Faculty

Program instruction is developed and presented by faculty at St. Joseph’s University and adjunct faculty drawn from industry experts.

Steve PorthDr. Stephen Porth
Professor of Management, Saint Joseph’s University

Dr. Stephen Porth is a Professor of Management in the Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph's University and the Senior Editor of the Journal of Jesuit Business Education. Dr. Porth has chaired three academic departments at SJU – Management, Food Marketing, and Pharmaceutical Marketing.

And served for 17 years as Associate Dean and Executive Director of graduate programs in the Haub School of Business. He is the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative at SJU and is on the Executive Committee of FARA, the national association of faculty athletics representatives.

Jim HertelJim Hertel
Founder and Principal, 2nd Act Advisory LLC

Jim Hertel founded 2nd Act to help the consumer goods industry realize profitable growth by taking advantage of four decades of experience in the food and consumables business. He led analytics at Inmar as senior vice president, following decades as a tech-enabled consultant and CPG executive.

His strategic use of data and shopper analytics can be found in the analytic products and solutions he created. His rich experience in consumer goods marketing, food retailing and economics makes him a frequent contributor to thought-leadership panels, associations, and publications.

Theo Schweitz

Theo Schweitz
Chief Executive Officer, Drive Wheel Peer Groups 
Theo Schweitz is CEO of Drive Wheel Peer Groups, where he organizes peer groups for Food and Consumer Packaged Goods Leaders. He is driven to create opportunities for: collaboration, benchmarking, networking, and strategizing. These methods give leaders assurance they have the information they need to make confident business decisions.

With 25 peer groups covering all aspects of Sales, Marketing, Logistics, and Management, Theo can offer leaders confidence that when they present a new idea, it is well vetted by the best minds in the industry. Previously, Theo was the Director of Private Brand Food at Target where he oversaw brand positioning, product development, and promotional strategy for Target’s portfolio of brands. He was the VP of Strategy at BBDO advertising agency. An undergraduate from the University of Pennsylvania, he also holds an MBA and Culinary Arts degree.

Sara WilliamsSara Williamson, Ph.D.
Faculty, SUNY College at Old Westbury

Dr. Sara Williamson is an Assistant Professor of Marketing with an expertise in consumer psychology. Her research investigates how choice, consumption, and disposal of packaged goods can be impacted by contextual cues related to product design, labeling, and retailing. Her research has been featured in regional and national media outlets.

And has been awarded by the American Marketing Association for its societal impact. Currently a faculty member at The State University of New York (SUNY), Sara has been teaching undergraduate and MBA marketing courses for 13 years and has previously served as a faculty member for the Haub School of Business Food Marketing Department at Saint Joseph’s University. Sara also offers more than a decade of industry experience in sales and marketing within both private and public sectors, working with stakeholders along the value chain to foster successful relationships among retailers, restaurants, and food suppliers. Sara is a life-long learner and educator who enjoys connecting with others, sharing ideas, and finding solutions. She currently resides in New York City, where you can find her exploring a local park, farmer’s market, grocery store, or restaurant.

Jac RossJac Ross
VP Our Brands, Sprouts Farmers Market

Jac Ross joined Sprouts Farmers Market in May 2021 as Vice President Sprouts Brand where she is focused on bringing exclusive and innovative private label products to the fast-growing grocer’s base of shoppers who are enthusiastic about health and wellness. She has extensive experience within the Private Label industry across product development...

innovation, manufacturing and retailing in the U.S., were she has resided for just over eight years, and 20 years within Europe and the U.K. for retailers including Ahold Delhaize, Unilever, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s.
Jac serves on the Board of Directors for Women Impacting Storebrand Excellence™ (WISE), a non-profit professional development organization that champions the power of diversity and inclusion within the store brands industry. She graduated from University of Reading, United Kingdom with an Honours Degree in Food Technology and has been recognized by a number of industry organizations: Store Brands Game Changer 2023; Senior Executive honoree in Progressive Grocer’s 2018 Top Women in Grocery; Honoree in The Shelby Report / The Griffin Report 2017 Women of Influence in the Food Industry; Rising Star honoree in Progressive Grocer’s 2016 Top Women in Grocery; and R&D/QA Award honoree in the 2015 Top Women in Store Brands (TWISB) recognition program of WISE and Store Brands magazine.

Chris Gardier

Christopher Gardier
Chief Sales Officer, Oratium

Chris Gardierhas had a distinguished career in the CPG space with stints at Kraft Foods, Frito Lay, Pepperidge Farm, Hain Celestial and JBSS (John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc.). He has developed a remarkable track record for transforming organizational performance. In 12 years leading sales at JBSS, he commercialized their Private Brands value proposition.

Which helped achieve growth of +19% CAGR net income and +23% CAGR shareholder value. At the same time, retailers recognized the contribution to their business by awarding them vendor of the year twice at both Walmart and Target. Christopher and his wife Mary reside in Indianapolis. When he’s not teaching and consulting, Christopher can be found competing in State and USGA golf events and supporting his two daughters’ careers.