Joe Scarlett

Joe is the retired Chairman of Tractor Supply Company and Founder of the Scarlett Leadership Institute in Franklin, Tenn. Scarlett’s long retail career has evolved in recent years into a second career in leadership education.

The Leadership Institute is passionately committed to improving business leadership skills with a strong emphasis on ethical behavior. Scores of companies participate in a variety of high quality leadership and management education programs. A broad range of business leaders are achieving the overarching goal of positive behavioral change.

Scarlett held leadership roles at Tractor Supply Company from 1979 until his retirement at the end of 2007. He played a key role in the initiative to return the company to profitability through improved customer service and focused product selection as part of a classic leveraged buyout in 1982. Joe also led the successful 1994 effort to take the company public. During his 10 plus years as CEO, the company’s revenues quadrupled, and the price of its stock increased ten-fold.