Speakers

Gina Acosta

• RFID: The Key to Inventory Accuracy Across the Food Supply Chain on January 31, 2025 2:30 PM

Obsessed with grocery stores, food retailers and international travel, Gina has covered the retail and CPG industries for various business publications since 2014. Previously she was a writer and editor for the Tampa Bay Times, served on the editorial board of the Washington Post and has also worked for the Hartford Courant, Tallahassee Democrat, and Miami Herald. She has been awarded the Wharton Fellowship for Business Journalists from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, the Nieman Fellowship for Journalism at Harvard University, the Hispanic Media 100 Award, Women in Communications Leadership Award, Tallahassee Democrat Award for Newsroom Excellence, Dow Jones Newspaper Fund Intern Award and Hearst Journalism Award. She has also been selected as a fellow by Investigative Reporters and Editors, the Poynter Institute, the Maynard Media Academy and American Society of Newspaper Editors.

Adam Almond

• Adapting Grocery Retail and CPG Supply Chains to Today's Challenges on February 1, 2025 2:00 PM

Adam Almond is a principal in the US Retail and Consumer Products industry at Deloitte Consulting LLP. He has more than 20 years of industry and consulting experience. Almond’s experience has centered on driving growth and scale through digital transformation across marketing, merchandising, pricing, supply chain, and product management functions. He has led numerous project teams in the successful design and launch of new categories with customer-centric and sustainable business models. He possesses deep expertise in unlocking digital capabilities and new insights across the highly perishable “fresh” food value chain. Almond actively serves on the boards of industry groups such as Food Industry Association and International Fresh Produce Association.

Monica Amburn, MS, RDN

• What's Driving Your Retail Health Strategy? on February 1, 2025 2:00 PM

Monica Amburn, MS, RDN, is a registered dietitian nutritionist and communications expert, currently serving as Vice President at Eat Well Global, a strategy and communications agency dedicated to empowering change-makers in food and health. Prior to this position, Monica spent twelve years working in grocery retail, first as a corporate dietitian for BI-LO Holdings and Southeastern Grocers. Following this role, she served as the Senior Director of Health and Wellness at Vestcom, where she supported the healthyAisles® point-of-sale nutrient & lifestyle attribute database program with over 30 retailers. Monica completed both her bachelor’s degree in Foods and Nutrition and dietetic internship at Radford University in Virginia, and completed her master’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of North Florida. Monica now lives and works remotely in the Greenville-Spartanburg area of South Carolina.

José Andrés

• A Conversation with Chef José Andrés on January 31, 2025 10:00 AM

Spencer Baird

• Lessons in Adaptive Leadership: Navigating a Shifting Landscape on February 1, 2025 1:00 PM

Ryan Begin

• Meaningful Maneuvers Towards Food Waste Reduction on February 1, 2025 1:00 PM

Nicholas Bertram

• Meaningful Maneuvers Towards Food Waste Reduction on February 1, 2025 1:00 PM

Liz Buchanan

• Lunch & Learn Sessions on January 31, 2025 12:00 PM

Kim Cox

• Lunch & Learn Sessions on January 31, 2025 12:00 PM

Kim Cox is Managing Director for North America OmniCommerce solutions at NielsenIQ. Kim and has been with NielsenIQ for nearly 2 decades in roles spanning organizational disciplines including social media analytics, real-time advertising optimization, Client Leadership and Omnicommerce solutions. In her current role, she partners with retail, manufacturer and agency partners to help them better strategize, plan and monitor their performance across every shelf, in-store and digitally. 

