Popp Brand Advertising

Junior Board – Charlie New

The Next Generation – Jr. Board Member Interview

In this month’s WISE Jr. Board Member interview, we are featuring WISE’s very first male Jr. Board member, Charlie New. Born and raised in a small town in Oklahoma, Charlie has delved full force into his successful career as a true advocate for diversity, while also enjoying time doing what he loves outside of work: spending time at his local restaurants, sharing his passion of cheese (yes, he’s even a certified cheese professional!), spending time with his fiancé, and power lifting.

Charlie plays such an important role in the WISE and the store brands industry as he is the voice that screams the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Growing up in a community scarce in diversity, the power of inclusivity and of amplifying the voices of all is what led Charlie to Whole Foods Market (WFM) where he’s been working for ten years. He surrounds himself with individuals who are unapologetically themselves, even when there is a big risk involved with being their true selves; and this is exactly what Charlie shines onto others.

WISE: Charlie, please give us some background on your experience prior to working at Whole Foods.

CHARLIE: If you can believe this, I have worked at Whole Foods for over ten years and started shortly after college. That said, one of the wonderful parts of my experience with this company is that I have had the opportunity to grow not just professionally, but personally here over the last decade.

WISE: How did you find your career opportunity with Whole Foods?

CHARLIE: I was an eager post-college grad and hungry to start my career. At the time I was finishing school with a film degree and certain I would become a film editor. I found the position at WFM through a job fair and I started simply so I could pay my rent while looking for long-term prospects. I quickly learned that WFM's mission statement and core values aligned with mine.

WISE: What has been your most challenging part of your time working at Whole Foods?

CHARLIE: As a company, I have watched WFM experience lots of change, from growing from 300 stores to almost twice that, to being acquired by Amazon, to most recently moving over to a fully centralized model. Change is always a challenge because it means disruption in the flow of how we work. However, the silver lining is all this change has been for the betterment of the company.

WISE: What has been the most rewarding part of your time working at Whole Foods?

CHARLIE: Without a doubt, it is the people. I have had the opportunity to work with inspiring people who have changed the course of my life. Often, those I work with feel like family. I’ve met lifelong mentors - people who have championed me to where I am today. I’ve also acquired many close friends along the way. I even met my fiancé in the very early days of working at WFM.

WISE: What has your experience been like while working during COVID? How did that mold your experience?

CHARLIE: Working during COVID has allowed me to learn how to face unpredictable and new types of challenges. I might say I am an expert at putting out fires these days. It has also taught me the value of making connections with my peers, even when it is through a zoom lens.

WISE: What got you interested in joining the WISE organization?

CHARLIE: I believe in the power of diversity in the workforce at large, in corporate structures, and the Store Brands industry. It is our most important cause to continue pushing forward. WISE is one of the most important facets of the industry working towards that goal, and I wanted a chance to be a part of it.

WISE: How long have you been a part of WISE? Tell us all about what you’ve done within the organization.

CHARLIE: Technically speaking I have been involved with WISE through WFM for the past few years. Since then, I have had the chance to see some incredible speakers pre-COVID days at PLMA, as well as tune in to the panels on zoom. By far though, the most impactful experience I have had is being a part of the Junior Board.

WISE: What were your thoughts about the organization as you learned about WISE and its mission?

CHARLIE: WISE plays a crucial role in creating a more inclusive culture in the Store Brands industry. It has helped propel the industry forward by leading the movement for diversity and inclusion with the knowledge that it drives profitable growth. This is not done solely for the sake of progress, but with the understanding that it is needed. The Store Brands industry at present is not representative of the diverse customers that shop it. WISE is actively working to change that fact.

WISE: What do you think could be the future of WISE?

CHARLIE: The way that the organization has leaned into DEI initiatives is the first step into its future. This is so needed and rarely something that is being provided elsewhere. The DEI Ambassadors Program is the start of expanding the reach and impact of WISE in a big way, especially in these virtual times.

WISE: How would you sum up your experience in this industry, and what advice would you give to those considering joining this industry?

CHARLIE: Stay curious and humble. You’ll be surrounded by people with gobs of experience, vast amounts of knowledge, and a business vernacular that’s been honed for several decades. If you let that intimidate you, you won’t go far. Find people in the room you believe in, ask them lots of questions, and insist that they be your mentors. And, don’t forget to return the favor to people just starting.

Black History Month – Why I Celebrate

Black History Month - Why I Celebrate

By Phyllis Johnson, Senior Director Brand Development & Own Brands, Catalina

With the arrival of every new year, my thoughts quickly turn to February and our nation’s acknowledgement/recognition of Black History Month. I begin to think on how will I celebrate the month? Will I attend a Black history parade? Attend a Black history community breakfast? Speak at a virtual Black history conference? Or be the first in line to purchase all the Black history month items at Target before they sell out? (The struggle is real).

