A celebration o� female �ro�essionals
Tribute offers insight into careers of 17 honorees
The Shelby Report of the Southwest presents its 18th annual tribute to Women of Influence in the food industry. This year’s slate of honorees – 17 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.
Melanie Bauman VericastHead of Industry Grocery
Responsible for strategy and revenue for Vericast grocery vertical, I have the honor of leading a great team of three leaders, 16 sales executives and two marketing strategists delivering omnichannel media solutions to drive our clients’ businesses.
I started bagging groceries right out of high school and have been in this
Stephanie Bazan Avocados From Mexico VP, Commercial Strategy and ExecutionStephanie is responsible for leading the strategy, marketing and the annual agenda for retail trade, shopper and foodservice for Avocados From Mexico,
industry ever since. What I have found most rewarding along the way – and even more so now as a leader – is the people:
1. Mentoring and developing people throughout the organization;
2. Working with all cross-functional teams in it (we have some of the best people that I learn from every day);
3. Relationships with our clients;
4. Being an advocate for our company in the industry.
I have been so fortunate to have many great mentors who have driven my passion for mentoring not just in my organization but in the industry. I have been a part of our ERG Women’s Mentoring and I am co-chair of the Southern California chapter and Vericast’s ambassador with NextUp. These
which supports more than 150 grocery and mass retail accounts, more than 50 foodservice operators and 250 distributors and importers of Mexican avocados in the United States.
Under her leadership and strategic vision, her department is responsible for driving Mexican avocado demand. Since 2014, Stephanie has led the accelerated growth of the category by generating sales opportunities for the company to drive demand and consumption for a 2.4 billion pound industry.
As a bilingual professional with 25-plus years of marketing experience
affiliations have given me the opportunity to support our industry's future contributors.
A defining moment was receiving the Coach of the Year Award, whose attributes included: proven sales educator who coaches and leads others to become top performers; motivates and inspires their team; and has uncompromising integrity, passion, compassion and understanding of her customers by knowing their business inside and out.
Advice: treat everyone with respect; challenge the status quo; learn from the good and bad; be really open to coaching; and laugh.
in domestic and international markets, Stephanie has extensive experience in a vast array of industries, including consumer packaged goods, entertainment and retail.
Noma Burr Affiliated Foods Inc. Amarillo
Chief Financial Officer
I’ve been an accountant since 1993, working at AFI from 1996-2007 and 2011-present. I’ve been CFO since 2016.
The defining moment in my career occurred when I became part of
Samantha Bustillos Albertsons
Store Director
Samantha artfully walks the tightrope of a gifted leader, carefully balancing sales goals and key performance indicators with the compassion and spirit of a servant leader. She demonstrates innovation and drives sales while building a team of mutual respect and admiration.
Julie Companey
Vericast
Director of Client Strategy
I am the lead grocery strategist for our entire grocery sales team, and I also directly support half of the country’s grocery clients. My key responsibilities include studying the major industry and consumer trends, identifying
Shannon FlowersSafeway
Denver Division Manager of Corporate Initiative
My most excellent satisfaction comes from motivating and empowering individuals to unleash their full potential and strive for excellence every day. Engaging in organizational change can be a challenging task, mainly
our succession plan with a promotion to controller, which then led me to becoming CFO. Knowing my president and board have faith and confidence in my leadership pushes me daily to be worthy of that faith.
The best parts of this job are working with every aspect of my company, watching team members grow in their positions and continuing to learn each day.
Making sure there is focus on the complete picture is the biggest challenge for any leader, regardless of the industry. Keeping all the moving parts of the grocery world oiled and running can be difficult, especially so
She has proven to be a great mentor for her store team, reflecting diversity in hiring and career advancement opportunities. Samantha models what she expects from her team, calling store guests by name and working across departments to fill the gaps.
Samantha consistently meets store goals for shrink. Her store has seen a significant increase in market share due to the outstanding customer service and the well-merchandised and clean appearance.
