Voices of Our Family: Employee Stories at Super One Foods

Dave Vadnais, Director of Operations, 36 years with Super One

What positions have you held since your first position, and what is your current role? I started as an overnight utility, and previously worked as a night and day grocery manager, assistant manager, store manager, District Manager, Productivity and SPMH Manager, and I am now the Director of Operations.

Did you need any outside education to get where you are today? No, this is learned on the job, but I did three years at UMD (Accounting).

Do any special moments stand out when you went onto your next new position with the company? Every moment, every day, as a Director of Operations.

Who has helped you the most in your career growth? Every person I worked with. Greg Larson was a great mentor for my role as of today and when I was a District Manager.

If you could describe Super One in one word, what would it be? Opportunity. You can go as far as you want if you're willing to sacrifice.

What advice would you share with someone considering a job with Super One? Super One is a stable company with unlimited potential if you are willing to put the time in, learn, commit, and grow.

Doreen Robinson, Talent Acquisition, 17 years with Super One

What positions have you held since your first position, and what is your current role? Afternoon Supervisor, Front End Manager, and currently working with Miner's Inc. doing orientation with new employees in three of the Duluth Super One locations.

Who has helped you most in your career growth? Dave Vadnais was Kenwood Super One Foods' first Store Manager, and instead of having me be in charge of stocking, facing, and night duties for evening employees, he put me up front and created the front-end manager position. He then included me in Fastlane training and played a part in my new position, working in the talent acquisition position.

If you could describe Super One in one word, what would it be? Ready! Super One is ready to hire you. Super One is ready to serve you. Super One is ready to help the community.

What are your favorite benefits and/or favorite part of your job? Health Insurance, 401K, and my favorite part of being Front End Manager was the ever-flowing events that would happen in a day: Cashier needing assistance, customer questions on their receipt, filling and facing candy. Each day was different and exciting.

What advice would you share with someone considering a job with Super One? Once you are hired, you can grow in the company and be the best you can be at being you, and the rest will fall into place.

Holly Rilea, Payroll Administrator, 23 years with Super One

What was the first job position you held with the company? I was hired in 2000 as a part-time closing cashier. I wanted a job that would allow me to be home with my children while my spouse was working; my spouse would come home, we would have dinner, and then I would go to work.

What positions have you held since that first position, and what is your current role? I was hired as a closing cashier, and I was then offered an opportunity to work weekends as a back-up bookkeeper; I was also trained on the Service Counter. In 2007, I was offered a full-time bookkeeping position, which has worked for me since my children were older. I had shown an interest in moving up and was asked in 2012 if I would be interested in moving from the corporate office to the payroll department; I accepted this job and am currently still working in the payroll department.

Did you need any outside education to get where you are today or to perform your current role with the company? No, I am a high school graduate with only some college. I was able to move up through the company by just showing interest in learning new skills and the ability to learn quickly; I also consider myself a problem solver; I like to try and figure out new skills and how to best use them to make my work and others work easier. I am not afraid to try and “figure it out.”

What is the most rewarding part of your job? It is helping others, whether my co-workers, employees, or customers. I like to contribute to projects. It is also very rewarding when I learn new skills that I can apply to my own job.

What advice would you share with someone considering a job with Super One? I feel it's a great company to work for. They have always been very flexible, from when I was a cashier all the way to my current position. And if you show an interest and willingness to learn and grow, you can go far, moving up the ranks in the comp

Kraig Harries, Assistant Manager, 17 years with Super One

What positions have you held since that first position, and what is your current role? Cart pusher to the grocery department. Eventually, I became a backup PIC, then Front End Manager, Night Crew Assistant Manager, Night Crew Manager, Grocery Manager at Lakeside, and then Oakes Ave., Assistant Manager at Lakeside, and now Assistant Manager at Plaza.

Did you need any outside education to get where you are today or to perform your current role with the company? I have a degree in business management, though it is not required, and I feel it helps in certain situations. You can definitely succeed without it, though.

Who has helped you most in your career growth? A few years into my career, when I decided that this was something I wanted to pursue, I started paying attention to the managers I wanted to be like. I watched others' strengths, weaknesses, and qualities closely.

