She Stays
With our brief encounter, I could tell immediately that failure would never be an option for Meredith and she would be successful at anything she puts her mind to. It’s enjoyable meeting someone who is extremely passionate about work and life; her determination is contagious.
Meredith has lived in Keene, NH for a little over four years and enjoys all four seasons and the activities that come along with them; hiking and camping in the summer and skiing in the winter. “Fall is my favorite season – the changing leaves, the crisp morning air, the ability to wear layers and tall boots, and the Pumpkin Fest!” This year marks the 24th year of Keene’s Magical Pumpkin Tower and the number to beat this year for Keene’s Pumpkin Fest is 30,128 pumpkins. 
Meredith appreciates the charm and small-town feel of Keene, but is also inspired by the amazing business and community leaders that impact the Monadnock region. She plans on staying in New Hampshire and has made so many wonderful connections with different people in her community. Her plan is to continue to foster and grow these relationships and also make new ones. “I meet new people every day and every single one of them wants to be supportive of new initiatives, make an impact and help support one another.”
She Works
Meredith works to develop, maintain and improve the leadership development programs for C&S Wholesale Grocers. “We have over 15,000 employees nation-wide – it’s a huge opportunity, and an honor to be involved in the growth and development of these team members, personally and professionally.” She loves being a part of her internal networking group at C&S Wholesale Grocers, which was started by employees for employees. It gives her coworkers an opportunity to hear from guest speakers, benefit from leadership panel discussions, and make connections across many different departments. “It’s so much easier to collaborate with someone on a project for work once you’ve met them and connected on something you both have in common. That’s what we try to encourage at our meetings and events.” C&S Wholesale Grocers focuses on having fun at work while growing professionally. In 2013, the Business Analyst Program at C&S Wholesale Grocers was awarded the “Leadership Development Program of the Year” award, part of the Rising Stars Awards, by Stay Work Play! This leadership development gives young professionals the opportunity to experience areas of C&S operations from a “top down and bottom up” training method. It starts with a four-week orientation including meet-and-greets, community service, social events, road trips, facility tours, and team-building activities before they move onto three 6-month rotations. These programs have had huge influence in attracting and retaining great talent.
About C&S Wholesale Grocers
C&S Wholesale Grocers is fourth generation family business and the lead supply chain company in the food industry today and is the largest wholesale grocery supply company in the U.S. Supplying independent supermarkets, chain stores and institutions with over 95,000 different products – from more than 50 high-tech facilities, “delivering everything from seafood to soup to soap”. C&S Wholesale Grocers has a commitment to new technologies and has had a great focus on delivering cost savings, service and value to each company.
In The Community
Meredith volunteers at Linda’s Closet, working with woman returning to school or reentering the workforce, living on a restricted budget. She is also the Board Chair for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western New Hampshire chapter. Big Brother Big Sister provides children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change lives for the better, forever.
She Plays
A typical “perfect” Saturday for Meredith would start on Main Street in Keene at Brew Bakers for coffee, then shopping in the charming Downtown Keene, then to the new Monadnock Food Co-op to pick up ingredients for cooking a fun meal at home. After a long hike on Mount Monadnock she would find herself at Brewtopia to pick up some local craft beers, then back to her home to cuddle up by her homemade fire pit in her back yard.
Meredith likes to dream big and encourage others around her to do the same!
In her spare time Meredith is a Program Manager for the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, an initiative she is very passionate about which teaches middle and high school students (grades 6 – 12) how to start and run their own real business. This is a program that was started in 2004 on the campus of the University of Rochester, and now Meredith is able to bring this same program to the youth of New Hampshire and the Monadnock region. The students hear from engaging local business and community leaders, go on exciting field trips, and get matched with business mentors, so they can research and decide on a big idea, write a business plan, and pitch to a panel of investors for real funding to launch their new business. At the end of the 22-week program, these students are real CEOs. Since the first class on campus at University of Rochester, it has since grown to be in 35 states! This program in Keene is the first one in the entire state of New Hampshire! It’s very exciting! to learn more, visit their website, like them on Facebook and follow on Twitter. Perhaps you can start one in your community?
Do you or someone you know work for an exciting NH company or organization and want to be featured in the SWP blog? Email 9to5@stayworkplay.org!
The post 9 to 5: Meredith Speranza – C&S Wholesale Grocers appeared first on Stay Work Play New Hampshire.