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Tribute offers insight into careers of 36 honorees
The Shelby Report of the Southeast presents its 18th annual tribute to Women of Influence in the food industry. This year’s slate of honorees – 36 strong – runs the gamut from presidents and VPs to managers, directors and supervisors.
They are among the leading executives in their respective fields, but their candid responses to questions from the Shelby team also reflect how they handle their other roles – as wives, mothers, sisters and even grandmothers. Whether they’ve worked there decades or just a few months, these women
are making an impact at their companies. Some have MBAs or law degrees, while others are pursuing doctorates. Nearly all belong to professional associations and are active in their communities.
In the pages that follow, they share advice for up-and-coming professionals, as well as detail some of the challenges and rewards they’ve experienced along the way. In addition, you’ll learn about the defining moments in their careers.
We found their responses refreshing and inspirational and hope you will as well. Join us as we celebrate the 2023 Women of Influence.
Crystal Ackerman
Southeastern Grocers Inc.
VP of Meat and Seafood
Southeastern Grocers Inc. is the parent company of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie stores. It is one of the largest conventional supermarket companies in the U.S. and serves customers in grocery and liquor stores and
Jesi Allen Pure Intentions Coffee Director of Accounts and Operations
I have worked for Pure Intentions Coffee in Charlotte, North Carolina, for seven years. On my journey from sales representative to my current role, I have developed as a professional and continued my education on leadership and progress.
Brandi Appell
The Town Market Manager of Special Projects
Technology should enhance the customer experience. I am blessed to have the support of Billy and Mary Daughtry, to bring digital solutions to The Town Market without losing the small-town feel. I look at ways to improve our customers’ experience, both on a personal and digital level.
Tracy Aquila
Southeastern Grocers Inc.
VP of Dairy and Frozen Merchandising
I am responsible for leading the dairy and frozen categories and establishing our department’s vision to strategically grow sales and deliver a world-class shopping experience.
One of my guiding principles is to build strong relationships with our
Ginger Atkins
Alex Lee Controller
I am honored to be selected for this recognition. In my role, my team is responsible for ensuring accurate and timely processing of a variety of critical financial processes and issuing meaningful financial reporting. The most rewarding part of my role is being able to support processes
Harley Breaux
Rouses Markets
Marketing Coordinator
I have had the privilege of working for this esteemed organization for the past four years. I take great pride in my role and am grateful for the opportunity to work with a team that feels like home. As a result, I envision a long-term future with Rouses Markets.
Susan Brosnan
Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions
Software Solution Architect
Susan Brosnan has worked on supporting technology in the foodservice industry for almost 23 years and influences the architecture and design of software solutions across Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions' retail portfolio worldwide. She is a solution architect for Toshiba's most flexible
Caroline Catoe ECRS
President ECRS, a point-of-sale and retail technology solutions provider for the independent grocery industry, was founded by my father in 1989. I’ve been working in the organization since high school. Throughout the last 15 years,
in-store pharmacies throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. The company is based in Jacksonville, Florida.
In her role at SEG, Crystal establishes and executes category plans, strategies and tactics to deliver sales, margin and inventory objectives for the meat, package meat and seafood departments.
She also collaborates with teams throughout the organization to increase market share and provide a world-class fresh experience for customers. In addition, she is the community involvement co-chair for the Women’s Development Network, an SEG Associate Resource Group.
Our founder, Matt Yarmey, has always believed in me and empowered me to become a decision maker early on in my career in coffee, which instilled in me a sense of responsibility and determination to do the right thing.
As a company, we always try to make the right decision – not the easy decision – and I believe that my guidance over our team has been part of what shaped this attitude. It is important to have colleagues alongside you that know how you operate and believe you will find a path to success.
Being a part of Pure Intentions has shown me the true potential I have. The growth I have achieved over the last seven years is hard to quantify, but
We began by upgrading our POS system, and then turned our attention to digital solutions to better serve our customers. First, we partnered with AppCard to help customers save money on their grocery bills. Then, began working with MDI to update our website and introduce a digital ad that our customers say is easy to navigate.
The most rewarding part of my job is helping our customers, whether that is finding them a product, being a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen, assisting in redeeming reward points or coupons or helping them place a special order for an event. I also enjoy loading our customers' groceries in their vehicles. Yes, we still do that.
vendor partners and put customers at the center of every decision made. The most rewarding part of my job is instilling the importance of learning, trying new things and constantly improving. That is what makes us better merchants and voices for our shoppers.
During my career, I have had multiple mentors who encouraged me to try new opportunities, step out of my comfort zone and stay true to my authentic self. Early in my career, one of my past leaders told me something that has stuck with me: “Say what you are going to do and do what you say – you are your brand.”
My advice for up-and-coming professionals would be to own their
critical to our organization’s success. I am thankful to be part of an organization that focuses on creating a unique shopping experience and commits to supporting local communities.
The most challenging part of my role is responding to the everchanging needs of our organization, ensuring we are positioned to exceed expectations in the fast-paced world of grocery retail.
Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to encounter many great leaders who have positively influenced me along the way. Specifically, I would like to credit Brian Monroe, senior director at PepsiCo, and John Sapp, SVP of Alex Lee Retail. While young in my career, Brian helped me
In addition to my professional endeavors, I am married and have a wonderful 4-year-old son whom I adore. For me, the most gratifying aspect of my work is collaborating with an exceptional team, particularly a group of women who are making a notable difference in our company.
While my job has its share of challenges, finding a balance to satisfy everyone can be difficult.
One defining moment in my career was meeting Ian Somerhalder at a bourbon signing event that I helped coordinate for Brothers Bond. As an ardent admirer, it was a dream come true.
Crystal has extensive knowledge in leading meat and seafood departments, as well as driving sales in the retail industry. She is the 2023 and 2024 co-chair for the Annual Meat Conference Planning Committee and a member of FMI’s Fresh Executive Committee and Fresh Foods Leadership Council.
During her tenure at SEG, Crystal also has served as senior director of meat and seafood. Prior to joining SEG in 2019, Crystal was the director of merchandising, meat and seafood at Meijer, where she also worked in the general merchandise, home, grocery and fresh departments.
the inherent values of that growth process are something that I try to instill in the development of our team and the decisions we make as a group about the direction of our future.
The opportunity to visit our coffee-producing partners in origin countries has significantly impacted my worldview and the way that I operate in my personal and professional lives, something I owe to my career in coffee. I'm equally thankful for all the challenges that have come my way to help form who I am, as I am thankful for the successes that I've celebrated with our team.
The most challenging part of my job is learning when customers or someone close to them have passed. The relationships built with our customers are strong, so when they experience a loss, we also feel the loss. We are a family.
My career evolved under the wings of many mentors over the years. It began with Richard Harris and continues with Billy and Mary Daughtry. I am forever grateful for their example and guidance.
My advice to up-and-coming professionals: improvise, adapt and overcome.
career paths and not be afraid to change course, pivot and take risks. I am a strong advocate for women not only having a seat at the table and having a voice, but also learning how to use that voice. I actively participate as the learning and development committee co-chair for SEG’s associate resource group, the Women’s Development Network. Additionally, I am a board member for the SEG Gives Foundation, National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association and North Florida Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association.
navigate through a variety of obstacles and led through example on how to support and develop a team, even in times of significant change. While at Alex Lee, John Sapp has helped teach me the importance of remaining calm in the face of adversity while also continually encouraging innovation and growth to pursue best practices.
I would encourage young professionals to focus as much on developing their people skills as their technical expertise. Relationships are one of the most important aspects to building a successful career.
As a mentor, Tim Acosta, our marketing and advertising director, has been a guiding force since my first day at Rouses Markets. With 40-plus years in the grocery industry, he offers invaluable advice to make sound decisions for our organization. Tim really is a father figure to me. I find myself able to rely on his support and advice in a similar way that I might turn to my own father. Moreover, Marcy Nathan, our creative director, believed in and advocated for me, leading to the opportunity to secure this position. She is a strong advocate for women in grocery.
and technologically advanced e-commerce solution yet – the ELERA Commerce Platform.
A defining career moment was when ELERA was released after years of development and seeing how beneficial the platform was to the overall customer experience.
Susan works directly with client architects and product architects and advises the senior executive team on strategic technical direction. She enjoys leading, influencing and mentoring software engineers and colleagues after having benefited early in her career from an invaluable mentor who encouraged active listening, conscientious project design and enthusiasm for
I worked in all departments before being promoted to president in 2021.
I find the most challenging part of my role to be the lack of hours in a day. There are so many exciting ways to grow, strengthen and innovate, and I really have to prioritize around what is the best way to improve today.
The most rewarding part of my work is definitely the customer success stories. Hearing the stories and seeing the data of CATAPULT retailers that are able to measurably increase basket size and spend, reduce shrink and waste, increase customer loyalty and retention and improve the bottom line for their business just gets me incredibly inspired. I love that we serve
every new opportunity.
Susan is also a Toshiba Master Inventor, with 29 patent filings. She applies her leadership and industry expertise across many organizations. She is a member of GS1 Bar Code Identification Technical Group and the Baylor University Computer Science Industrial Board. She also is a Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina volunteer.
As for Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions’ organizations, she is: chair of the Architectural Review Board; co-chair of the Invention Review Board; and a member of the Women’s Employee Resource Group and the Community Outreach/Volunteer Committee.
independents; there is something fierce and adventurous in the independent grocery spirit, and it’s very rewarding to watch them dominate the goliaths. My advice to emerging leaders is to show up and say "yes." Show up at your office, show up in the meetings, be present – it will set you apart in a post-COVID world. If you are showing up and showing that you are hungry for success, then you will likely be given opportunities to take on new challenges. Say yes to them, and go for it. Don't be afraid to fail, be afraid of not trying. Everything else will follow.
Gwen Christon Isom IGA
Owner/Operator
In 1973, Gwen Christon started as a cashier at Isom IGA in Letcher County Kentucky. In 1998, Gwen was able to purchase the grocery store and has operated it for the last 25 years.
