Meet The Team
Our Team
Now’s not the time to be modest. You need the absolute best in the industry to grow your brand. You need someone you can trust and enjoy life with. Conveniently, that’s who we hire. Meet our team of CPG rockstars.
Leslie Godwin
Most importantly I am a mom to my incredible daughters, Dia, Aria, and Evie and a wife to my hubby, Brad. I have had the privilege to work with worldwide brands and best-in-class teams throughout my career with Nestle, Kellogg, Chobani and Hain Celestial. After college, I began my career as a sales rep with Nestle in the Sales Leadership Development program in Chicago. Although not easy, understanding retail on the ground floor was foundational for my career as it also fueled my passion for global brands.
From Chicago, I moved to Northwest Arkansas on the Nestle Walmart team to learn high level analytics and support an esteemed group of sales leaders. After this role, I was given a promotion to manage a team of 10 highly regarded reps for the Nestle Military business and call on regional DECA buyers in the central US. My career in sales taught me many skills, however, I was given the once in a lifetime offer to do Shopper Marketing with yet another phenomenal global company, where I got to develop programs that make mom’s life easier.
In my time with Kellogg, I was promoted to Sr. Shopper Marketing Manager on the Kellogg Walmart team. I then was invited to work for a product and brand that changed the yogurt category forever. At Chobani, I became a National Account Manager on the Walmart team and enjoyed selling a product I was passionate about! I also managed the entire island of Puerto Rico working with a distributor and led a huge piece of ecomm growth. My next three years was at Hain Celestial where I helped turn around the company by selling in 200,000+ PODs in Walmart.
My career is important, but I want balance and flexibility and that’s something no corporate company can truly offer. So that’s why I decided to go into business for myself, helping you!
Oh yeah… For fun, I love to be outside and active with my family, adventure the world with my husband, invest in kids by coaching volleyball, and constantly try new things!
Leah Ecker
Hello! I am a mom of 3 awesome kiddos, and the wife of a serial entrepreneur, none of whom ever let life get boring. I’ve lived in NWA most of my life and was raised in Walmart culture (my dad was an associate for 25+ years before he retired), and have loved retail from day 1. I love that every day is an opportunity to meet a consumer need and delight them with what we bring to the shelf. Pair that with my entrepreneurial nature, and supporting emerging brands at Walmart is a beautiful position to be in.
I started my retail career leading teams at Walmart HQ in pricing strategy and analytics, then merchandising, before transitioning into sales roles. My entire time at Walmart was in grocery, but when I left I managed the Nuk and Graco businesses at Newell brands so I’ve had the opportunity to manage hardlines businesses as well. As thankful as I am for that experience, my passion really lies in food, which is why after Newell Brands, I led the Takis team at Walmart for Barcel USA, where I had the opportunity to more than double their Walmart business in 2 years.
When I’m not working, I love to be doing anything active. I’m an avid crossfitter, traveler and foodie. I have Celiac, and learning how to live a GF lifestyle has inspired a lot of the love I have for food.
Eva Kirksey
Hi there! I’m Eva and I am absolutely thrilled to be working alongside you, growing your company and your brands, and building a lasting partnership together with Walmart and Sam’s Club. Here’s a little about me and what drives me personally and professionally.
My family and Asian American heritage are an important part of my why. I relocated from Southern California to Northwest Arkansas in 2005 to work on Walmart with a CPG supplier. Like many before and after me, I expected to only stay for a few years to build my career. Life has a way of making unexpected, yet amazing, turns. Now my husband and I are raising 2 beautiful, strong-willed daughters. The weekdays during this season are as busy and full as you’d expect balancing dual careers, school age kiddos, fur babies, extracurriculars, all the things. So weekends are for disconnecting and reconnecting - walks, hiking, gardening, water fun, and just playing outside! Especially paired with yummy meals at our favorite restaurants!
I’ve had the honor of working in retail for 20 years, 19 of which were partnering to grow national brands and launch innovation at Newell Rubbermaid, Campbell Soup, Kellogg, and most recently, Ferrara. My journey started with 10 years in Walmart Category roles from Consultant to Advisor to leading a team, followed by Walmart Sales roles from owning the account to leading a team. I’ve had the incredible opportunity to impact 27 categories from HBA (Hair Accessories, Trial/Travel) to Food (Wet/Dry Soup, Italian/Mexican Sauce, Juice, Frozen Breakfast/Healthy Lifestyle, Cold/Hot Cereal, Portable Snacks/Bars, Salty Snacks, Fruit Snacks, Cookies/Crackers/OTG, Cones, Crusts, Baking) to H&W (Active Nutrition) to most recently, Confections (Take Home, Impulse, Seasonal).
