JOANNA RINEY
Category & Retail Strategy Advisor, Menasha Packaging
Joanna Riney was born to Greek parents that immigrated to the United States in the 1970s. She was raised in northeast Arkansas until she was 9, then lived in Greece for three years and came back to southwest Missouri where she finished high school. She received a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a master’s degree in business administration from Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. She got her first job out of college with Unilever and moved to Northwest Arkansas in 2004, where she worked in Sales and Category Management for 15 years. In 2019, she moved to Menasha Packaging. Joanna has been married to her husband, Dwight, for 13 years, and they have three children: Leo, 11; Zachary, 8; and Vivian, 5.
What do you do when you are not working?
I love spending time with my family, biking on the Razorback Greenway/OZ Trails, and traveling.
Where is your happy place?
My happy place is being with my husband and kids … on vacation exploring new places.
Favorite quote:
“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” – Mark Twain
Favorite meal:
My favorite meal is a Gyros sandwich when I first get off the plane in Greece. Since I can’t get that often enough, I also enjoy all kinds of Mexican food.
Best time of day for you:
I love the quiet time after all the kids are in bed.
Favorite song on your playlist:
I love to listen to my live streaming Greek radio stations. I also like listening to artists like Imagine Dragons, Maroon 5, OneRepublic, The Script and Pink.
What book is on your bedside table?
“Atomic Habits” by James Clear … on my Kindle app
What nonprofits are you involved with and why?
American Heart Association – because of the great work and research they do to fight heart disease and stroke. My father-in-law passed away from a heart-related issue in 2014.
Network of Executive Women – because of their mission to advance all women and break down the barriers to transform the face of business. I am one of the Onboarding Committee Leads. They offer excellent programming, networking opportunities and leadership development that is invaluable.
For more information on Menasha, visit www.menashacorporation.com.