Each year May is celebrated as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month commemorating the history and contributions of Asians and Asian Americans in the United States. Join us in celebrating this month by sharing and learning about the Asian culture from a few of our Team Members.

Let’s hear from Andy G., Sr. Front End Team Leader at our Monroeville Giant Eagle.

My name is Andy, and I was born in the province of Kyungnam in South Korea. I was adopted when I was less than a year old to eastern Pennsylvania and have lived in many different states since then. I started working in retail as a bagger for a store in Wisconsin, and no matter what life has thrown at me, I’ve always gone back to that environment. I graduated with a degree in business administration, and in 2020, I moved back to Pennsylvania and soon after is when I started my career with Giant Eagle.

Please describe your career path with Giant Eagle.

I was hired by Giant Eagle in late 2021 as a Front End Team Leader and the Monroeville location is the third store I’ve worked at!

What is the best part about working at Giant Eagle?
The best part about working at Giant Eagle is the people. Any business is only as good as its Team Members and Giant Eagle has incredibly talented, dedicated, hardworking, and friendly individuals with whom I’ve had the pleasure of working with over these past few years.

What does Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month mean to you?
For me, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is a time to celebrate, as well as remember the contributions and achievements Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made in science, literature, music, politics, sports, and so much more.

What are some significant cultural holidays or family traditions that you celebrate? What makes them special to you?
Being adopted, I didn’t grow up in an Asian household, but I think that made me much more aware of certain traditions and cultural aspects as my adoptive parents did an excellent job educating me in that aspect. From making sure I knew about (and dressed, from time to time) the traditional hanbok which means “Korean clothing”, to making sure I was able to attend a class on weekends to learn Korean. I really appreciate their desire to always remind me of that culture and I am grateful to my parents for that!

Who inspires you the most and why?
Someone who inspires me is Ellison Onizuka, the first Asian American in space. When I was growing up, I loved science, to the point of almost majoring in a STEM field in college. While he may not be a figure who pushed huge change in our country, I look up to him as someone who followed his dreams and accomplished great things. I also think it’s cool to have a crater on the moon named after you.

Ready to find your fit with Giant Eagle? Visit our Careers Page to learn about all the opportunities to grow with us.