a 54 percent increase in the she achieved throughout the “Tastemakers.” to save on overall expenses retention rate. year included improvements in contributed to the openings; by cost per unit and material loss for She positively affected the the end of 2018, all Mariano’s In the spirit of Kroger’s Zero two consecutive years, as well community with Stuff the locations will feature ClickList. Hunger Zero Waste initiative, as managing a record EBITDA Squad store events for local Logan is a strong community in 2017. food pantries, and a Girls Under Thomas’ leadership, supporter: Her district donated on the Run partnership to ClickList has been on an upward more than a half-million pounds Mobley received a Kroger support Mariano’s initiative to trend week over week, and she of food last year — a 20 percent Manufacturing Excellence raise 1 million pounds of food often adds thoughtful gestures increase — to God’s Pantry Award, along with the Kroger for two food banks. like ensuring that customers Food Bank, which she addition- Iceberg Award, given to a plant receive a cookie, water or hot ally serves as a volunteer and a for 365 days without an OSHA In her personal time, Puck vol- cocoa; this policy fits with her member of its board of directors. recordable, and the Kroger Eagle unteers with the Greater Chicago volunteer spirit, as she also gives Award for Quality Excellence. Food Depository. time to a local food bank. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Marci Reynolds Linh Lee Franice Wilder Aubriana Clinical Sales Pharmacy Floral Director, Martindale Manager, The Merchandiser, The The Kroger Division Corporate Kroger Co./QFC Kroger Co./ Co./Roundy’s Affairs Manager, The Kroger Co./Smith’s Reynolds coor- Lee manag- dinates pharmacy es marketing, Wilder stops and Martindale marketing and merchandising merchandising and strategic smells the roses — and makes enhances Smith’s reputation by plans for QFC, where she applies planning for 80 Ralphs phar- the floral programs at Roundy’s elevating its unique story through her knowledge on local market macies, and develops division better: She creates selling plans, external/internal communications, trends and customer needs. sales budgets and execution floral plans, layout schedules sustainability, social responsi- measurements. and sales budgets, among other bility and community relations, In 2017, she helped ensure that responsibilities. overseeing a $2.1 million budget pharmacy managers got more She was instrumental in the and spearheading corporate and autotomy, and was instrumen- evolution of Ralphs pharmacies She has been promoted public affairs efforts across seven tal in QFC’s selection for pilot in 2017, as the department was seven times since starting with western states. programs, including a diabetes integrated into the overall stores; Roundy’s as a cashier 13 years prevention program and an influ- despite store closures last year, ago; in 2017, she brought collec- Thanks to her work, $12 million enza screening initiative. she helped grow pharmacy sales tions-themed displays to life and was donated to benefit commu- by $210 million and boosted also exceeded sales budget ex- nities in which Smith’s operates; She was site coordinator for clinical services volume. pectations by $1 million, among among other initiatives, she the Project VACCINATE program other accomplishments. launched the Zero Hunger Zero to increase local immunization Lee is currently president-elect Waste program last year. rates, which won the 2018 Amer- of the Orange County Pharma- Wilder is part of Frani Cares 2, ican Pharmacists Association cists Association and a member a five-person team of volunteers Martindale and the Smith’s Immunization Champions Award; of several industry boards and that aims to educate inner-city organization received an Amer- Reynolds will be credited for her associations, including the Acad- Milwaukee children ages 5 to 18 ican Red Cross Compassion in role in the Journal of the Ameri- emy of Managed Care Pharmacy on how to change their commu- Action Award and recognition can Pharmacists Association. and the Specialty Pharmacy nities by acting. as Albuquerque Pride Center’s Association of America. OUTstanding Major Corporation, among other accolades.

Haritha Reddy Camille Balfanz Diane Moravits Robin Afrik Senior Director, Brand Manager, Director of Sales, Diversity and Business Litehouse Inc. San Antonio Inclusion Manager, Intelligence, Division, Maher Meijer The Kroger Co./ Balfanz manag- Marketing es core dress- Afrik leads ing, Litehouse’s Moravits is Meijer’s efforts to Reddy is the architect and largest retail line; helps execute responsible for all meat, seafood promote diversity and inclusion: leader of VitaCost’s business all company national promo- and frozen sales in Texas for She directs the company’s intelligence systems. tions; and oversees the brand’s her client, H-E-B, by sourcing, Diversity and Inclusion Council to business in Mexico. securing and maintaining lines increase demographic diversity, In 2017, she led her team to of product; she’s the only female and created the framework for write a full replacement for the Since she came on board sales representative calling on team member resource groups. company’s parcel spend man- at the company, she has H-E-B’s meat department. agement vendor, ultimately sav- launched six new products In 2017, the organization was ing VitaCost $450,000 annually and spearheaded a complete In a challenging retail climate, recognized as one of the best and increasing shipping credits package redesign; she also she grew the business by 27 places to work for disability inclu- from carriers; the team worked brought Litehouse, NatureSweet percent and helped Maher Mar- sion; Gov. Rick Snyder closely with the Email Marketing tomatoes and Fresh Express keting win a Broker of the Year highlighted Meijer’s sustainable Group to win the 2018 Marketing salads together for a unique and award, based in part on securing best practices in valuing team Innovation Award from service successful brand partnership new items with Bob Evans; she members with disabilities. provider Selligent at a recent user that led to a 36 percent increase also implemented several new conference. in units sold during the promo- items to support H-E-B’s Meal Afrik works with several tional period. Simple program. organizations that improve Based on her outstanding local communities and enhance achievements, Reddy was asked Balfanz is treasurer of the Outside of work, she helps with dialogues, including the Women to lead the technical design board at Panhandle Animal the San Antonio Rodeo Livestock at Meijer team member resource and implementation of a similar Shelter and a “class president” of Association. group and the Holland/Zeeland business intelligence system for Leadership Sandpoint. Community Foundations. the Kroger digital team. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Cynthia Emily Henao Karen Melody Carbonaro Director, Marketing Langeland Langeland Team Leader, Strategy, Campaign Divisional Senior Director, Market Asset Planning and Merchandise Application Protection, Meijer Development, Manager, Soft Managed Services, Meijer Home, Meijer Meijer Carbonaro Overall, Henao Langeland drives Langeland is supports a culture of safety and guided Meijer through a notable the strategic direction of soft responsible for all software, “200 percent accountability” in the process of transforming project home (home textiles, seasonal applications and systems in North Chicago market, working management, directing market- and crafts) for Meijer, covering Meijer’s operations. with market directors and store ing strategy and brand develop- pricing, assortment, brands, directors on programs devoted ment across the business. marketing, store presentation Last year, she undertook the to personal safety, asset security, and product development. largest transition in IT operations regulatory compliance and shrink Among her many other accom- that Meijer has undergone in prevention. plishments in 2017, she devel- She fueled a 36 percent the past four decades, saving oped various campaigns and increase in sales of cold-weath- millions of dollars and helping She was given a stretch programs for more than $100 er bedding, turning it from an simplify and standardize the assignment in addition to her million in paid media, exceeded area of flat sales to an in-store company’s software environ- customary role, leading three fiscal-year revenue goals and destination; following an internal ment; she additionally directed out of four markets to achieve led Meijer Marketing to win an company culture assessment, the digital coupon program, their safety and shrink goals, and impressive 30 ADDY Awards. Langeland created a new road which now includes 2 million received the 2017 Market Asset map for measuring her team’s members. Protection Manager Award. Mentoring is a priority for Hen- direction and results. ao, who cites her father as her Also in 2017, she merged the Carbonaro has given time to earliest and most enduring men- She volunteers with a local group she founded, Women in many organizations, including toring relationship; she shares organization that fights child- IT, with Meijer’s Women in Retail National Night Out, Just One her time and talent with Meijer’s hood hunger, and takes to and Women in Supply Chain Inc., Shop with a Cop and local Sustainability Council and the heart her role as a mentor to groups to create a new resource rescue-dog programs. Women at Meijer resource group. team members. group, Women at Meijer.

