For Hy-Vee leader, it’s all about the customers

Rottinghaus is new store director

Greg Rottinghaus has an upstairs office in the Fort Dodge Hy-Vee store, but he likes to spend his time on the sales floor helping customers.

He is a few months into his tenure as store director, and finds working with people to be the most rewarding part of the job.

"For me, it's definitely the customers I get to interact with," he said.

"Just as important is the employees I get to interact with and help progress their careers as my mentors did for me," he added.

He took over as the store director on June 29, replacing Lindsey Flanigan, who became assistant vice president of operations for Hy-Vee.

Rottinghaus came to Fort Dodge from Norfolk, Nebraska, where he was the store director of a Hy-Vee.

He has been with the company for 33 years, with 30 of those years as a full-time employee.

The native of Nora Springs started working part-time for Hy-Vee in Mason City while he was a junior in high school.

"I became interested in the business, the process and obviously the customers," he said.

He attended Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids for a while before deciding that wasn't the right fit for him.

"I prefer rolling up my sleeves, stacking up the cans and working with the customers," he said.

His first full-time job at Hy-Vee was as a night stocker in a Cedar Rapids store.

He then worked in various positions in several stores.

In 2015, he became the store director in Le Mars.

He then served as a store director in Mason City and Norfolk, Nebraska, before coming to Fort Dodge.

He and his staff are already preparing for the busy holiday season.

"When it gets crazy, that's when it's fun," he said.

Rottinghaus describes himself as an "avid golfer." He is also a fan of the University of Iowa Hawkeyes and the Chicago Bears.

He and his wife, Jody, have a 14-year-old son and a 9-year-old daughter.