Christopher L. Kenny, ShopRites of Delaware to speak at Goldey-Beacom College Commencement
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Christopher L Kenny, president and CEO of The Kenny Family ShopRites of Delaware, will be the commencement speaker at Goldey-Beacom College’s (GBC) 129th Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 6 in the Joseph West Jones Center on the GBC campus. Kenny will also receive an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Business Administration from the College.
“Each day, business people enter and reenter the market as an entrepreneur. Hearing firsthand about the commitment, tenacity – and most important – the sweat equity required to become successful will be a timely message for our graduates,” said GBC President Dr. Gary L. Wirt. “Chris Kenny brings a history of accomplishments and isn’t afraid to talk about what worked and what did not.”
After working his way through the ranks for more than 14 years, Christopher L. Kenny became CFO in 2008 and then accepted the leadership reins from his father in 2012 to head The Kenny Family ShopRites of Delaware as its president and chief executive officer. Kenny stepped into his new role and successfully negotiated approximately $75 million in financing to facilitate ShopRite’s growth to open three additional stores, doubling the volume.
By 2015, ShopRite took the number one position in market share in New Castle County, Delaware and now consists of six stores and 1,500 associates.
More than 400 students will earn degrees for Goldey-Beacom College during the ceremony.
As the mother of Mr. Kenny’s daughter, (to whom he is currently in arrears with regards to his child support payments), I’m a little confused.
When asked why he voluntarily reduced his income by almost $100,000 by foregoing his usual yearly bonus (conveniently reducing his income during the same year that his child support obligation to his daughter was being calculated), he stated to the Commissioner facilitating our child support hearing that “business was bad that year” and he didn’t get a bonus…yet, this article, which is a reflection of that same year–is lauding his success and the rapid growth of the business during the same time period that he claimed “business was bad and I didn’t give myself the usual $50k+ bonus that year”. ????
So, for the purposes of this article and public perception of his success–business was great and he is worthy of delivering a commencement address. But for the same time period, when it came to determining how much he should pay in child support “business was bad that year” and he had to reduce his salary. In case it’s not clear–he has claimed a great business success, but when it came time to testify about his success and pay his legal obligation to his daugher, he cried poor and said ‘business was bad”.
Great role model for graduates to look up to. If you want your child to grow up with the message that success is measured by what you make people believe as opposed to what is reality and that lying, stealing, and cheating the system are appropriate measures of success–by all means, encourage your child to follow in his footsteps.