Amy Brondyke Elizabeth Hana Golden Stephanie Specialist, Gastineau Senior Marketing Kinney Interactive Sales Key Account Manager, PepsiCo SC Operations, and Support, Manager, Frito-Lay Senior Manager Peapod LLC, an North America Golden covers all Pepsi Beverages Ahold Delhaize USA Division, PepsiCo shopper marketing Co., PepsiCo Company strategic develop- Brondyke helped lead the Pea- Gastineau covers Frito-Lay’s ment/activation for the more than In April 2017, Kinney began her pod Preferred Partners program, Heartland region, encompassing $1.5 billion Frito-Lay, Quaker and role leading all Pepsi Beverages driving its highest revenue level, Roundy’s, Mariano’s, Kroger chilled beverages category for Cos. (PBC) region transformation with a more than 20 percent banner Food 4 Less and Meijer, PepsiCo at Kroger. work for the California region. partner revenue increase above and representing $110 million in plan; she delivered significant ticket sales. In mid-summer 2017, she That same year, she led the revenue to margins in partner led the beginning operation of Geo Box conversion for six fees and media buys. She developed market-lead- PepsiCo’s proprietary house- locations and 159 routes, which ing local sports promotions for hold media tool, which has has increased productivity and She and her team developed three customers: Meijer, Kroger changed the company’s ability improved safety and turnover and implemented such suc- and Roundy’s; one example to deliver return-on-investment results. cessful initiatives as pre-or- was the development of the and efficacy measures. dering product not yet on the first Roundy’s-specific Green Kinney also rolled out Chilled market and advancing the Bay Packers program. Golden delivered significant Transformation across the baby category. improvements of return on invest- region, deploying eight locations Gastineau also oversaw the ment, with a 7 percent increase; and 186 routes in 2017, and will Brondyke helped lead an ex- development and in-market she also led the creative devel- deploy another seven locations tension of the Olympics program activation of the first-ever Mei- opment for EDGE technology, and 220 routes in 2018; her work to the company, marking the first jer-specific Chicago Bears and partnering with Kroger to deliver on both Geo Box and Chilled time that a program was lever- Colts programs, with brand-relevant content at the Transformation was rated best in aged broadly over partner brands both customers gaining share of point of , a first for a brand class for PBC. in 26 markets and Peapod. market. and a national grocer. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Jyoti Kaylee Niestrom Aminta Price Stephanie Rivera Mujumudar Key Account Customer Manager, Sales/Category Senior Category Manager, Frito-Lay Senior Director Management, Advisor for Dollar North America Costco, Frito-Lay Senior Manager, General, Frito-Lay Division, PepsiCo North America North America North America Division, PepsiCo Commercial Category Leadership, PepsiCo Division, PepsiCo Niestrom’s cus- In her previous Mujumudar manages nation- tomers needed help in matching role, Price increased the joint Rivera led a joint busi- al Frito-Lay insights and cate- brand strategies with customer business-planning (JBP) process ness-planning process with gory leadership for PepsiCo’s needs, which she ably provided. for the Texoma region, with more Publix, resulting in outstanding account, a $500 regional account participation by customer alignment for 2018 Big million portfolio. For Woodman’s, she es- such retailers as Kroger and Alb- Bets; through her leadership, tablished Frito-Lay’s first joint ertsons; a key win was conversion PepsiCo achieved major incre- Under her leadership, Dollar business-planning process; she of the salty set from subcategory mental space gains in multiple General became the No. 1 changed Frito-Lay’s relationship to vendor set in 2018. categories, including the grow- Frito-Lay North America growth with Kwik Trip from transactional ing Starbucks brand and water, customer in absolute dollars to a joint partnership to gain In , salty and giving placement for Pepsi’s in 2017 in the United States; distribution, perimeter planning Frito-Lay gained more than largest innovation of the year. she worked with the retailer to and local marketing; and with 1,000 linear feet due to Price’s exceed the net revenue plan by , she used account work with category manage- She was acknowledged as a $14.4 million, and as a result, sa- management principles to deliver ment and customers. valuable member of the team by vory share gained 1.1 points and successes beneficial to both Publix leadership for insights and salty share gained one point. businesses, growing top-line With H-E-B, teams aligned analytics leading to mutual growth. sales by 7.3 percent and gaining during JBP to increase clean/ Mujumudar grew Dollar Gener- share in the savory category. premium space; thanks to the Recently promoted, Rivera al Frito-Lay North America sales process that Price put in place, leads the category advisory team and share growth in identification Niestrom helped all three Frito-Lay is leading salty growth for the two largest Northeast of stores with best-destination retailer customers gain share of in Texoma grocery year to date. grocery customers, overseeing treatment for 4-foot sets. market in snacks. the total PepsiCo portfolio.

Katie Schiavone Christina Fuller LaJeanna Marie Matacia Senior Director, Category Jennings Senior Manager, Shopper, Development Grocery Supply Customer and Marketing, North Senior Account Chain Leader, Market Knowledge, American Nutrition Executive, Kroger Team, Publix and Grocery and Gatorade, DX Procter & Gamble Procter & Gamble Omnichannel, Shopper Marketing, Procter & Gamble PepsiCo Fuller leads the P&G Publix One of four CPG members of Schiavone’s major 2017 HBC category management the supply chain board, Jennings Matacia leads all research, an- accomplishment was leading the group, supporting $200 million manages $1 billion of supply alytics and insight generation for Quaker Overnight Oats launch, in retail dollars for total category across 10-plus sites and one of grocery omnichannel and Publix. which ranks No 1 in Quaker management of hair and skin the largest supply chains in all of history; she created customized care of more than $35 million. Kroger CPGs. She led the first cross-retailer overlays for programmed cus- omnichannel “Store Choice” re- tomers and drove more than 60 She helped grow the total P&G She developed an omni search to identify why shoppers percent of the total volume. HBC business ahead of total U.S. supply chain strategy for Kroger choose an online retailer over share, with a gain of 30 basis that will deliver the No. 1 source a brick-and-mortar store, even At Albertsons, her team lever- points and core sales delivera- of new growth in the next five when the online option is the aged shopper and retailer data bles more than 3.5 points ahead years via consumers, stores, same, as with Kroger; the output targeting 2.1 million high-value of total U.S. measures. distribution centers and the led to improvements of more breakfast households with digital company; she also created a than $2 million. media and card offers; as a result Fuller created a category man- holistic supply chain analysis for of the 12-week trial program, agement skill tracker to identify pick, fulfillment and packing. Matacia is the consumer and Albertsons led the grocery opportunities for improvement in market knowledge training (CMK) category in scans ($207,000) and the team, and led a training pro- Jennings devised rapid-re- leader for B2 College, which NOD (3,971). gram to make progress in those sponse displays/out-of-stock achieved a high overall score of areas; on her own time, she and solutions, as a result of which 4.5 out of 5; her contribution to Schiavone also led other suc- her husband founded a nonprofit sales increased by 25 percent the success of future CMK man- cessful launches for G Flow and organization to provide tutoring and out-of-stocks decreased by agers was recognized by multiple Tropicana Probiotics. to underprivileged students. 32 percent. directors and associate directors within the company. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Aileen Thu-Hien Ronas Jennifer Lesley Daniels Musselman Associate Director, Williams Director, Sales Senior Account Meijer, H-E-B and Marketing Manager, and Account Executive, , Procter Kroger Team, Development, Procter & Gamble & Gamble Procter & Gamble Produce for Kids

Musselman has In September Williams has Responsible direct selling responsibility for 2014, Ronas joined the Meijer marketing responsibilities for $1 for sales of Produce for Kids’ P&G fabric care at Ahold Del- consumables team after several billion in sales, with an emphasis programs across the United haize USA, ($95 million in sales) years of inconsistent growth and on programs that deliver more States and Canada, Daniels also and is P&G household needs led the quarter-billion-dollar busi- than 50 percent of the growth to oversees promotions, in-store team leader at Ahold Delhaize ness to sustainable growth for 13 Kroger. displays, contracts, events, main- USA ($340 million.) consecutive quarters across all taining vendor relationships, and categories. She established a new recruiting new retail and vendor In her second year of delivering benchmark for CPG and partners. outstanding results (two-year Over the past three years, her retailer co-marketing programs compound annual growth rate business has grown 16 percent, using broad-scale advertising Since joining Produce for Kids of 7 percent), she’s growing P&G five times that of competing and social media activation in July 2017, she has fulfilled her sales by 7 percent and total cate- retailers in the remaining market. (Febreze-Super Bowl), with the responsibilities of selling-in and gory sales by 2 percent annually; companies’ first-ever use of execution of the largest year- Tide, the second-largest P&G Ronas received the Great in-store pallets that successfully round program the company brand at Ahold Delhaize USA, is Manager of Others award from sold through. has launched to date, with 17 growing by 8 percent. P&G leadership and employees produce companies taking part, in 2017 for having developed Williams launched a first-time 14 of them returning participants A seasoned leader with 25 and coached new hires at the Tide-NASCAR activation that and three of them new sponsors. years of industry experience, company, including 50 percent generated more than 12 million Musselman was recognized by of her high-performing, dynamic, impressions and helped Kroger Formerly the own brand P&G as the Fabric Care Execu- multifunctional sales team, which gain almost three times its fair strategic soucing manager at tive of the Year; she’s also active- has delivered strong results over share of the Tide Oxi launch, Giant Eagle, Daniels brought ly involved with the Network of the past three years, and contin- combining new demand with two new retailers to the Produce Executive Women ues to earn recognition. in-store execution. for Kids program.

