Voni Woods
Advisory Board
Voni Woods is an executive in the role of Vice President of Fresh, leading 3 businesses across 220 supermarkets in 5 states, with a competitive win-win spirit across stakeholders. Her leadership style is both Charismatic and Transformational, making people feel they are the most important person in the room. She is serious about helping others succeed, all the while exuding passion and energy in everything she touches!
One of her passions has been work around equality for women in the workplace, positioning it as a strategic business imperative, not a compliance. As founder of the Womens Business Resource Group, she built a team that grew from a handful to +400 in 2 years and growing, leaving it with opportunity to thrive with continued diverse leadership. She has mentored so many people that led to Keynote Speaker opportunities at many Women Empowerment Events.
Voni has been a board member of a Non-Profit International Industry Association for 12 years. She has led this association as President then Chairman of the Board as a way to serve. She has been determined to be a key part of the industry’s health and growth, and part of the changes too, instead of a witness to it.
Another passion has been being curious and anxious about sustainability. The work on “how society has the ability to exist and develop without depleting the natural resources needed to live in the future’ is daunting. Reading, and engaging with the ‘doers’ who are smart people who understand the real work and the why is important to her. She realizes in both local and global with so much work to be done. Her self-reflecting questions always start with: What can I do to help? What can I do to add value? What do I know for sure? What does Great look like? (Let’s together go be great!)
Ms. Woods has been recognized in many ways for her work. She has been honored to receive the prestigious Silver Plate award recognizing culinary excellence in an Oscar way, was named Executive of the Year 2 yrs. in a row from industry reports, has been inducted into the Private Chapter of the ‘International Cheese Guilde New World Society’ at le residence of the French Ambassador to the US, she has been named Pennsylvania’s Diversity Council Most Powerful & Influential Women, a two-time Top Women in Grocery (Executive Level), and a Champion of Change Legend winner and so much more. All of which she credits: “It’s my team that makes good things happen. I’m just lucky to be the face out front that works for them.”
Voni is a member of the United Way Women’s Leadership Council, a St. Jude Hero, was Council to the Bishop of the Diocese, and has led a Ministry at her church for 18 years.
She has a favorite quote: Courage doesn’t always ROAR. Sometimes it’s the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.”
