Silo’s CEO, Amy Gates’ Conversation With Blue Book Services on Leading the Company Forward, Part 2

January 2, 2026 

Here's the second part of the interview with Silo's CEO, Amy Gates, charting her journey and her arrival at Silo, beginning a new chapter in her career. 

Amy Gates is a longtime advocate for technology and what it can do for produce businesses. From her early days at Famous Software to Frontera Produce, Greenyard USA/Seald Sweet, and now Silo Technologies as chief executive officer, Amy has come full circle—devoting her expertise to helping companies better navigate the complexities of the perishables supply chain. 

If you missed the first part of this interview, find it on the website. 

Q: How did you land at Silo Technologies? 

I had reached a point in my career where I was ready for a new and exciting challenge, something to stretch, energize, and allow me to bring together everything I've learned across technology, operations, food safety, and supply chain leadership. 

Around that time, I was sourced by a search firm on behalf of Banneker Partners, the private equity firm that owns Silo. Because I've spent my entire career in produce, I knew I wanted my next chapter to be in a role where I could make a meaningful impact on the industry I love. 

I was looking for the right opportunity, something that aligned with my skill set, operational experience, and passion for strengthening the areas of the supply chain that remain underserved, especially technology, food safety, and traceability. 

As I learned more about Silo's platform, the team, and the company's vision for modernizing ERP, payments, labor management, and analytics in the perishables supply chain, it became clear this was the kind of challenge I'd been waiting for. The role brought together every piece of my background—operations, systems, strategy, and leadership—and provided a place where I could meaningfully contribute to the future of the industry. 

Joining Silo as CEO felt like the right opportunity at the right time: a chance to apply my career's work to a mission that directly serves the produce community I care so deeply about. 

Q: What excites you most about the company and your role as CEO? 

Silo is positioned at a truly pivotal moment in the industry. For decades, produce companies have been underserved by technology, especially when it comes to ERP, payments, traceability, cost accounting, and labor management. Silo is one of the first platforms to take a modern, holistic approach to these challenges, and that creates a tremendous opportunity to elevate the entire supply chain. 

We're combining modern technology with a deep, lived understanding of how produce operations actually work. This means helping companies gain real-time visibility into inventory, costs, margins, labor, and cash flow, and giving them tools that simplify complex decisions instead of adding to their workload. 

The acquisition of Pet Tiger is a major step forward in this mission. It expands our footprint into field labor, cost tracking, payroll, and operational analytics, giving us the ability to deliver an integrated ERP and labor platform to serve growers, harvest crews, packer-shippers, and distributors in one connected system. This is something the industry has needed for years. 

I'm also energized by the values and direction we're building into the company. Our focus on Agility, Affordability, and Accessibility ensures that Silo is not just powerful, but truly usable and attainable for businesses of all sizes—from small family farms to large-scale distributors. We're making technology approachable, not intimidating. 

And on a personal level, I'm excited about the team: Silo is filled with talented, mission-driven people who care just as deeply about this industry as I do. Being able to lead a group of smart, passionate professionals who want to solve real problems for real customers—that's the part of the job that inspires me every single day. 

What excites me most is the impact we can make. Silo has the potential to simplify how fresh food moves from farm to customer, gives operators back time and control, and helps the industry operate with greater clarity, efficiency, and confidence. That's the kind of work that matters and I'm incredibly honored to lead it. 

Q: What does a typical day or week entail? Do you travel much? 

A typical week is a balance of strategy, collaboration, and connection. I'll be working closely with our product, engineering, and customer teams, leveraging technology and remote work, which I'm very comfortable with, to stay engaged and accessible no matter where I am. Working from home allows me to stay productive and deeply connected to the business while maintaining the flexibility that modern leadership requires. 

That said, I'll also be on the road regularly. Trade shows across the United States, customer site visits, industry events, and key partner meetings are essential parts of the role. Nothing replaces seeing operations firsthand or spending time face-to-face with the people who grow, pack, ship, and distribute fresh produce. These conversations help me understand where our tools can make the biggest difference and ensure we're building technology to truly support the realities of the supply chain. 

