2024 Food Industry Summit Speakers

CEO and Co-Founder, Birdzi

Shekar Raman is CEO and co-founder of Birdzi, a grocery retail AI solutions company that was inspired by an idea his 11-year-old daughter had about locating products in the supermarket. He is passionate about building data-driven technologies leveraging AI and machine learning to help retailers and brands elevate the customer experience.

Shekar began his career working on the Human Genome Project at the Dept. of Human Genetics, Univ. of Pennsylvania, developing algorithms for protein modeling. He was part of some of the pioneering groups (early 90s) in BioInformatics at UPenn, and at the Dept. of Human Genetics, UNLV, where he applied speech recognition techniques to identify and classify genetic sequences. He then continued onto AT&T Bell Labs, working in the Speech Recognition group as a consultant developing data collection algorithms where he also acquired significant expertise in systems engineering. He then later moved on to Systems Engineering, architecting and implementing infrastructure solutions for a large Fortune 500 company working in both consulting and management roles.

Shekar Raman has a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electronics and Communications from Osmania University, Hyderabad India. He went to Graduate School at Villanova University where he obtained a MS in Electrical Engineering with a focus on Digital Signal Processing and Pattern Recognition.

Retail Food Industry Consultant

Countless studies and years of work with some of the world’s most innovative companies gives Michael Sansolo a unique and diverse view of the changing nature of trends impacting shoppers, employees, competition, economics, supply chains and management. A long-time senior vice president of the Food Marketing Institute and now a consultant, speaker and author, Sansolo has traveled the globe working with companies on adjusting to new market conditions.

He currently serves as the research director of the Coca-Cola Retailing Research Councils of North America, working with these groups on emerging business topics such as social networking, emerging technology and changing consumer wants and needs.

Sansolo recently authored Business Rules! a collection of diverse and useful lessons in business success. Stories are gathered from companies of all sizes and lessons from professional sports, Broadway Theater, a New York City catering company and pop star Lady Gaga.

Previously, Sansolo co-authored The Big Picture: Essential Business Lessons from the Movies, a book that identifies creative lessons in leadership, marketing and workplace dynamics gleaned from movies as varied as The Godfather and Young Frankenstein. Topics in the book include ethics, brand building, crisis management, outside-the-box thinking and diversity. Sansolo also writes a weekly column on wide-ranging business trends for www.MorningNewsBeat.com, a daily blog with nearly 35,000 readers.

Chief Marketing Officer, Athletic Brewing Company

Andrew Katz is the chief marketing officer at Athletic Brewing Company, America’s leading producer of non-alcoholic craft beer. Katz oversees all marketing activities, including advertising and branding, communications, International, and eCommerce, focusing on driving brand awareness and sales of Athletic Brewing’s award-winning brews.

As CMO, Katz leans on over two decades of experience as a blue-chip marketer and his deep understanding of consumer needs to develop and implement revenue-generating strategies to accelerate consumer adoption of non-alcoholic beer while expanding Athletic Brewing’s household penetration.

Before joining Athletic Brewing as its first-ever CMO in 2021, Katz founded a fitness technology startup called Instructrr. He has successfully led brands and teams at PepsiCo, American Express, and The HEINEKEN Company, where he developed strategic plans to reboot Dos Equis advertising.

He graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, with a B.A. in political science and received his MBA from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management.

Athletic Brewing is headquartered in Milford, Connecticut, and is a Certified B Corporation™. In 2022, Athletic was selected as one of Ad Age's Top 20 Hottest Brands and ranked as the 26th fastest-growing private company in America by Inc. Magazine. Athletic was also named one of TIME’s “100 Most Influential Companies.” 

Chief Marketing Officer, Rastelli Food Group

Alicja Spaulding, MBA, is a data-driven marketing professional boasting 20 years of experience in blending the analytical with the creative aspects of marketing to foster growth and profitability. Her professional path began at Universal Music Canada, in the then-emergent field of New Media Marketing, where she pioneered digital campaigns that set new standards for artist promotion, including work for The Killers, Eminem, and U2.

Over a decade ago now, Alicja shifted her focus and expertise to food marketing. Currently, she holds the position of Chief Marketing Officer at Rastelli Foods Group, where she spearheads the marketing and brand strategy across various channels, including rastellis.com, conventional grocery stores, club stores, e-commerce, and food service. Her leadership and strategic vision have been key to driving the company's marketing initiatives and brand presence.

Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer, Think Blue

Parag Shah is the co-founder and chief growth officer of Think Blue, a growth-oriented solutions provider excelling in cutting-edge omnichannel strategies with proven traditional business practices to drive profitable growth and elevate operational efficiency. 

Shah is am distinguished merchandising and digital executive residing in New York City, with over two decades of experience predominantly in the retail and grocery sectors. His career is highlighted by influential positions at The Giant Company and Wakefern Food Corporation, where he spearheaded initiatives to refine merchandising strategies, drive omni-channel growth, and streamline operations. 

As Vice President of Center Store Merchandising at The Giant Company, Parag optimized pricing strategies and promotional programs, achieving unprecedented market share and profitability. His efforts significantly bolstered the e-commerce division, enhancing digital engagement and fostering business models that support omni-channel retailing. 

During his extensive 21-year tenure at Wakefern, Parag ascended from a Supply Chain Analyst to leading the $6.5 billion grocery division. He orchestrated merchandising efforts, strategic planning, and directed initiatives in private branding, marketing, commercial planning, and global sourcing. His leadership not only enhanced profitability and employee satisfaction but also fortified the cooperative’s brand health and competitive edge. 

Parag holds an MBA from Rutgers University and has enhanced his expertise through executive programs at Cornell and MIT, focusing on food industry leadership and digital innovation. He actively contributes to professional and community organizations, engaging in vital discussions on retail innovation and merchandising efficacy. 

 

Co-Founder & CMO, Think Blue

Manish Sharma is the co-founder and CMO of Think Blue, a growth-oriented solutions provider excelling in cutting-edge omnichannel strategies with proven traditional business practices to drive profitable growth and elevate operational efficiency. 

Sharma is a distinguished marketing executive whose dynamic career, spanning two decades across North America, Asia, and Africa, demonstrates a profound expertise in brand building and a comprehensive mastery over traditional, digital, and performance marketing. His professional journey, characterized by its diversity, has seen him navigate through various categories, geographical landscapes, and organizational levels, highlighting his adaptability and deep understanding of complex business ecosystems. Known for a result-oriented strategic approach, Manish consistently achieves significant outcomes, transforming ambitious goals into tangible successes.

Renowned for his inclusive leadership style, Manish excels in fostering an environment that values diverse perspectives and collaborative efforts, thereby enhancing team dynamics and decision-making processes. His expertise in traditional marketing is evident in his impactful storytelling for iconic brands like Kellogg's, Special K, Kellogg's Corn Flakes, and Coco Pops, where he leverages various media to create emotional connections and brand loyalty. In the digital realm, Manish has led initiatives for Cheez-It and Pringles On The Go (OTG), employing data-driven strategies to ensure a competitive edge in a digital-first world. His skill in performance marketing shines through in his targeted campaigns for Kellogg's categories, where his meticulous analysis of marketing metrics translates investments into growth and brand equity.

Manish has demonstrated an exceptional ability to transform complex challenges into opportunities, excel in strategic thinking, and inspire change. He is passionate about building businesses and brands, developing and mentoring talent, and enhancing customer engagement. His areas of expertise extend to marketing, e-commerce, P&L management, breakthrough innovation, and integrated communication planning. Outside of his professional life, Manish enjoys spending time with his dogs, traveling, and exploring new culinary experiences. His career embodies a commitment to connecting brands with their audiences, driving innovation, and leading with a vision that embraces change and inclusivity, marking him as a pivotal figure in the marketing landscape.

CEO, SPAR 

Mike is the CEO of SPAR, a global merchandising, store transformation and brand marketing services business. He brings more than 30 years of retail, services, technology and leadership experience to the business and a track record of driving growth, profitability, and shareholder value. In his time at SPAR, he has transformed it into one of the market’s most innovative partners to brands and retailers.

As a proven retail executive and strategic leader, Mike has a deep, practical understanding of the day-to-day issues facing retail, consumer goods and fulfillment businesses as well as the insight to capitalize on strategic change. He was the youngest named executive officer in the Fortune 500 earlier in his career and has received awards as a successful entrepreneur, technology executive and thought leader who has been quoted and published across media platforms and is sought after for speaking at industry events around the world.

Prior to joining SPAR, Mike served as the Chief Administrative Officer for Dollar Tree and Family Dollar Stores, Chief Executive Officer for The Parker Avery Group, Vice President, Strategy and Operations at Manhattan Associates and Vice President, Product & Operations and Managing Director, Europe for Evant. He serves on several charitable organization boards and when he is not spending time with his wife of 25 years and three children, he can be found on the tennis court.