Julie McMillin Named Retail Dietitian Of The Year
The Retail Dietitians Business Alliance (RDBA) Names Assistant Vice President of Retail Dietetics for Hy-Vee as its 2015 Winner
CHICAGO, June 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Julie McMillin, RD, LD, the assistant vice president of retail dietetics for Hy-Vee was named the Retail Dietitian of the Year by the Retail Dietitians Business Alliance (RDBA) at FMI Connect in Chicago. This award recognizes a retail dietitian who shows leadership in utilizing business skills and industry knowledge to positively impact consumer behavior change through the retail sector.
"Julie has an enormous job where she's not only a skilled dietitian, but a business person who works with varying corporate departments to implement innovative and successful campaigns and services to every Hy-Vee store," says Phil Lempert, CEO and president of the RDBA. "We applaud Julie and recognize her as a role model for every retail dietitian in the country."
"I'm honored to be named the RDBA Retail Dietitian of the Year," says McMillin. "The award highlights the importance of retail dietitians and how we impact the lives of our customers, communities and employees by providing an accelerated customer service that cannot be matched. This award recognizes the profession as a whole, which is really exciting."
As an assistant vice president for Hy-Vee, McMillin supports 228 in-store dietitians, three retail dietetic supervisors and one corporate dietitian by helping them define services and accomplish their goals. McMillin also serves as an integral component to the retail experience, working with store merchandising, buying and marketing. She also is a liaison for the Hy-Vee health and wellness program to both the community and corporations, and also internally with employees. McMillin serves on Hy-Vee's Innovation Committee where she helps bring new ideas, products and trends to the company and stores.
She says RDBA is helpful in her career.
"Being an in-store dietitian you have to build your customer base from the store up and RDBA provides promotional ideas, guidance with vendor relations and creates a community where other RD's can share ideas. It's learning to walk-the-walk and talk-the-talk of retail," says McMillin.
McMillin began her career working part-time in a Hy-Vee deli and kitchen. After college she took the traditional clinical route and worked in a hospital setting for almost five years. She then rejoined the retail industry, becoming an in-store dietitian and working her way up the Hy-Vee corporate ladder.
She is a member of the Iowa and American Dietetic Associations and a board member of the American Diabetes Association. She's also a board member of ChildServe, an Iowa nonprofit that partners with families to help children with special health care needs.
About RDBA
Founded in 2012, RDBA is the professional group to the more than 600 retail registered dietitians throughout the U.S. that most often work in supermarkets. RDBA is the first to offer retail business education programs for registered dietitians that help these professionals better understand the business of retail including trends, merchandising, working with suppliers, and more. In addition to online and in-person training at key events, RDBA offers opportunities through its newsletter, website, and special events for the community of retailers and dietitians to share information.
RDBA sponsors include some of the most prestigious companies and organizations in the food industry including Attune Foods, Boulder Brands, FMI, Luvo, National Confectioners Association, National Turkey Federation, transOCEAN Products, Uncle Ben's, USA Pears and Vestcom. For more information, please visit www.RetailDietitians.com.
About Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 235 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of $8.7 billion annually. Hy-Vee ranks among the top 25 supermarket chains and the top 50 private companies in the United States. Supermarket News, the authoritative voice of the food industry, has honored the company with a Whole Health Enterprise Award for its leadership in providing services and programs that promote a healthy lifestyle. For more information, visit http://www.hy-vee.com.
For more information, please visit the website at www.RetailDietitians.com.
SOURCE Retail Dietitians Business Alliance
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