2026 Women of Influence

Kori Pierson exemplifies what it means to be a true Woman of Influence through her exceptional business leadership, community engagement and unwavering commitment to the people she serves.

As a results-oriented business leader, Pierson has built Foods Etc. IGA into a thriving independent supermarket known for outstanding service, strong sales and consistent profitability. Through disciplined management, attention to detail and understanding of her customers and employees, she has driven exceptional financial performance while maintaining the personal touch that defines a successful community grocery store. Her ability to balance operational excellence with a welcoming neighborhood market experience has made her store a trusted local institution.

Pierson's leadership extends well beyond the bottom line. She is recognized as a leader in her community, earning appreciation from the local school district, Rotary Club and hospital for her commitment to service and collaboration.

Within the business community, Pierson plays a leadership role through the local chamber of commerce, the California Grocers Association and partnership with C&S Wholesale Grocers.

Inside her store, Pierson leads by example -- mentoring managers, supporting frontline employees and fostering a culture of teamwork, accountability and pride. She is the epitome of a Woman of Influence to her business, community and associates.

Kristen Wilson is an exceptional leader whose optimism, strategic vision and passion for the food industry elevate Campbell’s performance and culture. With a deep appreciation for Campbell’s brands, teams and customers, her enterprise mindset and strong bias for action add value.

Wilson transforms strategy into results. She has spearheaded high-impact customer summits that strengthen retail partnerships, introduced productivity and decision-making tools that hone organizational focus and modernized sales materials that empower field teams to bring strategies to life. In recognition of her outstanding contributions, she has received Campbell’s highest sales honor, the Merit Award.

During her eight-year tenure at Campbell’s, Wilson has held influential roles, including senior manager, shopper insight and category solutions and senior customer development manager. She also spent 15 years building her sales and marketing expertise with Edgewell Personal Care, Colgate Palmolive, Reckitt Benckiser, The Nielsen Company and IRI, where she set the foundation of her reputation as a results-driven, inspirational leader.

Kristi Magnuson Nelson is a down-to-earth, accessible leader, encouraging her team to excel. She is quick to remind everyone that it is the team that deserves credit for the successes of the business. Many associates have been with Grand Forks, North Dakota-based Hugo's for 10, 20 or even 40-plus years, a testament to the outstanding leadership and the value driven, personal family-like interaction they have with Magnuson Nelson. She excels in making sure those who wish to succeed have the tools to do so with Hugo's. Over the years, Magnuson Nelson has received several awards, including; the National Grocer's Spirit of American Award, North Dakota Grocer of the Year, Prairie Business Magazine's Top 25 Women in Business, the WGA Woman of the Year and the Grand Forks/East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce's Henry Havig Award. Most recently, she was awarded the Thomas K Zaucha Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence by The National Grocers Association. Magnuson Nelson has been active in many community organizations. She serves and has served on board of directors for local and national organizations. Some of those include the Grand Forks/East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce, Minnesota Grocers Association, North Dakota Grocers Association, National Grocers Association, the local United Way and Xcel Energy Corporation, Altru Health System and the Ralph Engelstad Arena. Her willingness to serve is the foundation for giving back to grocery industry and the communities the stores serve.

Kristin Alas plays an integral role in shaping Gelson's product mix, guiding assortment decisions, vendor strategy and category performance across her areas of responsibility.

She brings a thoughtful blend of analytics and intuition to her work, ensuring that what lands on shelf resonates with customers while supporting the company's broader merchandising goals.

Alas partners closely with internal teams to introduce new items, refine category strategies and execute initiatives that enhance the in-store experience. Outside of her core responsibilities, she is engaged in industry events and vendor collaborations, building relationships that strengthen both innovation and execution.

Alas also is a strong advocate for Gelson's partnership with Olive Crest, supporting efforts that align business initiatives with community impact. Her ability to connect strategy, relationships and purpose makes her a steady and influential contributor to Gelson's continued growth.

Kristyn Lawson is an amazing leader in the food industry and her company is happy to nominate her.

Laura Castro oversees safety and regulatory compliance, as well as the inventory control, sustainability and warehouse building maintenance departments. In this role, she helps ensure that operations at the distribution center run safely, efficiently and in alignment with company standards.

Castro's journey with Northgate Market began in 1999 at Store No. 2, where she started as a box clerk. Over the years, she grew within the company, holding roles as a cashier, front-end manager, accounting assistant and human resources clerk. She later joined the distribution center, working alongside Don Miguel González in the produce department before being promoted to human resources manager for the DC.

Castro credits the positive work environment and the respect shown to associates across the company as what motivates her most. She believes strongly in servant leadership and treating others with dignity.

Grateful for the opportunities Northgate Market has provided, Castro says it has been a blessing to grow her career with the company. She is proud to be part of the DC team and excited to contribute to the company's continued growth.

Family is also an important part of Castro's career. Her father, husband, oldest son, two sisters and two nieces are all members of the Northgate Market family.

Laura Viola Maccarone is deserving of Women of Influence Award not only for her leadership of Rizbee Studios but for the impact she has made in her community. She is the kind of business leader who understands that success is not only measured by growth but by how much we lift others along the way.

Maccarone has shown commitment to supporting women in business by encouraging their growth, sharing her knowledge and creating opportunities for others to succeed. Her generosity, mentorship and willingness to give back have made her a source of inspiration and support for many women working to build their own paths. She leads with strength and compassion, proving that true influence comes from empowering others.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Maccarone's dedication to community and her belief in helping others grow set her apart. She demonstrates that leadership is about service, connection and investing in the success of those around us. Her ability to build people up while building her business reflects the very spirit of this award.

With nearly three decades of human resources experience, LeAnne Romesburg's focus is to strengthen the grocery workforce and develop leaders. For the past five years, she has served as human resources leader for Ralphs and Food 4 Less, supporting business performance and an engaged workplace culture.

Romesburg creates opportunities for associate success, including the launch of two Associate Resource Groups. EDGE ARG provides networking and professional development opportunities for female leaders. The Multicultural ARG ensures associates from diverse backgrounds have a voice and advancement opportunities.

Romesburg has implemented initiatives that reduced employee turnover while maintaining strong engagement. She empowers HR leaders to resolve issues at the store level, an approach that built trust and communication between associates and leadership.

Another key initiative was partnering to launch the English at Work program, which demonstrated the value of providing language-learning opportunities to associates whose first language is not English.

Romesburg's leadership extends into the community, where she has served on the board of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles and volunteered at Second Harvest Food Bank, Olive Crest and Orangewood Foundation.

Through a commitment to people, community and operational excellence, Romesburg demonstrates how strong leadership can positively shape the organization and the communities it serves.

Lindsay Capozziello's influence, vision and dedication make her a standout in the grocery and health industry. In her current, she leads a team driving a critical part of Harris Teeter's grocery and retail business.

She consistently pushes for pharmacy growth, improves processes for internal associates and customers and ensures a seamless experience in accessing medicine and healthcare.

Capozziello pivots quickly to changing guidelines and adapts strategies to meet evolving customer needs, demonstrating agility and innovation.

Her combination of pharmacy expertise, operational leadership and business insight enables her to develop her team, enhance performance and improve customer outcomes across the organization and the industry.

Lindsey Baron joined Bay Food Brokerage in March 2020 as an account executive. Last year, she advanced to her current role, a promotion earned through measurable impact and exceptional client service.

With more than a decade of experience in food sales and prior distribution experience, she brings deep industry knowledge and strategic insight to her work.

Focused on Publix, Baron consistently drives new account acquisition, expands brand presence and strengthens manufacturer-retailer partnerships. Her efforts have contributed to nearly 16 percent of Bay Food Brokerage's sales growth since she joined, underscoring her ability to translate strategy into tangible results.

Clients regularly praise her responsiveness, attention to detail and proactive communication, noting that she operates as a true extension of their team.

Beyond performance metrics, Baron is a respected mentor within Bay Food, guiding newer team members to elevate the organization. She leads by example, fostering collaboration and professional growth.

Lindsey Baron's influence also extends into the community. She volunteers with Feeding Tampa Bay, Metropolitan Ministries and A Kid's Place through company initiatives, supports a local dog shelter and is a member of the Specialty Food Association and the Publix GMR Florida Chapter.