Margaret Anderson

Taylor Freezer of New England

Sales and Trade Show Coordinator

I am responsible for day-to-day coordination of sales in our New England territory and around the country for our national accounts. I have many mentors in this industry, and I am thankful to my parents who instilled my work ethic. My involvement in the industry so long it has allowed me to meet wonderful people, many of whom have become my dear friends. The most rewarding part of my job is interacting with people and seeing them succeed. I feel fortunate to have a career that offers change, challenges, and creativity.

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Brenda Bacon

Harris Teeter
Director of Quality Assurance

The most rewarding part of my job is the opportunity to make a positive impact with our associates, customers and industry regarding the importance of food safety. Having a team of dedicated and knowledgeable quality assurance associates makes the job of supporting food safety initiatives at Harris Teeter rewarding. I am very proud of being an ambassador for food safety! The safety of our food supply is taken for granted but there are many dedicated people that have devoted their entire careers to ensure the safety of the food supply. I am proud to be one of those people.

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Gayle Baker

C&S Wholesale Grocers

Senior Business Manager

I am responsible for building the business and adding sales with my customers. I act as the liaison between the customer and C&S Wholesale Grocers, negotiating and working directly with all levels of management. I’m accountable for building customer relations and establishing an in-depth working relationship with them. I work in a very fast-paced environment, and have to collaborate with both the customer and my internal management and support staff. I have to have insight into the workings of both the customer and my company. I provide ongoing assessment and monitoring of the accounts and business. I’m responsible for the managing, training and coaching of my internal group. As the on-site leader/project manager, I prepare quarterly and year-end business reviews along with seasonal planning, provide budget information along with business changes as they happen, and coordinate special projects and initiatives with C&S and our customers.

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Jennifer Balint

White Rose Inc.
Category Manager/Buyer

Dairy/Deli Buyer. Responsibilities include: inventory management, item SKU rationalization, vendor negotiations (pricing, deals, new items, etc.), profitability for White Rose. Also maintain a constant service level above 98 percent. The most rewarding part of my job is the relationships that I have formed with my co-workers, customers, vendors and brokers. I work for a great company that really cares about their employees.

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Claudette Blackistone

Stop & Shop Supermarkets, LLC
Vice President Legal Compliance/Compliance Officer

My responsibilities are to build and strengthen the compliance program that supports our business goals, protects against liability, and generates increased accountability and awareness of our legal and ethical obligations. Collaborative and business value-based program driven through partnerships with key business units and support companies. Provide compliance and ethical guidance in business decisions. I love that our work helps people make better decisions. Most people want to do the right thing but they just don’t always know what that entails. We work hard to help our associates understand our Code of Ethics, legal and regulatory guidelines and the processes in place to raise questions.

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Mary Bohannon

General Mills
Senior Customer Manager

My job description includes being manager $300 million business for General Mills in the grocery retailing industry to achieve sales and market share growth at a profitable rate of return. The most rewarding part of my job: I thoroughly enjoy change, facing new challenges, new issues to solve, and business to dissect and reassemble in the best possible way. But mainly, I have been extremely fortunate to work with so many wonderful people both here at General Mills and in the retailing community.

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Jamie Boudreau

Nestlé USA
Category Development Account Manager - C&S/Ahold

 
I am responsible to effectively grow and manage sales while driving Nestlé’s grocery brands’ strategic initiatives through both the field sales team as well as Nestlé’s Brand Divisions.  I work closely with supply chain, demand planning, sales, finance, and customer service to help maintain and build customer business, satisfy customer needs, as well as achieve brand/company volume goals and profit goals. My proudest career achievement is that I work in an industry that I am passionate about and Nestlé has given me the opportunity in a key role driving sales in one of Nestlé's top 5 customers. 

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Maria Brous

Publix Super Markets, Inc.
Director of Media and Community Relations

In my current role as director of media and community relations, I am responsible for proactive media strategies and corporate philanthropy for the four divisions, across five states, and more than 1,000 grocery store locations Publix operates and the communities they serve. I serve as the face and image of our company. I come to work each day loving what I do. There’s something new each day. But the most rewarding part of my job is the opportunity to give back to the communities we serve. There’s nothing more important or real than being able to present a check on your company’s behalf to a nonprofit organization focused on youth, education, or the plight of the hungry and homeless.

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Debra Bryson

Newk’s Express Café, Newk’s Franchise Company, LLC
Co-founder, VP of Brand Development, Building and Design

I coordinate design and building specifications for all company and franchise restaurants with architectural firm. I also approve all construction documents. I review all restaurant building and development to opening day. I brand development nationally. I coordinate with CFO, CEO on the financial operations of Newk’s Express Café. My priority is to protect the culture of our service-driven restaurant concept and provide our guest with an outstanding dining experience each visit. The most rewarding part of my job is creating a restaurant concept from an idea. To work side by side with partners and franchisees to promote franchisee success in their restaurant venture. The association and opportunity to meet and work with our associates who inspire great vision and passion for the food industry.