Patrick Delaney

• Lunch & Learn Sessions on January 31, 2025 12:00 PM

Patrick Delaney is director of federal government affairs at Walmart, where he has led the company’s work on federal food policy since 2022. He joined Walmart from the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry staff under Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, where he worked on legislation including the American Rescue Plan, Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Before that Patrick was a senior staff member for House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota, working on passage of the 2018 Farm Bill and numerous COVID-19 response packages. Prior to Capitol Hill, Patrick spent 10 years leading communications for the American Soybean Association and the United Fresh Produce Association. He is a Food Leaders Fellow in the Aspen Institute’s Food and Society Program. A graduate of West Virginia University and George Mason University, Patrick lives in Maryland with his wife, Katie, and their kids, Lucy and Abby.

Ashley Eisenbeiser

• Seaside Chat: Traceability on January 31, 2025 2:30 PM

Ashley Eisenbeiser is the Vice President of Food and Product Safety Programs at FMI – The Food Industry Association. With a background in food science and food safety, Ashley supports FMI’s members on scientific and technical issues, food and agriculture regulatory policy, and food safety training programs.  Ashley is a Certified Food Scientist, serves on the Board of Directors for the Partnership for Food Safety Education, and is a member of several professional associations. Ashley received her Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Food Science and Technology from Virginia Tech.

Leo Feler

• Outlook 2025 on February 1, 2025 9:00 AM

Dr. Feler directs Numerator’s economic thought-leadership and regularly briefs the CPG and retailer C-suite on the state of the US economy and consumer behavior. He also provides CPG and retail insights to the financial services industry through a quarterly webinar series with RBC’s Nik Modi. Dr. Feler also leads Numerator’s partnership with the academic, policy, and regulatory communities, serves as a member of the forecast panel for the Blue Chip Economic Indicators, and is an affiliated researcher with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, working on developing a nowcast of retail sales and inflation.

Angela Fernandez

• Seaside Chat: Traceability on January 31, 2025 2:30 PM

As Senior Vice President of Market Development, Angela Fernandez leads all strategic partnerships, business development, account management, member programs and external services efforts at GS1 US. Under her guidance, the team is charged with driving growth of global identification and standards use. She also spearheads the government and regulatory strategies to drive awareness and use of GS1 Standards across federal programs, regulations and more. Ms. Fernandez formerly served as Vice President, Community Engagement at GS1 US. Since joining GS1 US more than 20 years ago, Ms. Fernandez has collaborated with industry stakeholders—manufacturers, wholesalers/distributors, retailers, restaurants, healthcare providers, government agencies, trade associations and solution providers—to identify how the use of GS1 Standards can improve supply chain business processes and support regulatory requirements, including the Food Safety Modernization Act and Drug Supply Chain Security Act. Ms. Fernandez earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Drexel University.

Tom Furphy

• Daunting Data Dilemma on January 31, 2025 3:00 PM

Tom is the CEO and Managing Director of Consumer Equity Partners (CEP) in Seattle, WA, where he focuses on developing companies and capabilities for the future of consumer marketing and commerce. At CEP, Tom leads Replenium, a platform revolutionizing product replenishment and automating traditional store services, and serves as Chairman of Ideoclick, Inc., an eCommerce agency aiding over 200 manufacturers, including major household brands, in navigating platforms like Amazon. Previously, Tom was an early investor and board member at BevyUp, a company acquired by Nordstrom in 2018 for its innovative customer experience technology. He also served as Vice President at Amazon, overseeing the Grocery, Health & Beauty, and AmazonFresh divisions. Prior to his Amazon tenure, Tom founded and led Notiva, a SaaS platform for retail B2B transactions that was acquired by Oracle. His retail career began with senior roles at Wegmans Food Markets.

Drew Gaputis

• Adapting Grocery Retail and CPG Supply Chains to Today's Challenges on February 1, 2025 2:00 PM

Brian George

• Insights in Action in a Rapidly Changing Food World on February 1, 2025 8:00 AM

Brian George joined the Company in June 2005.  He received his undergraduate degree and Masters of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame.  He is a CPA in the state of North Carolina.  His experience prior to joining the Company includes over 5 years in Accounting and Finance with companies such as Arthur Andersen, LLP, Donlen Corporation, and Bank of America. He served on the Audit Staff at Arthur Andersen, LLP and as a Staff Accountant at Donlen Corporation.  At Bank of America, he served as a Financial Analyst.  Since joining the Company as a Management Trainee, he has served as Lowes Foods Co-Manager and Store Manager.  He has also served as Manager Retail Development, and Vice President Sales at MDI.  He was named President of Alex Lee, Inc. in 2011, added CEO to his title in 2014 and became Chairman in 2018.