Alexis Foreman Anne Morrone Christina Dianne Graves Director of Manager II Franklin Assistant General Employee Relations, Logistics, Retail Director, Space Counsel, Save-A- Redner’s Markets Business Services, Management, Lot Food Stores an Ahold Delhaize Markets Promoted to the USA Company Under Graves’ role of Redner’s Overseeing all leadership, respon- director of employee relations With financial governance planogram updates, center store sibility for managing workers’ in 2017, in which capacity she responsibility for the logistics fixturing and store resets, Franklin compensation, general liability oversees more than 4,500 em- department, including budget developed an official reset team and other claims transitioned ployees and is the company’s development and execution, for Rouses in 2017. away from the former parent wellness coordinator, Foreman Morrone developed the sched- company, Supervalu. assisted in the transition from a uling system known as the A dedicated problem solver, traditional health care plan to a Integrated Management System she coordinated the reset/refresh Over the past few months, she health care exchange. (IMS); her work has been critical of 30-plus stores, helping the has conducted an evaluation to creating the right system for company gross more than $1 of the claims intake process, She also became the HIPPA the company. billion, and developed a process proposing a simplification to se- compliance officer this year and and tracking system for all nior management and reducing has initiated several programs in Her leadership of the IMS for requested updates via business intake steps from eight to three; this area. inbound logistics has affected all unit to space planning. implementation will take place distribution and transportation; this summer. An assistant and consultant in the initiative will drive efficiency Franklin is currently working human resources strategy, with by removing $10 million from the on a category business plan Graves and her team proposed ultimate responsibility for pre- supply chain and enable visibility process and a timeline for new litigation counsel across the serving the employee-employer and execution. category managers to ensure country where formerly approved relationship through the design that timelines are followed and litigation outside counsel were of the company’s employee rela- In 2017, Morrone helped drive opportunities aren’t missed, underperforming or over- tions strategy, Foreman advised department growth and captured and acts as a planogram liaison whelmed; under her supervision the VP of human resources in an additional 13.4 percent of between Rouses and manufac- a record number of litigation strategic areas. savings from other initiatives. turers’ representatives. matters — 49 — was resolved. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Kendra Shaw Megan Jennifer Giselle Restrepo Regional Director, Siedlarczyk Holmberg Senior Manager, Florida East, Save- District Manager, Senior Manager, Consumer Insights A-Lot Food Stores Save-A-Lot Food Product and Analytics, Stores Development, Schwan’s Consumer Brands Inc. In her previous Schwan’s Co. role as director of Siedlarczyk Holmberg is se- Bringing a operations for another company began her career as a part- nior product development/inno- one-company view of the before joining Save-A-Lot this time clerk and rose through the vation category manager across consumer and marketplace to past September and taking ranks to assume responsibility Schwan’s dessert portfolio. business unit leaders and other over her current territory three for a district consisting of six leadership teams, Restrepo months later, Shaw made stores; during her tenure, she She led a cross-functional drives learning to all areas of the significant contributions to has helped improve operational team pursuing a multimillion-dol- company and interfaces with all improvements in operational measures such as sales, profit lar growth opportunity, develop- of Schwan’s business units. efficiencies, including $700 mil- and turnover while reducing ing a new product according to lion in revenue, 6 percent sales expense allocations to increase customer specifications; in spite She leads a team of growth comps and a 7 percent net profitability. of a short delay, the product was cross-functional partners who decrease in inventory shrink. delivered and Schwan’s won the each have a stake in monitoring Overseeing 100 team mem- business. food trends; the team is currently She also helped empower bers, she also acts as a trainer designing a trends summit for staff, from entry-level to director, for other markets. As part of Schwan’s commit- corporate employees. resulting in 100 intra-corporate ment to eliminate four ingredient promotions and a 20 percent Siedlarczyk decreased her groups in its products for health- Restrepo played a key role in reduction in turnover. operating expenses by 20 and-wellness reasons, Holmberg providing guidance for Schwan’s percent, which directly affected led the change in ice cream and ingredient simplicity initiative, Currently overseeing 55 the profitability of her district, pie formulas; even though the building a Consumer Empathy Save-A-Lot stores, Shaw sits on and was influential in develop- transition involved a large number platform where teams can learn the new staffing matrix and job ing her team’s competencies in of SKUs, the work was complet- to think as target consumers do. description committees. respect to operations. ed at the end of 2017.

