A Passion to Serve

Jacquie Slobom, Chair, CGA Educational Foundation

A Passion to Serve

To say that newly elected CGA Educational Foundation Boardof Trustee Chair Jacquie Slobom is passionate about grocerywould be an epic understatement.

Sitting in a hotel coffee shop listening to Slobom recount her road to where she is today – Senior Director of Store Operations for Gelson’s Markets – it’s obvious why co-workers and industry peers speak so highly of her. Like, for example, CGA Second Vice Chair, Hee-Sook Nelson, a Gelson’s Vice President.

“I think what Jacquie does is natural,” Nelson says in her typical matter-of-fact way. “She is a natural born leader and people look up to her. They have high regard for her. She is a very good businessperson and a very good operator. One of the best I’ve seen.”

Not bad for a one-time would-be travel agent who dabbled in the industry until a friend suggested she apply for a part-time job at Gelson’s Markets.

In some ways, Slobom’s rise to her present position mirrors that of many who have spent the majority of their career in the grocery industry.

While the classic rise through the grocery ranks story typically begins with bagging groceries, for Slobom, it was even more basic.

It was November 1982 and the local Gelson’s needed someone to field telephone calls from customers placing orders for fresh holiday turkeys. Back then Gelson’s didn’t sell frozen turkeys, and they still don’t. “Gelson’s doesn’t sell frozen turkeys. Everything is fresh,” she says with a somewhat satisfying grin (Obviously something she’s very proud of).

While she hadn’t quite “caught the bug,” at that point (a term she uses for those passionate about the grocery industry),

she did look at the industry in a new and different way. Still, she paid her dues like many before her. She worked as a bagger, checker, sales floor clerk, front desk manager and later closing manager.

In 1994, when Jacquie was a Front Desk Manager, she had one of those pivotal “ah ha” moments. And it came in the form of the President’s Award, an annual honor bestowed on one Gelson’s company employee nominated by their co-workers.

“I think winning that award gave me broader perspective,” Slobom recalls. “I started to look at my job much differently and knew at that moment that this was my career and that I wanted to move forward in it.”

In other words, she “caught the bug.”

Back then and for many years, Slobom had a boss who was then, and still remains, a legend in the Gelson’s family – Bill Roulette (Remember that name, it pops up several more times).

“Bill was a great boss,” she says with a confirming smile. “He never pushed me to advance my career. But the day I told him I was ready, he responded, ‘It’s about time.’”

Little did Slobom realize how that decision would change her life. She was promoted to assistant store director – back then they were known as grocery managers – and went from her cozy Newport Beach store to having to drive to Marina del Rey near LAX. But she says, that was okay.

“Jacquie is one of those rare people who does a great job not only for her company, but puts the same kind of passion, energy and effort into her work on the Educational Foundation Board.”

– George Frahm

“I knew I loved my job,” she recalls. “I loved the customers. I felt I really had a voice. I had a good relationship with my customers and my co-workers. I found my niche.”

From there, Slobom continued her upwardly mobile climb, next becoming a store director.

Then, after nearly a decade of no growth, Gelson’s opened a store in Irvine and several months later in Dana Point, creating a number of new advancement opportunities.

At Roulette’s encouragement, the one-time turkey order taker became an operations supervisor, which eventually led to her present position as Senior Director of Store Operations.

“Bill was a mentor to us all,” Slobom says. “He ever pushed you into any job position. That’s what I learned from him. ‘Never push someone into a position they don’t want, just because it seems like the right thing to do.’”

When asked about entering an industry historically dominated by men, Slobom admits it was a challenge, “but I took on that challenge,” she says.

Slobom believes the industry as a whole is making greater strides towards gender equality. She points to the California Grocers Association as a good example.

Along with Jacquie leading the Foundation's Board of Trustees, this year’s CGA Chair is Kendra Doyel, Ralphs Grocery Co., and Kathleen Smith, Albertsons, serves as Chair

of CGA's wholly-owned subsidiary, RMS, Inc. In addition, The Illuminators is led by Tracy Lape of Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs.

The Gelson’s Family

There’s no doubt when talking to both Slobom and Nelson that there is a tremendous love for Gelson’s Markets. To hear either explain it, one word sums it up – family.

“It’s customers, it’s co-workers, it’s about respect, and it’s about having fun at work,” Slobom says, adding that Nelson, who is Vice President of Team Development and Public Affairs, is like a sister to her.

“We love what we do and it’s that way all the way to our company president,” she says. “It's not a corporate world. It's a family.”

In addition to her main responsibilities, Slobom also oversees the company’s charitable giving checkstand campaigns. (Oh, and is in charge of company uniforms, she adds with a laugh).

Not surprisingly, Slobom, alongside Nelson, (who is in charge of charitable giving), is a strong believer of giving back. She is proud of starting food donation programs with local food banks. Particularly after the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act became law which provides liability protection to company’s donating goods to local food banks and other hunger relief organizations.

“Here was an opportunity where, oh my gosh, we are going to be able to give away all this safe and edible food that had previously been thrown out,” she says.

Foundation Chair

Turning to her new role as Foundation Chair, Slobom believes the organization’s future rests in the strength of its Board of Trustees.

“It’s an incredibly strong group of people,” she says. “I want to be able to utilize everyone’s unique talents to help the Foundation grow.”

She cites the Board’s understanding of how charities operate as a real plus in implementing the Foundation’s soon-to-be charitable giving program – Making Change, an opportunity for smaller supermarket chains and independents to create their own charitable-giving programs.

If the name Making Change sounds familiar, it’s probably because for many years it served as a 501(c)3 charitable organization that helped food retailers and wholesalers develop and execute point-of-purchase fundraisers. Now defunct, the Foundation recently secured the rights to the name and will soon offer a similar program.

“By utilizing Making Change through the Foundation, it will allow many of us to give back to our community,” she says.

Having served on the Board of Trustees for nearly 10 years (at the urging of Roulette), Slobom is aware of the challenges facing the Foundation. She understands the industry’s fatigue towards fundraising, and how mergers and acquisitions have impacted and continue to impact revenue streams.

“But we still need to drive fundraising efforts so that we can support our employees,” she says. “It’s our goal to get everyone to understand the Foundation’s importance so they will continue supporting it.”

It’s that passion for the industry and commitment to giving that makes Slobom the perfect CGAEF Chair says Foundation President Ron Fong, who also serves as CGA President and CEO.

“Jacquie continues the tradition of extremely passionate Foundation chairs,” says Fong. “The Foundation has been very fortunate in having individuals with strong commitment and desire serve as chair. I’m excited to see where she will lead us.”

Slobom follows in the footsteps of her predecessor Brad Askeland, North State Grocery, and greatly appreciates his efforts in leading the organization.

“Brad did a great job and I really saw him flourish in this position,” she says. “He really became a leader. I think it helped professionally as well.”

She also holds in high regard another former Foundation Trustee, George Frahm, soon-to-be retired President of Stater Bros. Markets, who has nothing but praise for the Foundation’s new chair.

“Jacquie is one of those rare people who does a great job not only for her company, but puts the same kind of passion, energy and effort into her work on the Educational Foundation Board,” Frahm says. “I was privileged to serve alongside her as a Trustee for many years and I know she is ready, willing and more than able to serve as the Chairperson. The Board and our industry are fortunate to have her step up into this very important role.”

While fierce competitors in the marketplace, the two have carved out a friendship that has allowed for mentoring while ensuring

that the line separating businesses is never crossed.

“What I liked about George being on the Board of Trustees was that he always challenged us to be better,” she recalls. “I consider him one of my best friends and mentors in the industry.”

“The Foundation has beenextremely fortunate inhaving individuals withstrong commitment anddesire serve as chair.I’m excited to see whereshe will lead us.”

– Ron Fong

Her best friend is her life partner, Bob, now a retired contractor, whom she has been with for 37 years. Slobom recalls how, early in their relationship, she partnered with Bob to help build houses while she worked parttime at Gelson’s.

“I nailed 3,000 square feet of sheeting on a roof one time in 100-degree heat,” she proudly boasts. “We would start at 6 a.m. and then I would later go to work that day at Gelson’s from 4 to 10 p.m.”

Bob also introduced her to dirt bike riding, a family hobby on his side that started with one bike, then two and then five, but “no street bikes,” she adamantly adds.

“Riding a dirt bike mellows me out,” she says. “The dirt is just open road to me. I love to take off by myself. It clears my mind.”

These days, after losing her father a year ago, her down time is focused around her 87-year-old mother.

“She’s an incredible lady,” she reflects, adding that Bob is extremely supportive, calling this “your mom time.”

Final Thoughts

As the interview begins to wind down, Slobom offers her insights into some of the biggest challenges facing the industry today.

“Employee retention,” she says. “It used to be that if you were trying to get a job in grocery you had to beat down doors to get someone to talk to you. Now, it is more challenging to get people to come and talk to us. Today’s workers definitely have a different mindset and more choices.”

Diversity is another challenge she says, adding that as an industry “we’re getting better.”

Both of these concerns are issues the Foundation’s newest chair hopes to address during her tenure. In addition, Slobom hopes to expand the Foundation’s research efforts by utilizing its relationship with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

“I think engaging in research is very beneficial to the industry,” she said. “When we work with schools like Cal Poly, I think it benefits everyone. Like when we bring college students to our annual Strategic Conference. It’s important for them to be there and for us to engage with them.”

And finally, how does Jacquie feel about her new role as Foundation chair?

“It’s a little intimidating to take on this role, but I know there will be good things to come down the road,” she confidently shares. “It’s all a part of giving back. I don’t mind giving my time. It’s my second job, but again, it’s a passion of mine.” ■