Associate Spotlight

Vanessa Vanreed has been bringing the party – and an unparalleled passion for people – to Sam’s Club for 40 years

As one of Sam’s Club’s youngest club managers, Buddima Wanniarachchi is proof positive that taking risks can yield big rewards.

No matter where someone's journey begins, there’s a path for everyone at Sam’s Club. Just ask Brenda Sanchez, who was part of our inaugural high school internship program last summer.When Brenda heard about the program, she was immediately intrigued. She was looking for her first job and found the idea that a Sam’s Club internship could open…

Three simple words can change what happens today, but it’s what you do with those words that can define the rest of your life.For Sam’s Club High School Internship Participant and now full-time Meat Cutter Hayden Adame, those three words were, “I have cancer.” He never thought he would have to say those words, especially while only…

When life gives you a hurricane, it’s time to get married. We’re pretty sure that’s how the saying goes. But even if we’re wrong, that’s how life really went for two Sam’s Club associates during Hurricane Ian. After all, love lifts us up where we belong.Meet Samantha (Sammy) and Vincent (Vinny) Boos. Their wedding date was supposed to…

If you’ve played a sport, you know how influential a coach can be. And even if you haven’t played a sport, there’s that teacher, that friend or that co-worker who knows how to get the best out of you and help you flourish. They take on a huge responsibility, and the good ones are pretty special.With the Big Game coming up (We can’t use…

New year, new degree. That’s the case for Charlene Carter, a 17-year Sam’s Club associate who has just achieved her dream of earning a college degree, specifically a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. The feat has always been a goal for Charlene, but at times it seemed unattainable – enter the Live Better U program, a…

Vanessa Vanreed has been bringing the party – and an unparalleled passion for people – to Sam’s Club for 40 years

As one of Sam’s Club’s youngest club managers, Buddima Wanniarachchi is proof positive that taking risks can yield big rewards.

New year, new degree. That’s the case for Charlene Carter, a 17-year Sam’s Club associate who has just achieved her dream of earning a college degree, specifically a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. The feat has always been a goal for Charlene, but at times it seemed unattainable – enter the Live Better U program, a…

If you’ve played a sport, you know how influential a coach can be. And even if you haven’t played a sport, there’s that teacher, that friend or that co-worker who knows how to get the best out of you and help you flourish. They take on a huge responsibility, and the good ones are pretty special.With the Big Game coming up (We can’t use…

When life gives you a hurricane, it’s time to get married. We’re pretty sure that’s how the saying goes. But even if we’re wrong, that’s how life really went for two Sam’s Club associates during Hurricane Ian. After all, love lifts us up where we belong.Meet Samantha (Sammy) and Vincent (Vinny) Boos. Their wedding date was supposed to…

In case you didn’t know, Sam’s Club’s 40th birthday is April 7. And if you haven’t heard, we’ve still got it goin’ on.Our founder Sam Walton was the most notable business leader of his time—but no matter how much success he achieved, he never forgot where it all started. Once a humble entrepreneur with a successful five-and-dime, Mr.…

No matter where someone's journey begins, there’s a path for everyone at Sam’s Club. Just ask Brenda Sanchez, who was part of our inaugural high school internship program last summer.When Brenda heard about the program, she was immediately intrigued. She was looking for her first job and found the idea that a Sam’s Club internship could open…

Three simple words can change what happens today, but it’s what you do with those words that can define the rest of your life.For Sam’s Club High School Internship Participant and now full-time Meat Cutter Hayden Adame, those three words were, “I have cancer.” He never thought he would have to say those words, especially while only…

We can learn a lot about a person in a few sentences, but then there’s that one thing we can only discover when we spend time with them. The thing that shows up in everything they are and everything they do. As for Chekelah Betts, she is a mother, club manager, cancer survivor. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two…

If there’s anything we’ve learned over the last three and a half decades, it’s that kids can’t wait – they need our help now. And we’ve found that our associates are instrumental in ensuring a healthier tomorrow for kids in their communities. It’s hard to believe that Walmart and Sam’s Club have partnered with CMN Hospitals for the past 35 years.

This Club Manager’s got both feet on the ground and she’s not backing down. She’s a 20-year Sam’s Club associate and mother of two who started as a cashier and has worked in nearly every position of the club. But now, she’s running one. It’s time for a little humble brag because Rochelle Spencer, club manager in Battle Creek, Michigan, is on fire.

Mommy! Mother! Ma! Mama! Mum! Mom! Listen, Linda…No matter what they call you or how persistent they are trying to get your attention with something seemingly unimportant, a mother’s love can move mountains for their kids. Just ask some of our Sam’s Club moms who are making a difference…

She chose door number 3, and it’s changed her life – and her son’s life – forever. See, Tawanda Baker could have given up hope. A Sam’s Club associate and single mother who received news that her young son had Leukemia. Times were tough, she was struggling to rent a place to live and emotions were obviously escalating. But Tawanda had a goal.

