Jessica Jimenez, 2024 Legends of the Industry Scholarship Recipient

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Jessica Jimenez, Assistant Store Director for Gelson’s Markets, has been awarded the 2024-25 $10,000 Legends of the Industry Scholarship. Jessica is a second-generation Gelson’s employee and is on her second stint working for the company.  She started with Gelson’s in high school and returned as an assistant store director in the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak.  She is pursuing her business degree at Cerritos College with plans to transfer to a four-year college. 

For information on the $10,000 Legends of the Industry Scholarship and the CGAEF Scholarship Endowment by which the award is possible, click here.

Meet Legends of the Industry Scholarship Recipient Rosita Szatkowska

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Congratulations Rosita Szatkowska, the 2023-24 CGAEF Legends of the Industry College Scholarship recipient. Rosita has worked at Albertsons Companies for more than a decade and is currently a District Manager. She is the sixth recipient of this scholarship that was established to honor past industry legends and to recognize up-and-coming grocery leaders.

While speaking on her educational journey, Rosita shared that she is a continual student of development and growth and wants to be an example to others that it is never too late to go to school and educate yourself. Upon hearing that she is the 2023-24 Legends of the Industry recipient, she expressed her gratitude and that “this is bigger than the money, the money is great but really it’s about being that example.”

For information on the $10,000 Legends of the Industry Scholarship and the CGAEF Scholarship Endowment by which the award is possible, click here.

Read Rosita’s story in the California Grocer magazine here.

Store Leaders Training Programs Announced

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California Grocers Association and the CGA Educational Foundation are pleased to announce the return of the single-day regional seminars customized for store-level supervisors interested in growing their management skills and developing their careers. The agenda offers a blend of inspiring keynote presentations and hands-on, retail-specific trainings that will provide the inspiration, practical tips and relevant examples to develop your leadership acumen and techniques to succeed with today’s employees.

Featured Sessions

  • Go Beyond Dollars to Drive Employee Engagement – Stan Phelps
  • Principles of Retail Management – John Ciraulo, Cerritos College/Janel Carrigan, Fresno City College
  • Workplace De-escalation Training – Christopher Norris, CFI, Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates, Inc.

Who Should Attend?

  • Store Directors
  • Assistant Directors
  • Department Managers

Seminar Dates

Southern California
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
8:00 – 4:00 pm
Hilton Costa Mesa

Northern California
Thursday, July 27, 2023
8:00 – 4:00 pm
Walnut Creek Marriott

Cost

CGA Members: $125/person
Non-Members: $250/person
Registration includes lunch and full-day educational program.

Questions?

For more information, click here or contact CGA at (916) 448-3545.

Meet Legends of the Industry Scholarship Recipient Jennifer Pelayo

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Congratulations Jennifer Pelayo, the 2022-23 CGAEF Legends of the Industry College Scholarship recipient. Jennifer has worked at Smart & Final Stores for more than fifteen years and is currently the Human Resources Director. She is the fifth recipient of this scholarship that was established to honor past industry legends and to recognize up-and-coming grocery leaders.

Upon hearing that she was selected said, “It’s an honor and I’m a big believer of creating an example. This is one way that I can be an example to my team to continue and don’t let any boundaries get in the way of what you want to achieve.”

For information on the $10,000 Legends of the Industry Scholarship and the CGAEF Scholarship Endowment by which the award is possible, click here.

Jennifer’s story will be featured in California Grocer magazine in September.

$10,000 Legends of the Industry Scholarship Recipient Michael Weir

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Congratulations to the 2021-22 CGAEF $10,000 Legends of the Industry College Scholarship recipient, Michael Weir, Assistant Store Manager of Smart & Final Stores in Bakersfield, CA. Michael is the fourth recipient of the unique scholarship established to both honor past grocery industry legends and to recognize up-and-coming grocery leaders.

“I cannot express how grateful I am. The costs associated with going to college are terrible and only getting worse, and this will make a massive dent in it. Normally I am a little bit more expressive but I think I’m still in shock 🙂 But I wanted to make sure I expressed my gratitude to you, and I’d appreciate it if you would pass my gratitude on to the other judges. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
-Michael Weir, on learning of his $10,000 scholarship award

Personal Essay

I was born and raised in California and came from a very blue collar family. My parents both worked retail jobs to support us as I was growing up. They had their high school degrees but no college schooling. So, following their model, I immediately got a job when I graduated high school in 2003. However, it was evident to me after a few years that this was probably a big mistake. The circumstances of the changing economy made me realize that I needed more skills and more knowledge to be very successful.

In 2012 I enrolled in college at California State University, Bakersfield. It quickly became apparent that college was drastically different for someone like me, what people call a “nontraditional student.” While most college students are 18-19 years old when they enter, I was 26. I was working, attending part time, married, and starting a family.

Being a nontraditional student is a very unique experience. Many students are involved in campus sports, or marching band, or Greek life. I don’t have the time for these as I usually head straight home after class to spend time with my kids or to get ready for work. On my lunch breaks I often seek solitude in my car so I can study for a few minutes. I can recall e-mailing my notes to myself, then pulling them up on my phone and studying them while I was baling cardboard for the night crew in the early mornings. It requires an extraordinary amount of physical and mental endurance (and coffee) as well as discipline, which is mostly learned through trial and error. It can be very stressful as well, as you often feel you don’t have enough time for yourself. Between a stressful job, stressful school assignments, and the endless chaos of raising two little boys, you don’t end up having much time. It is difficult to find a couple hours a week to play video games or hockey like I used to. However, I know that this is worth it in the end. It will give my sons something to be proud of and, most of all, give myself something to be proud of when I finally accept that bachelor’s degree on the stage.