Bobby Gibbs

• What's Driving Your Retail Health Strategy? on February 1, 2025 2:00 PM

Daniel Goldman

• Daunting Data Dilemma on January 31, 2025 3:00 PM

Daniel leads the Commerce Research & Insights team in Accenture’s North America Commerce practice. His team’s qualitative and quantitative work spans consumer, shopper, product, brand, category, retailer, channel, and industry insights. Before beginning his career in insights and analytics, Daniel was a practicing clinical neuropsychologist for nearly seven years. He then built and led the insights primary research practice at The Stable, a commerce agency that was acquired by Accenture. Daniel earned a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Minnesota and an MBA in business analytics and marketing from the University of St. Thomas.

Oscar Gonzalez

• What's For Dinner? Food Retail Answers on January 31, 2025 9:30 AM

Oscar Gonzalez is Co-President of Northgate Gonzalez Market, a family-owned supermarket chain that delivers authentic and fresh products to the Hispanic community in Southern California – and all foodies that love authentic Mexican food!  Northgate has grown from its one store humble beginnings in 1980 to forty one stores and over 6,000 associates in 2019.  The chain has opened four new Mercado stores – with an emphasis on fresh, prepared foods, and the excitement of an open air market!  The company has also been successful in the creation of related businesses – in real estate development and property management, financial services, and urgent care centers.

Oscar is a graduate of the Pepperdine University Executive MBA program.  He serves on the boards of FMI, the Western Association of Food Chains, and Homeboy Industries.  He has also served on the board of Unified Grocers, as well as being on the Coca Cola Retailing Council.  In addition, Oscar is active in the Young Presidents Organization.

In 2018 Oscar and family received the Robert B Wegman Award and The Stars & Stripes Good Scout Award in 2013.

Oscar lives in La Habra Heights, California with his wife Silvia and four children – Karla Teresa, Clarissa, Oscar Miguel, and Victoria Nicole. His personal life largely revolves around family activities associated with his immediate family.

Jeremy Gosch

• What's For Dinner? Food Retail Answers on January 31, 2025 9:30 AM

Andy S. Harig

• Lunch & Learn Sessions on January 31, 2025 12:00 PM

Andrew S. Harig currently serves as Vice President, Tax, Trade, Sustainability & Policy Development at FMI-The Food Industry Association. In this position, he is responsible for lobbying Congress and the Administration on behalf of FMI members, with a primary focus on agriculture, taxes, trade, sustainability, food waste, and pensions. Prior to joining FMI, Andy was an associate trade advisor and speechwriter for the Senate Finance Committee under its Chairman, Max Baucus (D-MT).  From 1999-2001, he was the senior research associate for the Global Economic Policy Project at the New America Foundation, a Washington, DC-based think tank. Andy holds a B.A. from the College of William and Mary and an M.A. from DePaul University in Chicago, IL.

Gary Hawkins

• The Data ‘Hairball’ Thwarting AI in Retail on January 31, 2025 3:30 PM

Gary Hawkins has led the consumer goods retail industry toward the future by pioneering technology-driven innovations in shopping. Founder and CEO of CART (Center for Advancing Retail & Technology), Hawkins aims to connect retail with emerging technologies through education, events, and strategic programs. CART helps retailers, wholesalers, brands, and providers foster innovation with strategic development, tech roadmaps, and systems assessments. Hawkins serves on boards and advises select companies introducing transformative market capabilities. His personal blog, Retail Mindsteps, captures insights from his articles and papers, simplifying retail tech innovation. Hawkins is the author of three books, including Retail in the Age of ‘i’, exploring tech's role in retail’s future. A frequent keynote speaker, he is also a guest lecturer at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business.