My eyes weren’t fully open to the significance of some of my job responsibilities until I met Mr. Pitts. “We’re experiencing history in the making. These are unprecedented times. This year is one for the books.” These are all things we’ve heard, but they officially sunk in while I gave him his first COVID vaccine.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. – June 1, 2021 – Sam’s Club today announced the return of its sampling and demo program, Taste & Tips. Officially re-launching this week, Taste & Tips allows members to sample food and review products when they visit the club. Initially, Taste & Tips will take place on the weekends and in limited quantities, using new…

If you’ve ever seen a dad at one of those father-daughter dances, then you’ve probably seen him dressed in his Sunday’s best with eyes glowing with pride. There is nowhere else he’d rather be.But this only gives us a small glimpse into the depth of a father’s love.When we hear the stories of Broddrick (aka Tray) Ruffin and Jake Webb,…

Cake. It’s a must-have item at any big celebration. Whether it’s a birthday, wedding, or homecoming party, you just gotta have cake. And at Sam’s Club, you can have your cake and eat it too. In our clubs, the months of April, May and June are known for having some of the highest volume of cake orders—from sheet cakes to cupcakes. You…

Fifty-nine, 38 and 32. No, it’s not the breakdown of Olympic medals by country or the code to unlock the secret behind our tasty rotisserie chicken. But the numbers are incredibly special to us at Sam’s Club. Allow us to explain. Sam Walton founded Walmart 59 years ago in July. In April, 38 years ago, Sam’s Club was founded, also by…

When you think of a Sam’s Club member, you might picture someone local stocking up on quality products for their family or a community gathering. But occasionally, our members want to send very large quantities of products beyond our local addresses to a different country. And we’re here to serve them, too. Behind each of…

Shawn Stackhouse has nothing but the open road in front of him now, but he wasn’t always in the fast lane. Just a short while ago, life was hitting the brakes amid moving pieces, occasional speed bumps and change. When I first started, I had a few jobs with Sam's Club…I just wanted to move up. I had, I guess, a passion to move up—to…

Before the sun rises and most of us start our day, Brooke DeBerdine is already one step ahead. She wakes up in Pennsylvania, grabs her shoes and training equipment and hits the track. Next is the gym where completes her weight training circuit. With the sun now shining and the rest of us finally getting up after hitting snooze for the…

To get coffee, or to not get coffee? It seems like an easy question, but it was one Sam’s Club associate Suchi Vakkalagadda battled with when she began her career in the technology industry. "My manager used to call our team and invite us to coffee… It took some time to realize the importance of these coffee breaks," she said.…

We’re putting together a roster of student-athletes that compete in a variety of NCAA men’s and women’s sports from universities across the country. The only catch – they’re all named Sam.At Sam’s Club, we’re committed to providing opportunities for our associates, our members, and our communities. That’s why when the NCAA opened…

Aug. 26, 2021 Sam’s Club and Walmart will cover 100% of college tuition and books of hourly and salaried field associates in Live Better U (LBU). That’s the news we broke just over a month ago when we decided to shake the world of higher education—removing the $1 a day requirement on a program that has already impacted over 52,000 associates. So,…

Sam’s Club Pharmacist’s Desire to Serve Goes Beyond the Doors of her Club. From a young age, Melanie Loftus was taught about the importance of community and helping those around her. It’s what helped guide her to live a life of service, professionally and personally."I am a very driven individual and pursue excellence, not only in the things that I do, but also in my character," Loftus said. "My faith and…

While it might not be lions, tigers and bears, David Dragos encounters hurricanes, ice storms and pandemics daily… oh my!See, David leads Sam’s Club’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). That makes this former club manager the guy every single club contacts to pull all the right levers when there is an emergency – day or night."With…

It’s time to shed some light on one very prestigious award Broddrick “Tray” Ruffin, a seasonal merchant, received from 78-year-old Miss Alice McKinney.She was searching for a specific outdoor shed for over six months. The Lifetime 15’ x 8’ Dual-Entry Outdoor Storage Shed. She originally saw it at her club in Texas and made several…

Whoever said you have to go left or right when there’s a fork in the road may not have met Marjanee "Maggie" Watson. She’s going to go right down the middle to create a new path, and that’s the way she likes it."What excites me is that each and every day is a new experience in the club," Maggie says. "Of course, the basics are the…

This Sam’s Club Manager and Army Veteran Reinvents Leadership with Heart. Sometimes during the busy retail season, we say “we need some more boots on the ground” to take care of members. But for Derell Bibbs, Club Manager in San Marcos, Texas, that’s not just a retail cliché, it’s very real.See, before joining the Sam’s Club family in…

At Walmart and Sam’s, we’re committed to our Veterans and their military spouses—and we get to see that commitment in literal display at our Sam’s Club in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Their Wall of Honor shows the faces of those who’ve served in their community, and it reminds us to remember the faces of the service men and women in our very own community this Veterans Day. Check out this short documentary to join a group of Sam’s associates with military service on a trip to our club in Grand Blanc...

Christopher Shryock, reflects on 2021 and his first year with the company. It feels like yesterday when I sat down with Donna Morris and Kath McLay to talk about the opportunity to lead the Sam’s People Team. I had a fantastic career at PepsiCo spanning over a decade, and I had just…

Coming to work at a Walmart store, Sam’s Club, Walmart distribution or fulfillment center is about more than just having a job – it’s about building a career. We’re focused on providing a ladder of opportunity so people can build a career at Walmart, no matter where they start.