After more than 24 years with Pathmark Stores, Inc., Rich Savner recently left the company to join the New Jersey General Assembly. He had served as director of public affairs and government relations and held responsibility for interacting with government officials on legislative and regulatory issues; lobbying and establishing the company's viewpoint with elected officials; writing and distributing company press releases; serving as the company spokesperson; corporate philanthropy; and community relations.

Prior to joining Pathmark, he worked as a real estate administrator for Grand Union.

He holds a bachelor's degree from Seton Hall University and a master's degree from Rutgers University.

Savner joined the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association board of directors in 2000. He served on the Legislative and FoodPAC committees and co-chairman of the Legislative Committee. In 2004, he received the PFMA Keystone Award for Community Outreach.

In addition, he served on the New Jersey Food Council, the Food Industry Alliance of New York, Delaware Food Industry Council (DFIC) and the Food Marketing Institute. He served as DFIC treasurer from 2002-2005.