Our Board of Directors
Click on the headshots for more information on each of our esteemed board members.
Executive Commitee
Jen Linke
Vice President of Category Management, Federated Group, Inc.
Currently the Vice President of Category Management at Federated Group where her responsibilities include driving brand and category strategies in the private label and foodservice industries. Prior to Federated, Jen was Divisional Merchandising Manager for Sears Holdings Co. While managing a several areas, including stationery, greeting cards, batteries and value merchandise, she also led strategic procurement initiatives for Kmart’s grocery and drug businesses. Before Sears/Kmart, she worked in private brands at Aldi for 14 years overseeing a variety of food & non-food categories and managing the advertising and marketing for the company.
For WISE: Chair, Board of Directors; Chair, Executive Committee
For WISE: Chair, Board of Directors; Chair, Executive Committee
Jen Linke
Federated Group
Chair, Board of Directors; Chair, Executive Committee
Katie Blohowiak
Operations Systems Manager, Schreiber Foods
Katie is an Operations Systems Manager at Schreiber Foods in Green Bay, WI. Schreiber provides dairy favorites to people around the globe, specializing in yogurt, natural cheese, process cheese and cream cheese. She began at Schreiber as a transportation intern in 2008 before joining the Supply Chain Planning team in 2010. In 2019, she transitioned to an Operations Systems Manager role where her primary focus is developing and rolling out a new inventory management system to all domestic manufacturing and shipping facilities. Katie is a graduate of UW – Green Bay with a degree in Business & Economics. She is currently Co-Leading Schreiber’s Network of Women Business Leaders (NOWBL) Business Resource Group and advocating for a Diverse and Inclusive culture. Katie joined the WISE organization in Fall of 2019. She is excited to be on the board of an organization that is continuing to bridge the gender gap, and push to diversify the Store Brands industry.
For WISE: 1st Chair, Operations Systems Manager
Katie Blohowiak
Schreiber Foods
1st Chair
Judy Clark
Chief Executive Officer, Fresh Texas
Judy Clark is the CEO of Fresh Texas, a fresh-cut produce processer and Meal Solutions innovator in San Antonio, TX. Judy joined Fresh Texas in 2018, leading the company through growth and innovation in this healthful eating sector. Judy has over thirty years of CPG-Food & Beverage experience. Prior to joining Fresh Texas, Judy was the Senior Vice President of Sales for the Condiments, Meals and Food Away From Home Divisions of TreeHouse Foods. In that role she led a cross-channel sales team including Retail, Food Away From Home, Industrial, Export and Contract Manufacturing. Having joined TreeHouse in 2006, Judy developed and led the Supply Chain, Logistics & Customer Solutions functions along with SAP Implementation and various acquisition integration teams before moving into Sales. Prior to joining TreeHouse, Judy was a partner in a boutique consulting firm, specializing in cost to serve program development and implementation. Judy started her career at the Keebler Company, spending thirteen years with Keebler and then Kellogg’s sitting in various departments and roles along the way. When not donning her business attire, you will often find Judy volunteering her time in the non-profit sector, either with disaster response initiatives or animal welfare organizations.
For WISE: Board 2nd Chair, Executive Committee, Committee Chair – Talent Development, Committee Co-Chair, Finance
For WISE: Board 2nd Chair, Executive Committee, Committee Chair – Talent Development, Committee Co-Chair, Finance
Judy Clark
Fresh Texas
Board 2nd Chair, Executive Committee, Committee Chair – Talent Development, Committee Co-Chair, Finance
Laurie LaRue
Director of Treasury, Lassonde Pappas and Co., Inc.
Laurie LaRue is the Director of Treasury for Lassonde Pappas and Company, Inc. Lassonde Pappas is a North American leader in private label beverage manufacturing committed to customer and consumer satisfaction. Laurie joined the company in 2000 and has held various positions of increasing responsibility within the finance function. She has a strong history in accounting, employee development, and business process management. The earlier stages of her career consisted of leading professional teams to ensure accuracy and compliance of the general ledger and the company’s financial statements. More recently, she leads several functional areas that are responsible for credit facility compliance, cash management, managing customer’s credit, employee compensation, and risk mitigation for all U.S. operations. Laurie holds a Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Organizational Leadership from Widener University.
For WISE, Laurie is Treasurer, Executive Committee; Chair, Finance Committee; Member, Strategic Long Range Planning Committee
For WISE, Laurie is Treasurer, Executive Committee; Chair, Finance Committee; Member, Strategic Long Range Planning Committee
Laurie LaRue
Lassonde Pappas & Co., Inc.
Treasurer, Executive Committee; Chair, Finance Committee; Member, Strategic Long Range Planning Committee
Shannen Bornsen
Shannen has 26 years of experience in global marketing and sales of food and agriculture products including work for Seneca Foods Corporation, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, the Washington State Potato Commission and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture. In addition to WISE, Shannen sits on the board of the Minnesota District Export Council.
For WISE: Co-Chair, Marketing and Communications Committee
For WISE: Co-Chair, Marketing and Communications Committee
Shannen Bornsen
Co-Chair, Marketing and Communications Committee
Nancy Cota
Vice President Own Brands, Product Management, Brand Management, and Innovation, Albertson's Companies
Nancy Cota holds the position of Vice President Own Brands/Product Mgmt, Brand Mgmt. and Innovation for Albertson’s Companies. She has over 43 years’ experience in the Supermarket industry including Corporate Strategy, Marketing, Innovation, Retail Operations as well as last 20 years in Own Brands. Within Own Brands Nancy has held a multitude of leadership roles including V.P of Innovation where their team was recognized as Innovator of the year from Store Brands Decisions. In her current role she is responsible for growing the portfolio heavily with new item launches that represent over 1,000 items a year. Nancy led the team that developed and launched eight new brands from concept to launch and is proud of the growth of $3B brands including O Organics, Signature Café and Lucene. Nancy has been recognized and inducted into the Hall of Fame for Progressive Grocers Top Women in Grocery winner as well as recognized by with the WISE Lifetime Achievement Award for Top Women in Store Brands. Nancy has many Industry affiliations as well as devotes much of her time to on her personal passion, adoption. She serves as the President on the Board of Directors for a non-profit adoption agency specializing in the placement of older children with special needs.
Nancy Cota
Albertson’s Companies
Recruitment Membership Committee
Laura Fezouati
Sr. Director, Consumer Marketing, C.H. Guenther & Son, LLC.
Laura Fezouati currently holds the position of Sr. Director, Consumer Marketing for the national and private brands portfolio of C.H. Guenther & Son, LLC, the oldest continuously operated family owned milling company is the U.S. Prior to joining CHG, Laura was Vice President of Marketing at Ralcorp, Sr. Director of Sales for Solae, LLC (DuPont Nutrition & Health), and Vice President of Strategic Marketing with ConAgra Foods. Having held additional positions with ConAgra Foods, Sara Lee and Vie de France, she has over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing management in the retail and foodservice industries.
In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for Women Impacting Storebrand Excellence™, Laura is actively involved in the Women’s Leadership Council for the San Antonio chapter of United Way.
Laura Fezouati
C.H. Guenther & Son, LLC
Chair, Partner Liaison Committee; Member, Strategic Long Range Planning Committee
Dianne Galang
Director, New Business Development at Daymon
Dianne holds the position of Director, New Business Development at Daymon. In her current position, Dianne manages existing retailer customers and has responsibilities to expand Daymon’s customer base across the US and Canada with the primary focus of growing Private Brand programs in collaboration with retailer partners. She has been with Daymon since 2005 and has moved up the organization through multiple roles: business and product management, business development, client services – ranging from food, non-food, and HBC.
Dianne Galang
Daymon
Partner Liaison Committee
Emily Glass
Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition Strategy, Topco Associates, LLC
Emily is the Senior Manager, Talent Acquisition Strategy for Topco Associates. Topco was formed to help ensure that regional grocery retailers and wholesalers have the ability to support their communities by providing families with high-quality, yet affordable, products and services. She was brought on in 2017 to oversee in-house recruiting that had been previously outsourced. In her time at Topco, Emily has built a multi-faceted program for attracting and recruiting talent for the organization on national level. Additionally, she has been leading other key talent acquisition and development initiatives such as a new modernized internship and rotational program. Emily is a graduate of Arizona State University, a Professional in Human Resources (HRCI) and a part of Topco’s leadership development program.
Emily Glass
Topco Associates LLC
Vice-Chair, Partner Liaison Committee
Susan Hunsaker
Senior Director of Business Development, Daymon
Susan Hunsaker is the Senior Director of Business Development for Daymon. Susan joined Daymon in 2006 and has held various roles within the company, from Business Management, part of the Business Transformation Office, and now working on New Business Development. Her current responsibilities include leveraging current relationships, and creating new partnerships, to grow both suppliers and retailer’s business. Her ability to look at a problem, deconstruct it, and the build up a solution has uniquely positioned her for this role within the organization. She has a strong passion for mentoring associates both within Daymon and the broader Minneapolis CPG community. Susan is originally from St. Louis, MO, but has called Minneapolis home for the past 12+ years.
For WISE: Marketing and Communications Committee
Susan Hunsaker
Daymon
Co-Chair, Marketing and Communications Committee
Rachel Kirkpatrick
Product Commercialization Manager, Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA
As Product Commercialization Manager for the Corporate Brands Division at Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA, Rachel is responsible for coordination of all new private label product launches and product redesigns, and also manages the division’s business-to-business advertising support and annual trade shows. MZB is among the nation’s largest coffee roasters, providing full retail and foodservice coffee programs. Rachel joined MZB in 2009 as Assistant Brand Manager on the branded marketing team, and moved to the private brand division in 2013. Rachel completed the St. Joseph’s University PLMA Executive Education Program, was honored in 2017 as one of the Top Women in Store Brands with the Marketing/Merchandising Award, and is proud to be on the board of Women Impacting Storebrand Excellence.
