Katie Poehling Seymour - Inside a 5th Generation Distribution Giant - EP.264

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, I sit down with Kathryn Poehling Seymour, President and CEO of First Supply, a fifth-generation, family-owned distribution business with over 700 employees and 53 locations across the Midwest. We cover everything from leading a 128-year-old company through generational transition to building one of the largest distribution centers in company history.

Kathryn shares what it was like taking over as CEO during COVID, the insights she gained from touring every branch in the company, and how she’s leading First Supply through a major operational shift—from a regional hub model to a centralized distribution center strategy. We also talk about how customer expectations have evolved, especially around e-commerce and data transparency, and the company’s efforts to meet those demands while maintaining deep local relationships.

We dive into:

• The long-term thinking behind First Supply’s massive investment in infrastructure
• How family governance and values guide decision-making across generations
• Using AI and data tools to improve pricing, inventory, and customer experience
• The importance of culture fit in acquisitions and why they're not chasing growth at all costs
• Kathryn’s leadership style, influenced by her background in law, accounting, and family business

This conversation is a masterclass in thoughtful leadership, multigenerational stewardship, and building for the long haul—without losing sight of what matters most: people, relationships, and values.

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Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GTxWeRXap9Q

Learn more about Alex and Think Like an Owner at https://tlaopodcast.com/

Links:

Kathryn on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-poehling-seymour/

First Supply - https://www.firstsupply.com/

Support our Sponsor:

Inzo Technologies - https://inzotechnologies.com/

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro  

(00:04:00) - Becoming CEO and taking an in-person tour of all facilities to get a sense of the situation on the ground  

(00:07:25) - Customer feedback  

(00:09:56) - How larger distribution locations affect the direction of the business  

(00:15:22) - What are the keys to a good location for a massive distribution center?  

(00:17:33) - How does e-commerce sales impact data?  

(00:19:53) - AI breakthroughs  

(00:25:47) - Customer service evolutions  

(00:31:19) - Acquisitions  

(00:34:09) - Debt utilization  

(00:37:58) - Katie’s career before First Supply  

(00:41:52) - How do you describe your style as a CEO?  

(00:44:42) - Constructing a board  

(00:46:30) - Succession planning  

(00:49:33) - Lessons learned from other family-run businesses  

(00:52:43) - The next generation of the business