Advertisement

Header Utility Menu

  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Events

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

  • Login

Virginia Business

Mobile Menu

  • Issues
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Order a copy
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2022

Advertisement

Header Primary Menu

  • Issues
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • Issues Archive
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Order a copy
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2022

Home People Va. Food Industry Association taps new exec director

Va. Food Industry Association taps new exec director

Melissa Assalone was Northam's deputy legislative director

Published May 19, 2022 by Katherine Schulte

Melissa Assalone is Virginia Food Industry Association's executive director. Photo courtesy VFIA

Melissa Assalone is the Virginia Food Industry Association’s new executive director, the Richmond-based association announced Wednesday.

Assalone, who previously served as deputy legislative director in Gov. Ralph Northam’s administration, assumed the role on Monday. She succeeds Parker Slaybaugh,  who is now Virginia’s chief deputy secretary of agriculture and forestry.

“Melissa is a dynamic and capable leader, and the Board of VFIA looks forward to working with her as she further develops the association,” VFIA Board Chair Jennifer Gardner, director of government affairs for Ahold Delhaize USA Inc., said in a statement. “Melissa’s professional experience, as well as her education and training, will be a great asset as she advocates for the food industry before the Virginia legislature and others within state and local government.”

“The food industry and their employees responded heroically during the pandemic in spite of the innumerable challenges they experienced,” Assalone said in a statement. “I am grateful to serve the members of the association and this industry, recognizing all they have done these past two years to serve and meet the needs of their customers.”

In her role as Northam’s deputy legislative director, Assalone provided policy guidance, developed advocacy strategies and maintained legislative and stakeholder relationships. Before joining the administration, she was director of government relations for the American Heart Association’s office in Richmond.

Assalone has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. She also has a certificate in nonprofit management from VCU and is a graduate of The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership’s Political Leaders Program.

VFIA represents retail and wholesale food industries in Virginia. Its members employ more than 55,000 people at more than 530 retail locations.

  Subscribe to Virginia Business. Get our daily e-newsletter.

Related Stories

Sauer Brands buys independent salsa brand

Richmond-based company acquires Mateo's Gourmet Salsa

Mondelez to create 80 jobs with $122.5M Henrico expansion

Multinational snack company will expand bakery, build fulfillment center

Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer names HR senior manager

Ryan Murchison has been promoted

Trending

TowneBank to acquire Farmers Bank

Sentara Health Plans names new leader

258 Va. companies make this year’s Inc. 5000

Chesapeake warehouse sells for $13.59M

Va. Beach honors Ramon W. Breeden Jr.

Sponsored Stories

Creating An Urban Destination in Chesapeake

5 surprising facts employers should know about voluntary benefits

What Supply Chain Problems should you be planning for in 2023?

Advertisement

Advertisement

Trending

TowneBank to acquire Farmers Bank

Sentara Health Plans names new leader

258 Va. companies make this year’s Inc. 5000

Chesapeake warehouse sells for $13.59M

Va. Beach honors Ramon W. Breeden Jr.

Sponsored Stories

Creating An Urban Destination in Chesapeake

5 surprising facts employers should know about voluntary benefits

What Supply Chain Problems should you be planning for in 2023?

Get Virginia Business directly on your tablet or in your mailbox!

Subscribe to Virginia Business

Advertisement

Advertisement

Footer Primary Menu

  • virginiabusiness.com
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Footer Secondary Menu

  • Industries
  • Regions
  • Reports
  • Company News
  • Events

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Sign Up

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

Footer Utility Menu

Copyright © 2022 Virginia Business. All rights reserved.

Site Maintained by TechArk

wpDiscuz