SE290 - John Thelan

John is a seasoned business and legal professional with a career spanning more than three decades in global supply chain and operations leadership. He holds an Associate of Science from Elgin Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Illinois (Dean’s List), and a Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego. He spent over 30 years at Costco Wholesale, retiring in 2023 as Senior Vice President, where he oversaw the company’s expansive North American distribution and e-commerce fulfillment network, managing more than 22 million square feet of operations and a workforce of 16,000 employees, as well as the global movement of merchandise across multiple channels.

John currently serves on the Board of Directors of PriceSmart and is a business advisor to Venatrust, a company focused on RFID solutions. He also contributes to academia and public service through advisory roles with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the University of Washington, and the University of San Diego. Earlier in his career, he was a partner in a law firm specializing in real estate and land use and served as General Counsel to major public agencies in San Diego. Outside of work, John enjoys outdoor activities and is an avid aviator, building and flying aircraft and pursuing adventure travel around the world.