Michelle Jessica Angela Tracy Cleaves Delamielleure Longshore McKeand Front End Director, Consumer Director, Field Director, Strategic Operations Senior Insights and Sales Strategy, Growth Channels Director, Skogen’s Analytics, Schwan’s Consumer Marketing, Schwan’s Consumer Brands Inc. Schwan’s Consumer Brands Inc. Brands Inc. By looking for In her first year, Longshore’s best practices in each store Representing the consumer team won Zone of the Year in the McKeand acquired cross-func- and implementing them across in all strategy aspects, Delamiel- East region. tional leadership alignment and the company, Cleaves created leure has instilled a consum- support in the creation of a new efficiencies that reduced labor by er-first perspective within the She was promoted to director channel marketing vision and more than $400,000 during the organization by keeping the of field sales strategy, in which go-to-market capabilities; she last . consumer front and center in capacity one of her first tasks was charged with building a all business decisions; this was was to lead the launch and dedicated support team and After listening carefully to cus- accomplished through training ongoing management of developing long-term strategies tomer complaints that receipts sessions and presentation. new hand-held technology, for this channel. were difficult to understand, providing teams with tools for she redesigned them and then She guided her team to create best-in-class execution. She spearheaded initial cus- worked with the vendor partner infographics to share learnings, tomer discovery conversations, to implement the changes. developing and implementing Longshore developed a teasing out what shoppers’ an enterprise-wide best-in-class checklist and an action plan to needs were. Responsible for the assess- approach to consumer-first ensure that newly hired area ment and performance of more innovation for Schwan’s. managers had the necessary The sales team of a strategic than 2,500 associates, Cleaves equipment, standard operating customer came to McKeand created a new training program Delamielleure conducted large- procedures and knowledge, to oversee the development for customer service representa- scale brand-equity studies across testing the process with her of a new product representing tives and launched a new online every brand within Schwan’s retail own managers and then shar- multimillion-dollar growth for associate training program, The portfolio, and used these learnings ing it broadly with her Schwan’s; she involved many Hub, which attained 94 percent to find opportunities for improve- peer group. areas within the company to suc- participation. ment of the company’s brands. cessfully create the product. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Melissa Van Madelyn Brooks Kim Cook Amanda Cuellar Gheem Human Resources General Manager, Corporate Human Resources Manager, Associate Transportation and Merchandising Director, Skogen’s Relations and Traffic, Smart & Final Manager, Festival Foods Compliance, Smart & Final Smart & Final Van Gheem led Managing a complete trans- The corporate negotiations and Through training, formation of the Festival Foods office underwent a major change the selection process with all Cuellar strove to elevate the work performance management in 2017, and Brooks played a sig- third-party carriers, as well as $3 performance not only of her process, abandoning perfor- nificant role in helping corporate million in backhaul revenue, Cook team, but also of associates di- mance ratings to use career and staff manage and work through helped drive improvement of rectly affected by Smart & Final’s engagement discussions. the change. inbound transportation on-time project work. performance from 81 percent Her new associate empow- California requires that all in 2016 to 85 percent in 2017 She helped create a centralized erment program, You’ll Love management staff complete a through a partnership with the merchandising internet portal It, We Promise, gives every workplace harassment training buying team. that houses all current docu- associate, regardless of rank, session every two years, so, as ments needed for remodels and the ability to do anything, 2017 was a training year for the She created and implemented new store projects, and was part using their discretion, to solve company, she ensured that all an innovative less-than-load of the team working on the new a customer’s problem. associates completed this train- (LTL) backhaul program with the tag and sign program, which ing through a new online system. potential to increase backhaul rolled out this year. Van Gheem rolled out the On- revenues by 20 percent. boarding Playbook, which helps Brooks saved the company Cuellar controlled all budgets reduce turnover and targets the more than $3 million in un- A certified Oz accountabil- on capital projects, underspend- first three critical months of em- employment claims and work ity trainer, Cook worked with ing on most; 2017 merchandising ployment; she was also selected opportunity tax credits (WOTC), Unipro and current carriers to projects that she participated to train department managers in and moved the company from add 20-plus vendors and more in included 14 new stores, five collaborative leadership. paper WOTC forms to online. than $250,000 in revenue to the major remodels, five expansions backhaul program in 2017. and 22 natural food additions.

Aishia Kindig Katrina Kristie Mary Brunsting Human Resource Peterson Bohn-Berman Director of Manager, Category Manager, Real Estate Network Systems Supply Chain, Southeastern Manager, Engineering, Smart & Final Grocers SpartanNash SpartanNash

Kindig led a Known for her Last year, A strong leader campaign to award and rec- pricing and category man- Bohn-Berman led a team effort within SpartanNash’s informa- ognize important and top-per- agement expertise, Peterson in reviewing outstanding leases tion technology unit, Brunsting forming employees, and also developed a streamlined pricing and early terminations that netted was responsible for a string of created Smart & Final’s new survey process that kept South- a savings of $2.94 million for network systems improvements Supply Chain Manager of the eastern Grocers priced compet- SpartanNash. that helped her company better Year award. itively at the market level across track, measure and identify more all stores, and was updated She was instrumental in a than 120 project requests from As a member of the company’s weekly based on market condi- major acquisition involving the business partners. HR team, Kindig oversees two tions; she also created a process integration of five new facilities, distribution centers as well as allowing the team to plan circular including the company’s first She leads a 15-person team a crew of private fleet drivers; activity further into the future. USDA-certified food-processing that has deployed improvements she has improved the flow of plant, and supported wholesale and upgrades in data and video communication and engagement She won the company’s Mer- distribution when independent technology for all SpartanNash between upper management chandising Triple Crown Award customers consolidated and sold locations and their customers. and associates. twice in a row, beating plan numerous retail locations. metrics for Q3 and Q4 in fiscal Brunsting was selected by Kindig works closely with ye a r 2017. Bohn-Berman was a key player senior leadership to serve as a Smart & Final’s charitable when SpartanNash’s military volunteer lead for SpartanNash’s foundation, not only volunteering Peterson is involved with the distribution network won a multi- Helping Hands in the Commu- hours herself, but also recruiting Frozen & Refrig- million-dollar contract with a 90- nity Day; this year’s effort raised fellow employees to join in, espe- erated Food Association as day implementation window and $76,600 for local community cially for winter holiday events. one of ’ it became imperative to lease a organizations. delegates. 30,000-square-foot warehouse. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Karen Carlye Cordes Amy Ellis Sherry Ferebee Calligaris- Consumer Pharmacy MDV Division Rodriguez Relations Manager, Services Manager, Controller, Pharmacy SpartanNash SpartanNash SpartanNash Procurement Manager and Adept at Recently, Ellis led A self-professed Pharmacy Warehouse Manager, SpartanNash understanding the clinical team’s Microsoft Excel customer styles and segmen- initiatives to improve medication “geek,” Ferebee has striven to Managing two direct reports tations, Cordes, who manages therapy management (MTM) make the MDV finance depart- within warehouse and pharmacy, consumer relations at more than services by collaborating with ment’s systems more user-friend- Calligaris-Rodriguez led a prod- 140 corporate-owned stores physician offices to improve ly and efficient, earning kudos uct and price evaluation effort to in eight states, as well as at patient care; the effort also led to from colleagues along the way. decrease the cost of goods by 40-plus fuel centers, is noted by increased revenues of $200,000. $1.5 million in 2017. Spartan Nash as a key player in She also played a critical helping the retailer deliver a more She was also a key player in role in developing an overall She also led a project that personal and relevant message expanding the Opioid Safety process for the new Revenue resulted in the opening of to the consumer. Project to 61 Michigan phar- Recognition Standard, devel- SpartanNash’s first warehouse macies, in the process making oping tracking systems and an and pharmacy in October 2017, Her work on SpartanNash’s SpartanNash the first major ongoing review procedure of and a new and more efficient loyalty program accounted for grocery retailer in Michigan to the contracts as required by state licensing and accreditation more than $11 million in incre- offer this kind of program. the new accounting guidance. process within the firm. mental sales in 12 months. Ellis is a member of the Michi- As a SpartanNash Community Active in her community, Cordes devotes her time gan Pharmacists Association, the Captain for the Norfolk Service Calligaris-Rodriguez volunteers in the community to various American Pharmacists Associ- Center, Ferebee organized more for the American Cancer Society organizations, including Kids’ ation and the National Council than a half-dozen events, includ- and the Walk for Life, as well as Food Basket, and also teaches for Prescription Drug Programs; ing Helping Hands Day, Earth for the Knights of dance to young children in her locally, she sits on the Kent Week and the SpartanNash Columbus Honor Guard. own studio. County Opioid Task Force. Foundation Pledge Campaign.

Janis Huffman Trish Jones Lauren Mills Cassandra Nino Pharmacy MDV Division Marketing Analytics Grocery Category Operations Customer Supervisor, Manager, Manager, Service Manager, SpartanNash SpartanNash SpartanNash SpartanNash Regarded as a As a grocery Overseeing goals Jones oversees thought leader in category manager and performance management 14 area managers across - her company, Mills was instru- on special assignment, Nino for pharmacists and pharmacy tanNash’s military network, and mental in leveraging resources was called upon by Spartan- technicians in 61 locations, Huff- has been pivotal in maintaining and business partnerships while Nash’s senior management to man drove a $400,000 reduction the company’s close relation- creating efficiencies that have re- oversee innovations in forecast- in labor costs. ship with more than 130 unique sulted in reducing SpartanNash’s ing, budgeting and reporting, as military customer installation annual expenses in one area by well as a number of cross-func- She was instrumental in locations. more than $750,000. tional projects and process building SpartanNash’s Central improvement efforts. Fill initiative; for the program’s She helped lead the rollout of Using her aptitude for digging expansion, she identified the SpartanNash’s exclusive military into the specifics of the compa- She also played a critical role building design, workflow private-brand program, increas- ny’s data to solve problems, she in the transition of SpartanNash’s process and logistics, and ing speed to shelf and fill voids has also been a critical part of once-exclusive Our Family brand established a second prescrip- on products. training SpartanNash’s marketing to the Michigan marketplace tion-fill machine and associated and analyst teams. of 87 corporate-owned stores technology to accommodate A current board member of and nearly 400 independent the increased volume. the Hampton Roads American Mills developed and improved customers. Logistic Association (ALA), Jones many of SpartanNash’s new Huffman is a member of the has also volunteered for the past analytic processes while making Nino was selected by senior Michigan Pharmacists Associa- 25 years with the organization to its quarterly process of gathering management to serve as one tion and the Network of Execu- help with military family Christ- business results, industry trends of its 2017 Innovation Award tive Women; she is also active in mas assistance programs, and and analytic feedback more judges, due to her extensive her church and volunteers as a also to raise funds for various efficient and user-friendly. knowledge of the industry and Sunday school teacher. scholarships. its innovations. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Kenya Phillips Carrie Quigley Kate Gibson Evette Smith MDV Division Director of Director of Grocery Category Inventory Control the Project Vitamins, Sprouts Manager, Sprouts Manager, Management Farmers Markets Farmers Markets SpartanNash Office, In charge of SpartanNash Phillips’ leader- Sprouts’ key Responsible ship and dedication Heading up all of vitamin categories, for liaising with to getting the job done resulted in Spartan Nash’s major undertak- Gibson has been pivotal in the 300 stores nationwide, Smith SpartanNash’s successful support ings in information technology, category’s growth and profitabil- was able to turn around several of military customers during an Quigley oversaw 129 projects ity; she additionally helps lead underperforming categories by accelerated timeline of less than involving 24 retail, 51 distribu- the company’s Vitamin Camp, in building best-in-class vendor two months from job inception to tion, 15 food manufacturing and which Sprouts team members partnerships that also led to completion; she helped enable the 39 service center tech-based engage in a training program the creation of more profitable project to be completed on time initiatives. to enhance their knowledge of customer-centric promotional and on budget. vitamin products. strategies. She is recognized by the While managing a team of company for building useful tech A leader in team member She led Sprouts’ direct specialists, she has kept an tools to increase efficiencies and product education, merchan- warehouse initiative, in which she inventory accuracy level of more for spearheading improvements dising, category promotions built processes and systems that 99.7 percent annually. in its manufacturing process, and vendor onboarding, she enabled the company to increase which was previously plagued by also manages Sprouts’ private direct buying, and was instru- Phillips is also involved with system issues. label supplement line, which mental in training new category the Network of Executive contains about 450 SKUs. managers. Women, the largest women’s Quigley has also served as a leadership organization serving committee member on behalf Gibson was awarded the Smith is instrumental in the retail and consumer goods of SpartanNash for the Uniform “Learn and Grow Together” organizing and facilitating industry, and organizes charity Communication Standard com- Sprouts Values Award in 2017 SproutsFest, a two-day table- fundraising events at her Co- mittee for the past five years, and for her inspiring leadership top educational event that the lumbus, Ga., facility. coaches for her local American and outstanding contributions retailer holds each year for 400 Youth Soccer Organization. to the company. vendors and more than 700 Sprouts team members.