For information on the $10,000 Legends of the Industry Scholarship and the CGAEF Scholarship Endowment by which the award is possible, click here.

Michael’s story will be featured in California Grocer magazine in September.

Meet Legends of the Industry Scholarship Recipient Carol Adams

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Congratulations to the 2020-21 CGAEF $10,000 Legends of the Industry College Scholarship recipient, Carol Adams of Vons in Fullerton, CA. Carol is this year’s recipient of the award created to recognize up-and-coming grocery industry leaders.

For more information on this year’s recipient, read Carol’s story.

For more information on all 2020-2021 College Scholarship recipients, visit our gallery of recipients.

Meet Legends of the Industry Scholarship Recipient Chad Villanueva

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Congratulations to the 2019-20 CGA Educational Foundation College Scholarship recipients. This year, 384 scholarships totaling $728,200 were awarded to deserving students attending college this fall.

In honor of the CGAEF’s past and future Hall of Achievement Inductees, the CGA Educational Foundation established the Legends of the Industry Scholarship as part of the Scholarship Endowment.  This scholarship is an annual $10,000 scholarship awarded to one applicant who is pursuing a career in the grocery and/or grocery-related manufacturing industries.

Foundation Elects New Board Officers

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Jacquie Slobom, Senior Director of Store Operations, Gelson’s Markets, was recently re-elected Chair of the California Grocers Association Educational Foundation (CGAEF) Board of Trustees for another term beginning March 2021.

In addition, Christy Duncan Anderson, Albertsons Companies Foundation, was elected Vice Chair after having served most recently as Treasurer. Bruce Frazier, Albertsons Vons Pavilions, now serves as Board Treasurer. Jeremy Cullifer, C&S Wholesale Grocers, was elected for a second term as Foundation Secretary. All Foundation officers will serve a one-year term.

Industry Mourns Passing of Lou Amen

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It is with great sorrow that we inform you of the passing of Louis A. Amen the founder of Super A Foods, Inc. Lou was known and loved by many and was a legend in the grocery industry. He served as CGA Chair in 1986 and was a strong supporter of both the Association and its Educational Foundation.

He passed away on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, at his home in Corona del Mar. He is survived by his wife Dorie, 7 children, 24 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

Due to the Covid 19 regulations Lou’s memorial service will be limited to 10 close family members. The Amen family regrets to announce that the memorial service will be private.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests making memorial contributions to the California Grocers Association Educational Foundation. Reference: Lou Amen.

Thank you for the outpouring of love during this difficult time.

You can send or drop off contributions to:
Super A Foods, Inc.
c/o Renee Amen
7200 Dominion Circle
Commerce, CA 90040

Or

California Grocers Association Educational Foundation
c/o Lou Amen – Super A Foods
1005 12th Street, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95814
To donate: click here, or contact Brianne Page, CGAEF, at (916) 448-3545.

CGAEF Inaugural Legends of Industry Scholarship Recipient Announced

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An American Success Story – only just under way

Kimberly Lee says she didn’t find the grocery industry. “It found me.”

Lee was a frequent shopper at her local Food4Less, about 10 minutes from her home, throughout her college years. It was on a typical shopping trip that she saw a sign announcing a hiring event at the Rialto, Calif. location. Days later, she attended, turned in an application and was interviewed on the spot.

“They were really open and seemed to really like me,” she recalls. “They talked about all the opportunities I could have. I felt like this is a company I could move up in.”

Lee was hired as customer first clerk, then promoted to cashier and has recently been cleared to work as a District Trainer. She’ll train both customer service clerks and cashiers throughout her district after just two years with the company.

Lee has been awarded the first-ever $10,000 “Legends of the Industry Scholarship” from the CGA Educational Foundation. She intends to use the award to complete an master’s degree in counseling while continuing to pursue opportunities at Food4Less.

Her story is that of hard work, discipline and determination – so often heard about in America, most especially in California.

“I come from an immigrant family,” she shard in a very poignant application statement. “I first arrived in the United States when I was eight years old, not knowing one word of English or anyone outside my immediate family. I had a difficult time adjusting to the different customs and language while attending school.”

She was salutatorian of her high school class and attended Cal Poly Pomona. Lee says receiving Cal Poly’s prestigious Kellogg Honors College’s scholarship gave her the freedom to focus on her studies.

“I could stop worrying about my tuition and focus on obtaining a quality education,” she says. “From that moment, I made it my mission to work even harder in my classes and participate in extracurricular activities that helped develop my life philosophies in education, hard work, and helping others.”

She is living that mission daily. When she’s not working, Lee is an avid reader, writer and volunteer at the Kids Campus Youth Center, helping youth from preschool-age to 18 with homework and other support.

“I really enjoy my volunteer work,” she says. Now married for three years, she adds that starting a family is in her plans but wants to finish school first.

Lee says she also learns a lot from her Food4Less teammates and recalls one colleague, then second-in-command at the Rialto store, being encouraging and highly supportive of her educational pursuits.

“Lili Lara was really helpful,” she says. “She’s the one who told me about the retail management certificate. I want to be like her – that person who encourages people to stay at Food4Less and pursue opportunities.”

Where will she be in, say, five years? “I will have completed my master’s in counseling and hopefully working in human resources, probably still doing a lot of training,” she shares.

Lee hopes CGAEF will continue doing great work on behalf of industry employees.

“I am very, very thankful for the support from the Educational Foundation because this scholarship will allow me to continue my education,” she says. “I hope they continue to help other retail grocery store students because completing your education is not something you can do right off-the-bat – you need help when you’re in school. It makes you feel valued.”