OWINGS MILLS, MD, 2016-Aug-12 — /EPR Retail News/ — Wegmans Food Markets today ( 08/09/2016 ) announced the leadership team spearheading the management of its Owings Mills store, opening Sept. 18 at Foundry Row on the intersection of Reisterstown (Route 140) and Painters Mill Roads. The Owings Mills leadership team consists of the store manager, executive chef, pharmacy area manager, and three area managers who each supervise several departments.
Hiring and training are ongoing for part-time culinary positions such as line cooks and customer service in prepared foods. Those interested in applying can visit www.wegmans.com/careers for more information.
Store Manager Matt LePore
Matt LePore was raised in Wegmans’ hometown of Rochester, N.Y. and began his career with the company as a part-time cashier and helping hand (parking lot attendant) while still in high school. A recipient of the Wegmans Employee Scholarship Program, LePore graduated magna cum laude from the State University of New York College at Brockport before moving to Virginia to work at the Dulles store. There he rose through the ranks as a service team leader, front end manager, and perishable area manager before moving to the Frederick, Md. location where he ultimately became the store manager. LePore and his family moved to Westminster in 2015 to begin building and developing his team of 475 in preparation for the Owings Mills store opening.
Executive Chef Tom Schwarzweller
Tom Schwarzweller began cooking at age five and went on to graduate from the Culinary Institute of America. A former executive chef at the Radisson Hotel at Cross Keys in Baltimore, he joined Wegmans in 2005 as executive chef at the chain’s first Maryland location, in Hunt Valley. He then led the kitchen at the Columbia store before settling into his new role at Owings Mills where he will oversee an exceptional culinary team of 105. This group will provide the restaurant-quality prepared foods Wegmans is known for, with mix and match self-serve food bars, subs, hot soup, fresh sushi, The Burger Bar, and more – all for in-store dining or takeout. Chef Schwarzweller is an avid gardener and lives in Reisterstown.
Pharmacy Area Manager Karen Bernardi, Pharm D.
Karen Bernardi, Pharm D., joined Wegmans in 2004 as a part-time cashier in Rochester, N.Y. There she honed her customer service skills and later worked in the floral department and service desk before becoming a pharmacy technician and intern while attending pharmacy school at the State University of New York at Buffalo. After graduation, Bernardi moved to Baltimore, Md. and became a Wegmans pharmacist at the Columbia store. As pharmacy area manager, she will now lead the Owings Mills pharmacy and its staff, helping employees and customers live healthier, better lives. Pharmacy services include immunizations, auto-refill of prescriptions, free home shipping, pet medications, and competitively low prices on select generic prescriptions.
Perishable Area Manager Rob Pearce
Rob Pearce began working at Wegmans in 2000 and has experience in a variety of positions, including customer service on the front end and bulk foods, service team leader, front end manager, bakery manager, and service area manager. As perishable area manager in Owings Mills, he will oversee product quality, sales, and employee development for the produce, floral, bakery, seafood, meat, cheese, and deli departments. Pearce will ensure Wegmans’ high standards for the freshest ingredients are met and employees are prepared to share in-depth food knowledge with Wegmans customers. He completed his undergraduate degree at Ithaca College and earned his MBA from Strayer University. Pearce resides in Millersville.
Merchandising Area Manager Natalie Ray
Natalie Ray is a graduate of the University of Maryland and has been with Wegmans since 2011. A Mt. Airy resident, she previously served as a front end coordinator, service team leader, general merchandise manager, and grocery manager. In her role at the Owings Mills store, she’ll supervise employee development, merchandising and sales for a variety of departments, such as grocery, dairy, frozen foods, Nature’s Marketplace and General Merchandise. With an eye for design, Ray will work collaboratively across the store to ensure that products are well stocked and beautifully displayed to make grocery shopping outstanding for Wegmans customers.
Service Area Manager Jared McLaughlin
Jared McLaughlin resides in Baltimore City and has been a Wegmans employee since 2009. A graduate of the State University of New York College at Brockport, he started with Wegmans as a service team leader and front end manager before taking on various special assignments within Wegmans’ Maryland division. In his new role as service area manager at Owings Mills, he will lead the front end, service desk, helping hands and accounting office. McLaughlin will ensure incredible customer service is delivered every day, which is a point of distinction at Wegmans. He will also oversee local community giving, carrying out Wegmans’ commitment to make a difference in every community it serves.
Wegmans Owings Mills is a 109,000 square-foot supermarket that includes a Market Café with indoor and outdoor seating for nearly 300, as well as The Burger Bar, an in-store restaurant counter that serves delicious burgers, fresh salads, flavorful sandwiches, specialty milkshakes, soups and sides.
Visit www.wegmans.com/owingsmills for store details, Wegmans Shoppers Club sign up, directions, and a countdown to the grand opening.
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a 90-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. The family-owned company, recognized as an industry leader and innovator, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2016. Wegmans has been named one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ by FORTUNE magazine for 19 consecutive years, ranking #4 in 2016.
Contact Information:
Valerie Fox
Wegmans media relations coordinator
585-720-5713
Source: Wegmans