Lori Brown, regional VP for Post Consumer Brands, has been elected president of the Pacific Harbors Council, Boy Scouts of America in Tacoma, Washington. The 57-year-old Brown has been involved with Scouting as a parent and leader since 2011.
More recently, she served as VP for development for the Scouting organization. Along with Karen Meier, CEO of Pacific Harbors Council, the two are the first top female leaders in the 100-plus year history of the organization.
Brown is a Northwest native having grown up in Orting, Washington, and graduating from Orting High School. Her father, Darrell Brown Sr., was a member of the Orting City Council and the local board of education. She said one of her highlights growing up was having her father present her high school diploma to her upon graduation. Brown was also involved with Brownies and Girl Scouts as a youth.
Both of Brown’s sons were involved with Scouting. Both are Quartermasters in Sea Scouts and one is an Eagle Scout.
“Both of my sons ended up at the California Maritime Academy because of their time in Scouting,” said Brown. “The leadership opportunities, hands on experience and the excellent mentoring they received motivated them to pursue careers in the Marine Engineering industry.”
“My strength in leadership is team building and engagement. If I can bring those strengths to our council, I think I can help bring us all together to help advance our movement. It’s all about the youth of our communities and their futures as leaders,” Brown said.
“Lori replaces Jack Connelly as board president,” Meier said. “Jack has served with distinction for the past three years, and Lori will continue the leadership excellence in helping us craft new strategies and planning in growing our Scouting community.”
Connelly will continue to serve on the executive board.
Post Consumer Brands is the third-largest cereal company in the U.S. with a broad portfolio spanning all segments of the category. Brown’s responsibilities include sales and service to grocers across several western states. She started her career with the Fred Meyer grocery chain where she said she learned everything from cashiering to backing up a semi-truck. She was one of their first female store managers at age 25, ironically managing the Fred Meyer Store at 19th & Stevens in Tacoma, just down the street from the Creighton Scouting Center.
In 2015, she was among the award winners of Progressive Grocer’s Top Women in Grocery awards, one of their top rising stars. In 2020 she was nominated for the Shelby Report’s Women of Influence award.
She also is a member of the Washington Food Industry Association, the California Grocers Association and Illuminator’s Board.
Brown graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and communication. She holds a master’s degree in food industry leadership from the University of Southern California.
She and her family currently reside in Gig Harbor.