Lora Coggins
Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions
Channel Sales Executive
Lora Coggins has been in the foodservice and retail industry for 23 years. She works closely with resellers and retailers in all market segments and attends industry events to gain insight into the pain points customers are facing.
On July 28 2022, the grocery store was destroyed by a historical flood that devastated eastern Kentucky. Gwen, as well as family, was determined to get the store back open for the community and her employees.
Gwen hopes that the store’s reopening will serve as an inspiration to the community and gives hope to people that are still trying to rebuild and recover from the flood. Gwen’s main purpose is to use the Isom IGA as a testimony for Christ and as an encouragement to the community.
With her industry expertise and insights, she draws on the intelligence and trends from events to support retailers to think outside the box and collaborate for their next technology solution. The events, conferences and conversations she has with her team and retailers help her be a skilled advisor and consultant between the resellers and clients to provide innovative solutions.
As part of those events, Lora has participated in Multi Unit Restaurant Technology sessions in-person and virtually for the past three years.
As a leader during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lora found
move through the store management ranks.
creative ways to continue to connect with stakeholders and to successfully fulfill commitments. She transitioned from hosting in-person meetings to virtual face-to-face interactions in the demo studio at company headquarters. She recorded demonstrations at least once a week to have a personal connection with the resellers virtually and create a strategic library of footage. During that time, she successfully continued to demonstrate the value proposition, innovative functionality and features of the Toshiba hardware and software solutions that meet the needs of retailers.
Store Director
I am a former U.S. Army logistics officer and mother of three. I have only been in the grocery industry for six years, but in that time was able to
Jennyfer Dickenson
Southeastern Grocers Inc.
Senior Category Manager of Packaged Meat
Southeastern Grocers Inc. is the parent company of Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and WinnDixie stores. it is one of the largest conventional supermarket companies in the U.S. and serves customers in grocery and
Jennifer Enoch Lowes Foods Director of Talent Acquisition
For the past 23 years, I have been able to develop and grow into a career I thoroughly enjoy with a company that truly cares about its people. In my role, I love sharing my experiences with the company to potential new hosts
Sandi Ford
Ford’s
CEO
Gourmet Foods
I started Ford’s Gourmet Foods nearly 40 years ago on a drop-down plywood shelf in the back of the office of our produce business. I was a female in a male-dominated industry, getting up at 2:30 a.m. every day to make my mark at work while also raising a family. I was working to “have it all” before
I always keep my eyes on the future and bring future leaders up along the way. Making sure my team members have all of the tools they need for success and allowing them to be creative enough where they shine in their work gives great satisfaction.
I am thankful that I work with an amazing group of team members who nurture employee growth and mentorship, with a leadership team that leads by example. I am excited to see what the future brings.
liquor stores and in-store pharmacies throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. The company is based in Jacksonville, Florida.
In her role at SEG, Jennyfer establishes and executes strategic plans and tactics to deliver sales, margin and inventory objectives for the packaged meat department. She also collaborates with teams throughout the organization to ensure fresh, high-quality products are delivered to customers.
Jennyfer has extensive knowledge of the retail industry and has contributed to great success in the packaged meat department. She’s
(employees).
Starting out as an administrative assistant in produce and floral, I didn’t anticipate then that I would now be in a position that has an impact on the organization that I do. Talent acquisition and attraction is such a vital part of our industry. The past few years have created an even more competitive environment. As we navigated staffing during the pandemic, we had to be willing to try new and innovative ways to find and attract talent.
I am very proud of the talent acquisition team at Lowes Foods and W. Lee Flowers that is best in class. We started as a team of two seven years ago,
that was even a thing.
Today, we are an international company, shipping our award-winning Bone Suckin’ Sauce and Southern Yum Pecan Brittle to more than 82 countries around the world. And as I look back at my wonderful career, I attribute this success to three things.
First, the friends I have made in this industry. We genuinely support and root for each other. We have all had mentors. For me, it was Annie Withey of Annie’s Homegrown Foods and Adele Malley of Malley’s Chocolates. In turn, I have become a mentor to others.
Second, the opportunity to work with my family and witness their
excelled at driving solutions and coaching teams to execute and create new and improved product lines in a timely, efficient and quality-oriented manner while growing sales and market share.
During her tenure at SEG, Jennyfer has also served in various other positions throughout the organization, including seafood and poultry buyer and category manager for deli and bakery. She will be celebrating 25 years with the company in July.
and have grown to a team of seven today, supporting multiple different areas of the business, including more focused support of front-line retail recruiting. My success is not only due to support from my family and team, but also to the mentors I have had in my career journey. I would like to personally thank Brandon Greene, our SVP of host experience, for his trust in me and my team.
The advice I would give to up-and-coming professionals is to not be afraid to advocate for yourself and others to achieve your goals.
successes. My husband of 52 years, Lynn Ford, has supported me unconditionally. My sons, Vaughn and Patrick, play integral roles in the continued growth of our business. And now my grandchildren – we are a fifth-generation, family-owned business. I am so proud.
Finally, two pieces of advice I received that guide my words and actions daily – keep your word and listen to your people. As much as we are here to teach our employees, it’s amazing what they can teach you if you open your ears.