Even in the midst of a pandemic and cosmetic store update, Samantha grew sales and guest loyalty. Having built a pre-pandemic culture of camaraderie, team members responded during the time of crisis.
opportunities and suggesting Vericast media that can help our grocery clients gain sales and market share. I also provide an industry lens for Vericast leadership to stay abreast of emerging trends.
The most rewarding facet of my job is when a client realizes the impact from a campaign and acknowledges our approach achieved their objectives. The most challenging aspect of my role is customizing insights and opportunities for the broad variety of clients we serve.
At the start of my career in the industry, my manager recognized my strengths and showed his confidence in me by promoting me before I would
because others may exhibit resistance to change. Empowering people to find and embrace new solutions or practices moves us all forward, personally and professionally.
I have been fortunate to have two mentors – Todd Broderick, Denver Division president, and Michael Mariolle, Denver Division VP of retail operations – who have guided me along the way. Their patience, trust and pride in me have empowered me to be the best version of myself.
Attending the USC Marshall School of Business has been a defining moment. Witnessing the synergy between education and industry has
with the complexities of food manufacturing and distribution.
At my first public accounting job, the only female partner in that firm mentored me. She could be stern but would always take time to teach with patience and grace. She encouraged me to keep moving up by always saying “yes” to additional responsibility when offered. That is advice I would give to any upcoming professional.
I have a bachelor’s degree in marketing from WTSU and a bachelor’s in accounting from WTAMU. Married for 26 years, I have one child and two grandchildren. My hobbies include travel and cooking.
When labor challenges left a department short, team members would work across departments to help each other, including Samantha. She models the culture of collaboration and teamwork.
The RVP arrived at the store one day to see Samantha on top of a grocery pallet, passing product to six men to stock. She is willing to do any job in order to meet the needs of guests.
When neighborhood schools requested flu and COVID vaccine clinics, Samantha assisted her pharmacy manager, knowing the urgent need. She treats guests and team members like family.
have pursued the next role, knowing I would step up to the challenge. His belief in me was a defining moment as it led me to pursue several leadership positions over the course of my career.
For those earlier in their careers, I recommend they ask questions that reflect their interest in knowing how the organization functions, how their role impacts others and the organization at large and solicit feedback on what’s required to move to the next level. Participate in mentorship programs.
opened my eyes to new ways of analyzing business opportunities. I advise up-and-coming professionals to proactively seek opportunities to learn, grow and develop new skills. Build a strong network of peers and mentors who can provide guidance and support as you navigate your career. Be willing to take calculated risks, embrace new challenges and always strive to maintain a positive attitude and strong work ethic. Remember that success is not always immediate, but with persistence and dedication, it is always achievable.
I am a member of the Women Inspiration & Inclusion Network.
Laura Gump Kroger President of Houston Division
I have the privilege of leading and serving more than 15,000 Kroger associates and 108 Kroger stores in the Houston and Louisiana trade areas. I am responsible for leading our team in providing an exceptional shopping
Meggie Giancola Vericast
SVP Sales Solutions & Strategy
With nearly two decades of experience in media sales and marketing technology, I lead the company's digital sales team and drive overall go-to-market strategy across our suite of solutions. My expertise spans multiple industries, and I am a trusted consultative partner to clients ranging from start-ups to
Carolyn Gouldthorpe
Brookshire Grocery
Co.
Marketing Promotions Coordinator
I coordinate banner marketing programs and support category management for center store, fuel, pharmacy and curbside for four banners.
My job is rewarding in that it allows me to support partners in our retail stores, non-retail areas and vendors. Challenges include
Merrilee Kick BuzzBallz, LLC/Southern Champion
Founder/CEO
I’m the founder and CEO of BuzzBallz, LLC/ Southern Champion in Carrollton, Texas. We manufacture alcoholic beverages, primarily cocktails. We make brands like BuzzBallz, Uptown Cocktails, Sip Sip Hooray Cocktails, Texas Craft Cocktails and various spirits like vodka, rum, gin and
experience to every customer each time they shop our stores.
The most rewarding part of my job lies in the privilege of leading and working with people. My motto: “We are in the people business. We just happen to be selling groceries.”
One of my biggest challenges and rewards involves my determination to remain keenly aware of our big picture strategic responsibilities while staying connected to the details of what our store teams do every day to serve our customers.
Having more than 35 years in the grocery business and holding titles
Fortune 500.
A defining moment in my career occurred when I led the integration of two organizations to create a stronger go-to-market strategy. This experience enabled me to embrace transformational leadership by functionalizing teams, streamlining processes and developing a passion for strategic planning, resulting in strong business performance.
I have been fortunate to have several mentors who have played an instrumental role in shaping my career path by helping me hone my skills and passion. Their invaluable contributions have had a significant impact on my success. It would be unfair to single out just one mentor, as each has
working on multiple projects simultaneously with many different people, personalities, ideas and opinions.
My role allows me the opportunity to gain new skills and experience in several areas, bringing more value to the company and training other partners.
My advice to up-and-coming professionals is to always demonstrate honesty, integrity and dedication through hard work and perseverance. Be adaptable, willing and available to take on additional responsibilities and accept tasks with eagerness. Share your knowledge to help others grow and develop. Encourage others and celebrate their accomplishments. Be a team player and set a good example.
bourbon. We sell to distributors in all 50 states and 24 countries and have 650 employees.
With our 500,000 square feet of vertically integrated manufacturing space, we expect to make 6.5 million cases of product in 2023, with yearover-year growth of 55 percent.
Our vision is to "Reinvent Happy Hour” while creating fun innovative cocktails for the world.
What I find rewarding is the opportunity to see growth in revenue and infrastructure. We are inventing at such a rapid pace and have many new products in the pipeline. We are very nimble and love moving quick.
including department manager, store manager, district manager, vice president and president, my leadership style was established by the many extraordinary people who I’ve worked with in my career. In addition, not only the good but also the very challenging experiences in my career are what has molded me into the resilient leader I am today.
One of the defining moments in my career was my realization that working to be the best version of myself is always better than competing to be better than others. Focusing on being better today than we were yesterday is always more rewarding.
brought unique perspectives and expertise to my development.
My curiosity has helped me learn and evolve both personally and professionally. I advise up-and-coming professionals to be authentically curious about businesses, roles, perspectives and viewpoints, which expands their capacity to learn and evolve, helping them on their journey.
I'm deeply honored to be considered for the Women of Influence in the Food Industry recognition program. I strive to be a dedicated and admirable leader by demonstrating a commitment to the industry, professionalism, teamwork and success. I am humbled to share my dedication to driving business growth and positively impacting the industry.
I have had many mentors during my years with the company and have worked with some of the best in the business, all bringing something different to the table.
The defining moment in my career was being selected in 2018 as the first retail support partner to receive the W.T. Excellence Award. Company directors and officers nominated partners who consistently exemplified the company’s core values of “jump over the counter service,” “do the right thing-the right way,” “competitive grit,” “do your best every day,” “the team matters” and “results driven with a future focus.”
One of the pivotal moments in our history was in 2013, when we attended our first Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America tradeshow. We secured over 15 new state distributors in one weekend.
Another was signing national contracts with big wholesalers in 2019. Another critical time was during COVID-19, where we had to become essential to survive. We made hand sanitizer and started an elementary school for our employees’ kids so that our employees could come to work.
I didn't have a mentor. I googled, asked questions to everyone I met and experimented. I learned the hard way. We are very proud of what we have built.
Becca May Nature Nate’s Honey Co. SVP of Marketing
I am responsible for leading category and company growth at Nature Nate’s Honey Co., the No. 1 branded honey company in the U.S. My team and I manage
Casey Piatt City Market
Store Leader
I find the most rewarding aspect of my current role to be leading and developing my team at City Market in Aspen, Colorado, and achieving results
Amy Pinkerton Brookshire Grocery Co.
Category Manager of General MerchandiseSeasonal Candy
My career has been built on creating seasonal assortments and home décor. Seasonal is rewarding in that it always makes your customers happy. My career has been an amazing creative outlet for me. I can create items, change
the continuity and evolution of all aspects of the brand through marketing initiatives that drive brand awareness, product trial and consumer loyalty.
The most challenging – and rewarding – part of my job is identifying marketing strategies that make our brand instantly recognizable and convert consumers into Nature-Nate's-brand fanatics for a one ingredient, 3,000-yearold product.
A defining moment in my career was helping to create Nate’s corporate social responsibility program, Honey Gives Hope, which supports both bee
together.
Along my career journey, I've been fortunate to have mentors who have guided me, including my current supervisor, Misty, who has provided clear feedback, celebrated my accomplishments with me and challenged me when needed, making her an amazing mentor.
A defining moment in my career was being selected to attend the USC Marshall School of Business FIM program this year, where I gained valuable knowledge and skills that I am excited to apply in my professional
colors and always add glitter.
One of the bigger challenges is you must find a way to reinvent your assortment every season and create a new experience for your customers. It can be challenging but really makes you use your creative thought process.
A defining moment of my career was when I was hired by Pier1 Imports in Fort Worth, Texas. I learned very quickly that I had only scratched the surface on ways you can create product. I also learned about the many countries that are filled with amazing artisans that help you create beautiful items. I was both lucky and blessed to work for them and to travel the world to create product.
health and communities in need.
Nathan “Nature Nate” Sheets taught me through his own actions to leave things better than I receive them. In turn, I will continue to share with other up-and-coming professionals this mentor's wisdom: Work hard and leave every project – no matter how big or small – better than when you received it.
One way I work to help communities is as a proud and active volunteer on the advisory board of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
endeavors.
My advice to fellow professionals is to never stop learning and growing and to surround yourself with individuals who are smarter than you. They can offer valuable insights to help you improve.
In addition to my bachelor of science degree in business, I am also actively involved in volunteering with Lasagna Love.
My chief merchandising officer, Cathy David, was a huge influence on my career and continues to be an influence on my thought process. It's exciting to see how my experience with home products retailers lends itself to the retail grocery industry and my role with Brookshire Grocery Co.
My advice to young professionals starting their paths is to be an active listener. Be willing to open yourself up to being new and have a willingness to learn. Do not be afraid to ask questions to put yourself on a path to becoming an expert. Be humble when you can, and be happy as often as you can.
I have a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas.
Dwana Day Robertson
Brookshire Grocery Co.
Pharmacy Zone Manager-Zone 5
What I find most rewarding in my career is caring for our patients/customers. When visiting stores, it feels great to hear customers tell me how pleased they are with our service and how much they love our pharmacy
Elysia Trevino-Gonzales
Twang
President and CEO
Elysia has responsibility for 120 employees in North America and more than 175 retail customers.
Elysia has held many different roles over her 18-year
Kara Watson
Truno
Chief Operating Officer
Kara Watson began her career consulting with Ryan LLC for Top 100 national retail and hospitality companies. It was in traveling to their headquarters – and existing as an extension of their teams – that the foundation of her
Twang
Chief Operating Officer
After graduating from Texas State University, Tracy began her career with Twang in 2003. During her 20year career with Twang, she has held a variety of roles,
staff. It truly goes both ways when our people greet customers by their first names and strive to give the best customer service they can.
What challenges me most is balancing the varying personalities and needs of the many people who make up our zone team. When motivating them to meet goals, we continually go back to staying focused on the big picture rather than the smaller aspects involved in getting there.
