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The Shelby Report of the Southeast • MAY 2015
Georgia food industry leader has successfully helmed state association for 25-plus years
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athy Kuzava is the first to admit that, when she began her career with the Georgia Food Industry Association (GFIA) more than two decades ago at just 27 years old, she was “very naive…with no political experience.” “I was totally over my head”…but “so excited,” she recalls. “The group of retailers who hired me took a huge risk, and I will be forever grateful to them,” she says. Despite her inexperience on the legislative and lobbying front, Kuzava had passion and grocery experience. She started in the grocery business in 1978 as a junior in high school, working for Food Giant as a cashier. She continued with Food Giant as a student at Georgia State University, working in the back office and backing up the store manager. When Food Giant went out of business, Kuzava went to work for Supervalu, where she stayed for three years before the opportunity with the GFIA came her way. While Kuzava says she had to prove herself, both to the board that hired her and to herself, she quickly learned the ropes, recognizing first that the association was in bad financial shape and that some drastic measures were needed for it to survive. Additionally, and as importantly, there were many legislative and regulatory issues that the group needed to address that had not been handled in the past. She got to work and, with help from her board, members and team, turned the association around. Today, the GFIA is among the preeminent food associations in the U.S. As its president, Kuzava is one of the most respected leaders in the industry. “I work with an unbelievable GFIA team that provides a fantastic convention and industry events for the members to come together,” Kuzava says. “I certainly could not have imagined being here 26 years, but this is truly the perfect job for me,” she adds. “I am passionate about protecting our members through a strong association. I get to represent a wonderful industry at the Capitol and work with a terrific board and great members. I tell legislators that they will never see me lobbying for anyone else. When I am talking about an issue, I want them to see the face of our members."
“What makes Kathy such a treasure is that she truly cares—not just about GFIA as an association, but also about each of us on staff, our members and our industry. In my 25-year career, I have never worked for someone who cared so much for me as an employee and as an individual. She works tirelessly for the people and the industry she loves. There is no substitute for that kind of dedication.” —Kim Peterson, director of operations, GFIA
Kuzuva recently chatted with The Shelby Report about her long career with the GFIA, discussing some of the challenges she and the food business in Georgia have faced over the years. She also talks about being a woman in the business as well as some of the obstacles that are ahead for the state’s grocery industry. What do you know now that you wish you would have known that first day on the job? I wish I had been more politically astute. I had the grocery background, but no political background. I do think it was actually refreshing for legislators to hear from someone with industry experience, but it was tough walking in the Capitol with absolutely no idea of how to lobby. I started this job right after a very confusing tax bill was passed, creating potential havoc for front-end systems. Before I started with the GFIA, I was training cashiers on new register systems. I knew nothing about lobbying, but plenty about what could be programmed in most systems. I remember telling the governor, "A law could be passed to make a cash register do a cartwheel, but someone needs to tell you when this cannot happen." I have learned to be a bit more diplomatic over the years. You were faced with a number of challenges when you began. How might that compare to a young person’s first weeks on the job in 2015? The job would be much different today. The association has grown and evolved. There is a clear mission and direction to provide strong legislative and regulatory representation. We are financially sound, with a strong leadership in our board of directors and foundation trustees. There would be new challenges, many of them due to the changing landscape of the industry. As many of our members experience mergers and acquisitions, it gets harder to raise the dollars needed to accomplish the goal of representing the industry.
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You are a walking billboard for why young people ought to consider a career in the food industry (or an allied industry). What are some of the top reasons, in your view, that the food industry should be an employer of choice for them? First of all, the food industry is an excellent start for every young person, but it is important for all of us to share the amazing career opportunities that are available. I talk to so many grocery executives who started as a part-time cashier or bagger. The opportunities for growth are tremendous. Whether you want to manage a retail store, or have an interest in pharmacy, social media, food safety, advertising, merchandising, sales or logistics, the food industry has something for everyone. We need to be better about promoting the career potential that is out there. Tell us what a typical day is like for you today. There is no typical day, which is why I love my job. If it is during the legislative session, I will be reading bills, meeting with legislators, working with coalitions, attending meetings and writing testimony. I also spend a lot of time handling member issues with agencies that license and regulate the stores, working with our board of directors and trustees, planning board and committee meetings, working with the WIC agency leadership, traveling to meet with legislators and members, writing our publications and working with the GFIA team. What does your to-do list look like these days—what are some of the big issues facing Georgia grocers? One of the biggest issues for Georgia’s retailers continues to center around the Georgia WIC program. We worked hard to lift the moratorium, but WIC continues to be a challenge. During the most recent legislative session, the GFIA successfully worked bills to allow pharmacists to increase the amount of immunizations they provide, renew a tax exemption for donations to food banks, prevent a GMO labeling study committee and eliminate onerous alcohol policies. We
Kathy's full plate and smile speaks volumes— she loves her job.
4/13/15 3:02 PM