USC Masters in Food Industry Leadership Cohort

Whiteboard Sessions

Monday, September 27, 2021  |  7:15am

Levi Wingo

VP of Operations, Raley’s

Levi is an experienced operations executive with 19 years in grocery retail, leading teams and serving communities. He holds a Master’s degree in Food Industry Leadership from the USC Marshall School of Business.

Mike Stigers

CEO, Cub Foods

Mike is an industry veteran in grocery retail and supply chain with extensive experience in serving communities across the country. He has led companies and is a former CGA executive board member. He holds a Master’s degree in Food Industry Leadership from the USC Marshall School of Business.

Naomi Canty

New Business Development, Whitehall Specialties

Naomi is a CPG leader with more than 25 years of experience developing  new brands and growth strategies. She holds a Master’s degree in Food Industry Leadership from the USC Marshall School of Business.

Kelly Frederick

Senior Sales Manager, Post Consumer Brands

Kelly is a seasoned sales executive with more than 20 years of experience in the food & beverage industry. She holds a Master’s degree in Food Industry Leadership from the USC Marshall School of Business.

Jayme Violi

VP of Sales & Marketing, Faribault Foods

Jayme is an experienced sales and marketing executive with 15 years of experience in product development and private label programs. She holds a Master’s degree in Food Industry Leadership from the USC Marshall School of Business.

Rethinking the Way Food Companies Support and Rebuild the Communities We Serve

Food insecurity caused by food deserts is a wicked problem that exists in every area of this country. There are a variety of reasons food deserts are created driven by internal and external sources, but the result is the same, potential consumers are left without adequate access to healthy food. Food companies give very generously to help to fight food insecurity, but the problem continues to grow.

An opportunity exists for a non-profit joint-partnership to rally support from government, private sector and NGOs to build and operate grocery stores in food deserts creating ultra-localized partnerships.

The purpose of this session is to brainstorm ideas with CGA members for how food companies can partner to fund and build this non-profit to operate stores in food deserts to create self-sustaining community centric grocery stores that drive further economic activity and overall community benefit.