Top Women in Grocery Set to Celebrate in Orlando
The final details are being put into place for Progressive Grocer's 2016 Top Women in Grocery gala event, which is set for this Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Fla.
The plush Florida resort will again serve as the setting for this year's Top Women in Grocery honorees to network, share, learn, relax and celebrate at what promises to be a special occasion.
The event will kick off on Wednesday evening, Nov. 9, with a casual networking welcome reception, which is open to all Top Women in Grocery honorees and guests.
The daytime Leadership Development Program, which is designed to help guests maximize their experience, begins on Nov. 10, with an optional Rise & Shine yoga session provided by Clif Bar, followed by a Welcome & Networking Breakfast sponsored by Post Consumer Brands from 9:00-10:00 a.m. for all attendees.
Following breakfast, the daytime Leadership Development Program continues with a keynote address from author and speaker Robin Gerber, who will discuss the valuable lessons contained in her best-selling book, “Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way.”
Gerber will also share related wisdom as a guest on a moderated “Tips from the Top” executive panel discussion, which additionally will feature three of the retail food industry’s most accomplished and respected women leaders: 2016 Top Women in Grocery Trailblazer award recipient Judith Spires, chairman and CEO of KB Holding Inc.; Susan Morris, EVP, retail operations, Albertsons Cos.; and Kathleen Mahoney, EVP and Chief Legal Officer, SpartanNash.
After breaking for lunch at noon, Eileen Tarjan, manager of learning for Network of Executive Women (NEW), will lead an Affinity Mixer, which will enable participants to share common challenges and solutions in frank and robust discussions to help foster lasting peer relationships, gain fresh insights and develop actionable steps to carry with them.
Throughout the day, guests of honor are also welcome to enjoy the various amenities that the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress has to offer.
At 5:45 p.m., all of the winners will assemble for a group photo prior to the start of our formal evening awards gala, which will begin at 7:00 p.m. More than 270 Top Women in Grocery honorees will be personally recognized and presented with awards before a sellout crowd of more than 550 attendees.
The evening's festivities will conclude on a sweet note with a dancing and dessert party sponsored by The Hershey Co.
On Friday morning, all attendees are invited to participate in 5K Fun Run/Walk, proceeds for which will benefit the Network of Executive Women’s Future Fund. The 5K Fun Run/Walk will not only cap this year's Top Women in Grocery experience, but will also help pay it forward by supporting NEW's campaign to achieve 50/50 gender parity in food industry leadership.