Paradigm Award To Be Presented to Judy Spires of Acme at Downtown Marriott

Judy Spires, President of ACME Markets, will receive the 2009 Paradigm Award, the region’s most prestigious award for businesswomen, at the 17th Annual Paradigm Award Luncheon.

The luncheon will take place on March 12, at 11:00 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, located in Center City.

With 16,000 employees at 126 stores, Ms. Spires is a highly successful businesswoman at the helm of the largest food and drug retailer in a highly competitive market that includes the Greater Philadelphia region and Maryland.

Ms. Spires’ impressive 30-year career is deeply rooted in the 117-year-old Malvern-based supermarket chain now owned by Supervalu. As the daughter of an ACME truck driver, she began her rise as a teenage clerk in the 1970s. Prior to accepting her current position, Ms. Spires served in a variety of roles for the chain, including president of both the Albertsons Dallas/Fort Worth Division and the Rocky Mountain Division.

Ms. Spires’ dedication to leading an expanding business operation as well as her commitment to serving charitable organizations has made her a distinguished member of the business community. She is on the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. In addition, she is on the boards of the Forum Foundation, which provides resources for the development of women; Variety, The Children’s Charity; the National Multiple Sclerosis Society; the New Jersey Food Council; the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association; and her alma mater, La Salle University. She is also a member of the International Women’s Forum, serves on the Advisory Council of Esperanza, and is a founding member of the Greater Philadelphia Network of Executive Women.

At the luncheon, the Chamber will present Ms. Spires with a Paradigm crystal sculpture and a charitable gift. Through the generosity of Ernst & Young, a portion of the Paradigm gift will be allocated to Ms. Spires’ favorite charitable organization.

This event is sponsored by Boeing, Drexel University, and Keystone Mercy Health Plan.

For more information on this event, click here.

There’s still time to submit an application for the Paradigm Scholarship for Working Women!

Do you know a hard-working woman who is following her dreams to complete her bachelors degree? The Paradigm Scholarship for Working Women may be able to help her out. Through the generosity and determination of many individuals and corporations, the Paradigm Award program has grown to include the Paradigm Scholarship for Working Women, awarded to women who wish to complete their undergraduate degrees while working full-time for Chamber member companies.

Winners receive up to $5,000 that can be used for tuition and/or books within a two-year period. Scholarship recipients are announced at the Paradigm Award celebration each year in March. In addition, the Helena T. Devereux and Stradley Ronon scholars will be recognized.

Applicants for the Paradigm Scholarship for Working Women must meet the following criteria:

• A full-time employee, working at least 30 hours per week for a Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce member company
• Completed at least one full year of college and must be currently enrolled (within the last 18 months) at a two- or four-year accredited institution
• Have a minimum of five years work experience
• Hold an exemplary work record
• Submit an official copy of your college transcript
• Submit two letters of recommendation including one from your supervisor at your current employer
• Submit a 200-word essay on why you should be selected as a recipient of the Paradigm Scholarship for Working Women
• Submit a copy of the employer's tuition reimbursement policy

The following factors are considered when selecting scholarship recipients:

• Current enrollment
• Financial need
• Potential for future success

Applications are due February 6. For more information, or to apply, click here

The presenting sponsor for the Paradigm Award is Ernest & Young LLP. Additional sponsors for the award program are Devereux, PECO, PNC Bank and Stradley Ronon. The Paradigm Scholarship is supported by Devereux and Stradley Ronon.