Sarah Klein

Director of Front-End Operations and Community Relations for Klein’s ShopRite of Maryland

Sarah Klein is Director of Front-End Operations and Community Relations for Klein’s ShopRite of Maryland, a family-owned grocery store business with 9 stores in Harford and Baltimore counties employing 1200 people.

Klein’s ShopRite of Maryland is a member of Wakefern, the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States, comprised of 50 member companies who independently own and operate 362 retail supermarkets in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island markets.  To contribute to her industry, Sarah is active in this cooperative and sits on both the Customer Experience Committee and the Digital Commerce and Analytics Committee.

Sarah’s commitment to her employees goes far beyond the traditional oversight.  For some of her younger employees who come from low-income families with no drivers or driver’s licenses she has taken it upon herself to help these employees become more independent by working with them go get their drivers licenses – even driving them to take the driver’s test in her own car and having them use her car for the test.  Nearly half a dozen employees have benefitted from her generosity in this effort.  Also, she has developed a program with Jones Junction, a Harford County used and new car dealership, to help these employees qualify for car loans so that they, in many cases, can be the first person in their family to get their driver’s license and own a car.

She cares about every employee and works to help them grow in the business and their careers.  She has mentored many.  As an example, a young female employee of 16 years old when she started at Klein’s has worked with Sarah for the last 5 years. With Sarah’s support and encouragement, she has worked her way up and is now Sarah’s front end supervisor.

In her community relations efforts, she oversees the Klein’s ShopRite of Maryland’s charitable foundation that was developed to support important community initiatives.  In this role, she has supported numerous community non-profits including:

• Upper Chesapeake Hospital Cancer Center
• Amanda Hichkad Walk – This event raises money for Cancer LifeNet which helps patients, and their families cope with the physical, financial, psychological, and emotional aspects of having cancer. Nurse navigators, social workers and other specialists work alongside people diagnosed with cancer and their families to create a safe and nurturing environment and help them with each stage of their cancer care.
• Char Hope Foundation — Founded in October of 2015, the Char Hope Foundation is focused on being the first recovery support group within the agricultural community in Maryland while producing Farm Fresh Goods. They are dedicated to helping adults, who are facing the challenges of substance abuse, to move toward a long-term recovery, while learning life skills, and creating a family like community to give added support.
• Klein’s Family Crisis Center — provides 24/7 care for mental health and addiction issues. From our hotline (1-800-NEXT-STEP) and mobile crisis team to the urgent care walk-in clinic and residential services, we offer immediate access to services in a safe and comfortable environment.

The Crisis Center is managed by UM Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in partnership with the Harford County government, Healthy Harford/Healthy Cecil, Harford County Health Department, Office on Mental Health/Core Service Agency of Harford County, Inc. and the Affiliated Sante Group.

• Among numerous other charitable efforts over the years

Outside of work, she is a superstar and invests much of her time on charitable boards noted below offering her insights and leadership.

• John Carroll School Board where she co-chairs their annual golf tournament
• Greater Bel Air Community Foundation Board where she also chairs their annual golf tournament
• Albert P. Close Foundation Board – supporting at risk youth
• Char Hope Foundation Board
• Rockfield Foundation Board
• Harford County Sheriff’s Foundation Board
• The Next Generation Leadership Council (NextGen) of the Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation — made up of emerging professionals from the Harford County community and surrounding areas who have demonstrated a capacity for leadership in their professional and personal lives.

Also, just this year Sarah was awarded The ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award® that honors an emerging leader who demonstrates excellence, creativity, and initiative in their business or profession, and serves as a role model for young women personally and professionally. This event is hosted each year by the Harford Community College Foundation.

Sarah has also been honored with the Baltimore City Health Department Health Equity Leadership Award and by the Daily Record as part of their Leading Women honor.

Sarah believes that it is her duty to give back to the community as a young leader and to encourage other young professionals to do the same to make Harford County and surrounding communities the best they can possibly for families today and well into the future.

Sarah is most deserving of being recognized by the Baltimore Sun as part of the “Women to Watch” program.