Inspire and Educate
Our programming is designed to offer a rich variety of learning experiences, from inspiring keynote presentations to expert-led discussion groups, making sure you get the most out of your time with us. Each day of the conference features seasoned veterans and fresh voices who will share insights and strategies for leveraging emerging opportunities in technology, new product trends, and the latest approaches to retail and marketing.
This September, join us for three exciting days filled with groundbreaking presentations, candid group discussions, and highly sought-after educational sessions to help you refine and optimize your business strategies for maximum impact.
While we are finalizing our speaker lineup, we promise a roster of industry experts ready to provide valuable insights and perspectives. Stay tuned for the final list of speakers, which will be announced in the coming months. If you’re a CGA member, don’t forget to sign up for our weekly e-newsletter, Checkout, for exclusive previews and conference updates.
Jake Johannsen
Comedian
A native of Iowa, Jake Johannsen spent three years at Iowa State University dabbling in veterinarian science and chemical engineering before moving to San Francisco and trying his hand at comedy. Jake sought to make his comedic mark on the city at a time when San Francisco was fostering the likes of young talents such […]
Lynn Melillo
Vice President, Asset Management
Lynn has worked in Supermarket Retail Operations for over 40 years. She began her grocery career working for a family-owned independent market “Louis Foods” in Pasadena CA. She is the Vice President of Asset Management for Bristol Farms/Lazy Acres Natural Markets/New Leaf Community Markets where she oversees Workers Compensation, General Liability, Food Safety, Quality Assurance […]
Ron Fong
President & CEO
Ronald Fong assumed the reigns of the California Grocers Association (CGA) as President and Chief Executive Officer on March 31, 2008. Ron joined CGA after 12 years with the California Credit Union League (CCUL) where he was Vice President of State Government Affairs. He was responsible for the League’s 10-person Sacramento office and directed its […]
Subriana Pierce
Senior Vice President of Sales, West
Subriana is a results driven, visionary leader in the food and beverage industry. She is the Senior Vice President of Sales, West for C.A. Fortune which recently acquired the company she co-founded, Navigator Sales and Marketing. In 2020, she launched the Navigator Lighthouse Foundation, a 501c3 focused on helping women and minority entrepreneurs succeed in the […]
Joe Mueller
Vice President of Purposeful Engagement, Kellanova
As Vice President of Purposeful Engagement, Joe is responsible for linking the customer’s needs with Kellanova strategies and initiatives across all trade channels. This includes the development and implementation of strategies designed to maximize industry collaboration and strategic partnerships. Joe joined Kellogg’s in 1992 and has 32 years of experience in the CPG business with […]
Craig Rosenblum
Partner, Columbus Consulting
Craig Rosenblum is an executive with over 30 years of cross-functional experience in retail, wholesale and consumer goods. He is a Principal at Columbus Consulting International Grocery and leader of the Grocery practice. As an entrepreneur and executive with a passion for Grocery Retail he has developed and deployed go-to-market sales, product, and technology strategies […]
Vivek Farias, Ph.D.
CTO, Cimulate and Patrick J. McGovern (1959) Professor at MIT
Vivek is the CTO and Co-founder of Cimulate and the Patrick J. McGovern (1959) Professor at MIT, focusing on large-scale dynamic optimization methodologies and applications. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in 2007 and has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards in his field, including multiple INFORMS prizes, the NSF CAREER […]
Miguel Paredes
Venture Partner, Silicon Foundry
Miguel is a senior AI executive, adviser, and consultant, is a Venture Partner at Silicon Foundry, and a fellow / adviser for the AI Fund and Milemark Capital, two AI focused AI VCs. Until recently he was the Vice President of AI & Data Science at Albertsons, where he led strategy and value creation with […]
Mario Adamy
SVP, Supply Chain Solutions, Automation & Strategic Customer Relations, UNFI
Mario Adamy is the Senior Vice President of Supply Chain Solutions, Automation & Strategic Customer Relations at UNFI. He leads the development and implementation of the company’s supply chain operations technology investment portfolio including warehouse automation and robotics, warehouse management systems and business applications. In his role, he serves UNFI’s national accounts with operations strategies […]
Michael Sansolo
Countless studies and years of work with some of the world’s most innovative companies gives Michael Sansolo a unique and diverse view of the changing nature of trends impacting shoppers, employees, competition, economics, supply chains and management. A long-time senior vice president of the Food Marketing Institute and now a consultant, speaker and author, Sansolo […]