Kelli Walter Michele Laura Rajchel Sheila Walton Dairy Category Merchant Human Resources Human Resources Manager, Sprouts Category Manager, Business Partner II, Business Partner, Farmers Markets Dairy, Stop & Shop Stop & Shop Stop & Shop

As grocery Merchant Cited for her Supporting two category manager, previously led an ability to create districts consisting Walter quickly turned around ethnic merchandising team at a positive culture, Rajchel leads of 42 stores and two separate underperforming categories Ahold USA that saw ethnic, Stop & Shop’s endeavors to keep district teams, Walton is lauded through innovative product specialty and kosher food sales managers consistent with regard for her ability to create an inclu- offerings and relevant promo- growth outpace total store to company policies/practices, sive environment, drive customer tions; over the past year,she was sales growth. legal considerations, compliance engagement and act as a skilled subsequently named frozen food regulations and company priori- labor relations specialist within category manager and, most In her latest role at Stop & ties, while advocating both com- her stores. recently, dairy category manager. Shop, she was challenged with pany and associate concerns, taking on responsibility for dairy, providing insights and leading She received the Women She played a key role in which also included training a action-planning efforts. Who Rock award for her HR bringing local products to new whole new team of analysts, achievements, participates in the markets while also leading the while making time to nurture and She has been key to expanding company’s Woman Adding Value department training program and maintain good vendor relation- Stop & Shop’s Women Adding program, volunteers her time for new product training webinars. ships and drive private-brand Value (WAV) program, which all of the International Women’s growth and sharing her knowl- helps the retailer foster diversity Day events and is part of the During a company trip to Mex- edge and expertise across other in its leadership while mentoring Network of Executive Women’s ico City, Walter provided major categories. women in the company. Rising Star program. support to Sprouts’ Vitamin Angels partnership, under which An experienced professional Rajchel also organized WAV Walton helped organize a the two organizations helped in the grocery and retail sector, group participants to partner Christmas drive that allowed more than 2 million mothers Merchant is also skilled in mento- with the Salvation Army to raise more than 250 families to receive and children receive access to ring and developing members of $15,000 to buy gifts and es- winter clothing and have their life-saving vitamins. a diverse team. sential items for needy families. letters to Santa fulfilled. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Stacy Boulier Brandy Dressen Liz Micheletti Liz Pham Compensation Senior Manager, Manager, Retail Manager, Corporate Manager, Supervalu Supervalu Integrity, Supervalu Communications, Supervalu In charge of As senior man- Having worked in compensation ager responsible grocery for most of Handling administration for for Supervalu’s her life, Micheletti communications 10,000-plus employees, Boulier technology services messag- now manages and oversees the for the 5,000-plus attendees of played a major role in a project ing and collaboration teams, tag and sign process, as well as Supervalu’s largest sales event, involving Supervalu’s $4 billion Dressen played a pivotal role in point-of-sale promotional pricing the National Expo, and directing acquisition of a competitor, merger-and-acquisition activities, tools that are used across six internal communications for the stepping out of her comfort communications, and document Supervalu retail brands and at company’s 31,000 employees, zone to take on responsibilities management efforts after the more than 230 stores. Pham helped onboard a new that extended far outside of her acquisition of a huge competitor. wholesale leadership team and compensation expertise. A top performer in the store about 7,000 employees from two Last year, she established operations department, she led a newly acquired companies. In addition to managing job governance of the company’s project with stores to identify and mapping for more than 1,000 SharePoint systems, helping to implement 11 separate system She put together comprehen- employees, she helped identify eliminate or reduce costs and enhancements that resulted in sive plans and key messaging the initial cost impacts of HR increase usability across the significantly improved efficiency for a new distribution center in decisions related to onboarding enterprise. and cost savings in merchandis- Harrisburg, Pa., and the major new employees. ing and price tagging. reorganization of Supervalu’s Beyond her busy work sched- distribution facilities in the Pacific Boulier is also a member of ule, Dressen demonstrates her Micheletti also designed a Northwest. World-At-Work, a compensa- abiding love for dogs by volun- communication portal that tion-based trade group, and teering locally for the Minnesota enhanced communication, and Pham’s efforts have helped a Certified Compensation Pit Bull and Secondhand Hound led an initiative to enhance com- increase readership of the com- Professional (CCP), as well as dog rescue groups, and helping munication and execution of the pany’s bimonthly wholesale digital having received Professional in to organize annual fundraisers for digital coupon program across all newsletter, and use of its mobile HR (PHR) certification. both groups. six Supervalu banners. app rose 25 percent.

