30 years of successful experience

Lon D. Getlin
Chief Executive Officer

Lon is a 35-year veteran of mid- and senior-level management. With a focus in sales and marketing as well as sales/management development, his career experiences extend from Fortune 500 companies to small, privately held companies. An 18-year career in the insurance industry led to executive management positions with two large insurance companies, Paul Revere and UNUM-Provident. In 2000, he left his position as a vice president to pursue an entrepreneurial opportunity. Lon co-founded a highly successful pharmaceutical company, RxEMS, which provided drugs and disposable medical supplies nationwide to public and private EMS services. In 2005 he sold his interest to his partner and began a search for new business opportunities. That search led him to Cashco Distributors, which he joined in December 2006 and became the company’s CEO in June 2007.

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin while on a full wrestling scholarship, Lon entered the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served a combat tour as an infantry officer in Vietnam. His Marine Corps career eventually led to aviation, where he became an F-4 Phantom fighter pilot and a Top Gun graduate.

Lon is an avid classical guitarist and serves on the Board of Directors of the Portland Baroque Orchestra. He is also deeply involved with Oregon Partnership, a nonprofit organization specializing in drug, alcohol and suicide prevention. Together, Lon and his wife of 26 years, Jaye, a prominent Northwest attorney, have been involved in foster care for more than 20 years. They also have two sons; Mike is a recent Harvard graduate, and Rand is a third-year law school student at USC.

Ron Runyan
President

Being the son of company founder Floyd Runyan means Cashco has been a part of Ron’s life for more than three decades. In the early days, it was all play among the aisles and shelves of our 25,000-square-foot warehouse. But in 2003 he joined his father’s management team as vice president and then became Cashco’s president in 2006.

Ron is no stranger to the rigors of management. His practical experience in the business world is matched only by his highly impressive education. With an economics degree from the University of Oregon and an MBA from Vanderbilt University, Ron was well prepared to provide Cashco with the next generation of management leadership. Prior to joining Cashco as a key member of the senior management team, Ron held management positions with Ingram Industries in Nashville, Tenn., and Sanda Communications in Portland.

Ron spends his leisure time as a sailboat racer and serves on the Board of Directors of the Willamette Sailing Club in Portland. He is also on the Governing Board of the Lido 14 Class Association in Newport Beach, Calif. He has been active in theater during much of his adult life. In 1995, Ron’s acting “career” reached its climax when he toured Europe, entertaining troops for the Department of Defense during the Bosnian war. Fortunately for Cashco, Ron decided to keep his day job!

Cashco is in Ron’s blood, and his belief in the company reflects our attitude toward our customers. As he puts it, “Our business is about making life better for customers. As long as we focus on that, we will be successful.”

Pat Rodda
Vice President of Sales

With more than 28 years of sales and management experience, Pat joined Cashco Distributors as the national sales manager in 2003. In January 2008, Pat’s outstanding service to the company resulted in a promotion to vice president of sales, where he oversees the company’s sales and marketing activities.

In 1986, Pat co-founded Cascade Marketing and Sales, a company that became nationally renowned for its expertise in helping manufacturers and distributors develop innovative strategies and sales programs. Pat’s exceptional experience in sales and marketing has impacted more than 100 companies over a professional career in which he provided guidance in staffing, developing incentive compensation plans, customer relations and top-line sales growth. Since joining Cashco, Pat has had a tremendous impact on the company’s growth, and his experience in the grocery and drug chain industries has proved invaluable.

Pat is the proud father of three grown sons who still keep him busy. Physical fitness also plays a vital role in Pat’s life. He is an avid runner and enjoys golf, skiing, yoga and dancing Bhangra. Pat is also seriously dedicated to community service and the plight of children in foster care. He serves as a CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocate) and is active in raising funds for organizations that support foster kids after they are emancipated. Cashco is very proud to have Pat as a member of our senior management team.

Ben Leonard
Regional Sales Manager

Ben’s expansive experience and long career have earned him a national reputation as a premier sales manager in the grocery industry. The list of national and regional companies with which he has worked is as impressive as the contributions he made to each of those companies. Expanding distribution, generating sales growth, developing customer-directed TPR programs and procedures for recovering outdated/damaged merchandise, improving schematic designs and managing price changes are but a few of Ben’s management achievements. He is also a specialist in the ethnic-care market, and has made exceptional contributions to Cashco’s growth in that category. Nothing Ben does for Cashco, however, is more valued than his unique ability to build strong and trusting relationships with our customers.

Outside of work, Ben is an avid and active supporter of his church and his community. He serves on numerous church boards and is active in the Portland chapter of National Links Incorporated, a woman’s international service organization.

Friends and family are the center of Ben’s life, and his leisure activities include deep-sea fishing, working on his home, and supporting his favorite sports teams, the Blazers and the Seahawks.

Kate Driscoll
Customer Service Director, Assistant Buyer

Kate has the spirit and courage of a pioneer! Growing up in a small town in southern Connecticut, her quest for adventure took roots immediately after she received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut, where she was an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. Soon after graduation, Kate packed up her car and headed for the great Northwest – Portland, Oregon, to be precise. Cashco was fortunate to offer a career opportunity that appealed to Kate, and she joined our company in April 2007.

In her capacity as CSD and assistant buyer, Kate has been a quick study and a key figure in the day-to-day operations at Cashco. When she is not dealing with Cashco’s suppliers, ensuring that our orders receive the attention she requires, she’s taking care of the needs of our customers. Kate is superb in both functions!

Kate spends her leisure time enjoying the good life Portland has to offer. If she’s not out enjoying the town, she can be found on the slopes of Mt. Hood, snowboarding on the mountain’s nearly year-round snowpack. She also enjoys returning to the East Coast for visits to her home and to her family’s camp on the coast of Maine.

Eric Rydman
Operations Director

Eric is one of Cashco’s longest-serving employees, and his experience with the company is so extensive that he is the “go-to guy” on just about everything! He joined the company in 1991 while a student pursuing a college degree in geography, and he has been with us ever since. He is primarily responsible for all warehouse-related functions, including the warehouse staff, and nobody knows the intricacies of a well-run warehouse better than Eric. Specifically, Eric ensures that our orders are received, placed in inventory, then pack and shipped to our 3,000-plus customers. In addition to those critical responsibilities, Eric is also the company’s IT and facilities manager. Now you see why he really is our go-to guy!

Outside the office, Eric gets his exercise snowshoeing, hiking and skiing. His other interests include nearly every facet of motor sports. He also enjoys the leisure pursuit of a number of cerebral activities that involve computers and technology, including cartography (map studies) and GIS systems applications.