The Board of Trustees of the Tennessee Grocers Education Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association, recently announced a new inductee to its honorary Hall of Eagles.  Betsi James, Food City Special Events Manager is the first female and most recent inductee into the Foundation’s Hall of Fame, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to TGEF’s mission. 

“Betsi is deserving of this high honor, because she has made a lasting impact on the scholarship programs of TGEF”, said Rob Ikard, TGCSA President & CEO.  “Her efforts will continue to bless families in Tennessee’s food industry for years to come”.

Eligibility for Hall of Eagles membership is achieved when an individual’s efforts on behalf of TGEF result in raising a total of $100,000.  James exceeded this milestone through her fundraising activities.

Betsi James has for the past three years served as chairman of both TGCSA’s East Tennessee Golf committee and TGEF’s East Tennessee Breaking Clays for College sporting clays event.  James joined the Food City team in 1999 and currently serves as Special Events Manager for the company’s Knoxville operating division, where she oversees special events, sports marketing initiatives, and nonprofit relations.

“Congratulations to Betsi, with an enduring thanks for touching so many lives through her efforts”, said Ikard.

Pictured above left to right:

Greg Sparks, Food City Sr. Vice President & Chief Operations Officer

Mickey Blazer, Food City Exec. Vice President of Pharmacy, Fuel, & Convenience Stores

Betsi James, Food City Special Events Manager

Joe Greene, Food City Vice President of Produce/Floral Operations

About the Tennessee Grocers’ & Convenience Store Association – The Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association is the only food trade association that represents all segments of Tennessee’s food market.  Membership is comprised of retail grocery store and convenience store operations as well as food industry wholesalers, manufacturers, distributors and suppliers.  TGCSA has been serving the needs of its members since 1978.

About Food City – Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 155 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, north Georgia, and Alabama.