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Press Releases
2011:
Governor
Proposes Item Pricing Relief
MGA Applauds Rep.
Posthumus-Lyons for Introducing Item Pricing Reform Bill
2010:
MGA Awards Scholarship
to MSU Food Management Senior
MGA Announced Four Felice Scholarship
Winners for 2010
MGA President Linda
Gobler marks 25 years with Association
2011 Releases:
MGA Applauds Rep. Lisa Posthumus Lyons for introducing Bill to
Reform Michigan’s Item Pricing Law
[January 27, 2011] The Michigan Grocers Association (MGA)
commends State Representative Lisa Posthumus Lyons (R-Alto) for
introducing legislation to end Michigan’s antiquated and costly
Item Pricing Law.
House Bill 4158, the Shopping
Reform and Modernization Act, will enable retailers to use the
latest technology to clearly communicate the price of items to
consumers, while eliminating the costly individual-item pricing
requirement.
“For years,
Michigan Grocers Association has fought to reform our state’s
Item Pricing Law because it means higher operating costs for
Michigan retailers,” said MGA President Linda M. Gobler. “This
punishes businesses for operating in our state and hurts
consumers by driving up the cost of goods sold.”
Gobler continued, “An
Anderson Economic Group study released earlier this
week by the
Coalition for Retail Pricing Modernization
supports MGA’s objections to this law, finding that the Item
Pricing Law results conservatively in a $2.2 billion annual
hidden tax on Michigan’s economy. It forces retailers to spend
millions each year on an expensive process and hinders
investments in newer, cost-effective tools and technology.”
Rep. Lyons’ bill
provides Michigan job makers with the flexibility needed to
innovate, bring new technologies to market, and compete in the
national economy, while retaining the consumer protection
provision that provides for payment to consumers if a stated
price is different from the price charged at checkout.
“It is imperative
that the House and Senate pass this bill quickly, so that
Michigan can catch up with the rest of the country, joining the
ranks of other thriving, business-friendly states,” said Gobler.
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MGA Applauds Governor Rick Snyder for Proposing to Reform
Michigan’s Item Pricing Law to Bring Relief to Consumers and
Retailers
[January 20, 2011] The Michigan Grocers Association (MGA) hailed Governor Rick Snyder’s call to
eliminate Michigan’s antiquated and costly Item Pricing Law. In
his first State of the State address, Governor Snyder called the
Item Pricing Law a relic that needs to be scrapped.
“Michigan Grocers Association has fought to reform our state’s
Item Pricing Law for many years,” says MGA President Linda M.
Gobler. “This regulation is a job killer because it means higher
operating costs for Michigan retailers, punishing businesses for
operating in our state. We are very pleased that Governor Snyder
understands that item pricing actually hurts consumers by
driving up the cost of goods sold.”
In his
address, Governor Snyder noted a recent economic study which
said that requiring individual price stickers over other forms
of price marking costs our economy over $2 billion a year.
“Let’s embrace technology to save consumers time and money while
still protecting them,” Snyder said. “Let’s make item pricing
one law that’s out of stock!”
“With
this statement, the governor received a standing ovation, and
rightly so,” says Gobler. “Michigan grocers lead the applause,
just as we’ve led the way in efforts to modernize this
burdensome, unnecessary regulation.”
Gobler
continues, “Governor Snyder shows strong leadership in tackling
government regulations that hinder the private sector head on.
We look forward to partnering with his administration and the
legislature to reform this archaic law and to reinvent Michigan
as a thriving, business-friendly state.”
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2010 Releases:
MGA
Awards
Scholarship to MSU Food
Management Senior
[July, 2010]
The faculty of Michigan State University’s Food Industry
Management Program (FIM) has selected Leanne Aline Zimba
to receive a $1,000 MGA-Paul M. Felice Memorial food industry
management scholarship for the 2010-11 academic year.
Zimba is an intern this summer with Coca-Cola Bottling of
Lansing and she works part-time at the East Lansing Meijer. Both
Coca-Cola Bottling and Meijer are MGA
Members.
A senior anticipating Spring Semester 2011 graduation with a
Bachelor of Science degree in FIM, she also has three years of
work experience at Ben’s Supercenter in Brown City. Prior to
that, Leanne worked as a farm hand on family farms in the
Marlette area transplanting and harvesting fresh produce, and
carrying out routine veterinary work.
FIM at Michigan State prepares students for career opportunities
in food marketing, sales, distribution, plant management,
retailing, wholesaling, purchasing and human resource
management. The program has an impressive track record of
graduate placement and has produced many leading and successful
food industry executives.
Michigan Grocers Foundation trustees authorized the scholarship
at their annual meeting in November 2009. The Foundation accepts
tax deductible contributions in support of MGA’s Paul M. Felice
Memorial Scholarship Program.
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MGA Announces Four
Scholarship Winners for 2010
June 15,
2010
Michigan
Grocers Association announces the 2010 Paul M. Felice Memorial
Scholarship winners. Each recipient receives a $1,000
scholarship toward any accredited, nonprofit private or public
U.S. University.
The four
2010 winners are:
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Stacy
Boguszewski,
Aquainas
College; |
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Katelyn
Kaminski, Trine University; |
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Christopher
Lillie,
University of
Notre Dame; and, |
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Lindsey
Sollund, Saginaw Valley State University. |
Scholarship
winners are chosen each spring by an independent and impartial
selection committee comprised of professional educators. In
evaluating the applicants, the committee considers academic
record, test scores, extracurricular activities and
recommendations.
|
Stacy
Boguszewski
will be a freshman at
Aquainas College
this fall. She
will major in chemistry/biology with plans to eventually
become an optometrist. |
A 2010
graduate of Byron Center High School with a 4.05 GPA, she was
a member of the National Honors Society and made the High
Honor Roll for four years. She received the "Top Dawg
Award" for math and a National Scholar Award.
Boguszewski
played the violin in the orchestra for eight years. In
addition to working part-time at Woody's Pressbox restaurant,
she also volunteered at the Metro Hospital, Habitat for
Humanity, Kent County Animal Shelter, Brookcrest
Rehabilitation and Nursing Home, and Cutlerville Eyecare.
She is
eligible for the scholarship because her mother, Debra Connor,
works for MGA Member Spartan Stores.
|
Katelyn
Kaminski will be a sophomore at Trine University in
Angola, Indiana, this fall. |
She majors in forensic science and chemistry,
has a 3.70 GPA and participates in the freshman honor society
of Phi Eta Sigma and the Christian sports organization -
Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
A 2009 graduate of Catholic Central High
School, she graduated Cum Laude and was president of the
National Honors Society. Receiving the Gold Award in the
President's Civil Service Challenge, she was also the captain
of the varsity basketball team and the varsity track team, in
addition to being All-Conference Champion for short put and
discus.
She is eligible for the scholarship because her
father, Stanley, works for Spartan Stores.
|
Christopher Lillie
will be a freshman at University of Notre Dame this fall as a
part of the Engineering Scholars program and the Army ROTC
program. He will major in mechanical engineering; and upon
graduation, he will be commissioned as an officer in the U.S.
Army. |
A 2010 graduate of Rochester Adams High School with a 4.0 GPA,
Lillie was Valedictorian and captain of the wrestling team,
finishing with over 100 varsity wins in his high school
career. His high school honors include Michigan Math Prize Top
200, National Merit Commended Scholar, Physics Student of the
Year and Calc BC Student of the Year.
Lillie is eligible for the scholarship because his father,
Todd, works for MGA Associate Member Pepsi Bottling
Group. Lillie’s sister, Elizabeth, is a previous two-time
Felice Scholarship winner.
|
Lindsey Sollund
will be a freshman at Saginaw Valley State University this
fall where she will major in clinical laboratory science. Upon
graduation, she hopes to work as a medical technologist.
|
A 2010 graduate of Clio High School with a 4.0 GPA, Sollund
was a member of the National Honor Society, varsity
cheerleading squad and varsity track team. She is eligible for
the scholarship because her father, Bill, works for MGA
Member VG’s.
The Paul M. Felice Memorial Scholarship Program was established
by MGA’s Board of Directors to honor former board chairman
“Paulie” Felice. He and his family owned and operated the Felice
and Valuland Food Centers in Waterford, Macomb and Sterling
Heights.
The one-year scholarships are awarded annually to high school
seniors, college freshmen, sophomores or juniors who are the
children of employees of MGA member retailers or suppliers or
who are part-time student employees of MGA member companies for
at least six months of the year in which the scholarships are
awarded.
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MGA President
Linda Gobler Marks 25
years with Association.
[May 18, 2010] LANSING, MI
Michigan Grocers Association
(MGA) has reached a significant milestone: President & CEO Linda
M. Gobler celebrates 25 years with the Association this month.
Often cited as one of Lansing’s most
effective business advocates, Gobler joined what is now the
Michigan Grocers Association on May 6, 1985, as Director of
Governmental Relations. Prior to that, she worked as a
legislative analyst for the Michigan House of Representatives
and as an administrator for the Urban League. She holds a
bachelor’s degree in social work from Michigan State University.
Hired to serve as the key liaison between the
Association and the legislature/state agencies, her
responsibilities included helping MGA members find answers to
questions and resolve problems. She soon became Vice President
of Governmental Relations.
On August 4, 1988, the Board of Directors
appointed Gobler as MGA President. In addition to her duties in
government relations, she became responsible for the daily
administration of the Association, along with carrying out the
philosophy and direction of the Board.
In 1998, MGA celebrated its 100th
anniversary; and in 2006, it celebrated its designation as a
Centennial Organization by The Historical Society of Michigan.
On May 18, 2010, Gobler was recognized by the
MGA Board of Directors and Staff at the Board of Directors
meeting held in Lansing, prior to the Association’s Annual
Legislative Reception. Chairman DJ Oleson, Oleson’s Food Centers
in Traverse City, thanked her for two and a half decades of
dedicated service. “She is our voice in Lansing,” he said. “I
hope she never gives up the battle she fights everyday on our
behalf.”
Gobler was also honored in the May issue of
the Michigan Food News, which included anniversary
messages from legislators, state department heads and other
dignitaries, including former Governor John Engler.
Michigan Grocers Association is the voice of
the state’s supermarket and grocery industry, representing over
800 leading chain and independent retail stores and 100
manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors. In its 112th year,
MGA provides Michigan food businesses with knowledge, solutions
and connections to ensure the industry’s continued success. The
association is recognized as an industry leader in government
and industry relations, communications, education,
technical assistance and public advocacy support.
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