Winner`s circle - Commissaries.com

Transcription

decavision
www.commissaries.com
Patrons, workforce and stakeholders working together to create ‘raving fans.’
SUMMER 2009
Ramstein hits $5 million record
Page 23
Grand openings, reopenings
thrill customers
Pages 26-31
Blackwell leader honored
Page 42
Best commissaries, grand openings, honors galore:
welcome to DeCA’s
Winner’s circle
decavision
Summer 2009
Vol. 18, No. 3
decavision is an authorized publication for
members of the Defense Commissary Agency.
It is published by Corporate Communications,
DeCA Headquarters, Fort Lee, Va. Contents
are not necessarily the official views of,
or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the
Department of Defense or DeCA. Printing
is by offset method; printed circulation:
10,000. Readers may submit articles and
photos. Suggestions and criticisms are
welcomed. All pictures are DeCA photos
unless otherwise identified.
Contact editor at: decavision,
HQ DeCA Corporate Communications,
1300 E Ave., Fort Lee VA 23801-1800;
telephone 804-734-8000, ext. 4-8768;
e-mail: [email protected]
25
OUTREACH WIZARDS: Tinker Commissary,
Okla., won the 2008 Outreach Challenge
for the best outreach to Guard and Reserve
category, and the Air Guard in Tulsa, Okla., enjoys the
store’s on-site sales. DeCA photo: Jim Spaur
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33
GRAND OPENINGS GALORE: New stores and major
renovations thrill customers in Georgia, New York, Texas
and Italy, Pages 26-31.
EEO HONORS:
Three people and a
region achieve agency
honors for equal opportunity
support.
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
You’ve got mail ............................... 34
DeCA heroes .................................. 40
Heart of the benefit ...................... 43
Industry produce award ............... 51
COVER STORY: Kim Graham,
grocery work leader, Robins
Commissary, Ga., helps complete
final preparations for the gala
grand opening of the new store in
May. See story, Pages 28-29, and
“Heart of the benefit,” featuring
Graham, Page 43. DeCA photo:
Rick Brink
Philip E. Sakowitz Jr.
DeCA director and CEO
Corporate communications
James Frost ............................................... director
Lt. Col. Karen Hawkins .................. deputy director
Staff contributers
Rick Brink ..................................... PAO, DeCA East
Cherie Huntington .................. editor, decavision
Nancy O’Nell ................................ PAO, DeCA West
Kevin Robinson ............................. media relations
Dr. Pete Skirbunt ............................ DeCA historian
Millie Slamin .................. public affairs specialist
Gerri Young ............................... PAO, DeCA Europe
Surf VISION online @ http://www.commissaries.com/employees/news_room/vision_magazine/index.cfm
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fromthetop
Get word out on savings
Philip E. Sakowitz Jr.
DeCA director and CEO
W
e’ve closed out the fiscal year
and, thanks to you, sales hit an
all-time high of $5.9 billion.
Stretching to achieve
sales records provides opportunities to
excel, improve processes, and remind our
customers that the commissary is worth
the trip. You might ask, however, why
customers would care about our sales
figures – in effect, asking: “What’s in it
for me?”
I’ll answer that question in one word:
savings.
In achieving our goal, our customers
saved an astounding $2.77 billion on their
grocery bills this year. Wow! In tough
economic times or even a period of relative
prosperity, that amount of savings can
impact quality of life in a big way.
I’m proud we’re able to leverage that
kind of savings for our customers. Aren’t
you? After all, we don’t profit from sales.
Simply put, we sell products for what we
paid for them. As a result, our customers
benefit by saving on their grocery bills.
I’m telling you this because you and
I play an important role in getting the
word out to our customers about the
commissary benefit and why “it’s worth
the trip.” Communicating the importance
of using this benefit should be an ongoing
effort, because there will always be new
customers or authorized patrons who
don’t use this benefit and don’t realize
what they’re missing.
I encourage each of you to continue to
get the word out. Take a few minutes from
your busy day to explain to your customers
that a family of four can save nearly
$3,400 on their grocery bills annually; a
couple can save more than $2,100; and a
single person saves nearly $1,200.
We’re not talking nickels and dimes
here; we’re talking significant savings
DeCA Director and CEO Philip E. Sakowitz Jr.
greets meatcutter Donald Segers during a
May visit to Fort Belvoir Commissary, Va. DeCA
photo: Rick Brink
on top-quality, national brand products.
Whether customers spend that savings on
more groceries, back-to-school clothes,
or even a beach vacation is not our
concern. What’s most important is that
they understand that shopping at the
commissary can have a positive impact on
their lives.
My thanks to you for what you do.n
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coverstory
Best Commissaries 2008
Winner’s circle
F
Kevin L. Robinson
Corporate communications
ive commissaries were honored as DeCA’s best
during the Defense Commissary Agency’s 2009
Conference and Training Event in Richmond,
Va., May 19. Winning commissaries by category
for the competition were:
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“When we acknowledge our best it sets a standard
across the agency that raises the bar for all our
stores,” said Philip E. Sakowitz Jr., DeCA
director and CEO. “These awards validate the
excellence of our employees and industry partners
as they deliver a world class benefit to our most
deserving customers.”
Runners-up and honorable mentions were:
Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., Bill
Nichols Award for Best Large Commissary in
the United States;
Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., Richard
M. Paget Award for Best Small Commissary in
the United States;
U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwoehr,
Germany, Dan Daniel Award for Best Large
Commissary Overseas;
Camp Stanley, South Korea, L. Mendel
Rivers Award for Best Small Commissary
Overseas; and
Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., Director’s
Award for Best Superstore.
decavision!Summer 2009
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Nichols Award runner-up: Marine Corps
Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C.;
Paget Award runner-up: Naval Surface
Warfare Center Dahlgren, Va.;
Daniel Award runner-up: U.S. Army
Garrison Schinnen, Netherlands;
Rivers Award runner-up: Camp Zama,
Japan; and
Director’s Award runner-up: Fort Eustis,
Va.
Honorable mention, overseas:
Daniel Award – U.S. Army Garrison
Schweinfurt and Ramstein Air Base in
Germany; and Aviano Air Base, Italy.
!
Left, trophy winners hoist their Best Commissary
hardware for photos: Marty Roberts, Columbus Air
Force Base, Miss.; John Spaur, Tinker Air Force
Base, Okla.; Nancy Mitchell, Ellsworth Air Force
Base, S.D.; Jimmie Holzhauser, Grafenwoehr,
Germany; and Jessica Crowl, Camp Stanley, South
Korea.
Rivers Award – Camp Carroll, South Korea;
Cairo, Egypt; and Livorno, Italy.
Honorable mention, continental
United States:
Nichols Award – Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth, Va.; Charleston Air Force
Base, S.C.; and Naval Submarine Base
Bangor, Wash.
Paget Award – Naval Construction
Battalion Center Gulfport, Miss.; Vance
Air Force Base, Okla.; and Goodfellow Air
Force Base, Texas
Director’s Award – Naval Base San Diego,
Calif.; Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune,
N.C.; and Fort Bragg South, N.C.
Winning stores are evaluated in four areas:
accountability, unit cost, commissary customer
service survey and sales.
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Accountability: All departments in the
store – meat, grocery and produce – must be
accountable for their physical inventory.
Unit cost: A store’s annual operating
expenses must meet or come in below the
average of previous years.
Commissary customer service
survey: The store must exceed the
average for DeCA its sales category.
Sales: Stores in the continental United States
must show a positive sales growth averaging
fiscal 2008 with previous years’ sales.
DeCA’s best commissary awards recognize
overall excellence in commissary operations
and service. The awards are named in honor of
legislators who protected the commissary benefit
and championed quality-of-life issues for the
military and their families.
(Note: Staffs listed were current as of
selection time.)
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Below, DeCA West dominated the 2008 Best
Commissary awards, with three of five winners
toting trophies westward: Store Manager Jessica
Crowl, Camp Stanley, South Korea; Store Director
Nancy Mitchell, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.; and
Store Director John Spaur, Tinker Air Force Base,
Okla., celebrate with zone and region leadership.
DeCA photos: Rick Brink
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Tinker
Best US superstore:
Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.
Checkouts: 16 in-lane, 4 self-checkout
Employees: 102
Fiscal 2008 sales: $46.6 million
Age: Built 2005
Zone: 8
Store director: John Spaur
Spaur became store director
in 2007 after serving overseas
in Okinawa and Japan as store
director, Sasebo and Hario
John Spaur
Village commissaries, where he
won his first Best Small Commissary Award in 2007
at Hario. Previously, he was store manager then
store administrator at Camp Foster, Okinawa. His
commissary career began in 1989.
Store administrator: Jimmy Smalley
Store manager: Andrea White
Produce manager: Steve Johnson
Meat manager: David Westbrook
Grocery manager: Alfred Nelson III
TEAM TINKER
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Customer service manager: Vernon Knibbs
Zone manager: Ron McMasters
What do customers love about your store?
Our customers love our total commitment to
outstanding customer service, a goal we practice
every minute of every day. This begins with a
spotlessly clean store with fully stocked shelves and
extends to fast and courteous checkout. Throughout
their shopping experience, customers are greeted by
friendly, motivated employees who are willing to go
the extra mile to make our customers feel like family.
Does your team have a motto or inspirational saying?
Tinker ROCKS!
What’s an example of how your team makes the commissary worth
the trip?
This is a wonderful story that unmistakably defines
Tinker’s “go the extra mile” approach to customer
service. A mother from another state called the
commissary hoping to order a cake for her son, a
Left, Tinker
Commissary hosts onsite sales for Reserve
and Guard units, such
as this one for the Air
Guard in Tulsa, Okla.
DeCA photo: Jim Spaur
Below, Tinker scored
two silver Penguins
in the 2008 March
Frozen Food Month
display contest for
best end cap and
department displays.
Team Tinker went
gold in this year’s
competition with
three gold Penguins:
two for end cap and
department displays,
and one for overall
store promotion. DeCA
photo: Andrea White
young airman, soon to turn 21. The
only problem for this distant mother
was getting the cake to her son, who
lived in the barracks. Andrea White,
store manager, simply asked for the
customer’s phone number and son’s
name, explaining the commissary would
take care of matters. The Tinker team
proceeded to coordinate the cake order,
then contacted the airman requesting
his presence at the commissary to pick
up some groceries his mother had
purchased. When he arrived, the young
airman was escorted into the store
conference room. He was greeted by a
crowd of commissary employees holding
his birthday cake, singing “Happy
Birthday.” The Tinker team didn’t stop
there; they had also called the airman’s
mother and family, who were on the
phone to sing a personal “Happy Birthday.”
What does this honor mean to your team?
This is truly the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!
It genuinely validates the hard work each and every
employee puts forth, day in and day out. It is proof
positive that the total team effort to maximize our
patrons’ shopping experience isn’t a well-intended
gesture, but a reality. Winning this honor is the best
pat on the back our team could receive.
to the challenge to be “Best in the West.” This is
no easy task in any commissary, large or small. It
began with a firm foundation: tremendous pride
in serving the dedicated men and women of our
military community. Every employee built upon
this with each customer they met, creating a
lasting momentum. The enduring desire to be the
best quickly became the standard. Each and every
employee made the best superstore nomination
a reality!
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What else would you like everyone in DeCA to know about your store?
Our entire team made a firm commitment to rise
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!
Ellsworth
Best large US store:
Ellsworth Air Force Base, SD
Employees: 42
Age: Built 1991
Zone: 9
Store director: Nancy Mitchell
Mitchell became store director
in 2007 after serving overseas as
store administrator, Andersen
Commissary, Guam, and
Nancy Mitchell
store manager, Lakenheath
Commissary, England. Her commissary career
began in 1988. (She now serves as store director,
Fort Myer Commissary, Va.)
produced some interesting dialogue. The couple had
moved away from the area about 10 years prior and
was making their first trip back. They claimed that
our commissary was the cleanest, most well-stocked
commissary that they had been to in years. They
also claimed that they were very impressed with the
overall courteousness of the employees. The couple
said that they had recently decided to return to the
area, and our commissary was one of the deciding
factors. These delightful people certainly pay tribute
to the DeCA slogan: “The Commissary – It’s Worth
the Trip.”
Assistant store director: Edward Packer
Store administrator: Rozlynne Goyer
Produce manager: Cindy Hawk
Meat manager: Robert Aldrich
Grocery lead: Jan Tharp
Customer service manager: Darin Perkins
Zone manager: Jerome Katrenick
Most of them appreciate the personalized customer
service they receive from all our employees.
Ellsworth Commissary employees take a great deal
of pride in providing quality customer service. We
have established close relationships with many of our
return customers, and some are on first-name basis
with our employees.
No, but we are inspired by the fact that we consider
ourselves more than just a workforce or a team – we
are more like family. The employees challenge each
other to excel at daily tasks and provide support in
times of need. The Ellsworth Commissary family
works together to provide the best possible customer
service, enhancing DeCA’s positive image.
What’s an example of how your team helps make the commissary
worth the trip?
Recently, an elderly retired couple returned to the
Black Hills area on vacation and decided to pick up
a few things in our commissary. The assistant store
director initiated a conversation with them that
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Jan Tharp, grocery lead, knows customers love a
welcoming smile and personalized service. DeCA
photo: Berlyn Ghost
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TEAM ELLSWORTH
This honor reinforces our belief that every task,
large or small, was not in vain. Every effort to
provide our military active duty, Guard and
Reserve members, and retirees with this valued
benefit has been recognized by our leaders and has
provided a benchmark for ourselves and our sister
commissaries.
What else would you like everyone in DeCA to know about your
store?
It is very important to understand that every member
of the Ellsworth Commissary contributed to this
notable achievement, as did our contractors, baggers,
and industry partners. Noteworthy is that in the
past several years, we have established a favorable
relationship with our custodial, stocking and RSHA
(receiving-storage-handling area) contractor.
Black Hills Services has provided these services to
Ellsworth Commissary for almost two decades, but
has become part of our commissary family in the last
several years. This relationship has made it possible
for us to successfully interact on a professional
level and still maintain an amicable atmosphere
to work toward our ultimate goal of providing the
commissary benefit.
Sakae Mueller, sales store checker, takes a fruit tray
order from a customer. DeCA photo: Cindy Hawk
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Grafenwoehr
Best large overseas store:
Grafenwoehr, Germany
Employees: 82
Age: Built 2007
Zone: 31
Store director: Jimmie Holzhauser
Holzhauser became store director
in 2008 after serving as store
director at two other locations
in Germany: Vilseck and
Hohenfels. His commissary
career began in 1981.
Jimmie Holzhauser
Deputy: Ingrid Ruiz
Store manager: Marilyn Eller
Produce manager: Diane Krajcovic
Grocery manager: Leroy Gibbs
Customer service manager: Maria Tauber
Bakery-deli manager: Jeffrey Pavlowski
Zone manager: Randy Eller
Our friendly staff and store appearance.
No request or challenge is too large for our team,
because our motto is: “YES, WE CAN!”
The Grafenwoehr Grab-N-Go makes
healthy choices easier for customers
by offering portions of fresh fruits and
vegetables for lunch or snacks. DeCA
photo: Ingrid Ruiz
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the trip?
