Benjamin Bond is VP of Strategy & Business Development at Simbe, helping hone the company's strategic direction and drive the adoption of AI and robotics in retail. Recognized as a leading strategist, Bond has guided global retailers through complex transformation journeys during his tenure at top consultancies, including Kearney and Accenture. Bond believes that one of retailers' next critical evolutions will be unlocking untapped in-store data to drive operational excellence. 

Garlich oversees marketing programs, media relations and the association’s digital strategy, managing and directing communications outreach and activities related to FMI’s priority and emerging issues, which include government relations; regulatory; food safety; consumer outreach; research; products; services; programs; and events. 

Garlich was previously a part of Porter Novelli’s food, beverage and nutrition practice in Washington, D.C., where she worked on major food brands and commodity boards. Earlier in her career, Garlich worked at the Grocery Manufacturers Association (now known as Consumer Brands Association), where she served as the manager of membership communications. Before joining GMA, Heather was an analyst for CARMA International, Inc., a global media analysis firm covering food, agriculture and pharmaceuticals.

David Haaf is Vice President of Fresh Foods at FMI, bringing more than 30 years of leadership across retail, foodservice and trade associations. He previously served as president and CEO of IDDBA and spent 15+ years with K‑VA‑T/Food City, including as vice president of foodservice and prepared foods.

A recognized voice in the fresh foods industry, David has been an active leader across organizations including FMI’s Fresh Food Leadership Council and is a frequent industry speaker. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, he is known for his operational expertise and industry collaboration.

John MacDonald is chief marketing officer at The GIANT Company. Known locally as GIANT and MARTIN'S, the company has been delivering value, freshness and kindness to local neighborhoods across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia for more than 100 years.

MacDonald leads a team of more than 50 and has responsibility for all aspects of marketing and corporate strategy including consumer insights, innovation, brand strategy, circular, design, loyalty, communications, digital, and shopper marketing.​

A veteran of the retail and healthcare industries with more than 30 years of experience, MacDonald first joined The GIANT Company in 2012 as director of marketing. Before his tenure with the company, MacDonald held a variety of roles at Ahold Financial Services and served as the vice president of marketing at Giant Food. Before returning to The GIANT Company, MacDonald served as chief marketing officer for FreshDirect.​​

Tim Ryan is Vice President and General Manager of Specialty Products, Glass Products, and Marketing Communications at Hussmann, where he helps retailers elevate fresh food merchandising and drive performance across the store perimeter.  With more than 30 years of experience across engineering, manufacturing, product leadership, sales, and marketing, he brings a holistic, results-driven perspective to food retail.

Tim is known for advancing customer-focused solutions that improve how fresh foods are presented, preserved, and sold.

Matt Schwartz is the co-founder and CEO of Afresh, the AI platform for Grocery. He started Afresh with the belief that the multi-trillion-dollar fresh food industry is massively underserved by technology.

They began building technology for Fresh, the most dynamic and complex part of the store, and then expanded to the whole store.

Today, Schwartz leads Afresh as it supports more than 12,700 departments across produce, meat, deli, center store, and general merchandising, and more than 40 states, helping grocery retailers make smarter operational decisions from stores to distribution centers.

Before founding Afresh, Schwartz worked across consulting, food manufacturing, and food technology. He began his career at Bain, later ran operations and supply chain functions at Simple Mills, worked with The Production Board on early-stage food and agriculture investments, and founded a consumer packaged goods business while at Stanford.

Jennifer Shawgo is Senior Director of Technology Strategy & Programs at FMI, The Food Industry Association. With more than 25 years of experience spanning grocery distribution, grocery technology startups, and food policy work, she is known for translating fast-moving shifts in AI adoption, digital commerce, and retail media into practical strategies grounded in responsible innovation and operational reality. Her work centers on change management and adoption, helping organizations align technology investments with how people actually work to deliver measurable, lasting impact. She holds a B.S. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from the University of San Francisco and completed executive education in change leadership and executive leadership through Cornell University.