[2009 Leadership Profiles] John Bolanos

Highly competitive and driven to succeed, a veteran industry distributor takes the greatest pride in his family and helping others to achieve their dreams.

Balance had always been important to John Bolanos, vice president, Univar, but the memorial services of two dear industry friends, Norm Ehmann and Bevan Cates, really brought it home.

The events helped reaffirm for Bolanos what’s really important in life. “I think the thing that I’ll remember most sitting in the memorial services for both of those gentlemen was hearing what they meant to their children and grandchildren.” Those messages continue to have an impact on Bolanos’ life today: “I want to make sure that’s there’s a continual balance with my family life and my work life,” he reflected.

What’s more, Bolanos said, “so many of the things we spend so much time on — profit and loss statements, market share — none of those things were mentioned in their eulogies. People remembered how they were mentors and role models and how they took time to impact other people’s lives. Attending those memorial services made me think, ‘What kind of example am I setting?’ I couldn’t help but wonder what people will say about me in my eulogy.”
Bolanos’ wife of 33 years, Jane, agrees. “Some people get so caught up in their job that when they turn 60, they regret they didn’t have a more balanced life, but that won’t be John. He works really hard, but I think he’s kept a good balance and he’s taken the time to care for people.”

And she should know. After all, they’ve known each other since high school. “We’re very different,” Bolanos observes. “Jane likes to try different things and experience life to its fullest. When dating in high school, we were on a beach with a bunch of other kids one night and there was this cave and she wanted to go into the cave in the worst way. She said we could see some neat stuff and it would be cool. I said, it was hard to see, she could get hurt and there could be dangerous animals inside. That’s kind of indicative of our relationship over the years. I keep her feet on the ground; she stretches me. We went to high school and senior prom together and then we went our separate ways before getting back together during college.”

Jane indicates that they are both the first-born in their respective families but they approached that position differently. Where Bolanos was a rule-follower, Jane is a rule-challenger. But Bolanos and his wife agree they balance each other out.

The late Norm Ehmann once said of Bolanos, “He’s not an in-your-face sort of guy. He’s sensitive to what you have to say, a man who thoroughly assesses all points of view before arriving at a final decision.”

VISIONARY LEADERSHIP. As with many low-key leaders, Bolanos is quick to share his thoughts on the industry and his co-workers before he discusses himself.

Managing smartly and having a vision for the future of the company are important, Bolanos believes. “We need to envision where we want to be three to five years down the road. We want to make sure we’re in a good position to take advantage of the opportunities before us when the economy turns around.”

Terry Hill, Bolanos’ boss at Univar, believes John is a visionary leader. “He’s ethical and has great integrity. He effectively communicates his vision to his employees and helps them realize that vision.”

Bolanos recognizes that in the pest control industry, relationships are very important because there are so many businesses that have been family-owned for generations. “I discovered that’s why I love this industry so much,” Bolanos says.

It’s a feeling that is mutual. “John has held a number of positions within Univar/Van Waters & Rogers from the field to management,” observes Alfie Treleven, president, Sprague Pest Solutions, Tacoma, Wash. “John has done a wonderful job leading the North American expansion of Univar while still working hard to stay involved with his customers he has known for years.”

A FAMILY MAN. The fact that his family has always been very important to him may be one of the reasons Bolanos was attracted to the pest control industry. The parents of three grown children, Bolanos and his wife proudly share the accomplishments of their family. All three children share a passion for life and are dedicated to helping others, reflecting the family’s Christian values. Beth, 21, is the youngest. A recent graduate of Messiah College in Grantham, Pa., with a degree in elementary education, she recently relocated to Austin where she is a school teacher. Son Tom, 25, also lives in Austin, and is a salesperson for Terminix. “We love having him close by,” Bolanos says. Daughter Christi, 29, lives in Pittsburgh and is a trauma nurse at Allegheny General Hospital. “She and her husband are very mission-oriented and do a lot of work with troubled children,” he says.

“All three of our kids are very different from each other, but I see the same pattern in each of them,” Jane observed. “They care for people.”

Jane says her husband’s work ethic and integrity is tightly bound to his religious faith and this is reflected in how he approaches business.

Bolanos agrees. “Being honest and straight with people is core to my upbringing. It’s an important part of my faith. In the midst of high or low business cycles, you should treat people the same. Even when delivering unpleasant news, you should maintain a level of respect for the other party.”

When asked about the blessings in his life, Bolanos didn’t have to think long. “I would say I’m blessed with a great wife and wonderful kids. Jane keeps me humble and allows me to forget about what happens at the office on any given day. We moved outside of Austin and bought a small ranch with some horses. Now I’m moving bales of hay around the property and feeding chickens. As funny as it sounds, I find it extremely therapeutic.”

So, what kind of man is John Bolanos? The late Bevan Cates characterized his hand-picked successor this way: “His ethics, his honesty, his integrity are absolutely above reproach. Whatever John Bolanos tells you, you can take to the bank.”

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Up Close: John Bolanos
Title: Vice President
Company/Affiliation: Univar
Location: Austin, Texas
Personal: married to wife Jane for 33 years; three children: daughters Christi, 29, and Beth, 21, and son Tom, 25; enjoys cooking, spending time with family and working on his ranch outside Austin.
Career Highlights:

• Bachelor’s degree, entomology, University of California, Davis 
• Customer service representative, salesperson and district manager at Univar
• Named vice president of Professional Products & Services Division, 2000
• Serves on board of Professional Pest Management Alliance
• Member of NPMA and Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment
• Leading Univar’s expansion into Mexico, Middle East and Latin America