IGN Member Stephanie Skylar, CEO of Chief Super Market, Inc. Named WGA Woman of the Year

Stephanie Skylar, president and CEO of Chief Super Market, Inc., Defiance, Ohio (and member of the Independent Grocer Network), will be presented with the WGA Woman of the Year Award on Tuesday, February 15, 2011, by the Women Grocers of America.

Skylar will receive her award during the Chairman's Dinner and Gala at the 2011 National Grocers Association (N.G.A.) Annual Convention and Supermarket Synergy Showcase in Las Vegas, which will be held February 13 - 16, 2011.

The WGA Woman of the Year award recognizes an industry woman whose leadership has contributed to the success of her company. This woman must be a member of the National Grocers Association and other industry organizations whose participation and involvement contributes or has contributed to the overall well-being of the grocery industry; and must be a community-focused citizen committed to serving the needs of her neighbors, associates, and customers through involvement in community and civic affairs.

Chief Super Market is a family-owned, regional supermarket chain that operates 12 stores under the Chief and Rays banners in nine communities in northwest and west central Ohio.

With more than 20 years of executive experience, Stephanie oversees more than 1,000 associates as president and CEO. Under her guidance, the Chief and Rays food retail stores continue to innovate and have shown increased sales and profits, even in today's challenging business environment.

Stephanie's commitment and dedication to the staff is exemplified by Chief University, a comprehensive, hands-on associate training program. Launched in 2009, the University is a vehicle to capture employee's talents throughout the Chief organization by teaching them the skills they need to tackle the new jobs that local retailing will demand.

Additionally, Stephanie helped to address the critical need for hunger relief in western Ohio. Her company established the "Good Neighbor" program by coordinating participation from vendors, suppliers, community leaders, and two regional food banks that supply more than 250 pantries in the company's service area. The philanthropic efforts of the program raised over $70,000 and provided meals to thousands of hungry families over the past two years.

Stephanie currently serves on the boards of the Ohio Grocers Association Foundation and the Defiance Regional Medical Center in Ohio. She is also a former board member of the United Way of Greater Lima and an active member of the National Grocers Association and the Food Marketing Institute.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Stephanie volunteers at the Equestrian Therapy Program at Fassett Farm in Lima, Ohio where she assists as a side walker and helps lead horses that provide therapeutic horseback riding for disabled persons.

Founded in 1951, Chief Supermarkets operates 12 stores in Northwest and West Central Ohio.

N.G.A. is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of formats. Most independent operators are serviced by wholesale distributors, while others may be partially or fully self-distributing. Some are publicly traded but with controlling shares held by the family and others are employee owned. N.G.A. members include retail and wholesale grocers, state grocers associations, as well as manufacturers and service suppliers.