AAFES Deputy Director visits Exchange at Grand Forks AFB

(From left to right) Sherry L. Chaffin, Grand Forks Air Force Base Military Clothing Sales Store manager and Pam Evenson, Grand Forks AFB Base Exchange assistant store manager, show Maj. Gen. Joseph S. Ward Jr., deputy director of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, the store’s top selling souvenir; a coffee mug with a photo of the base marquee displaying -45 degrees Fahrenheit during Ward’s official visit to the Exchange on Grand Forks AFB, N.D., Sept. 25, 2014. Ward plans, trains, equips and leads AAFES to meet the needs of field commanders and their troops, whether deployed to forward locations, garrison or training centers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

AAFES Deputy Director recognizes Miracle

Maj. Gen. Joseph S. Ward Jr., deputy director of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, surprises Lindsey Miracle, a Burger King assistant manager, by presenting her his challenge coin during an official visit to the Exchange on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., Sept. 25, 2014. Challenge coins are presented by senior leaders in the military to military and civilian workers for excellence in job performance among other worthy reasons. Burger King employees at the Exchange on Grand Forks AFB are considered part of the local AAFES staff. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez

AAFES Deputy Director shows appreciation for all team members

Maj. Gen. Joseph S. Ward Jr., deputy director of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, gives a pat on the back and takes a moment to personally thank Exchange custodian Forrest Anderson for doing a great job in keeping the facilities clean and neat, during an official visit to the Exchange at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., on Sept. 25, 2014. Ward shook hands and talked to dozens of AAFES employees and patrons during his visit. AAFES employs approximately 41,000 civilian and military associates and provides retail stores, convenience stores, gas stations, restaurants, theaters, vending and other services on military installations in all 50 states, five U.S. territories and more than 30 countries. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

AAFES Deputy Director visits local Exchange

Maj. Gen. Joseph S. Ward Jr., deputy director of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, speaks with local AAFES management members about product sales and improvements to customer shopping experiences during an official visit to the Exchange on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., Sept. 25, 2014. Pictured from left to right are general manager Nancy Copada, assistant store manager Pam Evenson, and hardlines manager Mo Sharief, all from the Exchange at Grand Forks AFB. The Exchange is one of the top 50 retail organizations in the United States, with revenue of $10.3 billion per year. The local Exchange has has contributed more $250,000 to Army & Air Force morale, welfare and recreation facilities and quality of life programs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

Exchange deputy director focuses on convenience at Grand Forks

Published Sept. 25, 2014
By Julie Mitchell
Army & Air Force Exchange Service Public Affairs

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The Deputy Director of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service visited Grand Forks on Sept. 25.

During his visit, Maj. Gen. Joseph Ward toured Exchange facilities, met with Airmen and community members and talked about how the Exchange can better serve them, including improving the installation's Express location.

"We want the Express to be all about convenience," Maj. Gen. Ward said. "We want to beef up the grab-and-go experience the Express offers, especially for young Airmen driving onto the installation."

Maj. Gen. Ward is one of 52 active duty service members assigned to the Exchange. The Exchange also employs more than 36,000 civilian associates worldwide.

During his visit, Maj. Gen. Ward met with Grand Forks shoppers and Exchange associates, answering questions about the Exchange. One way the Exchange can better reach Airmen is through improvements to the installation's Express location, Maj. Gen. Ward said.

"It's important for Airmen to be mission-ready in body and spirit," Maj. Gen. Ward said. "Offering fresh, healthy choices in a convenient location makes it easier to make the right nutritional decisions and helps Airmen build resiliency."

The Exchange is a joint nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the Department of Defense with a retail mission to provide quality products, services and food to service members, their families, Reserve and Guard members, plus military retirees. Exchange sales generate earnings to supplement Air Force Services programs.

For more information about the Exchange and Exchange programs, visit shopmyexchange.com.