WASHINGTON, DC — April 21,2004 — In recognition of excellence in customer or community service, the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), announced today the 20 finalists in the 2004 Store Manager Superior Service Awards competition. The four Grand Prize winners will be announced during the 2004 FMI Show in Chicago.

“Exemplary store managers are essential to successful operations,” said FMI President and CEO Tim Hammonds. “FMI applauds all of the finalists of the Store Manager Superior Service Awards for their dedication and excellence in customer and community service.”

Store managers were asked to submit innovative stories describing how they have excelled in the areas of customer or community service. The contest was open to in-store managers employed by food retail, mass merchandise and convenience store operators anywhere in the world. Entrants must have been employed at the same store for at least one year.

A six-member panel of judges — including representatives from Hallmark Cards, the awards sponsor — then evaluated the entries on originality, creativity and significance of the customer or community service effort.
The 20 finalists receive two tickets to the 2004 FMI Show, two tickets to the FMI Annual Monday Night Reception and Dinner at the Show, and three nights hotel accommodations in Chicago, May 2 – 4. The four grand prize winners will be announced at the dinner on May 3, where each will receive an engraved plaque and a $1,000 check.

The contest finalists, stores and locations are:

   
   
   


   
   
   


   
   
   


   
   
   


   
   
   


   
   
   


   
   
   


   
   
   


   
   
   


   
   
   


   
   
   


   
   
   


   
   
   


   
   
   


   
   
   


   
   
   


   
   
   


   
   
   


   
   
   


   
   
   


   
   
   

Store Manager	Store Name	Store Location
Ramiro Aguirre	Moore Street Market	Brooklyn, NY
Paul Chapman	Basha's Supermarkets	Thatcher, AZ
Robert Contreras	Raley's	Benicia, CA
Denny Glick	Hy-Vee, Inc.	Perry, IA
Todd Hepler	Hy-Vee, Inc.	Iowa Falls, IA
MaryAnn Holton	Pathmark Stores, Inc.	Whippany, NJ
Rick Jaeger	Stater Bros. Markets	Big Bear Lake, CA
Jamie Johnson	Albertsons, Inc.	Troutdale, OR
Daryl Kruse	Hy-Vee, Inc.	Des Moines, IA
Mike Lynk	Dominick's Finer Foods	Mundelein, IL
Ramon Martinez	BI-LO, LLC	Spartanburg, SC
Joyce McLamb	Carlie C's IGA	Benson, NC
Kasimir Pawliszyn	Raley's	Gardnerville, NV
Jeff Quandt	Hy-Vee, Inc.	Lincoln, NE
David Riney	Niemann Foods-County Market	Canton, MO
Dan Schmedding	Hy-Vee, Inc.	Mankato, MN
Chester Skinner	BI-LO, LLC	Vidalia, GA
Gary Starchman	BI-LO, LLC	Columbia, TN
Nick Steinbach	Hy-Vee, Inc.	Omaha, NE
Tim Stupka	Hy-Vee, Inc.	Sioux Falls, SD

The FMI Show — The Place to Be in 2004

The 2004 FMI Show will be an event like no other, offering unprecedented service and customized benefits. Participants of all sizes will find value, efficiency and productivity in this once-a-year gathering of industry leaders from all over the globe. Click on the link below for complete Show information.