MT. ANGEL, Ore. — John Bowersox uses the analogy of flipping a light switch to explain broadly what supply chains are and how they work.

Everyone expects the lights to come on when they flip on the switch, Bowersox said — just as they expect their favorite products to be on the shelf when they go to the store. The supply chain represents all the work that happens behind the scenes to keep things flowing, whether it’s retail goods or electricity.

“Supply chain is the function that’s doing the planning and the execution from raw materials to where it intersects with the consumer,” Bowersox said. “I think the conception is that it’s easy to do. But the reality is there’s a tremendous amount of coordination behind the scenes.”

Bowersox has spent the last eight years as a supply chain executive in the Midwest, first at True Value in Chicago and most recently as the chief supply chain officer and senior vice president of information technology and e-commerce at Fleet Farm in Appleton, Wis.

That expertise, combined with previous leadership roles, helped Bowersox secure the position as new CEO of the farmer-owned cooperative Wilco, which has 3,000 members and 1,200 employees in Oregon, Washington and California.

Bowersox replaces Sam Bugarsky, who is retiring on Jan. 20 after 35-plus years with the co-op.

Leadership style

Wilco’s board of directors interviewed “numerous” candidates for CEO before selecting Bowersox based on his experience in the co-op model and rural lifestyle retail business, said Ben Coleman, board chairman and president of Coleman Agriculture, based in St. Paul, Ore.

“The board of directors is confident that John can seamlessly fit into our culture and continue the collaborative leadership style that Wilco is known for,” Coleman said in a statement.

Wilco dates back to the 1930s, starting as the Santiam Farmers Cooperative in Stayton, Ore. In 1967, the co-op merged with four others in the Willamette Valley to form Willamette Consolidated, or Wilco, headquartered in Mt. Angel.

Since then, the co-op has expanded beyond the Willamette Valley to include parts of Washington and California. It is perhaps best known for its farm retail stores, with 25 locations across the three states.

Wilco also operates divisions in fuels, agronomy and hazelnuts, having merged with Hazelnut Growers of Oregon in 2016.

Bowersox said he looks forward to maintaining a culture of collaboration at Wilco, describing his leadership style as open and communicative to drive consensus where possible.

“Admittedly, there are some things I’ll have to learn quickly,” he said, referring to the nuances of farming in the Northwest. “But I think I have a pretty good pulse on the business.”

Return to Portland

Wilco last year had a record $373 million in sales, which translated into the second-highest net earnings for members after accounting for inflation.

“I view the co-op as generally in a position of strength,” Bowersox said.

Bowersox plans to move to Portland from Wisconsin before Christmas with his wife, Anycia, and their 2-year-old son. For him, it will be something of a homecoming. He previously worked for two years in the city as director of operations for Ann Sacks Tile & Stone, part of the Kohler Co.

As an avid golfer and outdoors enthusiast, Bowersox said Oregon checks a lot of boxes for him and his family. He is also excited to leave behind the snowy Wisconsin winters.

“I actually sold my snowblower,” he said with a laugh. “Hopefully, I won’t bring the snow with me.”

Bugarsky, who has been CEO of Wilco since 2019, announced his retirement earlier this year. He started as a warehouse employee for the co-op before gradually ascending to the top job. Coleman said they will miss Bugarsky’s steady leadership, but look forward to Bowersox taking the reins.

Bowersox said the pillars of any strong co-op are trust, transparency and a common vision among members to drive results.

Wilco co-op taps Bowersox as its new CEO

This story has been updated.