NGA Foundation Announces New Hire

ARLINGTON, VA– Matthew Ott, executive director of the NGA Foundation, today announced that Amalea Híjar has joined as its director.

“I am pleased to welcome Amalea to the NGA Foundation and to add her talent and wealth of knowledge to our expanding team,” said Ott. “We often hear from independent grocers and wholesalers about the importance of hiring and retaining the next generation within the industry. With the additional resources and experience, the NGA Foundation will continue to support and advance the independent supermarket industry.”

Híjar brings over a decade of experience working at professional societies and trade associations. Prior to joining the NGA Foundation she served as interim vice president of operations for Epic PR Group. She has held senior-level positions within professional and trade associations where she was responsible for building membership groups, creating new products and services, and leading membership recruitment, retention, and engagement efforts. Híjar was selected as a 2018 Association TRENDS Young and Aspiring Association Professionals honoree.

The NGA Foundation provides independent retailers with tools to develop more effective recruiting programs, enhance retention efforts, and bolster professional and leadership development opportunities for employees.

Híjar holds a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Maryland, a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Agnes Scott College, and a nonprofit management executive certificate from Georgetown University.

Híjar joined the NGA Foundation on July 30, 2018.

About NGA

The National Grocers Association (NGA) is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of formats. The independent grocery sector is accountable for close to one percent of the nation's overall economy and is responsible for generating $131 billion in sales, 944,000 jobs, $30 billion in wages, and $27 billion in taxes. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers, state grocers associations, as well as manufacturers and service suppliers. For more information about NGA, visitwww.nationalgrocers.org.

Source: The National Grocers Association (NGA)