Holmes Food Lion Assistant Category Manager
Jennifer joined the grocery industry in 2022 after working in fashion and apparel for six years. She brings great insight and experience with her
Heidi Huff A2 Advertising
SVP-Consumer Engagement
I have spent the last 15 years in the grocery business – the independent grocery business – and I love it. I lead an extremely talented group of people who help independent grocers succeed with marketing and advertising solutions.
Linda Johnson Food Lion
SVP, Human Resources and Communications
I am passionate about driving equality for Food Lion’s 82,000 associates and customers across our 10-state footprint. Our commitment to Food Lion’s “Count on me” culture creates an inclusive workplace with a sense of
Lauren Kennedy Upshop VP of Customer Success and Training
Lauren Kennedy builds and nurtures a team of dedicated account managers who serve as the primary point of contact to develop long-lasting relationships with Upshop’s most valuable customers. This includes improving strategies
background as a buyer for a department store, which enabled her to quickly be promoted to a team leadership role in her first year with Food Lion.
She presents herself as a leader and has a great understanding of other people's perspectives. She also has the ability to foster and develop relationships, maintain level-headedness when assessing situations, come up with solutions and willingly take on new challenges.
The most rewarding part of her job is working hard with her team to get the right products on the shelves for consumers – at the right time and at the
My team is instrumental in supporting independent businesspeople with solutions to help them succeed. Many of our clients are four-plus generations strong. Knowing that we help them with today's tech, solutions and expert guidance to efficiently run their business makes it all worth the effort.
One thing that has defined my career is when I realized that I love working in a space of creating something new. Whether it's a program or a new department within the company, this is where I have passion and thrive. This has guided me as I have moved throughout my career, knowing what kind of work and environment helps me shine has been the key to my work happiness.
belonging.
I believe in diversity of thought and collaboration, which enables everyone to contribute their full potential and ultimately contributes to the success of the company. Equitable opportunities produce real business results.
I’m honored to be part of a company that makes a difference. Food Lion has been recognized for decades as a great place to work for diversity, equity and inclusion.
focused on customer retention and success through exceptional results, while coaching the Upshop customer success team on strategy execution.
Kennedy focuses on driving adoption and positive outcomes, as well as growth of accounts in collaboration with internal teams. In her role at the helm of customer success and training, Kennedy’s sphere of influence ranges widely across Upshop’s 145-plus clients.
She collaborates with senior leadership at high value accounts to ensure trust and satisfaction, as well as partnering with cross-functional and senior leadership to ensure all team-managed accounts are supported. She supports
right price.
She is passionate about products, learning how to always improve her business and, most importantly, mentorship. She hopes to continue to mentor young minds as she advances in her career, as so many have done for her.
Her advice: Stay curious. Always challenge yourself to learn more. Never hold back your questions. Don't compare your journey to others.
A key piece of advice I give to my team members is to figure out what is it about their jobs/careers that they love and why and what they don’t like. This may seem simple – and it can be – but it's important so that as they continue to grow, we can determine what next step will and won't be right for them.
I am honored to be a nine-year member of the WGA Executive Board of Directors, currently serving as VP and treasurer, and a member of WGA's Executive Female Leaders Network. I am also a member of the NGA Foundation Board of Regents and CHIEF.
At Food Lion, we have a deep commitment to underserved communities. A rewarding part of my role is to ensure civic efforts make a real difference in the towns and cities we serve. For more than two decades, Food Lion has invested more than $1 million in local initiatives that support racial equality and social justice.
I am thankful for the opportunity to serve on the Charlotte Governing Body for the Gartner CHRO Executive Summit and on the Corporate Productivity (i4cp) Chief Human Resources Officer Board.
and consults with Upshop’s professional services team in ongoing projects and managing priorities to obtain measurable and sustainable benefits. She played an invaluable role in September 2022, mapping the transition and merger of Itasca Retail. Her expertise in customer growth sets new expectations for high quality customer success for major retailers such as Wegmans, Kroger and Cardenas, the results of which are highlighted in Upshop’s four No. 1 rankings on the 2023 RIS LeaderBoard.
Adrienne Khomphengchan Giant Food Senior Accounting Manager
I am responsible for the analysis of all consolidated management and performance reporting across Giant Food. By using data-driven storytelling analysis, I help provide visual context to our company strategies, achievement in operational initiatives and improve organizational health.
Megan Kiersey
Acosta
Director of Client Development
I started my career at Acosta in an entry level position and now lead a team of four on the Walmart team. We partner with clients to bring innovative and strategic solutions to drive sales at Walmart. We partner with our retail team to ensure in-store execution and with our business insights team to help
Jennipher Landry
Rouses Markets
Store Director
I started as a cashier in 2006. I'm fortunate to have achieved a great deal in my career. I can hardly put into words the excitement I felt when I was appointed store director for Clearview in 2022. My husband, Levell
Erin McCulloch-Crume
Bay Food Brokerage
Director of Perishable Sales and Business Development
Erin McCulloch-Crume is a highly educated food industry professional with more than 16 years of experience in manufacturing, sales, marketing and product management.
