HALL OF fame With a quiet superpower to listen, analyze and consider many angles before making decisions, Mike Skokan was instrumental in guiding Hy-Vee’s success throughout his outstanding 35-year career. Across his variety <strong>of</strong> corporate auditing, accounting and financial roles, his problem-solving skills allowed the company to deliver on its promise to make lives easier, healthier and happier. journey, the experience gave him valuable perspective about how the company treated employees. “The years working in retail were invaluable,” he explains. “Not only did it help me know that I wanted to continue to work for Hy-Vee, but it also gave me the perspective that helped me try to make the best decisions for employees and customers down the road.” president Ric Jurgens, as well as current chairman and CEO Randy Edeker. One transformative project Skokan took on in the early 2000s was transitioning all stores from a third-party payment system to an in-house system. This move allowed the company to choose where to process transactions, creating streamlined payments and efficiencies that benefited Hy-Vee directly. The system is still operational today. Skokan was an impactful and respected leader at Hy-Vee. He carefully and efficiently guided the company in protecting the interests <strong>of</strong> its employees while also pushing for unparalleled growth. He retired from his role as executive vice president, CFO and treasurer in December 2021. “I believe in working hard, focusing on the job in front <strong>of</strong> you and letting the rest take care <strong>of</strong> itself,” he says. “We have a solid team in place that won’t miss a beat as I move into retirement.” PERSPECTIVE FROM RETAIL, PASSION FOR ACCOUNTING Hard work has been a common thread throughout Skokan’s life. Growing up, his parents both demonstrated a strong work ethic and commitment to volunteering. He watched his father build a business as a certified public accountant (CPA) in West Des Moines, and his mother stayed home to raise Skokan and his younger brother, later working as a paralegal in a local law <strong>of</strong>fice once the boys were grown. In their free time, the Skokans enjoyed spending time at their family’s farm outside <strong>of</strong> Newton. When Skokan turned 16 years old, he took a part-time courtesy clerk and checker-stocker job at the West Des Moines Grand Avenue Hy-Vee. He continued to work part time at the Cedar Falls store while studying accounting at the University <strong>of</strong> Northern Iowa (UNI). Even though working retail was only a few years <strong>of</strong> his Hy-Vee While Skokan was inspired by his dad’s career as a CPA, he always wanted to forge his own path in the pr<strong>of</strong>ession. Upon graduating from UNI in 1992 and earning his certified public accountant license, he weighed public and private accounting career options. He ultimately decided to take an internal auditing position with Hy-Vee Corporate in Chariton, where the company was headquartered at the time. Skokan says it was during these early years in the auditing department that he learned the importance <strong>of</strong> relationships, especially on a team. His manager at the time, Juli Hurst (Egeland) taught him valuable lessons in understanding people’s motivations and how to navigate interpersonal relationships. Hy-Vee relocated its headquarters to West Des Moines in 1995, and later that year Skokan moved to the company’s accounting department. In the coming years, he rose through the financial ranks, taking on a variety <strong>of</strong> positions and seizing opportunities to gain a bigger picture point <strong>of</strong> view. “I wasn’t siloed into just looking at debits and credits,” he explains. “They gave me involvement across all aspects <strong>of</strong> the company so I could understand how things worked together and contribute on a higher level.” He also got the opportunity to learn about leadership from former chairman, CEO and president Ron Pearson, former chairman, CEO and “I’ve always enjoyed a challenge. No matter the project, failure was not an option,” he explains. VISION FOR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS In 2011, Skokan was named senior vice president, CFO, treasurer and a permanent member <strong>of</strong> the Hy-Vee Board <strong>of</strong> Directors. In 2013, he was elected to executive vice president, CFO and treasurer. In these leadership roles, he was especially influential in shaping employee benefits. He took to heart the words <strong>of</strong> Jurgens, “If you have the ability to do good, then you have a responsibility to do good.” Skokan helped champion a variety <strong>of</strong> employee-centric initiatives, including <strong>of</strong>fering expanded parental leave, expanding benefits coverage to parttime employees and implementing a 10% employee discount. For decades he worked diligently to shape the company’s 401(k) plan, evolving benefits and matching and vesting programs to ensure it is a sustainable retirement benefit for employees. He also implemented several bonuses to recognize performance at all levels across the company. “We want to be sure Hy-Vee is the best place to work so we can attract and retain the best employees,” he says. “Creating a secure, competitive job for our employees was always at the forefront <strong>of</strong> my decisions and recommendations.” This sentiment also applies to how he treated his co-workers and team members over the years. He always emphasized the importance <strong>of</strong> family,
Lifetime Achievement: Mike Skokan, Hy-Vee HONORING A CAREER-LONG DEDICATION TO FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP, CHAMPIONING EMPLOYEE BENEFITS HALL OF FAME ISSUE <strong>2022</strong> 27