Big Y Names Three Directors
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Big Y Foods, Inc. here has appointed John W. Jendza director of store design and purchasing, James Kacmarcik, director of risk management, and Casimir M. Tryba director of food safety.
In his new role, Jendza's duties include planning for new and remodeled stores and capital expenditure projects, among them overseeing purchasing and the cabinet shop within the facilities management group. He reports to Peter J. Thomas, v.p. of real estate and development.
Jendza joined Big Y in 1973 as a part-time grocery clerk in the Westfield, Mass. store, gradually rising to become store manager in East Longmeadow in 1981, manager of store merchandising in 1997, and manager of store design and purchasing in 1999.
As director of risk management, Kacmarcik is responsible for the administration of all workers' compensation and general liability claims. Additionally, he handles all property damage and product liability claims, Big Y's safety programs, and insurance programs, as well as risk management benchmarking. Kacmarcik reports to Michael S. Gold, v.p. of legal affairs and government relations.
A 30-year veteran of the retail food industry, Kacmarcik began his career in 1977 at Purity Supreme in Newington, Conn. as a part-time meat clerk and worked in various capacities until he became store manager there in 1986. He joined Big Y in 1995 as a reserve store manager in Killingly, Conn., and in 1996 opened Big Y's World Class Market in Manchester, Conn. By 2003, he had risen to the position of risk manager.
Tryba, the new director of food safety, oversees all aspects of Big Y's food safety programs, including training, policy development, store and third-party vendor audits, and product recalls, in addition to ensuring that all stores are kept clean and follow food safety procedures. He also acts as a liaison to all food safety regulatory agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. Like Kacmarcik, Tryba reports to Gold.
A city health inspector for 12 years, Tryba came to Big Y in 1993 as the chain's first food safety and sanitation specialist. While at the company, he developed internal food safety policies and procedures, and continues to provide assistance on new store construction and remodels, along with audits, training, and food safety certification.
Tryba also introduced a food safety certification program for all of Big Y's store and perishable department managers. By 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recognized the retailer as being one of the top six food safety success stories in the country.
One of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England, family-owned and -operated Big Y operates 56 stores throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts, and has over 9,200 employees.
In his new role, Jendza's duties include planning for new and remodeled stores and capital expenditure projects, among them overseeing purchasing and the cabinet shop within the facilities management group. He reports to Peter J. Thomas, v.p. of real estate and development.
Jendza joined Big Y in 1973 as a part-time grocery clerk in the Westfield, Mass. store, gradually rising to become store manager in East Longmeadow in 1981, manager of store merchandising in 1997, and manager of store design and purchasing in 1999.
As director of risk management, Kacmarcik is responsible for the administration of all workers' compensation and general liability claims. Additionally, he handles all property damage and product liability claims, Big Y's safety programs, and insurance programs, as well as risk management benchmarking. Kacmarcik reports to Michael S. Gold, v.p. of legal affairs and government relations.
A 30-year veteran of the retail food industry, Kacmarcik began his career in 1977 at Purity Supreme in Newington, Conn. as a part-time meat clerk and worked in various capacities until he became store manager there in 1986. He joined Big Y in 1995 as a reserve store manager in Killingly, Conn., and in 1996 opened Big Y's World Class Market in Manchester, Conn. By 2003, he had risen to the position of risk manager.
Tryba, the new director of food safety, oversees all aspects of Big Y's food safety programs, including training, policy development, store and third-party vendor audits, and product recalls, in addition to ensuring that all stores are kept clean and follow food safety procedures. He also acts as a liaison to all food safety regulatory agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. Like Kacmarcik, Tryba reports to Gold.
A city health inspector for 12 years, Tryba came to Big Y in 1993 as the chain's first food safety and sanitation specialist. While at the company, he developed internal food safety policies and procedures, and continues to provide assistance on new store construction and remodels, along with audits, training, and food safety certification.
Tryba also introduced a food safety certification program for all of Big Y's store and perishable department managers. By 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recognized the retailer as being one of the top six food safety success stories in the country.
One of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England, family-owned and -operated Big Y operates 56 stores throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts, and has over 9,200 employees.