The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association has named four new members to its board of directors: Paul Brauer, Tom Charley, Deriece Harrington and Shawn Rinnier.
“What a great way to kick off a new year, welcoming these respected and active members of the food retail industry to our PFMA Board of Directors,” said Alex Baloga, president and CEO of the PFMA. “We thank Paul, Tom, Deriece and Shawn for their dedication to the association and look forward to benefitting from their perspectives and expertise.”
Bauer is president and COO for Brown’s Super Stores Inc., a 12-store supermarket chain trading under the ShopRite and Fresh Grocer banners and part of the Wakefern Food Corp. He works with many Philadelphia community-based organizations and nonprofit programs. For several years, Bauer has worked on job training programs and placement to give ex-offenders a new beginning when re-entering society. He has been a guest speaker at events related to his work with employing ex-offenders and advocating for legislation in the area of reducing recidivism.
Charley is a fourth-generation grocery retailer out of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. The Charley family operates three Shop N’ Save stores. He grew up in the food industry and works alongside his brother, Mike, and father, Ray Charley. He serves on the government relations committee for the National Grocers Association and is on the advisory board for the Shop N Save group, an 80-store grocery chain based in western Pennsylvania.
As director of government affairs, Harrington represents PepsiCo before state and local governments in the mid-Atlantic. She engages with community and government officials while developing and maintaining relationships with stakeholders in her region and around the country. She previously worked as deputy executive director of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, where she managed the day-to-day operations of the caucus and critical relationships with corporate and nonprofit partners, as well as legislative members from around the country.
Rinnier owns and operates 20 supermarkets in the tri-state area. Thirteen of the stores are in Pennsylvania throughout Philadelphia, Delaware County, Montgomery County and Western Pennsylvania regions, operating under the banners Save a Lot and GreatValu markets. Save Philly Stores specialize in catering to underserved residents by delivering fresh, healthy foods at affordable prices.
PFMA is led by a 37-member board of directors that includes retail and employee members. This volunteer group shapes the association’s agenda. Members are elected to unlimited three-year terms.
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