What I find most rewarding about my role is seeing how my work strongly affects leadership decisions and how it creates positive changes for Giant Food. What I find most challenging in my role is being "the bearer of bad news" when predictions, forecasts and projects are not going as planned.
Through a program from our Women's Inclusion Network, I was matched with my mentor, Michael Goble, who advised me on defining my purpose and guiding me on my professional development journey. My direct boss, Mike Brenton, has taught me the importance of emotional intelligence and given me many opportunities to have a “seat at the table”
drive in-store activities for our clients.
What I find most rewarding in my current role is watching my team grow as individuals and building partnerships with their clients. What I find most challenging in my role today is delegating tasks to my team.
From being a business manager myself, I sometimes find it easier to just take the task on. Instead, I am working on teaching and training my team, so I can help them be thought leaders for their clients.
I've had many great mentors during my time with Acosta who have encouraged me, gotten me involved and helped me gain the confidence to be open to new and challenging roles. The one that sticks out to me the most
Hargrove, also works for Rouses Markets. I'm grateful to have a partner who supports and inspires me in both my personal and professional pursuits.
The most fulfilling aspect of my work is the opportunity to collaborate with an exceptional team at the store. It's truly a privilege to work alongside such dedicated, talented individuals.
My mentors include Monique Hemelt, who was a customer service specialist for Rouses. She was an exceptional supervisor. Her unwavering pride and dedication to her work were truly inspiring. I strive to emulate her level of commitment.
At Bay Food Brokerage, she focuses on continuing to grow the perishable arena by bringing on new manufacturer clients and collaborating with meat and deli teams at retailer partners in the Southeast. In fact, she significantly contributed to the company's growth in sales in the deli and meat departments by 22 percent year over year.
She’s also helped the company expand into new retailers in the Southeast and expanded her team by hiring industry experts to focus on new market growth.
Erin has a bachelor’s degree in finance, an MBA and a master’s degree
with leadership.
A defining moment in my career is when I received an initial rejection on a business proposal for a change to the analytics team. I felt devastated. But with perseverance and support, I finally got a "yes."
I would advise any up-and-coming professional to "take it personally and make it into positivity." The phrase "it's not personal" means it’s not personal to them. Rejection is personal, but you can process it, learn from it and move on. I apply this philosophy as a board member of our Pride resource group for the LGBTQIA+ community.
was the one who gave me the most valuable advice I have received – find your voice.
The defining moment in my career was when I finally said yes to a new role and let myself be challenged.
The advice I would give up-and-coming professionals: You don’t know what you don’t know. Ask questions. You don’t have to have all the answers. Use your resources around you. Learn to use your voice and speak up when you have something to say. Most importantly, when you get the chance to be a mentor, return the favor.
Jeremey Simmons, store director in downtown New Orleans, taught me to always be passionate about what you do and treat others with kindness and respect. Chris Campbell, regional district manager, has been a constant source of invaluable advice and support. Jeff Zerwick, regional district manager-Baton Rouge, has been a fantastic collaborator and colleague. It is important to remember that success doesn't come overnight. It requires hard work, dedication and persistence. So don't be discouraged by setbacks or roadblocks. They are opportunities to learn and grow, and keep moving forward.
in supply chain, logistics and operations, all from Fontbonne University. She is a member of the Carolinas Food Industry Council and Grocery Manufacturers’ Representatives.
Erin has won numerous awards with her previous employers, including Dot Foods’ Regional Sales Manager of the Year in 2015 and 2016, and Reser’s Fine Foods’ National Sales Manager of the Year (Tortilla Division) in 2019 and National Sales Manager of the Year in 2020.
Sierra Merritt Rouses Markets
Grocery Director
I have had the opportunity to work with many different positive leaders throughout my career that has led me to where I am now. I started in retail as
Kellee Miller
Dole Food Co.
Director of Shopper Marketing
Kellee serves as a key liaison between sales, innovation and marketing to maximize exposure and engagement among Dole’s retail partners and shoppers. She focuses on collaboration and strategic development among stakeholders throughout the business to pinpoint relevant messaging,
Sarah Montgomery Upshop
Senior Director, Solutions Consulting
Sarah Montgomery is a driving force in executing the technology and solutioning components of Upshop’s go-to-market strategy. She is pioneering Upshop’s brand-new solutions consulting division, developing a new
Brooke Rice
Southeastern Grocers Inc.
Senior Director, Own Brands
I champion and oversee product development, quality control, category planning and marketing for all Own Brand products. I began my journey with SEG in 2014 on the strategic sourcing team, and then served in various leadership
a cashier and continued to learn new skills and earn promotions as the opportunities were presented to me.
I am proud of my growth as a leader over the last eight years into a management position. I enjoy teaching new skills to help others grow into their careers. I love what I do because every day presents a new challenge that keeps each day interesting and fun.
programing and business investments.
Kellee leans in with a heavy focus on new product initiatives, shopper loyalty, retention and purchase frequency while prioritizing investments against retailer-owned marketing programs and finely tuned shopper targeted initiatives.
She has been fortunate to have several mentors throughout her career. Two standout women include Dawn Valandingham, VP of insights at OnShelf Marketing Group, and CarrieAnn Arias, VP of marketing at Naturipe Farms. Both of these leaders have helped Kellee grow at pivotal points throughout her career.
strategic department that acts as a liaison between sales and implementation to increase client satisfaction post-sale and initiate long-term recurring revenue for the company.
Bringing together management and leadership skills, sales process expertise and retail software knowledge, her role leads and develops a robust pre-sales process across all stages of the sales opportunity lifecycle. She works with potential new clients as a subject matter expert, presenting product demos and outlining road maps for how Upshop products will drive ROI.
roles for the Own Brands team. I take pride in being a mother of two boys, while also leading a key strategic pillar for our company.
The most rewarding part of my role is offering our customers highquality products at a great value. The private label space is an exciting opportunity for our team to continue growth for our business.
We are energized by our customers’ desire for more Own Brand products, which is driven by value and quality proposition. Our industry has experienced supply chain challenges in recent years but we have quickly adapted and learned to work diligently with our supplier partners to
Her greatest professional strengths are transparency with business stakeholders and her natural born tendency to apply shopper loyalty and retention philosophies to employee and retail customers.
A defining moment in her career was the culmination of years of brand management experience followed by the opportunity to work on the team that pioneered the Kroger Loyal Customer Mailer. That is where she adopted a natural passion to applying reward and retention practices throughout the professional arena.
Post sign-on, Montgomery supports Upshop’s implementation team and customer account managers to ensure streamlined rollout and business consultation. Her sphere of influence scales 145-plus retail customers, including major U.S. grocers such as Kroger, Ahold Delhaize and Wegmans. She is also a foundational member of the Upshop pioneering leaders subset. This group of leaders from across the organization works with the c-suite to build strategic initiatives and pursue development and implementation. Her steadfast leadership and positive outlook have made her an especially crucial member of this internal team.
continue delivering an exceptional shopping experience.
Our chief of stores and pharmacies is my former manager and longtime mentor who has had a tremendous impact on me. Under her leadership, she provided me with the courage and advocacy to be a mother and a successful career woman. She believed in me and gave me incredible opportunities to have a seat at the table and share my voice for important decisions. With these opportunities, I have been able to share my passion for what I do and continue to commit to excellence and success for my team and our brands.
Sally Robinson Upshop VP Strategic Initiatives
Sally Robinson leads the development of Upshop’s strategic planning process. She identifies key growth opportunities, defines long-term objectives and develops strategies to achieve those objectives.
Andrea Rodriguez
Southeastern Grocers Inc.
Director, Supplier Diversity and Local
I have been given the opportunity to build a program from the ground up and create change for our company by opening doors to underrepresented suppliers, introducing products that reflect the communities we serve and fostering positive supplier partnerships.
Deborah Sabo
Food Lion
SVP, Marketing
I lead a team of creative and driven associates whose work impacts 82,000 associates across 1,100plus stores. With storytelling as the oldest form of human interaction, our marketing team uses this powerful tool to connect
Marygrace Sexton
Orchid Island Juice Co.
Founder and CEO
Fort Pierce, Florida-based, clean-label juice company Natalie’s Orchid Island Juices came about one autumn day in 1989 when Marygrace Sexton was wheeling her baby daughter, Natalie, through the family orange groves
While collaborating with cross-functional teams to identify and assess new business opportunities, Robinson analyzes and develops a deep understanding of industry trends, as well as the competitive landscape to inform Upshop’s strategic initiatives.
Robinson works with senior leadership to communicate strategic vision and then drive initiative execution across the organization to ensure successful implementation. She maintains relationships with external partners, including vendors, 145-plus global customers and industry thought leaders to stay informed of emerging trends and growth opportunities.
In this role, I am challenged to be a knowledgeable resource throughout the entire company and implement a sustainable program embedded in our culture. I am a wife, mother of two boys and proud native of Bogotá, Colombia. I am the daughter of immigrant parents, who paved the way for me in this country and have been my compass, guided by tenacity and a huge heart.
A defining moment in my career was working on the rollout of a new Hispanic banner, Fresco y Más. It allowed me to learn to manage, understand the importance of having transferable skills and not be afraid to speak up.
with our customers in deeper, more meaningful ways. My team and I push our creative boundaries to develop expressions that touch hearts, ignite passion and move customers to engage with the Food Lion brand. The stories come to life through our advertising, in-store experience and on all marketing channels. I am rewarded and fulfilled daily because I surround myself with a diverse, great team.
Moreover, my team and I are privileged to tell the story of Food Lion Feeds, a hunger relief initiative founded by Food Lion in 2014 to address food insecurity in the communities we serve. We not only provide meals
thinking about the dream she and her husband, Bobby, a fourth-generation citrus grower, had of one day squeezing the world’s finest juice.
At the time, the demands of running the family’s packinghouse didn’t afford Bobby the chance to work on this new business. And although Sexton herself was busy with her own job, she decided – right then and there – that she would start the family juice company and name it after Natalie.
From the very beginning, Sexton insisted that Natalie’s Orchid Island Juices be delivered cold, clean and fresh. In fact, her first delivery was made using a refrigerator truck she borrowed from a local butcher. Today, Natalie’s
She is also a leading industry expert on FSMA 204. A major grocer recently asked her to present on the food safety legislature to their core team.
