William R. Voss is founder and managing partner of Lake Pacific Partners, LLC, a private equity investment firm primarily focusing on food, beverage, consumer products, business and consumer services, distribution, packaging and related industries. He is a successful business executive, entrepreneur and investor.
Immediately prior to forming Lake Pacific, Mr. Voss was the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Natural Nutrition Group (NNG), a company he formed to acquire and develop brands in the expanding but fragmented natural food industry. Between 1996 and 1999, NNG acquired several companies, including Health Valley, creating one of the largest natural food manufacturers in the U.S. In May 1999, NNG was sold to the Hain Celestial Group, a public company with interests in the natural food industry.
Prior to forming NNG, Mr. Voss was chief executive officer of McCain Foods, a large privately owned frozen food manufacturer. He also served as president, chief operating officer and director of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, a $1 billion publicly traded food processor. In addition, he was a principal with Booz, Allen & Hamilton, management consultants, where he advised Fortune 500 clients in the consumer products and retailing industries.
Mr. Voss served as a director of Maxi Canada, a branded frozen food company; Gladson, a business services company; Mercer Foods, an industrial dehydrator; and WennerBread Products, a commercial bakery.
He currently serves as director of Cal Pacific Specialty Foods, an industrial food processor. He also served as chairman of Nash Finch Company, a Fortune 500, publicly traded food distribution company and is a director of SpartanNash, a Fortune 500 retailer and wholesaler.
He has previously served as a director and advisory board member with numerous other public, private and not-for-profit organizations. He is past chairman of the Chicago Chapter of the World Presidents’ Organization and was a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization.
Mr. Voss received an MBA degree from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin.