Ithaca, New York – The Nationwide Grocers Affiliation Basis (NGAF), the 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm of the Nationwide Grocers Affiliation, not too long ago concluded its Govt Management Improvement Program (ELDP), held Could 31-June 4 at Cornell College and supported by longtime program sponsor PepsiCo.
Designed for rising and established leaders within the unbiased grocery trade, the four-day program combines interactive instruction, team-based collaboration, management assessments, and real-world enterprise workouts to assist individuals strengthen their management and decision-making capabilities.
“The ELDP Program continues to supply grocery trade professionals with significant alternatives to sharpen their management abilities, develop their views, and construct methods they’ll instantly apply inside their organizations,” mentioned Chelsea Matzen, vp of the NGA Basis. “We’re grateful to PepsiCo for his or her ongoing partnership and dedication to investing sooner or later leaders of the unbiased grocery trade.”
ELDP introduced collectively individuals from throughout the nation to discover the core ideas of efficient management in right this moment’s evolving office surroundings. This 12 months’s program featured a management panel of previous ELDP alumni and PepsiCo that coated the state of the unbiased grocer, create joint worth by way of partnerships, and the worth of management coaching.
Along with this system expertise, two individuals acquired scholarships to help attendance at this 12 months’s ELDP.
Jamie Hofmann of Rosauers Supermarkets was awarded this 12 months’s PepsiCo Management Scholarship, which acknowledges rising leaders who display a powerful dedication to innovation, collaboration, and advancing the unbiased grocery trade.
Hofmann was chosen for her distinctive management, adaptability, and contributions throughout a number of areas of Rosauers Supermarkets, together with Human Sources, Public Relations, Undertaking Administration, and Ecommerce. Her broad expertise and people-focused management method have made her a helpful asset to the group and a rising chief inside the trade.
The Ladies Grocers of America (WGA) Scholarship was awarded to Marquitrice Mangham of In Her Sneakers, Included in recognition of her modern management and dedication to increasing meals entry in underserved communities.
Mangham has emerged as a transformational chief centered on addressing meals insecurity and strengthening native meals methods all through the Mississippi Delta. Since 2022, she has launched 4 fresh-food grocery markets and developed a cell market mannequin that instantly serves rural and deprived communities traditionally impacted by restricted meals entry. Her work has created significant pathways for underserved populations whereas supporting native financial growth.
Mangham’s management has additionally acquired nationwide recognition by way of options on The Kelly Clarkson Present and in publications together with Ladies in Ag Tech and Mississippi At this time. Her work continues to spotlight the significance of fairness, sustainability, and inclusive management inside the meals and agriculture industries.
“Marquitrice exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit and community-centered management that WGA is proud to help,” mentioned Kristie Maurer, president of Ladies Grocers of America. “Her dedication to increasing meals entry, empowering underserved communities, and creating alternatives for native farmers demonstrates the lasting influence robust management can have throughout the unbiased grocery trade.”
2026 ELDP Graduates:
– Allen Jackson, COO — Hugo’s Household Market
– Nick Nelson, Assistant Retailer Director — Hugo’s Household Market
– Lewis Davis, Retail Counselor — Retailers Distributors, LLC.
– John Leone, Pharmacy Supervisor — Ravitz Household Markets
– Brian Geissel, Operations Supervisor — Ravitz Household Markets
– Allyson Pelchat, Advertising Supervisor — Roche Bros. Supermarkets
– Maribeth Grant Bleakney, Director of Operations/ Director of Buyer Service/E-Commerce — Roche Bros. Supermarkets
– Kathleen Cellini, Assistant Retailer Supervisor-Perishables — McMenamin Household ShopRite, Inc.
– Chris Lamboy — Wakefern Meals Corp.
– Ellen Boyer, Supervisor, Retail Meals Security and Regulatory Compliance — Wakefern Meals Corp.
– Mick Van Oosten — Wakefern Meals Corp.
– Jenny Ramos Glasser, Bakery Merchandising Supervisor — ShopRite Supermarkets, Inc. (SRS)
– Gilbert Vallian, Senior Operations Supervisor — Related Grocers, Inc.
– Sean Rafferty, Retailer Supervisor — ShopRite Supermarkets, Inc. (SRS)
– Rodolfo Salazar, Retailer Supervisor — ShopRite Supermarkets, Inc. (SRS)
– Ronald Montague, Retailer Supervisor — ShopRite Supermarkets, Inc. (SRS)
– Bryant Hedrick, Director of Retail Promotions and Enterprise Improvement — Related Grocers, Inc.
– Lou Baggatta, Assistant Retailer Supervisor — ShopRite Supermarkets, Inc. (SRS)
– Mike Michael Koch, District Director — Inserra Supermarkets, Inc.
– Matt Dejong, Retailer Supervisor — Woodman’s Meals Markets, Inc.
– Troy McCarthy, Retailer Supervisor — Woodman’s Meals Markets, Inc.
– Chris Jackman, Merchandising Specialist — Clark’s Market, Inc.
– Stu Hockaday, Contemporary Meat Director — Pruett’s Meals, Inc.
– Russell Emory, Director of Grocery Operations — Ok-VA-T Meals Shops, Inc. / Meals Metropolis
– Steven Jones, District Supervisor — Ok-VA-T Meals Shops, Inc. / Meals Metropolis
– Christian Smith, Director of Operations — Pruett’s Meals, Inc.
– Christopher Washington, Retailer Director — Luekens Meals Shops, Inc.
– Brynn Padilla, Director of Folks Help — Harmon Metropolis, Inc.
– Candace Henderson, Merchandising & Operations Help Supervisor — Houchens Meals Group, Inc.
– Brady Manning, Director, Merchandising — Related Wholesale Grocers
– Lane Culver, Vice President, IT — Related Wholesale Grocers
– Rick Wright, Govt Director, Warehouse — Related Wholesale Grocers
– Scott Womeldorff, Govt Director, IT — Related Wholesale Grocers
– Stratton Sigler, Govt Director, Merchandising — Related Wholesale Grocers
– Brittany Benton, Managing Director of Advertising — ECRS
– Marquitrice Mangham, Govt Director — In Her Sneakers, Inc.
– Ariel McLamb, Class Supervisor — Carlie C’s
– Dan Clausius, Retailer Director — Sendik’s Meals Market
– Jamie Hofmann, Ecommerce & Undertaking Coordinator — Rosauers Supermarkets
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In regards to the Nationwide Grocers Affiliation Basis
The NGA Basis is the 501(c)3 nonprofit arm of the Nationwide Grocers Affiliation, devoted to cultivating and strengthening the unbiased grocery trade’s workforce. By way of schooling, management growth, and scholarships, the Basis empowers the subsequent era of grocery professionals whereas supporting present trade leaders. By investing in expertise, fostering innovation, selling profession progress, and providing focused help to assist grocers function varied authorities help applications, the NGA Basis ensures that unbiased grocers stay very important pillars of the communities they serve. For extra data, go to www.ngafoundation.org.
About NGA
NGA is the nationwide commerce affiliation representing the retail and wholesale group grocers that comprise the unbiased sector of the meals distribution trade. An unbiased retailer is a privately owned or managed meals retail firm working quite a lot of codecs. The unbiased grocery sector is accountable for about 1.2 p.c of the nation’s total financial system and is chargeable for producing greater than $250 billion in gross sales, 1.1 million jobs, $39 billion in wages and $36 billion in taxes. NGA members embody retail and wholesale grocers situated in each congressional district throughout the nation, in addition to state grocers’ associations, producers and repair suppliers. For extra details about NGA, go to www.nationalgrocers.org.
