Unified Grocers taps new HR chief

Unified Grocers has promoted Terry Bodwin to VP, chief human resources officer. She was previously VP, employee and labor relations.



The appointment is part of a restructure designed to integrate and align all aspects of human resources company-wide. In her new role, Bodwin will report to Christine Neal, SVP, finance and treasurer.



"Human Resources is a key strategic partner for our business units and plays a key role in supporting the Company's business objectives. Terry brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position and the strategic vision to ensure that we recruit, develop and retain high quality associates," said president and CEO Bob Ling.



"The people and culture at Unified have been a significant competitive advantage for more than 90 years," said Bodwin. "I'm honored to take on this role and lead a great team focused on developing the kind of industry leading programs that allow us to recruit and retain the best and the brightest people. It's absolutely vital that our associates continue to have the right tools and training so that they are prepared for what the future holds."



Bodwin joined Unified in 2000 as director, labor relations, before assuming responsibility for employee relations as executive director, employee and labor relations in 2006. In 2012, she added loss prevention and environmental health and safety to her responsibilities. Throughout her 14-year Unified career, Bodwin has played a lead role in deploying strategies to strengthen relations with labor leaders, improve operational efficiencies and profitability.



Prior to joining Unified, Bodwin acquired a wide range of leadership experience within the retail food industry. She worked for the Ralphs Grocery Company in its labor relations department and previous to that she was with the Food 4 Less/Alpha Beta organizations. She began her career with Alpha Beta, where she worked for 15 years in retail operations, holding a variety of key positions including store director, before make the switch to labor relations.



Bodwin is very active on several boards and trusts. She currently serves on the board of directors of the American Red Cross-Greater L.A. Chapter and on the board of directors for the Southern California Leadership Network. She is a trustee of the Western Conference Teamster Pension Trust, and a trustee on other significant Taft-Hartley Health and Welfare trusts. Terry is a member of the Network of Executive Women, Southern California. In 2004 she was awarded the "Women at Work" Medal of Excellence.



Bodwin has a bachelor of arts degree in labor studies and a master of arts degree in negotiation and conflict management from California State University, Dominguez Hills.



Founded in 1922, Unified Grocers is a retailer-owned wholesale grocery distributor that supplies independent retailers throughout the western United States.