The following letter from our local Department of
Defense Dependent Schools Europe middle school is
the perfect illustration:
The management and staff who helped with
Netzaberg Middle School Field Day deserve a double
thumbs-up award!
More than a month ago, Netzaberg Middle
School was able to pull off an amazing field day
for more than 560 students. This was my first year
as the physical education teacher in this military
community, and I will never forget my first meeting
with commissary management. They explained how
the commissary could not donate items, but they
could work with me on getting industry partners to
help with the supplies we were requesting.
Coming from the States, I was frustrated because,
stateside, you have multiple stores within your
community to approach for support, and it just
seemed easier to get what you wanted. Boy, was
I wrong! I wish I could attach a photo of the sport
utility vehicle that was filled to the gills with items
for our soldier volunteers and students. It was truly
amazing!
Grafenwoehr Commissary’s spacious warehouse provides
ample space for case lot sales. DeCA photo: Ingrid Ruiz
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TEAM GRAFENWOEHR DeCA photo: wallyimages.com
The luncheon we were able
to offer the 50 or more soldier
and parent volunteers was so
incredible, it was one of my
field day highlights. To see
the soldiers’ faces when we
said, “Lunch is on us,” really
warmed my heart, and it
was all because Grafenwoehr
Commissary staff went above
and beyond to make it all
possible!
Heide Hurd
It gives us pride in our
work and a strong sense of
community; it makes us do our
very best every single day.
What else would you like everyone in
DeCA to know about your store?
The majority of our employees
are military spouses.
Management ensures that not
only do new employees get
trained as they come on board,
we continue to mentor them,
as well. As a result, our entire
staff takes care of each other
like family, and that results in
employees taking care of our
customers like family.
Fresh, made-to-order sandwiches from Grafenwoehr Commissary remain a big hit
with customers. DeCA photo: Ingrid Ruiz
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Columbus
Best small US store:
Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
Employees: 39
Age: Built 1983, renovated 2006
Zone: 1
Store director: Marty Roberts
Roberts became store director in
2008 after serving a year as store
administrator. He previously
Marty Roberts
served as grocery manager
at Ansbach Commissary,
Germany. His commissary career began in 1985, with
a three-year break for a civilian retail management
position.
Store administrator: La Vida Nethercutt
Produce manager: Donna Rhodes
Meat manager: Timothy Fields
Grocery manager (acting):
Larry Dean
Customer service manager (acting):
Linda Burkes
Zone manager:
Arnielle Fernandez
We have a motivational poster that says it all,
pointing out that ATTITUDES are what matter:
Always make today your best day
Take pride in a job well done
Treat others with respect
Isolate negative thoughts
Treat tasks as opportunities
Use your talents every day
Do it right the first time
Expect positive outcomes
Speak well of others
the trip?
We are more than a grocery store. We are a gathering
place for retired veterans who come to feel that they
are still a part of a unique lifestyle that welcomes
What do customers love about your
store?
Our southern hospitality and
dedication to customer service!
They love the friendly and
helpful workforce, from the
vendor stockers, contractors
and baggers to DeCA
employees. Our last mission
support group commander
said that we help make the
base feel more like home
and family. That feeling had
been lost through the years;
however, he was able to see it
once again.
A dog’s dream house made of Milk-Bone biscuits steals the show in this creative
display at Columbus Commissary. DeCA photo: LaVida Nethercutt
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!
TEAM COLUMBUS
them and reminds them of the “good ol’ days.” They
come to tell old war stories and feel good about their
service to their country. When they see an old friend,
we see them stand taller and shine with pride to have
served our country. We also nurture our young active
duty through outreach and try to educate them on
the premier benefit the commissary provides.
A sense of pride in a job well done! We realized
that when we pull together as a team instead of just
individuals, we can accomplish anything.
store?
We are a small store with a big heart. We believe our
customers come first, and they are the reason we are
what we are.
w
A colorful spring bunny peeks from a mass display of
soda at Columbus Commissary. DeCA photo:
LaVida Nethercutt
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!
Best small overseas store:
Camp Stanley, South Korea
Camp Stanley
Checkouts: 3 in-lane
Employees: 9
Age: Opened 1989
Zone: 36
until they leave, the Camp Stanley Commissary
team makes every effort to make the customer
feel at home. After all, it is their commissary. We
do whatever it takes to make their visit pleasant,
enjoyable and definitely worth the trip.
Store manager: Jessica Crowl
Crowl became store manager in
2005 after her selection for the
intern program at McChord
Jessica Crowl
Commissary, Wash., in 2002
and serving as grocery manager
at Malmstrom Commissary, Mont. She began
her commissary career in 1991.
It’s overwhelming – you always hear of stores
being the best or someone wanting to be the best.
So you strive to become the best, and when you
succeed, it is just unbelievable. The Camp Stanley
team is more cohesive now than it has ever been
before.
Commissary operations assistant: Yu Yong-Kun
Lead worker: Chon Hae-Saeng
Lead sales store technician: Park Hyun-Yi
Zone manager: Wayne Walk
store?
We want everyone to know that we take the DeCA
motto, “The Commissary – It’s Worth the Trip,”
very seriously, and we work very hard every day to
live up to that motto for our customers.
What do customers love about your
store?
Customers see a clean,
well-organized store, as
well as happy and courteous
employees ready to ensure
that they receive the best
customer service each and
every time they visit.
Does your team have a motto or
inspirational saying?
“BEST IN THE WEST” – we
have always strived to be the
best.
What’s an example of how your team
makes the commissary worth the
trip?
From the time the customer
walks through the front door
This little dinghy could make away with quite a lot of fresh goodies from this
display featuring organic selections available at Camp Stanley Commissary.
DeCA photo: Jessica Crowl
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!
Above left, Camp Stanley Commissary’s back to school
Dollar Days display featured a bear swinging overhead.
DeCA photos: Jessica Crowl
Above right, a vendor offers a special bargain on short
ribs for Chusok, a major harvest festival and three-day
holiday in mid-August in Korea. The commissary won
best site store overseas in DeCA’s meat merchandising
competition this year.
Left, This colorful mass display sparked customer
interest in the annual Quaker-Tropicana Free Breakfast
promotion.
TEAM CAMP STANLEY
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TEAM FORT EUSTIS U.S. Army photo: Sid Lilly
Fort Eustis
The fun and excitement of
the displays, the fully stocked
shelves, the clean and inviting
atmosphere, the friendly and
helpful employees. To sum it
up, the total appearance and
customer service of Fort Eustis
Commissary.
Runner-up, US superstore:
Fort Eustis, Va.
Checkouts: 14 in-lane, 4 self-
checkout
Employees: 110
Age: Built 1991
Zone: 28
Store director: Brian Tatum
Tatum became store director in
March 2009 after serving a year as
store administrator; he took the
Brian Tatem
reins from Steve Villeneuve,
store director since 2002, now
store director for Langley Commissary, Va. Brian
Tatum previously served as store manager, Kadena
Commissary, Okinawa. His commissary career
began in 1979; Villeneuve’s, in 1982.
Store administrator: Vicky Shabbott
Produce manager: Eugene Baldwin
Meat manager: Ronald Owens
Grocery manager: Melanie Niebuonrit
Zone manager: Wagina “Gina” Klimpel
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Steve Villeneuve
What’s an example of how your team makes
the commissary worth the trip?
Every employee here works as part of a team and will
go above and beyond their job to help a customer.
They are truly dedicated to customer service.
That all the hard work and dedication finally proved
to be worth it. We always knew we were the best, and
now everyone else knows.
store?
The employees here take pride in being the best. We
are here to serve the most deserving, and Fort Eustis
Commissary is worth the trip.
!
Runner-up, large US store:
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, SC
Parris Island
Employees: 40
Age: Built 1996
Zone: 29
Store director: Iveena Henderson
Henderson served as store
director since 2006 and was
previously store administrator,
Iveena Henderson
New Orleans Commissary,
La. Her commissary career began
in 1990. (She now is assigned as store director for
Naval Weapons Station Charleston, S.C.)
Store administrator: George Wills
Grocery manager: Rufus Fripp
Meat supervisor: Jason Sather
Produce manager: Terry Gant
Customer service manager: Earlene Mills
Zone manager: Alan Jones
Our customers love our clean facility, fully stocked
shelves, and pleasant shopping environment. Our
employees’ friendly smiles and attitudes bring
our customers back. Customers also love the
commissary’s overall savings.
the trip?
We have quite a few disabled customers who require
special attention. We make every effort to make them
feel comfortable during their shopping experience.
Our dedicated employees work together as a team
to ensure excellent customer service is provided to
every customer. Our retirees use the commissary as
a meeting place because of the inviting atmosphere.
Some of our customers also visit our store on a daily
basis just to talk with our employees.
This honor is confirmation to our team that we are
accomplishing the mission of providing a premier
quality benefit to our military community. If we make
the customer the focus of all the work that we do,
we can reach any goal that we set. This honor also
has increased team morale and fostered a pleasant
working environment.
store?
Everyone should
know that our store
understands that the
competition was tough,
and that we are honored
to represent DeCA East
large stores.
TEAM PARRIS ISLAND
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!
Runner-up, large overseas store:
Schinnen, Netherlands
Schinnen
Employees: 44
Age: Built 1976
Zone: 30
Store manager: Earnest Stewart
Stewart became store director
in 1996 after serving as grocery
manager then store manager,
Ramstein Commissary,
Germany. His commissary career
began in 1986.
Earnest Stewart
Deputy: David Bowron
Produce manager: Christa Allen
Grocery manager: Edith Dowtin
Customer service manager: Johannes Wijtsema
Night manager: Elbert Dantzler
Zone manager: Ken Chastain
We make customers our friends. By taking time to
get to know them, we learn who they are and what
they want. Our customers often drive a long way
to Schinnen, so it is our personal goal to have all
their needed items in stock and make their stay
enjoyable. We always go that extra
mile – whether it is personally
following a special order from start
to finish, taking the time to walk a
customer to a special item, having
a 99 percent in-stock rate, or just
knowing their name and family.
What’s an example of how your team makes
the commissary worth the trip?
Not long ago, my daughter was at a
restaurant talking to an American
who lives in the Netherlands. After a
while, the subject came to Schinnen
Commissary. “I love to go there, and
I plan a trip every two weeks,” the
American said. “Every time, I am
amazed. It is neater than neat; they
have all my favorite products; and
the staff makes me feel known. For
me, Schinnen Commissary is an allAmerican experience that makes me
feel a lot closer to home.”
18
It’s a great honor and we are proud of it, because
we competed against the best stores in the industry.
The recognition that comes with this award is an
excellent boost to our morale. We also know that we
are not the only store that strives for accountability,
great customer service and a well-stocked store –
others succeed, as well. At the same time, we realize
that we could have never come this far without the
investment and trust from DeCA. They allowed us
to become successful, and we are honored to be the
ones to see the fruit of their investment in us!
store?
Without a doubt, I want to mention our loyal
Schinnen family. Over the years, I have seen our
people grow into the best team I have ever had the
privilege to work with. Thanks to my Dutch team,
many of whom have served faithfully more than 26
years. Thanks to my managers and my day shift,
who take more than excellent care of the customers.
Thanks to my loyal night shift that makes the store
stand tall every morning. This award is a direct
reflection of what all team members do on a daily
basis to make our customers part of the Schinnen
family.
TEAM SCHINNEN
!
Runner-up, small US store:
Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, Va.
Dahlgren
Checkouts: 3 in-lane
Employees: 22
Age: Built 1995
Zone: 24
Store director: Romualda Garrett
Garrett became store director
in 2009 after serving as store
administrator for two years. Her
commissary career began in 1998.
Romualda Garrett
Store administrator: Walter Ford
Grocery manager: Nelia Hooban
Meat department POC: Edward Porto
Produce department POC: Norman Stepney
Customer service POC: Yong Ethridge
Zone manager: Troy Collins
Our patrons love the relaxed, family atmosphere
at Dahlgren. They often compliment us on our
friendly, helpful staff; the excellent meat and
produce departments; the colorful displays and clean
appearance of our store.
the trip?
The Liberty Single Sailor Program outreach activities
– Dahlgren hosts six tenant commands, including
two training schools with about 100 to 200 students
at any given time. These students have classes on
different schedules, so the single sailors who have
evening classes never get to participate in the single
sailor program events. This year, activities were held
at night to allow them the opportunity to participate.
The single sailors were thrilled; they won prizes and
learned a lot about the commissary. We now have
raving fans.
It’s a tremendous honor to receive this award because
it recognizes our employees’ efforts and hard work in
serving the best military in the world, their families
and retirees.
What else would you like everyone in DeCA to know about your store?
Dahlgren Commissary’s motto is: “The little store that
can.” We are a small store but deliver a big benefit.
Our employees are our greatest asset. They are “gungho” – they are efficient, dedicated and committed to
providing excellent customer service. They take pride
in what they do and get things accomplished with
remarkable results.
w
TEAM DAHLGREN
19
!
Runner-up, small overseas store: Camp Zama, Japan
Camp Zama
Employees: 16
Fiscal 2008 sales: $3 million
Age: Built 2007
Zone: 35
wanting to come back. Along with the thrill of great
shopping and savings, friendly atmosphere, heartfelt
smiles and great customer service from our staff, the
customers enjoy their time at our commissary while
they fill their carts with a variety of healthy choices.
Store manager: Yoko Banko
Banko became store manager
in 2005 after serving as
meat manager, Yokosuka
Commissary, Japan, and
Yoko Banko
grocery manager, Sagamihara
Commissary, Japan. Her commissary career began
in 1984.
This honor means that we are doing the right
things – creating a pleasant, enjoyable place for our
customers to shop for a variety of healthy choices at
the right price and with the best customer service.
It truly gives our staff pride in what we do because
we see the difference that it makes to our customers
every day.
Assistant store manager: Toshinori Ogawa
Zone manager: Bruce Graf
store?
Although we are a small store, Camp Zama employees
work hard, and they do a terrific job taking care of
our customers. It’s good to see the staff recognized for
their hard work. Credit also goes to our parent store,
Sagamihara, and the other Kanto Plain commissaries.
We couldn’t take care of our customers as well
without their support.n
They love the great and professional customer
service.
the trip?
The shelves
are always
fully stocked,
and if we do
not carry what
the customer
wants, we
always try to
transfer it from
another store
for them and
continuously
follow up with
the customer.
It is all about
making the
customer feel
special and
TEAM CAMP ZAMA
20
McChord Commissary, Wash., won best superstore honors in grocery merchandising. DeCA photo: Peggy Russell
F
Grocery merchandising
ive stores took top honors
as this year’s best in DeCA’s
14th Annual Grocery
Merchandising Contest.
The competition takes place
spanning five weeks and rewards
commissaries for their originality
and creativity.
Zone managers who oversee
operations of the winning
commissaries accepted the awards
from Philip E. Sakowitz Jr.,
DeCA director and CEO, during
the agency’s 2009 Conference and
Training Event in Richmond, Va.,
in May.
