Washington, D.C. – The National Grocers Association (NGA) BB #:163424, the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, announced several new hires to bolster its advocacy efforts and member services.
Stephanie Johnson has joined NGA as vice president of government relations. Johnson will be responsible for NGA’s food and nutrition issues and will advise the NGA Foundation on its federal nutrition program grant work. Johnson joins NGA from the office of U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), where she was a legislative assistant. A registered dietitian, she has experience in food policy and public health. In addition to her policy work, she has 4 years of experience working for two independent grocery stores, where she saw firsthand how federal policies – including the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program – impact community grocery stores and their customers.
Max Wengroff comes to NGA as its new executive assistant. Wengroff will provide support for the leaders of the association’s government relations, industry relations and communications teams. He joins NGA after serving as a federal legislative associate for environmental policy group Environment America.
The NGA Foundation also recently hired new team members to support its growing programs.
Kelly Hanson is the new project assistant for the NGA Foundation. Hanson brings a wealth of experience to the team, including project management and work in early childhood nutrition. Hanson has worked as a program specialist for the Iowa Association for the Education of Young Children and as a public health nutritionist for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Josh Anderegg is the new project manager for the NGA Foundation’s Technical Assistance Center. Among Anderegg’s experience in the food and nutrition arena includes running a mobile food market for the Pittsburgh Food Bank that offered nutrition incentives.
“I’m excited to welcome these dedicated team members to NGA where they are already contributing to our important mission and serving our members in their new roles,” said Greg Ferrara, NGA president and CEO. “Their knowledge, experience, and passion for independent community grocers will help to advance our important work on behalf of independent retailer grocers and the wholesalers that serve them.”
About NGA
NGA is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale community grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of formats. The independent grocery sector is accountable for about 1.2 percent of the nation’s overall economy and is responsible for generating more than $250 billion in sales, 1.1 million jobs, $39 billion in wages and $36 billion in taxes. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers located in every congressional district across the country, as well as state grocers’ associations, manufacturers and service suppliers. For more information about NGA, visit www.nationalgrocers.org.
About NGAF
The NGA Foundation is the 501(c)3 nonprofit arm of the National Grocers Association. The Foundation provides independent retailers with tools to develop more effective recruiting programs, enhance retention efforts and bolster professional leadership development opportunities for employers.