Melissa Sax Mary Vander Kellie Walker Kelley Wedeking Senior Director, Leest Senior Category Director, Human Wholesale Human Manager, Supervalu Manager, Supervalu Resources Project Resources and Management and Talent Acquisition, A star with expe- Walker imple- Organizational Supervalu rience working with mented an effec- Development, Supervalu the retail, pharma- tive set of daily and With wholesale HR responsibil- cy, and private-brand divisions weekly processes to increase As corporate HR director, ities for about 10,000 employees on boosting the company’s accuracy in reports while helping Wedeking was responsible for and recruiting responsibilities for philanthropic activities, Vander grow category sales. running the integration work for around 13,000 employees, Sax Leest directs company-wide dis- Supervalu’s acquisition of Unified works closely with the executive tribution of more than $2 million She organized and laid out pro- Grocers; with no previous expe- leadership team and the CEO on in planned charitable giving. cesses to help increase advertis- rience in this area, she used her facilitating candidate sourcing ing dollars to retail partners by 15 background and experiences to and selection of new talent for She developed the company’s percent over the previous year; develop meaningful processes. the company. first private-brand taste test as a result of this, Supervalu was specifically for children: During able to boost its advertising. Subsequently named the com- She was instrumental in the 45-minute sessions with Super- pany’s first-ever director of proj- development and rollout of a valu chefs and food scientists, A founding member of the ect management and organiza- standard hiring process for all dis- children ages 6 to 16 sampled Northern California Women’s tional development, she oversaw tribution centers that focuses on a and critiqued products against Resource Group, Walker is also a handful of successful projects quality prescreening process. national brands. heavily involved in local fundrais- aimed at making administration ing for the Special Olympics and easier and more efficient. Sax spearheaded planning Vander Leest directed a sepa- the American Cancer Society; for Supervalu’s Welcome Week, rate $1 million giving campaign, additionally, as an adviser to Currently working on her put together to foster an inviting working with 39 internal teams the Rowell Ranch Rodeo, she master’s degree in organiza- and informative set of events for across the country to identify coordinates fundraisers, charity tional development and change, employees coming on board local nonprofits that could benefit benefit events and children’s Wedeking recently took part in a subsequent to the acquisition of from company and associate agricultural education enrichment cross-cultural exchange in India Unified Grocers. volunteering. studies. as part of her coursework. COVER FEATURE 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Brenda Dolan Nadine Parris Jill Davies Kristin Kulpinski Shelf Management Senior Manager, Business Campaign Manager, Representative, Sales and Integration Lead, TCC Global Supervalu/Eastern Marketing, Target Region Supervalu/ Responsible for Professional Services As the lead- the management One of the er of Target’s of the marketing company’s top shelf-manage- Heading up an $800,000 mar- grocery sustainability initiatives budget for each of the com- ment pros, Dolan manages a keting budget used to educate Davies has been exemplary in pany’s campaigns in North territory of 23 stores over a wide company sales reps, Parris has shepherding Target’s practices America, Kulpinski has been in- geography that saw her weekly made a huge impact through to become an industry leader, strumental in helping TCC Global revenue increase 34 percent in her efforts to drive Supervalu’s especially in sustainable seafood; achieve maximum performance 2017 even as her territory grew product awareness and maxi- an important part of her role and return on investment. 28 percent; she supports many mize sales leads from clients and is managing relationships with independent retailers across prospects nationwide. external sustainability partners. In her primary role as a cam- , Kentucky, Virginia, paign manager, Kulpinski created and . She initiated a weekly field Under her direction, in July and executed highly creative, sales training program for 30 2017, Target met its goal of insight-based marketing cam- Thanks to her excellent to 50 sales representatives and offering 100 percent sustainably paigns that helped drive a path planning and coordination, she service specialists to further sourced fresh and frozen sea- to purchase and retailer brand was able to execute 27 resets ef- their knowledge and under- food products. loyalty; her strategic role is critical fectively in 2017, often managing standing of Supervalu’s service to winning new business. multiple projects simultaneously offerings, thereby helping them Davies represents Target at different steps in the rest increase sales. in the Seafood Task Force, a Kulpinski volunteers her time process. group of retail-sector profes- weekly with The Porch, the Parris has garnered a number sionals, suppliers and NGOs largest ministry of its kind for Dolan is also involved in her of accolades from partners, that addresses the problem of young adults, and also serves as community, and was a past pres- including GE’s Change Agent unfair labor practices and aims to a mentor through Mercy Street ident of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Award and Ceridian’s Circle of promote improved traceability in Dallas, a ministry that works with Knights of Columbus. Excellence Award. the seafood industry. at-risk youth.

Katy Olinski Kathleen Allen Kathy Jillian Sirica Manager, Senior Manager, Romanowski Manager, Digital Regulatory, Nutrition Community Public and Media Marketing, Tops and Scientific Relations, Tops Relations Manager, Markets LLC Affairs, Markets LLC Tops Markets LLC Sirica continu- Olinski manages Allen’s primary Promoted to ously challenged a team of regu- focus in 2017 her current post herself while latory and nutrition specialists, was to train a new community this past February, Romanowski managing all daily digital mar- and provides guidance to Topco relations team, working with was instrumental in conducting keting initiatives, budgets and members and internal stakehold- each member to ensure that they full-scale media training for all social media strategies, as well ers on regulatory issues. could succeed in their roles. store managers, ensuring that as overseeing strategic business they were prepared to handle any development ecommerce proj- She designed a tool for Fostering relationships with potential interviews and respond ects integral to Tops’ success. management and associates for the communities that Tops appropriately to questions per- collecting information to conduct serves, she played a key role in taining to a labor dispute. Her team developed a digital competitive product assess- increasing Tops in Education par- sweepstakes promotion that ments, which aided the com- ticipation: The program, which Due to her diligent efforts, helped drive incremental sales, pany in reviewing and making gives back to schools, achieved Tops’ media presence more increase trip frequency and competitive decisions regarding increases of 7 percent and 10 than doubled from 2016 to strengthen vendor relationships; its own-brand product offering, percent in school and customer 2017; she accomplished this with the promise of winning free and has also been actively participation, respectively. impressive feat by meeting with Gatorade for a year, the program engaged in Topco’s Product team members regularly to included the brand’s products Transparency Initiative enabling Allen worked with nonprofits develop stories to pitch to the across the store, from sports consumers to get additional whose mission aligns with Tops’ local media about the retailer. drinks to health care items. information about its products. mission to eradicate hunger and improve the quality of life of Romanowski has received Sirica led Tops’ partnership Olinski has received a number children, and she streamlined her the 40 Under 40 Award from with grocery delivery service of Topco’s TopNotch awards for department budget, saving labor Buffalo Business First and the , coordinating efforts her accomplishments in innova- and achieving more accurate President’s Award from YMCA among pricing, IT, operations, tion, collaboration and leadership. reporting through automation. Buffalo Niagara. merchandising and marketing. COVER FEATURE RISING STARS 2018 Top Women in Grocery

Kanika Sodhi Team Leader, Wakefern, Unilever

Sodhi com- pletely trans- formed Unilever’s relationship with retailer - erative Wakefern Food Corp. by connecting with all levels to deliver a compelling strate- gic partnership grounded in results: 4.6 percent growth in personal care, and 4.9 percent in Unilever’s foods business. The Top Women in Grocery

She built two key programs: will take place Growing Roots — Seed What’s Happening, to teach consumers Nov. 8 at the Palmer House healthier eating habits, and the Right on Girls self-esteem initia- Hilton, in Chicago. tive with the Dove brand. PG looks forward to seeing Thanks to her passion for her job and her strong work ethic, many of the honorees and Sodhi’s reach has extended far beyond the Wakefern business their supporters at this — she also offers her viewpoint on initiatives within Unilever’s inspirational event. corporate headquarters.