Forty Under 40: Wes Morris

Wes Morris, 37, grew up in Harrison and graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in marketing. After college, he spent seven years with Dial Corp. in Springfield, Mo., starting as a retail sales representative, then moving to Des Moines, Iowa, in 1990 to work as an account executive. In 1994, he moved to Kansas City for a retail sales manager position and was promoted to district manager in 1995.

Seven years, three states, four different positions, Morris said with a laugh.

In 1996, he spent three years as a food senior business manager for ACOSTA brokerage company in St. Louis. Morris started in 1999 with Tyson Foods Inc. as a vice president of sales for the Club Store division and was promoted to senior vice president of the Club Store division in 2000. He said his father strongly influenced his work ethic.

He has a committment to deadlines and timelines, Morris said.

He was promoted to senior vice president of retail consumer products in July 2003.

Morris follows this motto: Excellence today, security tommorow. He attributes his success to being part of a solid team.

He said the best part of his job working in the diverse environment of an integrated protein provider.