Vy Hoang

• Data to Dollars: Practical AI Approach to Accelerate Growth on January 31, 2025 4:00 PM

Vy Hoang serves as the Chief Customer Officer at i3 International, an AI company committed to delivering practical, affordable solutions for retail, commercial, and institutional sectors. With a knack for turning big ideas into real-world results, Vy has spent an incredible 37 years growing i3’s reach and impact. His leadership helped secure 9 US and Canadian patents (he promises they’re all useful) and earned the team the "Best Cloud Hosted Solution" award from the Security Industry Association (SIA). Vy’s story isn’t your average corporate journey. From his early days as a refugee in the 1980s to overcoming personal challenges, his resilience has shaped not just his career but also his passion for creating meaningful solutions. Armed with an MBA from the Ivey School of Business and a never-ending supply of enthusiasm, Vy continues to empower his team and partners. And yes, he swears AI is more exciting than it sounds.

Galen Karlan-Mason

• Innovative Technology in Food Retail: FMItech Pitch Competition on January 30, 2025 2:00 PM

Galen Karlan-Mason is the CEO and Founder of GreenChoice, a Boston-based startup using AI to analyze food products’ health and sustainability impacts. Launched in 2019, GreenChoice offers a science-based nutrition and sustainability database of over 500,000 products, enabling retailers to enhance consumer health and eco-friendly choices with award-winning plugins. Recognized by Google as a top “Best App for Good,” GreenChoice has been featured by Forbes, Fast Company, and CNN. Galen holds an MBA in Sustainability from Brandeis International Business School and a dual-BA from Brandeis University.

Scott Kessler

• The Data ‘Hairball’ Thwarting AI in Retail on January 31, 2025 3:30 PM

Rick Keyes

• Midwinter Conference Co-Chair Remarks on January 31, 2025 9:00 AM

Rick Keyes is the President and CEO of Meijer, Inc., a family-owned retailer with over 250 supercenters across six states. A 33-year Meijer veteran, he became President in 2015 and the first non-family CEO in 2017. Rick began his career in store operations, later serving as EVP of Supply Chain and Manufacturing. He oversees day-to-day operations and collaborates with Executive Chairman Hank Meijer on growth strategies focused on customer experience, team engagement, and competitiveness. Rick holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Ohio Northern University and serves on multiple industry boards.

Dae Kim

• Innovative Technology in Food Retail: FMItech Pitch Competition on January 30, 2025 2:00 PM

Dae is the founder of NoxuData, the first AI-native data platform for CPG. He helps scaling brands harmonize data, streamline analyses, and execute workflows to get actionable insights in seconds rather than days. Dae previously led work on AI strategy at Microsoft and was a strategy consultant for leading CPGs before that. 

David Kopsch

• Seaside Chat: Workforce for the Future: Building a Resilient Food Industry on January 31, 2025 3:30 PM

David is a Senior Principal Consultant in Mercer’s Career Business based in Atlanta, Georgia, advising retail, manufacturing, and financial services clients on career frameworks, job design, and total rewards strategies to enhance employee experiences. His expertise includes global restructuring, benefits valuation, and organizational design. His notable projects include market pricing, benchmarking, and talent profile design for a global retail manufacturer; compensation strategy for a dining company; skills taxonomy for career pathing, learning, and recruitment; and providing compensation expert testimony for a state utility commission. He also developed a wage management tool to ensure competitive U.S. wages and designed a career framework for an entertainment and hospitality company. Before joining Mercer, David was Director of Global Rewards and Mobility for a multi-national omni-channel retailer and led Rewards and Mobility for a global chemical manufacturer. A WorldatWork member with CCP and GRP designations, David has presented at the 2021 WorldatWork Total Rewards Conference. He holds an MA in Contemporary European Studies and a BA in International Studies from UNC-Chapel Hill and is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Michael Limauro

