Laura Karet: Growing a Family Business and a Family For Laura Karet, the daughter of Giant Eagle President and CEO David Shapira, it was very important to make her own way and not be seen as the boss’s kid. Not that she needed his help. She spent seven years working at Proctor & Gamble and three at Sara Lee, all the while turning down numerous job offers from her father. But everything changed in 2000, when she met and fell in love with her husband, Tom Karet. Her father had offered him a job that he really wanted, so the couple packed up and headed to Pittsburgh to start their new jobs, get married and move in, all within three weeks. “It was the right time to be back in Pittsburgh and back with family, “says Karet, who is now more than happy to be Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for Giant Eagle.
A once in a lifetime celebration…
Hadassah’s Centennial Anniversary. Proudly wear the Centennial Key necklace as a symbol of your support for Hadassah and the impact you make on the world!
You can: • Help further medical research • Change the lives of children • Educate the future work force of Israel
$100 Centennial Key: Unlock the door to Hadassah’s future with a $100 donation and receive a beautiful sterling silver and crystal key on a sterling 18” chain. To place your order send your name, address, phone number, and a check to Hadassah. Send to Hadassah Greater Pittsburgh Chapter, 1824 Murray Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc.
10
J Magazine
As for being related to the boss, she’s got plenty of company. One of the region’s largest employers, Giant Eagle truly is one big family, according to Karet. “I happen to be fourth generation, “ she says. “There are people who have met their spouses here. People’s best friends work here—it’s a wonderful network of immediate and extended families.” Karet, a remarkably fresh-faced 42-yearold, is an instrumental player in the region’s largest grocer. In her role, she is in charge of the long- and short-term strategies for the company, balancing day-to-day decisions with long-term goals. She also oversees the Executive Committee, the decision-making body for the company. In the cutthroat