June is Pride Month – an opportunity to honor and celebrate the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) community. This week, we are thrilled to introduce Max, Store Leader and President of GE PROUD, Giant Eagle’s LGBTQ+ Business Resource Group (BRG).

GE PROUD works to ensure that Giant Eagle is an inclusive, safe, and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ Team Members, Guests, and neighbors, as well as their allies and families.

Max, Store Leader at Medina, Giant Eagle

Tell us a little about yourself.
I have been married to my husband Matt since 2017 and we share our home with our two pups Zsa Zsa, and Eva. We are also welcoming our first child June 2023. I also am currently attending Cleveland State University for my B.A. in Computer Information Systems. We enjoy traveling and this past October got the to take our dream vacation to Paris, France.

What is your role in Giant Eagle? What do you love most about your job?

I am a Store Leader currently at our Medina, Ohio location. People have always been where I thrive. I enjoy building the connections and community and Giant Eagle gives me the freedom and encourages me to do that. I also love the growth opportunities that are available to all Giant Eagle Team Members. I don’t know many companies that the CEO started out on the front lines and built an amazing career. Giant Eagle allowed me personally to go from a parking lot attendant to a Store Leader and I truly believe I can do anything I strive to do with this company.

What does celebrating PRIDE Month mean to you?

Every summer we wear our brightest colors and honor the trailblazers who busted down the closet doors for their unshakeable pride is our inheritance. PRIDE month is about that one person who might think they are alone and hundreds of thousands of people marching around the world to show them they’re not. Pride is a community and that’s why its so important to so many and why it is still needed today because while we have come a long way there is still much work to be done.

How do you think one can become a better ally and support the LGBTQ+ community?

Ask the tough questions and have the conversation because no one has all the answers. Think of how you could help a member of the LGBTQ+ community feel more welcomed at work, school, or in your neighborhood.

How important is the role of the GE Proud BRG and how is it supporting the inclusion, equity, and diversity goals of the organization?

The GE Proud BRG is important because it is a space where we have the dialogue with the teams of how to be more inclusive and welcoming. I think the common misconception with all BRG membership is that you must identify as a part of that community to be a member. We all want to make big, exciting things happen but sometimes it just takes someone to raise their hand and say “I’ll help” to get the job done. So I would encourage our Giant Eagle Team Members to reach out to the BRG group and see how you could help and we would be proud to have you on our team!