• Data to Dollars: Practical AI Approach to Accelerate Growth on January 31, 2025 4:00 PM

Mike Limauro, LPC has been involved in retail Asset Protection for more than 30 years. He has worked for grocery chains, big box discount retailers, Supercenters and in upscale department stores. Limauro started his career as a Store Detective and eventually earned numerous Director and Vice President roles. In recent years, he was the Vice President of Asset Protection at Weis Markets where he was responsible for Loss Prevention, Occupational Safety, Risk Management, Insurance, Food Safety and Quality Control. He then joined the team at Alchemy Systems as the Vice President of Asset Protection, Risk and Safety Programs where he focused on innovating awareness and communication strategies. In 2018, Mike joined Whole Foods Market and is currently Vice President of Global Asset Protection. He leads all Occupational Safety, Environmental, and Loss Prevention efforts companywide.

Suzanne Long

• Meaningful Maneuvers Towards Food Waste Reduction on February 1, 2025 1:00 PM

Suzanne began her career at Accenture, leading process improvement, change management, and IT integration projects for Fortune 100 companies. She joined Albertsons in 2001 to develop and lead the company’s Lean Six Sigma program, the first in the food and drug industry. She later became Retail Practice Leader at SSA & Company, directing engagements with Kroger, Harris Teeter, Staples, and Office Depot. Suzanne rejoined Albertsons in 2012 and led integrations of SuperValu, Safeway, A&P, United, and Haggen. In 2017, she was tasked with achieving $500M in cost savings. Promoted in 2020 to Group VP, Strategic Sourcing, Suzanne managed $13B in spend and led the company’s ESG strategy. Now Chief Sustainability and Transformation Officer, she drives ESG and engagement strategies. Suzanne graduated with honors from Duke and serves on the Retail Advisory Council for Apeel Technologies, NEST Climate Campus, and multiple non-profit boards.

Tim Lowe

• What's For Dinner? Food Retail Answers on January 31, 2025 9:30 AM

Tim has over 28 years of broad retail experience and currently serves as President of Lowes Foods, LLC.  Tim previously served as Executive Vice-President, Merchandising for Supervalu. Tim also held the position of Senior Vice-President of Operations, Senior Vice-President of Merchandising as well as President of Shoppers Food. Prior to SuperValu Tim's broad career also included time in General Merchandise including positions with companies such as Wal-Mart and Meijer. He is a graduate of the University of Houston where he graduated with a B.S. in Pharmacy. Tim and his wife Karla reside in Winston-Salem, NC. They have four children, three of which are married.   

Sally Lyons Wyatt

• What's For Dinner? Food Retail Answers on January 31, 2025 9:30 AM

Sally Lyons Wyatt is a recognized thought leader in CPG and Retail, a frequent keynote speaker and an authority on consumer eating and shopping trends. She is published often in periodicals spanning trade and national business media. She brings more than 25 years of industry experience to provide innovative and results-driven insights combined with proven leadership success. As an executive and practice leader for IRI’s Client Insights division, Lyons Wyatt is responsible for driving integrated initiatives as well as measuring their success within the practice areas of consumer strategy, consumer/customer insights, and personalization. Sally’s experience includes the management and development of global account teams that provide service to top CPG companies around the world. 

Steve Markenson

• Lunch & Learn Sessions on January 31, 2025 12:00 PM

In his role at FMI, Markenson oversees the research & insights practice. He leads the discovery process on the latest industry trends and operational insights that champion FMI as a credible voice of the food retail industry. Markenson is a market research executive with 30 years of progressive experience in his field. His diverse experience includes research design, information/data collection and analysis and strategic planning.

