Congratulations to our Women in CE Legacy Award Winners

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Rachelle Friedman

President and Co-CEO
J&R Music and Computer World

Rachelle Friedman is the President and Co-CEO of J&R Music and Computer World, which she and her husband, Joe, started in 1971 with their wedding money. Under her leadership, J&R has aggressively expanded from a small, 500 square foot store in Lower Manhattan into the largest independently owned music, computer and electronics mega-store in the country. J&R is now one of New York’s most popular shopping destinations and occupies most of Park Row.

Rachelle graduated from Polytechnic University in New York City, where she was one of three female students, with a degree in Chemistry and was a member of its Board of Trustees. She is also a Board Member of the Better Business Bureau of Greater New York (and is a member of their executive committee), NYC & Company (the New York City Tourism Bureau), the Downtown Alliance of New York and the Advisory Board of JPMorgan Chase. Rachelle is currently serving (for the second time) as Chair of the National Association of Recording Merchandisers. She has twice served on the Host Committee of the Grammy Awards. She currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and has recently been appointed to the National Recording Preservation Board of the Library of Congress. The National Foundation for Women Business Owners has acknowledged Rachelle as one of the Top 50 Women Entrepreneurs in the World and Crain’s New York Business has listed J&R as one of the largest women-owned companies in New York and has named her one of New York’s 100 Most Influential Women in Business. She has appeared on Working Women Magazine’s listing of the top 50 Women Business Owners since 1994.

Rachelle was a recipient of the 2001 “Touchstone Award” presented by Women in Music, Inc., and the Michael Award’s 2002 “Person of the Year.” She was also one of United Cerebral Palsy of New York’s “Women Who Care” honorees and, recently, was honored with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the National Association of Women Business Owners and by the Guardian Angels as their “Role Model of the Year.”

J&R was recently named the Photo Dealer retailer of the year and was also elected to the DealerScope Hall of Fame.

Rachelle is a long-time and generous friend to many charities and has also always found a way to give back to J&R’s customers with events such as the annual free MusicFest concerts held in City Hall Park. She takes great pride in the 14 Mayoral Proclamations she has received over the years designating the week of J&R MusicFest as “J&R Week.”

In addition to her husband, Rachelle has 2 children. In her spare time, she enjoys boating and traveling.