Strategic Conference
The CGA Strategic Conference is the most productive, well-attended, annual gathering of the California grocery industry. Each year, CGA brings together the top retail decision-makers representing the broad spectrum of California’s grocery industry and leading suppliers for this one-of-a-kind, business-building conference.
The conference offers a variety of targeted educational sessions and signature keynote addresses designed to provide attendees with key takeaways and insights from industry thought-leaders. Here, you will learn from high-caliber experts and discover the trends and issues that are surfacing and will affect your business. Gain tangible insights that you can use right away to improve your business.
CGA understands that your time out of the office needs to be productive. How does multiple, pre-scheduled appointments with many of your top partners sound? More than 600 pre-scheduled business meetings, engaging exhibits and various networking events provide a productive and efficient way to build your connections and optimize your time at the conference.
CGA Strategic Conference Planning Committee
- Mike Silveira (Committee Chair)
- CAO
- Save Mart Supermarkets
- Raul Aguilar
- Sr. Key Account Manager So. Calif.
- Anheuser-Busch InBev
- Brennan Bateman
- Customer Sales Executive
- The Hershey Company
- Vic Chiono
- Area VP, West US
- Coca-Cola North America-Minute Maid Business Unit
- Richard Draeger
- VP, Operations/Treasurer
- Draeger's Supermarkets, Inc.
- Phil L. Gentile, Jr.
- Sr. VP, Marketing
- K.V. Mart Co. dba Top Valu/Valu Plus
- Ed Hepler
- Regional Business Manager – Pacific
- The Hain Celestial Group
- Dave Jones
- VP, Industry Initiatives
- Kellogg Company
- Tracy Mauldin-Avery
- VP, GMM Foods
- Costco Wholesale
- Mike O'Donnell
- Ex. Dir., Procurement
- Unified Grocers, Inc.
- Julie Sanchez
- Administrative Assistant
- Whole Foods Market
- Dennis Spiller
- Dir., National Sales
- Jelly Belly Candy Co.
- Sam Tibbitts
- Vice President
- Holiday/Sav-Mor Foods
- Richie Vail
- VP, Sales Operations – Intermountain
- Bimbo Bakeries USA
- Mike Watratz
- Corporate Accounts Business Manager
- Jelly Belly Candy Co.
- Tammy Wilson
- General Manager
- Jax Markets
- Jim F. Amen (CGA Board Chairman)
- President/Chief Operations Officer
- Super A Foods, Inc.
- Mike Anderson
- Regional VP, So. Cal Supermarkets
- Coca-Cola Enterprises
- Patrick Bily
- Director, Fresh DSD
- Sara Lee Fresh Bakery
- Darrell Costello
- Grocery Sales Manager
- Roplast Industries Inc.
- Chuck Eckman, II
- Customer VP-Strat., Planning & Customer Dev.
- Kraft Foods Inc.
- Rickey Hamacher
- Dir., Retail Accounts – California
- Bimbo Bakeries USA
- Dave Huettl
- VP, Center Store, SCD
- Albertsons, Inc.
- Kevin Konkel
- Sr. VP, Sales & Merchandising
- Raley's
- Shannon Nadasdy
- Sr. VP, Retail Development & Client Support
- Financial Supermarkets, Inc.
- John R. Pellington
- Chief Executive Officer
- Focus Brands West/Niche Manufacturing
- Jim Schulz
- Senior Account Manager
- International Paper
- Mark Thorngren
- Dir., Industry & Customer Development
- Unilever
- Donna Tyndall
- Sr. VP, Operations
- Gelson's Markets
- Jim Van Gorkom
- VP, Sales & Marketing
- NuCal Foods
- Jerry B. Whitmore
- Sales Manager, So. Cal.
- Dreyer's/Nestle DSD
- Bruce Wyatt
- Director, Sales
- Hansen Beverage Company