Thomas S. Haggai

Thomas S. Haggai is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IGA,
INC. Mr. Haggai, the first non-wholesale food company executive
elected to the IGA Board, has been instrumental in expanding the
international scope of the IGA system. He has served as Chairman
for a quarter of a century and CEO the last 15 years. Mr. Haggai
has enjoyed a multifaceted career, and public speaking, which he
began at age 12, has played a major role in all of his
achievements. From 1975-1977, at a time when Time magazine cited
the deficiencies within the Boy Scouts of America, Mr. Haggai was
called upon to step in as Director of Personnel to restructure,
the largest youth agency in the free world. He also served as an
advisor to Colonel Frank Borman at Eastern Air Lines. In
addition, he has served on numerous corporate Boards and is a
lifetime trustee at High Point University and a former member of
the Advisory Board at Furman University. For more than 50 years,
Mr. Haggai has hosted a daily national radio program that is now
called ‘One Minute, Please.’ The author of several books,
including How The Best Is Won and Today, Mr. Haggai is also a
regular contributor to various magazines, including his monthly
column for the IGA GROCERGRAM. Mr. Haggai has received many
honors, among them honorary degrees from a number of colleges and
universities. In 2001 he was the recipient of the ‘Norman Vincent
Peale’ award of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished
Americans and he was presented the first ‘Thomas S. Haggai’ Award
established by IGA to honor those individuals exemplifying
character, leadership and community service. He founded the THA
Foundation in 1963 with 250 outstanding national business and
professional leaders as Associates. The foundation awards
generous college scholarships to non-traditional students
returning to school to obtain certification as elementary school
teachers.