The CPG Convergence Conference: Where Growth, Capital and Innovation Come Together
This is a one-day, invitation-forward convening designed to bring together consumer brands, retailers, investors, and operators shaping the next generation of consumer packaged goods.
Hosted at Verizon’s 5G Labs in Playa Vista, this immersive conference blends strategic panels, fireside conversations, live brand showcases, and meaningful networking—all inside a space purpose-built for innovation, experimentation, and connection.
Throughout the day, attendees will explore:
How CPG brands scale across DTC, retail, and omnichannel
What retail buyers and grocery partners are actually looking for
How capital, storytelling, and distribution intersect
How emerging brands win attention, shelf space, and mindshare
The experience is intentionally designed for movement—attendees can engage with exhibitors, demos, and sampling activations throughout the venue while participating in curated programming on the main stage.
Who Should Attend
CPG founders & brand operators
Grocery buyers & retail partners
Investors & family offices
DTC & e-commerce leaders
Media, storytellers, and brand builders
Strategic partners across the consumer ecosystem
What to Expect
Engaging panels and fireside chats
Dedicated exhibitor & sampling areas
Retailer, brand, and investor participation
Curated 1:1 business meetings
1-hour hosted lunch – Convergence Networking Lunch
Open-flow networking throughout the day
Evening Mixer
Draft Agenda (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
9:00 – 9:30 AM- Arrival, Registration & Morning Networking
Coffee, light bites, exhibitor walk-throughs, and informal networking
9:30 – 9:45 AM – Opening Remarks
Welcome from the hosts and an overview of the day
Moderators:
HeeSook Alden, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Strategic Growth and Leadership Development at Certified Federal Credit Union.
Chirag Sagar, Co-Founder, Mission Matters
9:45 – 10:15 AM- A.M. Fireside Chat
Building your partnerships in this industry: Retailer Dialogue
A candid one-on-one conversation with Kendra Doyel, President of Ralph’s, a Kroger company led by Subriana Pierce, SVP of C.A.Fortune and Founder of Navigator Lighthouse Foundation.
Moderator: Lori Brown
Speaker:
Kendra Doyel, President of Ralph’s
10:20 – 11:05 AM- Panel: The Modern CPG Growth Playbook Omnichannel
How leading brands balance direct-to-consumer growth while unlocking retail distribution and partnerships.
Moderator: Adam Torres, Co-Founder, Mission Matters
Speakers:
Pam Negoro, Founder of Touch
Martin Forde, Retail Brokerage & Strategy for Disruptive Brands
11:10 – 11:55 PM- Panel: Retail & Grocery Insights
What Buyers Want — and What Gets You on the Shelf
Retailers and grocery partners share what they look for in emerging brands, from product readiness to storytelling and supply chain execution.
Moderator: HeeSook Alden
Speakers:
Adam Salgado, Chief Experience Offer of Heritage Grocers and President of the Heritage Grocers Giving Foundation
Rich Gillmore, VP of Center Store, Gelsons
Priyanka Vijay, Director os Sales, Keuring Dr Pepper
12:00 – 1:00 PM- Hosted Networking Lunch
An open-flow lunch experience designed for relationship-building across brands, retailers, investors, and exhibitors.
1:00 – 1:30 PM- PM Fireside Chat
Building, Scaling, and Exiting a Consumer Brand
A candid one-on-one conversation with a founder or operator who’s successfully built and exited a CPG business.
Moderator: Adam Torres
Speaker:
Tracy Holland, Founder Goodwill Brands
1:35 – 2:30 PM- Panel: Capital Meets Consumer
How Investors Evaluate CPG Brands Today
A look at what investors care about right now—from margins and velocity to distribution leverage and brand narrative.
Moderator: Adam Torres
Speakers:
Anthony Zanontian, Managing Director, Crumble Capital
Josh Resnick, Co-Founder & General Partner, OpenSky Ventures
Dayton Miller, Managing Partner, BFG Partners
Humphrey Ho, CEO, Helios & Partners
2:30 – 2:45 PM – Networking Break
2:45 – 3:30 PM- Panel: E-Commerce, Marketing & Performance Growth with Storytelling,
Tactical insights on scaling online sales, paid acquisition, retention, and leveraging data to drive profitability.
Moderator: Elias Arjan, Founder of Healthspan Productions
Speakers:
Fred Zhang, Senior Director of Paid Media at CA Fortune
Jeeyan Rostam-Abadi, EVP of Growth at Hawke Media
Cynthia Ferngren, Founder of Brandsol Agency
3:35 – 4:15 PM- Panel: Storytelling, Media & Earned Attention
Moderator: Adam Torres
Speakers:
Josephine Musco, Founder of Olyxir
Nick Jarjour, Co-founder of Lollipop Star
4:15 – 5:00 PM- Open Networking & Exhibitor Engagement
Final opportunity to connect, sample products, and build partnerships before the evening reception.
5:00 PM - Onward- Evening Networking Reception
Cocktails, conversation, and continued connection immediately following the conference.
Speakers:
About Mission Matters
The Mission Matters platform is a media outlet designed to give voice to the stories of entrepreneurs, entertainers, enterprises, executives and experts. In the coming years, we will continue this mission by adding to our current 50,000+ content catalogue of shows, podcasts, media and books in an effort to tell meaningful stories that will inspire current and future generations.
Mission Matters Podcast by the numbers
25 million+ views
Reach 1 million+ people monthly
100,000+ pieces of content published
6,000+ interviews distributed
1,500 + CEOs interviewed
About Navigator Lighthouse Foundation
In the midst of the civil unrest of 2020, Navigator Sales & Marketing owners Allen and Subriana Pierce saw both a challenge and a calling. They founded the Navigator Lighthouse Foundation to expand access for underrepresented and emerging entrepreneurs. What began as a response to inequity quickly became a movement—creating real pathways to education, opportunity, and visibility on grocery store shelves. When retailers began reaching out asking for stronger connections to women- and minority-owned brands, it was clear: the industry needed a more intentional bridge. We stepped in to build it.
Sponsors: