Alicia Petross

Alicia, a member of the Human Resources Leadership Team since 2015, leads the development and execution of Hershey’s Pathways Framework delivering diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies. She partners with key internal and external leaders to develop more innovation and robustness in Hershey’s global climate and inclusion programming. Externally, Alicia expands Hershey’s partnership framework and represents the company in key industry commitments, including Paradigm for Parity, CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion, the National Organization on Disability Look Closer Campaign, and Financial Literacy For All.

Alicia has more than 15 years of progressive human resources experience. She joined Hershey from the Target Corporation, where she played a key role in advancing and executing inclusion and engagement strategy and led the company’s ascension to the Top 20 in Diversity Inc.’s Top 50 Companies for Diversity rankings. Prior to joining Target, Alicia held various jobs including Store Team Leader at the Dayton Hudson Corporation – where she was the first African American woman to hold this position. In 2022, The Hershey Company was named #6 on Diversity Inc.’s Top 50 Companies for Diversity list. Hershey recently earned the #1 ranking on Forbes World’s Most Female Friendly Companies.  Alicia was named on Diversity Woman Media’s inaugural Elite100 Black Women leaders list in 2021.