N.G.A. Announces Expansion of Its Successful Executive Leadership Development Program

The National Grocers Association (N.G.A.) announced that it is partnering with the University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School of Business and Unilever to expand its highly regarded Executive Leadership Development Program. The N.G.A. Executive Leadership Development Program is currently offered at Cornell University through funding provided by PepsiCo, Inc. The expansion will now include two programs offered at two institutions, Cornell and USC, allowing N.G.A. to increase annual participation from 36 executives to more than fifty. "N.G.A. is very excited to partner with USC and Unilever to expand our Executive Leadership Development Program, making it more accessible to our independent retail and wholesale members," said Peter Larkin, President and CEO of the National Grocers Association. "This is an outstanding program that helps develop and prepare the next generation of leaders in our industry for success and growth." N.G.A.'s Executive Leadership Development Program began in 2004 at Cornell University with funding from PepsiCo Inc., and has grown to become one of N.G.A.'s most successful education programs. The weeklong intensive training includes a mix of high-impact learning opportunities encompassing interactive instruction presented by respected academic and industry leaders. The program provides rising grocery industry executives with the knowledge, tools and resources necessary to lead their companies and drive them to long-term success. It helps prepare independent retailers and wholesalers to successfully respond to business challenges in the marketplace while helping groom the next generation of potential industry leaders. More than 250 N.G.A. member executives representing senior leadership from over 100 independent retailers and wholesalers have graduated from the Cornell program since its inception. PepsiCo Inc. sponsors the Cornell program through funding support and Unilever will provide funding to support the new USC program. "The success of the executive leadership program couldn't have happened without the steadfast commitment and continuous support of PepsiCo which helped start the program," said Larkin. "We are grateful for PepsiCo's ongoing partnership and welcome Unilever as an additional sponsor." The N.G.A. Executive Leadership Development Program will be held June 3-7, 2012 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and June 10-14, 2012 at USC in Los Angeles, California.