While all these things I have done and can do again; this year I decided to take a step back, slow down, think, and be more intentional about why I celebrate Black History Month. For me, there was no better way to start than at the beginning and understand the origins of this special celebration.

Carter G. Woodson, known as the Father of Black History, launched Negro History Week in 1926. He extensively studied the history of the African diaspora (which included African American history) and was concerned the role and importance of African Americans in our nation’s history was being ignored, altered, and misrepresented. Woodson created this week’s long celebration to bring focus and visibility to all the great contributions of African Americans.

Recognizing the entire month was first proposed in 1969 by Black educators and students at Kent State University and first celebrated in February 1970. In 1976, President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month during the U.S. Bicentennial. Since that time, every U.S. President has designated February as Black History Month.

By slowing down and being thoughtful, I realized the reasons Woodson stated for starting Negro History Week are the same reasons I celebrate Black History Month. The contributions and impact of great African Americans on our nation still needs to be known, recognized, and celebrated. Their stories should be told over and over again. Through difficult circumstances, tremendous roadblocks and even threats to their very lives, they persevered.

So, I celebrate Black History Month because Bessie Coleman was the first African American female and Native American to hold a pilot’s license, despite zero flight training opportunities in the United States for someone like her. She received her training and license in France.

I celebrate Black History Month because after the ratification of the 15^th Amendment in 1870, thousands of Black men (many former slaves) became involved in the political process by voting and getting elected to various government positions on local, state, and national levels.

I celebrate Black History Month because I want the stories of Fannie Lou Hamer, Matthew Alexander Henson, Edward Bouchet, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, Mary Ellen Pleasant, Cathay Williams, and Shirley Chisholm to be equally well known as Rosa Parks, Booker T. Washington, Harriet Tubman, and Martin Luther King Jr.

I celebrate Black History Month to honor all those who came before me and shaped my view of community, myself, and our collective potential. Thus, I will continue to celebrate by taking advantage of every opportunity to tell their incredible stories and lift them up as examples of greatness that shines through the darkness. To strengthen our hope for a better and brighter world, I celebrate Black History.

WISE Mentor Circles a Valuable Resource for WISE Partner Companies

Since its inception, WISE has focused on providing valuable professional development resources for its partners and members. The WISE Mentor Circles have been a true success in bolstering professional skills and widening networks for their participants.

WISE Mentor Circles are designed to provide professional growth opportunities by enhancing self-confidence, further developing communication and leadership skills, and increasing networking skills for participants. Beginning in February, circle participants meet virtually, every four to six weeks, for sixty to ninety minutes. Each circle has an experienced leader who keeps the meetings organized and members engaged. The leader also designates a circle member to lead at least one meeting during the year to fine tune meeting leadership skills. This program is only available to WISE partner company employees. Participation is open to any partner employee regardless of gender identification or position.

Abby Vander Wyst, Director of Sales Operations at Great Lakes Cheese, participated in a WISE mentor circle in 2021. Abby summed up her experience by emphatically stating, “It exceeded anything I thought I would experience.” In fact, she valued the experience so much that she has volunteered to be a mentor circle lead for 2022, and she has nominated a colleague to participate in a circle so she can in turn grow from participation.

The WISE mentor circle engagement was different from any internal program Abby had experienced because she was able to meet with professionals from different organizations, involved in different roles, and positioned in different parts of the U.S. In fact, her circle included an international participant. “We found common ground in shared experiences,” says Abby. “An even bigger value was that we all felt like we could reach out to one another and use each other as a resource outside of the circle time and topics we were covering. These women are now all resources I can use. I value their opinion.” While Abby was quick to stress the importance of internal, employer-sponsored mentor programs, she found the WISE program beneficial in a different way. “Internal mentors are extremely important. They know who the key players in your company are and understand the internal issues. Outside mentors, they have a whole new way of thinking that is outside of your day-to-day scope. The approach to issues can be more open minded.”

Abby believes that her participation in the WISE program has opened her eyes to the fact that women in her company and others need to be open to resources outside the organization to grow. Her group touched on topics as diverse as working through COVID, the change to hybrid and remote positions, and working with varied personality types. “I loved my group! It was a new way to explore important topics and I want to help others reach out,” says Abby. In leading her own circle, Abby is excited to meet and work with a new group to not only mentor but also continue her own learning process.