Mentors and coaches have been crucial throughout my career, sharing their wisdom, pushing me out of my comfort zone and believing in me. I advise others to embrace change and be coachable while remaining authentic.
I am the co-chair for Pa’lante, SEG’s Hispanic associate resource group. Additionally, I’ve served on the board of several organizations, including Hispanic 360 Retail’s Advisory Board, Jacksonville Urban League and First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
through the food rescue program but also develop sustainable resources, such as culinary training programs, to address food insecurity systemically. As part of my commitment to the cause, I also volunteer.
My professional advice is always to put the customers’ mindset first and listen to their needs and wants. Evolving functional conversations into emotional impacts is the key to marketing success. The example I like to use is that our customers don’t just shop for groceries to feed their families; they shop for food to nourish their families and set them up for success in life.
is a thriving, award-winning business at the forefront of the clean label movement and a leading juice provider in the U.S. and across the globe. Natalie’s minimal-ingredient juices are offered in 34 states and 50 countries around the world. Sexton’s lifelong passion for health and fitness was her inspiration for her juice company. In fact, she has developed some of Natalie’s most popular juices using superfoods for maximum nutrition and fitness.
I co-lead a team of 16 analysts while also providing data insights, creating sales stories and designing co-marketing content for our customers and clients in an effort to win across the Southeast marketplace.
The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the fruits of my labor. For me, this could mean watching new analysts learn the business, seeing successes on the shelf or providing analysis that leads to "needle-moving" results.
The most challenging part is never being complacent. For that, I am thankful that I have been blessed to work with wonderful people filled with passion and ambition, who encourage and support my ideas and talents. With the help of my team, I am always looking for ways to improve, be more efficient and share solutions.
The best advice I can give is to strive for excellence without compromise or shortcuts. When you do things the right way and treat people with honesty and respect, you will build a foundation that you'll be proud to stand on, both personally and professionally.
Rene Stai
LOC Software
Head of Marketing
I am fortunate enough to work on the marketing strategy for LOC Software, an independent software vendor for point of sale, and help bring success to our value-added resellers with their marketing goals.
I really enjoy the fast-paced environment. Technology is constantly changing, and seeing the growth of the grocery industry is fantastic. There are so many great things about my current role, but if I had to pick one, it would be working with the people on my team and our partners to collaborate and bring visions to life.
I am passionate about the grocery market and how technology can help streamline processes. I have spent nearly 25 years in grocery and retail technology. I grew up in the independent grocery space, allowing me to easily transition to providing software and support to grocers.
In my career, I have been fortunate enough to meet and learn from some of the best in the business across the country. In my early days, some of the best advice was to listen, not to respond, but listen to understand."
The advice I would share with the up-and-coming generation in the industry is never to stop learning. Instead, ask the questions and do the hard things. The risk is worth the reward.
Terri Templin Acosta Business Manager
After obtaining my bachelor’s and master’s degrees, I started working for a large manufacturer in the natural food industry in Colorado. Soon after, I moved to the broker side of the business, where I relocated twice and ultimately landed in Chicago.
Karen Watkins
Acosta
VP-Sprouts Team
I have the honor of leading a 14-person team to support Sprouts, a leading natural channel retailer. My team handles all facets of business for the clients we represent to Sprouts. Creating processes and procedures for a team this size can be challenging and rewarding. Once something comes together that
Ginger West
Riteway Foods
Senior Business Manager
A 20-plus year veteran of the retail grocery industry, Ginger’s background includes experience with BI-LO in Greenville, South Carolina, and
Jenny Zabaneh
Lowes Foods
Director of Financial Reporting and Analysis
I am known as a collaborative leader, building consensus around our short- and long-term strategic plans, an educator of processes and financial goals and a mentor to my team. My friends and colleagues would describe me as
Due to the ever-changing business, I was part of a company layoff, which was challenging and scary. But little did I know that it would become the most rewarding career experience for me. I started working for a regional broker and was blessed to work with fantastic people who made my job enjoyable every day. I still feel lucky to be a part of that team today.
I have been fortunate to work with a lot of exceptional people through the years and feel very lucky to still be crossing paths with exceptional leaders. One of those was the owner of our company and someone that I have great respect for. His word meant everything, and he was always willing to stand up for what was right. He made work fun, made us all feel
you have created – and you see it succeed – provides a satisfaction that is extremely rewarding.
My career has been entirely in the CPG world, either with direct manufacturers or sales agencies/food brokers. Having been at Acosta for 18 years, I have had several positions and worked my way up in the organization. My defining moment was reaching my career goal to become a VP. Women are pioneering their way in the CPG world, with still much work to do in gaining leadership roles.
My mentor, Karen Mason, was an SVP at Acosta and always provided me with direction, understanding and ideas. Her success was something
Southeastern Grocers in Jacksonville, Florida. Ginger is a seasoned leader and has held many positions in several aspects of the retail business. She has an extensive knowledge with expertise in marketing, merchandising (category manager), sales planning, customer data/insights and analytics, space management, inventory/replenishment and store-level experience.
