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#46 (S5E8) Voni Woods Reflects on Three Decades of Community, Discovery, and the IDDBA Show

Voni Woods, Kat Shanahan

APR 20, 2026 | Inside IDDBA

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In the latest Inside IDDBA episode of Fresh Take with IDDBA, Kat Shanahan speaks with Voni Woods, retired Giant Eagle executive, IDDBA Chair Emeritus, and a longtime industry leader with an incredibly storied career, discussing the lessons of a lifetime and what she's learned after nearly 30 IDDBA shows.

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Voni reflects on what kept her coming back, shares why the show stood apart from other events, and offers practical advice for first-time attendees. Along the way, she talks about supporting women in leadership, building vendor relationships over time, and the moment she first saw that IDDBA was truly a community.

If you are deciding whether to attend the show, bring your team, or get more value from your time onsite, this episode offers a warm and practical perspective from someone who has lived it for decades.

Registration is open now, and we'll see you in Orlando, June 7–9. To learn more about the show, book your hotel, sign up for updates, and register, visit IDDBA’s website: https://www.iddba.org/register.

To learn more about IDDBA and becoming a member, head here: https://www.iddba.org/membership/join-iddba/membership.

Speaker Bios

Voni Woods

Giant Eagle

Retired Vice President, Deli, Bakery, Prepared Foods, Food Service, Starbucks and Sushi!

voni-wood

Kat Shanahan

VP of Marketing & Membership

Kat-Shanahan

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