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 InfluenceAnnette Gutierrez
Replinishment Manager -- Center Store, Northgate González Markets
Read MoreAnnette Gutierrez oversees replenishment strategies for key center store categories. In her role, she manages the purchasing of liquor, wine and beverages for the company's distribution center, monitors weekly out-of-stock and inventory performance reports and supports purchase and sales order coordination for the company's joint venture with El Moro Bakery at the Echo Park location.
Gutierrez also leads a team of four buyers responsible for sourcing and replenishing product categories to help ensure stores remain well-stocked and operationally efficient.
Gutierrez joined Northgate Market in 2014 as a consultant, supporting the consolidation of warehouse orders following the company's acquisition of another grocery business. Her dedication and collaborative approach led to new opportunities and growth within the organization, ultimately advancing into leadership roles in replenishment and procurement.
Gutierrez is motivated by the opportunity to empower others and work alongside passionate team members. She describes her leadership style as supportive and grounded in the company's core values of respect, trust and accountability. She believes that strong teamwork and clear communication help teams achieve results.
Gutierrez is proud of completing retail management courses through the Western Association of Food Chains.
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2026 Women of InfluenceAzeb Gebrewihot
Operation Field Specialist, Kroger
Read MoreAzeb Gebrewihot is a leader, wife and mother, as well as a strong example of what it means to lead while balancing family and a successful career. Gebrewihot leads with humility, passion, courage and resilience, and is known for being authentic, grounded and deeply people-focused. She brings a strong commitment to performance, team development and operational excellence in her work. Recognized by her organization as a high-potential leader, Gebrewihot was selected to attend the Food Industry Management program at the University of Southern California -- an investment in her continued growth and future leadership impact. She represents a rising leader who is expanding her influence and helping shape the future of the food industry.
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2026 Women of InfluenceBarb McGlothlin
VP, E-Commerce, C.A. Fortune
Read MoreBarb McGlothlin is a results-driven, solutions-oriented leader whose impact on the food and CPG e-commerce landscape is measurable and influential. With more than 20 years of CPG experience, she brings exceptional grit, hustle and strategic clarity to her role, consistently helping large and small brands profitably scale across Amazon and Pure Play platforms.
McGlothlin is recognized as an expert in the Amazon ecosystem, translating its complexity into clear, executable strategies that drive sustainable growth. She leads end-to-end e-commerce strategy development -- ensuring product availability, optimized content and customer acquisition -- while holding a sharp focus on profitability. Her success is ultimately measured by clients' ability to scale efficiently. Her track record speaks for itself.
In a fast-paced, high-growth environment, McGlothlin embodies true entrepreneurial leadership. She leads with solutions, sets a high bar for performance and delivers best-in-class results without losing sight of people. She is a fierce advocate for her team, investing in coaching and development to help individuals grow into confident, high-performing leaders.
Beyond her professional excellence, McGlothlin is a vocal supporter of her community and brings authentic passion to everything she does -- whether championing her team, her clients or cheering on the Seattle Seahawks. She exemplifies what it means to be a Woman of Influence.
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2026 Women of InfluenceBecky Schaeffer
Senior Manager of Facility Services Finance, Brookshire Grocery Co.
Read MoreBecky Schaeffer provides strategic financial leadership supporting a complex, multi-state retail operation. In this role, she oversees financial planning, forecasting and performance analysis for facility and retail support functions critical to daily store operations and long-term asset stewardship.
Schaeffer is known for her strong leadership presence, operational mindset and unwavering professionalism. She partners with operations, finance and executive leadership to balance cost control with operational effectiveness, making her a trusted advisor across the organization.
Schaeffer's results-oriented approach is evident in the rigor she brings to expense management, capital planning and vendor analysis -- areas where her work supports store performance, asset reliability and profitability. Her attention to detail and follow-through improve financial visibility and accountability, strengthening both operational execution and financial outcomes.
Beyond her technical expertise, Schaeffer leads with integrity and tenacity. She invests in her team, supports cross-functional collaboration and consistently contributes to the continued success of BGC.
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2026 Women of InfluenceBeth Atkinson-Keeton
President, Elephant House PR
Read MoreProfessional Achievements:
● 14 years in the produce industry
● Founded Elephant House PR in 2021, specializing in the produce industry with clients such as Natural Delights, ¡Yo Quiero! Brands, Nature Fresh Farms, Frieda's, Taylor Farms, Onions 52, Bolthouse Fresh, Bako Sweet, CMI Orchards, Offshoot Brands and others, aiming to drive the consumption of fresh produce.
● Elephant House has earned over 150B+ media impressions and 8,000+ media placements and has engaged over 500 media and influencer contacts.
● Clients have been featured in outlets such as Women's Health, Good Housekeeping, TODAY, DREW, Washington Post, USA Today, Prevention, Parade and many more.
● Earned Top Women in PR Award in 2025 from PRNews for her work in the produce industry
● Graduate of the International Produce Association's Leadership Class (Class 28), demonstrating her dedication to advancing leadership in the produce sector
● Has spoken at the Global Produce & Floral Show, Women's Fresh Perspectives Conference and other fresh produce industry events as an expert in her field
● Mentored 60+ registered dietitians through Experts With Influence, a program that she supports as a guest speaker
● Worked at top agencies such as DGWB in Santa Ana, CA and DMA Solutions in Dallas, TX prior to starting her own company in 2021
Industry and Community Activities:
● Graduated the International Fresh Produce Association Leadership Program and has served on boards and committees as a key mentor and advisor.
