Sheri began her career with Costco 31 years ago as Corporate Counsel, where she was responsible for Costco’s legal issues related to merchandising, its vendor code of conduct, intellectual property, pharmacy, export, e-commerce and privacy policies. In 2007, Sheri transitioned from legal into the buying side of the business in order to learn how to integrate sustainability practices into everyday buying decisions and her teams supported the development of numerous Costco private label Kirkland Signature products. From there she joined the Global Sourcing Department in 2013, where she was involved with various sustainability projects, both domestically and internationally. Her focus was on value-chain analysis to source to help ensure quality and supply, while also exploring multi-stakeholder market-based solutions to address poverty, malnutrition, illegal trafficking and environmental concerns. In 2016, she began and now leads the Global Sustainability and Compliance department and her responsibilities are focused on Costco’s sustainability practices worldwide, that include human rights, trade and customs compliance, responsible sourcing, packaging, product safety, animal welfare, environmental compliance and climate related policies.
Sheri is a frequent guest lecturer at various universities discussing topics related to business, ethics and sustainability and has shared the results of her work with the World Wildlife’s Fuller Symposium, The World Justice Forum at The Hague, The World Bank, The World Food Programme, USDA/FAS, and US Department of State. She is a 2016 recipient of the Women of Influence for the Puget Sound Business Journal and a 2011 recipient of the James Beard Foundation Leadership Award. Sheri is currently a Board Member of the College Success Foundation, a member of the Advisory Board for the Center for Business Ethics at the Albers School of Business of Seattle University and a former Trustee of Pinchot University/The Bainbridge Graduate Institute. Sheri also manages Costco’s participation in a private/public collaboration to provide an affordable and high quality early learning center for children and families. Prior to joining Costco, Sheri was a partner in a Seattle law firm. She and her husband John live in Seattle and together are the grateful parents of three beautiful adult children and their families.