The National Grocers Association has promoted Kari Wolkwitz to the newly created position of director of membership engagement and growth.
In her new role, Wolkwitz will oversee engagement strategies for NGA’s retailer and wholesaler members, leading initiatives to drive participation in NGA events and share groups, strengthen member involvement in advocacy efforts, promote NGA programs and deepen overall member engagement. She will also guide NGA’s retailer recruitment strategy.
“Kari has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and a deep commitment to advancing NGA’s mission,” said Jonathan Downey, NGA COO and SVP.
“Her ability to build strong relationships, collaborate across teams, and deliver meaningful results has strengthened both NGA and the independent community grocers we serve each day. She is uniquely prepared for this role, and we are excited to see her lead our membership engagement and growth efforts.”
The position aligns with existing membership engagement efforts and will be supported through NGA’s partnership with Clarion, with emphasis on increasing retailer and wholesaler attendance at The NGA Show.
“I’m honored to step into this new role and continue supporting NGA’s incredible community of independent grocers,” Wolkwitz said. “The relationships I’ve built and the insights I’ve gained working across the organization have shown me how impactful strong engagement can be. I’m excited to help deepen that engagement and support NGA’s growth in the years ahead.”
Since joining NGA in 2023, Wolkwitz has led initiatives within the NGA Foundation and its grant programs. Her experience working with retailers through SEMTAC, which offers assistance with SNAP Online and EBT payment modernization efforts, has provided insights into the independent grocery industry.
NGA is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale community grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. The independent grocery sector generates more than $250 billion in sales and 1.1 million jobs.
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