Judy Spires of ACME Markets to Receive Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce 2009 Paradigm Award

Judy Spires, President of ACME Markets, has been selected as the recipient of the 2009 Paradigm Award, the region’s most prestigious award for businesswomen. The award is presented annually to a singular woman in business who is distinguished as an influential executive of a profit-making enterprise with a strong local economic impact.

The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce will honor Mrs. Spires for her outstanding professional and personal achievements at its Paradigm Award Luncheon on Thursday, March 12, 2009 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Grand Ballroom.

With 16,000 employees at 130 stores, Mrs. 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.

Her 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 bread truck driver, she began her rise as a teenage clerk in the 1970s. Prior to accepting her current position, Mrs. 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.

Mrs. 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, LaSalle 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.

"The Paradigm honoree is a woman who successfully combines business achievement with community leadership," said Chamber President & CEO Mark S. Schweiker. "Judy Spires certainly exemplifies these attributes. She is respected in her profession and throughout the community for her commitment to excellence and her vision for women and future generations."

Mrs. Spires was nominated by William R. Sasso, Esq., Chairman, Stradley Ronon, who said, "She has been a groundbreaker in providing opportunities for women in the food-related industry, including sponsoring diversity groups within her company, mentoring ACME associates, and developing the Women’s Initiative Network at ACME."

"Judy is a phenomenal role model for women in business and women who want to go into business," explains Renee Amoore, President & CEO of The Amoore Group and chair of the Paradigm Committee. "She’s inspired women with her outstanding professional and personal achievements and truly serves as a model for success."

In recognition of her accomplishments, the Chamber will present Mrs. Spires with a Paradigm crystal sculpture and a charitable gift, provided with support from Ernst & Young, which she will allocate to her favorite charitable organization. In recent years, through the generosity of many individuals and corporations, the 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.

A native of Cherry Hill, Mrs. Spires received her undergraduate and master’s degrees from LaSalle University. She and her husband Bob, a human-resources executive, now reside in Center City Philadelphia. They are the parents of a college-age son.

Mrs. Spires is the 17th recipient of the region’s most respected honor for a businesswoman. The 2008 recipient was Deborah M. Fretz, President and CEO of Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. For more information or to join us in recognizing the achievements of our 2009 honoree at the Award luncheon, please call 215-790-3675 or visit greaterphilachamber.com.

To view past winners of the Paradigm Award, click here.