Our Team

Paulo Goelzer is the president of the IGA Coca-Cola Institute, where he manages the ongoing production of strategic course curricula and acts as the leadership development facilitator and coach for multiple companies and executives.

Paulo joined IGA in 1994 and focused his attention on international growth, licensee development, and global learning. He began his career in the food industry very early, working in his family’s food business. He was also a senior strategy and consumer package goods industry consultant for a German/Brazilian consulting company, a researcher and consultant for the Brazilian Wholesaler Association (ABAD) and a marketing director for a CPG company.

Paulo a visiting professor at the Graduate School of Business at UNISINOS in Brazil and hold a Ph.D., in Organization Development, M.S., Business,  and M.A., Economics.                                    

Ana Velázquez joined the IGA Coca-Cola Institute in 2006. As the learning solutions director, Ana supports clients and their learning implementations, providing them with the resources and coaching they need to develop their own in-store programs. She also manages the Spanish course development.

Her contributions include the People Development Program, Grocery Start program, Institute Newsletter, and most recently the Resource Center. Past experience includes roles as a television producer, media instructor, IBM and Department of Education consultant, instructional designer, and training and documentation consultant at IRI. 

Ana received a Master's in Media Administration and Production from Michigan State University and a Bachelor's of Public Communication, and Radio and TV from the University of Puerto Rico.

Jason King joined the Institute in 2007 and serves as the training and development manager. He is actively involved in the online course development process, manages the Institute’s course development team, and oversees the learning management system. In addition, Jason manages the IGA Assessment and Shopper Feedback programs.

Prior to his current role, Jason worked as a store manager at a local supermarket chain, where he learned the aspects of the food retailing industry.

Jason holds a B.S. in Finance from Northern Illinois University. He lives in Chicago with his wife Maureen and enjoys traveling, running and golf.

Tom Lunzer started working at IGA in 2010 as an e-learning developer with the IGA Coca-Cola Institute. 

Tom is an artist and animator who was born and raised in South Dakota. He now resides in the land of beer and cheese, Kenosha Wisconsin.

Bridget Carney joined the Institute in 2019. As an instructional designer, she enjoys recording and editing audio, writing transcripts, designing graphics, and developing courses that assist retailers with on-the-job training and blending learning needs. She works closely with retailers to support and develop courses per their requests. She works in collaboration with the team on building learning materials and courses that better support the goals of the institute.

Bridget has a technical experience in production, specifically in the commercial television and animation fields. She worked as a visual arts instructor for many years. Her passions include technology and education. Her interests are reading, drawing, photography, knitting, and music.

She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Special Effects and Motions Graphics. She resides in Chicago with her family. 

Christina Watkins joined the Institute in 2016. As a Learning Solutions Coordinator, she enjoys assisting clients navigate the online learning system portal, voices the English Institute videos, and orchestrates team lunches. She works as the first line of interaction with the Institute and sets the precedence for customer service.  

She has multiple years in communications experience specifically marketing and sales. Her current interests are learning Korean, holding art exhibitions, drawing/photography, traveling, and studying metaphysics.

Christina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and resides in Chicago with her chihuahuas.

Gustavo Rueda is a Spanish translator, editor, and writer with four years of experience within the Retail Learning Institute and IGA Coca-Cola Institute. He is responsible for translating into Spanish the content created by the Institute’s course development team.

Prior to joining the IGA family, Gustavo worked as a freelance journalist for the Spanish-language newspaper Hoy, covering arts, entertainment, television, museum exhibitions, theater, dance, music, and other cultural activities related to Latino culture in Chicago.

Gustavo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism. He enjoys writing, reading, yoga, and learning about languages.

As IGA’s senior vice president in charge of retail and business development, Doug Fritsch is responsible for U.S. retail operations, new member growth, and more recently is overseeing the IGA Exclusive Brand offering. His passion for improvement has contributed to a new and growing IGA, with the defined purpose of providing programs that create a point of difference and competitive advantage for today’s independent retailer.

Sarah Rivers is the director of digital and eCommerce programs at IGA, where she leads all digital and eCommerce programs including digital advertising, click and collect, delivery, loyalty programs, websites, and digital coupons. In her role, she educates and helps retailers engage with their shoppers digitally and brings them up to par with the competition in the digital landscape.

Sarah has been working with independent grocers for over 25 years, in the advertising and marketing arena and comes from a wholesale background with extensive experience writing ads and implementing marketing programs as well as digital and eCommerce programs.

Nancy Vicelli, who joined the retail department in 2005, now serves as the manager of licensing and administration retail programs. She is responsible for managing all aspects of the IGA licensing function for IGA USA and the administration of IGA retail programs to include the IGA Five Star Program.

Most recently, Nancy helped launch and oversees the Retailer Engagement Program, which provides support to IGA retailers from the Chicago office team.

Additionally, Nancy handles meeting communication and planning for both the National Retail Advisory Board and the IGA USA Board and works directly with the IGA sales team on recruitment.

When not working, Nancy enjoys spending time with her four grandchildren.

Doug Stone joined IGA in February 2021 as an area director. Doug has a wealth of experience working with independent retailers, most recently serving as director of center store with Northwest Grocers, where he worked closely with IGA retailers and others in assembling their ad circular. Doug replaces Ricky St. John, who recently retired.

Doug serves the following wholesalers:

• Bozzuto’s Inc.
• MDI
• Ira Higdon Grocery Co.
• Laurel Grocery Co.
• UNFI: Southeast & Midwest Regions
• W. Lee Flowers

Contact Doug Stone at dstone@igainc.com

Nicole McGreevy, the support services assistant for the retail department, joined IGA in 2016. In her current role, she is responsible for updating client and partner records and billing for retail and the National Digital Ad.

Before coming to IGA, Nicole spent 21 years working in administration for the mortgage, real estate, and construction industries. Nicole is married with three school-aged children.