The Shelby-Griffin Report presents the 21st annual tribute to Women of Influence in the food industry. For 21 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.
2026 Women of Influence
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2026 Women of InfluenceLiz Casas
District Manager, Ralphs
Read MoreLiz Casas' career in the food industry spans 36 years, and her 11 years of exceptional service as a district manager demonstrate her unwavering commitment to developing people, elevating store performance and shaping the next generation of leaders.
Casas has had a profound impact on leadership development across the Ralphs organization. Many of today's district managers were mentored by her and their growth and success are direct reflections of her influence. She fosters an environment where professional development, work‑life balance and shared success are prioritized and she articulates the company's vision in a way that inspires teams to feel valued and motivated.
Casas' leadership is equally evident in her operational excellence. She has received multiple best‑in‑class awards for composite score results and customer experience - clear evidence of her ability to deliver profitable, controllable performance while maintaining an unwavering focus on delivering best‑in‑class customer service. She leads by example, championing a simple and powerful philosophy: When we keep the customer at the center of everything we do, loyalty and strong sales naturally follow.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Casas contributes to communities and demonstrates creative, people‑first thinking in every initiative she leads. Her influence is felt across her teams, her peers and our stores.
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2026 Women of InfluenceLorena Aguilar
Division Operations Manager, Food 4 Less/Foods Co.
Read MoreLorena Aguilar's leadership is centered on supporting people and building partnerships that help stores succeed. She provides operational support across multiple districts, ensuring teams have the resources needed to deliver for customers and associates.
A key part of Aguilar's impact is building relationships so stores receive the right support at the right time. She works with partners across operations, facilities, food safety and merchandising to coordinate solutions and remove barriers. She brings the right groups together quickly to clarify priorities and help stores focus on a clear plan. She is known for consistency, responsiveness and a focus on follow-through.
People development is a core element of Aguilar's leadership. She sets clear expectations, coaches on effective store support and reinforces leadership behaviors that build trust and accountability. She believes strong performance starts with strong leaders and she takes pride in helping others grow.
Community impact matters to Aguilar, as grocery retail is essential in everyday life. She never hesitates to donate her time to efforts that strengthen families and communities through food donation.
She leads with humility, integrity and commitment to teamwork. By building cross-functional relationships, developing people and ensuring stores have the support they need, she creates lasting impacts for associates, customers and our communities.
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2026 Women of InfluenceLori Turner
Executive Director of Communications, Associated Wholesale Grocers
Read MoreWorking her way up the corporate ladder from a support role to executive director, Lori Turner demonstrates the balance required to succeed in a rapidly evolving industry. Her career reflects not only hard work and determination but a deep understanding of how organizations function at their best. As AWG's board liaison and a direct partner to the CEO, that balance becomes essential. Turner helps keep strong leadership aligned -- managing personalities, navigating substantive differences and ensuring focus on shared objectives. In environments where strong voices can either elevate or divide, she manages, supports and guides to drive meaningful results. In leading internal and external communication strategies for more than 1,100 member retailers and nearly 5,000 employees, Turner defines the voice of the organization. She understands that how a message is delivered often determines its impact. Serving as the final check, she ensures communication is clear, effective and aligned to achieve results. Beyond financial success, she measures impact through contributions to the community. As former chair of AWG Cares, Turner led the company's charitable foundation, guiding philanthropic initiatives that extended well beyond the organization and into the communities it serves. She also plays a leadership role in a multigenerational family business in the Kansas City region. Simply put, she is a woman who gets the job done.
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2026 Women of InfluenceLucy Gibbons
Store Director, Lowes Foods Stores
Read MoreLucy Gibbons improved the profitability of her store in 2025 by leading her team to have a sales-driven focus. She collaborated with her business partners to ensure the right items were selected across the departments for maximum benefit to the bottom line.
Along the way, she developed two new department managers -- one in deli and the other in the Beef Shoppe -- by setting clear expectations, following up and coaching.
Gibbons has been a Girl Scout leader since 2008 and is currently mentoring two troops. She also has been the head volunteer for the Mooresville, North Carolina, area since 2013.
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2026 Women of InfluenceMacaela LeClair
Category Manager for Deli and Prepared Foods, Brookshire Grocery Co.
Read MoreMacaela LeClair is an innovative, results-driven leader whose impact at BGC reflects the qualities celebrated by the Women of Influence award. In her current role, she oversees assortment planning, pricing, promotions, merchandising, forecasting, vendor partnerships and long-term strategy across five banners. Her disciplined focus on quality, efficiency and customer experience consistently delivers above-market performance.
Over five years of driving category growth, LeClair has combined strong analytical skills with deep consumer insight to achieve measurable results. She increased deli sales 3 percent year over year through optimized assortment and pricing strategies and her creation and rollout of a new deli meal program generated $8 million in incremental revenue in its first year.
LeClair's ability to interpret shopper and market data keeps her categories competitive and positioned for sustained growth. She strengthens profitability through strategic vendor partnerships, skillful negotiation and impactful promotional programs. Her leadership has improved execution, consistency, freshness and availability across the enterprise.
Committed to excellence, she pursues advanced industry training and regularly visits stores to ensure planogram compliance, gather feedback and uphold high standards. LeClair's vision, leadership and results make her a standout leader whose influence elevates both BGC and the grocery industry.
