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Article Courtesy of The Marshall Independent
MARSHALL — Staff at Marshall’s Hy-Vee store believe in doing their best, and this week they’re being recognized as the best in their company. Hy-Vee Regional Vice President Shawn Brown of Sioux City, Iowa, visited the store to present the corporation’s President’s Cup to Store Director Matt Parkhurst and a group of employees. The cup is awarded four times a year to a store in the Hy-Vee chain that demonstrates outstanding control of expenses and successful net profit.“We created it to recognize the best of the best,” Brown said. “We’re a people business that depends on employees and customers. Our Marshall store is a place where everyone goes above and beyond. We appreciate everything they do.”Marshall’s store is the only Hy-Vee establishment to thus far win the President’s Cup twice. The award was first given out in 2020.Parkhurst said the award is a source of pride for each and every staff member. It recognizes the many ways employees go out of their way to provide excellent service.
“This is a great day,” Parkhurst said. “It’s a chance to recognize all of our outstanding employees, and also an opportunity to thank everyone in the Marshall area who supports us as loyal customers.”The President’s Cup was one in a group of achievement awards handed out Wednesday afternoon. Marshall’s Hy-Vee was also recognized as the oustanding regional store of the business quarter.Six different departments won awards as departments of the quarter. Those recognized include meats, produce, the Starbucks coffee shop, food service, the convenience store and the deli department.
“I’m very happy to see special recognition for six departments,” Parkhurst said. “We had others that came very close to winning. It shows that we have talent throughout the store.”He added that the company-wide recognition is a reward for many of the challenges that employees faced in the past several years as the COVID pandemic caused a variety of work-related disruptions.“We’ve had three of the hardest years ever for retail businesses,” he said. “Our employees still came to work with smiles on their faces. They went out of their way to serve customers. That’s the kind of spirit that gets results.”Staff members who attended Wednesday’s awards presentation said they’re proud of their jobs at Hy-Vee for several different reasons.
Customer Service Manager Dee Kerkvliet said she appreciates the supportive employee-oriented atmosphere. She’s been part of the Hy-Vee staff for 30 years.“It’s like a family,” Kerkvliet said. “It’s a great place to work. They’ve always treated me well. Whenever an employee needs help, they can always count on their managers and co-workers.”
Convenience Store Manager Bob Richards, a 35-year Hy-Vee employee, said he always enjoys his work days at the Marshall store.“My 35 years have gone fast, and that’s because I have a very good work environment,” Richards said. “I enjoy my job. I like the new things I see every day and the people I meet.”
The awards presentation was attended by several Marshall city officials. Mayor Bob Byrnes said Hy-Vee deserves its company-wide recognition because of how it serves as a major gathering place for thousands of Marshall area shoppers.“Hy-Vee is widely respected for its outstanding products and its quality of service,” Byrnes said. “It’s always a busy place. It’s a major shopping center that helps to bring people to town.”
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