2022 Star Women in Convenience winner: Lori Anne Brown

Manager

Hillside Shop and Save, Elliot Lake, Ont. 

 

How did you get into this industry?

I started working at a convenience store on graveyard shift in Lively, ON and progressed my way to afternoon and ultimately day shift. This is when I realized this was my calling.

What do you like most about your job?

I love the people I work with and all my loyal customers. Now that I manage the store, my duties are different than when I was a cashier, but I absolutely love this part of it.

What was the biggest challenge of your career?

Coming off cash to work in the office doing payables, receiving and ordering, and overseeing a larger staff now than in the past.

Best advice received? 

From the owner of the store: “Always check things twice and you’ll never go wrong.” It’s been absolutely true these past 25 years.

Career highlight/proudest achievement?

I’ve had employees leave and then want to return because of good management – that really fills me with pride. So does this award; I am so honoured to have been chosen with many other deserving women.

What are you most proud of during the last year? 

How much this store has evolved through renovations and a wider selection of products to serve our community. The past two years have been the most challenging of my career due to Covid-19 policies and restrictions, but we have strictly enforced them and had zero cases in our store.

What excites you most about the future of this channel? 

Expanding this store and being a huge part of the process.

How do you define yourself as a leader?

A manager with an open-door policy to whom my staff can come for guidance and support.

Click here for the full list of 2022 Star Women in Convenience winners.

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