Speakers

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

Twice named one of Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” and awarded “Outstanding Chef” and “Humanitarian of the Year” by the James Beard Foundation, Chef José Andrés is an internationally recognized culinary innovator, New York Times bestselling author, humanitarian, educator, and Emmy-winner television personality. As founder of the renowned World Central Kitchen and the Global Food Institute at George Washington University, Andrés has revolutionized the way the world tackles crises through food. 

Doug Baker

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

Doug Baker is the vice president of industry relations at the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), a leading trade group for the grocery sector. He assists FMI's member communities in growing and thriving in various domains, such as private brands, technology, supply chain, and asset protection. He leads the Asset Protection Council, which strives to reduce merchandise loss and establish safe and healthy stores and workplaces, as well as the Technology Leadership Council, Supply Chain Council, Private Brands Council, and cross-industry efforts focused on transparency and data accuracy. Doug has more than 35 years of experience in food retail, working with Fry's Food Stores, Kraft/Nabisco, and Federated Foods in roles related to retail operations, consumer packaged goods, and private brand creation and marketing.

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

Liz Buchanan leads Nielsen's Consumer Intelligence Business Unit for North America. In this role, she is focused on driving client value from Nielsen's suite of Omnichannel measurement and Omnishopper solutions. Prior to assuming her current position, Liz led Nielsen's Retailer Collaboration programs in the U.S., as well as the TDLinx business. During her 14 years at Nielsen, Liz has held various commercial, customer success and technology deployment roles. She has extensive experience with CPG data, platforms, analytics and technology -- and led the deployment of the industry's first cloud-based platform, Nielsen Connect, to the marketplace. She has worked extensively across the U.S. and Global markets, supporting Global Brands, Global Retail, Financial Services and Agencies. Liz is an Executive Sponsor of the Women in Nielsen (WIN) Employee Resource Group and is active in both local and national advocacy groups focusing on diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace and beyond. She resides in Chicago with her husband and their rescue dogs.

Kim Cox

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

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

Angela Fernandez is the VP of Community Engagement at GS1 US, responsible for driving adoption of GS1 Standards to enhance traceability, transparency, supply chain efficiency, patient safety, and data quality. With over 20 years at GS1 US, she has collaborated with key industry stakeholders to solve supply chain challenges and implement GS1 Standards worldwide. Angela holds a BS in Business Administration from Drexel University and is a frequent speaker at industry events, including those by CSCMP and the National Restaurant Association. She has been featured in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and SupplyChainBrain.

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

• Annual Meeting 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.

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.

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 4:30 PM

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.

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.

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.

Sally Lyons Wyatt

• What's For Dinner? Food Retail Answers on February 1, 2025 8:30 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. 

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 Managing Director and Head of Grocery, Pharmacy, and Restaurants Investment Banking at Solomon Partners. Specializing in M&A, sales, and divestitures for traditional and specialty grocers, 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 SVP of Community Engagement at GS1 US, Melanie Nuce-Hilton leads strategy to expand GS1 Standards adoption across 25 industries through collaboration, including apparel, grocery, foodservice, and healthcare. She oversees education, training, product management, and customer support, linking community needs to GS1’s internal capabilities. Melanie also heads GS1 US Innovation, exploring emerging tech such as AI, machine learning, and the metaverse to drive autonomous retail and sustainability. Previously, she led Corporate Development and the Apparel and General Merchandise group at GS1 US, and held retail tech roles at GXS (now OpenText). A frequent speaker at industry events like NRF’s BIG Show and the Council for Supply Chain Management Professionals, she is often quoted in Forbes, Fast Company, and the Wall Street Journal. Melanie holds a bachelor’s in professional studies from Bethany University.

John Phillips

• Transforming Consumer Engagement with SMART Packaging on January 31, 2025 4:00 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.

Sri Rajagopalan

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

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 that was inspired by an idea his 11-year-old daughter had about locating products in the supermarket. He is passionate about building data-driven technologies leveraging AI and machine learning to help retailers and brands elevate the customer experience.
 
Shekar began his career working on the Human Genome Project at the Dept. of Human Genetics, Univ. of Pennsylvania, developing algorithms for protein modeling. He was part of some of the pioneering groups (early 90s) in BioInformatics at UPenn,  and at the Dept. of Human Genetics, UNLV, where he applied speech recognition techniques to identify and classify genetic sequences.  He then continued onto AT&T Bell Labs, working in the Speech Recognition group as a consultant developing data collection algorithms where he also acquired significant expertise in systems engineering. He then later moved on to Systems Engineering, architecting and implementing infrastructure solutions for a large Fortune 500 company working in both consulting and management roles.

Shekar Raman has a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electronics and Communications from Osmania University, Hyderabad India. He went to Graduate School at Villanova University where he obtained a MS in Electrical Engineering with a focus 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 Senior Director 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.

Shane Sampson

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

Leslie Sarasin

• FMI CEO Remarks on January 31, 2025 9:30 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.

Lori Schafer

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

Lori Schafer is a senior software executive and entrepreneur with 30+ years in technology, analytics (Predictive, AI, Generative AI), Ecommerce, consumer products branding, and retail merchandising and marketing.

She is CEO, Digital Wave Technology, a software solutions company that transforms retail & CPG business processes through AI, including generative AI, workflow and automation. She frequently consults with brands and retailers on their digital transformation strategies in today’s world of omnichannel customer engagement. Ms. Schafer has experience building and managing both startup ($0-$100M) and large enterprise technology businesses around the globe.

Ms. Schafer has served on the board of directors of various public and private retailers, consumer goods, technology companies, and trade associations including the National Retail Federation. In 2010, she co-authored a business book bestseller Branded! The book accurately predicted how mobile, analytics and social media would change the face of retail in just a few short years.

Prior to Digital Wave, she spent 17 years serving as SVP, SAS Institute, leading the Global Retail/Consumer Brands Business Division.  Earlier in her career, Ms. Schafer served as Chairman/CEO of Marketmax, Inc., a merchandise / supply chain analytics software company. Ms. Schafer spent the early part of her career at Procter & Gamble in both IT and brand management.   

Matt Schwartz

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

Eric Senn

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

Dr. Romesh Wadhwani

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

Deborah Weinswig

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

Rob Weisberg

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

Rob Weisberg most recently served as the Chief Executive Officer of Invaluable, which he joined in 2012 and transformed into the top online marketplace for fine art, antiques, and collectibles. Before Invaluable, Rob was CMO at Zipcar, driving membership to 760,000 and supporting its 2011 IPO. At Domino’s Pizza, he was VP of Multimedia Marketing, launching Domino's Online Ordering, now over 55% of sales. Earlier, Rob built his career in account services with agencies like Grey and Ogilvy, working with brands including Microsoft, Six Flags, and Kraft Foods. He holds a bachelor’s in psychology and a business management certificate from the University of Rochester.

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.