Providence, R.I.--Sarah Calabria '95 was named recently as vice president, Total Rewards and Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS), at BJ's Wholesale Club, a Natick, Mass.-based retail chain with approximately 22,000 employees and 185 locations in 14 states.

Calabria, who graduated from Providence College with a degree in history and earned her M.B.A. from Babson College, previously served as director of compensation, benefits, HRIS, and payroll for Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. Her professional experience also includes service with OneBeacon Insurance Company and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

"I have a lot of work ahead of me at BJ's, but I look forward to making an impact on the company over the next few years," she said. "I look forward to learning a great deal at BJ's and continuing to develop in my technical area of expertise and other areas of human resources."

At BJ's, Calabria is responsible for all compensation and benefit programs, as well as the HRIS. This entails strategic planning, and designing, developing, and administering these programs.

"What I do has a large financial impact on the company but also has a significant impact on our ability to attract and retain our employees," Calabria said. "I have to keep a careful balance so the needs of the team members are met with very competitive programs, while at the same time being affordable for the company to provide."

Attracted to challenge
Calabria noted that she was not looking for a new position when she was contacted by the executive recruiter but was quickly attracted by the scope and challenge of the job.

"When I read the description, I thought, 'I can do this job,'" she said. "What was great about the opportunity was that I could leverage the technical skills I have developed over the years, and particularly my experiences at Ocean Spray, but in a much larger context."

"As I was interviewing, I was really thinking about whether or not it made sense to leave the security of my job at Ocean Spray," Calabria added. "I was successful there, really had a great team behind me, and loved the brand.  But this opportunity was too good to pass up."

Calabria, a recipient of the New England Employee Benefits Council "Best Practice Award," cited her education and family as the keys to her professional accomplishments.

"I believe my education helped to prepare me to think critically, communicate effectively, and work well with others," she said. "I leveraged those skills in my professional life and believe they are why I am successful today."

"Plus, I learned a tremendous work ethic from my parents and that has also helped. I am not afraid to work hard, work long hours, and roll up my sleeves to get the job done," she added.

According to Calabria, PC has played an important role in developing these character traits. In addition to her twin sister, Amy '95, her father, Ronald, is a graduate of the Class of 1967 and her uncle, Joe, graduated in 1965.

"PC is very important to our family and has been very integral to my successes," she said.

- Joe Miller '10