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2026 Women of InfluenceBritney Ekerson
Customer Business Manager, Acosta Group
Read MoreSince joining Crossmark in April 2025, Britney Ekerson has driven significant, results‑oriented growth across multiple clients and customers through strategic planning, strong relationship management and disciplined execution. She placed more than 1,000 displays directly into retail, expanding in‑store presence and generating immediate sales impact.
Ekerson also secured new distribution for eight clients with customers they had not previously reached, unlocking new revenue streams and accelerating brand growth. She introduced a new distributor program that delivered an average of 20 percent quarter‑over‑quarter growth, demonstrating strong bottom‑line performance and scalable strategic value.
Ekerson consistently executed high‑impact initiatives across multiple clients, including large‑scale displays, LTOs, assortment expansions and 2026 promotional commitments that strengthened pipeline visibility and long‑term partnerships.
Beyond revenue generation, Ekerson championed new processes that simplified and streamlined workflows for customers, improving efficiency, clarity and execution across accounts. She repaired challenged relationships and pursued new customer partnerships, rebuilding trust and expanding Crossmark's footprint.
Her ability to manage complex programs across numerous clients and retailers -- while delivering measurable growth, future commitments and operational improvements -- has positioned the business for sustained success.
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2026 Women of InfluenceBrittany Benton
Director of Strategic Initiatives, ECRS
Read MoreWith more than seven years in the business, Brittany Benton is "all over" the independent grocery industry. She forges relationships with every person she encounters and is known for her big smile, great laugh and ability to connect people together.
Over the past seven years, she has grown ECRS' Ignite Conference by hundreds of retailers, creating a retail technology event like none other.
In her current role, Benton can be found at many industry conferences, leading sessions on technology, hosting panels, meeting with wholesaler and association partners and driving new relationships and strategic partnerships for ECRS.
Outside of work, she calls the Blue Ridge Mountains home. She enjoys all sorts of outdoor adventures, caring for her dogs and spending time with her partner, Liam.
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2026 Women of InfluenceCandace Henderson
Merchandising and Operations Support Manager, Houchens Food Group
Read MoreCandace Henderson will celebrate her 20th anniversary with Houchens Food Group in July. She began her career after high school as an administrative assistant and quickly stood out through her initiative and dedication to learning every role within the office.
Within two years, she was attending trade shows and supporting promotional and buying activities, beginning a career that would expand across multiple divisions and support the broader food group.
Today, Henderson plays a key role in connecting store operations, merchandising strategy and regional leadership. She has helped streamline processes between regions, including sales reporting, advertising coordination, promotional planning and store communication.
Known for her collaborative leadership style, she often serves as a bridge between store teams, regional leaders and support departments, translating store-level insights into practical strategies that improve efficiency and execution.
A strong advocate for servant leadership, Henderson regularly spends time working alongside associates and managers in stores to better understand operational needs. In 2022, she assumed responsibility for managing the company's supply category, where her leadership has helped reduce costs year over year, resulting in nearly $9 million in annual savings.
She also supports community partnerships and fundraising initiatives benefiting organizations such as Children's of Alabama.
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2026 Women of InfluenceCarla Inama
Controller, Rosauers Supermarkets
Read MoreCarla Inama has been a dedicated part of Rosauers Supermarkets for 28 years, building an outstanding career through hard work, curiosity and a commitment to the business. She began as a staff accountant and, after holding several roles within the accounting department, worked her way up to her current position.
Today, Inama manages many of the financial functions that keep the company running smoothly, including budgeting, accounts payable and receivable, pharmacy third-party reconciliation, store licensing and capital tracking and depreciation. Her institutional knowledge and steady leadership make her an invaluable resource across the organization.
Inama continues to invest in her professional growth and is pursuing her certified management accountant designation. She is a graduate of Gonzaga University and a proud Zags basketball fan.
Outside of work, Inama's favorite role is being a grandmother to a young granddaughter, with another little girl on the way.
Inama's longstanding commitment, leadership and positive impact on the company make her a deserving recipient of The Shelby Report's Women of Influence Award.
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2026 Women of InfluenceCarla Rydberg
Director, Category Management for Edible Grocery, Topco Associates
Read MoreCarla Rydberg joined Topco in 2015. In addition to her responsibilities within edible grocery, she operated as the lead stakeholder in the company's Food Club brand redesign. The brand is worth more than $1 billion at cost, spanning categories in grocery, frozen and dairy. To date, 2,500 items have been through the artwork process and more than 1,500 items are shipping to member retailers/wholesalers. Rydberg spearheaded the initiative, working throughout the project with internal stakeholders, including quality assurance, category management, sourcing, project management, marketing and the brand management team. She developed a phased-approach plan with a cross-functional teams and communicated throughout the process, maintaining the direction even in the face of industrywide supply challenges. She adapted and listened to the teams as needed. This process has been widely accepted and was leveraged to support subsequent packaging redesign projects, as Rydberg took the time to educate associates on the strategies of running a project of this caliber, providing a critical blueprint for brand success. Her attitude and collaboration have shined within the entire organization.
Celebrating the Women of Influence in the food industry for 21 years!
Presented by The Shelby-Griffin Report
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