Rising Stars

EVE GIGIS

Category Manager, Acme Markets

• ➤ A member of the Acme merchandising and marketing team since 1978, Gigis currently manages the procurement, pricing, placement and promotional activities for the soft drink, snack, prepared food, dried rice and beans, canned fish and packaged prepared meat categories in 110 stores.
• ➤ She helped revive Acme’s relationship with the Philadelphia Eagles by procuring critical vendor offerings for the successful “Swoop in and Win!” promotion.
• ➤ This helped raise money for Philadelphia-area organization’s Eagles Youth Partnership and the Brent Celek Take Flight Foundation.

JANIS LEVIT

Pharmacy District Manager, Acme Markets

• ➤ Levit is responsible for operational and financial results in 34 pharmacy locations across three states.
• ➤ She championed a trading stamps program designed to capture new business, and was a key contributor to the rollout of “My Rx Care,” a program providing individuals and families with immediate prescription savings.
• ➤ Levit and her team enhanced Acme’s wellness offerings, including immunization clinics, patient consultations, health screenings, and educational classes to help those with diabetes and other chronic health conditions.

MARIANNE NICE-TRIONFO

Division Front End Operations Manager, Acme Markets

• ➤ Responsible for 110 stores across four states, Nice-Trionfo develops customer satisfaction training programs, and oversees front end teams’ recruitment, selection, retention and training.
• ➤ She helped Acme realize a 20 percent increase in customer satisfaction scores, and was instrumental in instituting “Stepping Out for Service,” in which cashiers invite customers to enter their lines to enhance the shopping experience.
• ➤ Nice-Trionfo organized and led Acme’s involvement in such events as the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and the Girl Scouts’ “Take the Lead” project.

JENNIFER KWON

Client Team Leader, Advantage Sales & Marketing

• ➤ Responsible for developing and leading consultative business relationships with several of Advantage’s national clients, Kwon helped secure the business of two of South Korea’s largest food manufacturers in a deal valued at almost $2 million.
• ➤ Through this deal, she was able to independently source clients for Advantage’s ethnic and specialty food category while singlehandedly expanding the company’s international presence.
• ➤ Already a recipient of several top corporate honors, Kwon recently received the highly prestigious Sonny King Award for best personifying and achieving Advantage’s objectives.

SHELLY EVERETT JACOBY

Director of Sales, Advantage Sales & Marketing

• ➤ Jacoby heads up the New England sales team as well as C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc., actively managing headquarters sales while overseeing the entire business manager pool.
• ➤ In addition to driving total EBIDTA, Jacoby spearheaded all of the marketing initiatives for her New England customers – resulting in greatly increased sales – and voraciously recruited and mentored future talent.
• ➤ Among her professional affiliations are the Network of Executive Women and the National Frozen and Refrigerated Association, while her community activities include the Merrimack School Budget Committee and Bottom Line of Boston.

ALISON FARRELL

Director of Pharmacy Third Party, Ahold USA

• ➤ Farrell’s team contracts with prescription benefit managers on behalf of all 565 Ahold USA pharmacies, helps with contract maintenance and oversees the pharmacy savings program, among other functions.
• ➤ She launched the grocer’s Prescription Savings Program (PSP), which provides discounts on thousands of generic and brand-name drugs, and built influential relationships with prescription benefit management partners.
• ➤ Her extensive professional affiliations include National Association of Chain Drug Stores and Pharmacy Quality Alliance memberships.

LUCIA BROWER

Director of Store Innovation, Ahold USA

• ➤ Brower oversees all format innovation streams affecting almost 800 stores across four regional divisions.
• ➤ She translated relevant customer and industry insights into clear areas of focus; laid the key foundations for a team in a totally new area for Ahold USA; identified future innovation opportunities; and proposed team priorities.
• ➤ The co-founder of a small-format supermarket chain aimed at low-income customers in Venezuela, the busy Brower shares her expertise in a graduate-level business administration course at Harvard Business School while caring for two young sons.

MELISSA HESS

Director of IM Finance, Ahold USA

• ➤ Hess’ team manages all IM costs for Ahold USA, including business case evaluation, global cost assessments, capital planning, budgeting and variance analysis.
• ➤ She implemented a process enabling the business to evaluate total system costs on an application basis; led in the development of a process for the approval, signoff and measurement of business benefits related to new projects; was financial lead on a re-sourcing deal allowing Ahold to consolidate network suppliers; and developed a process to consolidate, consistently measure and track savings across the entire IM organization.
• ➤ Hess co-leads Ahold’s team for the Hands on Greenville (HOG) Day, an annual community-wide volunteer event.

MICHELLE MERCHANT

Category Manager of Ethnic, Specialty & Kosher, Ahold USA

• ➤ Merchant’s main responsibility is to meet the sales and profit goals set for her portfolio.
• ➤ She worked with a cross-functional team to maximize ethnic sales and expand assortments based on the individual needs of stores’ customers, and increased the presence of nonperishable local suppliers and brands within both Stop & Shop divisions by helping to establish a local-vendor fair.
• ➤ A past winner of an Ahold USA award for outstanding service, Merchant, a 26-year veteran with the company, recently joined the Network of Executive Women.

SARAH REYNOLDS

Director of Marketing Planning, Ahold USA

• ➤ Reynolds develops and manages Ahold USA’s advertising budget, with oversight of the total budget by division, and direct day-to-day management of several specific lines within the budget.
• ➤ She developed and implemented a chain-wide savings signage program, teamed with the Own Brands team to launch the premium Simply Enjoy brand, and spearheaded the development of compelling marketing programs throughout the company.
• ➤ A graduate of the Ahold Retail Academy, Reynolds participates in events held by the internal Ahold USA business resource group Women Adding Value.

SHARON EISWERT

Director of Marketing & Merchandising Insights, Ahold USA

• ➤ Eiswert influences the direction of Ahold USA’s marketing and merchandising strategies through strategic consumer insights projects.
• ➤ She co-led the company’s first-ever cross-continental research project, which resulted in research that gave top executives an in-depth understanding of what’s important to consumers, how Ahold performs in those areas, and how this performance varies across continents.
• ➤ Her team developed a comprehensive evaluation of promotional strategies and tactics, with the aim of more efficient and effective deployment of dollars in future.

ALEXANDRA OLES

Manager of Staffing & Diversity, Ahold USA/Giant-Carlisle

• ➤ Oles manages diversity and inclusion, including budget oversight, for the entire Giant-Carlisle division, which encompasses four states.
• ➤ She coordinated all aspects of a successful implementation of division-wide background check vendor and helped pilot a cultural competency initiative with the division’s leadership, as well as collaborated closely with community relations as the division’s representative in multicultural events and partnerships.
• ➤ Among many other professional affiliations, Oles is the divisional key point person for national and local Network of Executive Women events.

DANIELLE HARPER

Manager of Quality Assurance, Ahold USA/Giant-Carlisle

• ➤ Harper oversees the quality assurance inspectors at Giant-Carlisle’s perishable and nonperishable distribution centers, ensuring that all standards are maintained.
• ➤ On her watch, inspectors kept more than $6 million worth of poor-quality product from entering the supply chain, and all stores and distribution centers received consistently high reviews on internal inspections, government inspections and annual third-party audits.
• ➤ She launched the business resource group Women Adding Value at the division, with a focus on recruitment, including male associates interested in developing and empowering women.

ANNE GOLDING

Finance Manager, Ahold USA/Giant-Landover

• ➤ Golding is the financial liaison to a sales and merchandising group supporting eight fresh and nonperishable departments, with which she works to set targets for sales programs and report successes at the end of each fiscal period.
• ➤ She has helped store and department managers with no financial background better understand P&L by making the concept relatable and explaining it in simple terms.
• ➤ Golding strongly supports philanthropic initiatives, providing career guidance to friends and colleagues, and planning to raise money for ovarian cancer research.

PEG MERZBACHER

Sr. Director of Regional Marketing, Ahold USA/Peapod

• ➤ Merzbacher handles the marketing for online grocery division Peapod’s delivery and pickup service on the East Coast.
• ➤ She marketed the opening of more than 125 pickup locations on the East Coast and spearheaded Peapod’s “Kids Give Back” program, in which 4^th- and 5^th-graders in the region receive Peapod gift cards so they can donate healthy foods to local hunger relief organizations.
• ➤ A past winner of a Peapod “Amaze and Delight” Award, Merzbacher volunteers for the American Field Service, which hosts international exchange students in local schools.

GISSELLE PISREZ

Sr. Manager of Diversity & Talent Management, Ahold USA/Stop & Shop New England

• ➤ Perez has responsibility for overall division management development strategy, including training, development, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• ➤ She identified organizations the company already supports financially, with the aim of further developing these partnerships, as with Year Up, for which the division facilitated a resume workshop, an interview session and a clothing drive to prepare program participants to compete effectively in the working world.
• ➤ Perez guided her team and regional business partners to launch the division’s first business resource group, Mosaic.

JEAN LIMERICK

HR Director, Ahold USA/Stop & Shop New England

• ➤ Limerick’s purview encompasses associate and labor relations, compensation, benefits, performance management, training and development, succession planning, and staffing across 72 stores.
• ➤ Before store and gas station closures in New Hampshire, Limerick coached the notification meeting teams and answered employee questions afterwards, in addition to offering information on available benefits and holding on-site classes to prepare workers for job interviews.
• ➤ Limerick regularly participates in such fundraisers as the Pan Mass Challenge biking event, through which she has raised more than $10,000 for cancer research.

KRISTINA STEFANSKI

Director Quality Assurance, Ahold USA/Stop & Shop New England

• ➤ Stefanski ensures quality and food safety throughout the division’s supply chain, from warehouse to store.
• ➤ She created an online allergen awareness training program for front-line associates, which was subsequently adopted for all four Ahold USA divisions; developed the model for the incorporation of food safety training into the division’s operational budget; and aided the successful rollout of the fresh-cut fruit and Peapod pickup service programs.
• ➤ Her professional and community affiliations include active memberships in sustainability and hunger relief organizations.

