CARLOS J. ALMARAZ

In my role as an Area Leader, I oversee a fast-paced and dynamic operation that involves working with multiple teams, stores, and leaders. I focus on improving efficiency, increasing profitability, and taking care of partners and customers. This role has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my career because it has allowed me to build strong partnerships, solve problems creatively, and focus on helping others grow and succeed.

Moving to Houston from the border region was both challenging and exciting. I learned to adapt to a new customer base and work with a diverse group of people. While leading the team during a full store remodel, I kept operations running smoothly by focusing on teamwork, patience, and clear communication.

In this role, I was very proud to lead the team as this store had begun its Value Store Profitability (VSP) journey. The team and I worked through changes and introduced new strategies to improve profitability. Store leadership helped keep the team motivated and focused on delivering great results for the store and customers.

I worked closely with my team to improve product variety and maintain the highest quality standards. By using data and keeping production areas clean and organized, we were able to consistently deliver fresh, top-quality products while staying efficient and effective in our daily operations.

As a team, we focused on giving customers the best shopping experience by keeping the store clean, well-stocked, and inviting. I involved the team in decision-making to cultivate a feeling of inclusion and empowered, which helped us reach our goals and provide outstanding service to our customers.