CGA NEWS
GROCERS GATHER IN SACRAMENTO FOR GR DAY
Attorney General Candidate Anne Marie Schubert at Grocers Day
Remember the days when you could simply stroll into the Capitol in Sacramento, knock on your elected official’s office door, and meet with a legislator? In the last few years, the Association has had to become quite adaptive in planning the industry’s signature lobby day, Grocers Day at the Capitol.
In response to COVID-19 concerns, CGA held virtual lobby days in 2020 and 2021. And this year, with the Capitol building under construction and the pandemic causing legislators to be largely unavailable for in-person meetings, the Association created a unique event that combined the chance to connect with invited legislators and informational briefings designed to give members a foundational understanding of the policy issues CGA is confronting. The full line-up of speakers featured Asm. Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) and Republican caucus leader Asm. James Gallagher (R-Yuba City). These two prominent legislators shaded in valuable context for attendees from their political perspectives, explaining the worldviews and dynamics prevalent within the
California State Legislature. Additional themes covered during the event included PAGA reform, Cal/OSHA, and the CGA Issues PAC. After the event, CGA hosted its annual President’s Reception at the Citizen Hotel’s Scandal Bar. Capitol staffers and legislators mixed with CGA members, staff, and friends of the industry, offering the opportunity to connect in an informal setting. There, conversations started at Grocers Day carried into the night over small bites and mixed drinks. Next up: The Association hosts a one-day series of store tours, pairing Armenian grocers in Southern California with members of the Legislature’s California Armenian Caucus. ■
KENDRA DOYEL, MICKIE SHARP-VILLANUEVA ENTER CGAEF HALL OF ACHIEVEMENT It was two-years in the making and not to be missed. In April, the muchloved CGA Educational Foundation (CGAEF) Hall of Achievement Dinner made an epic return in celebration of Kendra Doyel, Ralphs Grocery Company, and Mickie Sharp-Villanueva, the Performance Group. The buzz in the room was tangible as California’s grocery community gathered in person to celebrate a pair of industry icons. Having initially been slated to be inducted in March 2020, entering the Hall for Kendra and Mickie felt long overdue – as did the opportunity to connect again in person as an industry.
38 | CAL I FOR N I A G R OC E R
Over the course of the night, the inductees were introduced by their loving families, who shared plenty of heartfelt remarks and garnered more than a few laughs. 2021 $10,000 Legends of the Industry scholarship recipient Michael Weir, Smart & Final, also shared the story of his career journey and the impact the Foundation’s work has had on his life and educational attainment. In addition to inducting Kendra and Mickie, the Hall of Achievement Dinner featured live and silent auctions with the proceeds funding the CGAEF’s general work and scholarship awards for industry employees. Headlined generously by Kendra Doyelhosted dinner parties, the auctions and
fund-a-need program raised nearly $95,000. Topping off the night, CGAEF Board of Trustees Chair Jacquie Slobom, Gelson’s Markets, unveiled the Jim & Judy Van Gorkom Heritage Scholarship in honor of the retiring trustee who served the Foundation for 11 years. To learn more about the CGA Educational Foundation’s work, visit cgaef.org. ■
