Randy Lewis (executive)


J. Randolph "Randy" Lewis is an American businessman, a disability employment advocate, and author.
Lewis is a former senior vice president of a Fortune 50 company, and board member of a national restaurant chain. He was the head of supply chain and logistics at Walgreens for 17 years until his retirement in 2013. Over his last ten years there, he created a program in its distribution centers to integrate large numbers of people with disabilities as equals into its workforce.

Early life and education

Lewis was born in Texas circa 1950. He earned his Bachelor of Applied Arts degree in accounting in 1971, a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics in 1974, and a Master of Business Administration degree in finance in 1975, all from the University of Texas at Austin, located in Austin, Texas. Lewis joined the Peace Corps and was stationed in Peru.

Career

Ernst & Young

Lewis was a Chicago-based partner at Ernst & Young and Walgreens was his client by the late 1980s. His primary client in 1992, Walgreens offered him a position.

Walgreens

Lewis joined Walgreens in 1992 as divisional vice president, logistics and planning and promoted to vice president to head its supply chain in 1996. He was promoted to senior vice president in 1999. During his time there, Walgreens expanded from 1,500 to 8,000 stores. When he took over in 1996, Walgreens began to contract outside agencies that employed people with disabilities in its distribution centers on a limited basis, typically in non-production areas.

List of other companies who have implemented this program

His son, Austin, has autism which may have led Lewis to note the importance of employment for those with disabilities.

Recognition