General Managers are the glue that holds a store together. Working at the intersection of logistics, people, and operations, it takes a lot of effort to ensure that everything is running smoothly. From merchandiser to planner to manager to problem solver, being a GM requires a professional tool belt equipped with a little bit of everything.
At this year’s INFRA Annual Conference, taking place July 13-16 in St. Paul, MN, we’ve curated a range of sessions designed with GMs in mind—focused on honing in and growing your already expansive skillset.
Check out a few of our top picks below!
Reset to Real-Time: Mastering the Art of Continuous Department Evolution
When: July 14, 10:15 am to 11:15 am
Speakers: Sarah Super (INFRA), Hope Tipton (INFRA), & Hannah Lyon (Cornucopia Natural Market and Deli)
While total department resets can be a great way to start fresh, revisiting your departments regularly helps you build positive momentum that lasts. With the right ongoing strategy, you can keep up with shifting trends, pricing updates, and customer needs through small, sustainable adjustments.
Hannah Lyon (Cornucopia Natural Market and Deli) and INFRA Wellness Strategist Sarah Super will take you inside their recent collaboration to execute a high-impact wellness reset. Together, they will break down the step-by-step preparation and key learnings from the process, offering both a 'boots-on-the-ground' retailer perspective and strategic expert takeaways on what it really takes to revitalize a department.
To help you transition from "big projects" to "smooth operations," Hannah is joined by Hope Tipton, INFRA’s Wellness Category Manager, who will share timely tips for managing your department’s category reviews with confidence. Whether you’re planning a refresh or just looking to sharpen your daily methodology, walk away with a practical roadmap to keep your shelves optimized and your sales climbing—one smart update at a time.
Speakers: Sarah Super (INFRA), Hope Tipton (INFRA), & Hannah Lyon (Cornucopia Natural Market and Deli)
Taste of Grocery Retail Leadership
When: July 14, 11:30am – 12:30pm
Speakers: Dana Pratt (DCP Training & Talent Development) & Angela Bozo (INFRA)
Great retail leaders balance a lot — operations, people, performance, and customer experience — all at once. This fast-paced, interactive 60-minute session offers a preview of the INFRA Grocery Retail Leadership program, designed specifically for store and department leaders who want to strengthen results while building engaged, high-performing teams.
In this “taste” session, participants will explore a powerful leadership question: What is the true purpose of your store? Through a guided activity and peer discussion, attendees will clarify their team’s purpose and consider how to communicate it in ways that inspire commitment, ownership, and engagement from staff.
Along the way, you’ll get an overview of the key topics explored more deeply in the full program. If you’re curious about the Grocery Retail Leadership program or simply looking for a new way to inspire your team, this session is for you.
Leading With Accountability and Care
When: July 14, 4:15pm – 5:15pm
Speaker: Gina Molby (New Pioneer Food Co-op)
In natural food retail, culture is not a poster on the wall. It is something shoppers feel the moment they walk through the door. It lives in how staff show up for one another, how leaders navigate pressure, and how accountability and care are held at the same time.
This breakout session explores heart-led, holistic leadership as a regenerative practice: one that sustains people, strengthens teams, and ultimately drives performance. Grounded in real-world retail leadership experience, the session explores how clarity, empathy, directness, and healthy boundaries work together to shape trust, accountability, and belonging at every level of the organization.
Participants will examine how high expectations paired with high support create psychologically safe, accountable environments where people can do their best work. The session will explore how leaders can communicate values before day one through hiring, reinforce culture through onboarding and feedback, and maintain perspective during moments of urgency or conflict. Attendees will also look at how authentic, human-centered service, treating shoppers as people, not transactions, builds trust and loyalty that no promotion or display ever could.
Rather than offering scripts or one-size-fits-all solutions, this session provides adaptable frameworks, practical examples, and reflective prompts leaders can apply in stores of any size. The goal is to leave participants feeling both inspired and equipped to lead with more intention, humanity, and clarity, without sacrificing standards or results.
Unlocking ART: Empowering Retail Teams through Flexible, Automated Training
When: July 16, 10:15am – 11:15am
Speaker: Hannah Peper (INFRA)
The Academy of Retail Training (ART) offers INFRA retailers a flexible, no‑cost learning management system built to support training at every level. Learn how to customize learning, streamline onboarding, and elevate team performance with tools designed to meet you exactly where you are. This system is adaptable to your store's unique pace - whether you want to plug in your own training materials, utilize INFRA's vast course catalog, or tap into INFRA's premium support suite, where your materials can be transformed into polished, ready‑to‑use courses. Join us to see how ART can streamline your training workflows and strengthen staff development across your organization!
We can’t wait to welcome you to St. Paul this July for 4 days of learning, connection, and fun. See the full schedule and register for the 2026 INFRA Annual conference here!
With any questions about this year’s conference, please reach out to Hannah Peper at hpeper@infretailers.com.