Fuller Industries Inc.’s new Vice President of Operations Chris Cowles sees his job as the perfect fit for the small-town Iowa native and a natural career progression.
“I’ve really liked it out here,” he said. The community has been welcoming and compared to his current home in Stockton, Mo., there is an array of things to do.
Cowles started at the longtime Great Bend manufacturer Monday, Feb. 3. But he has already jumped in with both feet, working with the management team to infuse his employee-first leadership style.
“During my visits here, I’ve seen employees who love what they do and that shows,” he said. He found a solid workforce willing to learn and grow and saw much potential.
“I am not a micromanager. We need to put the right people in the right seats on the bus and let them do their jobs, and foster their success,” he said. “I believe in practicing servant leadership,” focusing on listening to the ideas and needs of the employees and empowering them.”
Cowles is an Army veteran but is not a “command-and-control kind of guy,” he said. “I want to work as a team. We will collaborate on a variety of inputs before big decisions that will affect us all.”
“We are excited to have Chris on board,” said Joe Mann, Fuller’s vice president and general manager. “This is an integral management position, and he is the ideal person for this role.”
Now, Cowles is working with staff members at all levels seeking ideas to make Fuller run more efficiently. He feels those closest to the day-to-day production often have the best ideas on making things run smoother.
Background
He started working on a factory floor in manufacturing before branching out and working in a different career field. After 14 years, Cowles changed paths and dedicated himself back to manufacturing. He returned to a line position and moved up to quality control.
Then, at the suggestion of his supervisor, he went back to school. He earned his bachelor’s degree in operational management, doing the classwork during breaks as he sat on the production line.
“I did well,” he said. He graduated summa cum laude from American International University.
Before coming to Fuller, Cowles worked in a variety of durable goods-related businesses, from agriculture to furniture to plastics.
Born in Fort Madison, Iowa, he spent 25 years working in the Quad Cities area, a cluster of five cities on the Illinois–Iowa border, where he met and married his wife Karen 22 years ago. They have six children. Their two youngest, teenage boys are still at home.
The family moved to Stockton, Mo., where he went to work for a foam packaging maker in the area. They were there for about two years before he joined Fuller.
He sought a change from the small Missouri town of 1,600 people where he lived. “This was a decision that was best for the family. I value family, and career moves like this needed to have all of that in mind.”
So, when he saw the job listing, he was ready. After a couple of trips, they are excited to make the change.
