Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> February 24, 2003
GORDON D. BARKER is President and CEO of Snyder's Drug Stores,
Inc./Drug Emporium based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. In October
1999, Mr. Barker purchased Snyder's Drug Stores on behalf of the
Edmonton, Alberta-based, Katz Group. Last year, Snyder's
completed the acquisition of Drug Emporium, Inc., based out of
Powell, Ohio. Mr. Barker was President and CEO of Thrifty/Payless
Drug Stores until the company was sold to Rite Aid in 1996. He
oversaw the merger of Thrifty and Payless Drug Stores in 1995. In
1996 he engineered Thrifty/Payless' public offering on the New
York Stock Exchange, prior to their purchase by Rite Aid. He was
with Thrifty/Payless for 32 years in a variety of positions,
beginning as a Pharmacist. He attended Brigham Young University,
University of Idaho and Washington State University, where he
earned a bachelor's degree in Pharmacy. Mr. Barker is on the
NACDS Board of Directors and is presently the Chairman of the
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRFI),
based in New York. He is also a Board member of GART/Sportsmart
Sporting Goods, United Natural Foods & Cornucopia, NuMedics,
Inc., and The Viking Council Boy Scouts of America as well as
being active in his church. He enjoys golf, snow skiing, hiking,
scuba diving and motorcycling. He also enjoys traveling, and
lived for a time in France. Profile
Drug Stores and a picture of the company as it is now?
Mr. Barker: I will start my historical sketch before my time.
Snyder Drug