Q: What do you think will be the toughest part of your new job? How do you handle stress? 

The toughest part of this role will be leading people through change. Introducing new systems, new processes, and new ways of working is never simple—especially in an industry as fast moving and operationally intense as produce. Helping teams and customers adapt while keeping day-to-day operations running smoothly requires clarity, patience, and steady leadership. 

I manage stress by leaning on my team, staying connected to our shared goals, and investing in my own personal growth and sense of balance. Staying active, spending quality time with my kids, and being around close friends helps me reset and stay grounded. These routines give me the perspective and energy to navigate challenges and show up as the leader my team and our customers deserve. 

Q: Would you say any aspect of your job is fun? Or, what do you enjoy the most? 

Absolutely. What I enjoy most is working with and mentoring people across the produce industry. I've built long-term relationships with supply chain partners at every level—growers, packers, shippers, distributors, and retailers—and I find tremendous joy in helping others grow in their careers. 

I love being part of an industry that feeds people around the globe. And I genuinely enjoy finding new ways to solve old problems, helping customers simplify their operations, and watching them have that "lightbulb moment" when technology makes their job easier. 

At its heart, produce is a people-first business—and those relationships, collaborations, and shared wins are the most fun part of the work for me. 

Q: What do you hope to achieve by the end of this year—and five years down the road? 

In the near term, a major priority is completing the successful integration of Pet Tiger—bringing field labor, cost tracking, and productivity tools together with Silo's ERP, payments, and analytics platform. By the end of the year, I want our customers to feel clearer operational visibility, stronger system connection, and real added value in their day-to-day work. 

Looking farther ahead, my vision is for Silo to become the most trusted and accessible technology partner in the fresh supply chain. I want us to be known for agility, affordability, and transparency—but more importantly, for helping businesses succeed. Whether it's a grower trying to improve profitability, a packer-shipper needing better traceability, or a distributor managing razor-thin margins, I want Silo to be the partner that gives them clarity, confidence, and the tools to thrive. 

Five years from now, I hope to look back and see that we have helped thousands of produce companies strengthen their operations, deepen their grower and customer relationships, and build more resilient businesses. Ultimately, our impact is measured by the success of the people who feed the world—and I want Silo to continue being a catalyst for that success. 

Q: With several executive roles over the last two decades, how would you describe your leadership style? 

My leadership style is grounded in collaboration, transparency, and accountability, but also in a genuine love for the produce industry and the people who make it work every day. 

Having spent my entire career across operations, technology, food safety, sustainability, and executive leadership, I've learned that great leaders don't simply direct—they listen, develop, and empower. I believe in setting clear expectations, aligning teams around shared goals, and then giving people the autonomy and trust to excel. 

I'm forward-thinking and technology-driven, but I never lose sight of the human element: mentorship, personal growth, and building confidence in the people around me. Some of the most meaningful work I've done has been helping team members grow into leaders themselves. 

Because produce is such a relationship-driven industry, I approach leadership with humility, curiosity, and open communication. Great ideas come from the field, warehouse, sales desk, food safety team—not just the boardroom. My job is to bring these voices together, break down silos, and help people collaborate across functions and regions. 

Above all, I lead with purpose: to strengthen the fresh food supply chain, elevate the teams who support it, and help businesses operate more efficiently, sustainably, and profitably. Leadership, to me, is about service—serving the industry, the organization, and the people who put their trust in you. 

Q: Anything else you'd like to share with our readers? 

We're entering one of the most exciting turning points the produce industry has ever seen. For decades, this business has relied on relationships, instinct, and incredibly hard work—and that will never change. What is changing is the set of tools we now have available. 

Modern technology, AI, and real-time data are finally evolving in ways to support the people of this industry, enhance their expertise, and remove the barriers that have slowed us down for years. 

To me, the future is about unlocking human potential. It's about giving growers, shippers, packers, distributors, and foodservice operators the clarity, speed, and insight they need to operate confidently in a fast-changing world. 

At Silo, our mission is to blend the best of both worlds—the heart and authenticity of produce with the power of modern technology—so businesses can grow stronger, more connected, and more resilient for the next generation.