Mike Johnson, VP of merchandising for King Soopers and a member of the Western Association of Food Chain’s board of directors, spoke with The Shelby Report’s VP Jan Meade at the WAFC Convention about the benefits of the organization.
Johnson, who also has worked for The Kroger Co.’s Fred Meyer and Kroger banners, said the company has “amazing people everywhere – every store, district, division – across the enterprise.”
“I think the WAFC is important because it allows us to have an opportunity to develop their growth and continue to expand and find talent and develop talent,” he said. “It gives us an avenue to do that.”
He said that people who go through the USC program, Retail Management Certificate, benefit in two ways – gaining knowledge from it and investing in themselves.
“I think that’s at the heart of why we see people go through these programs and then continue to excel in the organization. It’s less about knowledge and more of a sense of feeling that you get from that type of accomplishment.”
Johnson noted that many times in business there is frustration when people “get lost in the shuffle.”
“This gives us an opportunity to do broadcast invitation to go to school and do those extra things,” he said. “And then us, as an organization – the WAFC, the Kroger Company, King Soopers – we go see those individuals, we acknowledge their efforts, and then we celebrate their success when they graduate.”
He said those people often inspire others to participate, as well.
“I love the program. I love the organization, and I love all the ways that we help our teams,” he said.
For more information about the convention, click here.
To read more association news from The Shelby Report, click here.
