Greater Philadelphia Chapter "ACME Cashier to CEO" Program and Networking Happy Hour

May 24
3:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Power Plant Productions LP
Philadelphia - Map

2-Other
CPE Credits

Join the Greater Philadelphia Chapter’s Careers and Lifestyles Committee at the Power Plant Productions with special guest speaker, Judy Spires, CEO of KB US Holdings, Inc.

This local grassroots success story starts with Spire’s part time job as an ACME Markets cashier while attending college, a role in which she never saw a task as too menial. Whether she was lugging sacks of potatoes or pushing carts, she made it her goal to learn every part of the retail business, and worked her way to positions of increasing importance including President of ACME Markets.

Spires will discuss how she turned the ACME chain into one of the most fabulous customer service focused grocery chains on the east coast as well as:

Challenges of working in a male dominated industry
Her “Baker’s Dozen” of lessons learned
Managing up, down, and sideways
Designing your own strategic plan
Making work life balance a priority and sharing its benefits
Overcoming obstacles for women in leadership

Registration for this event includes the program, open bar, appetizers, and optional professional headshots.

Hosted by Lisa Myers
PICPA President and Partner, Boyer & Ritter LLC

Highlights

Schedule of Events

3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. - Registration
3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Guest Speaker
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Open Bar, Appetizers, and Optional Professional Headshots

Parking

Old City Parkominium is located directly across the street from Power Plant and offers guests a preferred discount.

Registration

PICPA Member: $0
Nonmember: $20

More Information

Course No. 741200 Level: Social

Prerequisites:

None

Speaker(s)

Judith Spires

Chairman and CEO

Judith A. Spires
Chairman and CEO, KB US Holdings, Inc.

Judy Spires is the Chairman and CEO of KB US Holdings, Inc., a Delaware-based investment firm that owns the Kings and Balducci’s banners. Spires has led an extensive growth effort for both brands anchored by the Three “B” Strategy - Build, Buy and Better.

Spires has spent her entire career in the supermarket industry. It was through her early introduction to the business, as a part time cashier at ACME Markets while she was in high school and college, that she discovered her passion for the retail service industry.

During her 30 year tenure, she has earned positions of increasing importance in all facets of the business. Prior to KB Holding, Inc., Spires served as President of ACME Markets, after serving as President of Albertsons DFW Division and as President of Albertsons Rocky Mountain Division.

Spires is very active in the industry, as well as the community. In 2017, Judy Spires was the recipient of NJBIZ’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2016, Spires was named the 2016 Top Women in Grocery Trailblazer by Progressive Grocer magazine and Kings Food Markets was named the recipient of the 2016 Association of Corporate Growth (ACG) New Jersey Corporate Lifetime Achievement Award. Spires received the Gold Stevie Award, “Female Executive of the Year” for Consumer Services in 2012 and in 2011, Spires was inducted into the Network of Executive Women’s CPG Retail Diversity Hall of Fame. Spires was given the Outstanding Champion Award from the Network of Executive Women and inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2010. Spires received the 2010 LaSalle University Leadership Award and in 2009, received the prestigious Paradigm Award from the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. She was named Retailer of the Year by the Mid Atlantic Food Trade Organization and one of the Top 50 Women in Grocery by Progressive Grocer magazine in 2008. In 2016 she was awarded with the Top Woman in Grocery Trailblazer Award from Progressive Grocer and the Chicago-based Network of Executive Women (NEW).

Spires holds a BA and MBA from LaSalle University and is also a graduate of Cornell University’s Food Executive Program. She is the Chair of both the New Jersey Food Council and the Academy of Food Marketing at St Joseph’s University. She is on the executive board of the Food Marketing Institute, and a former trustee for LaSalle University. Spires is also a board member of the Cancer Treatment Center of America and a member of the Comcast and NBC Universal Joint Diversity Council.

Judy and her husband Bob are residents of New Jersey and have one son. In her spare time, Judy enjoys yoga, hiking, biking, reading and fueling her HGTV obsession.