Markenson was formerly the president of WBA Research, a national market research firm founded in 1987, where he oversaw more than 30 full-time professionals, along with a part-time staff of more than 100 telephone interviewers, field interviewers and support staff. Earlier in his career, Markenson worked at Snyder Communications, where he directed all aspects of more than 90 annual market research studies and presented results to brand management, market research departments, advertising and promotion agencies.

Peter Miles-Prouten

• Lessons in Adaptive Leadership: Navigating a Shifting Landscape on February 1, 2025 1:00 PM

Scott Moses

• Lunch & Learn Sessions on January 31, 2025 12:00 PM

Scott Moses is Partner and Head of Grocery, Pharmacy & Restaurants Investment Banking at Solomon Partners and a member of the Firm’s Operating Committee. Specializing in retail sector strategic and financial advice, with a focus on mergers, acquisitions, sales and divestitures of traditional and specialty food and drug retailers and restaurants, he has advised on over $50 billion in transactions, including major deals for Kroger, Albertsons, Sprouts, and others. Recognized among the “Top 50: Americas M&A Dealmakers” by Global M&A Network, Scott has also appeared on “40 Under 40” lists by IDD and The M&A Advisor. Quoted widely in media such as Bloomberg, WSJ, and Supermarket News, Scott also authors a quarterly column in Supermarket News. A graduate of UPenn, he holds a JD/MBA from Columbia. Scott sits on the Board of UpLift Solutions, dedicated to expanding grocery access in underserved areas, and is a Fellow of the Culinary Institute of America.

Robert Moskow

• Lunch & Learn Sessions on January 31, 2025 12:00 PM

Melanie Nuce-Hilton

• Seaside Chat: Traceability on January 31, 2025 2:30 PM

As Senior Vice President of Customer Success, Melanie Nuce-Hilton leads the strategy to drive broader adoption and use of GS1 Standards and solutions across 25 industries through meaningful collaboration. Ms. Nuce-Hilton serves as lead ambassador to the apparel, general merchandise, foodservice, retail grocery and healthcare sectors to drive improved supply chain visibility. Overseeing education and training, product management and member support, she links community with internal capabilities to foster growth and improve business processes. Ms. Nuce-Hilton also leads the GS1 US Innovation function in investigating new technologies to increase the relevance and reach of GS1 Standards. Drawing on her extensive background in retail technology, she oversees the exploration of collaboration opportunities to help businesses leverage emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, computer vision, machine learning and more to address multiple areas such as autonomous retail and sustainability. Ms. Nuce-Hilton earned her bachelor’s degree in professional studies from Bethany University.

Matthew Perin

• Lunch & Learn Sessions on January 31, 2025 12:00 PM

John Phillips

• Transforming Consumer Engagement with SMART Packaging on January 31, 2025 4:30 PM

John is Senior Vice President, Customer Supply Chain and Go-to-Market for PepsiCo, Inc.  He has been with PepsiCo for over 33 years and has worked in a number of different sales and field operations roles since joining the company as a route salesperson with Frito-Lay.   In his current role, John is responsible for working with PepsiCo’s largest customers on supply chain and collaboration initiatives to drive both effectiveness and efficiency across the shared supply chain. Before joining PepsiCo, John spent ten years in retail store operations with Jewel Food Stores in Chicago and was also a Territory Sales Representative for Procter & Gamble.  John attended Western Michigan University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Food Distribution and also holds an MBA from Southern Methodist University.

Shekar Raman

• The Data ‘Hairball’ Thwarting AI in Retail on January 31, 2025 3:30 PM

Shekar Raman is CEO and co-founder of Birdzi, a grocery retail AI solutions company inspired by an idea from his 11-year-old daughter about locating supermarket products. He is passionate about leveraging AI and machine learning to enhance the customer experience. Shekar began his career working on the Human Genome Project at the University of Pennsylvania, developing protein modeling algorithms and pioneering BioInformatics techniques. At UNLV, he applied speech recognition methods to classify genetic sequences. Later, at AT&T Bell Labs, he developed data collection algorithms in the Speech Recognition group and gained expertise in systems engineering. He also architected and implemented infrastructure solutions for a Fortune 500 company in consulting and management roles. Shekar holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communications from Osmania University, India, and an MS in Electrical Engineering from Villanova University, focusing on Digital Signal Processing and Pattern Recognition.

