In 1987, Mary Carter began working for Jerry Ridley at the Provo Food 4 Less store. A year later Jerry Dewey took over the company. She stayed there for 17 years working as a cashier, price checker, office manager and accountant.
In 2003, Jerry Dewey, who had joined Associated Food Stores (AFS) earlier, asked Mary to join the company.
Mary then began her 23-year career at AFS as a Corporate Services Manager. She later moved into Corporate Programs, where she spent the majority of her career. In her current role, she supports key programs and works closely with retailers across the network.
Mary built strong relationships with store owners and managers over the years. “The best thing about working at AFS has been getting to know the retailers. I visited many stores and got to know the store owners and store managers and we became good friends,” Mary said. “Helping the stores has been my passion.”
“Mary’s impact has been felt by everyone who has had the opportunity to work alongside her,” said Steve Skinner, director of center store at AFS. “Her dedication, integrity, and genuine care for our retailers have left a lasting impression across our organization. While she will be deeply missed, I’m excited for Mary as she begins this next chapter. Congratulations to Mary on a well-deserved retirement!”
Mary’s advice to current team members is to get to know the retailers and find ways to help them.
Some of her favorite memories include Lagoon Day and AFS Christmas parties with her family. Those events brought her work and home life together in a meaningful way.
In retirement, Mary plans to spend more time with her family and focus on hobbies she enjoys. She looks forward to serving in the temple, working on family history, quilting, and taking rock-collecting trips to polish her finds.