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Ellen Castonguay

Nestlé Purina Pet
Account Executive – Nestlé Purina Pet/C&S Team

As an account executive on the Nestle’ Purina Pet/C&S Team my overall responsibilities include:
achieving yearly sales objectives; marketing share goals and financial goals; managing Nestle Purina Pet daily business requests for C&S New England, South East, and Metro Divisions; developing and implementing customer promotional plans as well as expanding distribution base by presenting new item lines to C&S and USA/GA Groups; providing team support for members of our team who have responsibilities for selling Nestle Purina Pet product line to C&S Indirect accounts; and collaborating and communicating daily regarding our C&S business with our internal NPP-C&S resource teams: supply chain, finance, order management, NROC (Retail Selling Team).

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Christine Colwell

Signature Breads, Inc.
Director of Sales and Marketing

As director of sales and marketing, I am responsible for managing the strategic growth and positioning of Signature Breads in the marketplace. Signature is the largest minority-owned bakery in the United States. I am also responsible for establishing the strategic direction for our sales and marketing team, managing our national sales force and leading collaborative partnerships with key distributors and operators. The most rewarding part of my job is developing and motivating people to be their best and feeling that you had a small role in their overall success.

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Margaret Davenport

Golub Corporation/Price Chopper Supermarkets
SVP, Human Resources

My duties include leading all HR activities in a union-free environment. I lead the talent acquisition and management areas, compensation and benefits, human resource information systems, associate relations and communication, training and diversity initiatives. The most rewarding part of my job is working with a great organization to continuously improve our human resource service to people in our company and the community.

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Anne Davis

Golub Corporation
Vice President of Risk Management

I am responsible for managing the food safety, worker’s compensation, safety, insurance, loss prevention, and business interruption areas. Having spent many years of my career at the Golub Corporation I was given an opportunity to move into the Risk Management area, an area new to me. In addition to personal growth, the move has allowed me to participate in several team projects throughout the organization. Participation on the team to reduce injuries has been especially memorable because it not only improved bottom line results; it helped demonstrate the commitment from all levels of the organization to ensuring the safety of our associates and guests. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is to work with such a great group of people. The job is challenging, fast paced, and no two days are alike. I am also pleased whenever a member of my team is recognized for their contributions.

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Michelle M. Dorin

Weis Markets Inc.
Director of Pricing

I am responsible for the day-to-day pricing and gross-profit for the following departments: Grocery, Dairy, Frozen and HBC. Helped develop and implement a new store tag program and manage our in-house scan verification process. The most rewarding part of my job is being part of a great team of people and the fact we are always learning. We all work together to grow sales and to create a great shopping experience for our customers. Our ultimate goal is to offer our customers the best possible shopping experience. It has also been rewarding to see individuals that I have helped train over my years, develop and advance within our organization.

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Diane Downing

The Common Man Family of Restaurants
Vice President
 

As an owner I wear many hats – I oversee the management and buying for our retail store, The Common Man Co. Store, which over the next year will include opening an online retail store. I am also responsible for décor and furnishings (including maintenance of and landscaping) for all of our 17 locations.  I assist with the design and ordering of all apparel and uniforms and consult with our CEO and management team in other key areas such as marketing, training, menu development, charitable giving, and the design and opening of new concepts and locations. I feel so much pride looking at the quality of our management team and our employees and staff.  I know we have the best people working with us.

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Jean Forney

Samuel J. Associates
Managing Partner

I started my career in the food industry with Wegmans Food Markets worked through various positions to multi-store supervision roles, while completing several continuing education courses including those offered by Cornell University. In 1993, I started my career as a recruiter. After 10 years working for two national search firms, Samuel J. Associates was opened. I have worked with many well known and respected supermarkets, mass merchandisers, specialty retail chains as well as drug store chains. As co-founder of Samuel J. Associates, I am proud of the success our company. Today, our firm has name brand recognition and we are responsible for placing professionals with salaries totaling over $5 million in annual income.

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Nancy Gaddy

Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.
Vice President Deli/Bakery

My role at Winn-Dixie is to provide strategic leadership for the company’s delis and bakeries, and to ensure our customers enjoy quality products and exceptional customer service in these departments. In addition, I am fiscally responsible for the departments, and am very involved in the coaching and educating of our associates about these very exciting areas in the store. The most rewarding part of my job is interacting with people – our customers, our vendors and our great associates. I meet people from varied backgrounds who are both interesting and informative. The best days are the ones I get to spend in our stores.

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Joann C. Giannino

American Food Systems, Inc.
Purchasing and Procurement

I work with the president, vice president, directors of operation and vendors to procure and purchase quality products for our restaurants. The most rewarding part of my job is the respect and recognition in the industry from my professional peers. I am proud of our ability to establish strong vendor relationships/partnerships to procure quality products at competitive prices. My mentors include my parents that gave me a strong foundation for a good education, good work ethics and respect for others.
In the food industry, the relationships built with select vendor representatives who have been in the business for many years, sharing their knowledge and offering assistance through the everyday opportunities and challenges that are presented.

