Our Board of Directors
Click on the headshots for more information on each of our esteemed board members.
Jen Linke
Vice President, Retail, Aramark
Jen started her career in private brands working for ALDI. She was a district manager before she was promoted into their corporate purchasing team where she oversaw a variety of food & non-food categories and managed the advertising & marketing for the company. She was there 14 years before moving to Sears/Kmart. While managing several areas, including stationery, greeting cards, batteries and more, she also led strategic procurement initiatives for Kmart’s grocery and drug businesses. Jen left Kmart to be the Vice President of Brand Management at Federated Group. Her responsibilities included driving brand and category strategies in private label grocery. She developed new brands, managed the SailPointe Creative business and more. She now works as the Vice President of Retail for Aramark Corrections and serves as the WISE Chair since June 2020.
Jen Linke
Aramark
WISE 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: WISE Executive Committee, 1st Chair
For WISE: WISE Executive Committee, 1st Chair
Katie Blohowiak
Schreiber Foods
WISE Executive Committee; 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: WISE Executive Committe; Board 2nd Chair, Committee Chair – Talent Development, Committee Co-Chair, Finance
For WISE: WISE Executive Committe; Board 2nd Chair, Committee Chair – Talent Development, Committee Co-Chair, Finance
Judy Clark
Fresh Texas
WISE Executive Committee; Board 2nd Chair, Committee Chair – Talent Development, Committee Co-Chair, Finance
Laurie LaRue
Treasurer of Lassonde Pappas and Company, Inc.
Laurie LaRue is the Treasurer 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: WISE Executive Committee; Treasurer; Chair, Finance Committee; Member, Strategic Long Range Planning Committee
For WISE: WISE Executive Committee; Treasurer; Chair, Finance Committee; Member, Strategic Long Range Planning Committee
Laurie LaRue
Lassonde Pappas & Co., Inc.
WISE Executive Committee; Treasurer, Chair, Finance Committee; Member, Strategic Long Range Planning Committee
Shannen Bornsen
Commercialization Strategy Manager, Cargill
Shannen has extensive experience in global marketing and sales of food and agriculture products including work for Cargill, 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: Chair, Marketing and Communications Committee
For WISE: Chair, Marketing and Communications Committee
Shannen Bornsen
Cargill
Chair of Marketing and Communications Committee
Mary Conwell
National Sales Manager, Sofidel
Mary Conwell is a National Sales Manager with Sofidel, a producer of private label bathroom tissue and household towel items with over 38 years of selling experience. Mary joined Sofidel in 2017 as they began their expansion in the US market and commissioned two new greenfield paper making and converting sites in Ohio and Oklahoma. Prior to Sofidel she worked for other tissue producers and spent 13 years with the HJ Heinz company in Sales. In her current role she leads a team of Sales Directors on new business development across all US retailers. A member of WISE since 2016 she was honored to be a recipient of the Top Women in Store Brands for Sales in 2021 and she Chairs the Recruitment and Membership Committee for WISE. In her spare time, she serves as a Financial Deacon and manages the benevolent giving fund at her church and serves as a volunteer for Man UP and the Urban Impact mentoring program.
Mary Conwell
Sofidel
Lisa Eatherton
Sr. Business Manager, John B. Sanfilippo & Son
Lisa Eatherton is a Sr. Business Manager at John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. (JBSS), a global leader of quality-driven and innovative nut solutions, headquartered in Elgin, IL. Lisa joined JBSS in 2010 and has held various roles in Marketing and Sales. She is currently responsible for fostering collaborative partnerships to drive alignment, execute with excellence, and achieve results. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a degree in Marketing and Management. Lisa became a member of WISE in 2019 and serves on the Professional Development Committee. She is honored to be part of the inaugural Junior Board of Directors and its mission to champion diversity and inclusion in the store brand industry.
Lisa Eatherton
John B. Sanfilippo & Son
Professional Development 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
Chair of Partner Liaison Committee
Phyllis Johnson
Sr. Director Own Brands, Catalina
Phyllis brings 25 years of Own Brand experience to the Board, and was recently just given the Store Brand 2021 Game Changers Award by StoreBrands magazine. In her “free time”, Phyllis supports various nonprofit organizations by volunteering her time to teach and mentor young and upcoming business professionals.
Phyllis Johnson
Catalina
Chair of Junior Board
Sheila Dy Juanco
Vice President of Technical Services, Albertson's
Sheila Dy Juanco is the Vice President of Technical Services for Albertson’s. She has more than 20 years of experience in R&D compliance spanning a number industries. In addition to the WISE board, Sheila also devotes time to a MBA Leadership mentorship for budding women in business and is active with the Asian Network ARG across Albertsons Companies.
Sheila Dy Juanco
Albertson's
Board of Directors
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
Vice Chair of Events Committee
Leslie MacNeil
Senior Director of Sales, US/CA Private Brands, Simmons Pet Food
Leslie is the Senior Director of Sales, US/CA Private Brands, 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
Miranda Penna (Sakschek)
Customer Business Manager; Winland Foods (formerly TreeHouse Foods)
Miranda Penna (Sakschek) has worked within the private brands industry for seven years, and for the Winland Foods/TreeHouse Foods organization for five years. Prior to Winland Foods acquiring TreeHouse Foods, Miranda started as an Associate Business Development manager, was then promoted to a Business Development Manager, and then to a Division Commercial Planning Manager. With the recent divestiture of the Meal Prep business at TreeHouse, Miranda transitioned with the acquisition, and is now managing an innovative and extensive portfolio in her CBM position. Before being appointed onto the WISE Board of Directors, Miranda served on the first ever WISE Junior Board of Directors (Marketing & Communications committee) from 2021-2023. Prior to the Jr. Board, Miranda was a WISE Mentor Circle Lead in 2020.
Miranda Penna (Sakschek)
Winland Foods
Marketing and Communications Committee
Jac (Jacqueline) Ross
Vice President Our Brands, Sprouts Farmers Market
Originally from the UK, Jac is currently the Vice President Our Brands at Sprouts Farmers Market where she is focused on bringing exclusive and innovative private label products to the fast-growing grocer’s base of shoppers who are enthusiastic about health and wellness. In a career spanning over 25 years, Jac's experience also includes product development and product integrity roles at 7-Eleven Inc., 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
Sprouts Farmers Market
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