Biography John C Read

John C. Read leads Read Partners, a consulting firm supporting for profit, non-profit, government agency and community leaders and those they lead in order to change for good.

 Previously, John served as president and chief executive for the Tri-County Cradle-to-Career Collaborative from 2014-2019, a collective impact initiative supporting the education success of children in the Charleston SC region from pre-natal to workforce readiness.

 From 2011-2014, he served as CEO for the SeriousFun Children’s Network, Paul Newman’s global network of camps and programs serving children with life threatening illnesses..

 From 2002 to 2011 John served as chief executive for Outward Bound USA. During his tenure most of the the organization’s independent 501(c)3s agreed to merge under a single fiduciary board and authoritative management.

 John entered the non-profit sector after serving as President and CEO for Trim Systems LLC a $400 million mobile equipment components company he founded and consolidated [Now Commercial Vehicles Group, Inc (CVGI-NASDAQ]. John began his career in government service, holding positions at the Federal level in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, the Treasury Department and at the State level serving as the Chief Economic Advisor to the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In 1976 he was appointed by President Ford and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Assistant Secretary for Employment Standards in the Labor Department.

 Following public service, John spent 13 years with Cummins Engine Company in a series of manufacturing plant management positions, culminating as vice president for the worldwide engineering and manufacture of the company’s mid- range family of engines. At the Donaldson Company, a global manufacturer of engine and industrial filtration products he served as an executive vice president for engine filtration products world-wide before establishing Heavy Duty Holdings.

 John graduated from Kent School and holds a BA and MBA from Harvard University, and Honorary Doctorate degrees from Centenary College and Shenandoah University. He currently serves as an adjunct professor at the College of Charleston’s graduate school for public administration and on education advisory boards for Clemson University and the University of Florida.

 John is married to Alexandra Read and they have three children, and five grandchildren.