If you could describe Super One in one word, what would it be and why? Whirlwind. If it's not busy, you're busy. You are always planning or thinking of the next event or season. Plotting or gearing up for upcoming events or yearly holidays. July 5th, you're in the fall mindset. By the time the first crisp night of fall hits, you're in full-blown holiday mode. You're always planning ahead, and it really makes time fly by.

What advice would you share with someone considering a job with Super One? It's a great job for anyone attending school or with other commitments. We are incredibly flexible with schedules, and with many different departments, we can accommodate a lot.

Jessica Tomlin, Operations Assistant, 17 years with Super One

What positions have you held since your first position, and what is your current role? I started as a Cashier; I then worked as an Assistant Front End Manager, Assistant Bookkeeper, HBC/GM, Front End Manager, Reset Team, and Distributions/Operations. I am currently working in Operations/Procurement.

Did you need any outside education to get where you are today or to perform your current role with the company? No, I didn't.

Who has helped you most in your career growth? Dave Vadnais, as well as everyone that I have worked with side by side, has given me knowledge in the different positions I held.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? My accomplishments! Knowing people didn't think I could grow in this company, and I certainly used that to achieve where I am now, learning new skills.

What are your favorite benefits and/or favorite part of your job? I have great coworkers and insurance, and my job never gets boring; there are new things to learn with a great team to help me through.

What advice would you share with someone considering a job with Super One? Super One is a great company to work for. Don't be afraid to talk to Managers, keep an open mindset, and ask for feedback. Be your own motivator- you never know who is watching to promote you to grow in the company.

Tyler Gronseth, Liquor Store Manager, 6 years with Super One

What positions have you held since that first position, and what is your current role? I started as a cashier and stocker at Pike Lake Super One Liquor when I was 18; I then became an assistant manager and am now a store manager.

Did you need any outside education to get where you are today or to perform your current role with the company? I did not need any outside education. When I was in Pike Lake, I got a lot of help from coworkers and my manager. When I got promoted to assistant manager in West Duluth, Jace Romano, the manager, helped me out a lot.

Who has helped you most in your career growth? Aaron and Angelo DeCaro have been the best help for me and my growth within this company. They have always answered my questions. Jace was also a huge help with my growth; he showed me so much when I was his assistant manager. I can’t thank them enough.

If you could describe Super One in one word, what would it be and why? Driven,they are driven to succeed when it comes to standards, leadership, and reinvesting in stores.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? The most rewarding part of my job is getting to help all the customers that come into the stores.

What are your favorite benefits and/or favorite part of your job? My favorite part of the job is getting to work with all the great coworkers and leaders. Also, just seeing all the people coming into the store and helping them and just talking with them.

What advice would you share with someone considering a job with Super One? My advice for someone is to always listen to any advice someone gives you. You can learn a lot from the leaders in this company. They will always push you to do better and make sure the store is always grand opening ready. Always be happy when working because it will bring the customers back, and it helps grow the company.

Kelly Condon, Deli Department Director, 15 years with Super One

What positions have you held since that first position, and what is your current role? I worked as a deli merchandiser for 13 years before being promoted to the Deli Director position in 2020.

Did you need any outside education to get where you are today or to perform your current role with the company? I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Superior with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, but I couldn't stay away from the grocery industry. I started in the grocery industry when I was 15 years old, working first as a utility/cart pusher. From there, I worked as a cashier and transitioned to the deli and management roles. There's a reason they call me "Kelly in the Deli." I really do just love it.

Do any special moments stand out when you went on to your next position with the company? I've learned that a successful deli is about much more than just delicious food- it requires a dedicated team across the entire store and vendor network. The key to a successful deli is highly dependent on relationships within the store network- and the deli employees. We are a team at Super One, and we all need one another to put in 100 percent to be the best we can be. The greatest assets we have are our employees and outside relationships.

Who has helped you most in your career growth? I cannot name one specific person because so many people have helped me grow. Collectively, Miner's Inc. has a great core of employees who rely on one another. Everyone brings something to the table.

If you could describe Super One in one word, what would it be and why? Family, we are all here for one another each day through thick and thin - just like family.