Our Leadership Team

Keith Knopf

President & CEO

Keith Knopf is a senior retail executive who brings deep expertise in strategic leadership, business transformation, consumer insights, sustainability and governance.  Keith served in an executive capacity in three Fortune 200 companies before joining Raley’s in 2015. 

As President and CEO, Keith empowers his leadership team to undertake business transformation initiatives that have both anticipated and reacted to fundamental changes in retail.  As a purpose driven leader, he believes in multiple bottom lines, respect and inclusion.

Keith earned a Master’s in Business Administration, Finance from Saint Louis University. He annually attends Stanford’s Board of Director College.

Paul Gianetto

PRESIDENT, RALEY’S FAMILY OF STORES

Paul Gianetto has enjoyed more than 35 years in the grocery retail industry, starting his career at a small chain of family-owned convenience stores in Anaheim, Ca., where he was born and raised. From there, Paul began a 21-year stint with Ralphs Grocery Company, where he excelled through all levels of store management prior to joining their corporate ranks, including roles in marketing, advertising and merchandising in southern and northern California.

After joining Raley’s in 2008, Gianetto began in-store operations, quickly moving into a key merchandising support role leading strategic pricing, category management and procurement. Paul was promoted to Director of Grocery in 2013, then to Vice President of Center Store in early 2017. He oversees the performance and growth of Raley’s stores across California and Nevada and the Natomas Distribution operations. Additionally, Paul manages managing all segments of the sales & merchandising functions.

Gianetto serves on the executive committee for the Northern California City of Hope board of directors and is highly engaged with Raley’s Food For Families. He was recently elected to the Western Association of Food Chain’s board of directors in 2018. Gianetto graduated from the USC Food Industry Management Program class of 1994 and also graduated from Cal Polytechnic University, Pomona, School of Business in 1988. Paul and his wife, Valerie, live in Folsom with their two children.

Jen Warner

GROWTH & TRANSFORMATION

As Chief Growth & Transformation Officer, Jen works closely with stakeholders across the TRC organization to drive transformation as we continue to move toward being a highly differentiated, purpose-driven food company and a super-regional market leader in the Western United States. Jen is a people-focused leader, committed to carrying forward the company’s purpose of changing the way the world eats, one plate at a time.  

Jen joined Raley’s in 2020 as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and worked with the leadership team to deliver on Raley’s long-range strategic plan. And most recently served as President of Raley’s operating division.  

Before joining Raley’s, Jen served in leadership positions at several multinational public companies, including Con-way Inc., XPO Logistics, Inc. and Columbia Sportswear Company. Jen’s background is in law, and she began her legal career in private practice at Davis Wright Tremaine and Stoel Rives. She received her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.  

Jen is originally from Salt Lake City, where she grew up in the grocery business, working alongside her grandfather at his corner market. She is a loving mom with two children who love sports, acting, art and skateboarding. 

Mike Gabbert

Human Resources

Mike Gabbert is a results-driven and passionate servant leader who serves as the head of Human Resources for The Raley’s Companies. In his role, Mike leads the organizations’ HR strategy and functions including team member relations, learning and development, talent acquisition, compensation and benefits and labor relations.

He joined the Raley’s team in 1981 as a courtesy clerk and has held many store-level leadership positions, including Store Team Leader. In 2000, Mike was appointed HR Business Partner, and in 2007, he became Director of Operations Administration, working closely with operations while also overseeing fuel center operations, e-cart and facility maintenance. He was appointed Director of Distribution in 2017.

Mike graduated from California State University, Sacramento, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Human Resources Management, and a Minor in Economics.

Tiffanie Burkhalter

CFO & Corporate Development

Tiffanie Burkhalter is the Chief Financial Officer for The Raley’s Companies. She is a seasoned executive with extensive financial expertise and proven business acumen. As CFO, Tiffanie leads financial planning & analysis, accounting, tax, treasury, real estate, and risk management.

Prior to joining Raley’s, Tiffanie held executive leadership positions at VSP Vision where she served as VSP Retail CFO, VP of eCommerce, Chief Operating Officer, and ultimately President of VSP Ventures. She started her career at Ernst & Young, where she managed local and international teams serving clients spanning multiple industries. Tiffanie is an active CPA and has extensive experience with finance, accounting, treasury, strategy, mergers & acquisitions, valuations, and operations.

