Photo: Charlie and Julie Tilt, the proud owners of Hummingbird Wholesale in 2016, Eugene, Oregon.
Dear members of our Hummingbird Community,
I hope this letter finds you humming with joy!
I have some exciting news to share from our Hummingbird nest. After twenty-one wonderful years of stewarding Hummingbird and serving you, I will be stepping down as CEO as of January 1, 2025. It’s hard to believe how quickly time flies!
I fondly remember the 1200 square feet of our original warehouse, the antique pallet jack, and the forklift borrowed from the neighboring business as the humble experiences of a new business owner in 2003. Julie and I had little experience in the food wholesaling business, and no financial resources. We did, however, have a dream of a world where food was healthy and clean, and we had children we wanted to build a worthy future for.
There have been many successes along the way, not the least of them that Julie and I are still together, despite the stress and strains that come along with growing a family business. I had many highlights: developing our cargo bike delivery system, promoting Hummingbird’s unique container return program, and relentlessly growing the farming base for Organic grains, beans, seeds and nuts from the Pacific Northwest. We have met, worked with, and been supported by an amazing community of people, to whom any credit for success should go! Especially the farmers, without whom we would have nothing useful to do as a business and no energy to do it with.
And now, with a grandbaby at home and the modern world moving at a pace that I will be happy to step back from a bit, I have come to the time when someone else needs to captain the ship.
I’m thrilled to announce that the incredibly talented Stacy Kraker will be taking Hummingbird’s helm, as our CEO. For the past six years, Stacy has dazzled as our Director of Sales and Marketing, bringing creativity, organizational talent, and a genuine connection to our coworkers and customers. Stacy has spent 23 years serving the Organic food community and I can assure you, she’s more than ready to lead us into this exciting new chapter!
As for me, I’m not completely flying away just yet! I’ll continue to be part of the Hummingbird family as CFO, so you’ll still see me around. The journey of change we began with becoming an Employee Owned Purpose Trust is entering this new phase, and I’m eager to support Stacy and our team as we continue to strengthen our capacity to provide our customers healthy, nutritious, Organic foods sourced with Integrity.
Thank you for being such an integral part of our journey. Your support has, both metaphorically and literally, been the wind beneath our wings, and I am truly grateful.
Here’s to new beginnings and a future filled with promise!
Photo: Charlie Tilt hands off Hummingbird Wholesale CEO responsibilities to Stacy Kraker in 2025.
A note from our in-coming CEO, Stacy Kraker
Being a member of the Hummingbird team during the last six years – and as a big fan of Hummingbird for many years before my time here – I have been inspired by the goals Charlie and Julie set out to achieve as business leaders and by what the collective Hummingbird team has accomplished together.
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, Hummingbird’s commitment to our mission and core values continues to guide us as we strive to delight our customers, vendors and community by providing high quality, Organic foods with outstanding service.
As one of the first Employee Owned Purpose Trusts in the US, with our talented team and a shared dedication to excellence, Hummingbird will not only achieve our goals, but continue to redefine what’s possible as a business committed to being a “force for good” in the organic food industry. It is this effort that inspires me most.
We don’t really ever know what the future will bring, but I wholeheartedly believe in the power of hope and a shared vision of possibility to bring people together. Charlie and Julie have done just that with Hummingbird and our Trust Purpose will continue to guide us “to foster the co-creation of such a motivational and inspiring vision that a dedicated team of people who value one another and work in collaboration will overcome the obstacles to achieving it.” One thing I know for certain: everyone on our team is ready to embrace challenges as opportunities and uphold the high standards that have made Hummingbird what it is.
I am excited and honored to step into the CEO role at Hummingbird, and to work with all of you to co-create a bright future.
