Jeff Main
SVP, Information Technology (CIO)
Festival Foods
Jeff Main has over 40 years of experience in business and technology, and he loves being a visionary and an energetic leader who works with businesses to maximize the value of their information technology organizations and investments.
He worked for industry-leading public companies such as Rent-A-Center, US Freightways, and Union Pacific Railroad. In his current role as SVP, IT and Indirect Procurement for Festival Foods and Hometown Grocers (a top 100 grocery chain), he leads the IT department function and provides strategic direction for all technology investments. In addition to managing the IT function, he also oversees the company’s indirect (non-merchandise) procurement spend.
Fun fact: Jeff previously held a Nebraska real estate license and holds an FCC amateur radio operator’s license.
Learn more about the Milwauklee CIO community here.
Give us a brief overview of the path that led to your current role.
I worked in IT for my entire career, starting as a programmer and moving to a variety of IT roles for companies in retail and transportation. The last 30 years have been in leadership roles, either running a part of the IT function or the entire IT department.
What is one of your guiding leadership principles?
I rely on situational leadership to lead our team and look at technology with a business and IT mindset.
What is the greatest challenge CIOs face today, and how are you addressing it?
Matching the demand for technology solutions with adequate resources and communicating that gap to our leadership team.
What is the key to success for someone just starting out as a CIO?
Relate to business stakeholders and approach all aspects of IT with a business mindset.
How do you measure success as a leader?
Feedback from executives, and mid-level managers. Ask them how you are doing and how you can improve.
What is the value of being a member of the Evanta community?
It is valuable to compare problems and needs with others in the same field of IT or industry.
Evanta Governing Body members share their insights and leadership perspectives to shape the agendas and topics that address the top priorities impacting business leaders today.
by CIOs, for CIOs
Join the conversation with peers in your local CIO community.