NGA Announces Kari Wolkwitz as Director of Membership Engagement and Growth 

Washington, D.C.,- The National Grocers Association (NGA) announced the promotion of Kari Wolkwitz to the newly created position of Director of Membership Engagement and Growth.

In her new role, Wolkwitz will oversee engagement strategies for NGA’s retailer and wholesaler members, leading initiatives to drive participation in NGA events and share groups, strengthen member involvement in advocacy efforts, promote the full suite of NGA programs, and deepen overall member engagement. She will also guide NGA’s retailer recruitment strategy.

“Kari has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and a deep commitment to advancing NGA’s mission,” said Jonathan Downey, NGA COO & SVP. “Her ability to build strong relationships, collaborate across teams, and deliver meaningful results has strengthened both NGA and the independent community grocers we serve each day. She is uniquely prepared for this role, and we are excited to see her lead our membership engagement and growth efforts.”

Wolkwitz’s position aligns closely with existing membership engagement efforts and will be supported through NGA’s partnership with Clarion, with a particular emphasis on increasing retailer and wholesaler attendance at The NGA Show.

“I’m honored to step into this new role and continue supporting NGA’s incredible community of independent grocers,” said Kari Wolkwitz, NGA Director of Membership Engagement and Growth. “The relationships I’ve built and the insights I’ve gained working across the organization have shown me how impactful strong engagement can be. I’m excited to help deepen that engagement and support NGA’s growth in the years ahead.”

Since joining NGA in 2023, Wolkwitz has made a significant and lasting impact through her leadership within the NGA Foundation and its grant programs. Her experience working closely with retailers through SEMTAC, which offers assistance with SNAP Online and EBT payment modernization efforts, has also provided valuable insights into the independent grocery industry.

About the National Grocers Association NGA is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale community 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 about 1.2 percent of the nation’s overall economy and is responsible for generating more than $250 billion in sales, 1.1 million jobs, $39 billion in wages and $36 billion in taxes. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers located in every congressional district across the country, as well as state grocers’ associations, manufacturers and service suppliers. For more information about NGA, visit www.nationalgrocers.org.