ANN NICHOLS

Director of Diversity & Talent Management, Ahold USA/Stop & Shop Metro New York

• ➤ Nichols has an impact and influence on people development with regard to management staff at the division’s 185 stores.
• ➤ She helped structure the implementation of new training, under which many of the components were industrialized, with input from all four divisions. In New York, for instance, the training was customized specifically around a perishable department initiative.
• ➤ Nichols was tapped for the role of co-chair of the New York Metro chapter of the Network of Executive Women.

CYNTHIA FLANNERY

District Director, Ahold USA/Stop & Shop Metro New York

• ➤ Flannery works with stores on plans, priorities and activities, with a focus on merchandising and driving company initiatives.
• ➤ She formulated an action plan against a major competitor in her district, working with sales and merchandising on driving ROP, and relocated employees and product to new locations within six weeks after a store closure was announced.
• ➤ Flannery coordinates with a store in New Haven, Conn., to offer health-promoting programs and provide a homeless shelter with funds to buy hats, gloves and other items, among other efforts.

LYNN SCAVULLO

Director of Operations Support, Ahold USA/Stop & Shop Metro New York

• ➤ Previously the division’s senior analyst for labor and forecasting, Scavullo oversees the labor and expense budgets for 181 stores in the Metro New York division, providing operational support to stores within the division.
• ➤ She refined an innovative tool used by store operations to streamline the labor forecasting and budgeting process within the New York Metro division, incorporating its major strategic initiatives and exceeding target goals.
• ➤ In November 2013, she received the Division All Star Award from the Ahold USA sales strategy and execution department.

GINEAL DAVIDSON

Manager of Customer Satisfaction, Front End Operations & Retail Integrity, Albertsons

• ➤ Reporting directly to the division president, Davidson is responsible for customer satisfaction, front end operations and retail integrity at 95 stores.
• ➤ She moved her division to a new customer satisfaction tracking and reporting program, improved customer satisfaction metrics and turned a negative commission trend into positive growth, implemented a new uniform program, and coordinated the division’s transition to the new, post-acquisition Albertsons LLC, among other accomplishments.
• ➤ Davidson was selected to work on the planogram and tags subscription task force.

LISA GOSSETT

General Merchandise Sales Manager, Albertsons

• ➤ Gossett handles sales, location gross profit, shrink and vendor funds for all general merchandise categories at 104 stores in three states.
• ➤ She implemented a new sports apparel program in 60 stores, teamed with vendors to provide product and fixtures to create a new footprint and drive millions of dollars in incremental sales, and exceeded sales and margin targets while also beating shrink projections.
• ➤ Gossett volunteers for SCRAP, a donation-based creative reuse store and donation center in northeast Portland, Ore.

SUZANNE LONG

Director of Corporate Initiatives, Albertsons LLC

• ➤ As “chief of staff” for the executive team, Long directs and organizes critical corporate initiatives ranging from program management of large-scale transitions to process improvement to major company presentations and events.
• ➤ During Albertson’s acquisition of 877 stores from Supervalu, she directed and managed the company’s transition activities under a highly compressed two-month timeline, coordinating project plans for all functional areas to ensure the deal closed successfully.
• ➤ Long also led the transition for the acquisition of 51-store United Supermarkets in Texas.

APRIL RICE

Director of Retail Sales, Associated Food Stores (AFS)

• ➤ Rice directs a team of 29 who travel throughout the Intermountain West region consulting and directing AFS’ retail members, and has budget oversight of the sales and merchandising teams.
• ➤ She implemented a business review process for more than 400 retailers and developed a strategic plan to compete with an incursion of new opposition into the market, enabling members to maintain market share against nontraditional formats.
• ➤ The recipient of numerous company accolades, Rice was an AFS Outstanding Player for a second consecutive year in 2013.

BARBARA DRENNAN

Director of Account Management, Northeast, Balance Innovations

• ➤ Drennan builds relationships with new and existing customers, and leads implementation projects, among other duties, for the developer of reconciliation and cash office management solutions.
• ➤ Responsible for more than 40 store implementations, Drennan helped clients implement recommended best practices and found the best ways to train solution users, in the process contributing $1 million-plus to company sales.
• ➤ She’s a member of the Women’s Employment Network as well as an avid volunteer at her church and with her children’s school and sports activities.

ANITA HEDDEN

Regional Sales Manager-Deli/Bakery, Bi-Lo Holdings LLC

• ➤ An expert on product and processes, Hedden handles training and development of retail managers in the areas of merchandising programs, standards and talent.
• ➤ As the key deli/bakery lead for 21 newly acquired stores, she guided all associates involved in the conversions to successful openings and has since developed a sustainability plan for these locations, which are currently exceeding financial goals. Hedden also represented her company at a local food show on an ABC affiliate station in Chattanooga, Tenn.
• ➤ She previously created a training curriculum for managers, with more than 200 graduates to date.

DONNA MADERE

Operations Excellence Specialist, Bi-Lo Holdings LLC

• ➤ Madere monitors execution of the operation standards in the 90-plus stores throughout the company’s New Orleans region.
• ➤ Working as an interim district director in Baton Rouge, La., as well as regional finance manager, she was instrumental in improving labor measurements to improve customer satisfaction and in increasing sales, and also created safeguards to control front-line shrink and expenses to improve budgeted performance.
• ➤ Madere’s achievements were recognized by the National Diversity Council with the Glass Ceiling Award, and she raises funds for cancer research.

ORA ESQUIVEL

Regional Sales Manager, Bi-Lo Holdings LLC

• ➤ Esquivel oversees the entire bakery operations for the highly diverse Miami region, No. 1 in the company.
• ➤ For a Valentine’s Day strawberry promotion, she presented a visual merchandising show for district directors, and arranged additional staffing and equipment, resulting in regional sales three times higher than in previous years and No. 2 in the company for entire results.
• ➤ She successfully guided five locations through a remodel process that added specialty cases, a new and enhanced bread program, and in-store Cuban cafés. All opened ahead of store sales.

SUSAN MOORE

Director of Family Care, Bi-Lo Holdings LLC

• ➤ Moore is responsible for the strategy, sales and profit growth for the family care business, which consists of all household, pet, baby, laundry and miscellaneous nonfood categories.
• ➤ As an interim director, she reviewed the department’s strategic direction and financial productivity, winning the respect of her colleagues and achieving such success that she was offered the role permanently.
• ➤ Having started her career with Bi-Lo in 1985 as part of the company’s College Store Management Program, Moore belongs to the Network of Executive Women and Toastmasters International.

JULIE BABYAK

Corporate Dairy Sales Manager, Big Y Foods

• ➤ Babyak is responsible for P&L across all dairy categories, and works cross-functionally with space management, pricing, marketing and store operations.
• ➤ Her 2013 accomplishments included “best-in-class” store brand penetration growth, revitalizing and expanding the yogurt category, and championing cross-category promotions across the store.
• ➤ She’s been recognized for her work with a Distinguished Achievement Award from Dairy Management Inc., as well as a Golden Penguin Award from the National Frozen and Refrigerated Foods Association.

MARYBETH BOLDUC

Corporate Floral Sales Manager, Big Y Foods

• ➤ A former assistant food service sales manager at Big Y, Bolduc manages all aspects of Big Y’s floral operations, including sales, profits, contributions and product assortment. She oversees the floral department layout during the store design phase of remodeling existing stores or building new store locations.
• ➤ She recently implemented a well-received store ordering program with Big Y’s vendor partners that has provided a wider variety of fresher product for customers.
• ➤ Big Y’s floral department has seen significant growth under Bolduc’s leadership.

MERLE ZAMANSKY-COEN

Manager of Creative Services, Big Y Foods

• ➤ Zamansky-Coen oversees and leads Big Y’s creative team of traditional design and production. She oversees all creative for weekly circulars, signage, brochures and all print advertising, web design and other digital platforms.
• ➤ She led the transition to a “soft proof” system as part of the company’s environmental initiatives, managed Big Y’s web design and development team during its website redesign, and worked on the site’s customer account portal and online circular.
• ➤ Zamansky-Coen is active in fundraising for Rays of Hope and teaches youth art classes, as well as periodically volunteering for CISV.

NICOLE SCHNEIDER

Sr. Manager of Pharmacy Operations, Big Y Foods

• ➤ Schneider oversees all aspects of pharmacy operations and manages several managers and staff members.
• ➤ She developed and executed a monthly health-and-wellness initiative called “Inform and Inspire,” under which pharmacists and in-store dietitians offer customers information and samples, and spearheaded the transition to a new pharmacy wholesaler, as well as a new pharmacy system that improves workflow and efficiency.
• ➤ She also implemented labor standards in the pharmacy to enhance world-class service to customers while reducing labor at the same time.

PAM MCCARTHY

Real Estate Manager, Big Y Foods

• ➤ McCarthy oversees and coordinates all capital expenditures and the budgeting process in Big Y’s real estate portfolio.
• ➤ Recently, she managed the implementation of a computerized real estate program for asset management and lease administration.
• ➤ Under McCarthy’s leadership, Big Y has seen a historically high occupancy rate of 99.2 percent, and she’s also renegotiated leases for seven supermarkets and one warehouse building, securing rent reductions and concessions that can be reinvested to upgrade stores.

THERESA JASMIN

Director/Corporate Controller, Big Y Foods

• ➤ Jasmin is responsible for all aspects of accounting and financial reporting at Big Y, providing reports at board of directors’ meetings.
• ➤ She oversaw the replacement and rollout of a new financial reporting system that will result in significant labor savings for the company.
• ➤ She was also instrumental in implementing a new predictive gross-margin reporting tool used for ad planning, played a key role in assisting with the negotiation of Big Y’s wholesale supply contract, and helped streamline the company’s internal reports across all areas, leading to significant savings.

CHARLOTTE WELLER

Health Services Manager, Brookshire Grocery Co.

• ➤ Weller manages all aspects of Brookshire’s pharmacy clinical programs, encompassing 116 pharmacies, and is directly responsible for more than $15 million annually.
• ➤ Her efforts led more than 95 percent of the company’s pharmacists to participate in the immunization program; she has also been instrumental in boosting medication therapy management programs, including a pilot program that provides services to patients with reactive airway disease.
• ➤ She’s been recognized as Brookshire’s Pharmacist of the Year, and serves on boards and committees for numerous industry groups.

