Tameka Vocu, who was recently named store manager of the Buche Foods location in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, is the first Lakota tribal member to hold the position.
“It’s an honor to be the first female Native American to be managing the reservation’s biggest store,” Vocu said. “This is the greatest opportunity I have ever received. I’m hoping that with our team and community support, we can only improve on where we are now.
Vocu has held various positions with the company over the past 18 years.
“Tameka is a very strong, personable and talented young woman,” said RF Buche, CEO and president.
[RELATED: Feeding The Community An Obligation For Buche Foods]
Prior to her new role, Vocu worked extensively with former Buche Foods Pine Ridge Store Manager Kraig Peterson.
“I have all the faith in her in the world,” Peterson said. “She was hired at 17 years old and she ran the store against a heck of a battle in 2020. The store is in great hands with Tameka.”
Buche Foods took ownership of the store more than six years ago, making multiple improvements and updates. In the previous 57 years, there had never been a Native American store manager or a team as intertwined with the community.
“I have some pretty big shoes to fill,” Vocu said. “Our team is taking well to the change. They are all amazing, hardworking individuals, and we can only succeed by remembering teamwork is vital.”
Vocu’s manager duties will include keeping monthly inventories, making sure all store departments are clean and presentable, managing staff, assisting customers, communicating with vendors and assisting Tribal and other programs with bulk orders.
“RF Buche kept his word when he said he wanted the Lakota people to run this grocery store on our reservation, and getting this opportunity is a wonderful thing,” Vocu said. “I love being able to be of service to our people in any way I can and being a go-to person. It makes me feel good that they have the faith in me to be that for the people.”
[RELATED: 2019 Exclusive: Buche Foods Opens Needed Store On Pine Ridge Indian Reservation]
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