Raley's checker Evan Girdler is always eager to help shoppers

The challenge of meeting a customer's needs and having them leave the store happy gives Raley's supermarket checker Evan Girdler great satisfaction.

His helpful and friendly personality has earned Girdler the title of Service Person of the Week.

Born and raised in Petaluma, Girdler is a 2009 graduate of Casa Grande High School. He began working at Raley's four years ago when the store first opened.

"I was a senior in high school at the time and needed a job," said Girdler. "I applied and was one of their top applicants with one of the highest scores on their assessment test."

Girdler started off as a courtesy clerk and bagger, but he excelled at the job so much that the district manager gave him the honor of being courtesy clerk ambassador - a position allowing him to teach and lead fellow baggers.

After a year, he became a produce clerk, and recently was promoted to checker. He works full time at Raley's while attending culinary school at Santa Rosa Junior College.

"What I enjoy about my job is the people," said Girdler. "I'm a people person and love being able to cater to everyone's needs. I feel good knowing I can be there to answer questions and even share recipes."

"Evan is happy to stop what he is doing to help a customer find what they need even if it isn't in his department," said a Raley's customer. "He is an amazing young man working and going to school."

Evan Girdler is the fifth and final individual chosen as Service Person of the Week.

Now that all five service people have been chosen, the readers will have an opportunity to vote online at www.petaluma360.com for which of them should be crowned Service Person of the Year. The voting will begin online on Friday, Feb. 15 and will close on Feb. 26. Visit www.petaluma360.com to cast your vote.

The nominees for Service Person of the Year are Becky Rowland, an employee at Orchard Supply Hardware; Carol Quan, a checker at Lucky Supermarket on Lakeville Street; Raquel Gomez, a server at IHOP; Nikki Houser, a server at Fourth & Sea Fish & Chips; and Evan Girdler, a checker at Raley's.

The Service Person of the Year will be honored in the Argus-Courier and at the 2013 Petaluma Community Awards of Excellence on March 14.