Ileana McAlary

Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, SpartanNash
Woman of the Year

“Everything you’ve ever wanted is sitting on the other side of fear.” This George Addair quote is one in which Ileana McAlary finds much inspiration.

Named Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of SpartanNash in March 2023, McAlary oversees the company’s legal, government affairs, compliance and aviation functions. She also serves as Corporate Secretary of the SpartanNash Board and President of the SpartanNash Foundation. 

McAlary has held roles at Wolverine Worldwide, Meijer, Amway Corporation, Miller Johnson and as an adjunct professor at WMU’s Thomas M. Cooley Law School, in addition to volunteering with the Hispanic Center of West Michigan, Habitat for Humanity and the Grandville Avenue Arts Academy. Over the course of her career, McAlary has cultivated relationships based on trust, empathy and gratefulness, and has become an expert in a number of issues across multiple industries and international markets. She’s a proven leader of people and processes with a passion for client service and excellence.

Having developed successful in-house legal teams and leaders at some of the area’s largest companies, McAlary remains a mentor to several legal and compliance professionals, and often speaks to audiences about careers in law and business and leadership development. 

“Almost 30 years ago,” McAlary shares, “I was a 20-year-old Cuban immigrant who came to Grand Rapids to make it my home and start a new life, not knowing what the future would bring. Today, I take this opportunity to give thanks and express my deepest gratitude for a community that has given me so much support and opportunities to change my own life and positively impact the lives of so many others. In the past two decades, I’ve had the privilege to help advance the careers of several amazingly talented women leaders in our community who are now paying it forward and continuing the mission.”