The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) is a statewide trade association advocating the views of the food and beverage industries. Our membership includes convenience stores, supermarkets, independent grocers, wholesalers, distributors, and consumer product vendors of all sizes operating in Pennsylvania and beyond.
Our mission of the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association is to improve the public image, effectiveness and profitability of companies providing products and services in agriculture production, consumer education, consumer packaged goods, food retailing and wholesale food distribution.
Alex Baloga became president and CEO of PFMA on July 1, 2017. After joining PFMA in 2013 as director of government relations, he was promoted to director of government and public relations in 2014 and to vice president of external relations in 2015. Baloga leads PFMA’s day-to-day operations and helps implement its strategic vision, working with the board of directors, of which he is a member. He leads PFMA’s government relations efforts at the local, state and federal levels. He also manages PFMA’s federal, state and Philadelphia Food PACs along with PFMA’s Legislative, Pharmacy and WIC Stakeholder committees.
He serves on the Classification and Ratings Committee for the Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureau. He is a board member on the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund. He joined the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s newly formed Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Advisory Group in 2022. He sits on the Food Industry Association Executives (FIAE) Board of Directors, the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association Board of Directors and the NACS Legislative Committee. In addition, he represents PFMA members on the Pennsylvania Lottery Sales Advisory Council.
Baloga previously served as deputy finance director for Robert P. Casey’s re-election campaign for U.S. Senator, where he directed the fundraising activities in Central Pennsylvania. He has extensive contacts from his experience as an associate lobbyist for Greenlee Partners LLC, a premier government relations firm with offices in Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Additionally, he worked in U.S. Sen. Bob Casey’s Government office as a regional field manager, serving as the senator’s liaison to government, community and constituent groups in Central Pennsylvania; monitoring local issues and developments, and representing Sen. Casey at civic meetings and community events.
Baloga has earned recognition for his work in the food retail industry on several 40 under 40 lists, including Central Penn Business Journal, City & State PA and The Griffin Report. He recently was recognized in City & State PA’s 2022 PA Agriculture Power 100. He also earned the 2018 Excellent in Government Affairs Award from the Grocery Manufacturers Association.
Baloga earned his bachelor’s degree in history with a specialty in political science from West Virginia University.
Michael Howellsjoined PFMA in 2020 as association services manager. In 2021, he was promoted to director of research and association services. He assists PFMA members with questions on legislative and regulatory issues; serves as a liaison to communicate emergency planning issues; manages the association’s committees; and provides government relations coverage in the monthly newsletter and weekly e-newsletter communications. In addition, he assists with the planning and educational programming for the PFMA Annual Conference, Fall Legislative Conference and webinars. In 2023, Michael was promoted to vice president of association services, where he continues to expand his responsibilities and assist in more legislative, political and advocacy activities for the association. He will also assist in association strategic planning and organizational development.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Michael moved to the United States during his school years. He attended Gettysburg College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, and has remained in Central Pennsylvania ever since. Prior to joining PFMA, he was employed for more than a decade at Pennsylvania Legislative Services, a legislative tracking and media organization in Harrisburg, where he covered the state’s legislative and executive branches.
Michael is a published author, holds memberships to various local and statewide organizations, and is a Library of Congress “By the People” project volunteer.
Larissa Newton became PFMA’s director of communications and media relations in April 2023.
With a background spanning print and digital journalism, website and social media management, and state government communications, Larissa brings a unique blend of skills and perspectives to the role. She manages the association’s website, monthly and annual publications, biweekly podcast, social channels, media relations, and the overall marketing communications strategy for the association.
Most recently, Larissa was director of digital communications for Diversified Search Group, an executive search firm based in Philadelphia. Prior to that, she spent six years as the digital director for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, where she managed the department’s public digital presence – including multiple websites, social media platforms, and more. Larissa also spent nearly 10 years working in journalism as an editor for the Central Penn Business Journal and The Sentinel newspaper in Carlisle, Pa. She received PennDOT’s Star of Excellence award in 2021 and the Robinson Prize for Excellence in Copy Editing from the American Copy Editors Society (ACES) in 2015. She also was named a Young Leaders Scholar in 2014 by the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE).
She has her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Lehigh University.
Jennifer Hamelin joined the association in 1992 as a data entry clerk for MEMO. She held several positions in MEMO, including administrative assistant to Tanya Butler, president of MEMO Financial Services Inc., before becoming a compliance analyst where she monitored money order clearings and filed Suspicious Activity Reports with the IRS. She left the association in January 2010 to focus on her growing family and returned to PFMA as an administrative assistant in 2011. In 2023, as a result of her evolving responsibilities with the association, her title was changed to senior administrative specialist.
Jennifer has an excellent customer service background and handles multiple tasks delegated by different associates in the Government Relations department as well as accounting. She handles PFMA membership inquiries and transactions as well as the administration of the Thomas R. and Laura Ridge Scholarship program.
Jennifer is a notary and has been a member of PAN since 2000.
On Oct. 29, 1952, a group of independent retailers met in Erie, Pennsylvania, to discuss common concerns. During the meeting, the group officially accepted a charter from the National Association of Retail Grocers (NARGUS), and they selected the name Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association. The association operated from Erie and eventually opened a branch office in Harrisburg to maintain closer relationships with the state legislature. In 1986, PFMA consolidated its offices and moved to Harrisburg. Today, PFMA’s office is located in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania, just five minutes from the capitol.
PFMA offers legislative and regulatory representation, publications, email and online communication, conferences, seminars, certification programs, coupon processing and webinars to its members.
