AGA 2022 Convention Yearbook

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

Welcome back to the Greatest Grocery Show on Earth! As Chairman of the Alabama Grocers Association, I would like to officially welcome you

Oh, but the fun doesn’t stop there! Monday evening is filled with receptions and children’s programs. Then we all meet up for the Welcome Dinner at 7:00 p.m. featuring entertainment from Cool Rayz, a tropical and variety music band, and the Education Foundation’s Silent Auction. Everybody get your bid on for that! Tuesday again starts bright and early at 7:00 a.m. with breakfast. Then we will once again join for the business session at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday’s session is jam-packed with informative speakers beginning with presentations from the National Computer Forensics Institute discussing Crypto-Currency and Dr. Glenn Richey presenting Logistics and the Supply Chain, all leading up to Mr. Jesse Lewis speaking to us about his experiences over the six decades in his Grocery career. For all of those interested, Bingo starts at 11:00 a.m. (Don’t get in the way, those folks take bingo seriously!) 11:00 a.m. to noon is also the time we have set aside for retailers and wholesalers to network in the Exhibit Hall before opening the doors to all our attendees and their families from noon until 2:00 p.m. Tuesday afternoon and evening is also filled with receptions and children’s programs all leading up to the Chairman’s Banquet. This year will be highlighted by the hilarious Jimmy Travis! Well, that’s it for the 2022 show. I hope you and your family/group enjoy yourself and have gained some useful knowledge while you’re here that you can use to give you an advantage in your business. I am very thankful to be a small part of the greatest industry in the world! Be safe on your journey home. God bless you, your family, and the AGA.

Harold Garrett Gateway Foods and your families to the beautiful Sandestin Resort for our 32nd Annual Convention! This year Jack Carlile and his Committee have put together an excellent line-up of speakers and entertainers that I’m sure you will enjoy. Before I get into the convention line up, I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to Jack Carlile, our Convention Committee Chairman, and our Association Staff, Ellie Taylor, Stephanie Crabtree, and Tori O’Neal. Thank you for all the time and effort they have put into making sure we all have a very educational and relaxing time while we are here. Also, I would be amiss if I didn’t mention the newest additions to the AGA staff. Stephanie Crabtree is our new Event and Education Director, and Tori O’Neal is our new Membership and Communications Director. If you have not met them yet, please take a minute to introduce yourself and welcome them to the family. I can now officially pass down the job of getting the word out to, “Make sure you download the App!” to these two young ladies. Looking at the schedule for the next few days, you will notice that we have again used the format that we created during the 2020 convention, which allows for more one-on-one interaction between the vendors, manufacturers and retailers - maybe some good did come from that time. Monday starts early with breakfast and the registration desk opening at 7:00 a.m. This is followed by our business session with featured presentations ranging from Mr. Kevin Paul Scott’s session of “Looking at Employees Through a New Lens,” the National Computer Forensics Institute discussing Cyber Security, Auburn University presenting their Economic Impact Study, to hearing from Mr. Matt Cate as he discusses Rising Healthcare Cost and How to Combat It. We will also have our Annual Business Meeting before breaking for lunch.

Sincerely, Harold Garrett Harold Garrett Chairman Alabama Grocers Association

2022 Convention Annual | Page 7