Associated Retail Operations is excited to announce that Amber Woodfield has been named district manager. Amber, who has spent more than 20 years growing her career in the grocery business, takes on the role following Steve Skinner’s move to director of center store at the AFS corporate office. Amber will lead the group of 16 stores making up the central district of ARO.
“Amber is a strong leader who understands both the business and the people side of retail,” said Darin Peirce, executive vice president and president of Associated Retail Operations. “We are excited to see her grow in this new opportunity and continue building on the success of our central district stores. I also want to thank Steve for his leadership and the positive impact he has had on these teams. We look forward to his continued contributions in his new role at the corporate office.”
Amber began her career with Albertsons in 1999 and joined Associated Food Stores when the company purchased Albertsons in 2009. Since that time, she has been in a wide range of roles, including Starbucks manager, assistant store director, store director, deli operations specialist and, most recently, deli sales manager.
She credits her time as a store director and sales manager as the roles that helped most in preparing for her new assignment. “A district manager oversees multiple stores, ensuring they are efficient, profitable and consistent in company standards,” Amber said. “I am most excited to be out in stores. I want to get to know the teams better and continue growing strength in our central division stores.”
Amber has seen the grocery industry change in many ways during her career including evolving shopping habits, more people ordering online, new technology in stores and a bigger focus on fresh products.
In her new role, Amber hopes to build strong relationships with store directors and store teams and continue to grow sales, profitability and merchandising standards across the central district.
Outside of work, Amber keeps her life action packed with husband, Ryan, and their three children: Grace, 20, who is studying to become a flight nurse; Zyan, 14, who is passionate about horses; and Jack, 7, a sports enthusiast. As a family, they enjoy fishing, hiking and paddleboarding. Amber says “take me to the mountains” whenever she needs to recharge. She also makes time for exercise, her go-to comfort food of chips and salsa and relaxing with a good book or the “Yellowstone” TV series.