Programming is developed and presented by adjunct faculty drawn from industry experts.
John Evans
Director of Center Store
Weis Markets, Inc
John Evans is the Director of Center Store for Weis Markets where he oversees the Edible Grocery Team consisting of both direct store delivery (DSD) and warehouse. He started his career with Weis Markets 15 years ago and has held various roles within the retailer.
Before Weis, John worked for The Sara Lee Corporation for 18 years calling on retailers for both branded and private brand. John is also a veteran of the United States Navy and was deployed to the Middle East for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Christina Fogal
Marketing Director
Federated Group
Christina Fogal, Marketing Director at Federated Group, is a strategic marketing leader with deep experience driving commercial growth, shaping brand strategy, and leading cross functional initiatives across the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry.
Christina has proven success in accelerating brand performance, elevating digital presence, and delivering high impact programs across content, social media, and integrated marketing.
Emily Glass
Director of HR and Talent Acquisition
Topco Associates LLC
Emily Glass is Director of HR and Talent Acquisition at Topco Associates and is a strategic partner and consultant to leadership on human resources, talent acquisition, diversity, equity and inclusion, and people-management practices and policies.
She collaborates with various stakeholders to align talent management practices with the overall business objectives. Since joining Topco, she has revamped and relaunched Topco’s internship program, developed an entry-level rotational program for college graduates, and created the Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategy.
George Latella
Food Marketing Professor
Saint Joseph’s University
George Latella has taught Food Marketing at Saint Joseph’s University for 30 years. He has received three Teaching Excellence awards and was voted the best Professor in the Haub School of Business in 2016 by students.
He has conducted numerous U.S. study tours for International Scholars through the USDA and has also led the Senior Leadership of Ferrero Germany on facilitated tours. He has also done seminars for the NASFT regarding selling your products into specialty stores. He brings 35+ years of Sales/Marketing executive experience with Tastykake & his consulting into the classroom. Key positions at Tastykake included: Director of Key Accounts, Director of National Sales/New Business Development, Director of Customer Relations/E-Commerce, & Director of Marketing.
Sam Mayberry
President
Sam Mayberry Consulting, LLC
Sam Mayberry is a grocery industry veteran, possessing a diverse skillset gained from leadership positions in the retail, wholesale, and eCommerce channels. Throughout his career, Sam has played a crucial role in driving change and transformation at local, regional, and national levels.
In 2017, Sam established Sam Mayberry Consulting, LLC where he assists both manufacturers and retail clients in developing and enhancing the skills necessary to thrive in a competitive market. His passion for sharing knowledge and expertise is evident through past participation with share groups and his involvement with the PLMA Executive Education program.
Danell O’Neill
Executive VP of Brand, Marketing, Human Resources & Corporate Communications
Topco Associates, LLC
Danell O’Neill serves as Executive Vice President of Brand, Marketing, Human Resources and Corporate Communications at Topco Associates, LLC.
She is responsible for leading the development and execution of Topco’s own brand, marketing and people strategies and strategic internal and external communications. Prior to joining Topco, O’Neill served as managing partner in a consulting company. She has also held communications roles at Honeywell, Accenture, and served as vice president of communications at Nielsen.
Maulik Patel
Director, Food Safety & Quality Assurance
Rema Foods Inc.
Maulik Patel is a food safety and quality assurance leader with more than 20 years of experience spanning global supplier management, regulatory compliance and enterprise quality strategy.
Currently serving as the Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance at Rema Foods Inc., he oversees a global network of private label manufacturers across five continents, ensuring FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) compliance. His career includes leadership roles at The Kraft Heinz Company and US Foods Holding Corp. where he built and scaled private label supplier quality programs and led Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) implementation.
Jac Ross
VP Our Brands
Sprouts Farmers Market
Jac Ross is VP Our Brands at Sprouts Farmers Market where she focuses on bringing exclusive and innovative private label products to the fast-growing grocer’s base of shoppers who are enthusiastic about health and wellness.
She has extensive experience within the private label industry across product development, innovation, manufacturing and retailing in the U.S. and, for 20 years she worked within Europe and the U.K. for retailers including Ahold Delhaize, Unilever, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s. Jac serves on the Board of Directors for Women Impacting Storebrand Excellence™ (WISE), a non-profit professional development organization that champions the power of diversity and inclusion within the store brands industry.
Dr. Russell J. Zwanka
Director of the Food Marketing Program and Professor of Category Management and Food Marketing
Western Michigan University
Dr. Russell J. Zwanka serves as Director of the Food Marketing Program, and Professor of Category Management and Food Marketing, at Western Michigan University, one of the top Food Marketing programs in the world.
Having spent a career in the food industry before teaching, Dr. Z conceptualized and formed the Food Marketing Concentration at Siena College; as well as the Food Marketing Track at the State University of New York at New Paltz.
Dr. Z has led the merchandising, marketing, advertising, procurement, and all customer engagement areas for multiple food retail companies domestically and internationally.
Sara Williamson, Ph.D.
Faculty
SUNY College at Old Westbury
Dr. Sara Williamson is an Assistant Professor of Marketing with an expertise in consumer psychology. Her research investigates how choice, consumption, and disposal of packaged goods can be impacted by contextual cues related to product design, labeling, and retailing.
Her research has been featured in regional and national media outlets and has been awarded by the American Marketing Association for its societal impact. Currently a faculty member at The State University of New York (SUNY), Sara has been teaching undergraduate and MBA marketing courses for 13 years and has previously served as a faculty member for the Haub School of Business Food Marketing Department at Saint Joseph’s University. Sara also offers more than a decade of industry experience in sales and marketing within both private and public sectors, working with stakeholders along the value chain to foster successful relationships among retailers, restaurants, and food suppliers.