Ginger is passionate and self-motivated, plus she brings a wealth of knowledge from the retailer side that provides valuable insights to CPG
patient, thorough and a great partner.
Over the past 23 years, I have had several great mentors who helped shape the leader I am today. The most meaningful were those who invested time in my development, were fair and led by example.
Lowes has given me opportunities to demonstrate my leadership, invested in my growth and given me the flexibility needed to take care of all that is important to me. Being able to do what I do best and having a team that believes in me has made this role the most fulfilling experience of my career.
appreciated and treated us as family. He listened to our ideas and gave us many opportunities to lead. In return, we all were very passionate about the success of our company. To this day, I still think about the values he instilled in us and try to simulate those standards with my clients, customers and co-workers.
My advice to up-and-coming professionals is to keep moving forward with a positive attitude and to embrace change. With change comes the opportunity to learn and grow.
I wanted for myself. She has since retired but still checks in with me. I consider her a dear friend now.
I would advise women in our industry to watch, learn and ask questions. Find that person you admire and emulate her work habits. Do not be afraid to go for what you want and step out of your comfort zone. You have more ability than you realize.
I am on the board for the Southwest Industries Circle for the City of Hope. Having personally dealt with cancer in my family, this is something close to my heart.
brands and drives sales growth.
“What I love most about our business is building partnerships between CPG brands and retailers in a highly competitive and rapidly changing marketplace,” she said. “There is nothing like ‘going for the gold’ in making it happen each and every day, while providing leadership with our strong team relationships.”
The meaningful impact I can have on my team members’ careers is the most rewarding part of my role. I can share my journey, successes and failures, as well as provide growth opportunities to help them reach their full potential.
Being a leader in retail is challenging due to the fast pace and everchanging dynamics of the industry. Whether it is inflation, supply chain or changes in consumers’ buying habits, providing insightful information to our business is an exciting, challenging and rewarding experience.
Shelby Publishing has expanded its popular Women of Influence section from the Northeast to the other four regions of the nation. Look for the following outstanding female leaders from across the country to be featured in upcoming May editions…
SOUTHWEST
Melanie Bauman
Stephanie Bazan
Noma Burr
Samantha Bustillo
Julie Companey
Shannon Flowers
Laura Gump
Meggie Giancola
Carolyn Gouldthorpe
Merrilee Kick
Becca May
Casey Piatt
Amy Pinkerton
Dwana Day Robertson
Elysia Trevino-Gonzales
Kara Watson
Tracy Watson
WEST
Angelina Alcantar
Heesook Alden
Delaney Bashaw
Samantha Bertoncini
Katrina Brooks
Lori Brown
Rebecca Calvin
Megan Campos
Alondra Carcamo
Amanda Cuellar
Abby Ellis
Shannon Flowers
Faith Garrard
Angel Gonzalez
Liz Gustafson
Jackie LaPointe
Michelle Larson
Yvonne Manganaro
Natalie Merienne
Sunny Reelhorn Parr
Clara Lahlouh Paye
Kristin Peters
Subriana Pierce
Casey Platt
Veronica Rios
Angela Seibel
Denise Singler
Mindi Tamparong
Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks
Caitlin Weins
Simone Hadley Wilson
June Wong
Sonig Yirikian
NORTHEAST
Meyka Albright
Felis Andrade
Carolyn Barbarite
Patty Barry
Robin Bisson
Tina Black
Samantha Brown
Jenn Carson
Jennifer Carter
Andrea Chapman
Kate Clarke
Ingrid Crane
Michele Delozier
Tayna Demetriou
Elda Devarie
Aimee Diliberto
Laurie Drake
Mary Fassett
Alona Florenz
Sandi Ford
Adrienne Frank
Christine Gallagher
Maureen Gillespie
Kim Griffith
Patricia Herrick
Hasija Hodzic
Joan Hubbard
Alisa Hundley
Thu Huynh
Adrienne Khomphengchan
Jamie Lee King
Jennifer Heinzen Krueger
Nicole Kunecki
Sarah LaFollette
Tricia Lorenzetti
Emily Massi
Amy McAllister-Flynn
Michelle Morale
Erica Perry
My Pham
Cynthia Ramos
Kendrick Repko
Michelle Rex
Marisa Robertson
Cheryl Rondenelli
Mary Seibel
Amy Stainbrook
Suzette Stevenson
Amanda Stromgren
Rachael Vegas
Ann Visser-Depp
Katie Zapata
Karri Zwirlein
MIDWEST
Liz Bleakley
Laura Boitnott
Lauren Brown
Carrol Cheatwood
Julie Companey
Alicia Cook
Amy Cossey
Kerri Dishman
Erin Fleckenstein
Lindsey Hickey
Jennifer Hopper
Heidi Huff
Haley Johnson
Tara Larson
Emily Mallahan
Darlene Murphy
Laura Dierberg Padousis
Kristin Popp
Jena Sowers
Donna Tweeten
Georgia Van Gundy
Bridget Wasser
Kristin Williams
Mandi Woodworth
Ozlem Worpel
Lindsey Ziegler
