Safeway's Valerie Lewis honored by Women of Color magazine

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Wednesday announced that Valerie Lewis, the grocer’s assistant VP legal, was named to the "Top Women in Retail and Finance" list by Women of Color magazine.

Lewis is one of a handful of female professionals chosen by the magazine, a business and technology publication geared toward women of diverse ethnic backgrounds, to be honored and highlighted in its upcoming spring issue. In a press release announcing the list, Women of Color said the Top Women in Retail and Finance honorees were chosen “based on a range of qualitative and quantitative information, strong commitment to their communities, leadership as role models for young and upcoming leaders, and senior status within their organizations.”

Lewis is considered a resource within the supermarket industry on a range of legal, health and food safety issues. She also is integrally involved in the development of policy and training, and is responsible for implementation of and compliance with consumer, corporate and intellectual technology privacy issues. In 2010, Lewis was named to Savoy magazine’s prestigious list of the “Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America.” She also was named to the “Most Influential Women in the Bay Area” list by the San Francisco Business Times.

Lewis is a founding member of the Safeway African American Leadership Network and currently serves as the network’s chairwoman. She also is a trustee of the Alameda County Medical Center, one of the largest public healthcare systems in the country. Lewis is secretary on the Executive Leadership Council and sits on the boards of directors of the Leadership Education and Development, the Oakland African-American Chamber of Commerce and the Youth Law Center.

“We congratulate Valerie on receiving this honor. This recognition for being one of the most talented achievers in retail and finance is well-deserved,” stated Robert Gordon, Safeway’s SVP and general counsel.