- People and team: Relationships are the foundation and people working as teams make it happen
- Love for learning: Digging in to understand the “why” to build a great story
- Strategic mindset: Connecting the dots on the business, insights, and trends to deliver recommendations
- Creative selling: Identifying white spaces, then laying out a plan to chase the incremental growth
Nuria Rizzo
Nate Fehr
Hi I'm Nate!
I’m very excited to be joining the incredible team at GRG after 15 years of big CPG experience. I love to learn, grow, and take on a challenge. Throughout my career, I’ve had the immense privilege to represent some incredible products and partner with some of the best retailers in the world.
I started my career in the CPG foods space working for ConAgra Foods working on the Walmart business across snacks, refrigerated, and frozen portfolios, before moving into the home entertainment space with Warner Bros managing the theatrical business at Walmart.
In 2015 I shifted gears and moved out to Seattle to run Warner’s theatrical business at Amazon both physical and digital home entertainment. For the next 6 years across Warner Bros movies, Unilever’s beauty and personal care business, and Abbott’s pediatric nutrition business, I managed the Amazon account leading sales growth, Amazon Vendor Negotiations, and all the other things that come with leading a large e-commerce business.
In 2020, I returned to Bentonville to lead a part of the nutrition team at Abbott, covering both Walmart and Sam’s. Since returning, I have led a team ranging from 2-7 direct reports and with responsibility for $1.2 billion in revenue at Walmart. During this time, we weathered massive industry challenges in infant formula, explosive growth of electrolytes categories, forged strong relationships with Walmart, negotiated unprecedented JBP agreements, and delivered best-in-class results. All of this while developing an incredible team of talented account personnel and more importantly, good people.
I love a challenge and learning new things and have tremendous respect for Walmart and Sam’s focus and vision. I love finding ways to partner with this incredible retailer to meet the customer’s needs. I am very excited to get to partner with amazing brands whose purpose, product quality, and proposition to consumers are clear and meaningful. I am so excited to help you launch and thrive at Walmart and Sam’s!
In my free time, you’ll find me playing basketball with my kids, mountain biking with my buddies, reading a good book, or enjoying a good cup of coffee with my friends. I get to support my wife in balancing her work and our kids and it is my highest calling to be an intentional dad and husband, who navigates balancing vocation, passion, and my people as I look to make a positive impact on the community around me.
Sonya Petree
Hi, I'm Sonya!
I'm excited to join Godwin Retail Group! While I'm new to the team, I bring over 20 years of experience in the CPG industry, with the last 15 years focused on Walmart and Sam’s Club. My career has been dedicated to sales and national account management across foodservice, retail, and mass merchandise channels.
With a background in food science and a career spanning top companies like Smithfield/John Morrell, Reckitt Benckiser, Abbott Nutrition, and Ferrara, I've managed multi-million-dollar accounts growing sales, launching new products, and creating growth strategies that work. I thrive in fast-paced environments, turning challenges into opportunities and consistently exceeding sales goals. Along the way, I’ve been honored with awards like Top Performers Club and Rookie of the Year, but my greatest motivation comes from seeing brands and teams succeed.
Outside of work, I love spending time with my husband, Lance, and our three active kids—London, Dawson, and Bryar. Whether cheering them on at sporting events or coaching, family is at the heart of everything I do. When I get the chance, I enjoy traveling and experimenting with new recipes (because let’s be honest, food is a big part of my world!).
I believe in a work-hard, play-hard mentality and always strive to bring energy and positivity to everything I do.
Let's connect and make great things happen!
Ray Gartman
Hi, I am Ray!
I am thrilled to join the GRG team and to share a bit about my journey and passions. Originally from Houston, Texas, my life has been a tapestry of rich experiences and cherished memories. In 2001, my beautiful wife Heather and I moved to Northwest Arkansas, a place we now lovingly call home. Heather and I have been married for 27 wonderful years, and together we have navigated the delightful transition to being empty nesters, finding joy in new adventures and travels.
Our love for travel often takes us on camping trips in our fifth-wheel camper or on relaxing cruises. Whether it is the excitement of exploring new destinations or the tranquility of a quiet beach, we relish every moment. We are both outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy being active, yet we also appreciate the peacefulness of sitting by a campfire under the stars.
Summers are particularly special for us, as we spend time on our boat at least once a week. There is nothing quite like docking on a serene bank and simply unwinding, surrounded by nature. It's these moments of relaxation that fuel our spirits and rejuvenate us.
Family means everything to me. I am the proud father of two amazing adult children, Jordan and Trey. Watching them navigate adulthood and blossom into incredible individuals has been one of my greatest honors and purest joys. Our family is further enriched by Barkley, our 6-year-old black lab. Barkley brings us endless excitement and laughter every day, especially with his love for water and joining us on our boating adventures.
Professionally, I bring 34 years of experience working with Walmart and Sam’s Club. My career began humbly as a part-time cart pusher at a Sam’s Club in Houston in 1991. I spent 10 years working in the club in every role the club had except for the fresh departments or tire shop. In 2001, I transferred to the Sam’s Club Home Office and took on the McLane account. Through dedication and hard work, I climbed the ranks to become the McLane Sam’s Club Senior Account Manager. In this role, I managed all Sam’s Club business for McLane, overseeing categories such as Tobacco, Candy, Seasonal, Office Supplies, Beverages, Snacks, and Walmart Tobacco business. My tenure with Sam’s Club/Walmart and McLane spanned an impressive 15 years.
In 2014, I decided to embark on a new chapter with Advantage Solutions as a Replenishment Manager. Here, I managed multiple grocery clients, providing support in reporting and analysis of Instock, OTIF, SQEP, Supply Chain, Forecasting, Store Inventory, DC Inventory, and more. In 2018, I was assigned as a dedicated resource for Hain Celestial, where I spent the last six years, thoroughly enjoying my role and the team I worked with.
Aside from my professional achievements, I have a competitive streak when it comes to games. Whether it's basketball, volleyball, cornhole, horseshoes, washers, cards, dominoes, board games, or trivia, I approach each game with a quiet determination and a love for friendly competition.
In essence, my life is a blend of professional dedication, family love, and a passion for adventure and enjoyment. Joining the GRG team marks a new and exciting chapter, and I am eager to contribute my experience and enthusiasm to this dynamic group. Here’s to new beginnings and continued success!
Ben Hiemstra
Hi, I’m Ben!
I recently joined the GRG team, and I couldn’t be more excited to help brands grow and thrive! With 14 years in the CPG industry, I’ve tackled everything from analytics and supply chain to eCommerce and sales. Along the way, I’ve worked with some incredible brands and companies—including a few years at the Walmart home office, several sweet years at Ghirardelli Chocolate, and most recently, at Reckitt, where I led national account management for major categories like Laundry, VMS, Sinus, and Pediatrics.
My retail journey actually started way back in high school when I took a job bagging groceries to earn gas money. That’s where I first got hooked on the industry—watching what customers bought, how they made decisions, and realizing just how fascinating the world of retail really is.
After graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in Supply Chain Management and Economics, I packed my bags and headed to Arkansas, thinking I’d only stay a couple of years. Fast-forward to today, and it’s now home for me and my family! I kicked off my corporate career in Walmart’s Replenishment Leadership Program, managing grocery and D92 businesses. From there, I spent several years in supply chain before making the jump to eCommerce and sales, driving digital growth and strategic category expansion at Ghirardelli and later at Reckitt.
I’ve had the opportunity to lead multi-million-dollar portfolios, launch innovative new products, and build collaborative relationships with Walmart. I thrive on finding creative solutions, driving sales, and making an impact in the ever-evolving retail space.
When I’m not working I live my life in a #girlsworld with my wife and three daughters! And when I’m not doing that you can find me fly fishing or doing projects around the house.
Excited for this next chapter and ready to make things happen!
Daniel Godfrey
Hi, I’m Daniel!
I’m excited to be the newest addition to Godwin Retail Group and bring my 9 years of CPG experience to the team! I grew up in Springdale where I met my wife of 16 years, Megan, in church youth group. At the time, I was in the church’s musical production of, “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown,” starring as Snoopy. I absolutely crushed the performance and the rest is history! We still call Springdale home and love raising our two kids here.
I graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Music and like many music majors found myself composing sonatas on spreadsheets instead of the guitar for a profession. After college, I spent five years in Transportation with J.B. Hunt, before moving into CPG as a Replenishment Analyst with Smithfield Foods. In 2020, I jumped into the broker space and have never looked back! I love the excitement and pace of working with new, innovative brands.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, being dad to Zuzu and Jude, and coaching their youth sports. I also enjoy playing music; actively playing shows throughout the area with my 90’s Tribute Band, Dial Up.
Denise Honn
I’m a proud mom of five and grandma to three, and when I’m not working, you’ll most likely find me on Beaver Lake with my family. We love boating, wakeboarding, surfing, and a competitive game of pickleball. Family time is everything to me.
Professionally, I bring over 25 years of Walmart experience. I started my career at Walmart in replenishment and, after leaving the home office, moved into the supplier community. Since then, I’ve worked closely with Walmart in supply chain and business operations roles across a variety of categories—including apparel, OTC, food, and home. My husband and I both work in the Walmart supply chain world—so yes, it does come up at the dinner table.
I’m a team player who genuinely enjoys helping my clients and teammates win big.
Shawn Register
I bring nearly two decades of experience driving growth across the CPG industry, with a proven track record of success in categories including snacks, pet, baby, personal care, grocery, and beverages. Before joining Godwin Retail Group, I held several leadership roles at Hain Celestial, where I led national sales strategy for Small Format and Convenience, Trade Marketing, and Walmart across multiple segments. Known for my sharp commercial instincts and ability to build deep retailer relationships, I’ve launched innovative programs with retailers like Walmart, Sam’s Club, 7-Eleven, Meijer, and Dollar General—fueling significant brand growth and market expansion.
I first worked with GRG founder Leslie Godwin at Hain, where we partnered to deliver a meaningful transformation across channels. After cheering on GRG’s explosive growth from the sidelines, I officially joined the team to help scale the business and unlock the next chapter of growth.
Originally from upstate New York and now based in Florida, I’m a proud dad to my 8-year-old son, Maverick. Outside of work, you’ll find me traveling, boating, golfing, and spending time with family and friends.
Jamie Hamblen
After many years leading high-impact businesses across the CPG ecosystem, I’m energized to bring my expertise to GRG and support our incredible portfolio of clients. My career has afforded me the privilege of representing large brands across food, beauty, personal care, baby, pet, and household categories, while partnering closely with some of the most forward-thinking merchants in the world. My goal is to leverage these learnings to help our clients grow!
My background blends several functional areas of expertise as well, including category leadership, sales planning, business development, and people leadership. I’m at my best when partnering with internal teams, strengthening retailer relationships, and shaping strategies that unlock sustainable growth. I have a deep passion for helping brands win by meeting the evolving needs of today’s consumers and retailers. Throughout my career—including my most recent role leading the Walmart business for Edgewell Personal Care, I’ve focused on enabling brands to thrive through strategic, omni-channel execution across Walmart, Sam’s Club, and Amazon.
Outside of work, I find the most joy in my family—raising a teenage daughter who keeps me inspired, and spending time with my wonderful husband, an incredible father and partner. Together, we enjoy lake days, college football, and traveling to visit our extended families in Iowa, Minnesota, and Texas.
I’m excited for this next chapter at GRG and look forward to bringing my energy, curiosity, and commitment to client success into every partnership.
Brad Wilborne
Hey Team!
I am the Senior Sales Analyst at Godwin Retail Group, where I help brands navigate Walmart and Sam’s Club with purpose driven analytics. Before joining GRG, I worked in the broker world supporting Walmart accounts, gaining firsthand experience in how brands, buyers, and retailers intersect—and where things tend to break down. Prior to that, I spent seven years on the brand side working directly with Walmart at Campbell Soup Company, Hain Celestial Group (The Dream Team with Leslie, Shawn, and Ray), and TreeHouse Foods.
Outside of work, I have a beautiful wife with the best little blended family. We love being active with our kiddos and enjoying all the local Bentonville community has to offer! I am an endurance athlete addicted to finding the point of no return for my body. I am currently training for the Catalina Classic, a 32mi paddle board race off the west coast!
I’m beyond grateful to be a part of this GRG Team. We are curating something truly special that not only elevates Better for You brands at Walmart, but fosters deep relationships for all of those involved.
Caitilin Cardwell
"Hi, I'm Caitlin!
