Kevin Byers

About Kevin Byers

WHAT I DO: I’m a compassionate leader of people, trusted partner to farmers and producers, and a prominent figure in the Pacific Northwest organic agriculture industry. Eating involves all of our senses; the right combination of freshness and flavor is euphoric. I’m passionate about giving people delightful eating experiences by providing the best fruits and vegetables on the market.WHY IT MATTERS: At the largest consumer-owned food co-op in the country, all of our employees and customers are in this together. My mission is to ensure everyone in the supply chain—farmers, distributors, warehouses, logistics, and retailers—achieves a winning outcome every day. Moving food from the fields to a plate means navigating seasonal growing seasons, short shelf lives, and a thousand other variables.WHO I WORK WITH: Growing up on a farm, my family instilled in me an appreciation for fresh, wholesome food and an understanding of the growing process. I connect instantly with growers and excel at building relationships with producers of all sizes, down to the smallest, most specialized micro-farms. Over time, I built a reputation for transparency and honesty.HOW I MAKE A DIFFERENCE: I was hand-picked to take over the produce function, even though I wasn’t the longest-tenured candidate. This was the culmination of five promotions, each earned by measurable achievements and retail innovations. Since then, I’ve spearheaded strategic initiatives that impacted all 16 stores. See the “Projects” section, below, for additional examples of my leadership.WHERE I EXCEL: Optimizing Procurement & Merchandising Operations for Rapid Growth & Optimum Customer Satisfaction Investing in New Product Categories, Technologies, & Relationships that Add Value Aligning Marketing Programs & Retail Displays with Seasonal Growing Seasons Negotiating Mutually Advantageous Contracts with Vendors, Growers, & Suppliers Executing Strategic Changes & Projects

Experience

1. Category Director

   Smith Brothers

   May 2023 — Present

Education

• University of Washington

  Bachelor of Arts - BA

• University of Washington

  Continuing Education

Skills

• Customer Service
• Team Building
• Inventory Management
• Retail
• Merchandising
• Management
• Strategic Planning