GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — As senior vice president and assistant general counsel for labor and employment at Dollar General, it’s Melanie Cook’s responsibility to manage the company’s legal risks and help navigate and implement the company’s strategic plans and initiatives. And when those plans include extensive growth — the company has increased its store count by nearly 150% since Cook joined in 2008, opening its 20,000th store in February 2024 — the stakes for her team and the business are raised.

“A key piece of our work supporting DG’s growth strategy is ensuring that we maintain the core values of who we are as an organization while expanding the current business model to maximize the company’s impact,” says Cook, who has served in her current role for the past nine years. “DG has a highly collaborative environment, where everyone is focused on the impact their work has on employees and customers — evaluating risk and compliance during this growth period is no exception. It’s about finding ways to ensure we’re maintaining compliance with the law without disrupting the business so Dollar General’s employees can do what they do best — serve our customers.”

Melanie Cook

DG’s team environment is one of the aspects Cook appreciates most about working for the company; she is inspired by the corporate culture and the mutual recognition among various teams that everyone’s job is important, regardless of title.

“I advise and work closely with all levels of the organization serving as a thought partner and advisor to help mitigate risk on various issues that might pop up along the way,” says Cook, who was also named to MMR’s Most Influential Women list in 2022.

Though Cook has been with DG for 16 years, she is quick to point out that she is not the longest tenured lawyer at the company. “The longevity of employees speaks volumes about DG. I love DG’s growth story and how it promotes employees’ personal growth and career development. There are so many who have worked their way up from store manager to divisional vice president. DG creates a path of opportunity that most retailers don’t offer. It is a special place to work.”

Cook, who grew up in Kentucky and always wanted to be an attorney, says she was drawn to DG by the retailer’s service-focused mission and culture.

“I like knowing that I work for a company where our mission is Serving Others — something that is rooted in making every day better for somebody else. When you know that you’re helping somebody stretch their dollar a little bit more to make life better for them and their families, it makes you recognize that there’s a larger purpose to what you’re doing every day.”