Five stores excel in creating displays
to intensify customer interest
These awards, including
the new Meat Merchandising
Contest and longstanding
Produce Merchandising Contest,
are presented each year to
commissaries identified as
building the best displays. To
stand out, they must also excel in
adhering to the sales directorate’s
promotional program packages,
exhibit creativity and enthusiasm
in merchandising commissary
products, and encourage the
participation of regional and
local companies in promotional
programs.
“These awards showcase our
stores’ excellence, imagination and
hard work in bringing excitement
to the sales floor,” Sakowitz
said. “Our merchandising award
recipients have raised product
displays to an art form.”
w
21
!
Heidelberg, Germany, won best large overseas store. DeCA photo
Fort Eustis Commissary, Va., won best large
U.S. store. DeCA photo: Alzina Skinner
Ellsworth Commissary, S.D., won best small U.S. store. DeCA photo
Grocery merchandising ...
Best U.S. superstore:
McChord Air Force Base, Wash.
Best small U.S. store:
Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.
Best large U.S. store:
Fort Eustis, Va.
Best small overseas store:
Cairo, Egypt
Best large overseas store:
U.S. Army Garrison
Heidelberg, Germany
Best zone:
Zone 35, DeCA West
Best region:
DeCA Europen
22
Cairo Commissary, Egypt, won best
small overseas store. DeCA photo
!
hotsales
Ramstein makes sales history
Becomes first-ever overseas store to achieve $5 million month
Store Director Harry Nichols
discusses Ramstein Commissary,
Germany, and his team’s historic
milestone achieved in March.
primo month to finally push you
over the last hurdle?
Ramstein specializes in
moving product. We are
always aggressive with
OTBs – One Time Buys – and are
known to attempt to carry every
product possible. Our industry
partners also know Ramstein
never passes up an opportunity
to increase sales and customer
savings. As the commissary with
the highest sales in Europe, we
want Ramstein to be the premier
shopping experience in Europe.
We did what we always do: sell,
sell, sell.
A
Q
A
When did you and your team
start leaning forward to try
and achieve the $5 million
sales goal?
The $5 million target was
set at the end of fiscal
2008. With Ramstein’s
continued sales growth, we saw we
had a good opportunity to break
the $5 million barrier. Our first
attempt was in December 2008.
It looked like a real opportunity,
and we just missed it by $73,000
– with a new sales record of
$4.9 million. In the beginning of
March, we noticed unexpectedly
high sales. Knowing we already
had a very large “March Madness”
club pack order due in, we saw
an outside possibility. We then
worked with our industry partners
in obtaining special sale prices on
regular and club pack items. With
industry assistance, we managed
to boost patron savings and sales
and just made it over the top with
$5,007,316 in sales.
Q
A
How did the customers help
with this effort, or was it
primarily an internal action
below the customers’ radar?
Most of the action was
below the customers’
radar; however, they
helped by stocking up when
we had the prices right. This
still did not hurt April sales —
we realized a $53,000 sales
increase in April as well.
Q
Did you have a special
strategy to help achieve
this, or was it just the
Q
Was this something that
you had to wait until the
end of the month to find
out, or were you able to track and
“sort of” know when the goal had
been achieved?
Starting March 15, we
tracked sales daily. We
knew we were close, but
we weren’t sure we would make
it until the last day. On March
30, we only made $115,000, and
everyone was very disappointed.
A
Here we go again, “close but no
cigar.” Then on March 31, we
rebounded with a whopping
$172,000 in sales, and we knew it
was in the bag.
Q
Everyone looks so jubilant
in the photo. What does
this history-making
achievement mean to you and
your staff? (Team Ramstein
photo featured on Page 52.)
We are all very pleased. It
was a sure indication we
were achieving our goal of
taking care of the most deserving
customers in the world. It also
showed we’re doing what we’re
supposed to do – and we’re good
at it.
A
Q
A
What’s the next goal?
We are looking forward
to $6 million. But first,
we are going to work on
the $5 million every month and
will be looking for $60 million in
sales for fiscal 2010.n
‘Million transactions club’
Only seven stores hit million
customer transactions in fiscal 2008
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
NB Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
NB San Diego, Calif.
Fort Belvoir, Va.
Fort Lewis, Wash.
Ramstein AB, Germany
Fort Bragg South, N.C.
Fort Meade, Md.
1,356,099
1,144,993
1,123,898
1,115,494
1,103,956
1,032,581
1,008,249n
23
!
Worldwide savings
Annual spring case lot sale sets record — as usual
McClellan Commissary, Calif., provides an “openair” spring case lot sale. DeCA photo: James
Reddington
Left, Svetlana Steele, Chievres Commissary,
Belgium, apparently knows a great deal when she
sees one. DeCA photo: Charlita Covington
M
ay’s worldwide case lot sale lived up to
high expectations by setting another
record for the annual spring event, with
sales of nearly $18 million.
“It truly is teamwork that makes our programs
work,” said Charlie Dowlen, DeCA’s chief of
promotions. “We had great pricing on the case
lot items, and with the store sales properly set up
and executed, the customers responded with their
purchases, which resulted in another recordbreaking event.”n
24
!
outreachpros
Outreach Challenge
D
Commissaries excel at ‘targeted approach’ to market benefit
efense Commissary Agency officials
recognized seven commissaries for
outstanding outreach May 20 during the
agency’s 2009 Conference and Training
Event in Richmond, Va.
The winning commissaries are:
Fort Carson, Colo., best outreach to retirees;
Camp Lejeune, N.C., best outreach to new
recruits and schools;
Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., best outreach to
Guard and Reserve;
Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, best outreach
to E1-E6, continental United States;
Misawa Air Base, Japan, best outreach to E1E6, overseas;
Camp Pendleton, Calif., best outreach to military
families and spouses, continental United States; and
Kadena Air Base, Japan, best outreach to
military families and spouses, overseas.
Zone managers who oversee operations of the
winning commissaries accepted the awards from
Philip E. Sakowitz Jr., DeCA director and CEO.
“The best outreach efforts tend to echo great
relationships between the stores and the military
communities they serve,” Sakowitz said. “The DeCA
team members involved in these outreach events
have gone above and beyond our mandate to help
spread the news about this benefit. Congratulations
to the winning stores!”
Each year for the past six years, DeCA has held
an Outreach Challenge in which commissaries
compete for the most originality and creativity in
marketing the benefit. The challenge encourages
commissaries to reach out to authorized shoppers
who may not be using their commissary benefit, or
who may not be using it regularly, and provides a
unique opportunity for store directors worldwide to
share their best outreach practices with others and
strengthen the commissary benefit.
“The Commissary – It’s Worth the Trip!” theme
emphasized a targeted approach to outreach and
marketing to military families, spouses and retirees,
with a special focus on key demographic groups such
as young, single service members and the Guard
and Reserve. The theme encouraged commissary
employees to think nontraditionally in their approach
to outreach, during this time of tight budgets and
time constraints.
Commissaries entering the competition submitted
packages that documented their best outreach
efforts over the previous year. Entries were judged
on originality and creativity of outreach strategy,
effectiveness in reaching intended audiences, and
results.n
The commissary at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, invited “a few friends” over for Commissary Awareness
Month in May. All received a commissary briefing, then were invited to stay for store tours, healthy choice
shopping challenge, watermelon eating contest, cart races and turkey bowling. Sheppard Commissary won the
Outreach Challenge category of best U.S. enlisted outreach for 2008. DeCA photo: Lisa McCormick
25
!
futurenow
Saluti
da Livorno
New $7.2 million commissary
makes debut in Italy
T
Gerri Young
DeCA Europe public affairs officer
he grand opening of the new Livorno
Commissary on June 5 was the talk of the
town at small but picturesque Camp Darby
in Livorno, Italy.
“Come on over to Camp Darby today for the
biggest event ever!” proclaimed the voice of American
Forces Network Europe radio, broadcasting just
outside the store’s main entrance.
Everything came together to make the event a
huge success. Beautiful Italian blue skies shined
over the day, casting shadows from the enormous
umbrella pines covering the base. A big crowd of
Italian and American guests and customers gathered
for the ribbon cutting. The Italian Folgore Brigade
Band provided the musical pomp and circumstance,
and the ceremonial ribbon received an extra flair
as two carabineers, or Italian police, in full dress
uniform, took station at each end.
Dream becomes reality
For Store Director Giuseppe Ricci, opening day
was the culmination of many months of working to
make the new store a reality.
“The old facility was our home for many years,
and we worked hard to make it the best it could be,”
said Ricci. “I have a great team working for me, and
many others came from around the zone to help
us get started in the new facility. We promise our
customers this store will be even better, with more
space and more efficient processes. We hope people
from all over Italy and Europe come shopping with us
soon.”
Once inside, customers were treated to free cake
and demos of beef, pork, juices and pizzas, located
throughout the store. Customers were greeted with
new things everywhere they turned, starting with the
Grab ‘N’ Go and a big, modern deli. The deli offered
popular rotisserie chicken for the first time along with
countless pieces of pizza and dozens of sandwiches.
The store offers a different sandwich specialty every
day, including wraps, quesadillas, tuna and toasted
focaccia with ham, mushrooms and artichokes.
Left, an Italian policeman, in full-dress uniform, adds
special flair at Livorno Commissary’s grand opening.
U.S. Army photo: Joyce Costello
26
!
More fresh produce
The greatly enlarged produce department is
the first in a European commissary to use gourmet
shelving, enabling the small store to offer smaller
amounts of more items for customer selection. Wide
aisles led shoppers through the store where
they found more than 500 new products.
By day’s end, customers had voted
for the new store with their pocketbooks,
purchasing more than $29,000 in
commissary goods – double a normal day’s
business – and the trend continues.
“Sales are doing very well in the new
store,” said Ricci. “Even a month after we
opened, customers were shopping more, and
we are very pleased with the increased sales.”
The old facility, attached to the base
exchange, will be turned over to Army and
Air Force Exchange Service for sales area
expansion.
The new Livorno Commissary dazzled customers
and employees alike, who were accustomed to
shopping in a facility built in 1953. DeCA photo:
wallyimages.com
Facts about new store
Total square feet: 26,455
Sales area square footage: 12,848
Checkouts: 5
Line items: 6,300
Store director: Giuseppe Ricci
Store administrator: Paolo Lemmi
Grocery merchandiser: Daniele Cerrai
Produce manager: Eugenio Chiavazzo
Meat manager: Luigi Ferretti
Customer service: Giovanni Rontanin
A life-sized, display cow seems to be checking the meat case at
Livorno Commissay. DeCA photo: Gerri Young
27
!
Robins
celebrates
new store
C
Rick Brink
DeCA East public affairs officer
ommissary shoppers at Robins Air Force
Base, Ga., got their new $16 million store off
to a rousing start with opening day sales May
28 of $201,000, contributing to a four-day
opening weekend total that exceeded $698,000.
“It’s a great store,” said Store Director Paula
Lewis. “We knew our sales would rock. Watching
this store being built just across the street the last
two years stirred such anticipation for customers
and employees alike that everyone I’ve talked to is so
excited and pleased about shopping here.”
Opening-day activities featured a traditional
ribbon-cutting ceremony that followed remarks by
DeCA Director and CEO Philip E. Sakowitz Jr.,
28
Valencia Henley, store associate, hit
all the right notes when she sang the
national anthem a cappella at the grand
opening of the new Robins Commissary,
Ga., May 28. Store Director Paula Lewis,
in background, said she asked Henley
to sing because she advocates letting
employees use all of their talents and
capabilities on the job. DeCA photos:
Rick Brink
Left, dozens of colorful cupcakes
masquerade as a many-tiered cake at
the grand opening celebration.
and Maj. Gen. Polly Peyer, commander of Warner
Robins Air Logistics Center.
“All we have to do is look over there at the old
commissary to compare it to what’s before us today.
Let me tell you, it’s as different inside as it is outside,” Sakowitz told the crowd of about 200 people
gathered outside the new store entrance.
He pointed to the former commissary, a converted
warehouse building that featured ramps, steps and
an elevator at the front entrance, which contrasted
with the street-level entrance of the new store where
Sakowitz stood. A brightly lit, expansive interior;
larger produce and fresh meat departments; larger
frozen and chilled sections; a large delicatessen and
bakery; and aisles wide enough to accommodate
three carts passing at once were among other differ-
!
ences of the new commissary that drew rave reviews
from customers.
“There’s not a store in town that’s any better
than this one,” said 71-year-old William James,
who remarked that it was the third commissary he’s
shopped in at Robins, since he’s lived in the area for
more than 33 years.
The opening was a festive event with numerous
prizes, product mascots, food demonstrations and
great prices for shoppers to enjoy. It didn’t take long
for customers to catch the shopping spirit. Shoppers
waiting in line for the grand opening started filling
their carts to take advantage of special deals on
melons, pineapples and potatoes on display outside
the front entrance.
At the end of her shopping run, Chris Virgilio
joined her husband, Steve, for a photo with Sakowitz
and Peyer as one of the first shoppers to be checked
out. She bought only a few items, using the visit to
check out the store. “This is a big improvement,” she
said. “It’s going to be great shopping here.”n
Right, customer Tonya Brown samples a strawberry
while grandson Malachi raises his cupcake in a
salute to the new commissary. Below, Marcea Boyd,
storeworker at Fort Benning Commissary, Ga., lends a
hand in the produce section for the grand opening.
29
!
Fort Drum renovation
People-pleasing improvements follow 18-month makeover
Rick Brink
DeCA East public affairs officer
C
ustomers had high
praise for Fort Drum
Commissary, N.Y.,
following the June 30 grand
reopening, marking completion of a
$17.7-million remodeling project.
The major renovation – a
ceiling-to-floor makeover that
included expanding the sales area
some 9,000 square feet – was all
done as the store continued to
provide full service throughout
Above, Store Director
Bob Smith stands ready
to deliver opening
comments at the ribbon
cutting. DeCA photos:
Rick Brink
Right, perfect end cap
displays await grand
opening day shoppers.
Far right, a colorful
produce display greets
customers as they enter
the store.
30
the project. It was also paid for by
commissary shoppers.
“This renovation was done
using $17.7 million in surcharge
dollars,” DeCA Director and
CEO Philip E. Sakowitz Jr.
told the crowd. “The surcharge
is the 5 percent that’s added to
your commissary receipt, and
sometimes we’re asked, ‘Where
does the surcharge money
go?’ Well, you can see it and
experience it here today.”
Shoppers experienced the
culmination of 18 months of
construction that created a new
front entrance and converted
unused warehouse space into
sales floor and office space.
The store went from 13
aisles to 17 and tripled the
space devoted to chilled and
frozen items. The new, brightly
lit interior and wide aisles are
designed to make shopping more
enjoyable. The deli, bakery and
sushi-to-go services – formerly in
different locations in the old store
– are now conveniently located
together.
Commissaries are known
for their high shopper volume,
so keeping shelves stocked can
be a challenge for storeworkers.
Expanded shelf space gained by
the renovation accommodates a
larger volume of products, making
it better able to meet customer
demand throughout the day, said
Bob Smith, store director.
