Influential Women: Jessica Ringena, Hy-Vee
Since joining Hy-Vee Inc. in 2015, Jessica Ringena’s career has included a remarkable trajectory in leadership positions across multiple areas of the company, including finance, technology and health care.
Scot Meyer
Influential Women: Jennifer Saenz, Albertsons Cos.
Jennifer Saenz, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer at Albertsons Cos., says she spends a great deal of time thinking about the retailer’s shoppers and “all of the special things that make us distinct in the marketplace.” Since joining Albertsons Cos.
Influential Women: Jill Sando, Target
In the last several years, Target has reshuffled the top echelon of its merchandising leadership, shifting responsibility for different segments of the retailer’s offerings to its most gifted executives as its business has rapidly evolved.
Influential Women: Leslie Sarasin, FMI
Leslie Sarasin was named president and chief executive officer of FMI – The Food Industry Association, in 2008, when it was still known as the Food Marketing Institute.
Influential Women: Katie Scanlon, Publix
Katie Scanlon is a forceful advocate for pharmacy, with a firm belief that pharmacists are a critical yet underutilized component of health care.
Influential Women: Vinima Shekhar, Walmart
Vinima Shekhar, vice president of merchandising for wellness at Walmart, is responsible for developing and implementing the retailer’s wellness strategies, with a focus on expanding access to affordable health and wellness products and services.
Influential Women: Jennifer Silberman, Dollar Tree
As chief sustainability officer for Dollar Tree Inc., Jennifer Silberman oversees corporate citizenship and ESG for the company and its more than 16,000 Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores in the United States and Canada.
Influential Women: Karen Staniforth, Rite Aid
Karen Staniforth began her pharmacy career in 1982 in Johannesburg, South Africa, 8,000 miles from Rite Aid Corp.’s headquarters. Though she is now chief pharmacy officer at Rite Aid, she never thought she’d actually become a pharmacist when she was younger.
Influential Women: Marie Sylla-Dixon, Albertsons Cos.
Marie Sylla-Dixon was named senior vice president of government and external relations for Albertsons Cos. last March. In this role, she is responsible for leading and advancing Albertsons Cos.
Influential Women: Cara Sylvester, Target
Like her colleague Christina Hennington, Cara Sylvester brought a highly impressive resumé when she joined Target in 2007.
Influential Women: Ramita Tandon, Walgreens
Walgreens’ chief clinical trials officer Ramita Tandon has dedicated her professional life for more than 25 years to transforming the drug development life cycle through innovative applications and unconventional business models. “Early in my career, I developed my passion and purpose,” Tandon says.
Influential Women: Donna Tweeten, Hy-Vee
In 2022, Donna Tweeten was promoted to president of Hy-Vee Inc., becoming the first woman to hold that position at the 94-year-old company. Tweeten has steadily ascended the executive ladder since she came to the company’s corporate office in 2006 as assistant vice president of communications.
Influential Women: Jeanniey Walden, Rite Aid
Rite Aid chief marketing officer Jeanniey Walden has had a diverse career — from graduating with a teaching degree to entering the world of business and ad agencies to being an entrepreneur, leading B2B and B2C marketing strategies and more.
Influential Women: Annie Walker, Walmart
Annie Walker is a 21-year veteran of Walmart, having joined the retailer in 2002 soon after graduating from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) with a B.S. degree in industrial engineering.
Influential Women: Latriece Watkins, Walmart
Latriece Watkins assumed the role of chief merchandising officer at Walmart U.S. last May, marking a significant milestone in a career spanning nearly a quarter-century at the renowned retailer.
Influential Women: Colleen Wegman, Wegmans
In retiring as president and chief executive officer of Wegmans Super Markets, in 2017, Danny Wegman expressed confidence in the succession plan that elevated his daughter, Colleen, to the corner office.