NEWS

NEW honors Hershey’s Dave Onorato with Halpert Award

Dave Onorato, vice president, national convenience store sales for Hershey Foods Corporation has been presented with the Network of Executive Women’s third annual Hedy Halpert Diversity Awareness Award for his leadership in the development of diverse work teams in the CPG industry.

A packed room watched as Onorato accepted the award from NEW Executive Director Joan Toth at a spirited reception sponsored by Anheuser-Busch, Hershey Foods, RJR Tobacco Co., and Altadis USA October 18 at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Café during NACS Convention.

Onorato said he was “very proud to recognized in such a way, and to be working for a company that sets such a wonderful example of diversity and inclusion.” Presenting the Halpert award, Toth noted that that it was named for the late Hedy Halpert, one of NEW’s founders and “a driving leader in the c-store industry who embraced and encouraged diverse work teams."

Onorato was nominated for the Award in a letter from colleague Michelle Gloeckler, Hershey’s vice president of customer/category development. Gloeckler wrote that “during Dave’s 20 years with Hershey Foods, his leadership and attention to the development of people are noteworthy. David is a role model in developing people, building a diverse team, encouraging diverse thinking and welcoming diverse ideas.”

The nomination continued by saying that “Dave recognizes that winning results are obtained through motivated individuals who together to understand their role on a larger team. Dave is a first-class teammate, diversity champion and stellar leader within Hershey Foods and the consumer packaged goods industry,” Gloeckler wrote. More