Smith called the reopening a
festive event and said there were
prizes and giveaways to mark the
occasion as well as great prices on
popular products.
Grand reopening day sales
exceeded $143,000, and the
momentum continued the next
two days with a three-day sales
total surpassing $300,000.n
!
Digging Dyess
S
Nancy O’Nell
DeCA West public affairs officer
Customers love their
‘jazzed-up’ commissary;
sales take off
hoppers expressed their appreciation for
newly renovated Dyess Commissary,
Texas, on April 21 with more than just
words. Store Director Garry
Warrix reported grand reopening
day sales of $60,093, about double
a typical day’s sales before the
renovation.
“Sales have continued to climb
since reopening day,” said Warrix.
“May sales were up 12.6 percent over
2008, and June sales are up 15.1
percent.”
After the ribbon-cutting ceremony,
shoppers flocked into the store to
scoop up the savings, special buys,
samples and contest prizes.
The commissary shined with all
new interior finishes and an upgraded
lighting system. The $11.3-million
renovation project increased the size
of the facility from 70,494 square
feet to 76,577 square feet. The extra
size and a reconfigured layout made
a huge impact on the size of the sales
floor, according to Warrix. “The store’s “Standing room only” describes the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the
sales area increased by 30 percent,” he renovated commissary. U.S. Air Force photo: Airman 1st Class
Chelsea White
said.
Both the produce department and
deli expanded by 50 percent, and an
aisle of upright freezers and one coffin freezer
expanded the frozen food section. Bread is now
located in its own dedicated alcove, and dairy
products are merchandized behind glass doors. The
store’s backrooms also received an overhaul.
Industry and DeCA worked for several months
to prepare the store for the grand reopening with
the brunt of the planning falling on the shoulders of
Store Administrator Ricky Newport when former
Store Director Alex Hebert retired in January.
Warrix, the incoming store director, arrived the
week before the reopening.
“Ricky showed tenacity and true DeCA
dedication during the months of preparation,”
said Zone 6 Manager Martin Jackson. “He was
involved with every measure of the planning. The
store looked spectacular on opening day and has
Jacqueline Lund, sales store checker, helps Senior
every day since. We now have a first-class facility
Airman Jaime McCartney at a self-checkout counter.
to deliver the premier commissary benefit that our
DeCA photo: Nancy O’Nell
shoppers deserve.”n
31
!
peoplealways
T
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Leadership moves announced
he following DeCA team members have been
selected to serve in positions of increased
responsibility, announced Aug. 31:
Ronnie Trimble, store administrator, Patch
Barracks, Germany, to store director, Bitburg,
Germany;
Patrice Funderburk, store administrator,
Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, to store director,
Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif.;
Cheryl Ludington, store administrator,
Wiesbaden, Germany, to store director,
Heidelberg, Germany;
Celine Ruiz, store administrator, Naval Base
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to store director, Hickam
Air Force Base, Hawaii;
Robert Bunch, Zone 12 manager, McChord
Air Force Base, Wash., to chief, customer service
division, Performance and Policy Directorate,
DeCA Headquarters;
Randall Eller, Zone 31 manager, Vilseck,
Germany, to chief, grocery division, Directorate
of Performance and Policy, DeCA Headquarters;
Qahir Abdur-Rahman, commissary
management specialist, Sales Directorate, DeCA
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Headquaraters, to store director, Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia;
Jeanne Halterman, store administrator,
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., to store
director, Support Center Smokey Point, Wash.;
Barbara Merriweather, commissary
management specialist, Sales Directorate, DeCA
Headquarters, to chief of assistance, DeCA West,
McClellan, Calif.;
Matthew Whittaker, store director, Naval Air
Facility Atsugi, Japan, to store director, Yongsan,
South Korea;
Redo Nolletti, store administrator, Fort
Buchanan, Puerto Rico, to store director, Fort
Monmouth, N.J.;
Cynthia Six, store director, Naval Air Station
Key West, Fla., to store director, Marine Corps
Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C.;
Rasheed Diallo, leadership development
specialist, to chief, succession management,
Human Resources Directorate, DeCA
Headquarters; and
Teresa Duncan, human resources specialist,
to chief, staffing and classification, Human
Resources Directorate, DeCA Headquarters.n
DeCA’s first in-house trainees make debut
T
‘Homegrown’ green belts
hough Kermit the Frog
lamented, “It’s not easy
being green,” 62 trained
Lean Six Sigma “green
belts”would likely say green is
gratifying.
DeCA’s first in-house training
sessions held in May and August
increased the number of green
belts by 34. Starting the fiscal
year with eight green belts, then
training 20 more at off-site
locations, the agency completes
fiscal 2009 with 62.
“This training is a win for
the green belts, their respective
directorates and for the agency,”
said DeCA Corporate Planning
Director Vicki Archileti. “We
32
continue to use Lean Six Sigma to
refine our business processes and
instill an ongoing culture change.”
In martial arts, students
earn a green belt after they
achieve a beginning level of
competence. Using Lean Six Sigma
methodology, the green belts
streamline processes within their
own functional areas. They may
serve as team leaders or participate
as team members in black belt
projects, which are more complex
than green belt projects.
“They learned to use Lean Six
Sigma tools to streamline processes
in an effort to increase quality,
improve timeliness, and reduce
variations and redundancies,” said
Archileti. “They developed valuable
skills such as decision making,
problem solving, teamwork, and
how to look at problems in different
ways. They understand the value of
collecting data to support proposed
solutions.”
The May class was facilitated
by four master black belts from
the Office of the Secretary of
Defense Continuous Process
Improvement; the August class,
by four of DeCA’s black belts using
OSD’s curriculum.
DeCA now exceeds
Department of Defense mandates
to have 5 percent of its targeted
workforce trained as green belts
and 1 percent, as black belts.n
!
EEO honors
D
2009 awards highlight support of disabled
eCA recognized three employees and one
region for outstanding accomplishments in
the area of Equal Employment Opportunity
during its annual awards ceremony, Aug. 12.
The 2009 honorees are:
Phyllis Black
Leader of the Year
Store director, Marine Corps Air
Station Cherry Point, N.C.
Black demonstrated
outstanding leadership
qualities by encouraging
employees of diverse
backgrounds to develop
their skills and reach their
full potential both within
the commissary and in
their personal lives. Her
Phyllis Black
proactive leadership style
resulted in the placement
of eight individuals with targeted disabilities within
her commissary, the highest number placed anywhere
in the agency. Black’s tireless efforts in resolving
workplace conflicts maintained a harmonious work
environment and ultimately transformed a historically
troubled store into a place of unity.
Acting DeCA East Director Bob Vitikacs and Deputy Director
Donna Willis accept the Organization of the Year award from
Philip E. Sakowitz Jr., agency director and CEO. DeCA photo:
Pete Skirbunt
Supong Davis
Employee of the Year
Customer service manager,
Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
In addition to
managing an outstanding
customer service
department, Davis
served as a mentor to
her employees. Her
encouragement inspired
many to seek careers in
commissary operations.
Her character and
Supong Davis
commitment to providing
excellent service have
won praise from the base community.
In 2005, Davis was selected EEO Leader of the
Year for DeCA.
Phillip Gregg
Disabled Employee of the Year
Store associate, Fort Sill, Okla.
Gregg’s persistence
in mastering his job
led to a productivity
increase of more than
15 percent in the past
year. In addition to his
on-the-job excellence, he
overcame a severe brain
injury to earn a Bachelor
of Science degree in
elementary education
Phillip Gregg
from Oklahoma State
University. As an
educator, he serves his community by working with
disabled children and assists families with special
needs.
DeCA East
Organization of the Year
The DeCA East team served as a model employer,
hiring disabled individuals and blending diverse
cultures to form a successful team. Its support of
the agency’s initiative to increase the number of
individuals with targeted disabilities gave disabled
employees an opportunity to achieve their maximum
potential in the workplace. The region has hired more
people with severe disabilities than any other DeCA
organization.n
33
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The world's best customers salute the world's best employees
Spangdahlem
My thanks to Jeff Rose, store
director of Spangdahlem
Commissary, Germany. Thanks
not only for your phenomenal
support to the families of the 52nd
Fighter Wing, but also for going
above and beyond, and caring so
much to support Operation Sew
Much Comfort. You embody a
sense of teamwork and loyalty to
Jeff Rose
our military community that is
truly an inspiration to others. “Thank you” doesn’t
seem enough to express my appreciation for all you
do for us. Your quiet leadership and community
support do not go unnoticed … ever.
Mara Wright
Keesler
Ashleigh Pitalo, store associate
at Keesler Commissary,
Miss., was very friendly and
helpful in the meat department.
She answered questions
knowledgeably. Her attitude
and customer service made
my shopping experience very
pleasant. She sets a good example
for others to follow. I wish all
Ashleigh Pitalo
stores had more workers like her.
Tech. Sgt. John Long, U.S. Air Force
Edwards
Tinker
I usually buy six to eight cases
a month of my favorite fruitflavored water. I had been having
problems getting this water at
Tinker Commissary, Okla.,
during the winter months, and I
talked with Cynthia Aguirre,
computer-assisted ordering
specialist. She explained that
the water was seasonal, and
Cynthia Aguirre
she graciously offered to try to
locate some for me. She succeeded in her search,
going above and beyond what she had to do. It is so
refreshing to know there are people who care about
others, and she does. Thanks, Cynthia!
Pat McMillian
(Editor’s note: Letters are edited for length and clarity.)
34
Tomisha Horn
What a delight to have such
quality staff working at Edwards
Commissary, Calif. Tomisha
Horn, store associate, was so
nice, friendly and personable. She
helped me find a large bag of cat
food that she carried from the
backroom to my car! I will return
to Edwards Commissary.
Linda Nugent
Yokosuka
On a recent trip to Yokosuka
Commissary, Japan, my wife
and I were very pleased with
the customer service. We had
a couple of questions about a
new product’s availability and
procedures for requesting new
items. Store Director Totolua
Ripley was so helpful and took
time to explain everything to
Totolua Ripley
us. He also enlightened us on
a couple of other questions we had. He did so in a
!
cheerful manner. We would like to thank the folks at
our commissary for making visits enjoyable, and for
continuing to provide us with great service.
Anonymous
Shaw
I had been shopping at Shaw Commissary, S.C.,
and when I got home, I realized I had left my wallet
in the cart. I called, and someone had turned it in,
thank goodness. I went back to get it, but I couldn’t
get on base because my ID was in the wallet. I made
arrangements with Barbara Matta, lead sales store
checker, to bring my ID to the gate. I know how
busy they are, but she volunteered to bring it to me.
It made my day. This was a nice thing from a nice
employee.
Kathy Tabov
Misawa
I couldn’t find a certain item
at Misawa Commissary,
Japan, but Glenn Cararina,
storeworker, was more than
happy to help out – kudos! Glenn
went into the warehouse and got
what I was looking for.
R. LeFave
Fort Detrick
Glenn Cararina
I have shopped at the Fort
Detrick Commissary, Md., for the past 15 years.
I listen to customers as they bring things up to the
commissary employees, and I have had questions
also. One day last week, I overheard a customer
speaking to Joe Johnson, store administrator.
I was embarrassed and felt sorry for Joe. In all
my years in the military and shopping at many
commissaries, I have never heard such a rude and
obnoxious customer. But to Joe’s credit, patience and
professionalism, he remained calm and pleasant. I
know I would not have been able to keep my calm,
and I would have fired right back to the customer.
Finally, when the irate customer was finished, I
watched Joe walk away, and he greeted the very
next customer with a friendly hello. Dealing with the
public can be a difficult job, and the way he handled
himself made me feel proud that someone cares
about his store, customers and the military. I just
want to say thank you to Joe Johnson for all he does
and continues to do at Fort Detrick Commissary.
Master Sgt. Jack Peters, U.S. Air Force, retired
McChord
I write to praise the efficiency of McChord
Commissary, Wash., in general and two employees
specifically. In late January, my wife and I had
completed shopping late in the afternoon. It was
dark when
baggers loaded
our many bags
into our van.
It was also
chilly, with the
temperature
hovering
around
freezing. I
Debbie Anderson
Arcy Obiacoro
picked up a bag
to help, and my
1954 class ring from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy
slipped off my finger, bounced on pavement and
disappeared through an iron grating into a drain. I
returned inside, reported my problem to an employee
then returned to my van for a flashlight. I was joined
by Debbie Anderson, sales store checker, and
Arcy Obiacoro, store associate. Ms. Anderson had a
reaching device and a flashlight larger than mine. The
lights quickly showed that water wasn’t flowing in
the drain, and the ring was visible on silt about 2 feet
below the grating. Mr. Obiacoro went to work and
successfully pulled the heavy grating out of the way,
and with Ms. Anderson’s help, I was able to retrieve
the undamaged ring. We had only a few minutes to
thank them because there were a lot of customers
and because we were headed to an evening event. I
extend my heartfelt thanks to Ms. Anderson and Mr.
Obiacoro for their calm and helpful response, and to
commissary leadership for the exemplary culture of
customer support so clearly in evidence.
Capt. R.J. Copin, U.S. Coast Guard, retired
McGuire
I compliment the produce department staff at
McGuire Commissary, N.J. In tough times such
as these, good customer service is hard to find. They
have always gone out of their way to smile and be
helpful with whatever my needs have been. I notice
that they are that way for all their customers, too.
I don’t know any of them personally, yet they are
always ready to answer questions or go back to check
stock to meet my request. Today was even more
exceptional than normal. Giuliano Arestirado
and Chianti
McCaskill
were so
pleasant and
helpful that I
was shocked.
Although these
two were rather
youthful, their
skills were
impressive.
“Lenny” Arestirado
Chianti McCaskill
w
35
!
I was so impressed that I had to write a letter
rather than fill out a suggestion card. The produce
department at McGuire Commissary deserves some
kudos.
Tina Bonfrancesco
Camp Humphreys
Peter Yom, cashier at Camp Humphreys
Commissary, South Korea, has always been very
courteous when he rings up my items. He has a nice
smile and will always answer when asked a question
about the store. He makes my trip enjoyable. Thank
you!
Terry Tash
Redstone Arsenal
I only shop Redstone Arsenal
Commissary, Ala., not because
of prices but because of Store
Director Robin Daniel and
computer-assisted ordering
specialist Richelle Rodarte.
When an item I wanted was not
available, Ms. Rodarte took time
to find out why the item had not
been ordered, even though she
was off duty. She ordered and
reordered the item, doing much
of this off the clock. She took
my number and kept me abreast
of the status. Her hard work,
professionalism, dedication and
caring attitude reflects great
credit upon her and Redstone
Commissary. When I hear
negative comments about the
commissary, I tell them to go see
Ms. Rodarte. My thanks to her for
all her help.
Lynn Warren
36
Fort Jackson
A co-worker had recently lost his brother, and it
was his first day back to work. Our office wanted to
do something nice for him and decided on a fruit
basket. I’m a regular shopper at Fort Jackson
Commissary, S.C., but I had never seen fruit
baskets for sale. I was headed off post to a grocery
store but kept thinking that I should try the
commissary, so I did. I did not see prepared fruit
baskets but asked Debra Marklein in the produce
section. She explained that normally baskets required
24 hours notice, but she would make me one. She
made a beautiful basket and had it ready in 15
minutes. I am so glad I went to the commissary. I
don’t believe I could have gotten anything better at
the grocery store. Thanks to Debra, I will always go to
the commissary first.
