Network of Executive Women Marks 10-Year Anniversary with Launch of Regional Chapter in Atlanta

The Network of Executive Women (NEW), the nation’s largest diversity group, is launching its newest regional group in Atlanta, with an inaugural event at 6:00 pm Tuesday October 18 in the Roberto C. Goizueta Auditorium at The Coca-Cola Company’s World Headquarters (One Coca-Cola Plaza NW, Atlanta).

The launch of the Atlanta chapter coincides with the 10-year anniversary of NEW, and will feature a premier networking event and roundtable discussion of the next decade in retail, by a panel of senior executives from The Home Depot, The Kroger Company, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and Acosta Sales & Marketing. The executives will discuss changes in the marketplace in coming years, and how leadership must flex and adapt to meet the challenges.

NEW celebrates ten years of cutting-edge initiatives in education, career and leadership development for attracting, retaining and advancing women in the retail and consumer products industry. Steered by a Board of leading companies, the Network conducts conferences, workshops, and regional networking events in more than 15 cities in the US. A major business center of the Southeast, Atlanta is home to the fourth largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the nation, with headquartered Fortune 1000 companies generating nearly $260 billion in aggregate revenues, according to Fortune Magazine.

Senior Vice President, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer of The Coca-Cola Company, Jerry Wilson, commented, “The Coca-Cola Company is delighted to host the inaugural event of the Atlanta chapter of the Network of Executive Women at our world headquarters next month. Our Company has long been a supporter of NEW and the professional development of senior-level and emerging industry leaders in retail and consumer goods. We welcome the Network to Atlanta, and look forward to this outstanding event and many others, as the Network expands its footprint in our home market.”

Panelist Patricia H. Mueller, Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer for The Home Depot, will be featured on the panel. “Diversity is the catalyst for innovative thinking, entrepreneurial spirit and new ways of building our communities. At The Home Depot, women have been an invaluable part of our workforce throughout our 30 years in business – from the women you encounter in the orange aprons at our stores, to our leadership,” added Mueller. “Atlanta is our home town so it especially pleases me to be a part of the Network’s inaugural event in this market.” Trish Mueller is responsible for setting the Company’s strategic marketing vision, and oversees its category marketing and brand development. She joined The Home Depot in 2009 as vice president of advertising, following senior roles at The Sports Authority, American Signature, ShopNBC, and Montgomery Ward. Ms. Mueller earned a business management degree magna cum laude from Plattsburgh State University.

Joining Tricia Mueller on the panel is The Kroger Company’s Vice President of Merchandising, Horace Hamilton. Commenting further on the event, Mr. Hamilton said, "Kroger has long made it a business priority to develop a diverse and inclusive workforce, as well as supplier network. We currently partner with nearly 1,000 women-owned and minority companies, and have launched a fast-track leadership and development program internally for our highest potential associates and managers. We are thrilled that the Network of Executive Women is opening a chapter in Atlanta, one of our most important market areas, and we look forward to the education and networking benefits and tools the Network will bring to our Kroger associates and colleagues." Hamilton has worked for Kroger for 42 years, and is active on several boards, including the Georgia Food Industry Association as its Vice Chairman, as well as the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, and the University of Tennessee Retail, Hospitality & Tourism Management Advisory Board. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee.

Senior Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. executive Karen Brewer-Edwards is the third member of the executive panel. A twenty-year veteran of Wal-Mart, Ms. Brewer-Edwards manages nearly 27,000 associates across 88 stores in Northern Georgia, and is charged with executing business strategies for Wal-Mart’s Southeast Division, including talent development. “I'm excited to be a part of The Network of Executive Women's inaugural event in Atlanta, and involved with an organization that has values consistent with our Global Women's Initiative to help more women live better. It's a pleasure to participate in leading education and leadership platforms for women managers and suppliers in the Southeast region," said Brewer-Edwards. In 2010, Karen was named as one of the Most Influential Women Business Leaders in Atlanta by the Atlanta Business Journal, and currently serves on several boards, including the Communities in School of Georgia and the Urban League of Greater Atlanta. She received her bachelor’s degree in business at the University of Central Arkansas.

Completing the panel is Acosta Sales & Marketing’s Chief Marketing Officer, Ramin Eivaz, who echoed his support for the Network and the event, commenting that “there are significant demographic shifts happening among today’s shoppers. Baby Boomers are aging and spending less, giving way to a younger generation of shoppers that are more ethnically diverse and influential. At the same time, digital is advancing rapidly, making today’s shoppers smarter and better informed. Shoppers hold far more power than ever before, and to engage them we as marketers must become even more targeted with our efforts.” Mr. Eivaz is Acosta’s first CMO, and is leading the effort to reach shoppers along the entire path to purchase, a function that includes gleaning industry-leading analytics and insight and cultivating marketing innovations that are ahead of the curve. Mr. Eivaz is a former executive with Kimberly-Clark, PepsiCo and E&J Gallo Winery, a nd holds both an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in computer science from California State University.

Retail and consumer products professionals interested in attending the event should register online at http://www.newonline.org/event/Atlanta_101811.

About The Network of Executive Women:
The Network of Executive Women, Consumer Products and Retail Industry, based in Chicago, has more than 3,300 members from more than 400 companies and 70 corporate sponsors in 17 regions in the U.S. and Canada. Founded in 2001, the Network educates industry leaders about the benefits of gender diversity and provides best practices to help achieve it. It directly supports the career development of the senior-level and emerging industry leaders who comprise its membership. For more information on the Network of Executive Women and its best practices, education, mentoring, networking and leadership development programs, visit our website.