CARMEN BRACE

Director of Insights & Strategy, Conagra Foods

• ➤ Working in tandem with ConAgra Foods’ global business strategy team, Brace leads a series of cross-functional teams to develop an insights-based, customer-centric communication strategy; her influence reaches both inside the company and outside, as her work also impacts ConAgra’s retail partners.
• ➤ She developed a series of internal tools designed to help the company promote its most relevant proprietary research, with a launch planned for this year.
• ➤ Recognized in “Who’s Who in Shopper Insights” in 2012 and 2013, Brace is a member of the regional leadership committee of the Network of Executive Women, Twin Cities.

AIMEE FERREIRA BECKER

Sr. Director of Global Branding & Marketing Strategy, Daymon Worldwide

• ➤ Becker is responsible for the direct revenue and budget within the Galileo division of Daymon Worldwide.
• ➤ She was instrumental in developing a new vision for the Galileo Global Branding Group agency; specifically, she was the lead in educating Daymon’s clients on the improved structure, services and partnership model, thereby helping to retain key clients as well as to expand such services as research and shopper marketing.
• ➤ Through the successful management of five strategic design clients, Becker was able to increase revenue year over year by $10 million.

JANET OAK

Sr. Director of Strategy & Insights, Daymon Worldwide/Galileo

• ➤ Oak handles custom research and consumer insights leading to creative packaging, marketing strategy and retail solutions at the Galileo division of Daymon Worldwide.
• ➤ Under her guidance, Daymon’s specialty brand team created and relaunched two food and beverage brands, and she developed and tested the positioning for e-grocer FreshDirect’s new private label line, Just by Fresh Direct.
• ➤ Oak launched a major first-of-its-kind brand equity study across 168 private brands on four key purchase drivers in North America, as well as another study quantifying the impact of male grocery shoppers.

LISA OLVERSON

Finance Manager, Farm Fresh/Supervalu

• ➤ Olverson oversees full budget responsibilities for two of Supervalu’s banners: Farm Fresh and Shoppers, and also advises Eastern Beverage, a subsidiary of Shoppers.
• ➤ She developed a successful modeling process that will be adopted at other Supervalu banners, helped the banners develop tools for various departments to track margins and other expenses, and created templates to help novice Excel users work more productively.
• ➤ Even while pursuing a master’s of business administration and marketing degree, she still finds time to serve as chairman of the Farm Fresh Charitable Foundation.

KRISTEN TALLEY

Director Operations, Food Lion/Concord, N.C., Region

• ➤ Talley is responsible for the growth, profitability and overall customer service expectations at 24 stores. She leads with a keen focus on SG&A, expenses, delivering high standards, achieving great results, and recruitment and development of exceptional leaders.
• ➤ Her region experienced a 7.5 percent sales increase, and also had the best audit execution in the division; further, Talley led the implementation of Food Lion’s new marketing strategy.
• ➤ She annually helps sponsor “The Giving Spree” drive, which gives homeless people such essentials as food, blankets, gloves and toiletries.

SHERRY RITENOUR

Director Operations, Food Lion/Fredericksburg, Va, Region

• ➤ Ritenour is responsible for achieving financial and operating results for 25 stores in her region, including translating and articulating objectives and operating methods into goals, plans and practices for stores. Ritenour’s division experienced impressive store sales increases in 2013; and her region led in the company’s audit performance and its customer traffic count.
• ➤ Stores in her region raised the most money in the northern division for the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN).
• ➤ She’s been recognized for her work on behalf of the CMN.

DELONY SPRAGGINS

Director Operations, Food Lion/Raleigh-Durham, N.C., Region

• ➤ Spraggins manages 25 North Carolina stores, and her primary responsibilities include achieving financial targets, ushering sales growth and developing a diverse group of store leaders.
• ➤ She developed strategic initiatives that helped her stores increase their same-store sales by almost 3 percent, despite four new store openings from Food Lion’s main competitors; led growth in the fresh departments for a third consecutive year; and improved store performance in shrink.
• ➤ Spraggins currently serves on the Vance Charter School board of directors.

KATHRYN SOWERS

Director Operations, Food Lion/Statesville, N.C., Region

• ➤ A 20-year Food Lion veteran, Sowers is responsible for all aspects of retail operations for 23 stores.
• ➤ Her region delivered an impressive 5.3 percent increase in same-store sales, outperformed on the bottom line, and led participation in several community-focused events; Sowers additionally allocated capital spending at a few locations to add new specialty sections.
• ➤ A member of Food Lion’s Women’s Business Resource Group, Sowers serves on the boards of directors for the Winston-Salem Urban League and Faithful Steps of Iredell County.

LISA HODGES

Director of Operations, Food Lion/Waldorf, Md., Region

• ➤ Recently promoted to her current role, Hodges develops talent at the store-manager level and provides necessary resources to ensure her 20-store region realizes positive financial results.
• ➤ She has been effective in a challenging region, focusing her energies on hiring seven store managers to build a team that helped her increase same-store sales beyond 7 percent.
• ➤ Honored numerous times for her financial accomplishments, she recently was recognized by Food Lion for having the best same-store sales and supporting development plans to develop store managers into future leaders.

ANGELA RASSI

Associate Director, General Mills

• ➤ Rassi led the first phase of the “Future of Marketing” initiative, which led to a wide breadth of accountability, thought leadership cultivation, change management orchestration and communication.
• ➤ She led a large cross-functional team in rolling out, ahead of schedule, training, resources and acceleration support to four divisions.
• ➤ Rassi is the longest-serving member on the Wharton School of Business Career Services advisory board, which covers a wide range of topics, including career services, admissions and curriculum.

AMY STEIN

Director of Talent Acquisition, Giant Eagle

• ➤ Stein has launched the transition of executive recruiting inward, improved the quality of hires; decreased corporate time to fill positions, improved hiring manager customer service, and increased female interview slates.
• ➤ She assisted in the implementation of online candidate assessments, reducing recruiter screening time.
• ➤ Currently pursuing a Giant Eagle Business System Black Belt in cost savings and process improvement standards, Stein sits on the board and is HR committee chair for Pennsylvania Women Work, and is actively involved in the grocer’s LGBT resource group, PROUD.

CAROLINA PASSERRELLO

Manager of Dietitian Initiative Program, Giant Eagle

• ➤ Passerrello led a multidisciplinary team to execute “Dietitian Picks” in the prepared food department, launched @GiantEagleRD and oversaw the 267 percent growth of customer weight loss classes.
• ➤ She established electronic health records for increased privacy and security, and a dashboard for monitoring income from registered dietitian programs.
• ➤ A winner of various community awards, Passerrello is president-elect of the Pittsburgh Dietetic Association, as well as being engaged with such other organizations as Pennsylvania Action for Healthy Kids.

JEAN COLARIK

Sr. Director & HR Business Partner-Retail, Giant Eagle

• ➤ Overseeing all labor relations issues for 118 retail locations, Colarik teamed with operations in leading updated talent assessment and succession-planning sessions for all leadership positions in Giant Eagle as part of a new talent management system.
• ➤ She led multimillion-dollar cost-savings initiatives and led negotiations for six labor contracts in the company’s West division.
• ➤ A five-time recipient of Giant Eagle’s Team Achievement Award for her work in bringing new initiatives to life, Colarik is a key advocate for the grocer’s women’s business resource group in the Cleveland market.

JENNIFER GREEVY

Director of Internal Communications & Recognition, Giant Eagle

• ➤ Greevy developed all aspects of “Vision 2020” monthly updates on the corporate cost-savings program based on Giant Eagle’s goals for 2020.
• ➤ She created the company’s CSR report and oversaw the design of key goals and messages communication throughout retail, corporate and retail support center locations.
• ➤ Greevy published her first children’s book “We ALL Love Pancakes” in December 2013, and is active in professional and community organizations, including POWER, which supports women in recovery from drug and alcohol abuse.

JESSICA TONTI

Team Member Recognition Administrator, Giant Eagle

• ➤ Recently promoted to her current position, Tonti also took a leadership role in the launch and ongoing execution of Giant Eagle’s Women’s Business Resource Group.
• ➤ She co-leads the company’s annual awards ceremony and years-of-service gift programs and luncheons, and created team member “thank you grams” that doubled as fundraisers for the company’s nonprofit Team Member Care Fund.
• ➤ Tonti is VP of Giant Eagle’s Young Professional’s Organization, and also holds important roles in the company’s women’s business resource group.

KAREN PRIORE

Director of HR, Giant Eagle

• ➤ Priore is key to a collaborative program between United Way of Allegheny County and Giant Eagle’s Career Transition Project for transitioning high school students with disabilities into the workforce.
• ➤ She helped rebrand the company’s employee assistance and work-life services programs to integrate into Giant Eagle’s “Live Well” initiative.
• ➤ Priore donates time and fundraising for charities through cycling, is active in numerous organizations, and volunteers her time to educate people about the illness of addiction.

KARINA CRAIN

Sr. Marketing Manager, Market District, Giant Eagle

• ➤ Crain led the marketing for the opening of the Solon, Ohio, Market District location.
• ➤ She was a key team member for the conversion of Green and Dublin, Ohio, Market District stores, and shared responsibility for the launch and marketing of three additional Curbside Express locations.
• ➤ A community service volunteer with Bethlehem Haven Women’s Shelter, United Way and Gwen’s Girls, Crain is also active in professional organizations, helping boost regional membership by 12 percent in Giant Eagle’s women’s business resource group.

PATTI TAVELLI

Deli Category Manager, Giant Eagle

• ➤ Tavelli was the keynote speaker for her graduating class of Leadership Pittsburgh’s Leadership Development Initiative of future leaders.
• ➤ As a new team member in the deli department, Tavelli surpassed training and leadership goals; her success led to her promotion within eight months.
• ➤ The recipient of an award at the 2013 Dairy-Deli-Bake event, she supports Bethlehem Haven Women’s Shelter, United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council, Special Olympics, and other community and professional organizations.

SUE TOY

Director of Category Leadership, Hillshire Brands

• ➤ By applying shopper insights across categories, Toy increased captaincies by 30 percent; frozen aisle insights have helped reshape adjacencies and grow aisle sales.
• ➤ She was instrumental in achieving Progressive Grocer’s Perimeter Meat Category Captaincy in 2013, driving sales increases in grocery and mass channels for the company and the category.
• ➤ With national responsibility for driving insight and customer development across Hillshire’s U.S. customers, Toy applies the principles and science of customer service to increase her team’s impact.