Anonymous
Robin Daniel
Richelle Rodarte
Lajes Field
Aureliano Cabral
Fort Carson
McConnell
We went through the selfcheckout at McConnell
Commissary, Kan., during two
different weeks, and Ashley
Hartman, sales store checker,
did a wonderful job helping us.
Both times, she was very attentive
without hovering over us. She
knew the items that would be
trouble on the “look-up,” and
when she saw them, she would
come over to help with them, without us having to
ask for help. She was extremely friendly and helpful.
With people like this young lady, our experience at
the commissary has been pleasant. She makes the use
of the self-checkout system much, much better.
Neil Daugherty, U.S. Army Reserve, retired
Ashley Hartman
Aureliano Cabral at Lajes
Field Commissary, Portugal,
was very helpful in assisting me
with an order of fruit platters
for a school event. He was
knowledgeable and courteous in
handling my many questions. The
order was exactly as requested and
gained many compliments. Thank
you, Mr. Cabral!
Angela Grant
We entered Fort Carson Commissary, Colo.,
upon opening. The store was perfect – every item on
every shelf was fronted; the floor was immaculate;
the produce, fresh; the meat counter, perfect. From
age 5 to age 25, I worked in my father’s supermarket,
and grocery stores and liquor stores in Southern
California. I know what it is to stock shelves, dust
corners, front shelves, clean and mop floors, etc.
The store was perfect, and I took the time to find the
manager and tell her so. I special order filets from the
meat department about once a month for a cookout
with family and friends. Always a perfect cut, exactly
as ordered, fat trimmed. I took the time to talk to
the meat department manager and tell him the same
thing. Everyone needs to know how hard they work to
make it a great place to shop.
Col. Mark Allen, U.S. Air Force, retired
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little adventure for my kids, and a hassle-free
trip for me. This was certainly a “quality of life”
issue that was handled with the utmost care
and concern. Thank you from a happy military
family!
Lt. Cdr. Louise McKernan
Schofield Barracks
Walter Reed
When we shop at Walter Reed Commissary,
Md., my wife and I are pleased to see lead store
checker Marjie Barfield there to provide customer
service. She always makes us feel welcome, and
generously offers to help, particularly in the selfcheckout line. Invariably, we call upon her and Ms.
Barfield responds without hesitation. She skillfully
takes care of any problem, which results in a flawless
transaction. Her assistance holds true not only for us,
but with other patrons as well. We feel fortunate and
reassured knowing Ms. Barfield consistently takes
care of her business, calmly and pleasantly. Please
convey our appreciation to her.
John Coulehan
Vilseck
I was on lunch break and decided to go to Vilseck
Commissary, Germany, to order some taro roots.
Jamela Dent, storeworker, was on her way out – I
believe she was leaving for the day. I asked her if
there was anyone in the back who could assist me.
I saw that she was leaving, so I said I would find
someone else, but she kindly took the time and found
someone to help me. A little customer service like this
goes a long way. I have worked in customer service
for a very long time, and it seems you always get the
negative comments, but people won’t take the time to
give the deserving comments. Thank you, Ms. Jamela
Dent, for CARING.
Irene Sua
Fort Meade
I contacted Store Director
Mary Williams regarding the
deteriorating state of the multiple
child carts at Fort Meade
Commissary, Md. She agreed
that something should be done to
make it easier for military families
with multiple children to shop.
She kept in touch via e-mail and
Mary Williams
made things happen. Now we
have beautiful, easy-to-use, clean,
new multiple child carts that are both a treat for my
three young children to ride in, and for me to shop
with. Thank you so much for turning a chore into a
I entered Schofield Barracks Commissary,
Hawaii, on June 22, and upon my approach
to self-checkout, a happy young lady, Ann
Cooper, store associate, greeted me confidently. She
asked for my identification and began speaking to my
children as if they were young adults. I watched my
children shake her hand and talk to her as I retrieved
my ID and began to check out. She continued to
check on every customer at the self-checkout with
enthusiasm and respect, and when my children began
to give me trouble, she came to the rescue again
– she entertained them while I finished my order.
Without this kind of dedication, it would have been a
nightmare to finish my order. I don’t know how long
she has been working there, but I have never had
that kind of help, and I haven’t encountered anyone
that pleasant in a long time. With my husband being
deployed, it is hard enough on us, but she made this
shopping trip a pleasure. Please let her know that my
husband and I appreciate her dedication to making
our commissary trip the best experience. I will always
look for her now, and my children always want to go
with me and are learning a valuable lesson from her.
Thank you, from a stressed mom.
Heather Franz
Wright-Patterson
I thank the employees at Wright-Patterson
Commissary, Ohio, for the “above and beyond”
experience this morning. I’m a military wife with two
boys, ages 3 and 8 months. My husband is currently
on temporary duty, and I am preparing for our
vacation by myself. I had a lot of shopping to do this
morning. By the end of my trip in the commissary,
my 8-month-old was crying and didn’t want to be in
the cart any longer. One of your employees, a very
kind woman, offered to push my cart so I could keep
up with my 3-year-old and hold my baby as well.
After picking up a couple more items, she helped
me get my cart to the registers and handed me off
to another wonderful woman, asking her to help me
unload my cart. I teared up in thanking them for their
help. You just don’t know how much I needed a little
kindness and support today. It is wonderful to know
that your employees are willing to push my cart for
me, for even a few minutes … that meant so much.
w
37
!
Thanks to all of those wonderful people who have
helped out any mommy in need in your store. You
never know when it will just make someone’s day.
Dawn Fetgatter
Luke
On two different days in
July, store associate Lesley
Clemons assisted me at Luke
Commissary, Ariz. She was
pleasant and attentive, and she
made me feel as if I were the
only person in the store. Ms.
Clemons exhibits a personality
and a willingness to help that
leave a pleasant memory. On both Lesley Clemons
occasions, I got the help I needed
in a matter of minutes. She even makes it a point to
say hello when she sees you, and she is ready to assist
you despite the fact that she is busy.
William Semper
Fort Bliss
My compliments to an outstanding employee,
store associate Sandra Reyes, at Fort Bliss
Commissary, Texas. Her professional attitude,
as well as her performance, have always been
colored with concern for the customer’s needs. Her
performance in a variety of tasks – produce, meat and
checkout – has been consistently superior. Each time
I come to the commissary, my family looks forward
to her winning smile and helpful performance. She
makes shopping a pleasant experience.
Col. Kassim Alexander, U.S. Army, retired
Iwakuni
My son was 7 months old and very colicky. He was
screaming at the top of his lungs, and we had nothing
available to stop his gas indigestion – and we were in
a foreign country, Japan. The “seven-day store” had
nothing; Iwakuni Commissary was closed, and
it was late at night. Yet, there was a light on in the
commissary office. I knocked on the door and told
them what was going on. There were smiles on their
faces, and they escorted me inside. I gave them cash
and told them to keep the change, but they refused
the change, of course. That was the best customer
service I have ever received in 32 years. It was a
personal touch that is missing in our day-to-day
activities.
Gunnery Sgt. Christina Grimes
38
Port Hueneme
I commend sales store clerk
Candis Cheshire, a very
knowledgeable and friendly
employee at Port Hueneme
Commissary, Calif. She has
come to my assistance on many
occasions to locate items for me.
I always look forward to seeing
her smiling face. I know if I have
Candis Cheshire
a question or problem during my
visit, I can always count on Candis
to come to my aid. It’s almost like family when I walk
through the doors and see her. This makes the run to
the commissary an enjoyable and happy time, thanks
to this wonderful, dedicated, efficient, charming
individual.
Master Sgt. Warren Geiser, U.S. Air Force, retired
Fort Hood I
Jane Cross-Sadler, cashier at Fort Hood I
Commissary, Texas, is a very good cashier,
surpassing many of her peers. She is very fast,
accurate, polite, friendly and a most excellent asset
to the commissary. She’s so fast I can’t keep up with
her – my items are rung up faster than I can unload!
Excellent worker.
Georgeann Siters
Dover
I award a solid “well done” to Andrea Black,
produce manager at Dover Commissary, Del. She
consistently displays a work ethic that puts smiles on
the faces of everyone who comes in contact with her.
Our society could use many more like Mrs. Black.
Lt. Col. Charles Erwin, U.S. Marine Corps, retired
Fort Hood II
Shoshana Wright is the most friendly person at
Fort Hood II Commissary, Texas. She always
has a pleasant way about her and a sunny hello. She
makes me and my husband feel as if we’re visiting a
friend instead of just getting groceries. I’ve seen her
interact with other customers the same friendly way.
She makes you feel happy to be there.
Judy Gurgas
Little Rock
The Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Post 4548 elected to spend $300 for the food pantry
at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. Another lady
and I went to our commissary and were directed to
Jeannie Sweatland, who got Linda Slaughter
to help us. They made suggestions of items that were
on sale or less expensive so we were able to purchase
more items with our limited funds. Ms. Slaughter
even helped us through the checkout and loading the
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Lorenzo Thomas
items into our
vehicle. This
was very much
appreciated,
and both
individuals
were more than
helpful. We
truly enjoyed
working with
Jeannie Sweatland
these two
ladies; they
made the
experience much more enjoyable.
Pat Reynolds, president, and
Glendola Edwards, secretary
Eleanor Abille
Christina Quesada
Kadena
Linda Slaughter
Our on-base neighborhood planned an egg hunt for
Easter Day at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. I was
responsible for a fruit tray, so I called the commissary
the day prior to reserve one. I received a pickup time
of 9 a.m. Neither I nor the produce worker thought
about the following day being Sunday, when opening
time is 10 a.m. On Sunday morning, while standing
outside, I was able to get the attention of Lorenzo
Thomas, produce manager, and I explained the
miscommunication in pickup time. He called
Eleanor Abille, customer service manager, but she
was uploading the registers and I couldn’t check out.
They called Christina Quesada, cash processing
technician, who was able to bring a self-checkout
register online so I could pick up
the fruit tray. This whole scenario
made me feel so very special as a
customer. They could have made
the blanket statement about
opening hours and returned to
what they were doing, but they
did the opposite and helped a
patron by listening. I am proud
to consider myself a customer of
Kadena Commissary. I thank you
all for your service and dedication
to duty.
Kem Frenchn
Need personnel service?
Defense
Logistics
Agency
Human
Resources
contacts:
n Go to
OneNet
n Click
“Resource
Center”
n Click
“Employee
Toolbox”
n Scroll
down to “DLA
Personnel
Servicing”
39
!
A
DeCA heroes
Eight role models earn salute
for selfless service, dedication
45-year veteran of commissary service.
A military wife and mom of five. A store
director with an inspiring outlook on life.
DeCA honored its everyday heroes who
help make the commissary worth the trip at the
American Logistics Association conference and
training event in Richmond, Va., in May. Excerpts
follow from the nomination packages for this year’s
eight honorees.
u Nancy Allison, deli-bakery food
service worker, Grafenwoehr
Commissary, Germany
Allison started at Grafenwoehr
in June 2008 and proved to be
dedicated to her work and to
pleasing customers. Her efforts
contributed to the successful
results of the annual department
inventory, and a number of patron
communications highlight her
Nancy Allison
outstanding customer service.
u Billy Benner, store director,
Naval Station Port Hueneme
Commissary, and acting
store director, China Lake
Commissary, Calif.
Zone 18 Manager Robert
Varela traces Benner’s positive
outlook on life back to his selfless
dedication. “His ‘service before self’
work ethic is one to be emulated,”
said Varela, “and he has always
Bill Benner
gone above and beyond as a normal
way of approaching each day
during his 12 years with DeCA.”
u Myong Brown, store
administrator, Yongsan
Commissary, South Korea
Supervising a multinational
workforce, Brown leads by
example, often working alongside
her teammates to ensure the
store is completely ready for
the start of each day’s business.
She maintains an outstanding
Myong Brown
relationship with her workforce,
community, and local and
national union representatives.
u Jeanne Caraballo, sales store technician,
Illesheim Commissary, Germany
A military spouse with five children, Carabello
started as a cashier at Illesheim in February 2008.
40
Store management praised her
for quickly immersing herself in
the Commissary Advanced Resale
Transaction System, becoming the
store expert. She helps customers
– especially elderly and disabled
patrons – by locating products for
them and taking special orders.
u Gerald Perez, storeworker,
Key West Commissary, Fla.
Perez’
Jeanne Caraballo
commissary
career started in 1964, and at 80
years old, he inspires everyone
around him, according to Store
Director Cindy Six. “Our
customers know him very well
and often seek him out whenever
they need something,” said Six.
“When he needs time off, he
ensures that he takes his day off
on a Wednesday, the only day that Gerald Perez
we do not receive a truck delivery.
He cares very much for his co-workers and customers
alike.”
u Marc Petit, Lean Six Sigma
black belt, DeCA Headquarters,
Va.
One of DeCA’s “charter”
black belts, Pettit serves as a
model of exemplary leadership
with dedication, commitment to
excellence and superior technical
acumen. In the “Streamlining the
Receiving Process” project, he
Mark Pettit
dramatically improved a difficult
and costly situation, which will
save DeCA at least $3.5 million annually once
the new process becomes fully
implemented.
u Bonita Ramsey, store
manager, Fort Bragg South
Commissary, N.C.
Ramsey transforms the
commissary into a winter
wonderland each holiday season,
establishing Fort Bragg South as
DeCA’s “Christmas Store.” Her
savvy in organizing large Guard
Bonita Ramsey
and Reserve on-site sales in
Charlotte, N.C., generated sales in
excess of $700,000 in fiscal 2008.
w
!
Forever friends
‘Hopscotch, apples and Mr. Lane’ spell commissary fun for young customer
I
Ingrid Murray
Special to Vision
f you see a happy
3-year-old
hopscotching
through the
produce section
at Fort Belvoir
Commissary, Va.,
that would be my son,
John Murray Jr.
I want to share a
story with you about
our commissary.
Everyone knows about
the great prices and
variety, but this is
about something else
our commissary offers ... it is
about hopscotch, apples and Mr.
Lane.
Recently our commissary
installed a permanent hopscotch
display on the floor in the
produce section. My son John Jr.
loves it. Whenever we go to the
commissary, he is so excited and
always asks, “Can I hopscotch in
the apples?” The game serves two
purposes: He gets to play, and I
use it to let him pick out the fruit
he wants to take home.
Last week when we arrived, my
son was already out of the buggy
skipping towards produce saying,
“Mama, I get to hopscotch, yeah
for me.” He rounded the corner
and I followed him.
