1:00 - 2:45 pm     NGA Foundation Board of Regents Meeting (Board Members Only)

3:00 - 5:00 pm     NGA Executive Committee Meeting (Committee Members Only)

7:30 - 9:00 pm     Welcome Reception (All Attendees)

7:00 - 8:00 am      NGA Board of Directors Breakfast (Board Members & Invited Guests Only)

8:00 am - 10:45 am     NGA Board of Directors Meeting (Board Members & Invited Guests Only)

8:00 am - 11:30 am     Chicago Discovery Store Tour (optional add-on experience for attendees)

11:30 am     The Independent Advantage: What 5,000 Shoppers Reveal About Grocery's Next Chapter

Consumers are telling us two things at once; they love what makes independent grocers different, and exactly where we need to evolve. This session will reveal findings for the first consumer sentiment study, conducted by NGA & The Feedback Group. 

Doug Madenberg, Principal, The Feedback Group

12:15 pm          Awards Presentation Lunch

Presentation of the Industry Service Award & Pinnacle PAC Award

1:15 pm     Economic Industry Outlook

Decode today's most important economic indicators, explain how they affect consumer purchasing behavior, and provide a forward-looking assessment of the risks and opportunities likely to emerge over the coming year.

Zack Fritz, Chief Operating Officer, Sage Policy Group, Inc. 

2:00 pm     The New CPG Playbook: Consolidation, Scale and Winning the Shelf

The consumer packaged goods landscape is changing rapidly. This session will unpack insights into how scale, innovation, category growth strategies, and retailer partnerships are evolving in a new era of CPG competition.

Tim Lowe, President, Lowes Food

Denny Belcastro, VP Industry & Customer Development, Kimberly Clark

Daniel Mathieu, National Grocery Director, The Clorox Company

2:30 pm     Networking Break

3:00 pm     The Conscious Consumer: Wellness, Values & Emerging Product Trends

This session explores the rapid evolution of health-focused shopping behaviors, functional foods, transparency expectations, and premium natural product growth opportunities.

Megan Nelson, Vice President, Strategic Partners, SPINS

3:45 pm     Grocery 2030: Building the Future Shoppers Actually Want

For decades, industry experts have predicted that technology would fundamentally change grocery retail. While technology has transformed operations, consumers continue to seek trust, relationships, service, and a sense of belonging. This thought-provoking discussion uses the latest Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council report to examines why human connection remains grocery retail's most valuable asset and how successful grocers will use technology should be used to strengthen that connection.

Parag Shah, Co-Founder & CEO, Think Blue Consulting

Michael Sansolo, President, Sansolo Solutions

Caroline Catoe, President, ECRS

Tyler Simmons, VP Revenue, Flashfood

5:00 pm     Networking Reception

6:30 pm      NGA Board of Directors Reception & Dinner (Board Members & invited guests)

7:30 – 8:00 am     Networking Breakfast

8:00 – 9:45 am   Ready for What's Next: Rethinking Talent in Grocery

The grocery store is becoming more complex—and employee are at the center of it all. Team members are expected to deliver exceptional customer service while navigating new technology, digital fulfillment, food safety requirements, loss prevention challenges, workplace safety concerns and increasingly diverse customer expectations. This session will explore how grocers can rethink training and enablement—not simply teaching employees what to do, but giving them the skills, technology and confidence to make better decisions on the floor and through customer interactions.

9:15 - 9:45 am     Breakout Sessions

• The Rise of Extended Producer Responsibility: Implications for Grocery

  As Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws gain momentum across the U.S., grocery retailers face new operational and compliance considerations. Gain a practical understanding of the evolving landscape and the strategic actions retailers should take now. 

  Cory Martin, EVP Fibre Box Association

10:00 - 10:30 am     Breakout Sessions

• NGA's New Frontier: Bringing the Fight to the Statehouse

  State legislatures have become the fastest-moving front in food and grocery policy, often outpacing Washington on issues like SNAP, surveillance pricing, and grocery-specific taxes. This session introduces NGA's new state affairs strategy: how NGA is building lobbying presence, coalition relationships, and rapid-response capacity in priority states, and what that means for independent grocers no matter where they operate. Attendees will leave with a clear picture of NGA's state-level priorities and practical steps they can take today to strengthen their own voice at home.

  Stephanie Johnson, SVP, Head of Government Affairs & Macy Lemon, VP State Government Affairs

• The Future of DSD: Rethinking Inventory, Labor & Shelf Execution

  Grocery retailers and suppliers are under pressure to control costs, improve execution and maximize every dollar of working capital and store labor. This session will examine the economics of DSD from both sides of the trading relationship, exploring inventory ownership, labor, shrink, replenishment and shelf execution—and how scan-based trading and greater store-level visibility can improve in-stocks, reduce retailer touches and strengthen supplier accountability.

