OUR TEAM

Solving the technology gap for independent grocers.

At RSA America, we are solving some of the biggest technological obstacles that independent grocers face today. Founded by experts who specialize in marketing, AI and technology, we shed light on customer behavior inside and outside the store to increase overall sales and the bottom line. We teach you how to target your shoppers with customized messages that deliver results!

We equip independent retailers with state-of-the-art digital and mobile marketing solutions to help them achieve customer satisfaction and retention. By using our advanced, retail-marketing platform, we transition independent retailers beyond typical, traditional customer outreach and create meaningful interactions through data and analytics. We empower the independent grocers!

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Our team's mission is to empower every independent grocer in America.

Rob Belcore

Chief Customer Officer/Co-Founder

Rob's extensive background, experience, and success in digital marketing is considered one of RSA America's "secret weapons." He specializes in enhancing the marketing effectiveness of brands, stores, and products in conjunction with technology; improving both brand awareness and market penetration with each solution. RSA is fueled by Rob's vision of a platform that synthesizes hyper-targeted marketing, revenue enhancement, predictive analytics, and mobile technologies. His innovative approach to monetizing social media and customer loyalty has been universally praised.

Rob began applying his keen sense for digital marketing while at the Wharton School forming his own digital content consulting firm, Little Guys Consulting LLC, which specialized in promoting unified content strategies across multiple channels. Before graduating Wharton with a BS in Economics with a concentration in Sales Force Management and a minor in Strategy, Rob was the head TA of the Wharton Field Challenge, a four year starter on the Penn basketball team, a team captain, and an All-Ivy selection.

Tricia Meyer

General Consul

Tricia Meyer is Founder + Managing Attorney of Meyer Law, one of the fastest growing law firms in the United States. Meyer helps entrepreneurs and technology companies from startups to large corporations with day-to-day matters and notable clients include companies that have appeared on Shark Tank to companies gracing the Inc. 500 to some of the largest companies in the world. Tricia has been named one of the Most Influential Female Lawyers in Chicago by Crain’s Chicago Business and been recognized as a top 10 technology lawyer. As an entrepreneur and a lawyer, Meyer has a unique perspective and has mentored thousands of startups and scaling companies at tech incubators and accelerators across the United States such as 1871, WeWork Labs and Techstars. Learn more at www.MeetMeyerLaw.com and follow Meyer Law’s story on Instagram @loveyourlawyer.

MEYER LAW is an award-winning, woman-owned law firm that specializes in helping technology companies from startups to large corporations with corporate, contracts, employment, intellectual property, fundraising and privacy matters. The team at Meyer Law has helped hundreds of companies from startups that have been featured on Shark Tank to fast-growing companies on the Inc.500 to some of the largest companies in the world, and mentored thousands of technology companies at incubators and accelerators across the United States such as 1871, WeWork Labs and Techstars. Learn more at www.MeetMeyerLaw.com and follow Meyer Law’s story on Instagram @loveyourlawyer.

Pamela LaPlaca

CFO

Since receiving her MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, Pamela has gained extensive accounting experience through senior roles for companies in diverse industries, including software, real estate development, professional services and retail. As a seasoned, results-oriented financial manager with over fifteen years of corporate accounting and financial analysis experience, she has focused her career on fast-growing, privately held businesses and the unique skill set needed to guide them to solid financial ground. Key strengths include operational efficiencies, management and investor reporting, capital raising, KPI's and software implementations.

Rao Achanta

Chief Technology Officer/Co-Founder

Rao Achanta is a technology professional with 20 plus years of experience in architecting highly scalable IT solutions for solving business problems. As CTO, Rao is responsible for the product roadmap, development and delivering value to customers through our next generation solutions using machine learning and artificial intelligence at RSA America. His responsibilities include, formulate and articulate strategy and effectively drive consensus across the organization; in partnership with the executive team, work to identify opportunities and risks for delivering the product; and assessment of marketplace obstacles and technical hurdles to the business success and utilizing strengths in research and identify technology trends and evaluate and identify appropriate technology platforms especially in ML, AI, Cloud, Mobility and Analytics.

Prior to RSA America, Rao was a Vice President of Software Development at Veritra. Rao has deep expertise in design and implementing complex, large-scale, and highly available enterprise architectures. Worked with a few of the largest consumer retail companies with large consumer datasets in developing effective promotional campaigns. His past project work enabled him to work with organizations including Citibank, OfficeMax, Lakeside, United Healthcare, Sears, Jiffylube, Pennzoil, IAAI, Baxter, McDonald's, and others.

Rao holds Ph.D. degree in science and serving as a professor at Chicago State University. Rao’s research interests include using ML, AI, VR and AR in retail for increasing customer lifetime value.

Sharon Pilz

Sharon Pilz

VP of Finance and Accounting

Sharon is a seasoned accounting professional with years of expertise in public accounting and small business finance management. After graduating from Loyola University in Chicago with a bachelor’s in accounting, Sharon started her career with Re/Max and ORBA. She offers comprehensive financial services and tax planning solutions to companies spanning diverse industries.

Ravi Achanta

Chief Executive Officer/Co-Founder

Ravi is an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist driven to solve the industry challenges through technology & innovation. He has more than 25 years’ experience as an entrepreneur, investor, board member, and technologist. He leverages his deep networks in people, technology, philanthropy, team building, development and entrepreneurship to connect businesses, technologists, and innovators to solve business challenges and bring the best of solutions to businesses.

Ravi has a successful history of owning and operating business ventures in the IT, educational, real estate, and manufacturing industries in the US and India. He also holds a Masters Degree in Information Services from Brisbane University and a Masters of Science from the University of Indore, India.

Mark Osborne

VP of Retail Execution

Mark served as VP, Director of Operations at Sprouts and Reasors & Earthfare. Combines executive-level leadership experience in operations, merchandising, and talent management to improve business performance and control costs. Adept with technology; increases efficiency by streamlining workflow and selecting appropriate people and tools to address immediate and long-term needs.

Excels in turnaround situations, brings the tenacity necessary to execute organizational goals consistently and build strong teams. Drives additional profit by optimizing team performance; solid P & L and budget management skills to produce superior alignment between expense and return on investment. Excels opening new locations, expanding assortments, overcoming competitive influences, and managing other complex organizational challenges.

Terry King

VP, Business Development

Terry is a seasoned sales advisor with over 30 years of experience in the independent sector. With a rich background in sales development, Terry has provided invaluable leadership, notably during his tenure with Freshop and Instacart, where he spearheaded initiatives to offer retailers technology solutions optimizing their eCommerce offering.

Before his career in sales, Terry proudly served in the US Army as a communications specialist, putting in strategic communication and teamwork skills. This diverse background equips Terry with a unique perspective, blending military discipline with sales understanding to drive results and forge lasting partnerships.

Terry brings a wealth of expertise in sales strategy, client relationship management, and technological innovation. His commitment to excellence and dedication to delivering value promises success to any team or organization aiming to thrive in today's competitive marketplace.

We partner with key players within the retail grocery industry.

Become A Partner

Publishing Companies

Retail Associations

Marketing Agencies

POS System Providers

The Food Marketing Institute

POS Resellers

Our advisory board is comprised of seasoned minds from the information technology and data analytics sector.

Stephen D. Black

Chief Operating Officer | PFSbrands

Steve is a seasoned professional with over four decades of expertise in the retail grocery industry, spanning both conventional and natural/organic sectors. He contributed his talents to renowned stores such as Lucky’s Farmers Markets, Sprouts Farmers Markets, Sunflower Farmers Markets, Bruno’s Supermarkets, Buy for Less Markets, and United Supermarkets of Oklahoma. His strengths lie in adept negotiation skills with major Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) brands, successfully transitioning point-of-sale (POS) systems into electronic scanning systems, and establishing internal store shelf set teams.Steve actively engages with national independent grocery organizations like NGA & ROFDA and several State Associations. Steve presently holds the position of Chief Operating Officer at PFSbrands.

After certifying Maxwell's Leadership coach and speaker, he embarked on a new venture as Founder & CEO of abrighterday. Life LLC. is a business and leadership coaching firm headquartered in Colorado.

Glenn Mulvaney

VP of Operations | Inscape Data, Inc.

Glenn is an experienced technical leader with 20 years of experience with Silicon Valley technology start-ups across a range of consumer and enterprise industries. He currently serves as Vice President of Operations for Inscape Data, Inc., which provides television audience data via automated content recognition technology.