All of a sudden I almost ran
over him. He had stopped and was
looking back at me with big tears
in his eyes and said,
Raymond Lane
“Mama, I can’t get to
shakes with his
hopscotch no more.”
buddy, John Murray
A pallet of
Jr., pledging to
watermelons covered
keep the produce
the hopscotch display. hopscotch graphic
For my son, it was
available for play.
heartbreaking. I was
Courtesy photos
trying to reassure him
that maybe next time he could
within minutes, the watermelons
play, but he said, “No mama, I
were moved, and John Jr. was
always get to hopscotch real good
free to hopscotch.
two times and pick out my fruit
Fast friends were made that
from the hopscotch.”
day between Mr. Lane and John
Just about then, Deputy Store
Jr. Mr. Lane gave John Jr. his
Director Raymond Lane came
card and told him, “Now you
by. Seeing the big tears in John Jr.’s
are my hopscotch checker. If the
eyes, he asked what was wrong.
game is ever covered, you come
John Jr. pointed to the pallet of
and let me know and I will fix it.”
watermelons and replied, “I can’t
Now when we visit the
hopscotch in the apples today.”
commissary, before we leave, John
Mr. Lane said, “Well, we will
Jr. pokes his head in the office
take care of that right now.” He
door and lets Mr. Lane know, “The
pulled out his walkie-talkie and,
hopscotch in the apples is OK.”n
DeCA heroes ...
years, helping less fortunate families to celebrate the
season. She also arranged for used industry point-ofsale materials, headed for the trash, to be delivered
to the local Children’s Hospital, where they are used
as decorations.n
u Andrea White, store manager,
Tinker Commissary, Okla.
Another DeCA “Christmas
Angel,” White has coordinated a
Christmas giving program for 30
41
Andrea White
!
Leadership, Blackwell style
Zone 21 manager
Cook credits
teamwork in
winning agency
honor
Millie Slamin
DeCA public affairs specialist
R
ichard “Dick” Cook,
Zone 21 manager for
DeCA East, received the
Defense Commissary
Agency’s Blackwell Leadership
Award for 2008.
The award is presented
each year to recognize the
employee who has demonstrated
exceptional leadership, courage
and integrity. Cook received the
award May 19 at DeCA’s Annual
Training Event and Conference in
Richmond, Va.
“Great leaders have vision and
direction,” said DeCA Director
and CEO Philip E. Sakowitz
Jr., “and Dick has certainly
proven his focus is on working
with his team and our industry
partners to help deliver a premier
benefit.”
DeCA East Acting Director
Robert Vitikacs agreed,
noting that Cook has repeatedly
demonstrated his propensity for
performance-driven leadership
that has continued to exceed
expectations by introducing
innovative programs that increase
sales and savings.
Cook’s team
increased sales by 3.8
percent and customer
count by nearly 2
percent, besting the
agency’s average
increase of 1.6 percent.
and creative when looking for new
ways to deliver the commissary
benefit to customers.
“He personifies the very
spirit of public service, because
he intuitively understands
and nurtures in others the
understanding that the truest of
leaders simply serve,” Vitikacs
continued. “His many years of
operational, fiscal and managerial
excellence and experience lend
him an unprecedented and
iconic level of authenticity and
credibility with store directors,
DeCA Director and CEO Philip E.
zone managers and region
Sakowitz Jr. presents the 2008
leadership.”
Blackwell Leadership Award to
Cook said he is deeply honored
Zone 21 manager Richard “Dick”
to
have been chosen from a field
Cook. DeCA photo: Rick Brink
of highly qualified candidates.
“To me, this award means
Vitikacs said Cook keeps
working hard, maintaining one’s
his team focused on exceeding
integrity, persevering through
customer service expectations –
challenging times, and staying
even during the often incredibly
focused on the goal of serving our
complex and operationally
servicemen and women and their
challenging transitions unique to
families,” Cook added.
military installations.
The award recipient said he
“Where others see risk and
considers team building to be his
uncertainty, he sees opportunity
strongest leadership trait.
– embracing and fostering an
“I recognize that meaningful
environment where his team’s
success and change cannot come
creative and innovative solutions
from me alone,” continued Cook.
routinely overcome challenge
“All I have achieved during my
after challenge,” Vitikacs added.
career has been the result of
As for his leadership
working as a team.
abilities, Vitikacs said Cook is
“My peers, subordinate
the quintessential leader who
employees and DeCA’s leadership
communicates a common vision
throughout my career have been
to his team and encourages them
outstanding. I would have never
to achieve it, always leading by
received this award without
example and inspiring others to
their support, mentorship and
follow his lead and be innovative
guidance.”
The Blackwell
Leadership Award is
named in honor of the
late Air Force Chief
Master Sgt. Michael
W. Blackwell, who
— Bob Vitikacs
served as DeCA’s
senior enlisted advisor
to the director from March 1994
to March 1995.n
Where others see risk
and uncertainty, he sees
opportunity ...
42
!
Yofthebenefit
‘Heart of the Benefit’ celebrates the
Kim Graham
winning work philosophies of three
Robins Commissary, Ga.
outstanding DeCA team members.
What do you like best about your job as grocery work leader?
What I like best is the pace of daily operations.
I love staying busy and enjoy facing different
challenges every day. I truly enjoy interacting with
our customers and working alongside a fantastic
group of co-workers.
How do you help make the commissary worth the trip?
Hopefully I help by ensuring we exceed customers’
expectations of superb product availability, quality
and excellent customer service. I treat every
customer as the most important person to me when
I am assisting them. I listen to their feedback,
recommendations and suggestions and submit them
to store management for consideration.
What’s your professional history?
I am the spouse of an active-duty Air Force member
and have been part of the Air Force family for more
than 25 years. Due to my husband’s numerous
permanent-change-of-station moves over the years,
I have worked in a variety of jobs. In addition to
having served in the Air Force myself, prior to
joining the DeCA team in 2003, I worked as a
custodial worker, housekeeper, lodging desk clerk,
cook, cashier, inventory specialist, and deli-bakery
manager. Since joining DeCA, I have worked as
an administrative clerk, grocery worker and work
leader.
What are your professional goals?
My short-term goals are to continue to learn, work
hard every day, and go back to college in an effort
to improve myself. My long-term goals are to earn
a degree and, if I’m fortunate enough, to earn the
opportunity to become a store director.
Who influenced your career most and why?
The person who has the most influence on me is
my husband. Whether it’s my work, school, family
life, or anything that life brings our way, he always
supports me. Even when applying for different
positions within DeCA, when I didn’t think I
had a chance to be selected for the position, he
encouraged me and somehow everything always
worked out for the best.
w
Kim Graham DeCA photo: Rick Brink
We are truly fortunate to have Kim Graham.
From her excellent work in the management
support center to the outstanding job she is
currently doing in the grocery department,
Kim displays an exceptional work ethic and
attention to detail that gains her the respect
of all who work with her. Her outgoing
personality and desire to always get the job
done has made her a valuable member of
Team Robins. I look forward to watching her
move up in this organization. With her drive
and dedication, I believe there is no goal Kim
cannot reach!
Chris Milligan, store administrator
43
!
customers deserve and
expect.
What’s your professional
history?
It’s unbelievable, but
I’m now in my 29th year
of government service.
I served in the Air
Force for 12 years. After
separation, I worked
within the Department
of Defense in various
retail positions
including Army and Air
Force Exchange Service,
Navy Exchange, and
Morale, Welfare and
Recreation. I joined the
DeCA team in 2006. I
hope that this will be
my last stop in the DoD
system.
Clarence Hicks DeCA photo: Belinda Dowdle
Clarence Hicks
Croughton Commissary, England
What do you like best about your job as store associate?
The part I like most is daily interaction with
customers. Not only do I get the opportunity to
provide a service to the customer, but I also get
trained in various aspects of DeCA operations at
store level. I’m making the first stop in transition
from customer service manager to store associate.
I’m training in the produce department, learning
tasks such as ordering, receiving, inventory control
and displaying a variety of quality products for our
customers.
Because I work on such a small base, everyone
pretty much knows each other. When customers
come into the store we usually greet by first name.
At Croughton, we have a more personal relationship
with our customers – more than might be possible at
bigger stores. Positive comments show we are moving
in the right direction in giving the type of service the
44
I would like to continue to learn and grow at store
level until possibly being selected into DeCA’s GS1144 management program. I will start classes in the
fall to continue working towards a degree in business
or human relations.
Who influenced your career most and why?
I have to say that it was Ann (Miller) Borley,
store manager for the NEX Mart at West Ruislip,
London. She was the first manager that I had after
separating from the military. She took a lot of her
time grooming and training me for a future in retail.
It was her words and actions that made me turn the
corner and realize that I could be successful in the
retail business.
Mr. Hicks continually seeks new
challenges in each department within
the store. He’s first to volunteer for
any task no matter what. He recently
requested a move from lead cashier to
produce manager. He takes advantage
of every training opportunity offered
and seeks new opportunities to propel
himself up the DeCA management
ladder.
Glen Taylor, store director
!
to creating an efficient checkout process when I work
the front-end operation as a backup cashier.
What’s your professional history?
In the 1980s, I worked in the Philippines at Naval
Supply Depot Subic Bay as a computer operator and
then in Sunnyvale, Calif., as a data-entry operator.
In the 1990s, I was a teller with Bank of America at
Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan. I came to Whidbey
Island Commissary in 1997 as a cashier. I was
promoted to teller, lead cashier and then to my
present position in the management support center.
My goals are to continue learning and become a fulltime management support center employee. In the
future, I would like to be a general manager in one
of the departments at the commissary. Meantime, I
want to continue to contribute to the management
support team and help the commissary maintain its
reputation for excellent customer service.
Who has had the most influence on your career and why?
My husband and my two boys have influenced me
the most. They inspire me to never give up at any
job. My youngest just joined his brother as a college
graduate, so a little bit of the pressure is off me now.
My previous store director, Mr. Bob Liwanag
(now store director, Anchorage Area, Alaska),
influenced me when he gave me the chance to train
in the management support center; and my current
store director, Ms. Norma Kincaid, influences me
when she encourages the team, even when we face
difficult tasks. I also appreciate general manager Mr.
Kim Ross for helping to maintain the harmonious
environment that I enjoy working in so much. And
finally, I learn from my officemates and co-workers.
We are all a team!n
Rida Cortez DeCA photo: Sherrie Scott
Rida Cortez
Whidbey Island Commissary, Wash.
What do you like best about your job in the management
support center as an accounting technician?
I enjoy learning about commissary operations by
working with vendors, sales representatives and store
managers. The knowledge I gain allows me to create
a better customer experience. Coming from a military
family, I take pride in knowing that I am helping to
take care of other military families.
My main goals are to reduce commissary losses and
make the checkout process efficient. I directly contribute
Rida is an extremely hardworking
employee who strives for perfection in
everything she does. She demonstrates
a high level of technical expertise
and has been instrumental in helping
to reduce commissary losses by
ensuring accounts are accurate. She
offers excellent customer service to
customers and co-workers alike; she is
a true team player who understands the
value of offering extraordinary service.
Norma Kincaid, store director
45
!
frontandcenter
obituaries
MICHAEL ANSELMI, San Onofre, Calif. (March
12)
JULIA BARNES, HQ DeCA, Va. (June 25)
RAYMOND ALLAN HAHN, Richards-Gebaur,
Mo. (July)
WILLIAM STRICKLAND, Tinker AFB, Okla.
(April 23)
WILTRUD “WILLIE” ZEIMENS, Spangdahlem
AB, Germany (Aug. 7)
retirements
RONNIE CESENA,
NOLF Imperial
Beach, Calif.
LELAND DIAMOND,
NSU Saratoga
Springs, N.Y.
RICHARD
FREDRICK,
MCAS Yuma,
Ariz.
JESSE GROOMS,
F.E. Warren AFB,
Wyo.
ELIZABETH HERMS,
Bill Patterson (42)
Fort Myer, Va.
LARRY JOHNS,
Nellis AFB, Nev.
CHESTER MOSELY, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
WILBUR PALMER, Offutt AFB, Neb.
* WILLIAM PATTERSON (42), HQ DeCA, Va.
BOB PHILLIPS, NSU Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
STEVE SISK, NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas
EDWARD SUMMERS, March ARB, Calif.
GARRY VanALSTYNE, NSU Saratoga Springs,
N.Y.
AMANDA VARNADO, Cannon AFB, N.M.
JOSEFINO VILLAMARIN, NAS Whidbey
Island, Wash.
PHILIP WICKHAM, NSU Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
anniversaries
(Mug shots welcomed for those with 40+ years
of service)
40 years
* SIGRID ALBERT, DeCA Europe, Germany
* RICHARD CAMPBELL, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
* DAVE MERICA, Fort Irwin, Calif.
* KEITH SAVAGE, DeCA Europe, Germany
ROSEMARIE SCHIMPF, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
35 years
ERNST BLINN, Kaiserslautern CDC, Germany
30 years
MICHAEL GEORG BUTTERWORTH,
Kaiserslautern CDC, Germany
DAVID COSTELLO, CMPP, Ramstein AB, Germany
JAMES DOCHERTY, Fort Lewis, Wash.
KENNETH DOWNS, Fort Knox, Ky.
RITA EHLENZ, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
EDWARD GRIFFIN JR., Beale AFB, Calif.
CAROL HUMPHRIES, McChord AFB, Wash.
* Pictured
46
Sigrid Albert (40)
R. Campbell (40)
Dave Merica (40)
Keith Savage (40)
WARDELL JOHNSON, McChord AFB, Wash.
RAYMOND LANGFORD, Los Angeles AFB, Calif.
KATHLEEN MESSMAN, NAS Jacksonville, Fla.
CATHERINE MONTGOMERY, Fort Sill, Okla.
EDWARD NOWOTTNICK, Fort Detrick, Md.
O CHOM-POK, CFA Chinhae, South Korea
NANCY O’NELL, DeCA West, Calif.
ROBERTO PAPANDREA, Ramstein AB, Germany
WILLIAM SARAFIS, Fort Hood I, Texas
BERND SCHWARZ, DeCA Europe, Germany
PAULA SENN, SC Smokey Point, Wash.
CHRISTINE STENGEL, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
MARY WALKER, MCB Quantico, Va.
MARLEEN WILSON, Fort Gillem, Ga.
25 years
MARTINS ROBERTO BORGES, Lajes Field,
Portugal
ANDREA BRENNER, Germersheim CDC, Germany
INHUI EGGERMAN, Yongsan, South Korea
PETRA GRIES, Kaiserslautern CDC, Germany
OBSTAREK JUTTA, Kaiserslautern CDC,
Germany
MICHAEL KLEIN, Ramstein AB, Germany
GWEN OSBORN, NAES Lakehurst, N.J.
DANIEL SMITH, Camp Courtney, Okinawa
20 years
AMELIA ANDERSON, Andersen AFB, Guam
ELENITA BAUTISTA, NAS Jacksonville, Fla.
BRIDGET BENNETT, HQ DeCA, Va.
CLAUDIA BÜRGER, Germersheim CDC, Germany
CATHERINE CADDELL, Fort Stewart, Ga.
LISA CALLAHAN, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
ALBERT CARTER, Fort Meade, Md.
MARILYN CHAMBERS, Fort Sill, Okla.
ROBERT CHEATAM, HQ DeCA, Va.
