The National Grocers Association (NGA) said last week it has appointed Jessica Harper as manager of industry and associate member relations.
 
Harper will be responsible for all aspects of NGA’s associate membership program, including acting as a liaison to the NGA Supplier Advisory Council, the trade group said. Additionally, she will serve as NGA’s lead on industry relations, issues including technology standards development and trading partner collaboration. Finally, she will oversee NGA’s popular Creative Choice Awards contest, Executive Leadership Development Program, and Trading Partner Business Sessions.
 
Harper spent three and half years with the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), which represents the world’s leading food, beverage and consumer products companies, as a coordinator in the membership and meeting services departments.
 
In other NGA news, the trade group has unveiled details about its 2008 Executive Management Conference, to be held at the Four Seasons Resort & Club at Las Colinas in Irving, Texas Sept. 26-29, 2008.
 
Seminars include:
-- “Front End Systems – The Second Revolution: Are You Prepared?” presented by Gary Fleming, v.p., Industry Technology & Standards, Produce Marketing Association.

-- Bill Bishop, president of Willard Bishop Consulting and Mike Jackson, president and c.o.o. of Supervalu, Inc. will lead a session based on a study conducted for the Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council of North America by the Institute for the Future, “Connecting the Dots between Food & Health: Expanding the Market for the Retail Grocery.”
 
-- In the session “Industry Analysis – The Economy and the Future of the Industry” Don Coxe, Global Portfolio Strategist, a leading strategist from BMO Capital Markets, will offer an industry analysis on current and future economic factors as they relate to the food industry.
 
For more information on the 2008 NGA Executive Management Conference visit www.nationalgrocers.org or contact Mary Wallace at mwallace@nationalgrocers.org or call 703-516-0700.