Prior to Inscape Data, Glenn was Vice President of Operations at Skyhigh Networks, Inc. (acquired in January 2018 by McAfee), where he was responsible for technical operations, infrastructure, compliance, information security, engineering tools and corporate IT.

Glenn previously served as Vice President of Network Operations at Idle Gaming (acquired in 2015 by GSN Games), which created award-winning massively multiplayer casual and casino games. Before Idle Gaming, he served as Vice President of IT Operations at PlayFirst, Inc. (acquired in 2014 by Glu Mobile) which created award-winning casual games for multiple platforms. Glenn held previous positions with Kadiri, Inc (acquired by Workstream Inc., in 2004, now known as HRsoft, Inc.), and Xtime, Inc. (acquired by Cox Automotive in 2014) and in professional services, customer operations and data center design for enterprise applications used by a range of Fortune 500 clients.

Sue Mulligan

Founder & CEO | Agile Advisors

Sue is the founder and CEO of Agile Advisors. She began her career at KPMG working in both the audit and technology consulting groups. Prior to starting Agile Advisors, she was the CFO for a venture capital firm focused on high-tech and the bio-tech industry. As a former CFO of the fund, Sue has extensive experience working with companies going thru the capital raise process. At Agile, she has been actively involved in several successful fund raises for client companies along with client acquisitions. Additionally, she has worked with clients on the buy side due diligence process. Her clients include technology, fulfillment centers, investment banking and medical technology companies.
Sue attended Marquette University where she received a degree in accounting. In her free time she enjoys traveling with her husband and 5 kids, attending their sporting events and being active. Last year she completed her first and only Chicago Marathon.

Mike Weaver

CIO | Schuff International

Mike Weaver is a seasoned IT Leader with over 20 years experience leading and transforming IT organizations. Mike serves as CIO for Schuff Steel, the largest steel fabrication and erection company in the US, where he has taken on the challenge of building a world-class IT organization and transforming Schuff's business processes by initiating a complete overhaul of financial, ERP, ECM, and Infrastructure systems.

Prior to joining Schuff, Mike incubated cloud go-to-market strategies for both Veritra and Insight, and was responsible for developing and delivering IT Cloud and Infrastructure services. He also served as Insight's Director of IT Systems where he delivered IT infrastructure services to Insight's internal user community, and led the infrastructure integration activities for several large acquisitions. Mike has a progressive history of IT technical and leadership positions at Insight and the United Sates Air Force.

Michael holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Computer Information Systems, as well as having earned various technical certifications throughout his career.

Steve Speidel

COO| Kudelski Security

Steve Speidel is a successful Fortune 500 COO with 25 years of management experience and widely admired for his integrity, business knowledge and interpersonal skills. Mr. Speidel is currently COO at Kudelski Security, Inc., a global provider of cybersecurity solutions. During his tenure, he successfully transformed the company from a Switzerland-based startup into an international provider of innovative cybersecurity solutions and award-winning managed security services.
Throughout his career, Steve has been recognized for outperforming expectations, and for achievements in business and technology

Praveen Moturu

VP, CEA | Mars Inc.

Innovative, accomplished business and technology leader, visionary with strategic leadership experience in digital transformation, information technology optimization and enterprise change leadership at global and Fortune 500 multinational corporations. Elite expertise in strategy, planning, digital services, Innovation management and product monetization.

Lucinda Wright

Co-Founder & CEO | Cask & Kettle

Lucinda Wright is leading the game-changing launch and expansion of Cask & Kettle’s line of craft brewed cocktails. This brand is pioneering the creation of a new segment within the spirits industry (k-pod cocktails) and is, globally, first to market.
Previously, Lucinda led the innovation, strategy, marketing and sales practices at JPG Resources, a thriving consultancy that supports start-up and young, accelerated growth brands in the food & beverage industry. Prior to JPG Resources, she was the Director of Private Brand Innovation for Meijer (a major supercenter retailer) where she created the product development and global sourcing departments to support all food & beverage categories. She began her career at Kellogg Company in brand management. During her tenure, she rose to VP of Marketing and served in key leadership positions on large global brands as well as led the new product innovation team and played a key role in the acquisition of Kashi. Lucinda has both an MBA and BA from Michigan State University and has been awarded the Excellence in Marketing award from Michigan State University, an Effie award for excellence in advertising and received the Top 20 Best New Frozen Products of the Year from Supermarket Review.