The Western Association of Food Chains has promoted Cherie Phipps to senior director of the Retail Management Certificate Program.
Established in 2000, the Retail Management Certificate is an accredited business program that provides associates with the skills to become managers and leaders in the retail grocery industry. Since its beginning, the program has grown from one to almost 80 community colleges across the U.S. and is accessible 100 percent nationwide online. The certificate is available to anyone and can be completed in as little as one year.
Since its inception, Phipps has been the catalyst behind the design and delivery of the Retail Management Certificate Program for the WAFC. She will continue to oversee the community college curriculum/learning outcomes and work with retailers and colleges across the nation to utilize the program.
Phipps also works with community colleges and multiple universities to establish transfer pathways to higher educational degrees.
Phipps began her grocery retail career serving customers in stores. Her career path included operations management and division/corporate roles in labor relations and human resources. Phipps’ expertise in leadership development and succession planning helped create the original Retail Management Certificate Program in the 1990s.
Her education began with bachelor’s degrees in psychology and sociology, as well as a minor in business. Phipps later earned her certificate in Food Industry Management program from the University of Southern California and an MBA in organizational leadership from USC’s Marshall School of Business.
“Cherie is fully dedicated to supporting our entire industry, and we are proud to have almost 5,000 Retail Management Certificate graduates to date,” said Patrick Posey, COO, WAFC.
“Cherie has been instrumental in developing and implementing the RMC Program across the nation and will now be tasked with taking the program to the next level and working on doubling our graduation numbers in the next five years. Cherie’s passion for education and contagious energy will help guide us in making our goal a reality.”
To learn more about the program, visit retailmanagementcertificate.com.