One of my first mentors was my preceptor when I was in pharmacy school. After I became a licensed pharmacist, we had the opportunity to work together. She helped me to develop my work ethic, empathy and compassion toward patients and staff.
tenure, including brand manager, marketing director and chief operating officer.
Appointed CEO in 2017, Elysia oversees every aspect of Twang’s operations, including manufacturing, safety, food science, sales, marketing, finance, human resources and overall administration.
Elysia has executed an aggressive growth agenda that has resulted in Twang’s presence in over 42,000 retail outlets in the United States. With a strong innovation agenda, Elysia has spearheaded efforts to move Twang
understanding and passion for the retail industry was built.
Kara joined Truno, the national leader in integrated retail technology solutions, in 2013. She was charged with leading the company’s rebranding to reflect the evolution in retail point of sale and establish a national presence.
During her time at Truno, Kara has come to know many independent retailers across the country. She says it is their genuine spirit and passion for serving their communities that keeps her motivated. Empowering grocery retailers to succeed through innovative, reliable technology and services is
including director of research and development and procurement, senior project manager, operations manager, and business development manager.
Appointed chief operating officer in 2022, Tracy now has responsibility for all operations that take place in Twang’s San Antonio and Mexico facilities, including manufacturing, logistics, quality assurance, research and development, supply chain and engineering. While focused on securing the best possible pricing, Tracy has a strong commitment to upholding Twang’s reputation for outstanding quality, which has resulted in top SQF scores.
A defining moment in my career came shortly after I assumed the pharmacy zone manager position, when the COVID-19 pandemic began affecting our trade area. Going through the many challenges of operating during a global pandemic helped me realize how strong I truly am. Through all the adversity, we adapted and prevailed.
I would always advise those in this field, as well as any up-and-coming professionals, to be a person of integrity and to stay true to their principles.
Education: Ph.D in pharmacy; bachelor’s degrees in marketing and applied sciences; associate’s degree in emergency health sciences.
into new channels, products, packaging and on-trend flavors. Most recently, she spearheaded the efforts to incorporate an emerging flavor – dill pickle – into many of Twang’s core products, including Beer Salt, Twangerzz and Michelada mix.
Elysia’s vision to “own” pickle flavoring paid off, and pickle is now one of Twang’s most popular flavors across all product lines. Elysia lives in San Antonio with her husband and four daughters.
her career’s mission.
Kara believes in going the extra mile. She loves being part of the customer-centric culture that is Truno. Kara believes in embracing and adapting to change, as well as pushing herself and others to always set newer and higher goals.
Kara graduated from Texas Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Outside Truno, Kara is a busy mom of two. She enjoys spending time with her family at the beach and going for a run with their dog, Max.”
Tracy also has a passion for understanding customer needs and has led many efforts to create innovative new products that meet and exceed their expectations.
In addition to Twang’s branded products that are sold in CPG channels, Tracy is also responsible for driving innovative products that are tailored to a variety of unique foodservice customers. Tracy lives in San Antonio with her husband, son and daughter
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 our May editions…
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
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
SOUTHEAST
Crystal Ackerman
Jesi Allen
Brandi Appell
Tracy Aquila
Ginger Atkins
Harley Breaux
Susan Brosnan
Caroline Catoe
Gwen Christon
Lora Coggins
Amber Cramer
Jennyfer Dickenson
Jennifer Enoch
Sandi Ford
Jennifer Holmes
Heidi Huff
Linda Johnson
Lauren Kennedy
Adrienne Khomphengchan
Megan Kiersey
Jennipher Landry
Jackie LaPointe
Erin McCulloch-Crume
Sierra Merritt
Kellee Miller
Sarah Montgomery
Brooke Rice
Sally Robinson
Andrea Rodriguez
Deborah Sabo
Marygrace Sexton
Jennifer Sierk
Rene Stai
Terri Templin
Karen Watkins
Ginger West
Jenny Zabaneh