Tiffanie and her husband Jason have a son and daughter and enjoy the outdoors, sports, and travel. She is on the board of Glam4Good and finds tremendous joy in serving others with her family.      

Deirdre Zimmermann

Customer Experience

Deirdre Zimmermann is a marketing leader with more than 25 years of retail marketing experience, passionate about developing brands and connecting people to purpose. Zimmermann joined Raley’s leadership team in 2015 as Senior Vice President of Marketing, overseeing all touchpoints in the customer journey including advertising, loyalty and e-commerce. Promoted to Chief Customer Experience Officer in 2018, she is instrumental in shaping our team member and customer experience to continue to evolve the brand, centered around our purpose of improving the health of the people we serve.

She has served as vice president of marketing for several specialty retailers, including Brookstone and White House Black Market. She moved up through the industry, working both in-house and for ad agencies representing major brands such as Fitigues, Jil Sander, The Field Museum and Talbots.

Zimmermann and her husband have one child and share a common passion for healthy food and entertaining.

Craig Benson

Technology

Craig Benson joined Raley’s in 1999 and currently serves as Chief Technology Information Officer. Over the years, he has held key leadership roles across technology infrastructure, business development, enterprise architecture, and information security.

In 2015, Craig’s role was expanded to lead Raley’s Technology Services team. Under his guidance, the team has successfully driven the company’s digital transformation, positioning Raley’s as a forward-thinking, technology-enabled retailer. With over 25 years of experience in the retail industry, Craig brings a customer-centric mindset while empowering team members with the tools and systems needed to fulfill the company’s mission.

Craig holds a degree in Business Information Systems from the University of Phoenix and earned a Master’s in Management and Leadership from the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School. He is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). He and his wife, Dottie, live in Northern California with their two children.

Chelsea Carbahal

COMMUNITY IMPACT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Chelsea (Minor) Carbahal is the Vice President, Community Impact & Public Affairs for The Raley’s Companies, an innovative, digitally sophisticated retail company, operating in the Western United States.  

As a member of the leadership team, Chelsea oversees The Raley’s Companies’ public image, including public relations, community impact and sustainability.  In addition, she manages the company’s public affairs program, including statewide advocacy across multiple states and local government engagement. Since joining Raley’s in 2015, Chelsea has collaborated with state and local leaders to advance Raley’s vision of changing the food system for the better. 

Chelsea is also the Executive Director of Raley’s non-profit, Food For Families. Since 1986, Food For Families has worked with food bank partners to alleviate hunger in the communities Raley’s serves.  

Prior to Raley’s, Chelsea worked for KP Public Affairs, supporting California companies with public affairs and public relations services. Chelsea started in California politics as a fellow in the Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship Program and worked in the California State Assembly.  

Chelsea graduated from California State University Stanislaus with a degree in Social Science and completed her Master’s in Business Administration for Executives at California State University Sacramento.  

Helen Singmaster Hernandez

Legal

Helen Singmaster Hernandez serves as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. In this role Helen leads the company’s legal function and oversees the HIPAA Privacy Office.  She has deep expertise in corporate law, mergers and acquisition, real estate and privacy.   

Prior to joining Raley’s Helen worked as a business attorney at Downey Brand, where she handled a variety of complex transactions, including Raley’s acquisition of Nob Hill Foods.  Helen earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley and obtained her law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School. Helen is a graduate of the Executive Program at UC Davis Extension and the Food Industry Executive Program at the USC Marshall School of Business. 

As a leader motivated by ethics, Helen believes success goes beyond following the law and depends on doing what is right.   

Helen, a mom, stepmom and abuela, shares her love of fine food, swimming and the great outdoors with her husband of over 20 years, Paul. 

Matt Hilbrink

Risk & Asset Protection

Matt Hilbrink serves as the Vice President of Enterprise Risk and Asset Protection.  In this role Matt leads Enterprise Risk throughout the portfolio of operating divisions within The Raley’s Companies. Matt is responsible for Risk Management, Environmental Health & Safety, Food Safety & Quality Assurance, Asset Protection, and Corporate Security.   

Matt has deep expertise in risk management, asset protection, and regulatory compliance within retail and digital operating environments. Prior to joining Raley’s, Matt held leadership roles within E*TRADE Financial, CVS Health, and Longs Drug Stores. Matt holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of California, Davis, and a Master’s of Science from California State University, Sacramento.

Carol Barsotti

President, FIELDTRUE

Carol Barsotti leads all strategic initiatives for fieldTRUE, including further evolution of the farm-to-door online shopping experience, expansion into new markets, technology innovations, financial assessments, and product development. After starting her career with the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington D.C. and California, Carol joined the family business to challenge and modernize what consumers could expect from a farm box service. With over 15 years of experience and leadership across fieldTRUE’s sales, customer experience, marketing, and technology teams, she continues to drive innovation in the areas of consumer education, e-commerce, and public relations.

Carol holds a Master of Public Administration and Policy from American University and a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She serves as the president of the Kathleen Barsotti Non-Profit for Sustainable Agriculture and is a board member of Raley’s non-profit, Food for Families. Carol and her husband, Freeman, have four children.

Freeman Barsotti

LOGISTICS & INTEGRATION

As SVP Enterprise Logistics and Integration, Freeman identifies and executes on opportunities across the enterprise to enhance business operations and to support efficiency and market expansion. During 15 years as co-CEO, his innovative technology development and strategic thinking expanded the level of convenience and service traditionally available to community supported farm box programs.  

With a commitment to advancing sustainable agriculture and local food systems, Freeman built a strong financial model and operational efficiencies that enabled farmers to aggregate and deliver produce directly to consumers. This allowed fieldTRUE’s brands to grow rapidly into new markets, successfully implement flexible home delivery and provide custom e-commerce features that connect consumers with hundreds of local sourcing relationships.  

Freeman holds a bachelor’s degree in Bio-Resource and Agricultural Engineering from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, and a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University. Freeman and his wife, Carol, have four children. 

Steve Mayer

President, BASHAS’ FAMILY OF STORES

Steve Mayer is the Chief Operations Officer for Bashas’ Family of Stores. In his role, he leads sales and merchandising and store operations for stores across Arizona and New Mexico. As an industry veteran, Steve is experienced in sales, operations, pricing strategies, store layouts and merchandising plans. Recognized as one of the retail grocery industry’s “Most Valuable Buyers” by Progressive Grocer, he has held a variety of strategic leadership roles at some of the most renowned grocers across the country.   

Prior to Bashas’, Steve served as the Chief Merchant at Schnuck Markets, Inc., after serving as Group Vice President of Produce, Floral & Deli. He also served in executive roles at Meijer Corporation, Bi-Lo, Ahold USA, and Flavor 1st. 

Steve served as a business professor of both undergraduate and graduate programs at his alma mater, University of Phoenix, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management, and a Master of Science in Organizational Management. He also earned a Doctor of Business Administration degree from California Coast University, and in 2011, completed the Harvard Business School’s certificate program. A transplant from the Midwest, Steve is an avid cycler and has participated in multiple father-son cycling races with his father. Steve and his wife, Jeanette, are the proud parents of three children. 

Johnny Basha

Real Estate

Johnny Basha is Senior Vice President of Real Estate & Administration for The Raley’s Companies. 

Johnny’s father, Ike, and his uncle, Eddie Basha Sr., founded Bashas’ in 1932. Johnny’s first job was serving as a carryout for Bashas’ when he was 13. 

With a real estate resume that dates to 1978, Johnny began his career with two years as a sales associate for Investment Services, Inc., followed by four years with Bellamy Realty and Mortgage Corp. as director of acquisitions and then president. 

In 1984, Johnny joined the family business first as director of real estate, then served as vice president of real estate and senior vice president of real estate. When Raley’s acquired Bashas’ in 2021, Johnny took on the role in which he currently serves. He is also the company’s primary liaison to the Navajo Nation and was instrumental in opening the first Bashas’ store there in 1981. 

Johnny is involved in both the grocery industry and the community. He’s served on the board of directors of the Food Marketing Institute, as well as the boards of directors for Hospice of the Valley, Valley of the Sun United Way, Life Teen and the FBI Citizens Advisory Board. A longtime Boy Scouts of America scoutmaster, Johnny has also chaired capital campaigns for a number of organizations, including St. Mary-Basha Catholic School, Seton Catholic High School, Friendly House and Life Teen Youth Camp. 

Johnny and his wife, Dawna, have four adult children who all live nearby, and they’re the proud grandparents of 10. As a food enthusiast and self-taught chef, Johnny can often be found preparing special recipes for family and friends. An avid outdoorsman, Johnny enjoys discovering great places to hike, hunt and fish across Arizona.