Meet Rick, MyHRConnection Manager at Giant Eagle

As we continue our celebration of Black History Month, we're thrilled to introduce you to Rick, MyHRConnection Manager at Giatn Eagle. Rick has been a Giant Eagle Team Member for over 6 years and has been an active member of our B.L.A.C.C. Business Resource Group through participation and lending his skills as a DJ and Graphic Artist. We're thrilled for you to get to know more about Rick here.

What do you want people to know about you?

Husband. Father. Grandfather. Musician. DJ. Website Developer. Graphic Artist.

Describe your Giant Eagle career journey and what has been the biggest influence on your success.

I started in the Customer Care department as Gift Card Gallery Coordinator. I was subsequently promoted to supervisor, then eventually accepted a promotion to MyHRConnection Manager. My work has also included resolving diversity related customer concerns, and I’m currently assisting in the development of a program for aspiring Black leaders at Giant Eagle.

I feel the biggest influence on my success is the experience that I’ve gained from working in a call center environment for many years prior to my start at Giant Eagle.

Do you actively participate in any Business Resource Groups (BRG)? If yes, can you speak to your experiences and how the BRG improve the workplace?

I’ve been involved with the B.L.A.C.C. BRG in various capacities. I’ve DJ’d for the Virtual Happy Hours, submitted graphic designs for the BRG logo, and participated in the Standing Up Against Racism (SUAR) discussions.

I think our BRGs allow for a sense of inclusion for our Team Members, provide valuable information, and create opportunities for them to share both common, as well as unique experiences. The SUAR conversations also offered a safe space to share different perspectives.

What is something about your own family traditions and/or culture that you honor and value?

I value the fact that while we have our flaws and make mistakes, we continually work on staying spiritually grounded.

What effect do you think food has had on Black culture?

I think that the passing down of family recipes is deeply embedded in our culture.

Is there a recipe that you resonate with that reminds you of Black History Month? If yes, please share the recipe below.

No one particular recipe resonates with me, but I think that is part of our uniqueness. We are able to blend tastes from various ingredients and create extraordinary culinary experiences utilizing whatever is available in our kitchens!

What are some things we could do to help end food insecurity?

We should continue the community outreach efforts with the Giant Eagle Mobile Market and partnering with community leaders to determine where the need is most prevalent.