Association to be led by Executive Leadership Team and Senior Development Team

The California Grocers Association announces a restructure and additions to its management team.  At the start of the new year, the California Grocers Association’s senior management team initiated a process to expand its leadership and develop new potential from within the organization.

In place of the Senior Management Team, which was comprised of CEO and President Ron Fong, in addition to vice president-level staff, the Association will now be led jointly by the Executive Leadership Team and Senior Development Team. 

The Executive Leadership Team includes CGA CEO Ron Fong; Sr. Vice President, Membership, Sales and Marketing, Doug Scholz; and VP, Government Relations, Kelly Ash. As a group, the Executive Leadership Team will focus on furthering the Association’s strategic aims.

The Senior Development Team includes Sr. Director, Events and Sponsorship, Beth Wright; Sr. Director, Communications, Nate Rose; and Director, Administration and Human Resources, Jennifer Gold. All three Senior Development Team members are new to CGA’s leadership structure. Together, and in coordination with the Executive Leadership Team, they will focus on the Association’s internal operations.

“I’m excited to add this new generation of leaders to the management of our association” said CGA CEO Ron Fong. “It’s vital for the future of the Association to continue to grow our internal talent. The three members of the Senior Development Team are association veterans and demonstrate the ability to lead our association’s operations and staff.  Additionally, by separating the strategic leadership from the operational side, the Executive Leadership Team will be better able to work on some of the longer-term initiatives the CGA Board hopes to accomplish in the near future.”

Managing Conflict Through De-Escalation: A Deeper Dive

This March, the CGA Enterprise Risk Protection Committee is excited to host a follow-up three-hour webinar that builds on the highly popular “de-escalation tactics” presentation by the prestigious firm of Wicklander-Zulawski at the 2020 CGA Strategic Conference.

Last fall’s presentation received high marks by conference attendees with multiple requests for follow-up instruction. This must-attend webinar is designed for all grocery associates and again features Joe Wolf from Wicklander-Zulawski. 

In light of the unique challenges created by COVID-19, this highly informative webinar will provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to formulate plans and take effective measures to minimize conflicts and resolve disputes before they escalate.

Topics to be addressed include:

• Causes of Catastrophic Outcomes
• Applying the Recovery Mindset
• Seeking Better Outcomes – What Does Success Look Like?
• Fundamentals of Conflict Resolution

The program will explore the nature of these incidents and offer guidance on recognizing signs of emerging conflict and provide ways to prepare the workforce to peacefully and successfully arrive at solutions agreeable to all concerned.

The presentation will not be a lesson in tactics or hard skills used to fend-off physical attacks. Rather, it is designed to provide a few simple techniques and a system of experiential learning intended to improve the participants’ abilities to prepare for and peacefully resolve such incidents.

The webinar takes place March 9, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., followed by a bonus fourth hour for those wanting additional instruction. For more information, contact Dave Heylen, and view this informational brochure for registration details.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Looking to stand out from the crowd? We have very limited Sponsorship Opportunities available on a first come basis to connect with the top Enterprise Risk Protection, Loss Prevention, Safety Management executives from CGA member companies. Learn more about sponsoring by contacting Maria Tillman.