The NGA Show 2027 Exhibitor List

<p>Bridger Oswald is the Systems Administrator at Broulim's Supermarkets LLC, bringing over eight years of experience in the grocery industry. Having grown up surrounded by and working in the retail environment, he possesses a deep understanding of the unique technological needs within this sector. Bridger graduated with a degree in Computer Information Technology and currently provides full retail technology support for 22 locations across Idaho and Wyoming. His expertise ensures that operational systems run smoothly, facilitating efficient service delivery and enhanced customer and employee satisfaction.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

<p>Craig Gottwals is an employee benefits consultant and healthcare attorney who spends his days tearing apart bloated health plans and rebuilding them to actually serve employers and employees. He’s designed and managed aggressive, cost-cutting strategies for independent grocers, ESOPs, and mid-market employers across the country, often delivering 20–40% savings without watering down benefits. Craig brings real claims data, real case studies, and a no-nonsense, plain-English approach to help employers finally take control of their healthcare spend.</p>

John Ross is responsible for domestic and global operations for IGA, the world’s largest independent supermarket network with nearly 6,500 IGA supermarkets in more than 30 countries worldwide. Previously, he has served as president at Inmar Promotions network; CEO, IPG Shopper Sciences and president of IPG Emerging Media Lab. As well, he has worked in operations, merchandising and marketing; new, traditional and digital media; and analytics and big data for some of the largest brands in the world including Coke, P&G, Schwab, Publix, Walmart, Chrysler, Fiat, Sony, Bose, Google, AOL, among others. Ross is the co-author of the Google Book ZMOT: Zero Moment of Truth, and of the recently-published Fire in the Zoo, a book about shopper influence, marketing mania, retailer chaos, advertising pitfalls and consumer confidence. He has BA, BS and MBA degrees from Tulane University in New Orleans, and serves on a number of retail industry boards, including Food Marketing Institute, National Grocers Association, Consumer Goods Forum, and Inmar.

<p>Elise Kunkel has been in the grocery business for nearly 20 years. Currently, Elise serves as Marketing Lead, Independent Accounts at SpartanNash, a member of the C&S Wholesale Grocers family of companies. In her role as Marketing Lead, Independent Accounts, Elise shares her passion and expertise to help independent grocers navigate the path to an integrated, cohesive digital presence. She began her career in the grocery industry during her senior year at Bethel University, when she worked as a marketing intern at Martin’s Super Markets. Elise then spent seven years working in stores and held a variety of positions – from bagger to department head. From there, Elise transitioned to the Martin’s Corporate Office and wore several different hats on the Marketing team before SpartanNash acquired Martin’s in 2018. Elise currently resides in South Bend, IN with her husband, three kids and their cavapoo.</p>

<p>Emilio Mignucci serves as Vice President of Di Bruno Bros. Brand at Wakefern Food Corp., the nation's largest retailer-owned cooperative with supermarket banners that include ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage, Fairway Market, Morton Williams and Di Bruno Bros. In his role, Mignucci oversees the Di Bruno Bros. Brand development and growth strategy.</p> <p>He joined Wakefern in 2024, following the cooperative’s acquisition of the Di Bruno Bros. portfolio of 65 branded Italian and European specialty products. A third-generation grocer and Di Bruno family member, Mignucci grew up in his family’s business and helped grow the specialty grocer into a much loved Philadelphia-brand. He previously served as Vice President of Culinary Pioneering for Di Bruno Bros., and under his leadership the family business evolved from one small store to six retail locations in the Philadelphia area with a strong omni-channel and wholesale business focused on specialty foods, artisan cheese, natural wine and craft beer, gift collections, catering services and more. </p> <p>An expert cheesemonger, Mignucci also tapped into his passion for food to expand the Di Bruno Bros. cheese selections, both in-store and online, from 50 varieties to well over 1,000 from all over the world. The Di Bruno Bros. product line includes some of the finest cheeses and spreads, signature meats and specialty pastas, sauces, oils, vinegars, crackers, sweets and more.</p> <p>He has been a member of the American Cheese Society since 2002 and helped develop the Certified Cheese Professional Exam, the nation’s highest standard for cheese professionals. Emilio also served on the board of the American Cheese Society from 2012 to 2017. In 2015, he helped launch The Good Food Retailers Collaborative – a group of independently owned markets that support American craft food producers. He has also served as a Board of Director for the Specialty Food Association from 2016 to

<p>With a passion for the grocery industry and a career spanning several decades, Kristin currently holds the role of Executive Vice President at Woodman's Food Market and serves as the president of Women Grocers of America. </p>

<p>Aeron spearheads the Independent Retailer division at Flipp, where his expertise lies in forging strategic partnerships with a myriad of retailers throughout North America. Over the past decade, he has been instrumental in guiding hundreds of retailers in redefining their circular and merchandising tactics for the digital age. From empowering large-scale retailers with over 1,000 stores to assisting individual operators, Aeron and his adept team have navigated the swift transition from traditional print to dynamic digital platforms across several retailer segments and profiles. </p> <p><br />In today's landscape, the significance of digital circulars in America has reached unprecedented heights, and Aeron is committed to collaborating with NGA members to ensure they are optimally positioned for success in this realm. Beyond his professional endeavors, Aeron recently embarked on the rewarding journey of parenthood as a proud father to a delightful set of twins.</p>

