Like California’s rich culture of food, the CGA Strategic Conference is fresh, fun, innovative, and committed to delivering on quality without compromising efficiency. Every year, hundreds of professionals representing the broad spectrum of the California grocery industry convene for three days in Palm Springs to collaboratively improve the industry and plan for its future. Our conference team is dedicated to hosting an event that celebrates and inspires California grocery to continue to deliver the best to its customers.

Join us this September for three super-charged days featuring cutting-edge presenters, rewarding forum discussions, and other top-notch educational programming designed to propel your business forward. Make sure to take advantage of standout networking opportunities such as the private, pre-arranged meetings with retailers included in our sponsorship packages.

Each year, we combine these foundational elements of conference success with exciting new events that anticipate the changing trends and direction of the industry. 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.

“There is no other conference where one is able to learn nearly as much about the current state of the CA grocery industry, as this one. That and the fact that you leave the conference with a very thorough understanding of the marketing strategies for major manufacturers & suppliers, for the following year. The entire conference is extremely well planned, and executed.”

Kurt Erickson
Vallarta Supermarkets

2015 CGA Strategic Conference Planning Committee

  • Joe Falvey (CGA Board Chair)
    Executive VP & President Market Centre
    Unified Grocers, Inc.
  • Raul Aguilar
    Sr. Director, Retail Sales
    Anheuser-Busch InBev
  • Dennis Belcastro
    VP, Industry Affairs & Customer Development
    Kimberly-Clark Corporation
  • Paul Cooke
    VP, Trade & Industry Development
    Nestle Purina PetCare
  • Brent Cotton
    Director, Customer & Industry Affairs
    The Hershey Company
  • Kevin Davis
    Chairman, President & CEO
    Bristol Farms/Lazy Acres
  • Richard Draeger
    Owner
    Draeger’s Supermarkets, Inc.
  • Diana Godfrey
    Group VP, Sales & Merchandising
    Smart & Final Stores
  • Arthur D. Jackson, Jr.
    VP General Administration
    Costco Wholesale
  • Casey McQuaid
    Director, Customer Development
    E & J Gallo Winery
  • Omar Milbis
    Director, Sales & Marketing
    Rio Ranch Markets
  • Shannon Nadasdy
    Sr. VP, Retail Development & Client Support
    Financial Supermarkets, Inc.
  • Mark Olejnik
    Sales Manager
    C&H Sugar Company/Domino Foods Inc.
  • Chris Podesto
    Vice President, Marketing
    Food4Less/Rancho San Miguel Markets
  • Bob Richardson
    Director, Sales, Customer Development
    The Clorox Company
  • Craig Rosenblum
    Partner
    Willard Bishop Consulting, Ltd.
  • Dennis Spiller
    VP, National Sales
    Jelly Belly Candy Co.
  • Kori Tuggle-Dinner
    VP, Marketing
    Church Brothers Produce, LLC
  • Jim Wallace
    VP, Retail Initiatives
    Albertsons
  • Kevin Konkel
    Committee Chair
    SVP Operations
    Raley’s Family of Fine Stores
  • Teresa Anaya
    Manager, Human Resources
    Northgate Gonzalez Markets
  • Vic Chiono
    VP Sales, West USA
    Coca-Cola Refreshments
  • Darrell Costello
    Manager, Reusable Bags
    Roplast Industries Inc.
  • Willie Crocker
    Director, Retail Customers South
    Bimbo Bakeries USA
  • Dave Dimond
    Senior VP, Sales
    Milton’s Baking Company
  • Jim French
    President, Northern California
    Co-Sales
  • Michael Golub
    Sr. Director, Marketing & Sales
    Administration
    C&S Wholesale Grocers
  • Dave Jones
    VP, Industry Initiatives
    Kellogg Company
  • Dave Madden
    Regional Chain Director
    MillerCoors
  • Dan Meyer
    EVP, Retail Operations
    Stater Bros. Markets
  • Philip Miller
    VP West Region
    C & S Wholesale Grocers
  • Hee-Sook Nelson
    VP, Customer Relations, Employee Development
    Gelson’s Markets
  • Keith Olscamp
    VP, Industry Relations & Trade Marketing
    Campbell Soup Company
  • Veronica Rendon
    Business Developer Manager
    Alta Dena Certified Dairy
  • Glen Roeper
    Dir., National Accounts, Safeway
    Snyder’s-Lance, Inc.
  • Julie Sanchez
    Administrative Assistant
    Whole Foods Market
  • Dirk Stump
    Vice President
    Stump’s Market
  • Jim Van Gorkom
    SVP, Sales & Marketing
    NuCal Foods

A note from our 2015 Conference Chair:

“The CGA conference is an opportunity every company in the California Food Industry should seize. The ability to connect at a rapid pace with multiple existing and new business relationships is a win for all concerned.”

Kevin Konkel
Senior Vice President, Operations
Raley’s