The National Grocers Association (NGA) has announced that William H. McRaven, retired U.S. Navy four-star admiral, former chancellor of the University of Texas System and author, will be the opening keynote speaker for The NGA Show 2025.
“We are honored to have Admiral McRaven as our keynote speaker,” said Greg Ferrara, president and CEO of NGA. “His vast experience in leadership and strategy offers invaluable lessons for independent grocers facing the pressure of an evolving industry. We couldn’t be more excited to have him motivate our community.”
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Produced by NGA and Clarion Events, The NGA Show is set for Feb. 23-25 at Caesars Forum Convention Center in Las Vegas. The opening keynote session is sponsored by The Kraft Heinz Co.
During his 37-year military career, McRaven commanded U.S. Special Operations Forces, taking charge of the U.S. Special Operations Command. His career included combat during Desert Storm and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He commanded the troops who captured Saddam Hussein and rescued Capt. Richard Philips. McRaven also is credited with leading the Osama bin Laden mission in 2011.
As chancellor of the University of Texas System, McRaven oversaw 14 institutions that educated 220,000 students and employed more than 100,000 faculty, healthcare professionals, researchers and staff. His leadership in military and civilian roles provides a unique perspective that will resonate with independent grocers navigating today’s complex retail landscape.
McRaven has been recognized numerous times for his leadership. In 2011, he was the first runner-up for TIME magazine’s “Person of the Year.” In 2012, Foreign Policy magazine named McRaven one of the nation’s “Top 10 Foreign Policy Experts.” In 2014, Politico magazine named McRaven one of the “Politics 50,” citing his leadership as instrumental in cutting through Washington bureaucracy.
He has translated his leadership experiences into several books, including the 2023 No. 1 New York Times bestseller, “The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy).” The book draws on experiences from McRaven’s life, including navigating crises, management debates, organizational transitions and ethical dilemmas, to provide readers with the most important leadership lessons he has learned over his 40 years of service.
“Admiral McRaven’s keynote address is the perfect event to lead off The NGA Show 2025,” said Jamie Reesby, VP of grocery at Clarion Events. “His practical insights on leadership and overcoming adversity will empower attendees to enhance their operations and leadership practices, helping them thrive.”
The NGA Show remains the event for independent supermarket operations, wholesalers, manufacturers and suppliers. Alongside McRaven’s keynote, attendees can look forward to a lineup of educational sessions, innovative exhibits and networking opportunities.
