Maria Arand
Director, Office of the Customer Team
84.51° and Kroger
Maria Arand is a Director on the Office of the Customer Team at 84.51° and Kroger, leading Customer Strategy work. Her work focuses on understanding who is today’s shopper, the trends and forces shaping their behavior in the future, and consulting on how we can better address...
...shopper needs to drive profitable business growth.
Megan Babb
Director of Business Management, Private Label
SunOpta, Inc.
Megan Babb is Director of Business Management, Private Label at SunOpta, Inc. where she manages the growth strategy for the private label business by understanding retail customer needs, consumer trends, and the solutions needed to address them.
With 10 years of B2B marketing experience in the food & beverage space, Megan has a broad understanding of quality, safe food and the consumer taste trends needed to drive innovation and change in the market. She has a passion for quantifying and communicating the value of her organization to customers and building strong relationships with other stakeholders in the market.
Thomas Bailey
Executive Director, Consumer Foods
RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness
Thomas Bailey is Executive Director, Consumer Foods for RaboResearch Food & Agribusiness where he advises Rabobank and its clients on the evolving consumer landscape and its impact on the food industry. With a keen understanding of CPI, food innovation, and consumer trends...
...Tom regularly produces research content for Rabobank clients, helping them navigate current opportunities and prepare for the future. Prior to becoming Rabobank’s Senior Consumer Foods Analyst, has held various positions around the world from leadership roles in consumer food products in New Zealand to food and agricultural investment planning in China.
Jocelyn Carter
Activation Marketing Director
Kerry
Jocelyn Carter is Activation Marketing Director at Kerry where she works with customers across retail, foodservice, convenience and traditional consumer packaged goods.
She focuses on creatively executing customer engagements, leading with consumer insights and marketplace trends, and bringing to life Kerry’s sustainable nutrition strategy.
Over her 10-year career at Kerry, Jocelyn has worked across functions, teams and channels, building a reputation as a problem solver and innovative thinker. She led the development of Kerry’s best-in-class innovation xcelerator program, iXp, to meet customer demand in an everchanging and fast-paced industry.
Melissa Cochran
Vice President, Finance
Niagara Bottling
Melissa Cochran is the Vice President of Finance at Niagara Bottling. During her time at Niagara, she has served as the Corporate Controller, Director of Finance and has been the Vice President of Finance since 2015. She oversees a team of 200 people focused on finance, accounting...
...continuous improvement, product lifecycle management, data science, business intelligence, and inventory process. While at Niagara, Melissa has seen the company grow from five manufacturing facilities to over 50 facilities in the U.S., Mexico, U.K. and Australia, and revenue grow over 2,400% in just 15 years. She sits on Niagara’s DEI Council and spearheads the company’s first Team Member Resource Group.
Kevin Coupe
Content Guy
MorningNewsBeat.com
Kevin Coupe is Content Guy and Prime Storyteller for MorningNewsBeat.com, a top industry news and information site with more than 25,000 subscribers. Launched more than 23 years ago, MorningNewsBeat.com has provided business news in context...
...and analysis with attitude, finding critical, relevant and resonant lessons not just in the world of retailing, but also in sports, popular culture and a wide range of other businesses. Kevin is the author of “Retail Rules! 52 Ways To Achieve Retail Success," a guidebook for competing effectively and efficiently on Main Street, and co-author, with Michael Sansolo, of “The Big Picture: Essential Business Lessons from the Movies,” which uses film narratives to teach about leadership, marketing and surviving the workplace.
Rachel Dalton
Head of Retail Insights North America
Kantar
Rachel Dalton is Head of Retail Insights North America at Kantar where she leads a team of retail insights experts that research, publish, and deliver industry-leading thought leadership across all channels within the U.S. and Canadian markets. Rachel has consulted with numerous brands to identify...
...growth opportunities across the retail landscape and has extensive background in brand and global business management from her work leading strategic planning, new product development, commercial planning, and marketing planning across a variety of CPG brands and categories. She co-hosts the popular Kantar Retail Sound Bites podcast and has been featured and quoted in numerous media outlets as a sought-after retail expert.
Laurie Demeritt
Owner and CEO
The Hartman Group
Laurie Demerittis Owner and CEO of The Hartman Group where she drives the vision, strategy and operations for the consultancy focused on identifying demand-side trends in the food and beverage industry. A nationally recognized authority on consumer behavior and culture...
...Laurie oversees client projects focused on issues of portfolio management, brand renovation, consumer insights and innovation.
Connie Diekman, MEd, RD, LD, FADA, FAND
Food and Nutrition Consultant
Connie Diekman, MEd, RD, LD, FADA, FAND is a food and nutrition consultant in St. Louis, Missouri. A former Director of University Nutrition at Washington University in St Louis, she is also a past President of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a former chair of the American Heart Association – Missouri affiliate.
Connie worked as a television nutrition reporter for close to 15 years and was the voice of the “Eating Right” minute which aired on radio station WBBM in Chicago. She is the author of “The Everything Mediterranean Diet Book: All You Need to Lose Weight and Stay Healthy!” and the book “SuperFood Nuts,” and is frequently quoted by the media on food and nutrition issues.
Maria Dubuc
President
MBD
Maria Dubuc is President of MBD where she is instrumental in developing brand strategies, overseeing complex retailer programs, and fueling business growth. With more than 30 years of creative management experience, Maria is dedicated to ensuring her teams, projects, and
processes align seamlessly to drive client success. In the retail brands arena, Maria has spearheaded the coordination, design, and deployment of new and re-branded programs for a diverse range of global retailers.
Luigui Equihua
Student, Business Management
Arizona State University
Luigui Equihua is a detail-oriented senior, graduating this May with a major in Business Management. He has industry experience in recruitment logistics, event planning, and student engagement and is actively involved on campus.
Luigui has a strong passion for connecting with people and is seeking a career in Human Resources, driven by a desire to foster inclusive communities that support individual development.
Jonathan Finch
Vice President Client Services & Sourcing
Daymon
Jonathan Finch is a 15-year veteran of Daymon where he has supported key retailers and clients in multiple channels to facilitate private brand development; driving sales, growth, and innovation across categories.
In his current role, Jon and his team function as strategy consultants for Daymon’s key partners, focusing on private brand development, strategic design, operational execution, and relationship management.
Prior to Daymon, Jon held multiple roles in the service industry and pharmaceuticals, as well as being an entrepreneur.
A.J. Flick
Senior Editor
Gourmet News, Kitchenware News & Housewares Review
A.J. Flick is Senior Editor of the bimonthly trade publications Gourmet News, covering the specialty food industry, and Kitchenware News & Housewares Review.
She frequently reports on emerging trends, foodservice, retail and CPGs in the specialty food market as well as new companies and innovative products in the kitchen and housewares industry. A long-time Arizona journalist, A.J.’s also the author of the true crime story “Toxic Rage” which is based on her experience covering the case during her time as a newspaper journalist in Tucson.
Burt P Flickinger III
Managing Director
Strategic Resource Group
Burt P Flickinger III is Managing Director of Strategic Resource Group and recognized as a leading expert on all aspects of the retail industry. Burt, along with Henry Mellet and their Strategic Resource Group team, has worked for virtually every major retailer in the U.S. and worldwide,
as well as the top 25 CPG companies. His family has been in the wholesale, vertically and horizontally integrated private label production, manufacturing, and branding businesses for generations since his great grandfather founded S.M. Flickinger Company – the largest supermarket wholesaler/retailer headquartered in the eastern U.S. prior to its acquisition by METRO GROUP S.A.
Katie Hogan
Inbound Logistics Manager
Shamrock Foods Company
Katie Hogan is an Inbound Logistics Manager at Shamrock Foods Company where she is responsible for inbound receiving BPI, centralized scheduling and analysis, and inbound carrier KPIs.
Katie is in her final semester of the M.S. in Sustainable Food Systems program at Arizona State University’s School of Sustainability in the College of Global Futures with her research focusing on food loss and waste throughout the food manufacturing, transportation, retail, and consumer levels. Last fall, she was named one of Progressive Grocer’s Top Women in Grocery for her outstanding financial performance and positive impact on her local community.
Elizabeth Horvath
Vice President of Marketing, North America
Kerry
Elizabeth Horvath drives strategic business growth, using creativity and insights to connect needs to solutions and inspire customer trust. In her role as Vice President of Marketing for North America, she leads a team of strategic planning, brand marketing, consumer insights...
...marketing communications, channel activation and sustainability professionals to drive business growth for Kerry through best-in-class integrated marketing activities. With over 15 years of experience across both B2B and B2C sectors, Elizabeth builds the reputation of Kerry as thought leaders in the industry, leveraging consumer insights and data-driven strategies as the tools for success. Elizabeth is a member of Chief, a professional association advancing women in leadership roles and is also a Board Member of Women's Foodservice Forum. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from Northwestern University and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Saint Mary, with a concentration in leadership & organizational health.
Renee Shaw Hughner
Associate Professor, Morrison School of Agribusiness
Arizona State University
Renee Shaw Hughner is an associate professor in the Morrison School of Agribusiness at Arizona State University where her research lies in the areas of food marketing as it relates to consumer behavior, health, nutrition and education.
She has published research in several leading food industry journals and sits on the Board of Trustees for the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance Foundation, the policy board of the Journal of Macromarketing, and the editorial review board of the Journal of International Food and Agribusiness Marketing. Renee is actively involved with students and serves as student advisor for several industry trade associations and has served as Chairman for the NGA Food Industry University Coalition, a committee dedicated to building bridges between the independent food retailing sector and academia.
Julien LeBlanc
President and Co-Founder
bluePrint North America
Julien LeBlanc is President and Co-Founder of bluePrint North America, a boutique training and development firm dedicated to transforming business confidence. Whether it’s a startup or a Fortune 500 company, Julien is passionate about helping teams and individuals reach new heights.
He's delivered over 1,500 workshops and keynotes in 47 countries.
Angus McOuat
Partner
McKinsey & Company - Toronto
Angus McQuat is a partner in McKinsey & Company’s Toronto office where one of his main areas of focus is serving retailers and consumer packaged goods manufacturers on private label strategy. Angus has helped scale and optimize private label offerings at several leading North American grocers,
mass merchants, and department store chains and written several articles on private brand strategy and advises retailers on other merchandising focused topics including Ecommerce development. Prior to McKinsey, he was a chief merchant at a leading Canadian gourmet grocer and has led large categories at a leading mass merchandiser.
Frank Niekamp
Founding Partner
SalesStar
Frank Niekamp is the Founding Partner of SalesStar and President of SalesStar Ohio, a sales growth and transformation consultancy. Since 2019, he has worked with growth-minded CEOs to combine the elements required for a high-performing sales team that delivers consistent and...
...transformational results. Prior to SalesStar, Frank successfully led sales organizations at both Fortune 500 public companies and privately held organizations. His roles included VP of Sales at Mohawk Group and Shaw Industries, a division of Berkshire Hathaway, and Mannington Mills. He is an active member of Vistage, helping multiple businesses improve sales effectiveness, transform recruitment of high-performance talent and accelerate their business growth.
Joe Puglia
Business Technology and Operations Consulting Principal
Plante Moran, PLLC
Joe Puglia is a Business Technology and Operations Consulting Principal at Plante Moran, PLLC. He’s spent more than 35 years of manufacturing and supply chain experience in the CPG industry, with 15 of those years as an executive-level leader.
As part of the Business Technology Advisory team practice, Joe has led or been a part of more than 15 business system implementations in companies ranging from small family-owned to Fortune 500.
He has helped businesses select and implement WMS, ERP, and CRM software and, as member of the food and beverage team at Plante Moran, has advised food and beverage clients on working through operations and EBITDA improvements, process reengineering, and critical change management challenges.
Dr. Lupillo Ramirez
Sr. Director Innovation and Product Development
Northgate Gonzalez Markets
Dr. Lupillo Ramirez is the Sr. Director of Innovation and Product Development at Northgate Gonzalez Markets where he’s created a full line of private label items and established himself as an expert in the industry, analyzing and identifying some of the nation’s hottest Latino food trends...
...launched in the Hispanic marketplace. Lupillo began his career in the food industry at Northgate Gonzalez Markets as a deli/dairy clerk, working his way up to front end store management, and eventually becoming a well-known buyer and member of the company’s executive team.
He is an annual speaker at ANTAD, Latin America’s most important food industry event and currently serves as chairman of the board of the Latino Food Industry Association, a national organization that serves Latinos in the food industry.
Tristan Ropa
BenePass
Customer Experience Associate
Tristan Ropa graduated from ASU with a degree in Supply Chain Mgmt. and a certificate in Food Industry Marketing. Upon graduation he pivoted from agribusiness to the high-tech world where his focus was managing relationships and advising large chip companies on capital asset strategies.
He believes that navigating the professional world in this labor market has been no easy task, but dialogues such as this are the only way to bridge generational gaps and work together, better.
Andy Russick
Vice President Sales, Marketing & Customer Service
Pacific Coast Producers
Andy Russick is the Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Customer Service for Pacific Coast Producers. Over the 37 years he has been with PCP, he has held the positions of Vice President of Retail Sales, Director of Retail Sales, National Sales Manager, Regional Sales Manager, Field Operations
Manager and Logistics Coordinator.
Michael Sansolo
President
Sansolo Solutions LLC
Michael Sansolo is President of Sansolo Solutions LLC. As a consultant, speaker, author, and blogger, he provides with a unique and diverse view of the changing nature of trends impacting shoppers, employees, competition, economics, supply chains and management.
He currently serves as the research director of the Coca-Cola Retailing Research Councils for both supermarkets and convenience stores. In his 13 years as senior vice president at FMI, the biggest food retail association in the United States, he was responsible for all education, supply chain and research activities. In this position he developed an in-depth perspective of the changing nature of cooking, eating and shopping. Before joining FMI, Sansolo was Editor-in-Chief of Progressive Grocer magazine. Sansolo recently authored Business Rules! a collection of diverse and useful lessons in business success.
Neil Saunders
Managing Director
Retail GlobalData
Neil Saunders is Managing Director of GlobalData’s retail division where he oversees the development of the company’s proposition and its research output. He also works with major clients to help them understand the retail, shopper and market landscape –
advising them on how best to develop, evolve and implement business strategies. Prior to GlobalData, Neil worked at retail research firm Verdict where he latterly held the post of board director with responsibility for consulting, corporate development and planning. Before Verdict, he worked for the John Lewis Partnership where he was involved, among other things, in the planning and relocation of new stores, the development of the ecommerce business, and the creation of technical and information systems.
Jack Sinclair
CEO
Sprouts Farmers Market
Jack Sinclair is CEO of Sprouts Farmers Market, bringing more than 35 years of experience in retail and grocery to Sprouts since joining the company in June 2019. Jack was previously CEO and Chief Merchandising Officer of 99 Cents Only Stores LLC, a premier discount retailer with over
350 locations in the United States. He’s also held the position of Executive Vice President of the U.S. Grocery Division of Walmart, Inc., where he led all aspects of Walmart’s U.S. grocery business at its more than 4,000 stores. He also spent 14 years at Safeway PLC in London where he was responsible for operations, merchandising and marketing for over 450 Safeway supermarket and convenience store locations throughout the United Kingdom.
Mark Singleton
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Rudolph Foods
Mark Singleton is Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Rudolph Foods where he’s helped grow the company’s brands including Southern Recipe, Southern Recipe Small Batch, and Pepe’s and Lee’s pork rinds.
Most notably, during his tenure with Rudolph Foods, Mark helped pioneer National Pork Rind Appreciation Day, lobbying the government to recognize it on the first Sunday in February. Bringing together America’s love for “pig skins” and pork rinds, the annual event partners with the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund on Super Bowl Sunday to advocate for retired National Football League (NFL) players in dire need. Prior to Rudolph Foods, Mark served as the President of Cantrell International and previously served as the Chairman of the Snack Food Association.
Dana Sump
Senior Category Manager
Casey's
Dana Sump is Senior Category Manager for non-alcohol beverages with Casey’s where he’s played an active role in building out Casey’s extensive private brands portfolio of more than 350 SKUS. With 25 years of experience in the convenience industry
With 25 years of experience in the convenience industry, Dana has been a pivotal figure at Casey's since 2009 where he has served in several category management roles, most notably focusing on the private brand beverage assortment, encompassing both non-alcohol and alcohol categories.
Jessica Timmons
Student, Food Industry Management
Arizona State University
Jessica Timmons is a senior, majoring in Food Industry Management, with a minor in Food and Nutrition Entrepreneurship at ASU. Jessica will be graduating this summer and is currently seeking a position to launch her career upon graduation in the areas of digital and ...
...traditional advertising and marketing, sustainability, and issues pertaining to food insecurity. She currently serves as a Program Assistant for the Morrison School of Agribusiness, President and Co-Founder of Plant Futures at ASU and has represented ASU at the 2023 International Fresh Produce Association's Career Pathways Program and at the 2024 Gateway to Ag Careers program.
Sally Lyons Wyatt
Global EVP & Chief Advisor, Consumer Goods & Foodservice Insights
Circana
Sally Lyons Wyatt is Global EVP & Chief Advisor, Consumer Goods & Foodservice Insights with Circana and has more than 25 years of industry expertise leading a team of industry experts, leveraging data to optimize a wide range of strategies with clients from consumer and media to...
merchandising and supply strategies. As the leading global consumer packaged goods and foodservice industry advisor and a go-to expert at Circana, Lyons Wyatt is a frequent keynote speaker on future-forward consumer and retail insights, industry trends, and a multitude of topics related to F&B, nonfood, sustainability, emerging categories, and more.
Lyons Wyatt is a two-time “Top Women in Grocery” recipient and a proud executive sponsor of Circana’s Early Career Professionals Business Resource Group.
Ken Udenze
Arizona Managing Partner, Audit & Assurance
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Ken Udenze is the Managing Partner of Deloitte & Touche’s Arizona practice where he leads a team of professionals in both Phoenix and Gilbert that provide audit, tax, consulting, and risk and financial advisory services to companies across a wide array of industries.
Ken has more than 28 years of public accounting experience, including 14 years as a Deloitte partner and has deep proficiency in addressing complex public- and private-company reporting matters and transactions, such as those related to mergers, acquisitions, initial public offerings, and carve-outs. He focuses primarily on serving various REITs from inception through IPO registration and liquidation while also providing perspectives on emerging trends and industry matters for management teams and audit committees.
Jonathan Zavala
Student, Agribusiness Innovation and Technology
Arizona State University
Jonathan Zavala is graduating from Arizona State University in May with a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness Innovation and Technology. Jonathan's interest in agriculture stems from being a fourth-generation farmer in Sonora, Mexico and..
...is currently gaining work experience as an Intern with the Arizona Department of Water Resources and as a Merchandising Associate at The Home Depot, Inc. His professional interests include retail operations, supply chain sustainability, and agribusiness operations.