2025 Women of Influence

The Shelby-Griffin Report presents the 20th annual tribute to Women of Influence in the food industry. For 20 years, we’ve honored the outstanding women shaping the food industry—from executives and innovators to mentors and community leaders. This year’s nominees represent a diverse range of roles, backgrounds, and regions, each making a profound impact in their careers and beyond.

Explore their stories below, and join us in celebrating their achievements.

2025 Women of Influence

2025 Women of Influence

Juliana Coriddi

Regional Director of Sales Development, C.A. Ferolie

Juliana Coriddi is a dynamic leader with a proven record of driving growth and building strong client relationships in the CPG and food marketing space. She leads with strategic focus and a collaborative approach – delivering measurable impact across the region.
Her career at C.A. Ferolie highlights her rise through key roles, including director of client engagement and Wakefern account manager. In each position, Juliana delivered results while strengthening client partnerships and team performance. Her leadership helped elevate business development strategies and streamline execution across multiple accounts.
Before joining Ferolie, Juliana held business development roles at Advantage Solutions, where she gained experience in sales strategy and client service. She began her career through a competitive leadership development program, showcasing her ability to adapt, grow and lead early on.
Juliana has a degree in food marketing from Saint Joseph's University and pairs her industry expertise with a people-first mindset. Known for her communication skills, attention to detail and solution-oriented thinking, she brings out the best in every team she leads.

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2025 Women of Influence

Julie DeWolf

SVP Business Development, Category Partners

Julie DeWolf is a strong and motivating leader who has been managing high performing teams for 30 years. She always strives to understand business issues and provide solutions that not only resolve critical issues but drive revenue. In her previous role as director of shopper marketing at Sunkist Growers, her greatest achievement was developing a secondary display bin program for the company that is still in existence 20 years later. It has revolutionized the way citrus is marketed at retail, providing eye-catching graphics and educational information, including flavor attributes, to inform and enhance the consumer's purchase decisions. In addition, she revamped sales materials to provide data-driven information that gave sales the ability to sell the citrus portfolio more effectively through solution-based selling. In her current role at Category Partners, a data solutions and consumer research organization, her experience using data analytics/category management to drive revenue for clients, as well as solve their complex business issues, has made her an expert in the field. Her broad base of connections has resulted in several new customers for the company.

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2025 Women of Influence

Julie Grupe

Director of Enterprise Strategy, The Raley's Companies

During her career, Julie Grupe has evolved from a transactional manager to a transformational leader. She started her career with solid ideas and creativity but was hesitant to share either of them. Today, she leads with those and inspires others to come prepared to shine their lights. Julie is passionate about The Raley's Companies "Give Back" philosophy. In her spare time, she is involved in the Raley's Food for Families program. Julie leads with grace, courage and hope.

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2025 Women of Influence

Julie Monceaux

Store Director, Brookshire Grocery Co.

Julie Monceaux is a dedicated leader, inspiring mentor and trailblazer in her field. Julie has demonstrated leadership by fostering a workplace culture rooted in customer service, operational excellence and community engagement. Her dedication is evident in her 99 percent average mystery shop scores, a testament to her ability to exceed expectations and set a high standard for customer satisfaction. Julie was named Store Director of the Year in 2021. She is known for maintaining high standards while ensuring a smooth and efficient operation. She upholds a high level of in-stock availability while controlling shrink, demonstrating her ability to balance customer needs with operational efficiency. Her leadership not only strengthens the workforce but also ensures a pipeline of capable and confident future leaders. Julie is committed to community involvement. Each year, she sponsors a chili cook-off, bringing people together and supporting local traditions. She also leads her team in giving back during National Night Out, ensuring that water is handed out to participants, fostering a sense of connection and care in the community. Julie embodies the qualities of a Woman of Influence – strong, compassionate and a visionary. Her contributions to her workplace and community have made a lasting impact.

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2025 Women of Influence

Karin Humanik

Senior Director, Produce Merchandising, Harris Teeter

Karin Humanik joined Harris Teeter in 1998 as a category manager and served in that role until she was promoted to director of specialty foods, local, natural and organics in 2012. Karin was promoted to lead the HBC and general merchandise team in 2020 and in July 2021 to director of produce. She was then promoted to her current role in August 2023. Karin organizes and controls an assigned group of categories to optimize profit and meet marketing, financial and corporate growth objectives and aids senior staff in formulating and administering top-level organization plans to support and ensure the success of these important initiatives. Karin leads the end-to-end produce initiative, which is centered on improving the quality of products procured, delivered and sold in store to be the freshest in the market and improving the quality of the overall shopping experience and point of differentiation and value for produce as rated by customers. Karin currently sits on the Harris Teeter Women's Empowerment Group Committee, The International Fresh Produce Association Retail Council and the board of the Southeastern Produce Council. She is co-chair of the Retail Council and the president of her local homeowner's association. Karin also runs an annual fundraiser for Alzheimer's in honor of her mother.