MARIETTA COLE, Fort Sill, Okla.
ZELMA COUSER, Walter Reed AMC, Md.
SHIRLEY DISCH, DeCA Europe, Germany
UI SON DOMINO, Fort Belvoir, Va.
THOMAS DYE, NNSY Portsmouth, Va.
ULRIKE EITZENHOFFER, DeCA Europe, Germany
JÜRGEN FELDMANN, Germersheim CDC,
Germany
ULRICH FLEISCHER, Ramstein AB, Germany
RICHARD FREDRICK, MCAS Yuma, Ariz.
SOJUNG GARCIA, Hannam Village, South Korea
ALEXANDRA GUNDERMANN, Germersheim
CDC, Germany
JERRY HALL JR., HQ DeCA, Va.
ERICH HAUS, Bitburg AB, Germany
JUDY HUNT, McChord AFB, Wash.
FLORENDO “DANNY” IGNACIO, NAES
Lakehurst, N.J.
BARBARA JACQUES, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
SHAWNEE JOHNS, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
SYLVESTER KENNEY, Fort Benning, Ga.
GABRIELE KERN, Germersheim CDC, Germany
SHERRY KING, Fort Benning, Ga.
WALTRAUD KRONES, Spangdahlem AB, Germany
CINDY LEWIS, Robins AFB, Ga.
FRANCES MALY, MCB Quantico, Va.
CHARZETTA McCAINEY, Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
MARCUS McDONALD, Hunter AAF, Ga.
PATRICIA McGILPIN, Selfridge ANGB, Mich.
THOMAS McMAHON, NAS Lemoore, Calif.
LYNN O’NEALL, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
ORA PHILLIPS, Sheppard AFB, Texas
EMERSON POLLOCK, HQ DeCA, Va.
CAROLYN REEISE, Fort Sill, Okla.
DEBRA ROBERTS, Fort Eustis, Va.
CONNIE SCOTT, Fort Sill, Okla.
HAROLD SELVEY, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
SIN TAE-SU, Osan CDC, South Korea
JANE SMITH, Fort Detrick, Md.
MICHAEL SUNDSTROM, Andersen AFB, Guam
ADRIENNE SUTTON, NAES Lakehurst, N.J.
DELTINA THOMAS, Fort Hood II, Texas
CONSTANCE TOBIAS, San Onofre, Calif.
GAIL TOLBERT, HQ DeCA, Va.
ALBERT VILLAGOMEZ, Guam CDC
FRANK WEBER, Kaiserslautern CDC, Germany
SUE WHITHAM, Fort Myer, Va.
RONALD WILKE, NB Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
REGINA WILLIAMS, Walter Reed AMC, Md.
HERMENIA WILSON, NAS Whidbey Island, Wash.
15 years
AMELITA BURGARD, Vogelweh, Germany
KIM CHAE-SUNG, Taegu Camp Walker, South
Korea
MICHAEL MAHONEY, HQ DeCA, Va.
PATRICIA TILLER, RAF Croughton, England
PATRIZIA TRUCCOLO, Aviano AB, Italy
10 years
DARLA ALEX, NAS Meridian, Miss.
JOHN BERGMAN, Nellis AFB, Nev.
JAMES BROWN, Dover AFB, Del.
HYON BUSHKE, Fort Wainwright, Alaska
SHEILA CLAYPOOL, F.E. Warren, Wyo.
YVONNE CRABTREE, Tinker AFB, Okla.
KIMBERLY DAVIS, McClellan, Calif.
LILLI DENK, DeCA Europe, Germany
THOMAS DUBOIS, Fort Detrick, Md.
ILHAN ERDEM, Izmir AS, Turkey
CHERYL EVANS, NNSY Portsmouth, Va.
JANET FREEMAN, Andrews AFB, Md.
EUFRICINA FULLER, NS Port Hueneme, Calif.
BEVERLY GAVIN, Langley AFB, Va.
MARY GIBSON, Fort Detrick, Md.
!
pRESOURCE MANAGEMENT HONOR: DeCA’s Coupon Reconciliation Team, Resource
Management Directorate, won the Team Award, Headquarters and Major Command,
competing in the Office of the Secretary of Defense Comptroller’s Financial
Management Award Program this spring. Team members Maria Howard, supervisory
financial specialist; Nida Baker and Janet Chambliss, accounting technicians; and
Janie Murphy, lead coupon technician, improved coupon receivables, netting more than
$140,000 in outstanding coupon debt and decreasing receivables greater than 60 days
by 74 percent. DeCA photo: Cherie Huntington
SEU GRIER, Fort Lewis, Wash.
AYTUG GUVEN, Izmir AS, Turkey
LARITA HARDY, Fort McPherson, Ga.
MARY HARRIS, Fort Campbell, Ky.
ERLINDA HUFF, SC Smokey Point, Wash.
ARLEEN JACKSON, Fort McPherson, Ga.
SANDRA JOHANNES, DeCA Europe, Germany
KIM MYONG-SU, Camp Red Cloud, South Korea
CHRISTIAN LOVING, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
LARRY MAYFIELD, NSCS Athens, Ga.
MARIA McCARTY, MCB Camp Lejeune, N.C.
SYLVIA NEWCOMB, NSA New Orleans, La.
KAMILAH NEWSOME, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
O CHANG-HYON, Taegu Camp Walker, South
Korea
CHRISTOPHER PITTMAN, Keesler AFB, Miss.
ANATOLI SCHEPP, Germersheim CDC, Germany
PATRICK SCHWEHM, CMPP, Ramstein AB,
Germany
GEOFFREY SMITH, RAF Lakenheath, England
BELINDA SORIA, MCACC Twentynine Palms,
Calif.
FLORENE SWANSON, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
RHONDA SWAYZEE, HQ DeCA, Va.
MILANY TETREAULT, Offutt AFB, Neb.
OMER TOZ, Izmir AS, Turkey
FOTU TUA, Fort Knox, Ky.
U TAE-WON, Yongsan CDC, South Korea
JEANNE VASQUEZ, Fort Irwin, Calif.
JOHN WARNER, Charleston AFB, S.C.
CAROLYN WASHBURN, Fort Carson, Colo.
DENNIS WATSON, Fort Carson, Colo.
WILLIAM WEINERT, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
LAWRENCE WHEATON, NCBC Gulfport, Miss.
DAWN WHITE, Fort Bragg North, N.C.
MONICA WILKERSON, McConnell AFB, Kan.
MARGARET WRIGHT, RAF Croughton, England
5 years
PAK SE-CHUN, Yongsan, South Korea
PAK SUN-HO, Osan CDC, South Korea
top employees
Employees of the Year
JOSE YRACHETA, NB
San Diego, Calif.
Jose Yracheta
Safety Award 2008
Goodfellow AFB,
Texas:
JOSEPHINE
ANDERSON
SANDRA BRADLEY
ELAINE BURLEY
JOSHUA CAVANESS
DELMER COOK
DEANNA CORONA
ROBERT DILLARD
PATRICE FUNDERBURK
DIXIE GONGORA
JOHN GONGORA
TERRY HARRISON
JUSTIN HUMPHREYS
MARGIE JACKSON
MERCEDITA JARAMILLO
ERIN JOHNSON
LEONARD JUNGMAN
DENISE MOTE
LINDA RADLOFF
DANIEL SCHROEDER
JANICE TARRAFERRO
MAGDALENO VALDEZ
EUGENE WENDLAND
KEITH WESTBROOKS
CYNTHIA WILLIAMS
Employees of the Quarter
3rd Quarter 2009
DESIREE BOLLIG, Okinawa CDC
BRANDI CRAIG, MCLB Barstow, Calif.
YVETTE ELLIS, McConnell AFB, Kan.
SEICHU HAYASHI, Okinawa CDC
KARLA IXTLAHUAC, San Onofre, Calif.
w
47
!
DAMITA JONES, NAF Atsugi, Japan
PATRICIA LAMPSHIRE, McConnell AFB, Kan.
SANDRA McGEE, McConnell AFB, Kan.
OKITAKA MEDORUMA, Okinawa CDC
SHINJI NAGATA, Sasebo, Japan
KAZUE NISHINO, Misawa AB, Japan
RUBY RAMOS, NB San Diego, Calif.
DIANE RASMUSSEN, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
MONICA WILKERSON, McConnell AFB, Kan.
VICTORIA WILSON, McConnell AFB, Kan.
SHOTA YAMASHIRO, Okinawa CDC
BILLY WOODS, Vance AFB, Okla.
YI SONG-HUI, Taegu Camp Walker, South Korea
YI UI-YONG, Osan CDC, South Korea
2nd Quarter 2009
BONNIE ADAMS, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
GLEN BRANDON, Osan CDC, South Korea
BOBBY BURNS, Anchorage Area, Alaska
JESSICA CERVANTES, March ARB, Calif.
CHON HAE-SAENG, Camp Stanley, South Korea
JULIE COLE, Hill AFB, Utah
FABIOLA ELDRIDGE, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
DINAH FERNANDEZ, San Onofre, Calif.
EUFRICINA FULLER, Port Hueneme, Calif.
RENE HALL-CURIE, Twentynine Palms, Calif.
VANESSA HINES, Edwards AFB, Calif.
AKANE HIRAYAMA, Sagamihara, Japan
SUZANNE McKINLEY, Ord Community, Calif.
HIROSHI OKABE, NFA Yokosuka, Japan
PAK SIN-KYU, Hannam Village, South Korea
PAK YONG-CHIN, Yongsan CDC, South Korea
MARNITTA PAVAO, NAF El Centro, Calif.
DOMINIC PEREZ, Dugway PG, Utah
MARK PRESTEL, NAWS China Lake, Calif.
JOYCE RIVERS, Hario Village, Japan
ANDY SALAZAR, NB San Diego, Calif.
SIN CHU-HYON, Yongsan, South Korea
SON CHANG-HO, Camp Casey, South Korea
REBECCA TARNOWSKI, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
PAUL TAVARES, MCACC Twentynine Palms, Calif.
HITOSHI TOGUCHI, Camp Foster, Okinawa
SERGIO TORRES, Fort Irwin, Calif.
Employees of the Month
June 2009
MICHAEL BALZER, Kanto Plain CDC, Japan
CLEMENTINE BROWN, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
MARGIE COOPER, NBK Bremerton, Wash.
TAKARA KOIWA, Sagamihara, Japan
BRANDON MOHLER, Iwakuni CDC, Japan
YASKUKO NAGAOKA, FA Sasebo, Japan
PETER OLDERON, Misawa AB, Japan
HELEN PATERNO, NAF Atsugi, Japan
MORIMICHI TAMAYOSE, Okinawa CDC
AUDEMAR TAPIA-DE COOK, Hario Village,
Japan
KUNIHIKO URA, Camp Courtney, Okinawa
SHOTA YAMASHIRO, Okinawa CDC
2nd Quarter Safety Award
FRED FISHER, NAF El Centro, Calif.
SAMANTHA HENNING, Vance AFB, Okla.
DOLLY WOJCIECHOWSKI, Malmstrom AFB, Mont.
1st Quarter 2009
EUFRUCINA FULLER, NS Port Hueneme, Calif.
May 2009
STEVEN ANDERSON, Kanto Plain CDC, Japan
JAMES BALL, Kadena AB, Okinawa
CASEY BATCHELOR, Osan CDC, South Korea
PEARL CARDIEL-SANTOS, NS Port Hueneme,
Calif.
CLYDE CEARNEL, Camp Courtney, Okinawa
RIMA DELUZE, Edwards AFB, Calif.
KAZUO FURUTA, Misawa AB, Japan
MICHINARI HAMANAKA, Iwakuni CDC, Japan
DAMITA JONES, NAF Atsugi, Japan
KIM CHUNG-HWAN, Hannam Village, South
Korea
KIM YONG-KUK, Yongsan, South Korea
JURI KOUDA, Sagamihara, Japan
TAITO MIYAZATO, Okinawa CDC
NA KYONG-WON, Camp Stanley, South Korea
SHINJI NAGATA, FA Sasebo, Japan
YOSHINO OSHIRO, Okinawa CDC
DELEAN PACE, Kadena AB, Okinawa
PAK SUN-HO, Camp Casey, South Korea
JOYCE RIVERS, Hario Village, Japan
MIYAKO TASHIRO, Yokota AB, Japan
KIYOKO TOKESHI, Camp Foster, Okinawa
ERIKO TOYAMA, Kadena AB, Okinawa
U TAE-WON, Yongsan CDC, South Korea
SAYAKA UEHARA, Kadena AB, Okinawa
REMINGTON WIMBERLY, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
LILLIAN YAMASHIRO, Camp Kinser, Okinawa
NORIAKI YAMAMOTO, Camp Kure, Japan
HIROKAZU YASUI, Okinawa CDC
YUN HWA-SIK, Osan CDC, South Korea
May Cashier of the Month
PAULETTE ROBERTS, FA Sasebo, Japan
April 2009
MASAMITSU ARAKAKI, Camp Foster, Okinawa
MICHAEL BANNERMAN, Edwards AFB, Calif.
YOLLY BASULTO, FA Sasebo, Japan
YAEKO CHINA, Kadena AB, Okinawa
CHRIS CRUZ, FA Sasebo, Japan
JOHN GUEVARRA, NAF Atsugi, Japan
IMELDA HEADRICK, Yokota AB, Japan
SUZUKI HIROKAZU, Yokota AB, Japan
TOMOKATSU ICHIDA, Iwakuni CDC, Japan
FUTOSHI ITO, Yokota AB, Japan
JAMES KIRCHNER, Yokota AB, Japan
NAOJI MATAYOSHI, Kadena AB, Okinawa
HITOSHI NAKAMATSU, Okinawa CDC
KAZUE NISHINO, Misawa AB, Japan
HIRO OCHUICHI, Yokota AB, Japan
MASAAKI OGIDO, Okinawa CDC
NORMAN OKADA, Hario Village, Japan
TOSHIO SHIODA, Yokota AB, Japan
KELLY STEPHENS, Yokota AB, Japan
HIRONIRI SUNAKAWA, Okinawa CDC
MAYUMI TANIBAYASHI, Yokota AB, Japan
GRACE VERCELES, NS Port Hueneme, Calif.
SHINJI WAKAMATSU, Sagamihara, Japan
HIROKAZU YAMASHIRO, Camp Courtney,
Okinawa
April Cashier of the Month
JAMES BUHLER, NFA Yokosuka, Japan
pFREE EATS: Grocery Manager Divina Francesconi, light blue shirt,
helps serve about 500 soldiers at a free barbecue during May’s
Commissary Commando Competition, Vicenza, Italy. S&K Company
donated the popular cookout staples. U.S. Army photo: Laura Kreider
48
March 2009
AN CHONG-HWAN, Yongsan, South Korea
GLEN BRANDON, Osan CDC, South Korea
CHARITY BUGAWAN, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
ANDY CABUSAO, NB San Diego, Calif.
ADELVI CALBES, NBK Bremerton, Wash.
