NEW YORK — Retail leaders from across the consumer packaged goods, retail, and health and wellness industries gathered at The Lighthouse at Pier 61 in New York City last Thursday to celebrate Mass Market Retailers and Chain Drug Review’s Women of Influence 2026 honorees.
Held immediately after retailmediaIQ and WSL Strategic Retail’s Women’s Wellness: The Next Revolution conference, the annual event brought together executives, suppliers and industry partners for an afternoon of leadership discussion, a networking reception and an awards ceremony honoring women whose leadership is shaping the future of retail.
The program opened with a leadership panel, What Moves the Needle: Candid Conversations on Women’s Leadership, presented in partnership with CHPA. Moderated by retailmediaIQ, the panel explored how companies can build authentic professional networks, strengthen leadership pipelines and foster workplace cultures where women can thrive.
Panelists included Andrea Anderson, president of Aurohealth; Bindu Shah, head of marketing at Biocodex; Elizabeth Karvonen, vice president of strategic initiatives and team lead at The Emerson Group; Melanie Griesser, vice president of marketing at Blistex; and Stephanie Webb, senior vice president of health and wellness strategy at Patient Point.
Following the panel, attendees gathered for a networking reception before the Women of Influence Awards ceremony honored this year’s class of executives featured in the Women of Influence 2026 issue of Mass Market Retailers.
The annual recognition honors women who are making significant contributions across merchandising, marketing, supply chain, digital commerce, retail media, product innovation, and executive leadership. This year’s honorees represent retailers, consumer packaged goods companies, emerging brands, and service providers that continue to drive innovation and growth across the industry.
The awards were presented by retailmediaIQ editor-in-chief Jeffrey Woldt after an introduction by CEO Jeffrey Friedman.
Women of Influence honorees From top to bottom, left to right: Amanda Coussoule, U.S. Chief Customer Officer, Kenvue. Amy Wadstrom, President, Vivid Clear Rx, Hy-Vee. Andrea Caldwell Anderson, President, Aurohealth. Anna Stoermer, Executive Vice President, Chief Merchandising and Retail Officer, Hy-Vee. Ana Céspedes, Chief Executive Officer, Vitamin Angels. April Showers, Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Afro Unicorn. Beth Potere, Senior Vice President, Sales and Market Strategies, Piping Rock Health Products. Christine Connolly, Senior Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Assistant General Counsel, Securities and Governance, Dollar General. Devon Shaffer, Vice President, Sales, ideavillage.
Women of Influence honorees From top to bottom, left to right: Elizabeth Karvonen, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, CVS Team Lead, Emerson Group. Nicole Collida Davis, Managing Director, U.S. Retail and Sales Agencies, NielsenIQ (NIQ). Michele Demsky, President, CEO, ArtSkills. Nina Gann, Co-founder, Macaron Queen. Meghan Kelly, Senior Director, Customer Strategy, U.S. Skin Health & Beauty, Kenvue. Sara Montgomery, Vice President, Fixtures and Strategic Initiatives, Dollar General. Krista Pascanik, Target team lead, Emerson Group. Megan Rand, Senior Vice President, Client Development, HBC/GM/Non-Foods, Acosta. Erin Riggs, General Manager, U.S. Consumer Care, Kao USA.
Women of Influence honorees From top to bottom, left to right: Jennifer Silberman, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, Dollar Tree. Jennifer Lambert, Senior Vice President, Chief Digital Officer, Hy-Vee. Jessica Ringena, Senior Vice President, Chief Revenue Officer, Hy-Vee. Jocelyn Konrad, Chief Retail Officer, Dollar Tree. Katie Niles, Vice President, Retail Merchandising and Marketing, Kinney Drugs. Kimberly Vigliante, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Piping Rock Health Products. Lari Harding, Senior Vice President, Health Care Industry Affairs and Strategic Partnerships, Inmar Intelligence. Margaret Lewis, Strategic Portfolio Leader, Kroger. Mary Leonard, Senior Vice President, Executive Director, Consumer Healthcare Products Association’s Health in Hand Foundation.
Women of Influence honorees From top to bottom, left to right: Maty Kiser, Vice President, Information Technology Operations and Support, Dollar General. Nancy Lyons, Vice President, Chief Pharmacy Officer, Health Mart. Naomi Duvall, Vice President, Consumer Health, Cardinal Health. Rebecca Brown, Vice President, Marketing, E.T. Browne Drug Co. Roxanne Weng, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Dollar Tree. Sandra Abdallah, CEO, ONYX Professional.
Women of Influence honorees From top to bottom, left to right: Susan Savage, Vice President, Retail Sales, Confirm Biosciences. Tammy Durnan, President, Midwest Heritage, Hy-Vee. Wafaa Berrady, CFO, CARE Pharmacies. Wendy Liebmann, Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Shopper, WSL Strategic Retail. Wendy Wiemers, Vice President, Merchandise Planning, Dollar General.
Beyond business performance, the Women of Influence program recognizes leaders who mentor the next generation of talent, foster inclusive workplace cultures, and advance ideas that strengthen the retail ecosystem.
The event was supported by The Emerson Group, Cleanlogic, CeraVe and KNAPP, with GoodRx, The Doux, KISS Products, Hallmark, ArtSkills, Palmer’s, Macaroon Queen and Vitamin Angels serving as logo and gift bag sponsors.
The Women of Influence 2026 issue of Mass Market Retailers features profiles of this year’s honorees and highlights the leadership, innovation and collaboration that continue to shape the future of mass retail.
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