College of Business

For Ken Thrasher, having a mentor was a key to success. And so was being an engaged member of his community.

Where are you from originally?

I was born and raised in Portland and graduated from Franklin High School in 1967.

How did you decide on Oregon State?

I went to PSU my freshman year of college, always was an OSU fan in sports, and really wanted to go away to college. I couldn’t afford out-of-state tuition and since I was always a fan of OSU decided that was best for me. It turned out to be a great decision because I met my wife Marta at OSU and got a very good education.

Can you summarize your career trajectory after Oregon State?

Following a stint in the service after graduating, I became an accountant at Mayflower Farms, a large dairy cooperative where I also worked summers during college. I became its CFO/treasurer in 1978 and helped put together a merger with Darigold in 1981. In 1982 I became the VP/treasurer for Fred Meyer, its SVP/CFO in 1987, EVP/CAO in 1996, and president and CEO of the Fred Meyer division of Kroger in 1999. I retired from Fred Meyer in 2001 and became CEO and chairman of Compli in 2002.

Did anything about your career or success surprise you?

Because I had a good mentor in Bill Naito (Portland businessman and philanthropist), I was prepared to get a good college education, set personal goals, work hard, be involved in my community and to give back to those organizations that Marta and I support. I have achieved my career and personal goals in most part, with some real opportunities going forward to support children’s overall needs, and to help improve the delivery of education to achieve better career outcomes for young people. The most important success though is having such a wonderful wife and family, and Marta deserves so much credit for that success in my life, as well as my sons, Jeff and Ryan.
 

You have a history of community involvement and giving back. Was this ingrained in you as you were growing up? Or did you develop your community consciousness later on?

It started with Bill Naito and his being a great community leader and model. I also was fortunate to work for a company like Fred Meyer that has played such an important role in our communities.

 
What motivated you to give back to Oregon State?

We give back to OSU because it helped frame my capabilities for my career through the quality education I received in the College of Business, which helped create the ability to share our resources with the community. We also give to leadership and strong programs, such as President Ed Ray, the Austin Entrepreneurship Program, and the College of Business. I am proud of Oregon State and want them to be successful, which means we need to support higher education, especially now when resources are limited.

What are some of the things you learned here that you carried into your career?

Interestingly, the most important class I think I ever took in college was a philosophy logic class, because it challenges critical thinking, looking at alternatives and reaching a decision based on the facts. As I look at the courses I took in college and the roles mentors played in my development, I believe the five things businesses most need today were enabled by these two resources. I learned to communicate effectively, problem solve, work in a team setting, have a strong work ethic, and be personally ethical. That’s why we must mentor our employees and children in our community to pass on what we have benefited from.
 

Do you have any advice for current students now who are interested in business and management?

If you don’t have someone in business you know in your family who is a mentor, try and find someone you can talk to about personal goals, education, and how to fit what you like to your skill set.