He was CEO of 2 homegrown Columbus companies. Mike Dillon dies at 83
George Michael “Mike” Dillon, former president and CEO of homegrown Columbus companies Tom’s Foods and Kinnett Dairies, has died.
Dillon died Oct. 8 at Piedmont Hospital, according to McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory. He was 83. The cause of death wasn’t available.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Oct. 22 in St. Anne’s Catholic Church, 2000 Kay Circle, immediately followed by visitation with the family at the church.
According to his obituary, Dillon became marketing director of Tom’s in 1972. He was promoted to vice president for marketing in 1977, executive vice president for sales and marketing in 1980 and president and CEO in 1983. He served as president of the National Snack Food and Potato Chip Association.
Tom’s was sold several times to companies such as General Mills, Lance and Campbell Soup. Campbell announced in January 2021 it would close the plant by spring 2022. In April, New Mill Capital, a disposition and acquisition firm, bought the 28.3 acres with 510,000 square feet of buildings.
After he retired from Tom’s in 1988, Dillon worked another five years (1994-99) as president and CEO of Kinnett Dairies.
Kinnett, known for its iconic 20-foot Kadie the Cow statue overlooking Manchester Expressway, was an independent dairy for seven decades until Parmalat bought it in 1998. Parmalat closed the Manchester plant two years later.
Best Buy brought the property in 2003 and announced in 2019 it would move its store to Columbus Park Crossing. Last year, the Ledger-Enquirer reported Icarus Alternative Investments planned to convert the property into a fulfillment and distribution center.
Dillon served on the boards of First National Bank and the Bradley Center of St. Francis Hospital. He volunteered for SCORE, formerly called the Service Corps of Retired Executives, to help startup and small businesses. He also helped graduating students get jobs by refining their interviewing skills.
In 2004, Dillon was selected as the first executive adviser to the Columbus Regional Technology Center, a business incubator. He gave the following advice to entrepreneurs in an interview with the Ledger-Enquirer that year:
“Write out a business plan --- a true business plan. Set your objectives. What are the issues you are going to face? For each issue develop a strategy or a plan. Look at who your competitors are. Do a competitive analysis. Do an expected income statement. That is generally an eye-opener.”
Marv Lieberman, the Columbus SCORE chapter president, credits Dillon with getting him involved in the organization when he mentioned the opportunity in 2017. Dillon was one of Lieberman’s neighbors for 14 years in the Maple Ridge subdivision.
Despite his business success, “nobody whoever met Mike would have guessed he came from those lofty positions,” Lieberman said. “He was down-to-earth.”
For example, Lieberman said, Dillon still participated in their condominium’s homeowners association even without being the leader.
“He would be secretary or treasure or whatever was needed,” Lieberman said. “… If we needed to plant bushes to prevent erosion, Mike was right there to roll up his sleeves and do it — just a good friend and neighbor.”
This story was originally published October 17, 2022 at 12:50 PM.
