Harris Teeter President Tammy DeBoer was honored as the 2025 BusinessWoman of the Year by Queens University of Charlotte during the award’s 40th anniversary luncheon on March 13, recognized for her leadership of the $10 billion regional grocery chain and her community-centered approach to the role.
Kristi Coleman, CEO of Tepper Sports & Entertainment and president of the Carolina Panthers – and the 2024 honoree – introduced DeBoer at the event, citing her character, competence and commitment to community as the defining qualities of her tenure.
DeBoer’s path to the Harris Teeter presidency spans decades of roles across retail and beyond – from a Food Lion cashier to a furniture factory assembly line to a buyer’s role that required her to develop a negotiating edge in the competitive grocery industry. She told the audience that clarity of purpose, more than talent or circumstance, drove her trajectory.
“Intentionality isn’t wishful thinking,” DeBoer said. “It is the discipline of knowing your destination so clearly that your daily choices begin to align with it.”
She noted that 15 years ago, when asked what her dream job would be, her answer was immediate: leading Harris Teeter.
She closed her remarks with a direct challenge to the audience. “I encourage you to define your journey, your way. Declare it boldly, say it out loud. Believe it is possible, and then go make it so,” DeBoer said.
Broader impact
The luncheon also featured scholarships presented to three McColl School of Business students by Grace Nystrum, Charlotte market executive for Bank of America. Queens student Cassie Shortman ’26 spoke on behalf of recipients, drawing a direct line between the scholarship and her sense of belonging in higher education.
“This scholarship does more than just provide financial aid, it empowers me to build the skills I need to support myself, the confidence to truly believe I belong here, and the independence I was taught I did not deserve because of my gender,” Shortman said. “Support and mentorship from women, especially through opportunities like this, have helped me overcome those early limiting beliefs.”
Denise Rotondo, dean of Queens University’s McColl School of Business, noted that women now make up 41 percent of the school’s enrollment – a figure she tied directly to four decades of honorees who have shaped Charlotte’s business culture.
“What started as a small gathering to recognize the contributions of women in our region has blossomed into a sprawling annual tradition, honoring the perseverance and vision of women who have woven their influence into the city’s economic fabric,” Rotondo said.
Harris Teeter, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co., employs 36,000 associates across more than 250 stores and 85 fuel centers in eight states and the District of Columbia.
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