  Ann Visser- Depp, Partner, Repositrak; Derek Hannum, Chief Customer Officer, Repositrak; Daryl Lance SVP Sales & Marketing, SPAR

10:45 - 11:30 am     Networking Break

11:30-12:30 pm     Keynote Session: Leadership Under Pressure An Astro SEAL's Perspective

Chris Cassidy, NASA Astronaut & Navy SEAL

12:30-1:15 pm     Lunch

1:15 - 2:00 pm     Breakout Sessions

• Driving Profitable Customer Experiences Through Connected Data

  Great customer experiences depend on connected data. Yet many retailers struggle with disconnected systems across loyalty, eCommerce, POS, fulfillment, and operations. This session explores how connected data, integrated applications, and aligned processes can reduce friction, improve efficiency, and drive stronger revenue and margin outcomes—while minimizing unnecessary costs and operational risk.

• Practical AI for Independent Grocers: Real World Applications You Can Use Today

  AI is moving from experimentation to everyday retail operations, helping retailers improve productivity, decision-making, and customer experiences. This fast-paced session features three retailers sharing real-world AI applications, lessons learned, and measurable results across areas such as merchandising, operations, marketing, labor, and customer engagement. The session will also explore how retailers can build a practical AI strategy, including setting priorities, establishing governance, and creating responsible-use guardrails.

  Kristin Popp, President, Woodman's Markets

• The Next Generation on Food, Brands & Businesses 

  What do tomorrow’s consumers, employees, and leaders really think about the food industry? In this candid, interactive session, food marketing college students take the stage to share their perspectives on the issues shaping the next generation of shoppers and talent.

  Dr. Russell Zwanka & Food Marketing Students from Western Michigan University; Daryn McDaniel, Samantha Steiner, Julia Naumowicz

2:15 - 3:00 pm     Beyond the Family Business: How Women are Building the Next Generation of Grocery 

For many independent grocers, ownership transitions are among the most important decisions they'll ever make. This panel brings together female owners and operators who have inherited, purchased, expanded, or transformed grocery businesses. 

Kristie Maurer, Vice President, Maurer's Market

Katie Penny, EVP Store Operations, Food City, K-VA-T

Ashley Harris, President, Stepherson's Inc. 

Nikki Carver, President & CEO, Super C Mart

Jenny Osner, Owner, Hired Man's Grocery

3:00 - 5:00 pm     NGAF Fundraiser Event: Lake Michigan Cruise

7:30am – 8:00am     Networking Breakfast

8:00 am  The Political Landscape Ahead of the 2026 Midterm Elections

Doug Heye, Founder of Douglas Media; Former Republican National Committee Communications Director; Former Deputy Chief of Staff to the House Majority Leader. 

9:00 am  Government Relations Update: Navigating a Pivotal Election Year

NGA's Government Affairs Head Stephanie Johnson, RDN will brief executives on where the association's advocacy stands heading into the 2026 midterms and what a shift in Congressional control could mean for the road ahead. The session will cover NGA's federal engagement and the launch of its new state affairs function, funded by Board investment earlier this year, including progress made to date and what members can expect next.

Stephanie Johnson, Senior Vice President, Head of Government Affairs, NGA

9:30 am     Networking Break

10:00 am     The Emerging Grocery Growth Engine: Know the Shopper, Perfect the Shelf

Winning in tomorrow's grocery market requires more than data. It requires the ability to understand shoppers and act on opportunities in real time. Discover how AI-powered shopper intelligence and shelf intelligence are helping retailers connect demand signals with store execution, identify missed sales opportunities, and make faster, smarter decisions. Learn how leading organizations are creating a continuous feedback loop that improves availability, boosts category performance, and strengthens customer loyalty.

Thom Blischok, CEO & Chairman, The Dialogic Group

Alex Onsager, Head of B2B GTM, Pogo

Claudia Molina, VP of Client Success, Simbe

10:45 am     From Information to Influence: The Strategic Power of Retail Data

Data has become one of the most valuable assets in retail, yet many organizations are not fully capitalizing on its potential. Join this session for an executive-level discussion on how retailers can transform data from an operational byproduct into a strategic advantage.

Nicole Collida Davis, Managing Director & SVP, US Retail

Jena Sowers, CEO, Alliance Retail Group

11:15 am     The New Rules of Consumer Engagement

As consumer expectations evolve, leading organizations across hospitality, dining, sports, travel, and entertainment are being forced to rethink how they attract customers, earn loyalty, and create value.

Dan Funk, President & CEO, Associated Wholesale Grocers

Chef Jamie Mammano, Chef & Founder of Mi Nina