2026 Women of Influence

When most people say someone gives 110 percent, it sounds like an exaggeration, but for Melissa Gonzalez, that's simply where the bar begins. She started her journey at Stemilt picking apples and has grown into a respected leader within the food safety department, earning trust through hard work, humility and a commitment to doing things the right way.

Gonzalez supports more than 130 of Stemilt's growers, ranging from large corporate orchards to 5‑acre farms. She's the first person they meet, helping them understand and implement food safety practices and regulations, meeting each grower exactly where they are.

During an unannounced audit, one of Gonzalez's growers was unable to participate due to a family emergency. She immediately stepped in and managed the entire audit so the grower could focus on her husband's recovery.

Gonzalez brings that same commitment to her own team, mentoring new employees and supporting them even when it requires taking on extra responsibility.

Within the company's culture, Gonzalez embodies what it means to be an exceptional Stemilter. She is the team's cheerleader, encouraging, positive and invested in raising the bar for food safety not only at Stemilt but across the industry.

Gonzalez is the kind of leader who makes the produce industry better simply by being in it. Her dedication, compassion and drive make her a deserving candidate.

Melissa Harrington is a results-focused finance executive whose leadership has helped drive growth, stability and purpose at Food Lion. In her current role, she provides strategic oversight for budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting for more than 1,110 stores across a 10-state footprint, supporting an omnichannel business serving some 11 million customers each week.

Harrington played a key role in helping Food Lion achieve its 53rd consecutive quarter of comparable store sales growth. Her disciplined financial planning supported major strategic investments, including a $484 million omnichannel remodel initiative in the Charlotte, N.C., metro area and the expansion of Food Lion To Go, the company's proprietary e-commerce platform.

She also partnered with the marketing team to optimize Food Lion's MVP Customer Loyalty Program and Shop & Earn rewards and more than 1 million engaged Shop & Earn customers.

Harrington supports Food Lion's commitment to community impact. In 2025, Food Lion Feeds achieved a goal set in 2019 -- providing 1 billion additional meals to neighbors in need. This effort was supported by the Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation, for which Harrington serves as treasurer.

Michelle Bernard manages the trade budget and builds promotional plans that drive program growth, ensuring funds are used effectively through ongoing performance and ROI analysis. She aligns retailers and customer business managers on key initiatives and supports operational needs as a liaison for advancing the Clorox business at AWG. Over the past year, Bernard delivered several high‑impact results. She executed four web blasts in 2025 through AWG co‑investment, generating $3.3 million in sales and partnered with Clorox and AWG on a Clorox‑specific web blast in January 2026 that drove an additional $1.7 million across multiple business units. She supported Coborn's in a category review that added 13 new items to dressing and condiment planograms, contributing to a 10 percent category sales increase. She also created a partnership opportunity for AWG to serve as a "paddle run‑out" customer, enabling a smooth transition to the new inverted bottle design and securing added promotional support. When SAP upgrades disrupted traditional processes, Bernard developed an alternative solution to ensure direct‑delivery products reached retailers ahead of Labor Day, protecting $1.3 million in seasonal sales. Through strong analysis, collaboration and problem‑solving, Michelle strengthened execution, expanded opportunities and delivered measurable growth for Clorox at AWG.

Michelle Carfagno is a visionary leader whose commitment to "inclusion for everyone" has revolutionized the allergen-free food sector. Driven by her family's struggle with celiac disease, she transitioned from a career in human resources to build a company that restores the joy of eating for millions.

Her results-oriented leadership is most evident in her Bensalem-based, 10,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. This dedicated top-nine allergen-free plant -- certified by MenuTrinfo -- ensures the highest safety standards for products found in more than 2,000 stores nationwide, including Whole Foods and Wegmans.

Carfagno's influence extends far beyond her brand. As co-chair of the RISE Philly committee through WBENC, she mentors the next generation of female entrepreneurs, turning her dream of a "food incubator" into a reality for other women-owned businesses. Her leadership is defined by a passion for empowering women to navigate the complexities of the food industry.

A philanthropist, Carfagno addresses food insecurity by donating 1 percent of profits and products to local food banks, specifically targeting the often-overlooked need for allergen-friendly options. Through The Greater Knead, she isn't just making bagels; she is fostering a world where everyone can eat confidently, making her a true Woman of Influence in the food industry.

Michelle Kalicky joined JOH with a strong retail background developed through her time with a leading Northeast grocery retailer and a nationally recognized natural and specialty foods retailer, bringing valuable perspective and industry insight to the team.

Kalicky's well-rounded skill set has enabled her to play a critical role in supporting and growing several of key client partnerships. Through her passion for the industry, deep understanding of the retail landscape and exceptional organizational abilities, she has helped strengthen internal processes while delivering results for customers and clients.

Her thoughtful and creative approach to problem-solving, combined with outstanding follow-through, sets a high standard for execution. She continues to build strong, trusted relationships across the industry, reflecting her professionalism and commitment to excellence.

JOH is grateful for the dedication and leadership Kalicky brings to the organization each day. She lives in Scarborough, Maine, with her husband, Matt. When not working, she enjoys hiking with her dog, Oreo, gardening and taking advantage of the state's outdoor activities.

