Sales

Allen PierceManaging Partner

Allen is an accomplished sales and marketing executive with proven success in exceeding multimillion-dollar sales goals and performing effective territory management within diverse industries, including real estate, automotive and telecommunications. Allen excels at planning marketing strategies, building teams, and providing motivation and sales incentives to improve market penetration, expand distribution, and increase sales revenue.

Subriana PierceManaging Partner

Throughout her career, Subriana has excelled as a sales, merchandising and marketing leader who is highly regarded for her ability to think strategically and act tactically. She is a versatile leader who drives results and sustainable growth in challenging markets. Subriana held marketing and sales leadership roles at Frito Lay and before leaving to join Navigator served as the Senior Vice President, Albertsons SoCal., competitive analysis, shopper insight and industry benchmarking. She is passionate about people and identifying, coaching and developing high impact teams to achieve business results. A recipient of multiple awards, Subriana has been named to “Top Women in Grocery” by Progressive Grocer, June 2013; the “Top 100 Executives Under 50” by Diversity Inc.; and as “Woman in the Industry” for Food Industry Sales Club of Los Angeles (FISMC). In 2016, she received the Humanitarian Award for the Food Industry by the California Conference for Equality and Justice.

Steve FujimotoChief Operating Officer

Steve is a proven leader that takes a vision and makes it a reality through sound strategy development and execution. He is also an inspirational leader with stories that inspire action. Steve Fujimoto was most recently Chief Operating Officer at Superior Grocers leading the operations, marketing and buying teams. Prior to this role, Steve was Vice President of Retail Operations for the Portland Division of Albertsons.

Steve’s background is broad-based with 39 years in the industry holding leadership positions in Finance, Warehouse and Distribution, Marketing, Merchandising and Operations. He is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt and Master Black Belt.

Steve holds a master’s degree from USC in Food Industry Leadership and a bachelor’s degree in Finance from California State University Long Beach. In addition, he is a graduate of the USC Food Industry Management Program.

Steve also served on several association boards including the Northwest Grocery Association (NWGA) where he was Treasurer and Secretary, and the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC).

Steve TakedaChief Operating Officer

Stephen Takeda has been providing investment management consulting services to both private clients and small institutional markets since 1983. Currently, Stephen is a Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management Director at Morgan Stanley, where he has helped clients define success and master the art of life for over 30 years. As a veteran financial advisor, with his partners, he helps affluent clients address their five biggest concerns: preserving their wealth, mitigating taxes, taking care of their heirs, ensuring their assets are not unjustly taken, and charitable giving. He is also a board member of USC’s Orange County Trojan Club and Asian Pacific Alumni Association.

Steve also served on several association boards including the Northwest Grocery Association (NWGA) where he was Treasurer and Secretary, and the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC).

Kathy TalamanteVice President of Business Development

Kathy has an extensive sales, marketing and business development background with more than 25 years of experience in the consumer product goods industry. Kathy has worked for PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Hershey Chocolate and American Home Foods. At PepsiCo, she led the Albertsons national team, where she drove sales across all Albertsons divisions. Her successes include top performing achievements in various account and category management roles from local market to national level in the retail and food service industries. Kathy has worked with most retail chains and navigates them deftly using her extensive contacts and experience. For Navigator Sales and Marketing, Kathy creates go-to-market plans and focuses on new business development and account management.

Katie VellaKey Account Manager for Northern California

Katie started in the grocery industry with Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s and spent 8 years understanding and excelling in store operations. Katie then transitioned to Renaissance Specialty Foods as a Sales Representative bringing new, innovative, and local brands to Northern California retailers. She then brought her retail and sales experience to Woodland’s Market as an Assistant Grocery Buyer placing orders for over 100 different direct suppliers.

Katie became an Account Manager for CA Fortune and led the headquarter calls for independent grocery retailers in Northern California – Lunardi’s, Mollie Stone, Mar-Val and Gene’s Fine Foods – representing over 100 different brands.

Most recently, Katie was Account Manager for VORI, an emerging technology company, where she was responsible for sales, onboarding, and training stores on improving efficiency by automating the store ordering process utilizing handheld technology.

Katie has built and managed significant business in Northern California with her strong relationship and account management skills across the grocery natural an independent channel.