JASON CHOI, Osan CDC, South Korea
KANG JAE-HUI, Camp Casey, South Korea
KIM CHONG-PIL, Camp Red Cloud, South Korea
KIM CHUN-HYONG, Camp Stanley, South Korea
KIM CONG-IL, Yongsan, South Korea
KIM YONG-KUK, Yongsan, South Korea
CHOM KIMBLE, Hannam Village, South Korea
PAK CHONG-HYE, Osan CDC, South Korea
PAK SIN-KYU, Hannam Village, South Korea
PAK YONG-CHIN, Yongsan CDC, South Korea
STEPHANIE PENLAND, NFA Yokosuka, Japan
tLOCAL FAVORITES:
Lajes Commissary,
Portugal, offers
a new “Taste of
Portugal” section,
designed by Mario
Avila, produce
manager. Selections
highlight local and
other Portuguese
products available
at the commissary.
DeCA photo:
Jim Marino
DOMINIC PEREZ, Dugway PG, Utah
ANDREW ROCHARD, NFA Yokosuka, Japan
SIN WON-HO, Yongsan CDC, South Korea
CARL SMITH, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
SO YONG-SIK, Camp Red Cloud, South Korea
SONG HAE-JUN, Camp Casey, South Korea
YANG SUNG-HAN, Yongsan, South Korea
YI SONG-POK, Osan CDC, South Korea
YU YONG-KUN, Camp Stanley, South Korea
pro honors
(Other winners from listed contests may have
been published previously)
Coleson Foods Big Catch Display
DeCA West: YONGSAN, South Korea
E&C News Big Game Display
DeCA West: TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.
General Mills Cinco de Mayo Display
DeCA East: NS NEWPORT, R.I.
General Mills Just Add Milk Display
DeCA East: LANGLEY AFB, Va.
Idaho Potato Lover’s Month Display
DeCA East: HARRISON VILLAGE, Ind.;
HURLBURT FIELD, NAS JACKSONVILLE, Fla.
DeCA West: ALTUS AFB, Okla.; LACKLAND
AFB, SHEPPARD AFB, Texas
Kashi Top Gun Award
DeCA West: NOLF IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif.;
KIRTLAND AFB, N.M.; TINKER AFB, VANCE
AFB, Okla.
Kellogg’s Crystal K
DeCA West: TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.
Kellogg’s Fit to Serve Display
DeCA West: FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz.
Kellogg’s NASCAR Display
DeCA East: EGLIN AFB, Fla.
Kellogg’s Snack Free Milk Display
DeCA East: TYNDALL AFB, Fla.
DeCA West: McCHORD AFB, Wash.
Kraft Excellence in Execution
DeCA West: VANCE AFB, Okla.
MDBS Bakery-Deli Champion Cup
DeCA West: FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz.
Motts March Madness
DeCA East: COLUMBUS AFB, Miss.
DeCA West: FORT HOOD I, FORT HOOD II, Texas
National Apple Month Display
DeCA West: LACKLAND AFB, SHEPPARD AFB,
Texas
Otis Spunkmeyer Customer Appreciation Display
DeCA West: FORT BLISS, Texas; KIRTLAND
AFB, WHITE SANDS MR, N.M.
Pepsi Super Bowl Display
DeCA West: NAWS CHINA LAKE, Calif.; FORT
SILL, Okla.; MARCH ARB, VANDENBERG AFB,
ZONE 18, Calif.
Procter & Gamble Special Olympics
(Grand prize winners)
DeCA East: ABERDEEN PG, ANDREWS AFB,
FORT DETRICK, FORT MEADE, ZONE 25, Md.;
BANGOR ANGB, Maine; BOLLING AFB, D.C.;
CARLISLE BARRACKS, TOBYHANNA AD,
Pa.; MCAS CHERRY POINT, N.C.; COLUMBUS
AFB, Miss.; NSF DAHLGREN, FORT BELVOIR,
MCB QUANTICO, Va.; FORT BENNING, FORT
McPHERSON, NSB KINGS BAY, Ga.; FORT
HAMILTON, MITCHEL FIELD, N.Y.; HURLBURT
FIELD, NAS KEY WEST, MacDILL AFB, Fla.;
NAES LAKEHURST, N.J.; MAXWELL AFB,
REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala.
DeCA Europe: ANKARA AS, Turkey; CAIRO,
Egypt; GRAFENWOEHR, KELLEY BARRACKS,
VILSECK, VOGELWEH, ZONE 31, Germany
DeCA West: BEALE AFB, NAF EL CENTRO,
NAS LEMOORE, SAN ONOFRE, Calif.; CAMP
FOSTER, Okinawa; CAMP ZAMA, NFA
YOKOSUKA, ZONE 35, Japan; CANNON AFB,
KIRTLAND AFB, WHITE SANDS MR, N.M.;
DAVIS-MONTHAN AFB, FORT HUACHUCA,
LUKE AFB, YUMA PG, ZONE 19, Ariz.; NAS
CORPUS CHRISTI, NAS JRB FORT WORTH,
SHEPPARD AFB, Texas; HICKAM AFB, MCB
KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii; MOUNTAIN HOME
AFB, Idaho; TINKER AFB, Okla.
Quaker-Tropicana Fuel Your Morning Display
DeCA East: NSF DAHLGREN, Va.; McGUIRE
AFB, N.J.
DeCA West: NAF ATSUGI, Japan
Smart Spot Display-Sales
DeCA East: NSF DAHLGREN, Va.
DeCA West: NOLF IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif.
Smucker’s Celebrating Freedom Display
DeCA West: CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa; TAEGU
CAMP WALKER, South Korea; TRAVIS AFB, Calif.
Spoke Produce Strawberry Contest
DeCA West: MOUNTAIN HOME AFB, Idaho
14th Annual StarKist “Charlie” Display
DeCA Europe: ANSBACH, Germany; NS
ROTA, Spain
Unilever Mom’s Taste of Home Display
DeCA East: NAS PATUXENT RIVER, Md.
DeCA West: FORT SILL, TINKER AFB, Okla;
PETERSON AFB, Colo.; SHEPPARD AFB, Texas
USA Pear Display
DeCA East: FORT BELVOIR, Va.; PATRICK
AFB, Fla.
DeCA West: McCHORD AFB, Wash.
w
49
!
Webco Crystal Truckload Display
DeCA West: McCONNELL AFB, Kan.;
YONGSAN, South Korea
Organizational honors
BAMBERG, Germany, commander’s coin to
David Mitzner, store director; Robert Vogel,
store administrator; Ray Gonzales, grocery
manager; Jessica Molinar and Harry Hairston,
store associates; and Nicole Rzymianowitz,
bakery, from commanding general, for
outstanding customer service.
CAMP KURE, Japan, certificate of appreciation
from U.S. Army Garrison, Japan, for
exceptionally dedicated, professional service.
F.E. WARREN, Wyo., outgoing commander’s
coin to Robie Ledet, produce worker, and Sam
Pappalarda, cashier, for outstanding customer
service.
FORT HOOD I, Texas, certificate of
appreciation to Betty Carey and Yasmin
Fresse from Directorate of Public Works, for
outstanding service; letter of appreciation to
Joel Springer and Yasmin Fresse from III Corps
commander, for positive comments received via
Interactive Customer Evaluation.
NAS MERIDIAN, Miss., certificate of
appreciation from cooperative education
department, Northeast High School, for
support of distributive educational program
and contribution to development of tomorrow’s
leaders.
NS NEWPORT, R.I., certificate of appreciation
from Rhode Island Food bank, for outstanding
support.
NAS OCEANA, Va., plaque from Ocean Lakes
High School Work Experience Program, for
providing work opportunities for six students.
MCRD PARRIS ISLAND, S.C., commander’s
coins to following staff members from
commanding general officer, for service
and support for morning colors ceremonies
and excellent customer service: Sandra
Cook, secretary; Jeffrey Dewey and Robert
Edwards, meatcutters; Silas Ferguson,
storeworker; Rufus Fripp, grocery manager;
Earlene Mills, customer service manager;
Joenathan Moultrie, Keyonna Pringle and
Chasity Williams, store associates; Cynthia
Scott, teller.
NS PORT HUENEME, Calif., plaque from
command master chief, in appreciation for
continuous support.
SCOTT AFB, Ill., certificate of appreciation to
Rubie Sidney, general manager, and Nathan
Russum, commissary management service
intern, for support of 8th Annual Blue Bow
Campaign, which provided new clothes and
toys to 289 abused, neglected children.
SPANGDAHLEM AB, Germany, certificate
of appreciation from medical support group
commander, for commissary and industry
support of installation DARE campaign.
TINKER AFB, Okla., commander’s coins to seven
employees for outstanding performance in best
commissary competition, winning best superstore
category: Shelley Anderson, Yolanda Grady
and Pam Walker, sales store checkers; Fred
Parsons, meatcutter; Rose Rybicki, storeworker;
David Westbrook, work leader; and Andrea
White, store manager.
VANCE AFB, Okla., plaque from base student
pilot class, for outstanding support.
WIESBADEN, Germany, certificate of
appreciation and
battalion coins to delibakery department from
102nd Signal Battalion, in
recognition of professional,
courteous service and
dedication to customer
satisfaction, and outstanding
support of the community.
YONGSAN, South
Korea, Platinum Award
from Combined Federal
Campaign-Overseas.
pHAPPY ANNIVERSARY: Wiltrud vin Wallis, deputy,
Kaiserslautern Cold Storage, Germany; Xenia Bond,
administrative services chief, KCS, and Linda Matthews,
chief of DeCA Europe’s accounts control business unit,
enjoy the KCS 50th anniversary celebration. Read more
about the occasion in the next issue of Vision. DeCA
photo: Gerri Young
50
Individual honors
RYAN BATALLA, NOLF
Imperial Beach, Calif.,
Bachelor of Arts in math, San
Diego State University, Calif.
BILLY BENNER, store
director, NS Port Hueneme,
Calif., Goodwill Hope
Crystal Plaque.
REYNOLD CANDELARIA,
storeworker, Twentynine
Palms, Calif., Associate
of Science in liberal arts,
Copper Mountain College,
Joshua Tree, Calif.
TAMMY CARROLL, teller,
Vance AFB, Okla., Bachelor
of Science in psychology,
Northwestern Oklahoma
State University, Enid, Okla.
DENNIS CLAXTON,
store administrator,
NAS Jacksonville,
Fla., outstanding
achievement in
scoring 100 percent
in the food safety
manager class in
June, the first person
to do so since the
course began in
2004, with the test
given 641 times to
date.
Dennis Claxton
RICHARD
GORMALLY, meat
manager, McConnell AFB, Kan., certificate of
appreciation from sailors and families of Navy
Operational Support Center, for serving as
guest speaker for Navy Preparedness Day.
ROBERT HOUGHTALING, store associate,
Vance AFB, Okla., Bachelor of Science
in business administration, Northwestern
Oklahoma State University, Enid, Okla.
CIANNA LACOUR, student store associate,
Edwards AFB, Calif., won Miss Edwards Contest
2009.
ERIN McCORMICK, Sheppard AFB, Texas,
Associate of Arts in art, Vernon Regional Junior
College, Wichita Falls, Texas.
RICHARD NORNHOLD, store director, NS
Newport, R.I., nominated by State of Rhode
Island, Office of Rehabilitation, as this year’s
honor roll recipient, for demonstrating best
hiring practices. Award recognizes businesses
for their efforts in developing a qualified,
diverse workforce that includes individuals with
disabilities.
ALLEN PAPPAS, Sheppard AFB, Texas,
Bachelor of Arts in biology, Midwestern State
University, Wichita Falls, Texas.
GLORIA ROBINSON, secretary, MCLB Albany,
Ga., represented AARP in Washington, D.C.,
meeting with congressional leadership to discuss
health reform as part of AARP’s “Health Action
Now” campaign.
KEITH SAVAGE, lead
accounting technician,
DeCA Europe,
Germany, Topper
Award for best actor
in a minor comedy
role, as “Big Billy
Goat Gruff” in “The
Surprising Adventures
of the Three Little
Pigs.”
DANIELLE
STODDARD,
storeworker, NB
Keith Savage
San Diego, Calif.,
Bachelor of Arts in
philosophy, California State University, San
Diego.
CONNIE TALLON, store director, Vogelweh,
Germany, commander’s coin from outgoing air
base group commander, in appreciation for
outstanding base support.
GEORGE WILLS, store manager, Vogelweh,
Germany, now supervisory store associate,
Camp Lejeune, N.C., received commander’s,
security forces’ and United Service
Organizations’ coins at a farewell luncheon, for
his support to patrons and community.n
Nan Day, produce
manager for the
commissary at Naval
Air Station Lemoore,
Calif., was one of
25 retail produce
managers in the
United States and
Canada recognized
for excellence
by the United
Fresh Research
and Education
Foundation. U.S. Navy
photo: Megan Mooren
Powered by pride
N
Nancy O’Nell
DeCA West public affairs officer
an Day, produce manager for the
commissary at Naval Air Station
Lemoore, Calif., was recognized by United
Fresh Research and Education Foundation
as a top retail produce manager during a ceremony in
Las Vegas on April 24.
Day and 24 finalists from the United States and
Canada were selected based on their excellence in
merchandising, special displays and promotions,
community service, company recognition and
commitment to total customer satisfaction.
“The produce department is the showplace of any
commissary,” said DeCA Director and CEO Philip
E. Sakowitz Jr. “Nan Day consistently brings in
fresh and innovative merchandising ideas to make
the Lemoore Commissary worth the trip for our
shoppers.”
An illustration of typical Day creativity is the
way Lemoore Commissary produce department
promoted the President’s Challenge, a program that
encourages Americans to make being active a part
of their everyday lives. The staff set up a miniature
golf game in the produce aisle, and customers who
Lemoore produce manager wins
North American honor
scored a hole-in-one were given a cookbook with
healthy recipes. Shoppers who tested their skills were
given fruit and water that was naturally flavored with
mint, lemon and cucumber. Day said the point of the
display was to encourage people to eat healthy, drink
water and be active.
“I never get tired of this job,” said Day. “I enjoy
coming to work, and it’s the customers who drive me
to excel.”
Day credits her staff with keeping the produce
department in tip-top shape throughout the day. “It
looks the same at 8 p.m. as it does at 6 a.m. when we
set it up, and that’s because I have a dedicated staff
that truly cares,” said Day.
“When we set up the produce department each
morning, then stand back and say, ‘Wow, that looks
good,’ I get a great sense of satisfaction,” she added.
Day was evaluated alongside retail produce
managers from commercial grocery stores. She is the
second produce manager from a military commissary
to achieve this honor. In 2008, Harry “Spike”
Lewis, produce manager for Luke Commissary,
Ariz., was also a retail produce manager award
winner.
“My mentors taught me that you can be the best
at what you do every day if you keep a positive and
open mind,” said Day. “I challenge myself to learn
everything I can about produce and pass it on to
others.”n
51
HISTORIC MILESTONE: Ramstein Commissary, Germany,
achieved monthly sales of $5 million in March, a
milestone for overseas commissaries. See story, Page 23.
DeCA photo: wallyimages.com

Winner`s circle - Commissaries.com

Transcription

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