The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) last month announced changes to its board of directors, appointing two members to its board and announcing new leadership positions.
The announcement was made during the 2019 Annual Conference in Philadelphia. Alex Baloga, PFMA president and CEO, and Gene Cleary, senior director of independent sales at C&S Wholesale Grocers, were appointed to the board. The remaining board members were elected to another term at the meeting.
Cleary was named board secretary, replacing Frank Puleo, also of C&S Wholesale Grocers. Board member Lisa Dell’Alba, president and CEO of Square One Markets, was named treasurer, replacing Tom Cormier, of Retail Business Services, who was promoted to vice chairman, replacing Lou Mola of Wawa.
“Lisa and Gene are both proven leaders in the food and beverage industry, and we are very confident they will excel in leadership positions with PFMA,” Baloga said. “We also want to express our deepest gratitude to Frank and Lou for their service to the Board and wish them the very best in their retirement.
As president of Square One Markets, Inc., Dell’Alba runs a nine-store convenience and gasoline retail chain headquartered in Bethlehem, PA. She joined the family-operated business 12 years ago and through the years she managed the company’s flagship store; served in all aspects of human resources and ascended to vice president of operations, where she worked with her father, Gary Dell’Alba. She took on the president’s responsibilities after he passed away in 2009.
In addition to her work with PFMA, Dell’Alba serves on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), and Team Pennsylvania.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in dance and psychology from De Sales University and she most recently earned her red belt in martial arts.
Cleary has more than 40 years of experience in the food industry, having worked at major wholesalers including UNFI, Wetterau, Inc., prior to joining C&S Wholesale Grocers, where he’s served for 16 years.
He manages a team responsible for sales for the company’s independent clients in the Mid-Atlantic region including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and New York.
Cleary holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut.