Music & Arts competitors

Bob Palmer, chief executive officer for C&S Wholesale Grocers, is responsible for all aspects of the Company strategy, growth plan, customer satisfaction and day-to-day operations. Bob has more than 30 years of industry experience, and was most recently the executive vice president, chief procurement officer at C&S before his retirement in 2019. Bob joined C&S in February 1986 as head buyer and served as the director of Procurement until 1995 which he was promoted to vice president. He was promoted to senior vice president of Non-perishable Procurement in October 1996. Prior to joining C&S, Bob worked for four years with Riverside Markets, a division of Penn Traffic Company in DuBois, Pa. He spent four years as a retail store manager within Alberstons Southco Division in Florida and Alabama. In 2002, Bob was named director emeritus of the Northeast Wholesale Food Distributors Association. Bob earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, N.H.

Ron Japinga joined Guitar Center as the Executive Vice President of Supply Chain in 2014, and was appointed to Chief Executive Officer in 2016. Prior to working at Guitar Center, Mr. Japinga was VP, DMM at Macy’s from 1984 to 1996. From 1996 through 2001, he was VP GMM at DFS. He held positions at Kohls from 2001 through 2006 including Divisional Manager and VP. From 2006 through 2014, Mr. Japinga, worked at West Marine as EVP, Merchandising/ Planning and Supply Chain.

Stephen 'Steve' Smith is a President/CEO at L.L.Bean, Board Member at WEX INC., and Senior VP/Gen Mgr:Sam's Club & New Formats at Walmart and is based in Yarmouth, Maine. He has worked as Group Marketing Manager at AT&T; Account Manager at Joseph W. Turner; and Senior Vice President - Strategy, Marketing, Communications at DELHAIZE GROUP. Stephen studied at Dickinson College between 1988 and 1992.

Melissa Burgess-Taylor is a Chairman/CEO at Fruit of the Loom Inc. She works or has worked as Senior VP:Brand Mgmt & Sales at Fruit of the Loom Inc.