I later moved into marketing and creative direction, where I gained experience shaping brand narratives, visual strategy, and customer-facing messaging. Bridging design with marketing sharpened my ability to see the full picture — from how a space looks and feels to how it is positioned, communicated, and ultimately experienced by consumers. This blend of creative and analytical thinking pulled me toward retail analytics.
I am currently completing NWACC’s Certified Retail Analyst program, where I work hands-on with real-world retail data to evaluate store performance. When I'm not in class or working with the amazing GRG team, I'm spending time with my husband and two little girls in our hometown of Fayetteville.
I'm so excited to be working with Godwin Retail Group, where my background in design, marketing, and analytics allows me to contribute a well-rounded perspective to retail strategy. Being part of a team that values data-driven decision-making, local market knowledge, and thoughtful growth has been incredibly energizing. I am eager to continue learning from the talented professionals at Godwin while applying my multidisciplinary experience to support clients, strengthen strategy, and help drive smart, successful retail decisions."
Josh Smith
I’m a husband to my amazing wife, Caroline, and a dad to three epic kids: Jim, Jack,
and Evie. Originally from Southern California, I spent most of my childhood overseas in
Southeast Asia before landing in Houston after college, which I now call home.
Professionally, I began my career in management consulting—first at Accenture and
later at a boutique firm—where I learned to break down complex problems, focus on the
insights that matter, and build practical, data-driven strategies that move businesses
forward.
In 2018, I launched my own e-commerce brand on Amazon, giving me an operator’s
perspective on what it truly takes to win online, from positioning and keyword strategy to
advertising, conversion, and differentiation. I still actively run my brand today, which
allows me to experience many of the same challenges as the founders and brands I
work with. It also keeps me closely connected to how platforms, tools, and tactics
continue to evolve.
In 2021, I joined BlueRyse as Marketplace Director, leading client strategy and
execution on Walmart.com. Over the past several years, I’ve helped emerging brands
grow online share, strengthen their digital shelf, and translate digital momentum into
meaningful in-store expansion. I love the mix of strategy and hands-on execution,
connecting the dots between merchant expectations and tangible digital performance
that helps brands earn expanded in-store presence.
I’ve partnered closely with Godwin Retail Group on shared clients for years, so joining
the team is a natural fit and I’m excited to keep leveling up what we can deliver together
for brands.
When I’m not working, you’ll find me wargaming with my kids, watching college football,
or traveling with my family.
Ryan King
I'm a husband to my incredible wife, Theresa (nearly 17 years!), and a dad to three amazing kids ages 13, 12, and 10. I'm a proud Texas Aggie (Class of '01), grew up in the Dallas area, and have called Austin home since 2006 where I've had the privilege of coaching multiple soccer teams with my kids and cheering on our local MLS team, Austin FC.
My path to Walmart's digital shelf has been anything but traditional. I spent 15 years in international non-profit work before launching my own native ecommerce brand in 2016. The experience of building a brand from scratch, learning the marketplace ecosystem, and navigating the challenges of getting products in front of customers ignited my passion for helping emerging brands succeed. In late 2020, I co-founded BlueRyse with a clear mission: to operate as a fractional digital team for challenger CPG brands, helping them maximize digital shelf performance at Walmart without diverting critical internal resources.
Over the past 10+ years in ecommerce and marketplaces, with an exclusive focus on Walmart channels since 2020, I've had the honor of partnering with some of the most innovative Better For You brands in the industry. This work is deeply personal to me. Healthy food has been critical to my own family's journey and I'm energized every day by the opportunity to help brands that are solving real needs for shoppers break through and thrive at scale. I've been fortunate to share what we've learned as a speaker at various ecommerce conferences, focused on helping digital-native brands build strong digital shelf integration at Walmart through digital-first strategies.
For years, BlueRyse worked alongside several brands with Godwin Retail Group, and I quickly came to admire their consistent execution, track record of succeeding on behalf of their brands, and unwavering commitment to excellence. Their vision for what's possible in retail made joining forces feel like a natural fit. I'm excited to combine retail strategy expertise with best-in-class digital shelf execution to deliver even greater results for the incredible brands we serve together.
When I'm not working, you'll find me tackling DIY projects around the house, coaching soccer, or spending time with family and friends. I love seeing new and innovative companies succeed, and I'm energized by the opportunity to help great products reach their full potential.