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2026 Women of InfluenceMarnie Nemcoff
Director of E-Commerce, Gelson's Markets
Read MoreMarnie Nemcoff plays a pivotal role in shaping the company's digital grocery experience and driving omnichannel growth. Overseeing Gelson's online shopping platforms and partnerships with Instacart and DoorDash, she ensures a seamless connection between technology, merchandising and customer experience. Her leadership has helped grow Gelson's digital business.
Known for her strategic mindset and cross-functional leadership, Nemcoff works closely with marketing, IT and category management teams to implement innovative digital marketing initiatives, improve site functionality and enhance customer engagement. She also spearheaded key partnerships and artificial intelligence-driven marketing tools that continue to expand Gelson's digital reach.
Through her forward-thinking leadership and commitment to innovation, Nemcoff is helping position Gelson's as a leader in the evolving world of online grocery retail.
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2026 Women of InfluenceMartha Gabriel
Category Manager -- Meat, Superior Grocers
Read MoreMartha Gabriel's is worthy of WOI recognition by virtue of her outstanding track record, inspirational leadership and commitment to the advancement of Superior Grocers.
Throughout her 21 years in the industry, she has demonstrated an exceptional ability to generate positive changes, driving projects that have benefited the meat department's growth. Her strategic vision, empathy and perseverance have served as an example for women and men alike, opening paths and breaking down barriers in the meat.
Among her most relevant achievements are:
• Completed leadership fundamentals and coaching courses through Cerritos College, strengthening her ability to mentor, guide and develop future leaders within the organization.
• Graduated with honors with an associate's degree in retail management, demonstrating her commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.
• Played an integral role in the implementation of Oracle, working with the IT department to ensure a smooth transition and helping maintain CGO accuracy to minimize operational disruptions.
Beyond her professional merits, Gabriel embodies the values of integrity, solidarity and resilience, inspiring new generations to dream big and act with purpose.
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2026 Women of InfluenceMartha Taylor
VP Human Resources, Harris Teeter
Read MoreMartha Taylor is an accomplished human resources leader whose career exemplifies strategic vision, operational excellence and a dedication to empowering others. She joined Harris Teeter in her current role in January 2025, bringing more than 30 years of experience across store operations, HR leadership and corporate strategy.
Previously, Taylor led all HR functions for Kroger's Houston Division, supporting more than 14,000 associates and driving initiatives in hiring, talent, retention and associate development.
Her career has been defined by a results-oriented approach and a deep understanding of the business. She began in store roles in 1994 and progressed through many different positions. Her unique blend of HR and operational expertise allows her to align people strategies with business priorities, drive performance and strengthen culture.
A 2024 Woman of Influence in The Shelby Report of the Southwest, she holds her SPHR certification and contributes to her community.
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2026 Women of InfluenceMarty George
Store Director, United Supermarkets
Read MoreMarty George leads the Albertsons Market in Roswell, New Mexico, where her years of experience and genuine care for people have shaped not only a high‑performing store but a place that's truly part of the community. This year, she celebrated 36 years with Albertsons, an incredible milestone that reflects her dedication and the trust she's earned from both her team and her community.
George brings creativity and energy to store events and local celebrations, using them to build excitement and strengthen guest engagement. Her ability to plan and execute these moments with care keeps the store running smoothly and ensures guests feel welcomed and valued.
George is equally committed to developing her people. She encourages leaders to grow, supports them through challenges and creates an environment rooted in accountability, respect and teamwork. Her store maintains one of the lowest turnover rates in the area, a reflection of the stability and encouragement she provides.
Her experience navigating complex situations, including union elections and contract negotiations, has shaped her into a thoughtful decision‑maker. Her background as a grocery buyer gives her a unique eye for merchandising and local marketing.
George's impact extends far beyond the store. She volunteers with organizations such as Loaves and Fishes, the Community Kitchen of Roswell, Keep Roswell Beautiful and the local food bank and has served on the United Way board since 2015.
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2026 Women of InfluenceMary Kellmanson
SVP of Marketing, Merchants Distributors (MDI)
Read MoreMary Kellmanson plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of marketing support for independent grocers. Through her leadership at Merchants Distributors, she continues to advance the marketing capabilities that support hundreds of independent retailers across the MDI network.
Kellmanson has helped guide the evolution of how marketing supports retailers in a rapidly changing digital landscape. Her focus is on building solutions that are innovative and practical, ensuring independent grocers have access to tools that strengthen shopper engagement while driving results inside the store.
Working with technology partners and internal teams, Kellmanson has helped expand the digital toolkit available to retailers, including enhanced website and digital circular capabilities that allow stores to maintain a modern digital presence while integrating with existing ecommerce platforms where needed. These capabilities serve as a powerful engine for connecting retailers with shoppers and translating engagement into store performance.
Known for her strategic perspective and steady leadership style, Kellmanson works with teams across merchandising, operations and technology to ensure marketing efforts align with the needs of the business and the retailers MDI serves.
Through her leadership, she continues to strengthen the marketing ecosystem that supports independent grocers and helps them remain competitive in an evolving grocery environment.
Celebrating the Women of Influence in the food industry for 21 years!
Presented by The Shelby-Griffin Report
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