Chatting over coffee this morning about 8 a.m., Matt May, the Perry Hy-Vee’s new store director, reflected on his first five weeks in Perry. The Ankeny native started work in the Perry store July 9 after after managing another Hy-Vee in Owatonna, Minn. The 17-year Hy-Vee veteran took time today to introduce himself personally to the local community.
“This is a great opportunity to help match a face with the name because not everyone knows there’s a new guy in town,” May said. “I’ve been in Perry for about a month now, and it’s a fantastic way to get everyone together at one time, make connections and see who I can make contact with so I can help Hy-Vee as well as the city of Perry.”
Along with the chance to get closer to the Des Moines market, May’s move to Perry had a lot to do with wanting to be nearer to his family.
“My wife, three kids and I are going to be moving here from Ankeny at the end of this month,” he said, “so I’m eager to have them here and get established in such a wonderful place.”
May currently employs around 150 people at HyVee, about half the number at the Owatonna location.
“Coming from Owatonna, I was managing around 300 employees, so this is much different from what I’m used to,” he said. “It’s a lot easier.”
