2026 Women of Influence

Carrie Mack is a respected leader known for elevating others and strengthening the produce industry through mentorship, advocacy and community impact. She believes leadership means opening doors for others and works to ensure emerging voices across the industry are heard.

Mack played a pivotal role in launching the first-ever regional IFPA Women's Fresh Perspectives conference in Yakima, Washington, in 2026, an event that drew 228 attendees -- surpassing attendance at the national conference.

The event created an empowering space for women across the Pacific Northwest supply chain, from orchard and warehouse teams to professionals in accounting, human resources and administrative roles. She served as a key advocate and connector, encouraging participation across companies and helping ensure the event represented the diverse voices of the industry.

Throughout her career, Mack has invested in the next generation of leaders. She seeks out those with emerging talent, sponsoring and mentoring them while helping them grow professionally.

Mack also demonstrates deep commitment to her community. She is involved with the YWCA, championing programs that support women's independence, leadership development and access to education and opportunity.

Within the industry, Mack served two years as co-chair of the IFPA Women's Fresh Perspectives Committee and continues to contribute as a member.

Casey Martin is a strategic operations leader focused on strengthening client experience through scalable systems, empowered teams and operational excellence. In her current position, she plays a critical role in ensuring the company's rapid growth is supported by a strong operational foundation that allows teams and clients to succeed.

Recognizing that sustainable growth required a more structured support framework, Martin led the restructuring of the customer service and orders department. She implemented scalable processes, developed training programs and authored operational guides that help team members better understand their roles and consistently deliver value to clients. Her work has helped transform the department into a more proactive and reliable partner for both internal teams and external stakeholders.

Martin also leads new client onboarding and serves as a trusted resource for complex vendor and customer challenges. By analyzing workflows and identifying operational gaps, she continually refines processes that improve efficiency, strengthen communication and reduce the risk of critical details being missed.

Her leadership philosophy is rooted in the belief that customer service is a direct reflection of a company's values. By investing in people, strengthening systems and fostering collaboration across teams, Martin helps create an environment where service excellence drives stronger partnerships and long-term organizational success.

Casie Broker has been a pillar of leadership, innovation and expertise in the grocery industry for more than three decades. She began her career in marketing at Associated Wholesale Grocers in Kansas City, Kansas, where she quickly earned recognition for her strategic mindset and collaborative approach. Broker later brought her talents to Cosentino's Food Stores as director of marketing before stepping into her most influential role in 2010 as chief marketing officer for Price Chopper Enterprises. As CMO, she has been instrumental in positioning the family-owned Price Chopper brand as a market leader throughout the greater Kansas City region. Her commitment to brand integrity and community connection is visible and impactful, reflected in enduring partnerships with organizations such as the Kansas City Royals, Sporting Kansas City and other respected local brands. Broker has also championed the development of a robust, evolving loyalty program, helping transform Price Chopper into a more digitally-driven organization that engages customers across multiple platforms. Her forward-thinking leadership, ability to cultivate lasting relationships and willingness to pursue new opportunities have kept the company competitive in a rapidly changing retail landscape.

Catherine "Cat" Gipe-Stewart is a results-driven marketing leader known for elevating her company and the broader produce community. In her current role, she combines strategic vision with a commitment to service, believing strong businesses and strong communities go hand in hand.

Gipe-Stewart leads the company's volunteer program, encouraging teammates to give back with up to eight hours of paid volunteer time annually. Focused on pillars of education, food security, military support, recreation and environmental sustainability, she organizes volunteer initiatives that strengthen community partnerships and invest in the region.

Across the industry, Gipe-Stewart champions leadership development and connection. She spearheaded the first regional IFPA Women's Fresh Perspectives conference in Yakima, Washington, bringing together 228 attendees from across the Pacific Northwest. The conference created an empowering space for women across every role in the supply chain, from orchards and warehouses to accounting, HR and administrative teams.

Gipe-Stewart also dedicates time to mentorship and community leadership. She served four years on the FPFC Apprentice Taskforce, mentoring emerging industry professionals; serves on the Second Harvest board, supporting food security in the Inland Northwest; and contributes nationally through IFPA's Women's Fresh Perspectives Committee.

Cathy Williams Owen plays a key role in helping customers protect their registers and their bottom line. With a clear focus on loss prevention, she helps lead a company known for practical, reliable counterfeit detection solutions.

