JOHN HILLEN
Chief Executive Officer – Direct Source
John Hillen, chief executive officer, received a bachelor’s degree from Marquette University in economics, with specializations in marketing and finance. After graduation, he attended the Thunderbird School of Global Management, where he received a master’s degree in international management, the school’s number one nationally-ranked program.
After graduation, Hillen worked for ESCO, a provider of engineered consumable steel products and solutions for industrial applications. There, he spearheaded Middle Eastern sales efforts as well as tooling equipment sales to European aerospace manufacturers.
Prior to starting
Direct Source, Hillen worked for Spectra-Physics – now Datalogic. At this company, he honed his experience in the retail technology market by becoming the company’s first direct sales representative and international sales manager for handheld scanners. While at Datalogic, John helped create the first scanner/scale product for the retail grocery market and participated on the Food Marketing Institute Ergonomics Committee.
In 1992, Hillen founded Direct Source. With what started as two employees and a rented office, now comprises two locations, totaling more than 75,000 square feet, in Chanhassen and Chaska, Minn., with almost 100 full-time corporate headquarter employees.
BRAD FICK
President – Direct Source
Brad Fick has been with Direct Source since 1993 and currently leads business and sales operations for the company. He was previously vice president of sales and marketing. With multiple years of operational management, marketing, product management and sales experience, Fick has held leadership positions with many companies in the retail and technology markets including: Donaldson’s Department Store, NCR Corporation and DataServ.
Throughout his 16 years with Direct Source, Fick has worked with national retailers to deliver solutions to streamline store technology operations. These solutions center on a comprehensive approach to integrated software and hardware technology, and include installations in store locations nationwide.
Fick received a bachelor’s of science degree in marketing and sales from the University of Northern Iowa.