General Manager, Shannon Risley, awarded prestigious Progressive Grocer Top Women in Grocery award

General Manager, Shannon Risley, awarded prestigious Progressive Grocer Top Women in Grocery award

Niskayuna, NY – July 2022 – Shannon Risley, General Manager of the Niskayuna Co-op, has been recognized by Progressive Grocer as one of the Top Women in Grocery in the Store Manager category. 

Each year, Progressive Grocer invites food and grocery retailers across the country to nominate women within their organization to receive this esteemed award. The industry’s longest-running program recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments and contributions of women who possess a breadth of retail and grocery industry knowledge and go above and beyond to meet the needs of customers, shoppers, and fellow Associates. 

Ms. Risley joined the Niskayuna Co-op as General Manager in August 2020 to lead the Co-op during a period of financial stress. Under her leadership, the Co-op is not simply surviving; it’s thriving. Risley has implemented quarterly leadership training for Department Managers that covers leadership and team-building skills, calculating sales to purchase ratios, and using waste logs to manage shrink and control inventory. 

Her innovative leadership and commitment to developing her team is only part of the Co-op’s success. Risley increased purchases from local vendors to address fluctuating and unpredictable supply chains to provide customers with much-needed and desired products while supporting the local business community. 

Ms. Risley and the Co-Op make an even greater impact on the surrounding community by partnering with local businesses and organizations to give back to those in need. These efforts have resulted in monetary donations to multiple local charities, over 1,000 lbs of food and other specialized items donated to the local food pantry, as well as coats, blankets, and pairs of shoes donated to local individuals and families.  Helping solve community injustices is an important part of Shannon’s mission as well as her team.  

“Being a leader in the grocery industry has been a career I have truly enjoyed,” says Shannon Risley, General Manager of the Niskayuna Co-Op. “People leadership/development and community involvement make leading the Co-op a perfect marriage. As a leader, you have to be empathic and realize leadership is not a “one size fits all” mold. I am honored to receive this prestigious award. I am grateful to the colleagues, leaders, and mentors, both past and present, that have invested in my development. I will continue giving back, mentoring, and developing future leaders, especially women. Any dream is achievable; take the chance. I am fortunate enough that the chance was taken on me.”

“Shannon is the embodiment of a true servant leader,” says Tina Lee and Beth Greenwood, Co-Presidents of the Niskayuna Co-Op Board of Advisors. “Inside the Niskayuna Co-op, she takes a positive approach to continually empower the Co-op leadership team and develop skills in all our staff. Shannon is also passionate about the Co-op’s role in serving our community, building partnerships to address social injustices, promoting local businesses, and supporting local charitable organizations. We feel so fortunate for Shannon’s tireless leadership and are thrilled that she has received this prestigious and well-deserved recognition from TWIG.”

Top Women in Grocery is the most prestigious honor for female leaders in the grocery industry.