Rachel Kirkpatrick
Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA
Marketing and Communications Committee
Leslie MacNeil
Director of Sales, U.S. Private Brand Sales, Simmons Pet Food
Leslie is the Director of Sales, U.S. Private Brand Sales, at Simmons Pet Food a privately held third generation company established in 1949. Simmons is the largest supplier of store brand wet pet food in North America. Leslie has worked in the private label industry for 25 years in pet food, frozen food and beverages. She has teamed to develop and launch numerous private brand programs, with major retail partners, throughout the United States. In her most recent position for over 10 years, she has played an important role in escalating private brand pet food from “me too” formulations to premium tiered health and wellness programs. Leslie completed the St. Joseph’s University PLMA Executive Education Program and is proud to be on the board of Women Impacting Storebrand Excellence.
Leslie MacNeil
Simmons Pet Food
Vice Chair, Recruitment Membership Committee
Kara Miencier
Sales Executive, Paramount Roasters
Kara is a Sales Executive at Paramount Roasters in Lansing, MI. Paramount is an employee-owned, specialty coffee roaster founded in 1935. She began at Paramount as a sales intern before joining the Sales Executive team in 2014. Her primary focus is establishing new private label business and growing key private label accounts. Kara is a graduate of Michigan State University with a B.A. in Communication. She has also completed the St. Joseph University PLMA Executive Education course.
Kara joined the WISE organization in 2014 and serves on the events committee. She is proud to be on the board of an organization that is continuing to bridge the generation gap, and push to diversify the Store Brands industry.
Kara Miencier
Paramount Roasters
Chair of Events Committee
Jac (Jacqueline) Ross
Vice President of Fresh Food Infrastructure, 7-Eleven, Inc.
Originally from the UK, Jac is currently the Vice President of Fresh Food Infrastructure at 7-Eleven Inc. where her responsibilities include oversight of the Quality Assurance and Food Safety team for the USA, innovation of instore food service facilities and management of the network of outside stakeholders across multiple co-manufacturing locations. In a career spanning over 25 years, Jac's experience also includes product development and product integrity roles at Retail Business Services (an Ahold Delhaize Company), Ahold USA, Sainsbury’s Supermarkets and Marks & Spencer, as well as Unilever UK and several Own Brand manufacturers in the UK. As a previous recipient of the 2015 Top Women in Store Brands R&D/QA Award, Jac is excited to be involved with such a great organization.
Jac (Jacqueline) Ross
7-Eleven, Inc.
Events Committee
Luci Sheehan
Principal Consultant, Strategic Sales & Marketing Initiatives, LLC
Luci, Principal Consultant with Strategic Sales & Marketing Initiatives LLC, focuses on driving growth in young companies, new brands and services and helping companies with an entrepreneurial spirit fill gaps in their sales and marketing needs. Luci works with both U.S. and international companies to create and implement actionable solutions that deliver results.
Most recently, Luci has worked with Oleificio Zucchi, the largest family owned producer of extra virgin olive oil in Italy, to launch their innovative branded and store brand solutions in North America, including the first certified sustainable extra virgin olive oils, as well as store branded products that can provide traceability to the sources of origin for consumers. She also works with industry journalist Kevin Coupe (MorningNewsBeat), providing marketing and sponsorship support. Her clients range from food and non-food CPG companies to technology and online BtoB solutions. Luci has nearly 20 years of consulting experience, and over 20 years in sales and marketing management, including senior management positions at Procter & Gamble, Catalina Marketing, and The Ferolie Group.
Luci’s non-profit service includes: trustee at her alma mater, Simmons University, chair of The American Red Cross of Connecticut, national board member for the Network of Executive Women and service on the boards of Emergency Family Assistance in Boulder, CO and CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse) in St. Petersburg, FL. She is a leadership fundraising volunteer for BeadforLife for their Street Business School, which provides women in Sub Saharan Africa with training and skills to establish their own businesses. Luci resides in Boulder, CO and has a son.
Luci has served on the Professional Development Committee since 2014.
Luci Sheehan
Strategic Sales & Marketing Initiatives LLC
Professional Development Committee
Alexis Ward
Sr. Director of Information Technology, TreeHouse Foods
Alexis Ward is a Sr. Director of Information Technology at TreeHouse Foods. She has been an IT professional for over 14 years, with 9 years in the StoreBrand industry. She started working for IBM out of college as an SAP business consultant. She joined TreeHouse Foods in 2011 as a Business Architect focusing on warehousing. Alexis works closely with business partners to make sure IT is aligned with the business strategy and also to help optimize and increase productivity in all functions. Alexis was promoted to Director in 2017. She leads all functional areas in SAP, TreeHouse Food’s ERP system. She is constantly working with her teams to create value as TreeHouse Foods customers’ preferred manufacturing and distribution partner through her leadership and relentless focus on execution.
Alexis Ward
TreeHouse Foods
Chair, Professional Development Committee