Associated Food Stores recently announced that Chad Cameron has been named the company’s chief information officer, following his more than two decades of leadership and service within the company. Chad takes over for Wade Judd, who has been with AFS for more than 40 years and will retire in January.
Chad’s connection to AFS began while he was still in college, when he took a summer job working in the warehouse. “I learned then that this was a great place to work and everyone was treated and respected as a valued employee,” he said. After graduating, he left briefly to gain additional experience before returning to begin his career in the Information Technology department.
Over the years, Chad has built expertise across both corporate and retail operations. He spent the first half of his 20-plus years with AFS developing and supporting internal systems before shifting his focus to retail technology. “The last 10 years I’ve been able to focus on the retail side, building relationships with our members and the teams that help them succeed,” he said.
He says that experience has been instrumental in preparing him for his new role. “Aligning technology initiatives with business goals is key,” Chad said. “Gone are the days where IT just plays a role behind the scenes. We need to be quick to adjust and focus on creating efficiencies and actionable analytics, and of course, security.”
Among his proudest accomplishments is leading a major Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) transition early in his career and helping transform AFS’s retail technology team into a service-oriented department that balances technical expertise with a focus on member needs.
Chad said he’s most excited to work closely with all areas of the IT department and the broader business units. “We have an amazing team at AFS, and I feel lucky to be provided this opportunity,” he said.
Reflecting on his long career, Chad noted how technology’s role in grocery has expanded dramatically. “Years ago, the focus was just on POS and back office,” he said. “Today, tech, data and security touch every department and operational need.”
Chad’s motivation comes from the relationships he’s built across AFS’s membership. “As you get to know the members, you gain a greater appreciation for the efforts and legacies each store represents,” he said. “It’s in all of us to want to make things better today than they were yesterday, and with that mindset, AFS and its members have never been healthier.”
He credits AFS’s culture for making it a special place to work. “It’s rare to find a company that appreciates work-life balance the way AFS does,” he said. “I truly value the commitment AFS has made to supporting team members in every way.”
Outside of work, Chad’s life revolves around family and sports. He and his wife, Jacki, his high school sweetheart, have three children, two daughters-in-law and one grandchild. “Family for us has been all around sports,” he said. “Coaching, watching, participating and even vacationing around them.” His sports adventures include attending college bowl games, PGA championships, and even catching a baseball at a night game during the X Games in San Francisco.
Chad’s first job was far from technology, serving as a “top lander” for a construction crew digging a massive underground tunnel in Texas. “It taught me the value of hard work,” he said, “but also that I needed a career path that was a little more sustainable.”
When he’s not cheering from the stands or keeping AFS’s systems running, Chad enjoys pizza nights and rewatching favorite movies like The Bourne Series and A Knight’s Tale.
His advice for new employees? “Learn about our history and enjoy the journey,” Chad said. “Do the right thing for the right reasons, and your career will be fulfilling, and opportunities to grow and be challenged will follow.”