The Illuminators organization has announced its annual charity golf tournament will continue under a new name – the Christianson Classic. The event will be held May 6 during the annual WAFC Convention at the JW Marriott in Palm Desert, California.
The tournament has been renamed in honor of Paul and Carole Christianson, who have helped advance the food industry through education and leadership over the past 45 years.
More details about the event will be released soon.
The Christiansons were the first husband and wife to hold the Headlite officer position (president) in Illuminator history – Carole, the first woman in Illuminator history, in 1998 and Paul in 2006. Paul was also the first president of the Illuminators Educational Foundation.
The couple met in 1984 at a WAFC Convention in San Antonio on the greeters committee and were married seven months later.
Both were involved in numerous industry organizations throughout their careers. Paul Christianson passed in February 2021 from COVID-19. Carole Christianson, recently retired, served as the COO for the WAFC for more than 15 years. To read the full story of her retirement by The Shelby Report, click here.
The Illuminators is a national nonprofit organization of vendors and suppliers dedicated to developing and enhancing key relationships within the grocery industry, providing opportunities for education and leadership, and supporting the Illuminators Educational Foundation.
For more information, visit illuminators.org.
To read more association news from The Shelby Report, click here.
