Company: Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc., Phoenix, AZ USA
Company Description: Sprouts Farmers Market has become one of the fastest growing retailers in the United States, and an important player in the natural foods industry. Founded in 2002, Sprouts now employees more than 14,000 team members and operates in eight states.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Employee of the Year - Business

Nomination Title: Lauren Rosenblum, Communications Manager

Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated employee since the beginning of July last year (up to 525 words):

I read your recent article calling for Female Employee of the Year nominations in Business. A title like that goes to a woman who demonstrates innovative thinking, strong determination, and results that indicate a long and successful career. Only one name comes to mind: Lauren Rosenblum.

Lauren is an exceptional young leader who will undoubtedly make her mark on this world in a big way. She is currently the Communications Manager for Phoenix-based Sprouts Farmers Market, one of the fastest-growing retailers in the United States. With Lauren at the helm of all external and internal communications, she has developed Sprouts' tone of voice, verbal branding and unique identity.

She's one of those rare breeds who has beauty, brains and bravery—a combination that intimidates the majority. And yet, her professional demeanor makes her approachable and respected by all. In fact, when Sprouts merged with Sunflower Farmers Market last year, Lauren created a monthly internal publication to help increase camaraderie, recognize employees for their achievement, and foster a sense of unity and teamwork so the combined company could effectively operate as one. She has forged relationships with every employee from top to bottom. Her effective leadership style is fueled by a unique blend of business savvy, dedication and human compassion.

Lauren has found a way to infuse real culture, creativity and heart into the Sprouts brand. She is the voice and face of Sprouts’ e-newsletter, which goes out to more than 500,000 subscribers every month. She’s also the author of Sprouts’ radio and television spots, marketing collateral, website and private label packaging.

She is the wordsmith behind every speech, memo, letter and company-wide message. Lauren has both a creative flair for writing— a chameleon-like ability to adapt different writing styles to different uses, to be both succinct and florid— and a number-crunching analytical side, in order to help provide support to Sprouts’ sophisticated direct marketing programs. Right-brained and left-brained. Adverbs and formulas. Word and Excel.

Additionally, Lauren has developed thorough media relations, public relations and crisis communications plans for Sprouts. She not only establishes policies, goals and objectives, but also communications those policies by word, action and example. Lauren handles sensitive employee personnel issues and confidential company information with the utmost professionalism. Most impressively, she has a unique ability to detect red flags and prevent fires before they even begin.

Lauren Rosenblum is a critical cog in the Sprouts Farmers Market wheel and undoubtedly one of the top female employees of the year in business. Thank you for considering her.

Provide a brief biography of the nominated employee (up to 125 words):

Lauren Rosenblum is an award-winning writer and communications manager for Sprouts Farmers Market. Her work in communications has allowed her to play key roles in:

• Designing and launching an internal employee newsletter that enlivens and motivates employees to be at their best

• Implementing a new brand identity and bringing it to life through the company’s customer-facing newsletter that reaches 500,000 subscribers

• Developing new training materials and communicating their value to the organization

• Editing all Sprouts materials and publications

Prior to her corporate communications role, Lauren was an editor for AOL and the Huffington Post. Lauren holds a B.A. in journalism and a minor in marketing from the University of Southern California. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona.