Ryan Adams started with Acosta Group in 2007 through the Leadership Development Program. Upon graduating, Ryan quickly
Jessica Ayala
Acosta Group
Sales Director
Jessica Ayala is a strong emerging leader in the retail landscape. She is a successful driver of revenue in a major mass-market account, an informed consultant helping brands both large and small identify opportunities for innovation and is a driving force for adopting new techniques and technology, all while intentionally focusing on developing the next generation of
Rachel Bailey
Milo’s Tea Co. Director of Key
Accounts
Rachel Bailey is a seasoned professional in the supplier world with strong financial expertise in forecast planning, lifecycle planning and sales. She has held key leadership roles within major companies such as Kimberly Clark, Rise Baking Co., Walmart and Sam’s Club. Rachel rose through the ranks within Walmart, starting as a merchandise assistant, then progressing through the Buyer Training Program and the Merchandising Leadership Program before becoming an assistant buyer.
gained expertise in managing regional and national retail teams. After completing 10 years in retail, Ryan transitioned to the Kroger sales team.
Today, Ryan is responsible for managing a client portfolio with more than $120 million in annual sales and leading a team of business managers who specialize in the grocery department. His attention to detail, relationshipbuilding skills and Kroger expertise makes him a true asset to Acosta and his peers. Ryan has a deep understanding of
sales professionals.
Jessica has led significant year-over-year growth, individually driving double-digit positive results while managing a team driving stronger growth results in each of the last three years. Her results have won numerous awards from clients and customers.
Her efforts in identifying innovation have led to space and allocation changes across multiple categories at one of the largest retailers in the U.S., spurring growth in new categories for sustainable, purpose-driven brands. Her leadership has developed her team into a sales agency focused on consulting with and nurturing emerging brands across food and beverage, HBC, baby and home essentials.
Jessica’s team is considered a market leader in the use of
Rachel helped stand up Sam’s Club’s financial planning, working alongside buyers in the fresh department. She played a pivotal role at Sam’s Club and led the state of union business analysis for all food categories before transitioning into the supplier world.
In her current role, Rachel has been instrumental in tailoring product offerings to meet customer and consumer needs and launching new pack sizes at varying price points to drive incrementality. One example of Rachel’s impact was driving the launch of Milo’s half-gallon sizes within Walmart in 2024, with preliminary data indicating an increase of new consumers not only to the brand but also to the refrigerated tea category, as well as diversifying consumer segments.
Rachel possesses strong leadership skills. Her style is characterized by her commitment to empowering others to
EMERGING LEADERS
what it takes to effectively communicate, navigate clients through complicated processes and grow sales.
What makes Ryan an emerging leader is his passion for helping others. He intentionally puts himself in positions to guide and challenge those around him. His transparency, creative thinking and commitment to excellence are integral to building a high-performing team while also delivering results for clients.
retail media tools and is driving an omnichannel approach preferred by customers and exceeding clients’ national expectations. Jessica has also found the time to launch and nurture a rotational program among new sales associates that focuses on their development in key areas of sales, business insights, e-commerce merchandising services. This program is being considered as a model for other teams within her organization.
Jessica’s focus on delivering results by embracing change and being disruptive in her market while maintaining an obsession with developing new talent has made her a strong leader today with great potential for the future.
perform at their highest potential. She has a proven track record of mentoring and developing talent and helping them grow in their weaknesses and amplify their strengths.
Rachel is committed to community service, serving as the secretary and sponsorship chair for the Bentonville Band Boosters. She has been instrumental in fundraising efforts that ensure students have the resources and transportation needed to participate. Additionally, she volunteers with NextUp, focusing on operations and encouraging women’s empowerment within the food industry. Rachel is also an active member at Grace Point Church, where she serves as a women’s leader for Bible study and fosters an environment for women to connect and learn from diverse life experiences.
2024 EMERGING LEADERS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY
Jeremy Bennett
Acosta Group Sales Director
Jeremy Bennett has the ability and passion to win with the clients and customers Acosta represents. His entrepreneurial attitude drives execution beyond the status quo. Jeremy oversees two of the largest customers in the C-store industry in 7-Eleven and Grocery Supply Company and manages the relationship between 7-Eleven category management, franchisees and franchise owner associations and client partners. In addition, he partners with Acosta Retail and all stakeholders on implementing strategies & KPIs in-store.
He leads by utilizing consistent communication and collaboration with customers and clients. Jeremy’s best attribute is his ability to strategize and implement plans in the best possible scenario for success, always looking for the best solution.
Due to the excellent work Jeremy continuously does, he has received recognition and awards that truly set him apart from other associates and competitors’ teams. Examples include:
GSC
• Partner with all key stakeholders top down, president/ CEO and category management
• Acosta is a platinum sponsor for the highest-level merchandising program, Champions Circle Program
• Acosta received Best Large Booth Award at the 2023 Spring Show 7-Eleven
Shannon Clark
Houchens Food Group Director of Brand and Marketing
Shannon Clark is a passionate, creative face at Houchens Food Group. She is active in the Women Grocers of America’s
Emerging Female Leaders share group, where members share and collaborate on a plethora of ideas and topics.
Shannon is an extremely intelligent professional in the industry, bringing fantastic ideas to life. She is a board member with Feeding America, serves on IGA’s National Advisory Retail Board and recently attended the National Grocers Association’s Executive Leadership Development Program.
Georgina “Gina” Coker
Acosta Group
Director of Client Development
In her current role, Gina Coker has consistently exceeded sales goals, achieving 109 percent in 2022 and 110 percent in 2023.
As the client lead for several key accounts, including Bush Brothers and Tru Fru, she has fostered strong relationships and driven business growth. One of her most impactful achievements was successfully displacing two competitive SKUs in favor of her client,
securing $5 million in incremental annual sales through a compelling demonstration of quality, brand strength competitive pricing.
Before Acosta, Georgina spent several years in the pharmaceutical industry, gaining valuable insights into healthcare and market dynamics. Following that, she chose to stay at home with her three children for nine years, during which she developed skills in time management, adaptability and multitasking.
Beyond sales, Georgina has taken on leadership roles within the organization. She developed and leads a companywide mentor program, pairing mentors with mentees and facilitating monthly discussions on professional growth. As the designated regional peer coach
• National Coalition Association of 7-Eleven Franchisees 2024 Broker of the Year
• Bel Brands Partner Award for successful launch of Babybel 2ct at 7E, the largest launch for Babybel in the history of working in the C-store channel.
• Acosta was Bronze Sponsor at this year’s 7-Eleven Experience
These examples are industry “best in class.” Acosta is fortunate to have such a talented individual as Jeremy on its team.
In addition, Jeremy is involved in his local community and frequently partners with Harmony Community Development Corp. and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
for new hires, she has contributed to their successful onboarding and integration. Additionally, she spearheaded volume buy programs that resulted in nationwide sales expansion, boosting revenue and strengthening market presence.
Outside of sales and coaching, Georgina has planned and executed regional office enrichment programs, including training sessions, outreach events and recreational activities, fostering a positive work environment and enhancing team collaboration. As a co-lead for the business development team in the freezer division, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the growth strategy. Her contributions were recognized when she was promoted to her current role after five years of service.
Travis Combs Acosta Group
Senior Sales
Director,
Central Region
Travis Combs joined Acosta in 2017 through its Leadership Development Program, a rotational initiative across the company’s core business departments. After completing the program, he became part of the Acosta Kroger team within the sales organization. Travis quickly distinguished himself as a high performer,
earning multiple promotions to handle increased responsibilities and larger client portfolio leadership roles within the Kroger team. His client portfolio generated $92 million in annual sales across The Kroger Co. enterprise over the past five years. He helped those clients add more than 94,000 points of distribution. Clients have repeatedly recognized him as “Business Manager of the Year” for his exceptional performance in planning, organizing, leading managing. Internally, he is also acknowledged as a strong, motivating, knowledgeable leader who delivers results.
In 2023, Travis was selected for a new role within the client development team to spearhead the launch of a new brand for one of Acosta’s largest clients. Success in this role
required cross-functional collaboration with the client’s organization, Acosta’s internal teams multiple retailers. His leadership and teamwork led to the establishment and onboarding of new working methods, earning Acosta the title of “Supplier of the Year” – an honor given to just 80 suppliers annually out of 60,000.
As a dedicated LDP alum, Travis remains committed to helping Acosta Group maintain its industry-leading talent by actively participating in recruiting, interviewing and mentoring each new cohort. Elevating others is part of his core values. He regularly acknowledges teammates for their contributions and achievements, fostering a highperforming team culture within the organization.
Kimberly Deveault
Cascades - Specialty Products Group Division
Key Account Leader
Kim Deveault has been a dedicated professional in the egg market industry for many years, consistently striving to deliver exceptional service to customers. Her commitment to meeting customer needs and providing sustainable solutions has been evident throughout her career.
Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Kim has a
Tom DiPuccio
Acosta Group SVP, Business Development
Embracing the roles of change agent and commercial thought leader, Tom DiPuccio has dedicated the last two years to Acosta Group as a business development executive charged with driving transformational growth in the food and beverage portfolio. Utilizing a blended background of direct manufacturer experience, commercial agency operations and corporate finance, Tom drives partner engagements with a key valuedriving theme – enhance the service model of today with
Chris Ford Harris Teeter Deli Category Manager
Chris Ford has been making an impact at Harris Teeter for 14 years. Promoted to his current role in 2017, Chris has continued to demonstrate exceptional leadership, making significant strides within the fresh foods team.
His initiatives – including spearheading the conversion from ANCO to GFI as the primary specialty vendor partner and facilitating the rollout of Boar’s Head Fresh Slice and Murray’s cheese shop across 119 locations – underscores his proactive approach and impactful decision-making. Beyond his professional endeavors, Chris remains
Casey Gaultney
Southeastern Grocers
Senior Manager of Customer Loyalty
Casey Gaultney understands the importance of ensuring a seamless and enjoyable shopping experience. Guiding a dynamic team of high performers, she has elevated the grocer’s award-winning rewards program to engage customers and drive loyalty for Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie, while producing millions in incremental sales year over year.
With her team’s expertise, the rewards program provided more than $1.65 billion in savings to customers in 2023 and earned national recognition in Newsweek’s
2024 EMERGING LEADERS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY
remarkable ability to connect with people, making her an engaging and effective leader. She possesses a unique blend of creativity and analytical thinking, allowing her to approach challenges from multiple perspectives. Her communication skills and empathetic nature enable her to build strong relationships with customers, colleagues and stakeholders.
Kim consistently excels in achieving her project goals, demonstrating outstanding business sense and unwavering dedication. She is known for her ability to stay focused – even under pressure – and for her determination to see projects through to successful completion. Her proactive approach and attention to detail have earned her a reputation for reliability and excellence in her field.
tangible returns on investment and sustainable growth in a long-term strategic partnership.
In his journey with Acosta Group, Tom has led commercial initiatives that have resulted in multi-milliondollar revenue increases through current client service expansion and net new client acquisition within the food and beverage omnichannel space. In parallel, Tom functions as an expert growth partner for the Acosta national accounts and small format divisions, driving concentrated revenue expansion and progressive solutions in these verticals.
