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CONTACT WGA

Brandon Scholz
President and CEO

Michelle Kussow
Vice President Government Affairs
and Communications

Cheryl Lytle
Events Director

Sarah Decorah
Operations Director

John Leemkuil
Membership Services
Representative

PHONE (608) 244-7150
OR (888) 342-5942
FAX (608) 244-9030
wga address

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mission

The Wisconsin Grocers Association, is historically committed to promoting and strengthening the food industry from suppliers and wholesalers to retailers with the same dedication and work ethic exemplified by our members.

 


The WGA Board members meet at businesses around the state. In May Wollersheim Winery welcomed the board.

Who We Are: WGA Board of Directors

Dave Spiegelhoff, Chairman
Dave Spiegelhoff is the Director of Operations for Spiegelhoff’s Super Food Market, Inc. He is a third generation of Spiegelhoffs and has worked for over 40 years in the family business.

Brad Brooks, Immediate Past Chairman

Brad Brooks serves as the IGA Coordinator and Key Account Manager for Affiliated Foods Midwest.
Dave Ryman, Vice Chairman
Dave Ryman is Director of Sales for Certco, Inc., Madison, Wisc. Certco, Inc. is a full-service, wholesale distributor to independent supermarkets throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, Northern Illinois and Eastern Iowa.

William Dowling, Secretary/ Treasurer
Bill Dowling is Vice President, Corporate Counsel for Roundy’s Supermarkets, Inc., Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisc.

Nick Balistreri, Director
Nick Balistreri is co-owner of the Balistreri Owned & Operated Sendik’s Food Markets in the Greater Milwaukee Area.

Kent Burnstad, Director
Kent Burnstad is President and owner of Burnstad Bros. Inc., which owns three supermarkets in Tomah, Black River Falls, and Richland Center plus the European Village and Restaurant in Tomah.
Greg Cross, Director
Greg Cross is the newly appointed Senior Sales Manager for Nash Finch located at the St Cloud, MN Division. Prior to joining Nash-Finch, Greg spent five years in Bermuda working for the island’s largest food retailer, MarketPlace, in store operations.

Russ Czapar, Director
Russ Czapar has held leadership positions with Supervalu companies for the past 22 years with a broad range of operations experience.He currently works with retailers and formats in both Chicago and southern Wisconsin.
Marlin Greenfield, Director
Marlin Greenfield is the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the Skogen-owned chain of Festival Food stores in Wisconsin.
Greg Hansen, Director
Greg Hansen is a partner and owner of Hansen’s IGA, with five locations in Wisconsin —Bangor, Cashton, Elroy, Westby and West Salem.
Dave Kotwitz, Director
Dave Kotwitz is the owner of the Piggly Wiggly in Edgerton. He has been a part of the Piggly Wiggly business since 1972.
Steve Loehr, Director
Steve Loehr is Vice President, Support Operations, for Kwik Trip, a 365-store convenience store chain headquartered in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Paul Lucas, Director
Paul Lucas is Regional Director–State Government Affairs for MillerCoors.
Jeff Maurer, Director
Jeff Maurer is owner of his own grocery store, Fresh Madison Market, in Madison.
Kevin P. Morris, Director
As vice president of public affairs and communications for Coca-Cola Enterprises Bottling Companies, Kevin Morris is responsible for government relations, corporate responsibility and sustainability, public relations, media relations, and community affairs.

Toby Spangler, Director
Toby J. Spangler is Senior Director, Diageo State Government Relations. His duties include managing all state and local issues on behalf of Diageo in
the Midwest region. Spangler served on the WGA Board from 2003 to 2008.
Don Symonds, Director
Currently, Marketing Director of Lipari Foods, Don Symonds has worked his entire life in the supermarket industry in a multitude of positions that have allowed him experience in retail operations, wholesale sales and distribution, and direct store distribution.
Jeff Tate, Director
In July of 2007, Jeff and his wife, Cindy, opened a new Piggly Wiggly in Watertown. They are also active in the Watertown community.