Top Women In Grocery
June 12, 2012 | News & Press Releases
Four Hy-Vee assistant vice presidents and three store directors are among Progressive Grocer magazine’s “Top Women in Grocery for 2012.”
Since 2007, the annual list has recognized women who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and have “substantially influenced the retail and supplier communities of the supermarket industry. “
The honorees from Hy-Vee are:
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Karla Heffron
assistant vice president, warehousing, Chariton | Kristine Hennings
assistant vice president, employee benefits | Lisa Stowater
assistant vice president, transportation and human resources, Cherokee |
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Cindy Sulzman
assistant vice president, floral operations | Jen Book
store director, Altoona | Tonya Graff
store director, Yankton |
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Tarci Slaybaugh
store director, Omaha No. 1 | | |
In the magazine’s introduction, editors made reference to a record number of nominations, due in part to the growing number of women in the industry.
“Along the way, they've excelled in such traditionally female niches as communications and human resources while moving into dynamic roles previously held only by men—construction, information technology, transportation and warehouse facilities management, among others—with stellar results,” they wrote.
Slaybaugh, a store director since 1992 who has mentored four managers who became store directors, was surprised to hear she was on the list.
“It’s kind of weird to hear people say congratulations for coming to work and doing my job,” she says.
Heffron, who was recognized in part for her work overseeing the $17 million expansion of the perishables distribution facility at the Chariton Distribution Center, acknowledges there are few women in the distribution industry and says this is an honor for everyone from the warehouse.
“I’m just so grateful to be working at Hy-Vee” Heffron says. “We’re really making Hy-Vee history with our commodity realignments. We’re stepping out there and doing a lot of new things.”
Putting seven women on the list, Slaybaugh says, its a testament to Hy-Vee as a whole.
“Our company is very well-respected, and we have great leadership,” she says. “I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without a lot of help and a lot of great opportunities along the way.”
The seven honorees will be recognized in November at an awards Gala in Chicago.