Former Speaker of the House John Boehner to Keynote 2017 NGA Show

The National Grocers Association (NGA) announced that former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives John Boehner will deliver the opening keynote address, sponsored by The Kraft Heinz Company, during the 2017 NGA Show held February 12 – 15 at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. 

A former small businessman, Boehner served for nearly five years as the 53rd Speaker of the House, where he led efforts for a smaller, less costly, and more accountable federal government.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Boehner grew up mopping floors at his family tavern and playing football at Moeller High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Xavier University while he working to pay his tuition and later started his own small business. Boehner got involved in state and local government after experiencing firsthand the impact high taxes and red tape had on entrepreneurs. In 1990, he was elected to Congress, where he quickly gained the reputation as a reformer and fought to reduce government spending and balance the budget. He left Congress in October of 2015, after nearly 25 years of serving the people of Ohio’s 8th Congressional District and the nation.

"We are excited to have former Speaker Boehner join us as the keynote speaker for our 2017 Show," says NGA president and CEO Peter J. Larkin. "Given his wealth of knowledge, along with his small business background, and of course his candor, I can’t think of anyone better suited to stimulate dialogue and provide insight about the current political and economic issues and how they will impact independent grocers.”

Along with revealing the 2017 keynote speaker, NGA also announced that online registration has now opened. The 2017 NGA Show will feature a number of new elements including, a revamped, less formal networking Tuesday night event, and seven educational tracks titled “Farm to Store,” “In the Aisles,” “People Development,” “Attracting Shoppers,” “Executing for Excellence,” “Payments and Profitability,” and “Connected Commerce.

“Whether you own one store or operate a multi-store chain, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to being successful in the supermarket industry. Staying ahead of the curve in a variety of areas is vitally important. We believe these enhanced aspects of the Show, specifically the newly focused workshop tracks, will ensure that attendees will leave Las Vegas with the necessary resources, tools and solutions to address shifting demands and marketplace challenges, and ultimately help them grow their bottom line,” Larkin says. 

For over 30 years, The NGA Show has been the place where independents gather, connecting grocery retailers and wholesalers, food manufacturers and service providers from around the world to share innovative solutions and best practices that support and strengthen the independent supermarket channel. Online registration for The NGA Show can be found at www.theNGAshow.com.