Jeanne Norcross stocks messages

Jeanne Norcross stocks messages

Jeanne Norcross.

Editor’s note: Each issue of the Influential Women enewsletter will feature a profile of one of the Business Journal’s reigning 50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan. The profile first appeared in the event program.

Jeanne Norcross doesn’t flinch at juggling a demanding portfolio at Spartan Stores.

As a member of the executive management team, Norcross serves as vice president of corporate affairs and is responsible for corporate communications, Spartan Stores Foundation, government affairs and community relations.

Core businesses

She administers a budget of $2.4 million and four employees for the Byron Township-based food distributor and grocery store chain, which owns and operates 97 supermarkets in Michigan under the D&W Fresh Markets, Family Fare Supermarkets, Glen’s Markets and VG’s Food and Pharmacy banners.

The company also supplies more than 40,000 private label and national brand products to nearly 350 independent grocery stores.

Foundation

Spartan Stores Foundation supports four primary giving areas: fight hunger, promote diversity, encourage health and well-being and support youth development and education and literacy.

Perhaps the most visible and recent example of its philanthropy is that, in its first year, it pledged $3 million toward the construction of the Spartan Stores YMCA that serves southwest Grand Rapids.

During its first four months of operation, almost 2,000 families chose the Spartan Stores YMCA as their way to live a healthier life.

Health care industry

Norcross also was instrumental in developing and implementing the communications and community support of the merger of Blodgett Memorial Medical Center and Butterworth Hospital and developing the master brand strategy for what’s known today as Spectrum Health.

In the community

She has served on several boards: the Michigan State University College of Communication Arts, Saint Mary’s Women’s Health Center Women’s Advisory Council and the Special Olympics Michigan Advisory Council.