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CHEROKEE, Iowa — As senior vice president of distribution, Lisa Stowater oversees the operations of Hy-Vee’s distribution center in Cherokee, Iowa, a warehouse that serves more than 300 Hy-Vee stores across the Midwest. Her career at the grocer began at this facility in 1991, working as a part-time record keeper.
In her early years at Hy-Vee, Stowater worked in a variety of roles, gaining experience in both warehouse and office functions. In 2001, she was promoted to human resources manager for the Cherokee distribution center. In 2005 she added transportation to her responsibilities as director of transportation and human resources for Cherokee.
Two years later, Stowater was promoted to assistant vice president of transportation and human resources, and in 2014 she was promoted again to group vice president of distribution for Cherokee. In 2016 she was named vice president, and she took on her current position in 2023.
Stowater sees her top priority as ensuring the safety of her employees while they deliver product to Hy-Vee’s stores in the most efficient manner possible. For example, warehouse order selectors are currently receiving new on-site training in lifting techniques.
She is also dedicated to mentoring her team members and helping them advance within the organization. “I love working with my employees to help them set new goals and aspirations and helping them find ways to reach them,” she said. “I really relish seeing employees learn new skills and take on new challenges.”
Stowater and her team place a high value on employee training and development at the distribution center, ensuring all employees know how to reach the next level in their careers, as well as providing multiple opportunities for leadership development training for managers.
