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  2026 Women of Influence

  Tonya Douglas

  SVP Omnichannel Merchandising -- Chief Merchant, Giant Food

  Tonya Douglas exemplifies transformative, people-centered leadership in the food retail industry. With 30-plus years of experience, she has built a career defined by exceptional business results and an commitment to innovation, collaboration and human centric leadership.

  Douglas leads Giant Food's full merchandising organization across 164 stores and digital platforms, driving a customer centric strategy blending data, tech and human insight. She has been instrumental in modernizing the company's omnichannel experience, championing digital tools that enhance in-store shopping, expanding ready meal and wellness-focused assortments and strengthening affordability through initiatives like "Fresh Low Prices."

  Douglas' leadership ensures that each merchandising decision reflects a deep understanding of what customers buy, why they buy it and how Giant can improve their daily lives. Defined by her commitment to "Grow Our People," she fosters psychological safety, prioritizes individualized development and mentors emerging leaders industrywide.

  Douglas champions a culture where all feel seen, valued and empowered, bringing "Grow, Care, Belong" to life. Her advocacy extends beyond Giant through service on the NextUp Board and USO Metro Board of Directors.

  Douglas' hallmark is her ability to pair strategic rigor with empathy. She leads with purpose, inspires clarity and elevates those around her.

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  2026 Women of Influence

  Tracey Colston

  Store Manager, Giant Food

  Tracey Colston exemplifies the qualities celebrated by the Women of Influence program. In her current role, she delivers outstanding results, driving team performance while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and growth. Her leadership extends beyond operational excellence; she inspires and mentors her staff, modeling integrity, resilience and a commitment to community.

  Colston's impact resonates far beyond her professional role. As a horse owner, she has partnered with her sister for local fundraisers in Pasadena, Maryland, offering pony rides to support the installation of new park equipment, bringing joy to children and families while raising

  community resources. For the past 26 years, Colston also has been committed to supporting those recovering from addiction. She volunteers her time as a mentor and sponsor, providing guidance, encouragement and practical advice to help others rebuild their lives.

  Her combination of results-oriented leadership, commitment to her team and extensive civic and philanthropic involvement makes Colston an inspiring example of influence in both business and community. She demonstrates that true leadership is measured not only by professional achievements but by the positive impact one leaves on the lives of others.

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  2026 Women of Influence

  Tracey Gregorski

  Manager of IBM Programming, Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Co.

  Tracey Gregorski's primary responsibilities center on Piggly Wiggly's core business systems, the foundation that drives enterprise data, operations and transaction processing.

  Gregorski leads the information technology core applications development team, overseeing the design, development and delivery of critical enterprise solutions. She's responsible for mentoring and developing software engineers while ensuring strict adherence to development, testing and quality standards.

  She also established and governs core system design principles, external integration frameworks, security and compliance requirements and data and business intelligence integration practices.

  Gregorski leads her team with a focus on building high-performing talent, strengthening internal delivery processes and translating technical execution into actionable business insights for executive leadership. Her influence spans team capability growth, operational efficiency and data-driven decision support across the organization.

  She promotes the growth and effectiveness of the team through coaching, skill development and process improvement, while ensuring technology initiatives deliver clear business insight to organizational leaders. She also has implemented new technology solutions and innovative development methodologies.

  Gregorski established a disciplined execution framework and strategic delivery approach that produced measurable business impact across core grocery operations. She spearheaded the development of internal analytics and reporting capabilities, equipping executive leadership with actionable business intelligence that directly informed strategic and operational decision-making.

  In addition, she led a comprehensive internal IT security review and implemented proactive controls and best practices to strengthen system security, reduce risk and ensure compliance across critical business platforms.

  Outside of work, Gregorski is the co-founder of Free State Four Paws low-cost animal spay and neuter program, a nonprofit dog-rescue organization that serves one of the most underserved rural counties Alabama. Since its inception in 2024, its low-cost spay and neuter program has helped more than 750 pets, reducing overpopulation and improving animal welfare in the community.

  Entirely volunteer-run, Free State Four Paws focuses on rescuing the most neglected and abused dogs, providing medical care, rehabilitation and nurturing them back to health. Once recovered, they are transported to northern states, where they are placed in permanent, loving homes.

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  2026 Women of Influence

  Veronica Estrada

  Retail Systems Manager, Superior Grocers

  With more than 30 years in the grocery industry, Veronica Estrada has built a career rooted in dedication, growth and strong leadership. Beginning her career in the stores and becoming a retail systems manager, she has strengthened alignment between stores and corporate teams, elevated training standards and inspired her department to perform at its best.

  Estrada's passion for her work is evident every day. She approaches challenges with positivity, encouraging team members to grow, learn and strive for excellence. She continues to grow personally and professionally. She translates complex processes into clear, practical steps, helping others succeed while continuously improving operations.

  Respected across the organization, Estrada leads with integrity, collaboration and a commitment to lifting others. Her influence goes beyond her title, shaping people and processes.

  Outside of work, Estrada is a devoted wife and mother, and her pride in her family reflects the values she brings to her leadership with dedication, resilience and compassion. Her performance, character and influence make her exceptionally deserving of this recognition.

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