Krystal Register MS, RDN, LDN

• What's Driving Your Retail Health Strategy? on February 1, 2025 2:00 PM

Krystal Register, MS, RDN, LDN is the Vice President of Health and Well-being at FMI - The Food Industry Association.  She serves as the lead coordinator and subject matter expert for nutrition, health and well-being policy, programs, activities, operations, media response and communications across the food industry for FMI members and community collaborators.  Krystal was a retail dietitian with Wegmans for 12 years prior to joining FMI and made significant contributions to company-wide wellness programs, consumer health messaging, and local media in the National Capital Region.

Karen Rutledge

• Seaside Chat: Workforce for the Future: Building a Resilient Food Industry on January 31, 2025 3:30 PM

Karen Rutledge is a Commercial Industry Strategist Manager for Career Products at Mercer, working with clients in the energy and retail sectors to develop future-focused career products aligned with industry needs. She collaborates with internal teams on career product strategy, using market research and data analysis to drive value and deliver a Mercer perspective. Previously, Karen was an Insurance and Risk Manager for a Fortune 50 oil and gas company and a Client Relationship Manager for a Fortune 250 insurance company, addressing risk, insurance, and employee needs for energy and retail clients. A WorldatWork member, Karen has presented on workforce trends in the restaurant and convenience store industries and authored viewpoints on the retail sector. She holds an MS in Human Resources and Training from Amberton University and a BA in Government and Politics from the University of Texas.

Leslie Sarasin

• FMI CEO Remarks & FMItech Pitch Winner on February 1, 2025 8:30 AM
• A Conversation with Chef José Andrés on January 31, 2025 10:00 AM

Leslie G. Sarasin is the president and chief executive officer of FMI, the food industry association, which represents more than 1,500 member companies in the United States and around the world. Under Sarasin's leadership, FMI has become a forward focused and member centered organization committed to help supermarkets excel in their role of feeding families and enriching lives. Her synergistic style and determined spirit of collaboration has infused FMI with a renewed commitment to help its members address the critical industry issues of the day - food safety and the emerging importance of health and wellness. Prior to coming to FMI, Sarasin was president and CEO of the American Frozen Food Institute.

Matt Schwartz

• Meaningful Maneuvers Towards Food Waste Reduction on February 1, 2025 1:00 PM

Mary Scimone

• The Data ‘Hairball’ Thwarting AI in Retail on January 31, 2025 3:30 PM

Mary Scimone is the VP of Strategic Initiatives at Digital Wave Technology, where she drives key priorities and supports company growth with tactical insight, cross-functional expertise, and sound judgment. She brings extensive experience in data management, product management, pre-sales, content creation, and FMCG retail technologies. Mary has held leadership roles at Vispera, Emnos, Symphony RetailAI, and other retail technology companies, building deep expertise in AI for retail. She has collaborated with retailers and CPGs to deliver complex projects, launch world-class loyalty programs, and transform data into actionable insights. Known for her sharp execution, she excels at solving complex challenges with innovative solutions. 

Eric Senn

• Innovative Technology in Food Retail: FMItech Pitch Competition on January 30, 2025 2:00 PM

Manish Sharma

• Lunch & Learn Sessions on January 31, 2025 12:00 PM

Jeffrey Strasser

• Generative AI - Reinventing Work & Experiences in Retail & Consumer Goods on January 31, 2025 2:00 PM

Orlee Tal

• Innovative Technology in Food Retail: FMItech Pitch Competition on January 30, 2025 2:00 PM

Orlee Tal is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in Israel’s top startups, including Modu, PrimeSense, and Retalix. As the co-founder of three startups, most notably stor.ai—one of North America’s largest e-commerce and logistics platforms with over $700M in annual GMV—Orlee has a proven track record of building impactful ventures. Her latest endeavor, Workrz, uses AI-powered technology to revolutionize employment in the service industry, tackling turnover rates over 120% by delivering flexibility for workers and stability for businesses.  

