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 […]
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 […]
Jeremy S. Thompson
Senior Vice President, Edelman Global Advisory
Jeremy S. Thompson is a storyteller at heart, having helped brands, celebrities, and organizations tell their story to the world. As a senior vice president with Edelman’s global public affairs practice, he specializes in innovative, digital-first content creation, message positioning, and public affairs strategies. Prior to joining Edelman Global Advisory (EGA), Mr. Thompson served as […]
Dan Frommer
Founder & Editor-In-Chief, The New Consumer
Dan Frommer is the founder and editor in chief of The New Consumer, a publication exploring and analyzing consumer trends and innovative brands. He also produces the popular, data-driven Consumer Trends report series in collaboration with Coefficient Capital, a New York-based investment firm. Frommer is a longtime business journalist and media entrepreneur, previously serving as […]
Hans Johnson
Senior Fellow, Public Policy Institute of California
Hans Johnson is a senior fellow at the PPIC Higher Education Center and a member of the PPIC Economic Policy Center. His research focuses on improving college access and completion. He frequently presents his work to policymakers and higher education officials, and he serves as a technical advisor to many organizations seeking to improve college […]
Caroline Wu
Director of Research, Placer.ai
Caroline Wu is the Director of Research at Placer.ai. Caroline is an experienced insights and intelligence professional who combines brand and business strategy to achieve market leadership. Specializing in retail, CRE, entertainment, media, CPG, and tourism, she takes a multi-disciplinary approach to synthesize broad datasets into actionable recommendations for growth. She has held various senior […]
