He can start up factories, direct the installation of major software systems and lead key community initiatives–always understanding what is essential and what is noise. But it is the compassion John Voss has brought to each and every role that has made a difference.

Those roles have been diverse—from opening enormous diaper and tissue towel production facilities to dealing with distribution and logistics in Poland, Great Britain and multiple states during a 33-year career with Procter & Gamble.

In 1998, John and his family returned to Cape Girardeau, MO, where he grew up. There, he managed the building of a tissue towel plant for Procter & Gamble. John also quickly assumed leadership roles at a range of organizations from his church to scouting to housing the poor through work with Habitat for Humanity. He was also elected to represent Ward 1 on the Cape Girardeau City Council and later became Mayor Pro Tem.

After retiring from P&G in 2019, John has served on the boards of the public library, a local bank and the county Industrial Development Authority. In 2022, he was elected a member of the Missouri House of Representatives.

John said that his active involvement is rooted in his desire to give back to the town he loves. “In the legislature, I am working to bring in more industry and jobs to an area where residents need more economic development.”

In all those roles, John Voss has not met an obstacle he hasn’t overcome except for one:  After donating blood at American Red Cross centers often, he was blocked from donating because of a ban on blood donations from anyone who lived or traveled in the United Kingdom, France, or Ireland from 1980 to 2001. Required by the Federal Drug Administration, the ban came in response to concern about an illness called Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, which was related to mad cow disease. This disease emerged first in Great Britain.