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2025 Women of Influence

Karla Ash

VP, Human Resources, Gelson's Market

Karla Ash is an inspiration to minorities, single moms and women. Over the years, she has advanced in her career and continued her education as she pushes others in the journey of learning.

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2025 Women of Influence

Kate Mahoney

Senior Director of Integrated Business Management, Utz Brands

Kate Mahoney joined Utz in February 2022 and has been instrumental in establishing and advancing two critical departments – demand planning and supply planning. Since taking on this challenge, Kate has not only built these departments from the ground up but has also laid a solid foundation that has enabled the company's integrated business planning process.
Her leadership and expertise have enabled Utz to strengthen these functions and establish a framework that continues to drive growth and efficiency across the company. Over the past year, Kate has successfully transitioned the team from relying on spreadsheets to implementing best-in-class systems through Blue Yonder for demand and supply planning.
This system implementation has been a pivotal step in enhancing supply chain capabilities. Additionally, her efforts have unlocked the potential for the next level of supply chain enhancement by introducing systematic materials resource planning and improving the company's capability for detailed production scheduling.
These improvements position Utz well for sustained operational excellence and scalability. Kate's dedication, strategic vision and commitment to excellence have been transformative.

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2025 Women of Influence

Kathryn Mazza

SVP, Chief Marketing Officer and President, RedMedia, Hy-Vee

Kathryn Mazza is a bridge builder between brands and consumers. As Hy-Vee's chief marketing officer and president of RedMedia, Hy-Vee's full-scale retail media network, she is focused on bringing together Hy-Vee's retail media and marketing efforts to deliver more value to customers and supplier partners. An expert in retail media, Kathryn joined Hy-Vee in early 2024 to lead RedMedia and build the network's success. In January 2025, she expanded her responsibilities to also lead marketing for the nearly $14 billion retailer. In the retail media space, she and her team have developed a best-in-class experience for Hy-Vee's brand partners that centers around first-party data, strategic placement, deliberate messaging and clear measurement. To advance RedMedia's capabilities and increase clients' return on investment, she recently formed strategic alliances with several industry players, including Grocery TV and Instacart Carrot Ads to offer more placement opportunities to brand partners. As chief marketing officer, Kathryn is focused on evolving the 95-year-old retailer's brand image with an emphasis on service and value. As a marketer, she uses data to guide every decision and to understand where consumers are – and where they're heading next. Combining data with strategic messaging, she and her team aim to connect with consumers in a meaningful way on the topics that matter most to them, whether it be mealtime solutions, health recommendations or community support.

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2025 Women of Influence

Kathy Allen

Senior Manager, Community Relations, Tops Friendly Markets

Kathy Allen has been a dedicated force in community engagement since joining Tops Friendly Markets in 2009. Known for her commitment and hands-on approach, Kathy leads a team of three in the community relations department, working touphold Tops' philanthropic mission – addressing fundamental community needs through partnerships that fight hunger and improve the health and well-being of families and children.
Kathy's impact spans a wide range of nonprofits – from children's hospitals and food banks, where she serves on the board, to educational programs and veteran support initiatives. Her involvement goes beyond coordination – she rolls up her sleeves, lending physical support at events, managing donations and ensuring every initiative receives her full attention. Her dedication and passion for each cause is evident – she's consistently the first to arrive and the last to leave, ensuring every effort meets the highest standards.
Outside of her role at Tops, Kathy continues to give back. She is chairwoman of the finance committee and a lector at Christ Our Light Church, a member of the Greater Pulaski Area Community Foundation and serves on the Village of Pulaski Planning Board. Kathy exemplifies leadership through service. Her influence lifts up communities, inspires others and makes a lasting difference.

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2025 Women of Influence

Kathy Levingston

Partner Relations Senior Manager, Brookshire Grocery Co.

Kathy Levingston provides human resources support for the company. Kathy is instrumental in implementing programs and practices that foster a positive workplace culture and uphold organizational values. Kathy conducts and oversees HR investigations and advises company leaders on personnel matters such as hiring, performance management and promotions. In addition, she manages partner recognition programs. Kathy introduced a part-time years of service recognition program and launched a monthly partner relations newsletter. She played a key role in the development and implementation of the Raise Retention and Customer Service Stars programs and contributed to the selection of a new HCM software system. Kathy is committed to professional development and industry engagement. She is a graduate of the FMI Food Retail Leader certification program and represents the company at local SHRM chapter meetings. She was recently honored with a CORE Partner Award, a peer-nominated recognition for those who exemplify the company's core values. Kathy also is involved in community service, supporting initiatives such as the Salvation Army Angel Tree, the United Way and the FRESH 15 charity run. Her passion for fostering a strong workplace culture, combined with her leadership, strategic vision and commitment to community involvement, make her an invaluable asset to BGC.

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