Gonzalez, Whitmore, Inducted into CGA Hall of Fame
Miguel Gonzalez, president of Northgate Gonzalez Markets in Anaheim and Jerry Whitmore, sales manager at Oakland-based Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, will be inducted into the California Grocers Association Educational Foundation Hall of Achievement on Thursday, May 27, 2010, at an awards dinner in Orange County Calif.
Created in 1993, the foundation’s Hall of Achievement recognizes California grocery retailers and suppliers who have contributed substantially to the advancement of the grocery industry.
“This year’s inductees have … unique stories to tell,” said CGAEF president Ronald Fong. “Miguel Gonzalez’s story is one of an immigrant family fulfilling the American dream through vision, hard work and faith. Jerry Whitmore is a Southern California industry icon, very well known for his lifetime of service to the industry.”
A native of Mexico, Gonzalez immigrated to the United States in 1968. He first worked in manufacturing and retail enterprises. In 1980, his family purchased a small grocery store in Anaheim, Calif. He assumed the position of company president following the death of his father, Miguel Sr., in 1999. Northgate Gonzalez Markets now operates 30 stores throughout the Los Angeles area.
Jerry Whitmore is a 43-year veteran of the grocery business. For more than 20 years, he has worked for Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream. Prior to that, he was employed by Laura Scudder’s Co. He has received numerous industry awards, including the Presidential Award of Distinction from the Food Industries Sales Managers’ Club of Los Angeles, and the Food & Beverage Industries Humanitarian Award from the National Conference for Equality & Justice.
Proceeds from the event will help fund the foundation’s college scholarship and tuition reimbursement programs. In 2009, the foundation awarded 263 college scholarships totaling $315,500. The organization also disbursed more than $80,000 in tuition reimbursement.
“The foundation appreciates the tremendous support it receives from the grocery industry,” noted Fong. “Their generous donations allow the foundation to achieve its mission of advancing the grocery industry through employee education, scholarships and industry research projects.”
Previous CGA Educational Foundation Hall of Achievement Inductees are:
Byron Allumbaugh, Ralphs Grocery Co.
Lou Amen, Super A Foods, Inc.
Bernard Briskin, Gelson’s Markets
Jack H. Brown, Stater Bros. Markets
Jim Brown, Western Association of Food Chains/Ralphs Grocery Co.
Steven Burd, Safeway, Inc.
Charles Collings, Raley’s
Doug Detherage, Bimbo Bakeries U.S.A.
Paul Gerrard, Gerrard’s, Inc.
Dave Hirz, Ralphs Grocery Co.
Darioush Khaledi, K.V. Mart Co.
Don Lee, Dairy Fresh
Robert Piccinini, Save Mart Supermarkets
Alfred Plamann, Unified Grocers, Inc.
Thomas Raley, Raley’s
Larree Renda, Safeway Inc.
Bill Roulette, Gelson’s Markets
Allan Scharn, Gelson’s Markets
Jerry Scolari, Scolari’s Food & Drug Co.
Joe Scolari, Scolari’s Food & Drug Co.
Joey Scolari, Scolari’s Food & Drug Co.
Bob Spengler, Save Mart Supermarkets
Roger Stangeland, The Vons Cos.
Bob Stiles, Gelson’s Markets
Wilfred Von Der Ahe, The Vons Cos.
Bob Wilson, Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream
Created in 1993, the foundation’s Hall of Achievement recognizes California grocery retailers and suppliers who have contributed substantially to the advancement of the grocery industry.
“This year’s inductees have … unique stories to tell,” said CGAEF president Ronald Fong. “Miguel Gonzalez’s story is one of an immigrant family fulfilling the American dream through vision, hard work and faith. Jerry Whitmore is a Southern California industry icon, very well known for his lifetime of service to the industry.”
A native of Mexico, Gonzalez immigrated to the United States in 1968. He first worked in manufacturing and retail enterprises. In 1980, his family purchased a small grocery store in Anaheim, Calif. He assumed the position of company president following the death of his father, Miguel Sr., in 1999. Northgate Gonzalez Markets now operates 30 stores throughout the Los Angeles area.
Jerry Whitmore is a 43-year veteran of the grocery business. For more than 20 years, he has worked for Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream. Prior to that, he was employed by Laura Scudder’s Co. He has received numerous industry awards, including the Presidential Award of Distinction from the Food Industries Sales Managers’ Club of Los Angeles, and the Food & Beverage Industries Humanitarian Award from the National Conference for Equality & Justice.
Proceeds from the event will help fund the foundation’s college scholarship and tuition reimbursement programs. In 2009, the foundation awarded 263 college scholarships totaling $315,500. The organization also disbursed more than $80,000 in tuition reimbursement.
“The foundation appreciates the tremendous support it receives from the grocery industry,” noted Fong. “Their generous donations allow the foundation to achieve its mission of advancing the grocery industry through employee education, scholarships and industry research projects.”
Previous CGA Educational Foundation Hall of Achievement Inductees are:
Byron Allumbaugh, Ralphs Grocery Co.
Lou Amen, Super A Foods, Inc.
Bernard Briskin, Gelson’s Markets
Jack H. Brown, Stater Bros. Markets
Jim Brown, Western Association of Food Chains/Ralphs Grocery Co.
Steven Burd, Safeway, Inc.
Charles Collings, Raley’s
Doug Detherage, Bimbo Bakeries U.S.A.
Paul Gerrard, Gerrard’s, Inc.
Dave Hirz, Ralphs Grocery Co.
Darioush Khaledi, K.V. Mart Co.
Don Lee, Dairy Fresh
Robert Piccinini, Save Mart Supermarkets
Alfred Plamann, Unified Grocers, Inc.
Thomas Raley, Raley’s
Larree Renda, Safeway Inc.
Bill Roulette, Gelson’s Markets
Allan Scharn, Gelson’s Markets
Jerry Scolari, Scolari’s Food & Drug Co.
Joe Scolari, Scolari’s Food & Drug Co.
Joey Scolari, Scolari’s Food & Drug Co.
Bob Spengler, Save Mart Supermarkets
Roger Stangeland, The Vons Cos.
Bob Stiles, Gelson’s Markets
Wilfred Von Der Ahe, The Vons Cos.
Bob Wilson, Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream