Executive Leadership Development Program Prepares Leaders for the Future
The National Grocers Association Foundation (NGAF) has completed its 2023 Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP), a four-day program that included a mix of interactive leadership instruction and personalized coaching presented by respected academics and industry leaders.
The program, held June 4-8, 2023, at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY and sponsored by PepsiCo, is a high-impact learning opportunity. This year’s session hosted 43 participants from a wide variety of companies and titles.
“For the second time in 10 years, the ELDP exceeded 40 participants, signaling the grocery industry’s focus on investing in its future leaders,” noted Chelsea Matzen, NGAF director. “All of these graduates are now primed with leadership skills to contribute to their companies and the industry into the future.”
New to the program lineup this year was unconscious bias training, reflecting NGAF’s commitment to incorporating elements of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) into its programs. Other topics included management team leadership, storytelling, decision making and personal leadership development.
Returning this year was Nick Nickitas, Founder of Rosie, an Instacart Company, presenter on attracting and inspiring a changing workforce and host of the Thursday night reception. Additionally, participants enjoyed a vineyard tour, hiking and a NASCAR experience, along with ample time for networking.
“ELDP’s wide-ranging program is designed to deliver actionable insights for rising executives aiming to push their respective businesses forward,” Matzen said. “Being able to connect with so many forward-thinking leaders from across our industry was truly inspiring.”
Among the attendees were this year’s ELDP scholarship winners: Edwin “Nino” Vazquez, district manager with Wakefern’s Price Rite Marketplace banner, who received the PepsiCo Diversity in Leadership Scholarship; and Margarita “Maggie” Rivera, perishables manager with Ravitz Family Markets, the recipient of the Women Grocers of America Scholarship (WGA operates under the NGA Foundation).
“The ELDP provided great content and invaluable opportunities to network with industry peers facing similar challenges in a competitive marketplace,” Vasquez said. “I appreciated the emphasis on diversity, which is so important for connecting with the diverse communities served by our stores.”
Rivera remarked: “I appreciated the opportunity to attend the ELDP, learn from industry leaders and meet with others like me from across the country. Being able to hear so many different perspectives makes this program an essential resource for anyone seeking advancement in grocery management.”
Here are the 2023 ELDP graduates:
Kyle Adams, Certco Inc.
Derek Adkisson, K-VA-T Food Stores Inc.
Barbara Arria, Associated Supermarket Group
Will Baker, Harps Food Stores Inc.
James Billingsley, Big Y Foods Inc.
Sarah Bin, Woodman’s Food Market
Jeet Brahmbhatt, Fresh Foods IGA
Chris Brangenberg, Associated Grocers Inc.
Amanda Broan, Certco Inc.
David Cleckner, Buehler’s Fresh Foods
Allison Conway, Hugo’s Family Marketplace
Misty Deskins, K-VA-T Food Stores Inc.
AJ Faber, ShopRite Supermarkets
Michael Fetrow, Delaware Supermarkets
Courtney Frazier, Woodman’s Food Market
Justin Graff, Columbiana Foods Inc.
Israel Guilford, Orcas Island Market
Srini Iyer, Allegiance Retail Services
Buddy Jones, Merchant Distributors Inc.
Derrick Kelly, Harps Food Stores Inc.
Adam Kristiansen, Certco Inc.
Artie Kroese, Roche Bros. Supermarkets
Evan Kutzleb, Woodman’s Food Market
Matthew Maiore, Ravitz Family Markets
Kyle Meeham, Woodman’s Food Market
Richard Mule, Associated Grocers Inc.
John Mulgrew, Sendik’s Food Market
Amanda Pereira, Big Y Foods Inc.
Melissa Rasmussen, Merchant Distributors Inc.
Margarita Rivera, Ravitz Family Markets
Caitlin Roche, Roche Bros. Supermarkets
Elizabeth Savage, Hugo’s Family Marketplace
Christie Schulte, Coborn’s Inc.
William “Bill” Sell, Delaware Supermarkets
Charles Sladek, ShopRite Supermarkets
Alina Svizzero, ShopRite Supermarkets
Nick Valdez, ShopRite Supermarkets
Edwin Vasquez, Price Rite Marketplace
Troy Vosburgh, Coborn’s Inc.
David Watson, McMenamin Family ShopRite
Jon Wiltrout, Price Rite Marketplace
Justin Workman, Sissonville Piggly Wiggly
Michael Wrightson, Columbiana Foods Inc.
To be notified when nominations open for the 2024 ELDP, click here.
The NGA Foundation Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP) is designed to develop and prepare leaders to face business challenges in the 21st-century marketplace. The conference is a high-impact learning opportunity encompassing intense, interactive instruction presented by a mix of respected academics and industry leaders. Reserved for employees of retailer and wholesaler members of NGA, the program is designed for current mid to upper-level executives with large spans of control and responsibilities that require delegation of tasks to others. These employees must be rising executives who are candidates for increased “people” and general management responsibilities.
For more information about the NGA Foundation visit NGA Foundation.