PATTI JACKSON

Director of Trade Analytics, Hillshire Brands

• ➤ Overseeing an $800 million trade budget for Hillshire’s retail business, Jackson established a trade investment process and discipline across Hillshire Brands, designed and launched a solution that generates trade event ROI, and established a catalog of events for reference.
• ➤ She delivered $21 million in trade effectiveness activities that benefited the company and trade customers, and was co-architect of a trade promotional optimization tool due to launch in July 2014.
• ➤ Outside if work, Jackson is a dedicated church volunteer.

AMY McCARTHY

Purchasing Specialist, HBC, HY-Vee Inc.

• ➤ In charge of all branded HBC, which encompasses 192 vendors and more than 6,00 SKUs across 236 stores, McCarthy reduced warehouse inventory by 15 percent while achieving record wholesale sales (up 8 percent from the previous year), and increased sales at a GM/HBC show by 40 percent.
• ➤ She excels at maintaining inventory at a level that creates solid cash flow but doesn’t jeopardize out-of-stocks.
• ➤ An avid school and church volunteer, McCarthy supports the WDM Soccer Club and the Kids Character Counts rally.

ANGIE DACHENBACH

AVP IT Projects, Hy-Vee Inc.

• ➤ “Unflappable” throughout launch of the IT portion of Hy-Vee’s Fuel Saver program, Dachenbach updated POS software at all stores and c-stores; installed, configured and tested a loyalty program at corporate; and trained corporate staff.
• ➤ She installed a fleet of servers at a warehouse created to build analytics reports.
• ➤ Having steadily risen through the ranks since joining Hy-Vee’s corporate office in 1987 and transferring to IT a year later, Dachenbach is a two-time Hy-Vee Hall of Fame recipient for her work ethic, dedication to her job and friendly demeanor.

BREE COOPER

Director of Retail Facilities, Hy-Vee Inc.

• ➤ Cooper is lauded for her ability to manage hundreds of projects with thousands of moving parts, on time and on budget.
• ➤ She created an intranet site for all facility-related information, established an internal engineering department blog to educate the company on department initiatives, and updated the flooring maintenance manual for stores.
• ➤ Cooper is engaged with several professional organizations, including the Iowa Engineering Society and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

HEATHER McANALLY

AVP operations, West Central District, Hy-Vee Inc.

• ➤ McAnally helped Hy-Vee’s Rochester, Iowa-area stores move their sales from red to black: She played a key role in opening a fuel station/car wash, established HealthMarket resets in two stores, oversaw a produce/bakery remodel, and did a GM/HBC reset.
• ➤ She served as a role model to young store directors, and has mentored women within Hy-Vee at both the store and corporate levels.
• ➤ A graduate of Hy-Vee’s management training program, McAnally volunteers at animal shelters and is involved in the Iowa Grocery Industry Association.

KRISTIN WILLIAMS

AVP Pharmacy Services, Hy-Vee Inc.

• ➤ Williams developed and oversaw the Central Fill pharmacy operation, including design, organizational chart, hiring of all personnel, training in accordance with state boards of pharmacy regulations, inventory and accounting procedures, quality assurance, retail training programs, the direct-ship program, supply purchasing, and instituting strict security measures.
• ➤ She was on the Iowa Pharmacy Association board of trustees (2011–2013) and served on the board’s legislative committee.
• ➤ Williams is a supporter of Doctors without Borders.

SHELBY ENDICOTT

Purchasing Specialist, GM, Hy-Vee Inc.

• ➤ Endicott’s leadership contributed to a tripling in sales growth for semiannual GM shows over the past 24 months, a key initiative being a reverse auction she developed.
• ➤ She worked with operations to develop an integration plan for cross-promoting GM products in every core section of center store, and helped develop the marketing plan and procure product for Hy-Vee’s new go-to-market strategy for selling holiday GM.
• ➤ A 2013 Hy-Vee Hall of Fame recipient, Endicott sits on the Topco Member Action Committee and is a Topco Mini MAC member.

LILY EDWARDS-CALLAWAY

Head of Animal Welfare, JBS USA

Reporting to the VP of quality assurance, Edwards-Callaway revised and reinvigorated animal welfare practices at JBS USA to include on-farm audits, camera monitors in live-animal areas of plants, and improved continuing education at plant level.

• ➤ She led the implementation of a systematic approach to animal welfare in plants, similar to HAACP.
• ➤ Edwards-Callaway is a member of the AMI and National Pork Board animal welfare committees, and sits on the animal welfare boards of Elanco, McDonald’s and Merck.

ALURA STEWART

Operations Specialist, Jewel-Osco

• ➤ A key coordinator of the grocer’s Value Transformation business rebranding, which addressed optimizing space and shelf-holding potential, Stewart handled continual auditing, integrity reviews and communication.
• ➤ In spring 2013, she transitioned to operations, overseeing 19 stores, with most experiencing sales increases of 5 percent under her guidance; In fall 2013, she took on a new district, remodeling 16 stores and driving district sales gains of 27 percent.
• ➤ Stewart is a professional and civic volunteer, including at Ronald McDonald House.

CONNIE ZAIO

Licensing Coordinator, Jewel-Osco

• ➤ Zaio monitored local change notifications, attended local hearings and meetings, and arranged for officer compliance of legal standards based on Albertsons’ acquisition of Jewel-Osco.
• ➤ She handled the transition of four Dominick’s locations to Jewel-Osco, including obtaining all licensing; additional projects include obtaining local permits for 19 store remodels and completing historic-picture research for the project.
• ➤ Zaio is a Cancer Federation fundraiser and participates in Illinois Liquor Control Commission BASSET seminars.

KIM CONNERY

Sales & Merchandising Manager-Liquor, Jewel-Osco

• ➤ Connery delivers superior bottom-line results, including sales 5 percent over projection for the most recent fiscal year.
• ➤ Driving share with her first-to-market approach regarding items, she recently revitalized Jewel-Osco’s wine program based on wine ratings from key industry platforms; her program will be launched across stores in 2014.
• ➤ Recognized repeatedly for her work in the industry, she develops charitable marketing programs between Jewel-Osco and key suppliers for the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

STACEY BROWN

Director of Labor Relations & Employment Law, Jewel-Osco

• ➤ With labor responsibility for Jewel-Osco’s 185 stores, as well as its distribution center and pharmacy operations, Brown led or assisted in two large contract settlements, including Jewel-Osco retail clerks and pharmacists, successfully negotiating a contract in the face of imminent strike threats.
• ➤ She’s the go-to representative for the company on general employment matters with outside agencies.
• ➤ Brown serves as a guardian ad litem for children involved in the legal system, and is an active participant in the Williams’ Syndrome Association and Big Brother & Big Sisters.

KRISTY DAISEY

Manager of Compensation, Benefits & HR, Kings Food Markets

• ➤ Daisey’s work as an invaluable member of both the Inspiration Strikes and Loyalty Launch company task forces led to the implementation of a new internal communication system employing CCTV and cutting-edge technology. She now manages Kings’ internal communications, while Loyalty Launch helped the company design a program test rolled out to four pilot stores.
• ➤ She’s an expert in the Affordable Care Act, which has been critical in her work with multiemployer health funds during union negotiations.
• ➤ A member of the New Jersey Food Council and FMI, Daisey volunteers at the Community Food Bank of New Jersey.

AMY EDWARDS

Sr. Manager of Retail Industrial Engineering, Labor & Expense Business Solutions, The Kroger Co.

• ➤ While retaining her role as a corporate labor manager, Edwards was also responsible for using her industrial engineering and process change background to re-evaluate the structure, systems, audit tools and current practices of the corporate store labor, scheduling, expense and industrial engineering teams, ultimately making recommendations to reorganize them.
• ➤ She also deployed a new labor scheduling solution to more than 90 Little Clinics and c-store divisions.
• ➤ She’s currently on a special assignment working on Ruler value-store format engineering logistics and in-store solutions to improve operational profitability.

CHERIE WILEY

Coordinator Drug/GM Merchandising, The Kroger Co.

• ➤ Wiley developed a multibillion-dollar enterprise sales and promotional plan for HBC, as well as category sales and promotional plans for Kroger, generating substantial customer engagement and sales improvement.
• ➤ She’s recognized as a leader in the consumer packaged goods industry and a champion for the customer.
• ➤ Her professional and charitable affiliations include United Way (co-chair of drug/GM); the Women’s EDGE resource group membership committee; Boys & Girls Club of Cincinnati; and Food for Thought Toastmasters Club (VP).

JODI CHAPMAN

Manager, Mercury Program Core Technology Team, The Kroger Co.

• ➤ Chapman and her team are accountable for data-related activities and process improvement for the company’s rollout of an item MDM, connectivity to GDSN, and rollout of a retail application suite.
• ➤ Her work helped accelerate a top corporate strategic initiative, and she’s leading several process improvement initiatives.
• ➤ As a committee member of the annual Girlz to Women Retreat, Chapman’s duties include program planning, fundraising and establishing partnerships with other committee organizations.

KARLA MAY

Sr. Manager, Logistics, The Kroger Co.

• ➤ May has operational and senior leadership responsibility for nationwide transportation, store delivery routing, purchase order/load tendering, and inbound appointment scheduling.
• ➤ She led the creation of the Kroger Transportation Center, consolidating three freight centers in two states and network regions of the logistics network; for her routing team’s contribution to store delivery on-time improvement of 28 percent, May received the 2013 Kroger Logistics Key Award.
• ➤ She delivered more than $67 million in net income to Kroger transportation, exceeding financial expectations by 7 percent.

KIM TRAYLOR

Sr. Regional Construction Manager, The Kroger Co.

• ➤ Traylor manages capital expenditures for the Atlanta division’s construction projects; and is responsible for training six project managers and the fixture plan development process.
• ➤ She led a $90 million capital program encompassing 21 major projects, including a store on Hilton Head Island, S.C., that’s part of a $65 million redevelopment, as well as Kroger’s first store on the island.
• ➤ As result of Traylor’s hard work and leadership, all projects met construction schedules and were delivered under budget while implementing corporate initiatives and expectations.

