Stephanie Becker: On the Go, from DC Fly-ins to Mission Trips
04/22/25 • 24 min
What happens when you combine legal expertise with a passion for understanding the grocery business from every angle? Stephanie Becker, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Associated Wholesale Grocers Incorporated (AWG), reveals how her journey from real estate law to grocery leadership unfolded through curiosity and persistence.
"I just started asking questions and kept walking into meetings," Stephanie shares, explaining how she evolved from handling real estate transactions to becoming AWG's General Counsel in 2018. Her candid conversation with host Kristen Popp explores how AWG leverages its $12 billion balance sheet to secure favorable lease terms for independent retailers, creating a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Beyond the boardroom, Stephanie passionately advocates for independent grocers through congressional fly-ins, where she helps lawmakers understand how policies directly affect grocery operations and ultimately impact consumers at checkout. From the Credit Card Competition Act to SNAP program changes, these advocacy efforts illuminate how Washington decisions ripple through neighborhood stores. Stephanie's perspective is further enriched by her experiences on mission trips to Nicaragua, Honduras, and India, where she witnessed communities thriving despite limited resources.
For those aspiring to grow in the grocery industry, Stephanie offers refreshingly simple advice: find several mentors, ask questions, and then ask more questions. Because in an industry where "everyone needs to eat," the opportunities for impact are limitless. Subscribe to Grocery From Your Seat to continue exploring the remarkable stories of women shaping the independent grocery industry.
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Join WGAJoin NGAAttend this year's NGA showF: https://www.facebook.com/NationalGrocersAssn
L: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-grocers-association/
Host: Kristin Popp
Producer: Rachael Melot
What happens when you combine legal expertise with a passion for understanding the grocery business from every angle? Stephanie Becker, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Associated Wholesale Grocers Incorporated (AWG), reveals how her journey from real estate law to grocery leadership unfolded through curiosity and persistence.
"I just started asking questions and kept walking into meetings," Stephanie shares, explaining how she evolved from handling real estate transactions to becoming AWG's General Counsel in 2018. Her candid conversation with host Kristen Popp explores how AWG leverages its $12 billion balance sheet to secure favorable lease terms for independent retailers, creating a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Beyond the boardroom, Stephanie passionately advocates for independent grocers through congressional fly-ins, where she helps lawmakers understand how policies directly affect grocery operations and ultimately impact consumers at checkout. From the Credit Card Competition Act to SNAP program changes, these advocacy efforts illuminate how Washington decisions ripple through neighborhood stores. Stephanie's perspective is further enriched by her experiences on mission trips to Nicaragua, Honduras, and India, where she witnessed communities thriving despite limited resources.
For those aspiring to grow in the grocery industry, Stephanie offers refreshingly simple advice: find several mentors, ask questions, and then ask more questions. Because in an industry where "everyone needs to eat," the opportunities for impact are limitless. Subscribe to Grocery From Your Seat to continue exploring the remarkable stories of women shaping the independent grocery industry.
Did you love the show - Text and tell us why.
Sign up for women leadership opportunities in the independent grocery industry
Join WGAJoin NGAAttend this year's NGA showF: https://www.facebook.com/NationalGrocersAssn
L: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-grocers-association/
Host: Kristin Popp
Producer: Rachael Melot
Previous Episode
Amy Niemetscheck: The Journey of Accountant to CEO
Amy Niemetscheck takes us through her remarkable journey from public accounting to becoming President and CEO of Serco Inc., where she leads a cooperative serving 250 independent grocers with over 550 employees. Her story exemplifies how non-traditional career paths can lead to exceptional leadership in the grocery industry.
The conversation reveals Amy's refreshing leadership philosophy: rather than pretending to know everything, she builds "benches" of experts around her and focuses on breaking down silos between departments. This approach proved crucial during her first 24 months as CEO, when she faced the sudden loss of a key team member, a major brand transition, and the onset of COVID-19 – challenges she navigated with remarkable resilience.
Amy offers a thought-provoking perspective on work-life integration, rejecting the concept of "balance" in favor of being fully present wherever she is – giving her all at work while being equally engaged at home with her husband of 23 years and their three children. This philosophy, supported by strong personal and professional networks, has enabled her success across multiple domains.
As a board member for Women Grocers of America, National Grocers Association (where she serves as secretary), and soon to be the first female chair of RAFTA, Amy is shaping the future of independent grocery. She identifies key industry trends including changing consumer relationships with food, value-conscious shopping, and the evolution of e-commerce – seeing opportunities for independents to differentiate through emotional connections and personalized service.
Recently named WGA's 2025 Woman of the Year, Amy's story inspires us to embrace authenticity in leadership, build strong teams, and recognize that success doesn't require pretending to have all the answers. Her journey reminds us that with the right mindset and support systems, we can overcome challenges and create meaningful impact in both our professional and personal lives.
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National Grocers Association FoundationWelcome to "Grocery From Her Seat," the WGA podcast offering a unique perspective on the independent
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Sign up for women leadership opportunities in the independent grocery industry
Join WGAJoin NGAAttend this year's NGA showF: https://www.facebook.com/NationalGrocersAssn
L: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-grocers-association/
Host: Kristin Popp
Producer: Rachael Melot
Next Episode
Bonus Episode Grocery From Her Seat: NGA's Fight for Independent Grocers
Greg Ferrara, President and CEO of the National Grocers Association, brings his unique perspective as both a former independent grocer and long-time industry advocate to discuss the rapidly changing political landscape affecting food retailers.
Drawing from nearly two decades of experience at NGA and his background running his family's New Orleans supermarket, Ferrara offers a candid assessment of the volatile tariff situation that's "changing not by the day, but sometimes by the hour." He explains why even grocers who source little directly from China should be concerned about equipment costs, supply chain disruptions, and potential economic impacts on agricultural communities that export to affected countries.
The conversation explores surprising shifts in antitrust enforcement, with both political parties now showing interest in addressing market consolidation. Ferrara connects these issues directly to food deserts, noting how the loss of independent grocers devastates communities: "If we're going to rebuild middle America, rebuild these communities, rebuild our middle class, make America healthy again, we have to have grocery stores, full-service grocery stores."
Perhaps most concerning for grocers are coming changes to SNAP regulations, which Ferrara describes as "the greatest challenge we've had in 20-plus years." With states submitting waivers to restrict purchases and potential budget cuts looming, the industry faces significant uncertainty. The NGA is working to ensure any changes minimize disruption at checkout and recognize SNAP's role in supporting both economically disadvantaged communities and grocery jobs.
Ready to make your voice heard? Join the NGA fly-in this May in Washington DC and help shape the policies affecting your business.
NGA’s Fly-In for Fair Competition Begins in Washington, D.C. - National Grocers Association
Did you love the show - Text and tell us why.
Sign up for women leadership opportunities in the independent grocery industry
Join WGAJoin NGAAttend this year's NGA showF: https://www.facebook.com/NationalGrocersAssn
L: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-grocers-association/
Host: Kristin Popp
Producer: Rachael Melot
Grocery From Her Seat, Insights for Independent Grocers - Stephanie Becker: On the Go, from DC Fly-ins to Mission Trips
Transcript
Welcome to Grocery From Her Seat . The WGA podcast , offering a unique perspective as seen through the eyes of remarkable women who shape and lead in the independent grocery industry . Your host , Kristen Popp , president of WGA , will bring you exclusive stories and insights from the women serving our industry , From presidents to CEOs , to entrepreneurs and students . This podcast is
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