From a service clerk in Montana to the leader of a regional grocery chain in Spokane, Jeff Philipps says his legacy was built by consistently restocking a few simple ideas: "Businesses succeed when they invest in people, and communities grow stronger when leaders choose to give back." 

Long before he led one of the Inland Northwest's most recognizable grocery chains, Rosauers, Philipps was bagging groceries and caring for customers at Buttrey Food & Drug, of Great Falls, Montana, a job he took to help pay for his pursuit of a collegiate banking degree at the time.

It became the foundation of a nearly 50-year run in the grocery industry. Philipps, 70, who retired nearly five years ago as CEO of Spokane-based Rosauers Supermarkets Inc., says he built his career on the mindset of hard work, perseverance, and taking care of employees. 

The early work experience he earned working as a box boy shifted his previous goal of working in the banking industry. 

Philipps stayed the course at Buttrey for 22 years, earning promotions to management positions along the way. He then took on management and executive roles with Buttrey's parent company American Stores; Carr-Gottstein Foods, of Alaska; and Rainbow Foods, of Minnesota. Then, he discovered an open CEO position at Rosauers and joined the business in 2000. 

At Rosauers, Philipps was responsible for overseeing 22 stores and 2,300 employees, guiding the company through an evolving grocery landscape. Through that time, he emphasized a workplace culture built on integrity, transparency, and team development — principles he explains are paramount to building trust across an organization.

"I always believed if you invest in your employees and stay committed to your community, everything else tends to follow," Philipps says.

His tenure at the grocery chain came with unexpected challenges at times, he says. For example, in 2008, the roof of the Rosauers store in Spokane's Five Mile neighborhood collapsed, and Philipps says he and his team wasted no time in finding a solution. 

He explains that the first priority with the store facing demolition was to make sure all 120 employees were taken care of. 

"Our leadership team met immediately," Philipps says. "We knew the employees had families and responsibilities and needed to keep their jobs, so we paid all of the employees 90% of their wages and 100% of their benefit packages until the store could be rebuilt. The store culture was to take care of people, and that's what we did."

For Philipps, the decision was straightforward.

"You can rebuild a building," he says. "Restoring a team is a lot more difficult, and more importantly, it was simply the right thing to do."

The moment became emblematic of a broader leadership philosophy, one that prioritized people not only in moments of crisis, but as part of the long-term strategy, which paid off in more ways than one.

Under his leadership, Rosauers was named Philanthropic Large Corporation of the Year in 2016.

Philipps also was heavily involved with Greater Spokane Incorporated under the mentorship of the late Rich Hadley, who served as president and CEO of the organization for over 20 years. Philipps says he was eventually encouraged to become the board chair for GSI, to help guide and influence regional economic development efforts.

Today, even in retirement, Philipps says his focus remains on building pathways for others. For instance, Philipps continues to invest his time advancing health care and bioscience education in the region, working to ensure graduates can earn degrees and then move into meaningful careers that are close to home.

Some community leaders say that kind of long-term thinking has defined his impact.

Shelly O'Quinn, CEO of Innovia Foundation, says Philipps stands out to her as one of the regional leaders she respects the most.

Pointing to his ongoing efforts to support youth development in the Spokane area, O'Quinn describes Philipps as kind, caring, innovative, and strategic. She says he is heavily involved with LaunchNW, a program created by the Innovia Foundation that connects students to career pathways and mentorship opportunities in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.

"Above all, he's always been a good listener," O'Quinn says. "He listens to others and helps them find a path to their respective success."

Philipps grew up in Great Falls, Montana. He describes his mother as a generous person who consistently budgeted a little for causes she believed in even though his family didn't have wealth, he explains. She also volunteered at church and at schools where she was a reading buddy for second graders.

For Phillips, his sense of community responsibility traces back to his mother, who he credits with teaching him that giving back and engaging with the community helps build character. That mindset has followed him through every stage of his career, he says, adding that following his mother's advice has helped earn him recognition in the Public Library Foundation Citizen Hall of Fame.

Now, after decades of early mornings, long days, and constant decision making, Philipps says he has embraced a quieter pace. He has been married to his best friend, Kathie Philipps for 36 years and they have three children. Although he doesn't have any grandchildren yet, Philipps says he's looking forward to being a grandparent someday.

In retirement, Philipps says he's also enjoyed the opportunity to check off some of his bucket list travel items and spend time with friends and family, something he values deeply after spending years dedicated to a demanding industry. 

Laughingly, Philipps says retirement also gives him more time to work on his golf game, but the through line of his career still remains clear.