N.G.A. Expands Executive Leadership Development Program

The National Grocers Association (N.G.A.) is joining forces with the University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School of Business and Unilever to expand the trade organization’s Executive Leadership Development Program.

The program is currently offered at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., through funding provided by Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo Inc. The expansion will now include two programs offered at Cornell and USC, enabling N.G.A.  to increase yearly participation from 36 executives to more than 50.

Noting that the expansion made such training “more accessible to our independent retail and wholesale members," Peter Larkin, president and CEO of Arlington, Va.-based N.G.A., added, “This is an outstanding program that helps develop and prepare the next generation of leaders in our industry for success and growth.”

The program made its debut in 2004 at Cornell, and has grown to become one of the organization’s most successful education offerings. The week of intensive training includes a variety of high-impact learning opportunities encompassing interactive instruction presented by academic and industry leaders.

Rising grocery industry executives receive the knowledge, tools and resources they need to lead their companies and position them for long-term success. Additionally, independent retailers and wholesalers who go through the program are able to confront business challenges in the marketplace while helping prepare the next generation of potential industry leaders.

More than 250 N.G.A. member senior executives from more than 100 independent retailers and wholesalers have graduated from the Cornell program since its inception. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.-based Unilever will provide funding to support the new USC program in Los Angeles.

N.G.A. Executive Leadership Development Program sessions will take place June 3-7 at Cornell and June 10-14 at USC.