Baloga to Replace McCorkle as PFMA Head

David L. McCorkle will step down as president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) on June 30. Alex Baloga, VP, external relations, will succeed him on July 1, at which time McCorkle will become an emeritus staff member.

McCorkle joined PFMA in 1982 as executive director, government and public relations director, becoming president and CEO in 1986. Over the years, he worked on such issues as beer and wine sales, cigarette pricing, fuel and item pricing, and workers’ compensation reform. McCorkle represented PFMA on the boards of trustees for the Food Marketing Institute and the National Grocers Association, and sat on the legislative policy committee of the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). Additionally, he was chair of Food Industry Association Executives and a founding member of the Pennsylvania Dairy Stakeholders in 1998, serving as a director and chairman of the organization before its merger with The Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence.

“It’s been an honor to serve PFMA members and the food industry,” McCorkle said. “I have had great support from the board and staff through the years, and I am thankful for the many great friends I have made in the industry.”

He added, “Alex has done an exceptional job representing the food industry over the past four years and I am confident he will successfully manage the association’s daily activities, while continuing to spearhead our strong government relations efforts.”

Baloga joined PFMA in 2013 as director of government relations. He was promoted to director of government and public relations the following year and to VP of external relations in 2015. Before joining the association, he worked as regional manager for the office of U.S. Sen. Robert Casey (D-Pa.); deputy finance director for Casey’s re-election campaign and an associate lobbyist for Greenlee Partners LLC.

PFMA represents almost 800 convenience stores, supermarkets, independent grocers, wholesalers and consumer product vendors in the Keystone State. Its members operate more than 3,200 stores and employ 150,000-plus Pennsylvanians.