1. RAY AGAH
Modesto, CA 95355 drrayray1@yahoo.com
(209) 985-3228 www.linkedin.com/in/rayagah
ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION EXECUTIVE
Engineering and Construction Executive with extensive experience in design and construction of retail theatre.
Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering with expertise in negotiating with contractors and local
municipalities for fast track and on-budget delivery of shopping centers and stores. Pioneer in energy conservation
and successful in obtaining more than 14M rebates in public utilities, conserving millions of dollars in actual utility
usage, and reducing carbon footprints throughout U.S. Passionate about developing people and creating efficient
work and shopping space for employees and consumers. Key skills include:
• Negotiation
• Cost Savings
• Project Delivery
• Ambiance Creation
• Customer Knowledge
• Coaching/Mentoring
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
SAVE MART SUPERMARKETS; Modesto, CA 1999 – 2015
Privately held regional supermarket chain operating 240+ stores in Northern and Central California and Northern
Nevada under Save Mart, S-Mart Foods, Lucky, FoodMaxx and MaxxValue Foods banners. Company employs
more than 20,000 with annual sales exceeding $5.2 billion.
Vice President of Construction and Engineering, 2007 – 2015
Directed and managed staff of 55 full-time associates and administered annual budget of $150M. Reported directly
to Chairman and CEO with total P&L responsibility for all design and construction. Annual workload average of 6 to
10 new units, 20 to 50 remodels, and numerous special construction projects.
• Managed all corporate equipment procurement, construction remodels, new stores and new concepts.
Supervised sites and conducted facilities maintenance and engineering, negotiated and obtained bids.
• Took Daly City concept store from bare walls to opening in 38 days, typically a seven-month project. Plan
included restaurant quality food, coffee and fresh juice bars, and boutique ambiance.
• Negotiated and executed new contracts and increased number of in-house technicians, effectively reducing
cost of equipment and facilities maintenance over 30%. Developed business model for frequency, type, and
monitoring for maintenance programs.
• Acted as main point of contact for regional stores, handling all emergency situations and dispatching
contractors to implement solutions and remedy situations.
• Played crucial role in re-opening first grocery store in area only four hours following 2014 Napa earthquake.
Second store opened 21 hours later. Stores were only ones to re-open in first week following quake.
• Achieved 100% satisfaction rating in Secret Shopper survey sent to 18,000 employees including internal and
external customers for 17 consecutive periods.
• Developed numerous shopping centers from inception to completion in California and Northern Nevada
ranging from 400,000 to 800,000 sq. ft.
• Oversaw and executed plans under Save Mart portfolio to develop 285 acres of winery, hotel, and 13 5-acre
home sites in Napa.
• Designed and built cold and dry storage grocery warehouses in multiple locations of ~800,000 sq. ft.
Director of Construction and Engineering, 1999 – 2007
• Developed operating plan and assembled team of associates to effectively execute day-to-day operations
with minimal supervision.
• Reduced overall new project construction costs by over 25%; condensing new project construction
timetables from over 44 weeks to fewer than 26 weeks.
• Built first Freon-free refrigeration in U.S. supermarket environment by using sub-chilled water (glycol) rather
than Freon, reducing environmental risk and maintenance cost.
• Created and implemented energy conservation programs for entire chain in order to reduce total energy
consumption. Awarded over $14M from local municipalities in rebates and grants.

2. Ray Agah, (209) 985-3228 Page 2
AMERIHOST INN, INC., Chicago, IL 1996 – 1998
5th
largest chain of hotels in U.S. and Canada consisting of two-or-three story interior corridor buildings constructed
based on company's prototype designs and featuring indoor pools and consistent amenities.
Vice President, Construction
Facilitated and orchestrated efforts of all full time associates geared towards meeting expansion program of opening
33 hotels per year, with overall goal of opening and operating 200 hotels by year 2000. Exceeded first year goal by
opening 51 hotels. Assumed total P&L responsibility for all construction and design.
• Steered all aspects of project including site selection, contract negotiation and administration, equipment
and furnishings procurement and engineering.
• Reduced total project cost by 18% shrinking completion time by more than 58 days. Introduced project
management concept into company and trained all levels of management in new concept.
DOMINICK’S FINER FOODS, Northlake, IL 1990 – 1996
Director of Engineering and Construction
Privately held, regional supermarket chain operating 110 stores in Chicago Market and reporting annual sales of
$2.5B. Dominick's took "food and drug" combo to next level with introduction of “Dominick's Fresh Store,”
introducing prepared foods, in-store Starbucks cafés, restaurants, and general European Market feel.
Director, Construction and Engineering
Led and directed staff of 140 full-time associates and administered $83M annual budget. Reported directly to
Chairman and President with total P&L responsibility for all design and construction.
• Oversaw all phases of project including corporate equipment procurement, remodels, new stores, new
concepts, site supervision, facilities maintenance and engineering.
• Coordinated bids and contracts and supervised fixture design and construction through company-owned
carpentry shop. Annual workload averaged 6 to 10 new units, 20 to 30 remodels, and numerous special
construction projects.
• Reduced overall new project construction costs by over 22% and condensed new project construction
timetables from over 36 weeks to fewer than 26 weeks with an aggregate impact on sales of over $7M per
store. Minimized department operating expenses by over 20% per year for three consecutive years.
ADDITIONAL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Manager of Store Engineering, Supervalu, Inc., Xenia, OH
Manager of Construction, Grace Home Centers, (Handy Dan), San Antonio, TX
Director of Maintenance and Engineering, Rice Food Markets, Inc., Houston, TX
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering
Lamar University, Beaumont, TX
ADDITIONAL RELEVANT INFORMATION
Public Speaker for various organizations on energy conservation
AFFILIATIONS
Board of Director Member for California Grocery Card Retrieval