Programming is developed and presented by adjunct faculty drawn from industry experts.
John P. Chambers
Key Account Manager
Herr Foods Inc.
John Chambers is a Key Account Manager at Herr Foods Inc., currently working with grocery and convenience accounts. Over the course of his career, John has gained valuable experience in the mass and drug channels, building a broad perspective on the evolving needs of retailers.
His background spans operations, manufacturing, and sales. John also brings strong experience in private brand development, including helping develop the private label program with Weis Markets.
John Evans
Director of Center Store
Weis Markets, Inc.
John Evans is the Director of Center Store for Weis Markets where he oversees the Edible Grocery Team consisting of both direct store delivery (DSD) and warehouse. He started his career with Weis Markets 15 years ago and has held various roles within the retailer.
Before Weis, John worked for The Sara Lee Corporation for 18 years calling on retailers for both branded and private brand. John is also a veteran of the United States Navy and was deployed to the Middle East for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Christina Fogal
Marketing Director
Federated Group
Christina Fogal, Marketing Director at Federated Group, is a strategic marketing leader with deep experience driving commercial growth, shaping brand strategy, and leading cross functional initiatives across the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry.
Christina has proven success in accelerating brand performance, elevating digital presence, and delivering high impact programs across content, social media, and integrated marketing.
Jennifer (Jen) Linke
VP, Association Relations
PLMA
Jen Linke is VP, Association Relations for the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA). She brings more than 25 years of private label and brand management experience across the grocery retail, wholesale, and distribution industries.
Jen began her career with ALDI, where she progressed from District Manager to the corporate purchasing team. During her 14-year tenure, she managed a diverse portfolio of food and non-food categories while also overseeing advertising and marketing initiatives.
Continuing her career with Sears/Kmart, Jen managed multiple categories, including stationery, greeting cards, and batteries, while also leading strategic procurement initiatives for Kmart’s grocery and drug businesses. She later joined Federated Group as Vice President of Brand Management, where she was responsible for developing and executing private label brand and category strategies.
In 2021, Jen joined Aramark Correctional Services as Vice President of Retail, overseeing commissary operations and e-commerce. In 2024, she transitioned to Union Supply’s wholesale and distribution business as Vice President of Procurement, where she led supplier relationships, procurement, sourcing, and private brand development.
Michaela Ilieva
Senior HR Program Analyst
Topco Associates LLC
Michaela Ilieva s the Senior HR Program Analyst at Topco Associates. At Topco, Michaela supports the HR team in various areas including early career initiatives, leading the rotational program, overseeing payroll processing, maintaining Workday data and configurations...
...supporting HR Operations, assisting with performance management, and driving initiatives that enhance the overall associate experience. Michaela also serves on the Woman Impacting Storebrand Excellence (WISE) Junior Board as part of the Professional Development Committee.
Sam Mayberry
President
Sam Mayberry Consulting, LLC
Sam Mayberry is a grocery industry veteran, possessing a diverse skillset gained from leadership positions in the retail, wholesale, and eCommerce channels. Throughout his career, Sam has played a crucial role in driving change and transformation at local, regional, and national levels.
In 2017, Sam established Sam Mayberry Consulting, LLC where he assists both manufacturers and retail clients in developing and enhancing the skills necessary to thrive in a competitive market. His passion for sharing knowledge and expertise is evident through past participation with share groups and his involvement with the PLMA Executive Education program.
Maulik Patel
Director, Food Safety & Quality Assurance
Rema Foods Inc.
Maulik Patel is a food safety and quality assurance leader with more than 20 years of experience spanning global supplier management, regulatory compliance and enterprise quality strategy.
Currently serving as the Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance at Rema Foods Inc., he oversees a global network of private label manufacturers across five continents, ensuring FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) compliance. His career includes leadership roles at The Kraft Heinz Company and US Foods Holding Corp. where he built and scaled private label supplier quality programs and led Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) implementation.
Jac Ross
VP Our Brands
Sprouts Farmers Market
Jac Ross is VP Our Brands at Sprouts Farmers Market where she focuses 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. and, for 20 years she worked 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.
Robert Taliana
Chief Human Resources Officer
Winland Foods, Inc.
Robert Taliana is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Winland Foods, Inc., where he leads HR strategy across North America including union and non-union operations in the U.S. and Canada.
With nearly two decades of progressive HR leadership experience, Robert has held key HR roles at Winland Foods, TreeHouse Foods, Nestlé, and Pentair. He has deep expertise in organizational transformation, M&A, labor relations, and leadership development.
Heather Warthen
Communications Manager
Topco Associates LLC
Heather Warthen is Communications Manager at Topco Associates, LLC. Heather leads Topco’s media relations strategy as well as the One Topco Communications Approach which was designed to instill a consistent, cohesive and strategic approach to the business’s external messaging.
Heather has more than 25 years of experience in communications, with her last 6 years spent at Topco Associates. Prior to Topco, Heather spent nearly two decades with 22nd Century Media. She has received several awards, including the 2025 Top Women in Store Brands Emerging Leader award from WISE and Store Brands magazine.
Sara Williamson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Marketing
SUNY College at Old Westbury
Dr. Sara Williamson is an Associate 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.
Dr. Russell J. Zwanka
Director of the Food Marketing Program and Professor of Category Management and Food Marketing
Western Michigan University
Dr. Russell J. Zwanka serves as Director of the Food Marketing Program, and Professor of Category Management and Food Marketing, at Western Michigan University, one of the top Food Marketing programs in the world.
Having spent a career in the food industry before teaching, Dr. Z conceptualized and formed the Food Marketing Concentration at Siena College; as well as the Food Marketing Track at the State University of New York at New Paltz.
Dr. Z has led the merchandising, marketing, advertising, procurement, and all customer engagement areas for multiple food retail companies domestically and internationally.