Butler High seniors pick distinguished graduate
The Butler Senior High School Class of 2022 announced Carole Friedman Bitter, Ph.D., and a member of the BHS Class of 1963 as the choice for the 42nd annual Butler Senior High School Distinguished Graduate Award.
Bitter earned a bachelor of arts degree in English and psychology at Case Western Reserve University in 1967. She went on to earn a master’s degree in business administration at Northeastern University in 1974.
In 1976, Bitter became the president and CEO of Friedman’s Supermarkets and BiLo Foods as one of the first women to manage a grocery chain.
She completed a doctorate in agricultural economics at Cornell University 1981. During her time at Cornell, she held research and teaching assistant positions and as a consultant on electronic funds transfer systems, the subject of her dissertation.
Bitter has received numerous awards from the food industry including Women Grocers of America’s 2003 Woman of the Year. She was one of Pennsylvania's Best 50 Women in Business chosen by the Business Journals of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and was recognized as one of the “top women in grocery” by the Progressive Grocer. She also received numerous Grocers Care Awards from the National Grocers Association for commitment to the community.
As a community leader and active supporter of local schools, civic organizations, hospitals and charities, Bitter served on the boards of Butler Memorial Hospital, the Butler County Historical Society, and the Butler Area Health Resources Development Corporation. She was the president of the Butler Area Chamber of Commerce and co-founder of the Butler County Labor/Management Committee.
She has worked closely with the United Way of Butler and the Butler Road Race. In 2000 Bitter was presented with the True Citizen Award by the City of Butler. She has also served on the board of the National Grocers Association, the Food Marketing Institute, the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association and the Nash Finch Company.