PEGGY MERSCHBACH

Loss Prevention Transaction Monitoring Manager, The Kroger Co.

• ➤ Starting out in the stores as a bagger, Merschbach now leads leads a team that monitors all enterprise POS transactions to detect and research sales fraud.
• ➤ Her team produced more than 7,300 cases with millions of dollars in prevented losses, and helped develop Kroger’s suspicious-order monitoring program.
• ➤ Merschbach excels at staff development: One of her team members was promoted back into the stores as a management candidate, while another was promoted into a division as an LP specialist.

SARAH BALEMIAN

Corporate Labor Manager, Special Assignment Deli/Bakery Process Change Innovations, The Kroger Co.

• ➤ Balemian is responsible for all labor management and scheduling for her assigned divisions, plus supporting deli/bakery and key retailing process change, for which her current special assignment is leading a new team.
• ➤ She has an integral role in influencing deli/bakery store labor savings in addition to managing overall clerk labor for multiple divisions.
• ➤ By extending her career path outside of her merchandising comfort zone, Balemian has added more value with tangible business results and broadened her leadership experiences.

CHRISTY WILLIAMS

Talent Manager, The Kroger Co./Atlanta Division

• ➤ Williams has been a talent manager for just more than 22 months; she is considered top talent in her division. Managing an annual training budget of more than $6.2 million for 213 stores in four states, Williams opened and operated two new training centers, and assisted in the reorganization of the HR team.
• ➤ She helped in the rollout of a regional “Great People Review Day,” designed to identify high-potential candidates in her division.
• ➤ Williams supports Arthritis Foundation and United Way, and is active in professional organizations.

JADE DUANE

Natural Foods Sales Manager, The Kroger Co./Atlanta Division

• ➤ Leader of the pilot for the Natural Foods Expansion Project, Duane established a multibillion-dollar sales budget for natural foods that generated millions of dollars in earnings, and the segment enjoyed a 28.16 percent improvement in sales in 2013.
• ➤ She was instrumental in the launch of the Simple Truth brand, with the Atlanta division achieving 122 percent of its goal for brand sales.
• ➤ Honored by Kroger’s “I am the Key”recognition program, Duane was the merchandising events coordinator for her division’s Leadership Trust Teamwork meeting.

MELISSA MILLER

Sr. Food Safety Manager, The Kroger Co./Central Division

• ➤ Miller leads the division’s safety initiatives, overseeing food safety training and the implementation of policies and practices, as well as third-party auditing and recalls, and representing Kroger to external public health and regulatory agencies.
• ➤ She led the division to a successful year on audits, achieving results better than goal by 8 percent, while regulatory performance improved by 18 percent, and her leadership was instrumental in a deli sanitation initiative to prevent cross-contamination risks.
• ➤ Miller was responsible for a perishable donation partnership that donated 2 million pounds of food to local charities and food banks.

JESSICA MILES

Human Resources Leader, The Kroger Co./Columbus Division

• ➤ Miles handles talent management, leadership development, training, labor relations, compensation, health care and benefit programs, associate communications and engagement in her division.
• ➤ Under her leadership, more than 100 associates were promoted, 60 percent of them diverse team members, and she led contract talks for 26 Toledo stores, negotiating changes to enhance operational flexibility and ensuring a “Customer 1st” shopping environment while recognizing health care needs.
• ➤ Miles avidly supports United Way and is executive sponsor of the Columbus division Kroger Women’s EDGE associate resource group.

INDSEY TAYLOR

Real Estate Manager, The Kroger Co./Columbus Division

• ➤ Taylor is responsible for implementing the capital expenditure program, directing all real estate activities through a strategic long-term master plan.
• ➤ She prepared a long-term capital strategy through 2020 to grow market share by approximately 7 percent, and she and her team successfully managed more than $47 million in major projects.
• ➤ An attorney who took on her present role in 2012, Taylor is an active member of the American, Ohio and Columbus bar associations; the International Council of Shopping Centers; and the Kroger Women’s EDGE associate resource group.

ANDREA TYSON

District Director, The Kroger Co./Delta Division

• ➤ Positive sales growth in Tyson’s district was attributed to her coaching skills and use of insight against Kroger strategies; her district achieves high marks on customer satisfaction surveys, and she’s considered an outstanding coach and mentor.
• ➤ Tyson reduced OSHA claims by 24 percent and doubled wine sales in Arkansas.
• ➤ A member of the PTA and the American Heart Association, she participates in numerous charitable walk/races and fundraises to assist students at a local taekwondo Center.

KIM KELLUM

District operations Coordinator, The Kroger Co./Delta Division

• ➤ Kellum provides district store teams with the tools they need to achieve operational goals and objectives, helping to identify store opportunities, analyze reports and make recommendations to improve sales, shrink, safety, profit and the shopping experience.
• ➤ She guided her district to 3.8 percent identical sales growth and reduced expenses by 42 basis points.
• ➤ Kellum was recognized by the division for her work at store #462, receiving the “2 Million Dollar Club” Award for EBITDA performance.

DIANA KRAUSER

Sales Manager GM/HBC, The Kroger Co./Food 4 Less

• ➤ Krauser, who was promoted to her current role in November 2013, delivered a 4 percent identical-store sales increase in HBC.
• ➤ She collaborated with a major CPG supplier on a unique sales promotion focusing on increased awareness of good oral care for Hispanic consumers in the communities served by Food 4 Less.
• ➤ She is a member the Network of Executive Women, as well as being an active fundraiser for City of Hope-Southern California Food Industry Circle, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Olive Crest Foundation and the Brandon Delaney Foundation.

RAYLENE GAMBOA

Service Deli/bakery Coordinator, The Kroger Co./Food 4 Less

• ➤ Gamboa ensures deli/bakery quality and merchandising standards for 20 stores and is responsible for the training and development of department managers and a team of 200.
• ➤ Promoted to her current role in 2013 after a successful stint as a store manager, she rejuvenated sales in District 24’s deli/bakeries, while increasing contribution and reducing costs and shrink.
• ➤ Gamboa served on the WAFC Advisory Committee in Northern California, where she persuaded many district team members to take online classes to develop their leadership skills.

KIM SWEARINGEN

Customer Communications Manager, The Kroger Co./Fred Meyer

• ➤ Swearingen’s responsibilities include developing and implementing advertising, marketing and promotional efforts at Fred Meyer and Kroger Marketplace stores.
• ➤ She built a robust digital platform and employed intelligence to grow mobile apps by 55 percent, website use by 30 percent and digital accounts 16 percent.
• ➤ Swearingen launched two major campaigns: a multichannel pricing campaign in the Spokane, Wash., market that grew sales nearly double that of the overall company, and fuel accumulation, growing household engagement by 6.3 percent.

MELINDA MERRILL

Manager Community Affairs, The Kroger Co./Fred Meyer

• ➤ Merrill handles sponsorships, donations and relations with the media, government and community, and oversees the company’s internal nonprofit foundation.
• ➤ Under Merrill’s leadership, Fred Meyer was recognized as Corporate Partner of the Year by Food Lifeline, SOLV and Store to Door in 2013, and she has also been instrumental in the privatization of liquor in Oregon and in Columbia River Crossing legislation.
• ➤ Honored by Kroger for an outstanding social media campaign and best overall PR, Merrill is an avid supporter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

SHARON LANTZ

Bakery/Deli Merchandiser, The Kroger Co./Fry’s

• ➤ Lantz’s responsibilities include budgeting, merchandising, go-to-market strategies of new products, pricing, promotions, fixture and merchandising planning for new stores and remodels.
• ➤ She exceeded sales initiatives for several commodities, qualified for contests and awarded prizes to several managers, opened the division’s 100th Boar’s Head store, and coordinated several booths at local events, including “Phoenix Cooks” with Clear Channel.
• ➤ Lantz provides assistance to local and minority companies looking to get their products on Fry’s shelves, helping Kroger support local Arizona businesses.

TINA CREAN

Drug-GM Merchandising/Martketplace, The Kroger Co./Fry’s

• ➤ Crean manages sales promoters, marketplace specialists and drug/GM coordinators to create sales events and strategic merchandising strategies, with responsibility for sales, profits and shrink for drug GM at all 119 Fry’s stores.
• ➤ She oversaw some of the fastest-growing commodities in the retail food business, such as “Seen on TV” products, which became No. 1 in sales.
• ➤ Crean’s team developed a “Naturemade” vitamin bin, which has rolled out to several Kroger divisions after sales grew 20 percent; her team also created a new rack for check-stand tops that holds 5-Hour Energy Drinks, growing sales 11 percent.

LINDSAY AGNEW

Human Resources Coordinator, The Kroger Co./King Soopers

• ➤ Among her numerous duties, Agnew drives career planning and training for associates, assists in recruitment and staffing, monitors effectiveness of associate communication and conducts conflict resolution.
• ➤ Before her promotion from produce/floral coordinator to HR in 2013, Agnew guided these departments in the grand opening of her division’s Fresh Fare store, boosted Valentine sales 12 percent and led new sales records in both areas.
• ➤ Starting as a courtesy clerk 15 years ago, Agnew has moved through the ranks as cashier, front end manager, produce manager, store manager and retailing specialist.

SALLY MORAGAS

Operations Coordinator, District 1, The Kroger Co./King Soopers

• ➤ Moragas identifies opportunity areas for her division, drives total department contribution and sales, coaches “live engagement” with all team members, ensures execution of the division’s marketing and operations initiatives, and manages district talent to develop new leadership.
• ➤ Her leadership yielded such achievements as top district for lowest overtime, high district average for key retailing recertification walks, strong sales IDs, a keen safety record and minimal shrink.
• ➤ Moragas’ district leads her division in customer satisfaction and has made strides in associate engagement.

LYDIA JOO

Sr. Manager Change Management, The Kroger Co./Kroger Personal Finance (KPF)

• ➤ Joo leads all major change programs, process improvement projects and system infrastructure initiatives for KPF, and also coaches and develops a team to execute initiatives supporting Kroger’s “Customer 1^st” and “Associate 1^st” strategies and KPF financial goals.
• ➤ She supported the launch of five new products that drove significant customer growth and profitability for KPF, and her team supported the rollout of 980 Money Services destinations, transforming the way Kroger meets underserved customers’ financial needs.
• ➤ As co-chair of the cultural council, Joo has significantly improved KPF’s associate engagement.

LANELL OHLINGER

Human Resources Leader, The Kroger Co./Michigan Division

• ➤ Ohlinger is responsible for the implementation of the strategic HR business plan, participating with other divisions and corporate in enterprise-wide planning and development activities.
• ➤ She successfully renegotiated nine collective bargaining agreements during 2013, yielding significant savings while maintaining health care for associates and increasing leadership positions, and she’s senior leadership advisor to the division’s cultural council.
• ➤ Ohlinger oversaw a biannual leadership meeting that brings together 2,500 store leaders to align them on goals, results, standards and company initiatives.

RACHEL ROSS

District Manager, The Kroger Co./Michigan Division

• ➤ Ross assesses stores’ ability to exceed customer expectations and meet budgets for revenue growth and profitability, and she coaches store and district management teams, as well as being a role model for the company’s core values.
• ➤ Under Ross, District I realized a 3 percent identical-store sales increase in a soft Michigan economy, and has seen increases in associate engagement scores.
• ➤ A past President’s Award recipient, Ross is a co-chair of the Michigan Division Cultural Council and plays a large part in improving the work environment, strengthening the council network and driving associate engagement.

DENISE HOLLIDAY

Deli/Bakery Coordinator, The Kroger Co./Mid-Atlantic Division

• ➤ Holliday’s bakeries achieved a 5.27 percent identical-store sales increase, improved shrink by 55 basis points and raised gross profits by 1.22 percent; achieving the division goal of improved contribution rate, she boosted EBITDA by 3.02 percent, and raised customer satisfaction by 4 percent in deli and 7 percent in bakery.
• ➤ She shared her inventory/shrink best practices with the entire division, positively influencing 120 stores.
• ➤ Active in her church’s children’s ministry, Holliday has set herself a personal goal of achieving 1,000 hours of community volunteer involvement, and is almost halfway to reaching her aim.

ERIN HAITHCOCK

Customer 1^st Manager, The Kroger Co./Mid-Atlantic Division

• ➤ Haithcock pioneered the Customer 1st manager position in her division, planning and executing the first awards ceremony to recognize exceptional associates, and conducting customer focus groups in two districts.
• ➤ She attended food shows to educate department heads on customer satisfaction, and worked with the division’s lowest-performing stores to improve in this area, improving their customer satisfaction scores by 2 percent.
• ➤ A member of Kroger’s Women’s EDGE associate resource group and the PTA, Haithcock participates in United Way events.

SHANNON TOTH

District Manager, The Kroger Co./Mid-Atlantic Division

• ➤ Toth oversees the operations of 14 stores and the development of 1,750 associates in the Raleigh-Durham market, leads a team in the planning and execution of merchandising and store operations initiatives, and promotes associate engagement and development.
• ➤ She led her team to improved financial stability, with sales improvement leading the division, and boosted associate engagement with improved communication in her district cultural council, associate appreciation events and recognition for job achievements.
• ➤ As a committee co-chair, Toth has been instrumental in the development of Kroger’s Women’s EDGE Group for the Mid-Atlantic division.

PHELICISIMA “PHELI” ROBERTS

Clinical Care Coordinator, The Kroger Co./Mid-South Division

• ➤ Roberts’ responsibilities include overseeing clinical pharmacy practices, including immunizations and other health-and-wellness initiatives, for 155 pharmacies in four states.
• ➤ She was one of the founding committee leaders for her division’s health-and-wellness committee, which developed the first division-wide weight loss challenge in her area.
• ➤ Under Roberts, the division has exceeded flu immunization goals for the past two years and continues to grow immunization, health screening and nontraditional pharmacy sales, and clinical services to outside employer groups.

DEBRA ENGLISH

Grocery Merchandiser, The Kroger Co./QFC Division

• ➤ English is responsible for all division-level financial results as well as those of 66 retail stores. Transitioning to new area, English led a new team (two-thirds of whom were new to their position) to achieve total grocery identical-store sales of 2.63 percent, a grocery recap of 0.85 percent, liquor IDs of 8.37 percent, and natural food IDs of 9.52 percent.
• ➤ A member of Women of Excellence of QFC, she completed an executive education program at Portland State University in 2013.
• ➤ English supports Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Children’s Hospital and Girls on the Run.

MELISSA PENA

Manager Environmental Affairs, The Kroger Co./Ralphs

• ➤ Pena is responsible for environmental legal compliance for 375 retail stores, all distribution centers, manufacturing facilities and fleet that service Ralphs and Food 4 Less stores.
• ➤ She participated in development, construction and operation of Kroger’s waste-to-energy biogas facility, and developed environmental management software and tracking mechanisms to report on key performance indicators; under Pena’s leadership, the company’s facilities received no violation notices.
• ➤ Pena contributed to a reform effort in California regarding retailer hazardous and pharmacy waste disposal.

MARLA FIELDER

Pharmacy Merchandiser, The Kroger Co./Southwest Division

• ➤ Fielder oversees pharmacy results for 175 retail pharmacies in Texas and Louisiana, with responsibility for achieving sales and operational strategies, and ensuring the execution of pharmacy merchandising plans.
• ➤ She assisted the division, whose pharmacies achieved its highest level of customer engagement, in driving sales of $760 million.
• ➤ Under her leadership, the division led the company with record flu immunizations — more than 153,000 — and Fielder was also instrumental in driving more than 30,000 no-cost wellness screenings.

MELANIE REILAND

Director, Customer marketing-U.S. Dairy Foods, Land O’Lakes Inc.

• ➤ Reiland develops new-item launches, including the go-to-market strategy, volumetric assumptions, sell story and trade strategy.
• ➤ She delivered annual volume target and grew overall volume by 4.7 percent to plan year and managed trade to 97 percent of budget, helped grow the Land O’Lakes Service Deli after several years of decline, and was integral in the Kozy Shack “Fix the Mix” success, achieving greater distribution at key retailers.
• ➤ Reiland effectively implemented the new NRM department, delivering $8 million in NRM benefit on a plan of $4.3 million.

JODIE FELTER

Director of HR, Niemann Foods Inc.

• ➤ Felter oversees all aspects of HR for Niemann Foods Inc. (NFI) and sits on the executive committee, which makes critical decisions for the company.
• ➤ Her achievements include the NFI Leadership Academy, retention plans in aggressive markets, company growth, customer service training, health care reform tracking systems, and a 16 percent increase in WOTC tax credits.
• ➤ Recognized for the development of the leadership academy by both the company and the industry, Felter is VP of Women Grocers of America, among other professional and community commitments.

LINDA RUDICIL

Director of Risk Management, Niemann Foods Inc.

• ➤ Rudicil coordinates such risk management functions as workers’ compensation, property and casualty, asset protection, and safety for 5,000 associates at more than 100 retail outlets across three states.
• ➤ She initiated awareness and incentive efforts to protect associates’ safety and control compensation costs, as a result of which claim frequency dropped 40 percent and claim expenses dropped 67 percent from their 10-year averages.
• ➤ A onetime Niemann Foods Foundation board member with stints as secretary and assistant treasurer under her belt, Rudicil is active in her church.

AMY ELIZABETH BOSEK

Sr. Director of Sales-Southeast, PepsiCo

• ➤ Bosek handles all sales and marketing activity for all retail accounts in her region.
• ➤ The strategic work of Bosek and her team strengthened PepsiCo’s position with key retail customers, resulting in the company being named Bi-Lo Holdings’ top supplier in sales/growth contribution, among other honors.
• ➤ A dedicated mentor of up-and-coming talent, Bosek is active in such industry groups as the Florida Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Georgia Food Industry Association, and supports a range of community organizations.

CARRIE CARROLL

GM OF PepsiCo Sales for Dollar General, PepsiCo

• ➤ Carroll leads her team across sales, marketing, finance, category management and other functions to execute PepsiCo and Dollar General’s joint business plan across 11,000 stores.
• ➤ She and her team led a best-in-class joint-business-planning process grounded in shopper insights and centered on collaboratively built initiatives tailored to the Dollar General shopper, delivering sales growth of more than 10 percent.
• ➤ She’s sales chair in PepsiCo’s Women’s Initiative Network, and also participates in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program and fundraising events for cancer research.

EMILY KIELY

Director of Insights, PepsiCo

• ➤ Kiely drives accelerated growth, market share gains and elevated customer partnership via shopper insights across PepsiCo’s food and beverage businesses.
• ➤ She enabled the company to become a strategic partner with Target, leading input into the design of the new-format Target Express, the creation of Target’s strategic agenda for Hispanic customers, and a revamped center store beverage floorpad.
• ➤ An active member of the Network of Executive Women and PepsiCo’s Women’s Initiative Network, Kiely is involved in Simpson House, Second Harvest and the Kids in Need Resource Center.

JENNIFER REILLY

Sr. Director of PepsiCo Sales-Midwest Region, PepsiCo

• ➤ Reilly develops operating strategies for such strategic regional customers as Roundy’s, Meijer and Hy-Vee.
• ➤ Despite significant customer restructures, Reilly’s team delivered the company’s strongest growth, leading Gatorade’s overall U.S. growth, driving 40 points of net growth for the Naked Juice brand in her region, and boosting share across the Quaker Foods cereal, bar and hot cereal categories.
• ➤ She was selected for PepsiCo’s Senior Leadership Development program, a select group of 30 singled out for their performance and potential, and attended the company’s leadership symposium in Toronto.

MICHELLE BELLAH

Director of Chilled Juices & Drinks, Kroger Team, PepsiCo

• ➤ Bellah has full selling responsibility for chilled juices and drinks to Kroger corporate, including strategic planning, trade spend management, compression selling and cross-functional collaboration.
• ➤ Thanks to Bellah’s work, Kroger is outperforming U.S. grocery on velocity across the Farmstand, Ocean Spray and Starbucks brands; she also developed and leveraged a joint business plan to realize such key opportunities as securing the No. 1 holiday, Christmas.
• ➤ She volunteers with the Tin Roof Society, participating in such activities as building an orphanage in Kenya, for which she provided school supplies and other items.

BARBARA KELLY

Customer Team Marketing Manager, Procter & Gamble

• ➤ Kelly handles full-portfolio marketing at P&G’s Publix and global military businesses, focusing on such areas as shopper understanding, shopper-based design efforts, scale and differentiated merchandising plans, and custom programs.
• ➤ A recipient of P&G’s Top Achiever Award, Kelly has the highest ranking among her peers and is in the top 8 percent of all marketers at the company.
• ➤ Active with the USO’s Family Unit, Kelly dedicates her time to military families and bringing fun and entertainment to service members’ children through her work with ProCamps.

LORI PROCTOR

Sr. Retail Supply Manager, Procter & Gamble

• ➤ Proctor oversees the end-to-end supply chain moving P&G brands to the shelves of Safeway.
• ➤ She led the successful execution of key new item initiative; leveraged data to improve shelf presence, product availability and in-stock rate; and through the innovative expansion of several programs, improved supply chain reliability.
• ➤ As well as giving her time, talents and energy to the Network of Executive Women, Proctor serves as a speaker, panelist and mentor to on-campus organizations at UC Berkeley, as well as supporting the Contra Costa Children’s Chorus and the Boy Scouts of America.

CARRIE GREEN

Sr. Account Executive, Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC

• ➤ Green leads P&G Distributing’s Wegmans and Tops Markets sales teams, with responsibility for driving accelerated growth across P&G brands in 28 CPG categories.
• ➤ She and her team implemented a club mailer program employing P&G brands at Wegmans, designed to drive trade-in and trade-up to family-size SKUs; the results were so successful, the retailer has adopted the mailer corporately.
• ➤ Among other industry honors, she was chosen from a list of P&G global managers to attend P&G Global Innovation College, where she represented the U.S. market for the class of 2013.

SUE QUILLEN

Buyer, Publix Super Markets

• ➤ A buyer for housewares across all Publix market areas, Quillen negotiates product purchase costs with suppliers and recommends product mix changes to the category manager.
• ➤ Her attention to detail and eye for picking trends led to an overall increase of 7.33 percent among the retailer’s housewares categories, despite the industry’s continued economic challenges.
• ➤ A supporter of United Way, VISTE (Volunteers in Service to the Elderly) and Light House Ministries, Quillen also helps coordinate an annual holiday toy collection for needy local families.

CHRISTINA FINK

District Manager, Save-A-Lot/Supervalu

• ➤ Fink’s primary responsibilities include driving operational excellence and maintaining budgets for nine St. Louis Save-A-Lot stores.
• ➤ In less than 18 months, she has worked her way up from assistant manager to district manager.
• ➤ Fink was selected to be a trainee store manager and participate in various projects within the company, including developing best methods, reference guides and employee goals in tandem with the labor management team, and also helped develop several team competitions within the stores to drive sales and increase participation.

LINDA MARKUS

District Manager, Shop ‘n Save/Supervalu

• ➤ Promoted to her current role in February 2013, Markus is responsible for the efficient operation and maximization of sales and profits of 12 retail stores within her assigned region, working to ensure that operations are consistent with established company policies and objectives, creating successful store directors, and overseeing budget, inventory management and labor management.
• ➤ Under her leadership, the region had positive gains in gross margin for fiscal year 2014.
• ➤ Appointed to the board of directors for the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery in 2013, Markus is also a team leader for CHIA, PLU/SLU and Oracle.

WENDY ZAHRADKA

District Manager, Shoppers Food & Pharmacy/Supervalu

• ➤ Zahradka is responsible for 19 stores, overseeing sales, gross profits, expenses, conditions, customer service, hiring and associate retention in her district.
• ➤ For much of 2013, she was director of customer service, a role in which she established new procedures and protocols to enhance the customer shopping experience on a company scale, before being promoted to her present position.
• ➤ As customer service director, Zahradka was influential in driving increased customer service and community involvement through such efforts as the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk.

DENISE BROCKERT

Manager, Buying Analytics, Smart & Final

• ➤ In her support role for the company’s entire sales team, Brockert is responsible for turning concepts into reports that category managers use to increase margin and sales.
• ➤ She worked with category managers on developing a solid 2013 plan by category, subcategory and week in the areas of ship, sales, billout and spend. She also developed an “executive dashboard” around key initiatives and spent a lot of time training the category management team on the company’s new “Business Objects Universe,” which involves the pulling of raw data to make solid business decisions.
• ➤ Brockert received two company “Ozzie” awards for holding herself and others accountable for achieving results.

HOLLY JENSEN

Real Estate Manager, Smart & Final

• ➤ With a sphere of influence encompassing the entire company, Jensen is charged with finding and researching possible locations for new stores, presenting the results of her research and her educated recommendations to the real estate committee and overseeing initial dealings with site landlords.
• ➤ She achieved approval for eight new locations for 2014 store openings, and has built a pipeline of other new store opportunities.
• ➤ Jensen has participated on several industry panels at various real estate industry events.

JULIA BISCHOFF

Sr. Category Manager, Smart & Final

• ➤ Bischoff is responsible for managing Smart & Final’s candy and snack categories, a role in which she negotiates with direct store delivery and grocery vendor partners and develops promotional plans to maximize sales.
• ➤ She ended 2013 with industry-leading comp sales in both candy and snacks, breaking category sales records within the company. Keeping a close watch on her financials, she also helped Smart & Final achieve its EBITDA goals.
• ➤ For her efforts, Bischoff, a graduate of the University of Southern California Food Industry Management Program, received the Candy Retailer of the Year award in 2013.

KAREN KORYTOWSKI

GM of LEAN, Smart & Final

• ➤ With the responsibility of driving the shift in Smart & Final’s culture to include more participation and engagement from the workforce, Korytowski leads the grocer’s LEAN implementation, communicating with team champions and training leadership teams.
• ➤ She headed a partnership that helped the company gain knowledge about LEAN operations, and then helped implement LEAN in two distribution centers, a significant change that led to thousands of dollars in savings for the supply chain.
• ➤ Korytowski was chosen as one of only four associates to attend the University of Southern California Executive Food Industry Management Program.

HEATHER HECKMAN

HR Director, Spartannash

• ➤ Heckman leads a team of eight associates to maximize the strategic use of HR for corporate and retail supermarkets.
• ➤ During and since the November 2013 merger between Spartan Stores and Nash Finch (now SpartanNash), Heckman proved integral in the creation of one handbook and one set of policies, procedures and programs.
• ➤ As one of her focuses is associate appreciation, she combined the previously separate corporate office and warehouse summer picnics to create an event for three shifts and 1,000 associates, and led feedback-based changes in the company’s retail scheduling system.

JENNIFER CZEKAI

Brand Manager, Spartannash

• ➤ Czekai oversees more than 15 brands for both corporate and retail banners across nine states, managing in-store demo programs, culinary classrooms, event marketing for grand openings, and placements for TV, radio, outdoor, and trade publications.
• ➤ She launched the corporate brand for the merger of Spartan Stores and Nash Finch and implemented the “Living Well” program in stores, resulting in an increase in produce sales, and also helped introduce the first employee resource group, the Women’s Inclusion Network.
• ➤ Czekai is on the board directors for the Grand Rapids Opportunity for Women and is board secretary of the West Michigan Ronald McDonald House.

KIMBERLY GILLEN

Sr. Director of IT Standards & Processes, Spartannash

• ➤ Gillen’s responsibilities include application development quality, disaster recovery planning and internal IT metrics, as well as oversight of reinforcing processes to improve the quality of service, operating efficiency and performance.
• ➤ She was instrumental in solving complex issues regarding food distribution, supply chain, corporate stores, independent retail customers and national account customers, by collaborating with customers and cross-functional teams.
• ➤ Gillen was the key solution person on a team working with a large national account customer that rolled out a new category to over 10,000 stores in less than four months.

MARLO SAVAGE

Director of IT Programs Management Office, SpartanNash

• ➤ Savage oversees and directs SpartanNash’s Program Management Office (PMO) to ensure that IT programs and projects meet the organization’s goals and requirements.
• ➤ With and beyond the merger between Spartan Stores and Nash Finch, PMO has played a significant role in successfully integrating the acquired companies into SpartanNash, which has recognized Savage and her team for their achievements.
• ➤ One of Savage’s biggest recent achievements was becoming one of three co-chairs of the Women’s Inclusion Network (WIN), which contributes to the growth and development of women at Spartan Stores.

SARA BLASING

Director of Training & Development, Spartannash

• ➤ Blasing directs the design, development and delivery of training and development programs that support the company’s current and future business objectives, goals and strategic plan.
• ➤ She teamed with the company’s president and COO, SVP of human resources and VP of talent management to drive sales talent management development in an initiative that achieved its goal ahead of schedule and helped increase wholesale sales.
• ➤ Blasing also created a recognition program designed to honor associates and family members who have served in the military, which has become a permanent part of the company’s culture.

YVONNE BALK

Manager, ITAD Finance/HR System, Spartannash

• ➤ Balk manages a team of specialists responsible for application development and support activities for the PeopleSoft HR/payroll and financial systems.
• ➤ She managed the analysis required to integrate the financial and HR/payroll systems for the merger of Spartan Stores and Nash, and oversaw the technical aspects for the company’s absence management implementation.
• ➤ Balk has been co-leader of the HCM Product User Group within the Quest International Users Group for the past five years, and led group meetings and discussions on topics related to use of the PeopleSoft HR/payroll system used at SpartanNash.

SHARON FLEENER

Director of Export & Quality Assurance, SpartanNash/MDV

• ➤ Fleener oversees all export operations for the MDV division of SpartanNash, which distributes products to 174 military commissaries and more than 400 exchanges.
• ➤ Her ability to secure difficult-to-obtain certification under European Union regulations for overseas shipments of food commodities from a Fortune 500 company led to sales of more than $3.5 million for the company on one item line alone.
• ➤ She received the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) individual Certificate of Appreciation award for exceptional service and support of the DeCA mission, and is a top fundraiser for a variety of worthy causes.

LYNN BURNETT

Director of GM & HBC, Supervalu

• ➤ Reporting to the VP of category management and overseeing 21 employees within her department, Burnett is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the general merchandise and health and beauty care departments
• for Supervalu’s Midwest and Southeast regions.
• ➤ She successfully developed and implemented several programs with independent retailers to recapture and expand GM business, resulting in additional sales for retailers and exceeding budget expectations for GM/HBC.
• ➤ A Supervalu team member since 1987, Burnett has held her current position since 2001.

