As President International Operations, Mike McClendon oversees Lineage’s operations outside of the United States and is responsible for identifying strategic growth opportunities overseas; in his role as EVP, Network Optimization, Mike further oversees the critical execution of the company’s energy management initiatives as well as acquisition, integration, expansion and greenfield projects. A graduate of the University of Arkansas, Mike has over 15 years of experience in cold chain distribution, previously leading Lineage’s east area operations and serving as President of Richmond Cold Storage. He is also an active and contributing member of the temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics industry and has held board positions at both the IARW and WFLO.

What would you tell someone considering a career in supply chain, logistics, or at Lineage?

The temperature-controlled warehousing industry is not only fascinatingly complex, but it also continues to grow and evolve at an astonishing rate. As long as people need to eat, our industry will thrive! The promise, stability and opportunity the cold chain presents is unmatched, and, at Lineage, we have solid processes and structures in place to foster individual growth for each and every team member.

What are the two or three most important lessons you have learned in your career that others could benefit from? 

Talk to customers early and often when an obstacle is identified. It is critical to the health of our partnership that we earn, keep and foster their trust, and easy, available communication is crucial to not only solving the issue, but also moving forward together.

From our Leadership

The promise, stability and opportunity the cold chain presents is unmatched, and, at Lineage, we have solid processes and structures in place to foster individual growth for each and every team member.

Mike McClendon, President International Operations & EVP, Network Optimization

What is on your professional bucket list?

Lineage’s purpose statement – to transform the food supply chain to eliminate waste and help feed the world – resonates with me on such a profound level because it calls on us to think about how we can help connect people in underserved or underdeveloped areas to food. And that has some pretty incredible global implications! It would be an amazing accomplishment and experience to bring frozen food to a village or community that has not had the proper infrastructure or means to access these products.

The Lineage family is close-knit, but there’s no place like home.

My wife, Trish, and kids, Casey and Mac, are my partners in crime! We spend a lot of time outdoors – and it’s only a matter of time before I convince them to summit the Matterhorn with me. Trish disagrees.