While he grew up in a grocery store his parents owned, Auday Arabo had no intention of going into the family business. Yet here he is today, president and CEO of California Independent Grocers & Convenience Stores.

Born in Baghdad, Iraq, Arabo graduated magna cum laude from SDSU before attending California Western School of Law. He worked as a prosecutor for the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for a year before moving to the grocers group, the largest statewide independent grocers organization.

“I was told that we couldn’t bring the individual retailers together and grow the organization,” says Arabo, 30. “If they say that, then I’m going to show them I can and I have. I’m pretty much fighting for grocers like my father (who is currently waiting for a heart transplant), so it’s personal to a degree.”

Arabo credits his parents for his strong work ethic. For instance, when he still didn’t speak English by the first grade (his family immigrated in 1979, when he was 3), his mother spent the whole summer working with him. He began bagging groceries at age 10 and has not stopped working. “Experience like that molded me,” he says. “I learned that you can’t waste your time.”

Arabo’s role with the grocers organization is to increase membership and keep members compliant with local, state and federal regulations. He misses being in court, but realizes the value of the battle he’s fighting now. “Never is one day the same,” he says. “There are always different challenges. But if you work hard, people notice and doors have thankfully opened.”