More than 80 Ahold Delhaize USA associates gathered in Nashua, N.H., for the annual maintenance summit, an event focused on professional development, knowledge sharing and collaboration. The summit brought together teams from different business areas, including maintenance, purchasing and safety, to focus not only on training but also connections that support day-to-day operations.

“We have an opportunity for alignment and engagement among the field teams. It's important to bring everyone in,” said John Pagano, ADUSA’s Director of Maintenance. “We intentionally push beyond traditional meetings and one-on-ones to create something more meaningful. Every associate contributed, whether presenting, supporting a session or leading activities.”

While technical training remained an important component, including specialized sessions on CO₂ systems led by subject matter experts, another goal of the summit was supporting the whole associate. Attendees participated in sessions focused on stress management, real-world scenarios and best practices for both physical and mental health awareness.

The summit also reinforced the value of bringing teams together and investing in our communities. Associates gave back to the local community during the summit, donating $2,000 in nonperishable items to the United Way of Nashua, along with additional gift cards.

John noted another standout element: the strong engagement from vendor partners and sponsors. Their presence and participation underscored the collaborative foundation needed to support future success.

“We're proud of what we built this year,” John said. “And we're already looking at how we make it even bigger and better next year.”