About CGA Strategic Conference

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 immediate 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 700 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

  • Jonathan Mayes (CGA Board Chairman)
  • SVP Public Affairs, Government Relations, Philanthropy & CSR
  • Safeway Inc.
  • Jim Amen
  • President/Chief Operations Officer
  • Super A Foods
  • 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
  • Shannon Nadasdy
  • Sr. VP, Retail Development & Client Support
  • Financial Supermarkets, Inc.
  • Richie Vail
  • VP, Sales Operations – Intermountain
  • Bimbo Bakeries USA
  • Diana Godfrey
  • Group VP, Sales & Merchandising
  • Smart & Final Stores
  • Julie Sanchez
  • Administrative Assistant
  • Whole Foods Market
  • Dennis Spiller
  • Dir., National Sales
  • Jelly Belly Candy Co.
  • Sam Tibbitts
  • Vice President
  • Holiday/Sav-Mor Foods
  • Tammy Wilson
  • General Manager
  • Jax Markets
  • John T. Eagan
  • VP/Senior General Merchandise Manager
  • Costco Wholesale
  • Charles Zimmerman
  • Director, Customer Development
  • Nestle USA
  • Kevin Davis (Committee Chair)
  • Chairman, President & CEO
  • Bristol Farms
  • Mike Anderson
  • Regional VP, Southern California Supermarkets
  • Coca-Cola Enterprises
  • Kevin Konkel
  • Sr. VP, Sales & Merchandising
  • Raley’s
  • Dave Jones
  • VP, Industry Initiatives
  • Kellogg Company
  • 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
  • Rick Fry
  • President & COO
  • Cardenas Markets, Inc.
  • Paul Turcotte
  • Director Retail Sales, West
  • Pepsi Beverages Company
  • Jim Van Gorkom
  • VP, Sales & Marketing
  • NuCal Foods
  • Dan Meyer
  • Senior VP, Retail Operations
  • Stater Bros. Markets
  • Philip Miller
  • VP West Region
  • C & S Wholesale Grocers
  • Willie Crocker
  • Portfolio Development Manager
  • Sara Lee Food & Beverage
  • Donna Tyndall
  • Sr. VP, Operations
  • Gelson’s Markets
  • Tom Driscoll
  • Western Region Supermarket Sales Manager
  • Bunzl Distribution, Inc.
  • Joe Falvey
  • Sr. Vice President Sales
  • Unified Grocers, Inc.