Press Releases
May 18, 2026 – WAFC Elects Six New Directors to 2026-2027 Leadership
May 18, 2026 – WAFC Elects 2026-2027 Leadership
May 16, 2025 – WAFC Elects Five New Directors to 2025-2026 Leadership
May 16, 2025 – WAFC Elects 2025-2026 Leadership
February 4, 2025 – David Hinojosa of Vallarta Supermarkets to Join WAFC Board of Directors
November 20, 2024 – WAFC Elects Jake Fermanian of Super King Markets to Board of Directors
May 15, 2024 – WAFC Elects 2024-2025 Leadership
May 15, 2024 – WAFC Elects Three New Directors to 2024-2025 Leadership
July 18, 2023 – WAFC Announces 5,000 RMC Graduates
May 16, 2023 – WAFC Elects 2023-2024 Leadership
May 16, 2023 – WAFC Elects Seven New Directors to 2023-2024 Leadership
November 28, 2022 – John Bagan, Eric Stover & Levi Wingo Join WAFC Board of Directors
September 29, 2022 – Greg McNiff Promoted to Stater Bros. Markets Chief Operating Officer
September 1, 2022 – WAFC 2022-2023 Officer Leadership Team Changes
August 1, 2022 – WAFC COO Carole Christianson to Retire
May 12, 2022 – WAFC elects 2022-2023 leadership
May 12, 2022 – WAFC elects six new directors to 2022-2023 leadership
January 20, 2022 – Gineal Davidson and Chris Lanoue Join WAFC Board of Directors
December 17, 2021 – Smart & Final Names Scott Drew as President
August 17, 2021 – Rebecca Calvin and Nancy Lebold Join WAFC Board of Directors
July 19, 2021 – WAFC Appoints Business Development Manager – Dana Hendry
January 22, 2021 –WAFC Elects New directors – January 2021
December 1, 2020 –MS.FIL Inaugural Graduation
October 26, 2020 –WAFC Mission of Education Leaders Stronger than Ever Despite Covid-19
May 27, 2020 –WAFC elects three new directors
May 26, 2020 –WAFC announces 2020-2021 leadership
Feb 19, 2020 –New for 2020! WAFC’s Fresh Focus Exchange
Jan 20, 2020 –WAFC elects Rob Backus
Nov 5, 2019 –WAFC Elects Four New Directors
Sept 17, 2019 –USC Announces 2019 WAFC Scholarship Winners
May 14, 2019 –WAFC Announces 2019 to 2020 Board of Directors
Feb 22, 2019 – USC Marshall FIM 2019 Exec of Year Al Carey
Jan 24, 2019 – Kevin Lovell and Mike Servold join WAFC Board of Directors
November 26, 2018 – WAFC Elects Eric Winn of C&S Wholesale To Board of Directors
October 8, 2018 – MCC Alumnus and Spouse Establish Endowed Business Scholarship
September 17, 2018 – El Centro College offers Retail Management Certificate Program
May 16, 2018 – WAFC Announces 2018-2019 Leadership
May 3, 2018 – Former Ralphs CEO Allumbaugh Establishes Gift and Scholarship With USC Marshall Food Industry Management Program
Apr 26, 2018 – WAFC’s Retail Management Certificate Program Achieves Milestone of 2,000 Graduates!