Owen brings a results-driven mindset to everything she does, balancing smart financial leadership with continued investment in innovation, manufacturing and customer relationships.

Under her leadership, Dri Mark has expanded its lineup of loss-prevention solutions, strengthened its U.S.-based manufacturing operations and built lasting partnerships with cash handlers, wholesalers and distributors.

Owen's hands-on, people-first approach helps ensure that Dri Mark's solutions don't just meet industry requirements -- they solve real-world challenges customers face every day.

Catrin Williams leads with a thoughtful, people-centered approach that inspires and motivates those around her. A lifelong learner, she brings humility and a collaborative mindset to her leadership, effectively aligning and synergizing teams to achieve results.

Williams is a caring and authentic leader, known for her integrity, trustworthiness and deep commitment to others.

Recognized by her organization as a high-potential leader, she 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.

Chelsey Maschhoff is a Culinary Institute of America-trained chef and sixth-generation farmer's daughter who is rewriting the rules in America's most traditional -- and historically male-dominated -- industries of culinary, meat and agriculture.

Lottie's Meats is a chef-crafted pork sausage brand Maschhoff launched with her sister in 2024. She brings her background as former sous chef at Annette Scratch to Table to a category overdue for a shake-up. While navigating the male-dominated co-packing world, she has held firm on her standards -- insisting on premium pork loin and shoulder cuts and refusing to compromise on clean, all-natural ingredients despite industry pushback. The result: a sausage product with 50 percent less fat, zero nitrates or fillers and flavors that have earned a loyal following.

Maschhoff's leadership extends beyond the product. Lottie's Meats is a 1 percent for the Planet member, and a portion of every sale supports organizations such as the Women's Bean Project, which creates employment pathways for women facing significant barriers. She is committed to amplifying female founders and keeping women -- who so often power businesses from behind the scenes -- visible and celebrated.

In an industry that has long underestimated women from the farm and the kitchen, Maschhoff is building something that honors both -- and refuses to apologize for the quality it demands.

Chrissy Michaud is a dynamic and forward-thinking leader whose passion, creativity and commitment to excellence make her a deserving nominee for the Women of Influence award. Her career progression to her current role -- from graphic artist to marketing media specialist and lead marketing media specialist -- reflects her talent and dedication to continuous growth.

Michaud has played a pivotal role in expanding Associated Grocers of New England's digital marketing and social media presence. Through her strategic vision and innovative approach, she has helped elevate the company's digital footprint, driving engagement and strengthening connections with customers and retailers.

Michaud's ability to stay ahead of trends and translate them into impactful campaigns has positioned AG for continued success in an increasingly digital marketplace.

In addition to her digital leadership, Michaud has been involved in advancing Retail Media Network initiatives. As both a participant and internal leader, she has helped shape and execute strategies that enhance value for partners and support the evolving needs of the business.

Michaud is known for her positive, energetic and people-first leadership style. She is driven, passionate and invested in the success of her team and the broader organization. Her enthusiasm for digital marketing within the grocery industry is contagious, inspiring those around her to think creatively and push boundaries.

Christy Dwyer began her Food 4 Less career in 2001 as an assistant category manager in the grocery department. She was promoted to category manager, a position she held for 12 years and was responsible for the merchandising and promotional strategies for grocery commodities, including food, non-food, frozen and beverage.

In 2015, Dwyer moved to the drug-GM department, where she managed seasonal one-time-buy programs unique to Food 4 Less. For the last five years, she's served in her current role. Over the last 25 years, she successfully managed commodities totaling more than $300 million in sales.

Dwyer serves on the Cultural Council and is part of several leadership programs, including Future Leaders eXperience and EDGE Resource Group. She loves to challenge herself to continue her professional development. Shey has a passion for results and people and she's proud to work for a company that champions women in leadership positions.

Dwyer is most proud of her role as mom and sharing her passions with her daughter, including her support of Olive Crest Los Angeles, an organization that equips young adults with successful futures. To be able to help others, while also being a champion and voice for Food 4 Less, is extremely rewarding to her.

In her role at FreshDirect, Claire Ko has focused leadership on a fundamental belief: organizational performance improves when people are empowered to connect their personal definition of success with the work they do.

Ko introduced two initiatives: Engagement for Success and ClaireConnect. EFS is a performance engagement framework designed to unlock employee motivation by connecting individual purpose with organizational goals. Together, employees and managers define long-term success, identify the skills and experiences required to reach that vision and openly discuss obstacles.