Newspaper Page Text
BUSINESS
THURSDAY, JUNE 28 - JULY 4, 2018 • Page 13
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COUNTY WIDE
Local grocery baggers sack competition;
scholarship money in the bag
BY KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER
Two DeKalb County students,
who also are baggers at local
Kroger stores, were awarded
scholarship money in the 22nd
annual Kroger Georgia Bag-Off
June 13 after they successfully
competed against top grocery
baggers from across Georgia.
Cara Moran of Dunwoody and
Levante McClure of Lithonia
came in second and third,
respectively, bested only by
Devin Ferrell of McDonough,
who took first place, receiving
$750 and the opportunity to
represent Kroger at the Georgia
Food Industry Associations Bag
Off in July Moran, a 16-year-old
homeschooled student, received a
$500 scholarship and 22-year-old
McClure, a student at Kennesaw
State, was awarded a $250
scholarship.
The atmosphere at a Kroger
store on Glenwood Avenue
was reminiscent of a carnival
or a sports event with balloons,
banners, signs and coworker
groups cheering for their
favorites. Between bagging
“heats,” there was line dancing
and trivia games in which
contestants competed for gift
cards by answering questions
about the 135-year old grocery
chain. Moran, the only female
selected as a contestant (one
contestant dropped out because
of illness and was replaced by a
young woman bagger), won a gift
card for knowing that Kroger was
founded in 1883.
Just before the bagging began,
organizers revealed the identical
groupings of grocery selections
that included a can of coffee,
chips, cookies, paper towels and
other items. They were reminded
that while speed matters, it’s just
one of several criteria contestants
are judged on, including weight
distribution, technique, overall
style, appearance and attitude.
“Winners are almost never the
fastest contestants,” a company
representative reminded them.
“No customer wants to go home
and find his bread crushed or
broken glass in the bag.”
Baggers prepared diligently
for the event, according to Felix
Turner, corporate affairs manager
of Kroger’s Atlanta Division.
“There are no losers here. These
are young men and women who
have a strong work ethic and will
succeed wherever life takes them.
Each year, the enthusiasm for the
competition grows, making this a
must-see event,” he said.
Levante McClure of Lithonia took home third place and a
$250 scholarship.
Cara Moran of Dunwoody was the second-place winner and was
awarded a $500 scholarship.
Each contestant was given an identical collection of Moran waits for the signal to start bagging,
grocery items to bag.
Nonprofit names new president of business development
BY KATHY MITCHELL
FREELANCE REPORTER
Access to Capital for
Entrepreneurs Inc. (ACE)
made what it characterized as
a “big hire” when it recently
named Decatur resident
Ray Pennie as president of
business development. In
his new position, Pennie,
according to ACE, will
“lead the organization’s
entrepreneurial education
teams, developing new
business opportunities and
driving greater market
presence.” ACE describes
itself as “a nonprofit
community development
financial institution,
dedicated to serving
Georgia’s underserved
small-business owners of
color, women, low-income
entrepreneurs and others
who lack equitable access
Pennie
to small-business financing
across metro Atlanta and
rural North Georgia.”
“We are reorganizing
to put functions that deal
directly with clients under
one executive,” explained
Grace Fricks, ACE’s
president and CEO. “Ray
is an ideal choice to do
this. When we read about
his background, we were
encouraged that he was
the person we needed, and
when we met him and saw
how sharp he is and what
a commanding presence
he has, we knew he was
perfect,” she said.
“Ray has a proven record
of facilitating long-term
business relationships with
both customers and industry
leaders. His leadership in
working with underserved
markets and developing
high-performing teams is
the perfect mix of expertise
that will be beneficial to
the growth and success of
ACE. Ray understands our
mission to help grow small
businesses with capital,
coaching and connections,”
Fricks added.
“I was already familiar
with ACE and its work,
Pennie said. “I felt I would
be a great fit for them
because I already was
passionate about serving the
communities ACE focuses
on. I was a banker for almost
30 years and have seen the
stress tough times put on
people, particularly people
of color, women and others
who might have difficulty
accessing capital.”
Pennie said he is
particularly impressed
that ACE does more than
make money available. The
company says its hallmark
service is its “combination
of capital, coaching and
connections.”
“ACE provides training
and one-on-one mentoring.
Often people without
previous experience in the
business world fail not
because that don’t work hard
or have an excellent product
or service, but because
they need help with the
fundamentals of operating
a business. Through ACE,
owners of startup and
existing businesses are
exposed to industry experts
who can familiarize them
with best practices and other
concepts that can make
the businesses sustainable.
Sustainability is the key—
creating a business that will
last,” Pennie said.
ACE recently announced
that since 2000, it has loaned
more than $53 million to
more than 840 entrepreneurs,
which the organization says
has created or saved more
than 7,100 jobs in Georgia.
Pennie said, “It’s exciting
to join a company with
such a great track record
and so much opportunity to
grow. I’m looking forward
to getting started and being
a valuable addition to the
team.”