Tom strives to lead by example on the organization’s front lines by volunteering for strategic initiatives and embracing the challenges that follow. This enables Tom to work internally as a connector of people and ideas, aligning with Acosta Group’s vision as a disruptor in the industry.
engaged within the Harris Teeter community as a member of the Young Professionals Group, showcasing his commitment to personal and professional growth. Furthermore, he spends time volunteering at the Second Harvest Food Bank in Charlotte, which reflect his values of service and community engagement.
Chris’s leadership is characterized by integrity, positive thinking and innovative problem-solving. His vitality and energy infuse passion into every endeavor, setting a high standard for leadership excellence within Harris Teeter. Within this past year, Chris demonstrated outstanding leadership by taking on the responsibility of training and developing new deli category managers. He is fully committed to mentoring and guiding these new managers through the learning process with dedication and ownership.
Additionally, Chris plays a key role in training and developing assistant category managers. Chris’s
America’s Best Loyalty Programs list four years in a row. SEG’s rewards program also ranks second in the nation for targeted savings on dunnhumby’s Retailer Preference Index.
In her seven years with SEG, Gaultney’s extensive experience in retail operations and ability to transform outof-the-box ideas into actionable items has paved the way for tangible success for the grocer.
Throughout her career in the grocery retail industry, Gaultney has embraced innovation and a mindset of continual improvement, understanding that she cannot create the next best thing without constructive feedback. She spearheaded the Rewards Coach Program to increase associate engagement and education around the loyalty program and mobile apps. This program resulted in stronger collaboration between stores and the grocer’s Support Center, which enabled leadership to better identify and address opportunities to exceed customer expectations.
Kim’s expertise in the egg market made her an invaluable asset to a team project that commenced in early 2023. A multidisciplinary team embarked, in early 2023, on a mission for a new innovative egg packaging. Their collaborative efforts and shared vision were instrumental in overcoming numerous challenges and achieving key milestones. Kim played a pivotal role in this process, leveraging her knowledge of the industry and her ability to coordinate effectively across various functions.
These workstreams have produced results through the creation of new channel playbooks, operational redesigns, differentiated client solutions and multiplied pipeline opportunities for growth.
As a business development leader, Tom emphasizes continuous learning with the objective of reinvesting this education in Acosta clients and partners of the future. He leverages the effort of staying ahead of “what’s next” by providing an innovative mindset and distinctive understanding of client needs as the consumer goods and retailer industries rapidly evolve.
His focus on the leading edge of CPG trends has allowed Tom to be transformative in his endeavor as a champion for Acosta Group services and an advocate for client partners in all stages of growth.
contributions were instrumental in driving fresh foods to surpass deli sales and gross profit targets last year. He implemented effective merchandising strategies, optimized procurement practices and fostered strong relationships with vendor partners, all of which contributed to the department’s success.
Furthermore, Chris’s dedication to professional development was evident in his participation in the Cornell Food Executive Program. His team’s success in winning first place in the Supermarket Simulator Challenge highlights his leadership abilities and strategic acumen.
Chris prioritizes building trust with vendor partners and his team. His greatest passion lies in improving the lives of those on Harris Teeter’s teams, striving to create environments filled with passion and dedicated to exceptional customer service. Chris’s relentless pursuit of this goal sets him apart as a dynamic and influential leader within the organization.
Her awareness enables her to respond swiftly to initiatives, demonstrating her adaptability and drive to succeed. Gaultney also remains invested in guiding rising leaders within the company.
While mentoring a successful team, she also serves as chair for Emerging Leaders – one of SEG’s Associate Resource Groups – which empowers associates to engage with peers, find their purpose and bridge the gap between leaders of all tenures. The group offers networking, personalized training and professional development to encourage associates to enhance their leadership skills.
She also echoes the grocer’s people-first philosophy of giving back to local communities through the ARG, which partners with Guardian ad Litem to advocate for children in need and the Jacksonville Humane Society to support local animal rights.
Paige Hamer
Harris Teeter Corporate Affairs Manager
Since joining Harris Teeter in 2021, Paige Hamer has quickly emerged as a dynamic and influential leader within the company. Leveraging her extensive background and insights from previous roles, she has enhanced project outcomes and earned the trust of senior team members.
Paige’s expertise in media relations has played a pivotal role in expanding Harris Teeter’s storytelling efforts, communicating the company’s purpose to a wider audience and bolstering its brand recognition.
Paige was promoted this year to her current role, where
Xavier Hare
Harris Teeter Director of Own Brands Merchandising
During his tenure in replenishment, Xavier Hare led his team to improve service levels from the high 70s to the low 90s, demonstrating his commitment to excellence. He also optimized the supply chain by reducing inventory turnover with 15 vendors through a strategic partnership with DOT Foods. Xavier’s engagement extended beyond the workplace as he actively participated in community events such as the Cooper River Bridge Run, where he facilitated product shipments for giveaways. Transitioning to his current role, Xavier wasted no
her collaborative spirit shines as she navigates across departments, working toward the shared goal of enhancing Harris Teeter’s reputation and ensuring its overall success. Her proactive approach and dedication have not only propelled her personal growth but have also positively influenced the company’s trajectory.
One notable achievement this year was Paige’s outstanding performance in media relations, which led to a remarkable $12 million in earned media value for Harris Teeter. This effort not only amplified Harris Teeter’s presence in the public eye but also fostered deeper relationships with media partners and introduced the company to new arenas of media engagement. Through this achievement, Harris Teeter has solidified its position as a trusted partner for media outlets, known for providing timely and accurate information.
Additionally, Paige exceeded expectations in planning and pitching food-focused segments to broadcast outlets,
time in making a positive impact. He introduced a new lobby display program aimed at enhancing consistency and profitability across over 100 stores. Additionally, he spearheaded a bin program test to support stores affected by SNAP benefit reductions and played a key role in the successful launch of 100 new items in the third quarter. Xavier’s collaboration with marketing to initiate a new label design project underscores his forward-thinking approach to brand management.
Xavier’s receptive attitude toward listening to the team and experimenting with new ideas has earned him respect and solid relationships within the team. He demonstrates an openness to trying new approaches and eagerly takes on board suggestions presented to him. Moreover, Xavier has successfully cultivated positive relationships not only with his peers but also with stakeholders across the organization. His proactive approach was evident in the launch of a
securing multiple on-air appearances. These segments showcased Harris Teeter as an authority in the food industry, aligning with the company’s marketing message and highlighting its diverse offerings. Even in cases where pitches did not result in on-air appearances, Paige leveraged these experiences to refine the company’s pitching processes and deepen her understanding of effective media engagement strategies.
This year, she has led Harris Teeter’s relationship with an external public relations agency, where she guided efforts to revamp media outreach processes. With this, Harris Teeter is witnessing a positive increase in media coverage, securing numerous trade publication interviews and onair segments that promoted Harris Teeter’s purpose, work culture and offerings for customers.
When not at work, Paige serves on the board of directors for Classroom Central and leads the marketing committee.
new lobby display program, initially piloted in select stores to validate its efficacy before a broader rollout to more than 100 stores. The program has yielded impressive results, with feedback from stores indicating its value and effectiveness. Xavier’s involvement extends beyond professional duties as he actively contributes to initiatives aimed at supporting Harris Teeter associates and the broader community. As a member of the Fred J. Morganthall Foundation Grants Committee, he helps provide assistance to associates facing financial hardships due to unforeseen circumstances. Additionally, his participation in the Multicultural Resource Group underscores his commitment to fostering diversity and inclusivity within Harris Teeter and the communities it serves. Through initiatives like Wellness Wednesdays, Xavier and his team strive to promote the well-being of all associates while embodying the company’s guiding principle of continual improvement.
MaQuita Hill
Harris Teeter
Compensation Manager
After spending more than 20 years in Harris Teeter’s payroll department, MaQuita Hill transitioned to leading the company’s compensation department on June 3. MaQuita is an influential and accomplished leader. As head of the payroll department, she was responsible for managing and executing payrolls for all 35,000 associates. Her leadership and meticulous attention to detail calls for her to be involved in projects and initiatives across the organization. She is a trusted advisor to the leadership team and her insights assisted with the implementation of enhanced sick and safe leave
Brandee Hunter
Milo’s Tea Co.
Senior Director of Quality and Food Safety
Brandee Hunter is an experienced food microbiologist, food safety and quality leader with a demonstrated history working in the food and beverage industry. During her career, she has made an impact at organizations such as HJ Heinz, Coca-Cola and now Milo’s Tea Co. Brandee is a staunch advocate for human health within the food industry, solving problems and implementing solutions that provide safe food products to ensure that consumers can enjoy their purchases with confidence and maximize customer satisfaction with the most consistent, premium taste.
Tyler Laws
Harris Teeter
Senior Human Resources Analyst
Tyler Laws is responsible for all human resources reporting for the organization. He oversees the budget process for HR and fringe budget, totaling more than $200 million. Tyler builds and assists with administering companywide associate opinion surveys. He has been instrumental in creating new and innovative ways to track department-specific metrics for key stakeholders across the organization.
Tyler embraced PowerBI (analytics tool) and is a subject matter expert for the HR department. He reviews
Mandi
Marett
Harris Teeter Store Director
Mandi Marett demonstrates exceptional leadership as she leads a team of 140 associates in a store generating $850,000 in weekly sales, which is the highest volume store within the Chapel Hill, North Carolina, market. Despite facing stiff competition with the opening of two other grocery stores within a six-mile radius, she managed to steer her store to success, surpassing $4
2024 EMERGING LEADERS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY
processing and compliance, new uniform rollout to all 260 stores, all year-end systems testing and validation and strategic meetings on the future state of systems and programs.
In her new role, MaQuita is responsible for the overall compensation strategy and helps the company remain competitive, consistent and maintain all wage compliance. MaQuita’s positive attitude and drive for the betterment of the organization has positively impacted the team by promoting an inclusive, collaborative environment. MaQuita encourages cross-functional collaboration and always ensures key stakeholders are involved in needed meetings and decisions.
MaQuita has continually shown she is able to handle complex and detailed projects under pressure, while maintaining a service excellence mindset and encouraging her team through tight turnarounds and deadlines. MaQuita is someone the entire organization leverages for her trusted
One example of Brandee’s commitment was a $20 million annual savings she produced through food quality initiatives as she drove the highest standards of food safety across 180 plants in Coca-Cola’s North America Business Unit.
At Milo’s, she has brought additional capabilities and leadership to enhance existing programs and develop new ones, including rolling out a proactive food safety plan, risk assessment strategy and controls.
Brandee’s leadership has resulted in significant improvements in regulatory compliance, production standards and customer satisfaction, with Milo’s achieving the lowest complaints per million in three years and recordbreaking SQF Audit Scores.
Brandee exemplifies humility and servant leadership, always leading by example and never asking her team to do anything she wouldn’t do herself. Her leadership style is rooted in understanding her team’s needs, setting clear
and assists with the optimization of other teams’ reporting processes and with identifying measurable metrics. He maintains relationships with Kroger’s analytics team to develop parallel reporting structures.
Tyler took on the role of training and mentoring the recently established HR Analytics Team, stressing the significance of maintaining reporting accuracy and consistency in upholding data integrity standards. He is an active voice and presenter in senior leadership meetings regarding HR, reporting and budgeting. He is recognized across the organization as a pivotal team player, always willing to assist in solving any problem that arises.
Tyler has been awarded the Corporate Service Hero award twice in the last three years for going above and beyond expectations. He was instrumental in this year’s budgeting process. Tyler took over all of HR and fringe budgeting in the middle of 2023 and has since developed
million in operating profit for the year. Mandi’s commitment to customer service helps her retain her customer base, evident in the increased customer service, sales and freshness composite scores throughout the year.
Beyond her financial achievements, Mandi played a pivotal role in people development within her district, promoting six internal manager trainees and training an additional nine external trainees, highlighting her dedication to nurturing talent and fostering career growth among her associates.
Mandi’s leadership extended beyond her store’s operations as she took on additional responsibilities within the district, including organizing and leading its cornhole tournament, which helped build cross-store relationships.
EMERGING LEADERS
insights and advisement. She does not turn away an opportunity to assist, even if not in her scope of responsibility. MaQuita challenges her team and other stakeholders to think critically about how changes will impact associates, the company’s most valued asset. Outside of work, MaQuita is an integral part of her community. In 2018, she was ordained as a minister. In 2022, she was ordained as an elder. She leads a Women of Discipleship group and serves as an executive board member and treasurer. She has also led the youth ministry for 18 years. MaQuita’s commitment to her job and community embodies Harris Teeter’s purpose of enriching lives, one meal, one family, one associate and one community at a time.
targets and providing the necessary support to achieve them. She believes in fostering an environment where everyone is motivated to perform at their highest potential, aligned with the company’s goal of being the best.
Brandee’s focus on integrity and communication has helped her team cultivate Milo’s people-first culture, where employees feel valued and empowered. Her dedication to mentoring and developing her team has been a cornerstone of her leadership, ensuring long-term success and growth within the organization.
Brandee’s commitment to community service is extensive and impactful. She is involved with the International Association of Food Protection, serving on various committees and presenting research to influence industry regulations and standards. Her contributions to the Georgia Association of Food Protection board and the Alabama Association of Food Protection highlight her dedication.
an innovative way of budget tracking. His accomplishments around budgeting will be instrumental throughout the year and as the chain continues to budget in future years.
Working with legacy systems at Harris Teeter, Tyler was able to find ways to track spend and monitor budget performance. He has been able to identify areas of overspend and underspend in which certain initiatives have produced an ROI. He assisted in presenting budget findings to senior leadership and has been a crucial partner throughout this process.
Tyler is a mentor to his colleagues and receives the most compliments of anyone throughout the Total Rewards, HR systems and corporate staffing teams. He is a member of the company’s Pride+ Resource Group and donates his time to the volunteer work the group takes part in around the city.
Additionally, Mandi engages in the weekly district meetings, serving as a resource for new store managers and demonstrating her commitment to collaborative leadership and continuous improvement.
Mandi received the 2022 Rookie of the Year Award, earned her store director certification and joined the $4 Million Dollar Club, all within one year.
Mandi also makes time to volunteer within her community and support professional organizations. She volunteers as a delivery driver for Meals on Wheels of Orange County and also dedicates her efforts to staffing Meals on Wheels events.
Courtney Miller
Acosta Group Sales Director, Intermountain Region
Courtney Miller joined Acosta in 2018 as a customer manager on the natural specialty sales team. Through her hard work and dedication, she has been frequently promoted. Over the years, she has gained extensive experience working with KeHE, GMHBC and DSD, the direct grocery business at Albertsons and WinCo.
Courtney has secured approval to add 1,439 chillers for a key client at Albertsons, enhancing product availability and customer satisfaction. This initiative resulted in a 28 percent increase in sales over the last 52 weeks at
Tish Mills
Harris Teeter Senior Associate Relations Manager
Tish Mills has responsibility for leading the associate relations functions for a region that consists of stores in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., totaling 81 facilities and about 8,000 associates. She manages a total team of five associate relations specialists. Tish is responsible for directing, implementing and oversight of all policy and procedures and legal compliance and unemployment for the region. Tish and her team continue to guide/assist stores on
Albertsons Cos., underscoring her ability to drive impactful initiatives and improve customer experiences.
Courtney has also worked with all branches of Acosta, including executive leadership and business intelligence schematics teams, to drive results. She played a pivotal role in securing an off-cycle reset and acceptance of 10 new SKUs for a new Acosta client at Albertsons. This achievement highlights her strategic thinking and ability to work as part of a team.
Her commitment to fostering collaboration between Acosta and Albertsons is evident through her innovative initiatives with the Intermountain grocery team. She organized impactful activities, such as donations to the local Idaho Food Bank and a “lunch and learn” session on creating charcuterie boards hosted by an Acosta client. These efforts not only strengthened community ties but also showcased her dedication to social responsibility.
disciplinary action to keep potential loss due to charges with legal agencies to a minimum. She is a mentor and trainer for new associate relations specialists and associate relations mentees within her region. In addition, Tish provides specialist services to a designated group of stores.
Her additional responsibilities include preparing and delivering presentations to management, legal counsel and/ or governmental officials regarding human resource policies and practices. She monitors labor relations throughout the region. She advises management on matters related to labor relations, as well as providing management training on positive associate relations.
Tish analyzes statistical data to identify and determine causes of personnel problems and develops recommendations for improvement. She also analyzes trends in turnover, hiring, promotions, separations and grievances to determine support or action required,
As a leader, Courtney manages and supports a team of seven direct reports, fostering a collaborative and growthoriented environment. Courtney’s strategy of leading by example is evident in her results for her top client, with a 17 percent increase in dollar sales over the latest 52 weeks at Albertsons Intermountain, outperforming the ROM’s 9 percent growth. This achievement underscores her ability to drive substantial business growth and deliver exceptional results while sharing strategies and best practices with her team.
Courtney’s dedication to excellence, innovative thinking and strong leadership skills make her an exemplary candidate for recognition. Her contributions have not only driven business success but also strengthened community relationships and fostered a culture of collaboration and growth within her team.
adjusting unfavorable trends. Most recently, she administered an associate opinion survey in her region’s stores, with a participation rate of 90 percent, which led the company.
Tish also assisted in establishing a human resource metric analytic report for leaders in the organization. These analytics help the organization improve compliance categories while boosting metrics that affect associate morale. These compliance areas include youth permits, I-9, inordinate hours, turnover, shifts worked over threshold hours, lunches missed and unemployment.
Improving these metrics in recap form has contributed to the goal of becoming an employer of choice. The quarterly year-to-date turnover for her region is 53.9 percent, its lowest in three years. Tish also developed a work template for her team to utilize to support partnership/ collaboration with district managers.
Cassie Murray
Milo’s Tea Co. Director of Omni Commerce Marketing
Cassie Murray is an awardwinning CPG sales and marketing leader with a record of success steering high-profile, timesensitive projects to maximize brand awareness and sales performance. She is known for creativity and effectiveness in nurturing strong business relationships and establishing open communication between customers and partners to exceed expectations. Cassie has more than 13 years of experience working with brands such as Unilever and Nestle.
Cassie has been at the forefront of retail media networks since early in her career, having spent time at
Sheryl Paradise
Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions VP, Customer Success
Sheryl Paradise’s career in retail technology spans more than 25 years and is a testament to her exceptional leadership, commitment to excellence and profound impact on the retail food and technology industries and her community. From software developer to her current role, Sheryl’s journey is marked by transformative achievements and dedication to driving positive change.
Embodying the qualities of leadership and innovation, Sheryl’s career in retail grocery is distinguished by her
Lucinda Silva
Southeastern Grocers Director of Sales Planning, Merchandising
Lucinda Silva exhibits a strong dedication to her career in the grocery retail industry while offering unique viewpoints to propel the business forward. Since joining SEG in 2015, Lucinda has showcased a winning determination to succeed, rising through the ranks to gain extensive experience in marketing and merchandising. In her current role, Lucinda oversees projects touched by multiple departments, demonstrating strategic management skills and cross-functional collaboration to ensure smooth and efficient performance. With SEG’s
Evgeny Shevtsov
Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Innovation Program Director
Evgeny Shevtsov stands at the forefront of innovation within the retail food industry, where his leadership and solutions are reshaping the overall landscape. In his current role, Evgeny is spearheading initiatives that leverage artificial intelligence, machine learning and computer vision. His commitment to frictionless technology ensures the orderly implementation of solutions that anticipate the evolving needs of food retailers and solidifies his influential role within the industry.
2024 EMERGING LEADERS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY
Triad Digital Media, working on Sam’s Club and Walmart media networks. She has leveraged beta test opportunities to create case studies that have driven industry change and deployed innovative strategies that have unified ROAS metrics across retailers and tactics, better informing efficient media and omni planning.
Cassie’s efforts to understand the impact of specific retail media network buys across the grocery ecosystem have been instrumental in shaping effective business strategies. Her accomplishments include receiving various larger coop and retailer awards, including recognition from Walmart and Kroger.
Cassie is rooted in servant leadership, characterized by open and transparent communication. She prioritizes clarity in decision-making processes, ensuring her team understands the rationale behind decisions and feels empowered to contribute their suggestions. Cassie builds her staff’s capabilities by providing them with a clear course
commitment to solving problems and implementing solutions that enhance business operations and the overall shopping experience. Her recent appointment to her current role underscores her contributions to the retail technology industry. By understanding the needs of retailers, she emphasizes the importance of solutions that are easy to install and service, recognizing their impact and value on the business.
By supporting food retailers with customer success initiatives, Sheryl plays a key role in improving operational efficiency and shopper satisfaction. While she enjoyed the technical side of her work in her early career, she aspired to grow as a leader and on the people side of technology. Her desire to develop technical talent and nurture the next generation of leaders led her to management roles.
Her leadership is rooted in mentoring others and lifting up and empowering the next generation of retail technology
valued supplier partners, store associates and local shoppers in mind, she remains dedicated to driving optimization and personalization to produce tangible results.
Her passionate leadership inspires others and her positive can-do attitude is paramount in guiding her team to strive for great accomplishments. Her expertise is also evident in her detail-oriented approach to identifying key pain points and crafting solutions within her department to consistently improve and innovate.
A recent project she spearheaded demonstrates her ability to streamline processes to drive positive change for SEG’s customers and associates. Discovering an area of opportunity to improve the center store merchandising plan, she took the initiative to visit the store teams involved on a weekly basis. By working with associates, she gained firsthand insight and made significant progress in the
Since joining Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions nearly five years ago, Evgeny has been instrumental in spearheading initiatives that redefine customer experience and operational efficiency in the retail food industry. His leadership is essential in leveraging emerging end-to-end technologies through AI, machine learning and computer vision. His leadership and vision have resulted in some of Toshiba’s most impactful innovations that are transforming how food retailers operate and how consumers shop.
From produce recognition and loss prevention systems that combat shrink and labor challenges to the biometricbased Retail Vision Kiosk, Evgeny and his team are creating solutions for food retailers that address the problems of today and evolve with the demands of the future.
Evgeny’s approach to innovation, evidenced by his “now or never” concept of execution, reflects his determination and problem-solving skills. He thrives on taking calculated
forward and explaining why certain actions are necessary.
EMERGING LEADERS
She embodies a handson approach, never asking someone to do something she wouldn’t do herself, removing pain points before delegating tasks. Cassie encourages continued education, succession planning and cross-training, fostering an environment where team members can grow and thrive. Her commitment to mentoring and coaching is evident through her participation in several programs in Northwest Arkansas, where she helps others reach their full potential. Cassie’s dedication to community service includes chairing the board for the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter, one of the largest domestic women’s shelters in the state. In this role, Cassie oversees the executive director, approves training, manages the grant process.
leaders. Sheryl co-founded the Women’s Network, Toshiba’s first employee resource group. As a volunteer board member, she provides guidance to foster networking opportunities and leadership development educational sessions that promote gender equality in the workplace.
She also volunteers with Dress for Success, conducting mock interviews to support others with job readiness skills. Her mentorship extends to Clemson University, where she guides aspiring technology professionals by sharing insights from her experience.
Her contributions to the technology sector are further highlighted by her status as a thought leader and innovator. She holds five U.S. patents and has authored multiple publications, demonstrating her pioneering spirit and knowledge of technology innovation. She is also a member of the Professional Services Advisory Board for the TSIA at Toshiba.
project. Under Lucinda’s guidance, her diverse team of merchandising professionals used that valuable feedback to revise a solution-focused method to aid local store teams in executing display plans up to eight times more often.
SEG celebrates diversity, belonging and inclusion inside and outside its stores, and Lucinda shares the grocer’s passion for empowering authenticity and giving back to local communities. She engages with Fernandina Beach Pride’s initiatives as a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, and also advocates for neighbors struggling to make ends meet by contributing to The Salvation Army’s Hope House in Nassau County.
Lucinda embodies the qualities of an emerging leader. Her dedication to propel innovation in the grocery retail industry and her uplifting community service in her professional and personal lives are testament to her passion for making a positive impact.
risks, believing they are essential for growth and fostering a culture of creativity within his team. As a master inventor and advocate for frictionless modularity, he uses resources to bring solutions to life, symbolizing his commitment to achieving high success rates in project implementation.
Outside of his professional achievements, Evgeny is engaged in community and volunteer work, particularly in promoting arts and cultural events native to his home country. His passion for the arts and cultural contributions enriches his local community in Texas, showcasing his dedication to cultural diversity through the arts.
Evgeny exemplifies exceptional leadership and pioneering contributions. His ability to balance high executive expectations while empowering his team underscores his role as a leading technology motivator and innovator.
Steve Stollings
Houchens Food Group Division Manager
Steve Stollings, a retail veteran with more than 32 years of experience, has been a part of Houchens for 19 years. His journey from store manager to produce supervisor and district and regional manager to his current role, which he has held for four years, is a testament to his exceptional work ethic and dedication. Steve is unafraid of taking on new challenges, responsibilities and pushing himself to acquire new skills. Regardless of the difficulty of his role, he makes decisions confidently and is willing to take responsibility for the
Shelli Tant
Harris Teeter Store Director
Shelli Tant’s tenure as store director has been marked by many achievements. Leading her team through a remodel stands as a testament to her effective leadership. The store’s consistent growth and attainment of the best out-of-stock scan in the company underscore Shelli’s competitive spirit and adept management. Under her guidance, the store has set two sales records, showcasing Shelli’s ability to drive results. Her scorecard results, boasting a year-to-date average of 75, reflect her strong leadership. Shelli delivers exceptional
outcome. His reliability is exceptional. He always goes the extra mile to solve tasks independently before involving his supervisors. His job responsibilities span from managing the sales and operational numbers to distribution of manifold products and brands across regions to supervising key accounts and distributors.
Steve has proven his ability to deliver outstanding results and exceed company objectives each year. His co-workers and colleagues have confidence in his decisions and recommendations. Steve’s commitment to customer service is not just a quality he preaches but one he practices. He believes that customer satisfaction is paramount and is quick to address any customer concerns, a dedication that embodies the company’s values.
Steve’s leadership is a beacon of inspiration, as he has fostered a strong network within his team. His organizational skills and preparedness bring the team
performance on audits and has yielded positive outcomes on perishable and nonperishable inventory. Shelli and her team spearheaded the district’s floral sales around Valentine’s Day, generating more than $80,000 in sales, ranking No. 7 in the company. Moreover, Shelli’s store clinched the top spot in the district, outperforming all other high-volume stores. This achievement highlights Shelli’s leadership prowess and her team’s dedication to excellence.
Shelli plays an active role on the perishable inventory response team, collaborating to enhance companywide perishable waste results. In 2023, Shelli attained her objective of becoming a store director. Additionally, she contributes as a member of the Multi-Cultural Resource Group within Harris Teeter.
Shelli’s leadership is characterized by a genuine sense of value and appreciation toward her associates, fostering an environment of support and encouragement. Leading
together to share knowledge and information. In three years, he has remodeled his division of 48 stores, a testament to his leadership and team-building skills. Steve’s leadership goes beyond his regular duties to the communities surrounding his stores. He is instrumental and involved in Houchens’ fundraising for St. Jude’s, Toys for Tots and Christian Hand Ministry. Every year, Steve, an avid racing fan and driver, leads his team at the annual Save-A-Lot Race Day in Hazard, Kentucky, an event he founded 29 years ago.
In 2024, the event sponsored two local families in need of medical help. His team raised $28,400 during the fourhour event, collecting 7,000 pounds of food for the local hospice care center. His involvement in these initiatives is an inspiration, demonstrating his commitment to making a positive impact beyond the business realm. A native of Kentucky, Steve resides in Hazard with his wife, Lynn, and four children.
by example, she prioritizes learning and development, creating opportunities for growth within her team. Under her guidance, two co-managers have been promoted to store manager within the past year, along with another comanager who was elevated to a specialist position. These highlight Shelli’s commitment to cultivating talent and facilitating career advancement within the organization.
Most recently, Shelli received the Distinguished Store Director Award. She was one of 10 store directors in the company recognized for top performance for the year.
Within the surrounding community, Shelli supports partnerships. As a band parent, she engages with the school community and serves on the board of her local PTA. Moreover, she organizes an annual pancake supper with her church, an event that benefits the local community. Known for her warm and welcoming demeanor, Shelli takes the time to connect with her customers.
2024 EMERGING LEADERS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY
Dustin Taylor
Houchens Food Group Division Manager
With deep dedication to the retail business, Dustin Taylor has amassed 20 years of experience.
His journey at Houchens spans 12 years, progressing from store manager to district manager to his current role. His commitment to the company’s mission and vision is evident in his search for opportunities to learn, improve and contribute. His leadership and management skills have been a driving force in his career.
Dustin’s role at Houchens is multifaceted, managing the sale and distribution of brands and products across various regions, overseeing key accounts and distributors and
Brent Welch
Acosta Group –Premium Retail Services
Regional Manager
Brent Welch is dedicated to success in the grocery industry and to the success of those around him. He joined Premium in 2018 to help build the Walmart Preferred Service Provider Team. He was a retail market manager, overseeing seven states and 240 Walmart locations for eight clients during the team’s inception. He assisted in hiring 357 part-time retail specialists to help build the PSP team in its early days. He pushed and encouraged his team to raise standards and quickly became one of the highest performing territories within the PSP business.
Sean Willins
Acosta Group Retail Business Manager
In August 2021, Sean Willins was hired to form and lead a team of reps that use inventory/sales
implementing challenger sales strategies. These strategies have increased market share and customer loyalty. His track record of delivering results, exceeding targets and growing the division’s revenue and profitability is a testament to his dedication. Dustin’s passion for providing quality food, customer service and his commitment to teamwork and innovation are indisputable. His decisions and ideas are trusted by his colleagues.
During the past three years, Dustin has demonstrated his leadership by working with his team to remodel 42 stores. He is flexible and adaptable, working with his team and ensuring everyone’s skills and perspectives are valued. By involving them in decisions when possible and valuing their opinions, he has empowered them to make choices and elevated employee morale and motivation.
Dustin’s leadership qualities motivate others to do their best in their tasks. He has been observed taking action, assuming any job whenever a need arises. His empathy
EMERGING LEADERS
for his colleagues is remarkable; he listens and solves problems daily. When a fellow employee is in need, Dustin gets involved. He has visited hospitals, raised funds and attended funerals to offer support. His involvement in his colleagues’ lives shows his caring nature and the value he places on everyone.
Dustin also serves his community with great passion by participating in fundraisers, including St. Jude, Christian Hand Ministry, Coats for Kids and Center for Courageous Kids. In 2024, CCK recognized Dustin as its Corporate Individual Volunteer of the Year after he and his team raised more $25,000 at the store in Scottville, Kentucky. His community involvement is a source of pride for the company. Dustin lives in Scottsville with his wife, Brittany, and four children.
Brent pushed for 100 percent visit compliance, along with 98 percent compliance on visit standards during this time. He was a big advocate for in-the-field training experiences for new field reps and encouraged neighboring managers to venture out into the field to train all new hires in person. His focus on improved field training started the market specialist program, where full-time field reps would venture out to train new hires after completing the onboarding phase.
Because of his high completion and compliance percentages, attention to detail and training, Brent was promoted in 2023 to his current role, where he was assigned to the Northwest Region. Since then, has pushed his managers to execute at new heights. All seven retail market managers who report to Brent have been able to raise visit compliance and overall completion above 94 percent most weeks.
Hiring, training and retention have been a continual
data analytics to determine which stores have the greatest opportunity. He hired and built the team from the ground up, onboarded each member and created SOPs to improve the efficiency and productivity of his team.
Sean has exceeded the KPI metrics set forth by the client and has been instrumental in suggesting and implementing expansion into other territories. Sean always leads from the front, putting people first. He explains that his most
Andrew Wright
Pinnacle Food Sales VP
Andrew Wright began his career at Acosta Sales and Marketing in 2015. Acosta recruited Andrew after he finished playing college football at Florida State University, where he was a member of the 2013 National Championship team.
In 2017, Andrew had the opportunity to be an LDP at Acosta, and that is where the foundation was built for
his career. He learned the CPG industry from the ground floor up, doing resets, coverage merchandiser, analytics and sales. Andrew then went on to represent a French pharmaceutical company to North America, where he was tasked with all food/drug/mass/e-commerce/military channels with direct sales calling. Within his first two years, he called on and prospected brand-new distribution at 18 different retailers and activated them across the country and grew the North America business from $30 million to $52 million.
In August 2020, Andrew joined Pinnacle Food Sales as director of business development. In two years, he expanded Pinnacle’s reach with additional retailers in the Southeast and added new principals to its portfolio.
focus for Brent and his region. He pushes for great results for all clients that the company serves and never backs down from a challenge to get better.
Brent leads a team of 12 retail market managers who are engaged in increasing the overall field rep retention for the Walmart PSP Division. His team has created a new hire welcome packet that all new hires receive when they complete onboarding. This packet includes a welcome video from their managers so new hires can get to know their managers before day one. The team has also created an updated screening form that is utilized by the recruiting team today.
Brent and the field rep retention team are working to create a better training experience for reps in the field. The team is reviewing online training material for content relevance to ensure that reps are getting the type of training they need to be thriving field associates.
important task is to “help eliminate obstacles for his team, so they can be more successful.”
In his free time, Sean serves as a national official of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, mentoring undergraduate students on leadership skills and professional development for their future career success.
In October 2022, Andrew was promoted to his current role, where he has been an instrumental leader in the company’s growth, including recruiting and mentoring new employees. He is also involved in the Florida GMR, where he was president from 2020-22, chairman in 2023 and still serves on the board of directors.
During his presidency at GMR, Andrew and the board and officers had to manage through COVID-19, a pivotal moment for the organization. Andrew is committed to helping to recruit the next generation in the CPG industry. He also completed the Cornell College of Business Food Executive Program.
