Every year, hundreds of professionals representing the broad spectrum of California’s grocery industry convene for three days in Palm Springs to collaborate, network and develop new approaches to their businesses. CGA combines the Strategic Conference’s foundational elements with an exciting line-up of speakers that challenges you to think differently and anticipate the changing trends and new directions of the industry. Add in constant opportunities to connect with your most important partners all in one location at one time and you have the gold standard of industry conferences.
The CGA Strategic Conference is proud to offer an event that is not time spent AWAY from business, but rather time INVESTED IN your business.
Ultimately, nothing speaks to the enduring success of the CGA Strategic Conference like the praise of our participants, who affirm that this annual gathering is an ever-renewing source of challenging ideas, perceptive advice, and solid connections to implement and build on in the year ahead.
“Everything is provided by CGA staff and planning for the Retailer to derive maximum benefit from the valuable time devoted to attending. Bring the right people and be prepared to collaborate and you will be satisfied.”
GEORGE FRAHM
Stater Bros. Markets
2017 CGA Strategic Conference Planning Committee
Jim Wallace (CGA Board Chair)
VP General Manager, Pavilions
Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions
Bob Parriott (Committee Chair)
Owner
Twain Harte Market
Renee Amen
Controller
Super A Foods
Teresa Anaya
Dir., Sales Promotions & Demonstrations
Northgate Gonzalez Markets
Kevin Arceneaux
Regional VP, West Area Sales
Mondelez International, Inc.
Rich Arnold
VP, Sales – Grocery
Oberto Brands
Dennis Belcastro
VP, Industry Affairs & Customer Development
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
David Bell
CMO
Houwellings Tomatoes
Mike Bowers
Sr. Dir., Asset Protection
Northgate Gonzalez Markets
Cindy Chikahisa
VP, Operations/Training
Sprouts Farmers Markets
Darrell Costello
Sales Director
Roplast Industries Inc.
Willie Crocker
Dir. Retail Customers South
Bimbo Bakeries, USA
Leon Bergmann
Ex.VP, Sales, Procurement & Logistics
Unified Grocers, Inc.
Bob Bukovec
Dir., Grocery Sales
Tyson Foods, Inc.
Vic Chiono
VP Sales, West USA
Coca-Cola Refreshments
Brent Cotten
Dir., Customer & Industry Affairs
The Hershey Company
Dave Dimond
Senior VP, Sales
Milton’s Baking Company
Kendra Doyel
VP, Community Affairs & Government Relations
Ralphs Grocery Company
Jim Van Gorkom
SVP, Sales & Marketing
NuCal Foods
Dave Jones
VP, Industry Initiatives
Kellogg Company.
Paul Kamholz
VP, Sales & Marketing
Baswood Corporation
Kevin Konkel
Senior VP, Operations
Raley’s
Tracy Lape
Dir. Sales
NuCal Foods
Dave Madden
Regional Chain Director
MillerCoors
Mario Mediati
Dir., Sales West
The Clorox Company
Dan Meyer
EVP, Retail Operations
Stater Bros. Markets
Philip Miller
VP West Region
C & S Wholesale Grocers
Hee-Sook Nelson
VP, Employee Development & Marketing
Gelson’s Markets
Mark Olejnik
Sales Manager
C&H Sugar Company/ASR Group
Nicole Pesco
Chief Executive Officer
Save Mart Supermarkets
Chris Podesto
Executive Director, Marketing
Food4Less/Rancho San Miguel Markets
Laura Price
VP, National Accounts
Nielsen
Veronica Rendon
Dir., Field Marketing
Alta Dena Certified Dairy, LLC
Mike Rideour
Head, Industry Relations & Sales Operations
Kraft Heinz Company
Craig Rosenblum
Sr. Director
Willard Bishop an Inmar Analytics Company
Julie Sanchez
Executive Assistant
Whole Foods Market
Dennis Spiller
VP, National Sales
Jelly Belly Candy Co.
Joe Toscano
Dir. Business Development
Nestle Purina
Richard Wardwell
Exec. SVP, Operations
Superior Grocers
A note from the 2017 CGA Strategic Conference Committee Chair:
“This is the premier event of the year. It is highly productive and the best large scale networking opportunity in the industry. I particularly appreciate that it’s down to business and making the most of the three-day investment of my time. I come away tired but energized by the new ideas and friends that I’ve made by participating in the most well-organized and executed conference.”
BOB PARRIOTT
Twain Harte Market
