VRGA announces Person of the Year award winners

The Vermont Retail and Grocers Association (VRGA) has announced the co-winners of the 2014 VRGA Person of the Year Award: Marcel Marquis, with Shaw’s Supermarkets, and Bonnie Hawley, owner of Hawley’s Florist in Rutland.

According to Jim Harrison, President of VRGA, “Both Bonnie and Marcel have been active members and participants in the predecessor organizations (Vermont Grocers Association and Vermont Retail Association) and continue to be so with VRGA. Each has a long resume of service to their communities and to their associations.”

Marcel Marquis has worked in the retail supermarket industry for over 35 years. Since May, 2010 he has served as Store Director for Shaw’s Supermarkets, overseeing 150 associates and responsible for the overall operation of various volume supermarkets in Vermont. Prior to that he was District Manager for Shaw’s in Connecticut and Vermont until restructuring occurred in 2010. From 1999 until 2004, Marcel served as Human Resources Director for Shaw’s. He received his Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, from Southern New Hampshire University, majoring in Business Administration and minoring in History. He currently resides in Colchester, VT with his wife Bonnie, where, among other community contributions, he has refereed high school and college ice hockey games.

Bonnie Hawley has owned and operated Hawley’s Florist in Rutland for 37 years. A graduate of Otter Valley Union High School and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, she taught middle school science before launching her own business, one of the most successful and lasting of its kind in New England. Bonnie’s community service includes serving on the board of the Paramount Theatre, including as board president, for 17 years during its fundraising and restoration stage. She serves on the board of Downtown Rutland Partnership and is a past president of the organization. In previous years she served on the National Board of Florist Transworld Delivery (FTD). She is currently on the executive committee of the new Vermont Retail & Grocers Association.

The award winners will be officially recognized at the Chairman’s Banquet on September 10 as part of VRGA’s 2014 Convention & Expo.