Do what you think is right, own your results, and treat everyone with respect which is an important Frontier value.
Tony Bedard joined Frontier Co-op in 1991 as head of Operations and was named Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2003. Prior to Frontier Co-op, Tony worked at Winnebago Industries in a variety of operational roles.
Tony leads Frontier Co-op’s mission to nourish people and planet that is rooted in corporate social responsibility. He believes that businesses can be a force for change and that doing good can have a positive impact on a company’s performance.
Tony has been recognized numerous times for leading Frontier Co-op’s mission driven work including receiving the Oscar C. Schmidt Business Leadership Award given out by the University of Iowa’s Tippie School of Business. Tony holds a B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa and an M.S. in Manufacturing Management from Kettering University.
In his personal life, Tony has led more than 25 humanitarian missions to El Salvador and Haiti to support projects in the areas of education, clean water, and healthcare. Tony is a strong advocate of corporate social responsibility. He has traveled throughout the world to visit small-scale organic growers in conjunction with Frontier Co-op’s Well Earth program, and he has supported dozens of community building and business building projects in our grower communities.
Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
My father passed away when he was young, leaving my mother with six kids. She ultimately ended up marrying again, to a widower who had nine children of his own. Along the way, they welcomed another little brother to our family, so we had 16 kids in the house growing up. I learned early on that if you want something you have to work for it every day, and it’s that “make your own luck” mentality that guides me and what has led me to Frontier Co-op. We work diligently every day to continue our belief that doing good in the world really works, whether that means doing the right thing by our employees, our supply chain partners, or through our environmental stewardship work. That’s what keeps me here after more than 30 years — the belief that business really can be used as a powerful force for change in the world when we work together.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
When I started at Frontier in 1991, the company was still very small. On my first day, I remember the CEO at the time showing me around the plant. We came across a huge pallet of tea in the warehouse. It was in a beautifully decorated, ornate box. He stopped next to the pallet and pointed out that the tea in that box represented an entire year’s worth of wages for a family halfway around the world. I had never really glamorized my childhood — living with 15 other children — but to think about things that way changed my perspective. I’ll never forget that exchange because it was the first time that the global reach of the work we do really hit me, and I realized the tangible impact our Co-op could have around the world.
Are you able to identify a “tipping point” in your career when you started to see success? Did you start doing anything different? Are there takeaways or lessons that others can learn from that?
Early on in my career, I was just fortunate enough to have hands-off managers who let me use my own devices to make my own luck — I guess some could call it success. Because of that, I found my way to be the second youngest person, at 28 years old, within Winnebago’s management team. That opportunity allowed me to push boundaries. While Winnebago was a much different type of industry from Frontier, it was similar in that if you were driven and wanted to make a difference, you could. So, I’d say to those starting out, stay driven and don’t be afraid to push outside the box.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person to whom you are grateful who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
In my personal life, the person I hold in highest esteem is my mother, for everything she’s been able to do. I remember her having five boys in high school all at once and trying to figure out how to get them all to school and make sure we had everything we needed. She showed me what hard work looked like.
In terms of my professional life, I’ve found when I’ve been put in positions well beyond my years, it’s been important to identify great employees who are smart and do good work and make sure they’re recognized and heard — which carries all the way through the company. At Frontier specifically, I’ve worked with many employees, colleagues and teammates who have gotten us where we are today. As CEO, I don’t pick people up and carry them on my shoulders, I often feel like they carry me.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
I struggle with this type of question because I don’t view myself as special — we’re all flawed. But for what it’s worth, I’d advise people to do what you think is right, own your results, and treat everyone with respect — which is an important Frontier value. When I do new employee orientations, I reinforce the importance of honesty and mutual respect because every job in this company is equally important and if you work hard, there are always opportunities to grow. That’s been a formative tenant for Frontier Co-op’s Breaking Down Barriers to Employment program, which helps people address significant barriers such as homelessness and lack of transportation or extensive work experience and offers them training or support to be successful here or elsewhere in the community. We see everyone as equals and we’re humbled to help provide people the opportunity to grow and do great things, when they may not have had the chance.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
I think I’ll stick with “make your own luck,” but there is a story behind it. When my son was four, we met 1972 Olympic gold medalist and pro wrestler Dan Gable, who handed him a piece of paper with the Ernest Hemingway quote, “you make your own luck.” And it stuck with me. Whether it’s about sports, work, or something else, you should be able to walk off the mat, or out of the office and know that you’ve done the best you can to make your own luck, even if it doesn’t work out — you tried.
Let’s now shift to the main part of our discussion. Can you describe to our readers how your work is helping to address the challenge of food insecurity?
Absolutely. Part of our member-owned Frontier Co-op family of brands is a 100% certified organic spice brand, Simply Organic. Giving back has always been part of Simply Organic’s DNA, and something I’m incredibly proud of is the Simply Organic Giving Fund. To date, the Simply Organic Giving Fund has given more than $2 million to projects and causes around the globe. Since 2018, this fund has been dedicated to supporting non-profits across the U.S. and Canada working diligently to develop and implement creative, sustainable solutions to addressing systemic food insecurity in their communities. We recently announced our 2022 grant recipients who provide increased access to healthy and organic foods to communities in need, including refugees, communities experiencing the impact of natural disasters and families living in food deserts.
Food insecurity is a critical issue, but one that is often misunderstood and stigmatized. The truth is, too many Americans are one missed paycheck, one unforeseen medical bill, home or auto repair, or prolonged illness away from not being able to adequately nourish their loved ones. This is especially true for low-income or single-income households, but also rural communities, minority and immigrant populations, and the elderly. This has become even more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, one of the most painful parts of this issue is that despite the systemic nature, we still stigmatize hunger and asking for help. It has to stop. So, in addition to funding the work of our non-profit partners, an important part of the Fund’s work is to help spread information about this complicated topic by educating others, sharing statistics on hunger in the U.S., resources for individuals facing food insecurity, stories about the work and impact non-profit partners are having, and ways that retail partners and consumers can help in their communities.
