Diversity & Inclusion

CALGARY — Safeway's Canada stores have launched an annual fundraising campaign designed to benefit Easter Seals and the Special Olympics.

During April, the company's 215 Safeway stores across western Canada will raise funds for organizations that are at the forefront of providing assistance, training, therapy and social outlets for the thousands of people who live with physical or intellectual disabilities.

Roanoke, Va. -- Advance Auto Parts has announced the promotion of Markus Hockenson to senior VP store operations, effective April 1.

Hockenson will be responsible for providing strategic direction and leadership to the company’s Midwestern operations, which includes more than 1,200 stores. Hockenson will report to Carl Hauch, senior VP national operations and will be based in Denver.

In honor celebration of Women's History Month, The Huffington Post's Nell Merlino has penned a column highlighting some successful businesswomen. Among them is Rosalind Brewer, who in February was named president and CEO of Sam's Club, and is the first woman, and the first African American to hold a CEO position at one of Walmart's divisions. Other women on the list include Spanx creator Sara Blakely and financial guru Suze Orman. Read the full article here.

DALLAS — On orders of the U.S. Department of Defense, The Army and Air Force Exchange Service, will for the first time in its 116-year history, name a civilian to the role of CEO/director.

Until such a person is named, COO Mike Howard will take over as acting CEO/director as the organization’s board of directors seeks a permanent replacement. 

CINCINNATI — Paul Varga, chairman and CEO of Brown-Forman Corp., has been elected to the Macys Inc. board of directors.

Walmart took a chance on unemployed welfare recipient Girshriela Green when it hired her for a part-time job in the low-income Los Angeles neighborhood of Crenshaw. Now she’s out of work, in pain, on government assistance and being held up by as an example of Walmart bad behavior in an article that doubles as a union recruitment tool.

Former PepsiCo chairman and CEO Steve Reinemund has served on the Wal-Mart Stores Inc. board of directors since 2010, but when he’s in Northwest Arkansas next week it won’t be for a board meeting.

Reinemund will join former beverage rival and Coca-Cola bottling executive Frank Harrison for a unique event called, “Thirsting for Higher Success,” on Thursday, March 29 at the John Q. Hammons Center. To learn more and register for the luncheon event click here. 

All retailers want to be perceived as great places to work and build a career as it aids in recruitment and retention of employees in an industry where costs associated with notoriously high rates of turnover cause a drag on performance.