Bill Toney

• RFID: The Key to Inventory Accuracy Across the Food Supply Chain on January 31, 2025 2:30 PM

Bill leads Avery Dennison’s global food solutions team with the goal to enable digital connectivity for any food item, ensuring greater control over food freshness, quality, and traceability. His primary focus is on driving the adoption of technology and automation throughout the food supply chain, enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and sustainability while ensuring food safety and reducing waste. Prior to this role, Bill led Avery Dennison’s global RFID market development team, accelerating market adoption worldwide by measuring the business impact that sensor technology has on retail transformation. Bill has 28 years of experience in emerging technology, innovation & retail operations including senior vice president, omnichannel fulfillment solutions at eBay Enterprise & executive general manager at MarineMax.  

Robert Varner

• RFID: The Key to Inventory Accuracy Across the Food Supply Chain on January 31, 2025 2:30 PM

Robert is a leader in North America’s Supply Chain Technologies team, focusing on helping Manufacturers and Retailers streamline their operations, driving down their operating costs, lowering their inventory carrying costs, and increasing their top line sales revenue.  Robert has spent the last 15 years in Consulting, working with numerous clients in the Retail, Consumer Products, Theme Parks, Cruise Line and Aerospace and Defense sectors.  Prior to getting into Consulting, he spent the first 15 years of his career working in Industry.  Robert has a passion for innovation and taking on unique complex problems to develop easy to understand and implement solutions.  His work is mostly focused around implementing technologies and process optimization, to help organizations drive higher ROI from their investments.  He has spoken in numerous conferences in the Supply Chain space on topics ranging from driving automation of manual processes to leveraging mathematical equations to solve go-live and conversion activities.

Dr. Romesh Wadhwani

• Seaside Chat: The Road Ahead for the Grocery Industry’s Technology Transformation on January 31, 2025 4:30 PM

Dr. Romesh Wadhwani is the founder, chairman, and CEO of the SAI Group, which includes five enterprise AI software companies serving critical industries with a workforce of over 5,000. He previously founded Symphony Technology Group, scaled to $2.5 billion in revenue, and was CEO of Aspect Development Inc., sold for $9.3 billion in 2000. In 2003, he established the Wadhwani Foundation to promote job creation and economic development in over 20 countries. The Foundation includes the Wadhwani Institute of Technology and Policy and the Wadhwani Institute for AI for Social Good, which won the Google Prize in 2019. He received the Padma Shri honor in 2020 and was appointed by President Obama to the Kennedy Center board. He is a board member of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a member of the Gates Buffett Giving Pledge. He holds degrees from IIT Bombay and Carnegie Mellon University.

Deborah Weinswig

• Innovative Technology in Food Retail: FMItech Pitch Competition on January 30, 2025 2:00 PM

Steven Williams

• Midwinter Conference Co-Chair Remarks on January 31, 2025 9:00 AM

Steven Williams is the CEO of PepsiCo Foods North America, leading its $18 billion snack and convenient foods business, including Frito-Lay North America (FLNA) and Quaker Foods North America (QFNA). A 24-year veteran of PepsiCo, Steven has been CEO since March 2019. Before this, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer for Frito-Lay’s U.S. organization, overseeing U.S. field sales, customer teams, and commercialization. He also led Frito-Lay’s East division and managed PepsiCo’s global Walmart business, driving growth across Walmart U.S., Sam’s Club, and Walmart International. Steven joined PepsiCo in 2001 via its acquisition of Quaker Oats.

Teross Young

• Lunch & Learn Sessions on January 31, 2025 12:00 PM