Ithaca, NY (July 27, 2020) – Rosie, the industry leading online grocery shopping platform for retailers and wholesalers nationwide, has appointed three new hires to lead Rosie’s data integrations, onboarding and retailer support teams.
In response to the increased demand for ecommerce platforms for independent retailers nationwide, Rosie welcomes Bret Conard, SVP of Data & Integrations, Jonathan Kotenko, Head of Retailer Support, and Heather Sandford, Head of Onboarding, bringing decades of experience in the independent retailer and wholesaler distribution space.
- Bret Conard: As SVP of Data & Integrations, Bret Conard will scale Rosie’s proprietary data software along with overseeing the company’s deep roster of 3rd party integrations. Conard joins Rosie with over 20 years of experience in software development and professional services delivery in several industries. During his IT and consulting careers at Levi Strauss, RCM Technologies, and United HealthCare, he played key roles in implementing and managing global supply chain and compliance initiatives. His diverse background allows him to function fluently at all levels within the complex world of data and analytics within enterprises of all sizes. Previously, Conard served on the ROFDA Advisory Council (Retailer Owned Food Distributors and Associates).
- Jonathan Kotenko: With 14 plus years of industry experience, Jonathan Kotenko joins from United Natural Foods, Inc. as Head of Retailer Support at Rosie. A veteran in the grocery wholesaler and retailer space, Kotenko managed technical support teams while at UNFI, Supervalu and Unified Grocers. As Head of Retailer Support, Kotenko will oversee a growing team of experienced support specialists who service hundreds of independent retailers representing thousands stores nationwide.
- Heather Sandford: Joining Rosie as Head of Onboarding, Heather Sandford will lead a team of technical integration specialists and onboarding agents who oversee the launch process for all new retailers signed on to Rosie’s platform. Previously, Sandford owned and operated The Piggery, an artisanal butcher in Ithaca, NY that grew to become a nationally renowned purveyor of meats. Sandford has also served as a food consultant in wholesaler and distribution space. Sandford’s 15 years of operational and project management experience growing a local startup to a national brand will drive efficiencies and enhancements to the Rosie onboarding experience.
“We are so excited for Bret, Heather and Jonathan to join us during this dynamic period of growth,” said Nick Nickitas, CEO and co-founder at Rosie. “Each of these leaders bring diverse and valuable industry experience, elevating our operational capabilities alongside the evolving needs of our partners. Our mission is to help independent retailers win – and these strategic hires enable us to continue to meet and exceed the expectations of our partners as well as accelerate our innovation pipeline.”
In recent months, Rosie has been focused on building out the company’s customer success teams to proactively address industry growth. After seeing a 900 percent increase in stores signed during the pandemic versus pre-COVID, Rosie has more than doubled its employee count and continues to prioritize support and service for its independent retailer partners.