In summing up the benefit of the Mentor Circle Program, Abby described it as a clear business case advantage as any good operations professional would. “If you’re looking at it as a math equation, the investment to gain ratio is in your favor. It’s a pretty low commitment compared to how much you benefit, grow and gain from the situation. Your company will also gain; you will be more industry aware and open minded.” If you are an employee of a WISE partner company and would like to participate in or to nominate a colleague for the 2022 WISE Mentor Circle Program, please contact Judy Clark at Judy.Clark@freshtx.com or (708) 829-9371 by January 14th.

The Next Generation: a WISE Jr. Board Member Interview

The Next Generation: a WISE Jr. Board Member Interview

Featuring: Miranda Sakschek, TreeHouse Foods

There are many of us who launched our careers fresh out of college, and maybe even in a position we hadn’t even imagined. TreeHouse Foods’ Manager of Division Commercial Planning Miranda Sakschek started in this industry as a young, Associate Business Development Manager with TreeHouse back in 2018, and has grown quickly in her career while also spending time within the WISE organization. Her story reminds us of how important it is to keep your head up and work hard for what you want, no matter how discouraged you feel. If you can do that, you can change the world.

WISE: Miranda, please give us some background on your degree and experience prior to working at TreeHouse Foods.

MIRANDA: I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences with an emphasis in Marketing and Integrative Medicine back in 2017. While in school and prior to working at TreeHouse Foods, I worked on the Sales team for a Milwaukee-based bread company that was acquired by Marzetti, Angelic Bakehouse. I was also a personal nutrition consultant for clients in the Midwest at the time.

WISE: How did you find your career opportunity with TreeHouse Foods and all the roles you’ve taken on since?

MIRANDA: I attended many food conventions while in school and in my previous role, where I networked with as many food manufacturers I could get face-to-face with, both startups and large enterprises. I met an individual that introduced me to TreeHouse Foods right after I graduated. From there, I applied for a role as an Associate Business Development Manager and was on-boarded in just a few weeks. After one year, I was promoted to a Customer Business Manager. After another year, I took on the role as a Manager of Division Commercial Planning, and this is what I’ve been doing since September 2021.

WISE: Tell us about your thoughts leading up to the start of your time at TreeHouse. Did you have any expectations of what it would be like or did you do any preparation?

MIRANDA: I knew I wanted to work in the food industry, in some way, given my experience and love for all-things food. However, I would have never imagined landing a job with the nation’s largest private label food manufacturing company. My first year was a whirlwind of a learning curve learning about our customers, the ins and outs of our plants and categories, working with all cross-functional teams, etc., all while acting as the face of the company in my ABDM role. My role at Angelic Bakehouse/Marzetti helped create a foundation for my sales experience, but that was just a small scratch on the surface compared to what I’ve done at TreeHouse.

WISE: What was your experience like working during COVID?

MIRANDA: When the lockdown first started in Q1 2020, I was still working as an ABDM, and then a CBM. Working from home wasn’t too much of a life-changing experience as I only worked from our office one day a week. However, at the time, I was living in a loft apartment in downtown Chicago, and my fiancé had to start working from home too. Given our apartment was really a large, concrete box, I often found myself working from the bathroom (or more so making HIM work from the bathroom!). That was the only room with walls, and we were both on the phone all day. THAT was an experience to say the least! Then, once I started looking into switching roles within the company, the interview and onboarding process for that new position was extremely unconventional. I did not meet my boss or my boss’s boss in person until just this past summer! I am lucky enough to work for a company that has allowed its employees to continue working from home until the foreseeable future. And now that I live in a house with walls (thank goodness!), I am very, very grateful!

WISE: What got you interested in joining the WISE organization?

MIRANDA: Coming into THS as a fresh-out-of-college female, I lacked confidence and felt extremely discouraged on a day-to-day basis. My boss, at the time, suggested I attend the WISE annual meeting to see if it was something I’d be interested in. Coming out of that meeting, I knew I needed to join this organization.

WISE: You’ve been a part of WISE since you entered the private label industry. Tell us what you’ve done within the organization.

MIRANDA: I joined the WISE organization in 2018, and soon after, I joined WISE’s Mentor Circle Program as a mentee. One year later, I volunteered to become a 2020 WISE Mentor Circle Lead where I led a team of six empowering individuals for the year. At the end of 2021, I received a call from Lexi Ward, a WISE Board of Directors Member, who shared that I had been inducted onto the WISE Jr. Board of Directors. I’ve now been in this role for one year where I’ve worked with six other Jr. Board members to find ways to attract a younger, diverse generation into the WISE organization. I’ve also been participating on the Marketing and Communications Committee to find new ways to connect, attract and retain the next generation of private label professionals.

WISE: What were your thoughts about the organization as you learned about WISE and its mission?

MIRANDA: The group of individuals that make up WISE are not only empowering, but they are authentic, courageous, intuitive, and so extremely caring; they are a true family outside of a family. WISE has helped build my self-confidence which has helped me succeed both in the workplace and on a personal level. WISE has helped me see and believe that I am strong, and I am capable of accomplishing anything I set my mind to. Being on the Jr. Board of Directors will now allow me to not only shine that light of empowerment onto others, but it will also allow me to continue to learn and grow, together with WISE and all it has to offer.

WISE: What are your aspirations going forward?

MIRANDA: I want to change this industry. Given the challenges we continue to face every day such as material and labor shortages, inflation, and all-things COVID, we’ve got some big bumps to overcome. However, the strong “do-ers” are the ones who will drive this industry. We will drive growth; we will drive innovation while sustaining our core SKUs that serve as the foundation of what we offer. Once we surpass the challenges we are facing today, it will only be up from there. It will take those who want to work extra hard to make it happen, and that’s why I’m here.

WISE: How would you sum up your experience in this industry as a young, female, and what advice would you give to those in similar situations?

MIRANDA: It’s easy to feel unseen and discouraged as a young female in this industry. However, we are the ones who can become the most seen if we let our voices be heard. Work for yourself. Work for the younger girls that look up to women like us, and prove to them that we can do anything we set our minds to. I will, forever, live by my favorite quote, and hope others do the same: “Always behave like a duck; keep calm and unruffled on the surface, but paddle like hell under water.” – Anonymous

2021 WISE Annual Meeting Is A Success

2021 WISE Annual Meeting is a Success!

For a second year, the WISE annual meeting was held virtually. With 300 people registered, the WISE board was eager to reconnect with its members and partners. The new virtual platform used also allowed for networking opportunities prior to the start of the program.

“This year’s WISE annual meeting, although held virtually again this year, was another successful event. [Merryl Tengesdal] was passionate, funny and a true inspiration,” says Sheala Tierney, Catania Oils. “It was a great addition to have the speed networking opportunity at the start of the meeting. I was excited to have the chance to make some new connections!”

This year’s featured speaker Col. Merryl Tengesdal (ret.) captivated listeners with her story and insight. With extensive Airforce command and senior leadership experience, Merryl shared how her experiences as a black woman and a pioneer in the military and aviation shaped her. Among her accolades, she is the first and only African American woman to fly a U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. “As a woman being that trailblazer, … you had to make it work,” states Merryl. “When people are doing the first of something, it’s about how can I navigate these waters and what are the lessons learned so I can make it for the people behind me easier. Someone is going to have to be the first. So why not you?” During her presentation, she also stressed that every experience gives you new tools for your professional toolbelt, no one’s career path is linear and mentoring is incredibly valuable. Merryl imparted an early life lesson she learned from a mentor that she carries with her to this day. “You don’t want to let your perception of what people think about you get in your head and mess with your self worth,” she reflects. “You have to get out of your way about that and let your performance, let your professionalism, shine through.” To cap off her appearance, each annual meeting attendee was given a digital copy of Merryl’s newly released book “Shatter the Sky” courtesy of Daymon and RBI.

Of course, we cannot properly recap the WISE annual meeting without highlighting the recipients of the 2021 Top Women in Storebrands. Each year, WISE and StoreBrands reveal the names of nine outstanding women in the storebrands industry who have been nominated by their peers and selected for their outstanding contributions. This year, a very special Lifetime Achievement Award was given posthumously to Samantha Hein, Whole Foods. Samantha was represented by her family and her peers in a very moving tribute to her career. The full list of the 2021 Top Women in Storebrands winners can be found here.

WISE also announced the introduction of its new DEI Learning Series. Designed with DEI partner ExecuInsight, WISE is launching a series of tools for its partner members to use in bolstering their own DEI initiatives. The first webinar detailing the new programming is being offered on December 7, 2021. Registration is still open at the WISE website. Watch your email for more information on the DEI Learning Series.

"I am thrilled with the event we had this year!” notes Kara Miencier, Paramount Coffee and WISE Annual Meeting Chair. “It was exciting to host our event on a new streaming platform that allowed more opportunities for networking and connection. After almost two years of attending strictly virtual events, I was pleased with how our event still felt fresh.”

Thank you to all of our Annual Meeting sponsors and to everyone who attended. The WISE Board is very excited to roll out new programming in 2022 and to continue to build this incredible network based in advancing diversity and inclusion. Happy Holidays to all!