Can you share something about your work that makes you most proud? Is there a particular story or incident that you found most uplifting?
As a company, it’s about people and the impact we can make for people. For example, our Breaking Down Barriers to Employment initiative was kick-started when I was invited by an industry leader to visit a university credit class in a prison program. 50 inmates were in the program and 24 had passed the class presenting ‘Shark Tank’ style pitches. At one point, the organizer asked the group to raise a hand if that class was the most significant thing they’ve accomplished in their lives. 18 people raised their hand. That stuck with me.
Through our Breaking Down Barriers to Employment initiative, we’ve hired three dozen formerly incarcerated people, as well as refugees and people right out of homeless shelters. The initiative is becoming an amazing part of how we hire and why we have a steadfast belief these people deserve a second chance.
In your opinion, what should other business and civic leaders do to further address these problems? Can you please share a few things that can be done to further address the problem of food insecurity?
Everyone has an opportunity to help. For businesses, you can always provide funding as well as giving your employees the paid time off to volunteer with their local food bank or community support program. In the case of food manufacturers or distributors, redirecting excess, obsolete or imperfect ‘waste’ is a way to support individuals in the community who need it. An unforgivable amount of waste (or rather perfectly good and healthy food) is discarded each year, and there are people in our communities across the U.S. who can benefit from that food. Bottom line: work with your local non-profits to figure out how best you can help.
Are there other leaders or organizations who have done good work to address the challenge of food scarcity? Can you tell us what they have done? What specifically impresses you about their work? Perhaps we can reach out to them to include them in this series.
One of our longer-term partners that’s benefited from the Simply Organic Giving Fund is the Emergency Food Network in Lakewood, WA. They have an eight-acre organic hunger relief farm, called Mother Earth Farm, and they work with the Washington Correctional Center for Women to equip women who are returning to society with skills for employment. The most impactful part of this program is that they’re giving these women an opportunity to pay it back in their communities too. It helps them feel connected to the community they’re returning to, and many of the women come back and volunteer even after they’re released, because it’s truly meaningful work to them.
If you had the power to influence legislation, are there laws that you would like to see introduced that might help you in your work?
It’s not new, but the Farm Bill is a piece of federal legislation that is renewed every four years. We need to make sure legislators are continuing to support the important public benefit programs funded by this bill including Women, Infants & Children Nutrition Program (WIC), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the national school lunch and breakfast programs, and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
Having a title doesn’t make you better than anyone. I learned a long time ago that just because someone was my superior in hierarchy, it didn’t mean that they were any more intelligent or capable than me. And that lesson has kept me humble over the years as I rose through the ranks.
Be a good listener. Some of the best ideas come from the people on the floor, actually doing the work every day. Listen to them. Ask them questions. Don’t just prescribe your answer or solution to their challenges. Their input is invaluable so don’t waste that over ego.
Take everything in moderation — with work, school or your personal life. I’ve been guilty of getting out of balance, and the world has a way of autocorrecting me back in line. Just be patient and maintain moderation as much as you can.
Just because something is true, doesn’t mean you should say it. I have always been an ‘all cards on the table’ type of person, and while that has helped to build rapport with my team and has ultimately meant that employees can trust what I say, it’s gotten in my way at times as well. Take a pause and be thoughtful about what you’re about to say.
Work should be fun. For me, I always felt it’s ok to be friends with your coworkers or even your direct reports. I was told early on my career that I shouldn’t be so close to my staff, but I firmly disagree with that and made it clear that those relationships wouldn’t get in the way of me leading the company — and they haven’t.
If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
It sounds cliché but I’d share the idea that doing good in the world really does work. Regardless of who you are or what company you work for, every one of us and every company in the world has a unique capability to have a positive impact. They just have to figure out what it is for themselves. Sure, it may not make sense for a bank to dig wells halfway around the world, but they can provide microlending opportunities for low-income individuals, or affordable payday advance options that are not the predatory payday loans we have now. Reinforcing what I discussed previously; any company can adopt second chance hiring practices for their employees. A staggering percentage of the American working population has some sort of criminal conviction, but people deserve a fresh start, and an opportunity to work. People shouldn’t be defined by the worst or most difficult times in their lives — we owe it to one another to give people a second chance.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why?
I just finished Malcom Gladwell’s ‘Outliers’, which really resonated with me. I really enjoyed the way he approaches the full story. There’s a sense of honesty that comes through and reveals how it’s not just the hard work that guarantees success, it’s often a myriad of other life circumstances. He doesn’t look at things through rose-colored glasses, but he’s not a cynic. He shows every situation from every angle and perspective and peels back people’s motivations — it encourages empathy. That’s why I love the “make your own luck” quote so much, and it’s also why at Frontier Co-op, we’re looking at all facets of the person through programs like Breaking Down Barriers to Employment and not writing them off for certain aspects of their background.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
I’m not personally very active on social media, but you can learn more about the work we’re doing to address food insecurity through the Simply Organic Giving Fund and the work we’re doing at Frontier Co-op on our websites and stay up-to-date through our social channels:
- LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontier-coop/
- Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/frontiercoop/
- Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/frontiercoop
Thank you for these great insights! We wish you continued success.
How Tony Bedard Of Frontier Co-op Is Helping To Address The Growing Challenge Of Food Insecurity was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.