The Exchange’s Director/CEO Tom Shull recently recognized associates in the United Kingdom and Germany for their commitment to serving those who serve.
On June 26, Shull visited the U.S. Embassy in London, where he presented thank-you notes and the Director/CEO challenge coin to COL Mike Cullinane of the U.S. Army Attaché Office and Erica Glass, executive assistant with the Defense Attaché Office, and toured the facility.
The Exchange has operated an Express at the London Embassy since 2009, when one opened in London’s Grosvenor Square. In 2017, the Express moved to its current location in Nine Elms, a growing area on the River Thames in southwest London.
The Express, a 600-square-foot store staffed by three associates Monday through Friday, supports U.S Defense and military personnel, who live at the Embassy to stand ready for any required action.
“The Exchange is honored to provide critical support to State Department and Marine Corps personnel serving at the U.S. embassy in London,” Shull said. “This is one of the many ways the Express exemplifies its ‘We Go Where You Go’ motto.”
During the visit, Mr. Shull presented the Exchange’s Director/CEO challenge coin to:
- Mary Omler, U.K. Consolidated Exchange general manager and Army spouse who has worked for the Exchange 32 years
- Keith Atkins, U.K. Consolidated Exchange retail business manager
- Lauren Young, Exchange supervisor and Air Force Veteran who has been with the Exchange for six years
- Ciaran O’Carroll, general manager, American Embassy Employee Association
From London, Shull traveled to Germany, where he and the Exchange’s new senior enlisted advisor, Chief Master Sgt. Richard Martinez, visited the Kaiserlautern Military Community Center Exchange on June 27.
The KMCC Exchange puts a priority on hosting events to bring excitement to the military community. Sensory shopping events, which the Exchange launched in December as part of a wider inclusivity project, have been extremely well received. Another event is scheduled July 21 to coincide with the back-to-school timeframe. Recently, a princess team party drew an almost overwhelmingly large crowd of families.
PowerZone Sales Area Manager Rosario Dairocas greeted Shull with “Welcome to the excitement!”
“I am so grateful for the teammates here at KMCC and your passion for serving those who are far from home,” Shull said. “Your dedication to providing the best tastes and comforts of home to our heroes is another stellar example of our ‘family serving family’ core value.”
Mr. Shull presented the Exchange’s Director/CEO challenge coin to 23 associates:
- Marion Artiaga, services supervisor, 44 years with the Exchange
- Richmond “Woody” Wood II, assistant food court manager, 27 years
- David Woodridge, warehouse worker, Military Clothing store, five years
- Doris Pacheco, customer experience associate, 38 years
- Michael Drogitis, Outdoor Living supervisor, 14 years
- Michael Sward, inventory control associate, 34 years
- Gladstone Tenhue, customer experience associate, 22 years
- Camdyn Nickels, customer service, two years
- Maria Elena Hess, customer service/MILITARY STAR ambassador, one year
- Daniel Chittenden, stockroom foreman, five years
- Ingrid Gray, sales area manager, 20 years
- Klaus Fritsch, hardlines supervisor, 40 years
- Sajini Volnhals, hardlines supervisor, 22 years
- Rowena Dumlao, inventory control associate, 18 years
- Sasha Clemenz, food concept manager, Popeyes, 20 years, German Army veteran
- Torsten Hahn, food concept manager, KMC Charleys, 20 years, German Army veteran
- Rosario Dairocas, sales area manager, KMC PowerZone, 20 years
- Anjyla Krzynowek, services business tech, 14 years; U.S. Navy daughter, partner served in U.S. military
- Ashraf Mankarious, retail business manager, 32 years
- Demetrius Hills, shift manager at the Ramstein Express, 21 years
- Kris Edkin, store manager, Ramstein Express, 25 years, retired military
- Chris Heath, assistant store manager, Ramstein Express, 22 years, served in the military
- Brian Smith, general manager, KMC Exchange, 27 years, U.S. Army Veteran
On June 28, Shull and Martinez visited the Germersheim Distribution Center, where he presented the Exchange’s Director/CEO challenge coin to six associates and praised the work of the Logistics directorate.
“Logistics has done an amazing job serving those who serve,” Shull told GEDC associates. “You have such an important mission. This is the heart of support for service members. You’re not just part of the team—you are the team.”
Opened Feb. 1, 2017, the distribution center ships beverages, boxed food, European electronics, B2B supplies, and more to Exchange main stores and Express locations throughout Europe, Southwest Asia and contingency locations. The Exchange private fleet also transports raw goods and materials from Germersheim to the Exchange’s bakery and water plant in Gruenstadt. The GEDC team includes 24 military Veterans.
Regional Fleet Supervisor Brian Guest said the center currently has 34 truck drivers handling close to 143 dispatches a week. The center also has nine mobile field Exchanges ready to be sent wherever they’re needed to support troops during contingency situations.
Shull presented Carlos “Charlie” Rios, who has been Distribution Center manager since 2023, with his 35-year service award. Rios has also worked at the Dan Daniel Distribution Center and the Japan Distribution Center at Yokota Air Base, and as manager of the Puerto Rico Distribution Center. In 2019, he deployed to Kuwait for more than 14 months, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rios’s wife Janet Vazquez, a nearly 35-year associate who manages the Sembach Express, and daughter, Janelys Rios, who is a shift supervisor at the Landstuhl Express and has been with the Exchange 1½ years, came to the DC to surprise and support Rios. Shull presented the Director/CEO challenge coin to both Janet and Charlie as well as the following teammates:
- Joerg Mueller, assistant DC manager, 24 years with the Exchange
- Alexandra Gottfried, Customer Service manager, 22 years, Army daughter
- Udo Valentin, maintenance shop supervisor, automotive fleet, 40 years
- Kenet Saareleht, B2B/transship foreman, 12 years
- Eugene Baker, supervisor, inbound office, six years, Army Veteran
Shull concluded his Europe trip by speaking at the retirement ceremony of COL Donnie “Don” Nowlin, commander for the Europe/SWA/Africa region. Nowlin, who has served in the military for more than 27 years, had been commander since August 2021.
“Every step of the way, you were there for service members and their families,” Shull told Nowlin during his remarks. “We are so grateful to you. The most important mission we have is to stay aligned with those who serve and have served.”
Shull also praised Nowlin’s wife, Amanda, and 19-year-old daughter, Piper, for their support of Nowlin and the Exchange mission.
Nowlin thanked the Exchange family during his remarks.
“Thanks for letting me come aboard and peek behind the AAFES curtain and have the best job ever,” Nowlin said. “I’ve come in every day wanting to be a great white when you guys needed me to be a baby shark. Thanks you for letting me play with you guys in the same swimming pool for three years.”
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