Misty Bryant has enjoyed exceptional success in the grocery industry through her significant contributions to Houchens Food Group's operations team. After moving from merchandising support to operations, she brought valuable firsthand knowledge of merchandising and pricing to our stores' daily operations.

Under her leadership, Bryant has made a significant impact on HFG's efforts to reduce shrinkage. Her collaborative leadership style and ability to mentor peers and leaders have strengthened operational execution across the organization.

In preparation for her promotion to her current role for HFG's cost-plus format stores, she immersed herself in store operations, spending one-on-one time in a local store to learn every role within the operation.

Today, Bryant oversees six regional managers responsible for 70 stores. What truly sets her apart is her dedication to ongoing growth and community involvement. She is part of the Leadership Bowling Green Class of 2026, a program in partnership with the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce that fosters civic engagement and leadership. Through this program, she continues to explore, connect and give back to the community.

Bryant exemplifies the best of the industry. The influence she has had on the operations team in such a short period underscores her dedication, leadership and motivation.

Misty Deskins joined the Food City team in 2003, serving as operations clerk for the corporate headquarters while attending college full time. She has since served in a number of key roles, including director of loyalty marketing, e-commerce and outside sales.

Deskins was promoted to her current role in 2025. She is responsible for the oversight of all aspects of marketing, including traditional and creative advertising, sports marketing, loyalty marketing and special events, as well as e-commerce and gift card/certificate outside sales.

Deskins serves on the board of directors for Feeding Southwest Virginia. She also is responsible for Food City's community relations, which provide support for numerous nonprofits, including Food City's School Bucks Program, which has donated more than $23.7 million to participating schools; and its annual Charity Golf Tournament, which has raised more than $19.3 million.

Deskins has been recognized as one of Tri-Cities Business Journal's 40 under 40. She is a graduate of The University of Virginia's College at Wise, with a bachelor's degree in business administration and a minor in psychology. She has certifications from Cornell University in retail and brands, executive leadership and omnichannel leadership.

Misty Kern is a respected leader whose influence is felt across the company and the communities it serves. She began her career on the front-end and advanced through store management before assuming responsibility for oversight of training and food safety operations for Food City's 164 retail locations and distribution center.

Kern has led leadership and food safety training for hundreds of associates, streamlined learning through more than 70 updated courses and helped ensure company-wide SafeMark Food Protection certification. She strengthened training initiatives by expanding internship programs, adding instructional design expertise and establishing a university partnership providing tuition discounts for associates and their families.

Kern serves on NGA's Women Grocers of America Board, Eastman Chemical's Community Advisory Board, State of Tennessee's Solid Waste Advisory Board and Radford University's Employer Advisory Board, contributing insight on workforce development, sustainability and community collaboration.

She is a founding member of Food City's EMPOWER women's group and sponsors the company's Eco/Sustainability Committee. Her initiatives have reduced single-use plastic, lowered costs and encouraged community recycling.

Kern also gives back through Habitat for Humanity and the CSX Santa Train. A recipient of the Claude Varney Volunteerism Award, she leads with purpose, integrity and measurable impact.

Monica Rolon is an organized and strategic leader whose influence spans the Eastern Small Format Confection Division. Supporting more than 40 business managers across a $22 million business, she plays a central role in maintaining alignment between C.A. Ferolie and several of its most important vendor partners.

Through disciplined planning, clear communication and strong command of vendor priorities, Rolon helps drive consistent execution and contributed to the division achieving 100 percent of assigned sales targets across multiple major confection partners.

Her ability to simplify complex information and translate it into practical guidance enables business managers to operate with clarity and confidence, strengthening individual and team performance.

Rolon is regarded as a steady, trusted resource who elevates those around her. She goes above expectations to ensure teams have the information and support they need. Her professionalism and reliability earn high praise from peers and partners.

Rolon's involvement with NCA and NACS provides industry perspective, helping her connect trends back to day‑to‑day execution. After years of behind‑the‑scenes contributions that have strengthened vendor relationships, operational consistency and overall sales performance, 2026 is the ideal moment to recognize Rolon's steady leadership and lasting impact.

Nancy Paredes is a respected leader whose influence is defined by her ability to elevate standards, develop people and translate strategy into consistent execution across Superior Grocers. She plays a pivotal role in protecting brand integrity while strengthening performance at scale.

Paredes' impact is most evident in her commitment to clarity and consistency. She authored the Hot Foods Training Checklist, a standardized training resource that reinforces food safety, execution discipline and operational alignment across stores. This work reflects her focus on practical innovations, simplifying complex expectations into tools that empower frontline teams and leaders.

Equally central to Paredes' influence is her people-first leadership approach. Through regular field engagement and weekly operational recaps, she provides coaching, reinforces accountability and shares actionable insights that connect corporate priorities to daily behaviors that drive results. Her communication consistently emphasizes development, ownership and protecting the brand.

Paredes also collaborates cross-functionally on safety initiatives, product rollouts and

operational issue resolution, ensuring alignment and timely support across departments. Her credibility, follow-through and leadership presence make her a trusted partner and influential voice within the organization.