SARAH LOUDEN

Director, Corporate Human Resources, Supervalu

• ➤ Responsible for the full scope of human resources needs of Supervalu’s corporate departmental teams in finance, IT, legal, marketing, merchandising and procurement, Louden was integrally involved in the transition of approximately 1,100 corporate positions when a large part of the company was sold.
• ➤ Louden’s steady hand, leadership and work ethic are further enhanced by her professionalism and attention to detail.
• ➤ As the right-hand woman for Supervalu’s EVP, Louden was instrumental in supporting a new executive team and many leaders’ specialized needs during a corporate turnaround.

ANDREA TEAL

GM, Teal’s Market

• ➤ A fourth-generation owner and GM of Cold Spring, Minn.-based Teal’s Market, Teal led the acquisition of the company’s 10^th store and developed an integration plan, including a full remodel, to help reposition the new store and increase market share.
• ➤ After corporate restructuring, Teal was instrumental in promoting and introducing the Four Disciplines of Execution (4DX) to enhance the execution skills of managers, coaches and business partners.
• ➤ Teal also pioneered a new advertising and marketing campaign and has encouraged the promotion of women to management roles: Currently, a full 50 percent of her company’s store managers are female, in addition to many women departmental leaders.

DONNA NASSER

Sr. Director of Center Store Procurement, Topco Associates LLC

• ➤ Nasser is responsible for three distinct teams within Topco: procurement, customer service and supply chain. The most recent addition to her portfolio is demand planning and replenishment, supporting Topco’s warehouse operations.
• ➤ She was a key player in the implementation of an automated system to track all inquiries coming into the member services (MS) department, which resulted in an overall 70 percent improvement, and has been asked to lead a company initiative to improve Topco’s member experience.
• ➤ Nasser is also a Girl Scout troop leader, and an advocate of mentoring and training both at work and within her community.

KATHLEEN OAKES

Director of Dairy/Bakery, Topco Associates LLC

• ➤ “Kathy Oakes is instrumental in making Topco a complete resource for its members,” says a vendor representative, who commends her vast industry knowledge and “proactive and realistic approach … to innovation.”
• ➤ Overseeing $800 million in annual sales, Oakes increased dollar sales in her categories by more than 17 percent, with close to 15 percent in volume growth, and oversaw 12 egg bids, resulting in $2.5 million in total savings that were allocated back to Topco’s participating members.
• ➤ She helped realize $1.2 million in egg savings, while Topco’s dairy team, under her guidance, experienced comparable-sales growth for its member-owners.

KARRI ZWIRLEIN

Category Manager, Deli/Prepared Foods, Tops Markets LLC

• ➤ After developing a successful premium-quality pizza program, Zwirlein was chosen for Delta business training, which is offered to Tops’ highest-performing associates.
• ➤ She developed a fresher high-quality salad program that continues to enhance Tops’ image while delivering impressive sales growth. She’s also taken the department’s hot bar, fried chicken and fish fry to the next level.
• ➤ Zwirlein’s proficiency for differentiated, profitable deli/prepared food programs spans the full spectrum of assortment, pricing and merchandising for all 158 Tops stores, which include multiple formats and banners. Outside of work, she’s very active in her local school community.

KATHLEEN M. ALLEN

Manager of Community Relations, Tops Markets LLC

• ➤ Allen is the chief strategic planner and implementer for the full spectrum of community relations at Tops’ Syracuse and Adirondack, N.Y. markets, covering 30 percent of the grocer’s total store count.
• ➤ Her leadership guided every front end campaign the chain conducted in the past year, and she presided over the debut of more than 20 stores with grand-opening celebrations in new markets.
• ➤ Recognized by numerous nonprofit organizations for her support, stewardship and guidance, Allen is handling the negotiations regarding the naming rights of a local children’s hospital.

SUE KELCHLIN

Manager of Risk Management, Tops Markets LLC

• ➤ Reporting directly to the CFO, Kelchlin manages all related activities within Tops’ business insurance procurement, including claims, safety and loss control administration for total facilities, and OSHA compliance.
• ➤ She has skillfully reduced the frequency of occurrence and severity of claims in both workers’ compensation and general liability for the past two years, through proactive safety and control initiatives.
• ➤ Kelchlin further reduced business insurance premium costs while increasing coverage limits, including the recently acquired Erie Logistics distribution center from C&S Wholesale Grocers.

SUSAN PETERS

Deli/Bakery Specialist, Tops Markets LLC

• ➤ Peters was instrumental in the turnaround conversion efforts of seven acquired stores, along with multiple existing major remodels; she worked on remerchandising, as well as training programs that focus on growing sales while minimizing shrink.
• ➤ For her work with newly appointed bakery and deli directors to help grow sales via teamwork and cooperation, Peters received a Superior Service to the Stores Award.
• ➤ Peters has played a pivotal role during the aggressive growth of Tops over the past four-plus years, during which time the company has more than doubled its store count.

ABBY FOX

Manager of Procurement Strategies, Unified Grocers Inc.

• ➤ Fox led an inventory reduction initiative, preceded by an aggressive strategic plan and robust slate of tactical initiatives, that yielded an inventory reduction of 3.5 percent, or $5.5 million.
• ➤ Other benefits of her leadership were upgraded processes to optimize service levels, a robust training and certification program for all buyers, and new methods of segmenting items to highlight forecasting, service level, inventory and shrink reduction/improvement.
• ➤ She helped Unified Grocers generate an inventory reduction of more than 7 percent, or $11 million.

KAREN CONONETZ

Sr. Director of Procurement, Unified Grocers Inc.

• ➤ Cononetz oversees the placement of all new items and management of vendor and retailer growth strategies across approximately 20,000 items for two marketing regions.
• ➤ Her Pacific Northwest team assumed responsibility for managing the Portland region of Unified in addition to the Seattle region, resulting in an overall expense reduction for the company.
• ➤ Cononetz covered for several of her colleagues who were out on unexpected medical leave — while also restructuring and excelling at her own responsibilities — without missing a beat.

TINA JUAREZ

Director of Benefits, Unified Grocers Inc.

• ➤ Juarez enabled Unified to stay on the forefront of changes imposed by the Affordable Care Act and found a more efficient and cost-effective way for the company’s retirees to access medical care, through a Medicare exchange service.
• ➤ Responsible for the design and administration of Unified’s health and retirement plans, Juarez provided associates and their families with information about plans while ensuring continuous full compliance with complex regulatory requirements.
• ➤ In addition to leading and developing a team of four benefits specialists, Juarez oversees a budget of $26 million.

KATHERINE MAGANN

Product Manager of Content Solutions, Vestcom International

• ➤ Responsible for managing the content product team, Magann is the single owner and subject-matter expert for Vestcom’s content solutions, reaching thousands of shoppers.
• ➤ She developed and launched a first-of-its-kind “vitaAisles” supplement shopper education program that’s part of Vestcom’s healthyAisles suite of solutions that helps marry in-store food nutrition programs to pharmacy.
• ➤ Leading the process from start to finish, Magann was a key contributor in growing healthyAisles’ double-digit gains.

MONICA AMBURN

Sr. Director of Health & Wellness, Vestcom International

• ➤ Amburn led Vestcom’s alliance with a national food and drug store chain to implement healthyAisles at thousands of locations after a long, complex process predicated on a retooled shelf-tag and related marketing program.
• ➤ She played a pivotal role in the dramatic growth of healthyAisles, with the number of participating stores climbing two-fold to include 21 retailers spanning 46 states.
• ➤ The first full-time on-site corporate dietitian for Bi-Lo in 2010, Amburn was this year recognized as a Young Dietitian of the Year, South Carolina, by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

PATTY PACKARD

Director of Nutrition & Regulatory Affairs, Vestcom International

• ➤ A registered dietitian overseeing Vestcom’s healthyAisles database, Packard ensures that its approximately 150,000 food items reflect regulatory-compliant, up-to-date messaging.
• ➤ To keep the database updated, Packard and her team work inside supermarkets, scanning and photographing thousands of products and their UPC codes to record a stream of changes.
• ➤ A member of Cigna’s Everyday Healthy Values Nutrition Advisory Board, she is also active with the Quilts of Valor organization, which makes and donates quilts to a local Veterans Administration hospital, and also creates quilts and bibs for a local women’s and children’s shelter.

GRETCHEN SUYDAN

Director of Marketing, Weis Markets

• ➤ In charge of some of Weis’ most critical marketing functions, Suydan helped upgrade the grocer’s loyalty program with improved incentives that resulted in increased overall spending by top customer segments.
• ➤ Suydan was also involved in developing the company’s brand architecture and guidelines, and helped oversee grand-opening marketing activities for three stores in new markets, as well as related activities for an additional 13 major store remodels.
• ➤ She serves on the leadership council of the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce and has already, in her short time at Weis, made a significant impact in her marketing group team leader role.

KARLA WARREN

District Manager, Weis Markets

• ➤ Warren helps the 15 store managers she oversees develop budgets and exceed sales and merchandising initiatives.
• ➤ She handled all aspects of hiring and training associates at two new stores in new markets; the stores debuted on the same date — while she was also presiding over two remodeled stores’ simultaneous grand reopenings — yielding Weis’ biggest-ever grand-opening results in Maryland.
• ➤ Warren forged rewarding relationships with Towson University and the Ft. Meade Officers’ Wives Association, among others, while orchestrating local vendor tie-ins with the likes of the Baltimore’s Ravens and Orioles sports franchises.

MARIA PANKO

Sr. Manager of Private Brands & Specialty/Natural/Organic/Ethnic, Weis Markets

• ➤ Panko increased her company’s private-brand promotions through high-visibility events reinforced by weekly circulars and enhanced packaging applications.
• ➤ She helped elevate Weis’ internal private-brand marketing with associates, offering strong values and enabling them to increase their knowledge base.
• ➤ Having further upgraded internal private-brand testing and reviews, Panko also helped integrate next-generation data analytics into the evaluation of private-brand sales promotions and category performance while helping to develop a more effective electronic marketing program for private brand products.