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 Alexander, Front End Team Lead.

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.

Alexander, Front End Team Lead

Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Alex and I began my career with Giant Eagle in 2019 and am part of the Store Leader Development Program. I have a Master of Business Administration degree from Cleveland State University focused in Business Management and am truly passionate about the grocery industry. I recently proposed to my boyfriend of 3 years and am looking forward to starting our next chapter together.

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

I am a Front End Team Leader at Biddulph Plaza and a part of the Store Leader Development Program. What I love most about my job is working with all the various lines of business and people.

What does celebrating PRIDE Month mean to you?

What celebrating PRIDE month means to me is celebrating with friends and loved ones the progress that has been made toward acceptance as a community, while still being mindful of the struggles of the past and the challenges ahead.

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

I think one can become a better ally and support the LGBTQ+ community by listening to understand, communicating to educate, recognizing one's own unconscious bias, and always remembering to be kind.

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

How I support and participate in the GE PROUD BRG at Giant Eagle is by encouraging LGBTQ+ Team Members and LGBTQ+ allies to support and participate in the GE PROUD BRG.

What challenges would you like to help the LGBTQ+ community overcome in the future?

The challenge that I would like to help the LGBTQ+ community overcome in the future is the challenge of living in fear of not being accepted for who they truly are. I want to help members of the LGBTQ+ community to be brave and be proud of themselves for who they are. I want members of the LGBTQ+ community to be their authentic self regardless of what that might look like to others. I want members of the LGBTQ+ community to be given equal opportunity at life and to be given the same opportunities to be happy and healthy, earn a living, be safe in their communities, serve their country, and love those who love them as any other human being.