Suzanne Schmitz, a Save A Lot owner in western New York, received the Woman of the Year Award on Monday from the Women Grocers of America.
Sponsored by Shelby Publishing Co., the honor was presented during the 2022 NGA Show at the Caesars Forum Convention Center in Las Vegas.
The award goes to a female grocer who exemplifies the characteristics of a leader with passion for the independent grocery industry. Recipients are visionaries who are an inspiration to others both within her community and workplace and helps shape the face of her company or organization while distinguishing herself from her peers.
Schmitz began working with Save A Lot as a summer employee at age 16. She continued seasonal work while pursuing a business degree in college. After graduating, she operated one of her employer’s top-performing stores.
In 2010, Schmitz became a Save A Lot owner, eventually going on to own five stores across New York. She oversees operations, inventory management and hours of operation, while managing a team of more than 70 employees.
“Suzanne Schmitz is an independent grocer who is committed to ensuring her stores run efficiently, providing fresh food and high-quality products for her customers. Her leadership style is an inspiration to women across the industry looking to succeed,” said Kristin Popp, president of WGA.
“I congratulate Suzanne for receiving this award and look forward to working together for years to come as we continue to open doors within our industry to female leaders.”
Operating under the NGA Foundation, the mission of Women Grocers of America is to inspire and empower women of the independent grocery industry through personal and professional development, cultivating connections and highlighting accomplishments and achievements.
The foundation is the nonprofit arm of the National Grocers Association. It provides independent retailers with tools to develop more effective recruiting programs, enhance retention efforts and bolster professional leadership development opportunities for employers.
In other news, WGA invited Stephanie Stuckey, CEO of Stuckey’s Corp., to the NGA Show for educational sessions and workshops.
On Monday, she presented “On Common Ground: The Untold Story of How Women Helped Build Stuckey’s.”
Stuckey shared how women, including her grandmother, were the secret ingredient for her Georgia-based company’s success. In the process, she revealed insights for involving women in the growth and success of a business.
On Tuesday, Stuckey hosted the workshop, “The Myth of the Girl Boss: Making Vulnerability your Superpower.” She discussed how being an unconventional leader can be the secret to success while sharing personal anecdotes of her own business’ comeback story.