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Lindsay Gifford

Gifford’s Ice Cream
VP of Sales & Marketing

As in any small business, Gifford’s Ice Cream requires that every employee wear many hats (including hair-nets) just to move through our daily operations. My main focus is to grow our sales and I work closely with our team of sales reps to set goals, and provide support for success. Other projects on my list are pretty varied: managing the freshening of the Gifford’s brand; meeting with distributors and potential distributors; setting up sales promotions; sitting for interviews regarding the latest awards earned by our company; attending trade shows and industry conventions; and even scooping ice cream for charitable events on occasion!

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Melanie A. Gosselin

New Hampshire Food Bank,
a program of N.H. Catholic Charities
Executive Director

As executive director, my responsibilities include managing the acquisition and distribution of donated and purchased food to those in need throughout New Hampshire through our network of 411 soup kitchens, food pantries, and shelters. We also work to address the root causes of hunger through our outreach programs. I am responsible for achieving effectiveness and efficiency through strategic planning, advocacy, fundraising and donor stewardship.

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Denise S. Graffeo, CEC, AAC

Eastern Yacht Club
Chef Emeritus (retired on Jan. 1, 2008)

Well over 100 culinary students have come through my kitchen before I retired.  From all the area culinary schools.  And as mentioned above between both organizations we are helping with culinary student scholarships and events all over the area.  My job as president of The Epicurean Club of Boston for the last four years is planning ten meetings per year where we invited speakers, purveyors, students, professionals of the culinary arts to come together as a group and network with each other providing an educational environment to gather.  During my tenure as President of ECB we have formed a partnership with the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, whereby we hope to increase the scholarships given by both groups.

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Margaret (Meg) Ham

Delhaize America/Bottom Dollar Food
President of Bottom Dollar Food

I oversee all aspects of Bottom Dollar Food’s operations, including its financial performance, merchandising, pricing, customer service and marketing. I serve as a member of Delhaize America’s executive committee. The aspect of my job that I find most rewarding is being able to serve those around me who serve our customers. I believe developing talent in this organization is my number one job responsibility and, by far, the most rewarding part of my job. To see those around me grow and become confident in their pursuit, and to know I am surrounded by strong, smart leaders, is incredibly rewarding. I cherish the relationships and connections that I have with my colleagues.

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Joyce Hawk

C&S Wholesale Grocers
General Manager

Overall responsibilities of strategic, tactical and financial operations of the Dunmore Health and Beauty Care/General Merchandise Distribution Center. Additionally I manage a second facility specializing in the distribution of season product and imports. Dunmore is commonly looked on to as a smooth running operation. Since 2004, I had worked diligently at creating a positive work environment with goals to achieve while remembering that people are our most valuable asset. I feel my style of leadership has been instrumental in removing barriers and providing an environment that is productive and respectful.

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Margaret Heery

Bunn-O-Matic
Vice President Strategic Marketing

There are many aspects to my job, but basically I interpret both U.S. and international beverage trend data to assist in making BUNN® customers more profitable through strategic beverage category management. I also use these findings to aid with the development of new equipment for foodservice operators. I am a presenter at many conferences on beverage trends and encourage seed-to-cup sustainability for the coffee industry. The most rewarding part of my job is when I encounter a restaurant, café or convenience store that I have sold to and now uses BUNN equipment. I know that in some way I was influential in their success by providing the right products at the right time for their customers.

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Roberta Hepburn

Melluso Enterprises Inc., H&M Restaurants Inc. DBA The Tin Fish, H&M Restaurant Group, Inc.
Controller of three entities

My responsibilities are the all-inclusive operations of an eatery. Training both the front and back of the house. Complete daily hands-on with management, daily operating procedures, accounting, customer service and cooking. A tight daily analysis of the business to grow and operate effectively and efficiently every day. Mentoring my employees. An example is my Newburgh Indiana Tin Fish. A chef, Morgan Close from New York, came to work for me. I could tell right away she was smart and a hard worker who could own her own business. She was only 26. For the past three years now, Morgan successfully owns Tin Fish Newburgh. My employees are my most valuable assets, I never forget it. I try to enrich their lives in various ways and they in return work at their best.

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Nicole M. Immediato

Flik International, a division of Compass Group North America
Director of Communications and Quality

As a member of Flik International’s executive team, I work with collegues in the continued growth and development of the company. Creating seasonal marketing campaigns and strategies to boost revenue without incurring additional cost. In addition to assessing and developing strategy improvement of internal and external surveys, successful resolution of crisis management, communication and strategies to implement organization-wide objectives, initiatives and programs and implementation of personal sustainability plans across the business. I love my job and am very fortunate to work with such an incredibly talented and professional group of people. The food business is constantly evolving and Flik’s focus of providing great food, great service and great people are words to live by.