Feb 9, 2018 – USC Marshall Announces Pete Van Helden of Stater Bros. Markets as the 2018 Executive of the Year
Jan 11, 2018 – Valerie Jabbar, President of Ralphs, named 2018 FIEP Executive-in-Residence
Jan 4, 2018 – USC Marshall Convenes 60th class of food industry leaders to its Food Industry Management Program
November 17, 2016 – Mike Stigers, EVP of SUPERVALU, named Food Industry Executive-in-Residence for 2017
November 14, 2016 – Stater Bros. Announces Passing of Executive Chairman Jack H. Brown
August 5, 2016 – WAFC Announces Emmy award winning comedian, Dana Carvey, as the 2017 Annual Convention Banquet Entertainment
July 25, 2016 – WAFC announces new officer line up
June 21, 2016 – Western Association of Food Chains Convention to Feature Los Angeles Dodgers Hall of Fame Broadcaster Vin Scully
May 12, 2016 – WAFC announces 2016-2017 leadership
January 22, 2016 – WAFC Elects Four New Directors and Announces New Officer Line Up
November 19, 2015 – WAFC Elects Donna Tyndall, SVP Operations of Gelson’s Markets as Director
July 16, 2015 – El Centro offers ‘super’ Retail Management Certificate
May 7, 2015 – WAFC announces 2015-2016 leadership
April 29, 2015 – WAFC’s Retail Management Certificate Honored at The White House’s Upskill Summit
January 21, 2015 – WAFC Elects Four New Directors
November 14, 2014 – Supermarket Executive Honored by FIEP, Kevin Curry is Named Food Industry Executive In Residence for 2015
November 13, 2014 – WAFC Announces NBA Legend, Magic Johnson, as a 2015 Convention Headliner
October 27, 2014 – WAFC Announces Laura Bush as 2015 Convention Headliner
April 21, 2014 – WAFC elects first woman to lead in 93 year history – Sue Klug
April 14, 2014 – WAFC announces 2014-2015 leadership
November 20, 2013 – USC Marshall School of Business FIEP Honors, Vons President, Lori Raya as 2014 Executive in Residence
November 20, 2013 – WAFC Elects Two New Board of Directors
November 13, 2013 – Brookshire Grocery Company’s execution of the WAFC Retail Management Certificate Program garners Tyler Junior College NCWE’s 2013 “Credit Workforce Development Award”
July 10, 2013 – Former President and COO of Stater Bros. to Join USC Food Industry Management Program
March 13, 2013 – WAFC Elects Four New Board of Directors
September 26, 2012 – WAFC Program Generates $12M Grant For Community Colleges
September 11, 2012 – Rick Rayford named Secretary of WAFC
June 11, 2012 – Progressive Grocers names Carole Christianson to 2012’s Top Women In Grocery
May 8, 2012 – WAFC Announces 2012-2013 Leadership
May 19, 2010 – WAFC Officers and Board of Directors elected at the 89th Annual WAFC Convention on April 20, 2010 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs in Palm Desert, California
May 18, 2010 – Western Association of Food Chains Names 2010-2011 Officers. Karl Schroeder of Safeway Northern California elected President
April 26, 2010 – Jim Lee of Stater Bros. to be honored at USC Marshall School of Business Food Industry Management Graduation
December 2, 2009 – Former Bashas’ President and COO, Mike Proulx, joins FIM as lecturer
November 16, 2009 – Mike Stigers elected new secretary of WAFC
October 16, 2009 – Robert Hermanns to Join USC Marshall School of Business as Director of Food Industry Programs
June 26, 2009 – USC Marshall School of Business seeks director for Food Industry Management Program
May 18, 2009 – WAFC Officers and Board of Directors elected at the 88th Annual WAFC Convention
May 5, 2009 – WAFC names 2009-2010 Officers; Pete Van Helden of SUPERVALU Inc. Elected President
February 10, 2009 – USC Marshall Honors Safeway EVP Larree Renda as “Food Industry Executive of Year”
May 9, 2008 – 2008-09 WAFC Officers and Board of Directors Elected at the 87th Annual WAFC Convention
April 17, 2008 – Western Association of Food Chains Names 2008-09 Officers John Eagan of Costo Wholesale Elected President
January 24, 2008 – USC Marshall to honor Kroger CEO David Dillion as “Food Industry Executive of Year”
June 6, 2007 – Jim Lee, President & COO of Stater Bros. Elected President of WAFC
April 26, 2007 – WAFC Names Carole Christianson, Executive Vice President