<p>With almost 20 years of experience in the lighting and retail design industry, Pierluigi Gusmani has worked alongside leading retailers worldwide to redefine how light and store design drive performance and customer experience.</p> <p>A Mechanical Engineer from Politecnico di Milano, Pierluigi was part of the founding team that managed the start-up of Imoon, playing a key role in its evolution from a small Italian company into a global leader in retail lighting, now operating in more than 72 countries.</p> <p>As Director of Imoon International, he leads the company’s global strategy and has also been deeply involved in technological development and innovation, shaping products that combine engineering precision, design creativity, and energy efficiency.<br />He firmly believes that light is not just illumination — it’s emotion, storytelling, and business performance.</p> <p>Pierluigi’s approach bridges technology and design, helping retailers around the world turn lighting into a strategic asset that strengthens brand identity and drives sales growth.</p>

<p>Matthäus Streitberger joined the Italian design & shopfitting company Schweitzer in 2016. He learned project management from the ground up before quickly advancing to lead major international projects in Ireland, Thailand, Egypt and USA. After initially coordinating global fashion and home retail projects, his interests pivoted towards the food-sector and specialized in grocery and gastronomy projects. His current client portfolio includes the likes of Foodland Farms in Hawaii, Whole Foods Market, Balls Food Stores in the Kansas City area, De Cicco & Sons in NY and many more. He has contributed to developing flexible store systems that allow rapid adaptation of assortments and entire departments. “No project is the same, just as no client is the same—culturally or socio-economically. That’s what fascinates me,” he says.</p>

<p>Adam Zimmerman is Co-Founder of Ideal. Adam is responsible for the ideation and development of the Ideal Digital Circular + Distribution Platform, a game changer in the circular industry. He has led his team in building a state of the art customer experience, distribution system, analytical reporting, backend content management portal, and revolutionary Retail Media Network. Adam’s passion for perfection combined with the immeasurable talent of the Ideal team has resulted in the fastest growing marketing platform in retail. Adam is based in Cleveland, OH where he lives with his wife and seven children.</p>

<p>With a background in Architecture and a Master’s in Lighting Design and LED Technologies from Politecnico di Milano, Cansin Demirli has shaped a path where architecture, psychology, and light converge. Early in her journey, she discovered the expressive power of illumination, its ability to guide perception, evoke emotion, and transform the unseen into the unforgettable and chose to build her career around this quiet magic.</p> <p>Over the past eight years as an architect and designer, including five years shaping global experiences at Imoon, she has contributed to projects across continents. From world-renowned brands to intimate boutiques, her work is defined by imagination, precision, and a respect for the emotional dimension of architecture and light.</p> <p>For her, lighting is more than a technical discipline; it is psychological choreography—a subtle yet powerful language that reveals beauty, strengthens identity, and elevates human experience. Blending architectural vision with an intuitive understanding of how people feel and behave in space, she creates environments where light becomes emotion, design becomes memory, and every illuminated moment tells a story.</p>

<p>Christine is a Senior Vice President of Commercial at C&S where she works with our East Coast customers and internal teams to deliver strong service and growth.   During her 20 years at C&S she has worked in IS, Corporate Projects, Retail Services, Customer Service and Sales.  She sits on the Board of the Massachusetts Food Association and the NGA Government Relations Committee.</p> <p>She is passionate about mentoring leaders at all stages of their career and helping them achieve the success they want..</p> <p>Christine graduated from Plymouth State University with a degree in Secondary Education.  She holds an Executive MBA from MIT Sloan and the Public Leadership Credential from   Harvard Kennedy School.  She lives in Keene, New Hampshire, with her husband Scott.</p>

<p>Nick Nickitas is a seasoned entrepreneur who has built successful software startups across North America and around the world. He currently serves as General Manager, Independent Grocery & Mid-Market Retail Partnerships at Instacart, where he leads strategy and business development for these vital segments of the grocery industry.</p> <p>Prior to Instacart, Nick was the Founder and CEO of Rosie, a leading e-commerce platform that empowered local grocers with ecommerce, mobile apps, and digital tools to compete with national chains and online marketplaces. Rosie was acquired by Instacart in September 2022.</p> <p>Nick is passionate about education and industry advocacy. He has taught entrepreneurship and strategy at Cornell University and Lehigh University, and currently serves on the NGA Foundation Board of Regents and as Chairman of the ROFDA Advisory Council.</p>

<p>Samantha Johnston is the Chief Marketing Officer for Clark’s Markets overseeing all aspects of marketing, advertising, audience engagement, community relations, sponsorships/donations, and public relations for 10 stores. She is an accomplished senior media executive, consultant, entrepreneur, and board member with more than 20 years in marketing, advertising, and digital technology.</p> <p> </p> <p>She has previously served as the General Manager for a media company operating daily newspapers throughout Colorado, as the Chief of Service Excellence and Chief Human Resources Officer for a hospital, business revenue and strategy consultant and leadership development coach. She previously served for seven years as a firefighter/EMT and Training Officer with Craig Fire/Rescue and was promoted in 2009 to Lieutenant – the first female line officer in the department’s 88-year history.</p> <p> </p> <p>She holds a B.A. degree in Journalism from Colorado State University and an M.B.A. from Regis University in Denver. She also holds a Society of Human Resources Senior Professional Certification.</p>

<p>Taylor Grissinger is the Director of Marketing at Dietz & Watson.</p> <p>In this role, Taylor leads the development and execution of brand and shopper marketing strategies, ensuring quality and consistency across all markets and branded channels, supporting the fresh perimeter and broader deli category.</p> <p>Taylor’s passion and expertise lie in creating impactful shopper experiences in-store. She has spearheaded the development of various shopper marketing campaigns and supported the implementation of innovative merchandising solutions, thriving in environments that encourage collaboration and creative, out-of-the-box thinking.</p> <p>She offers a solution-oriented approach with a focus on delivering a premium brand experience. </p> <p>Taylor is a proud graduate of Saint Joseph’s University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Food Marketing. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the IDDBA. </p>