"I will never forget my very first day at Whole Foods Market in West LA with my very first shift starting off with an All-Store Meeting. I remember how much energy my Store Team Leader brought to the meeting and the warm welcome I received from the team. Coming from a conventional market, something felt incredibly different here. I could not pinpoint what it was at first, but I soon discovered that it was the culture at Whole Foods that made this not just another grocery store. Being an Associate Store Team Leader, I got moved around a bit but soon discovered that all the stores had that same, welcoming vibe. I quickly realized how lucky I was to have joined a company with a Purpose to nourish people and the planet.
After deciding to make a change, Whole Foods relocated my family to Arizona, where I have resided going on 10 years. I transferred to Arizona as an Assistant Store Team Leader and when the opportunity opened at Paradise Valley (PVA) for a Store Team Leader, I went for it and have been here since. I have to say I am truly blessed with the team that I have. We are like a family, and everyone works together as a team. Whole Foods has given me so many opportunities, most recently getting to go In the Field with Jason to Portland, Oregon. How many of us can say we had an opportunity to go visit some of our suppliers with our CEO and other amazing Team Members from all over the world? Being able to see where our food comes from and how their Quality Standards and Core Values align so perfectly with ours are moments I get to keep and share with the Team Members of my store. Being able to try my very first oyster straight from the water where they are harvested was incredible, as well! It was a trip that I will never forget.
I am so proud of where we have taken PVA: We had five All-Stars in 2022, named Top Store in 2023, and in 2024, I was nominated for TWIG (Top Women in Grocery)! All these things could not be possible without my team. I did not officially win, but being nominated was an honor all on its own. We have had a lot of Team Member growth, working so hard as a group to prepare our teams for what’s next with our relocation to Paradise Valley Mall. They truly are The Best Team, and we can hardly wait to see what magic happens in our new store!
Always strive for more and make the best out of everything!"
- Laura Kammerer, Store Team Leader
#NourishPeople #NourishWellbeing #TMAW #TeamWFM