Last updated on May 4th, 2017 at 03:22 pm
The National Grocers Association (NGA) on Wednesday recognized Kathy Kuzava, president of the Georgia Food Industry Association (GFIA), with its Association Leadership Award for her dedication and contributions to the independent supermarket industry.
“I am pleased to honor Kathy for her passionate leadership and dedication to her members and the independent supermarket industry as a whole. Throughout her career, Kathy has been an outstanding industry leader, steering many successful state and federal legislative efforts on various issues that have greatly benefited the grocery industry in Georgia and nationally,” said NGA President and CEO Peter J. Larkin.
Kuzava has served as the president of GFIA for more than 25 years. She began her career with Supervalu before joining the association. In addition to growing the membership of GFIA, she has enhanced the association’s programs and built strong relationships between her members and industry suppliers, as well as elected officials and regulatory agencies in Georgia.
Kuzava has received numerous honors over the years, including being named The Shelby Report of the Southeast’s Woman Executive of the Year in 2015.
NGA initiated the Association Leadership Award more than a decade ago to honor and recognize state association executives who work tirelessly in their states on behalf of the independent supermarket industry.
Past recipients of this recognition include Tom Woodmansee, former president of the North Dakota Grocers Association; Brandon Scholz, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Grocers Association; Jan Gee, president and CEO of the Washington Food Industry Association; Kathy Siefken, executive director of the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association; Jim Olsen, president of the Food Industry Association Executives; Tom Jackson, former president/CEO of the Ohio Grocers Association; Dan Shaul, state director of the Missouri Grocers Association; Jim Rogers, retired president and CEO of the Food Industry Alliance of New York; Pat Hicks, retired executive director of the Kentucky Grocers Association; and Jerry Fleagle, former president and CEO of the Iowa Grocery Industry Association.
