The Seventh Power

A corporate executive loses his voice and discovers a new pathway to organizational excellence built on the premise of dispersed power and shared leadership. 

“Kevin Hancock’s personal journey holds universal messages for people at all levels of business and community. The Seventh Power’s new, more inclusive approach to leadership and management will give you important insights into your life, your career, and your company.” —Chip Conley, Hospitality Entrepreneur and Bestselling Author

“Many business books have discussed management, innovation, culture, and how to be great, but none grab you like Kevin Hancock's The Seventh Power: A CEO’s Journey into Shared Leadership. One has to admire what Kevin has accomplished after experiencing a serious speech impediment. Kevin takes what most of us would be an insurmountable challenge and uses it as a learning tool to make himself, those around him, and his company better. The Seventh Power is not only a good read, it's a must read for all aspiring leaders and even those of us who have been around a while. It's never too late to learn!” —Rick Holley, Chairman of the Board, Weyerhaeuser Company

“From his home in Maine to Navajo and Lakota communities in the West to Ukraine, Kevin Hancock takes the reader on a personal journey of more than 15,000 miles in which he learns to listen and empower people. The Seventh Power is an exploration of a new model of leadership in which individual voices are heard and the human spirit is celebrated. The principles that Kevin puts to work in his 171-year-old family business offer an enlightened way forward for all institutions.” —U.S. Senator Susan Collins 

Kevin is a recipient for the Ed Muskie Access to Justice award, the Habitat for Humanity Spirit of Humanity award, the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen award, and the Timber Processing Magazine Person of the Year award. Kevin's first book, Not for Sale: Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse, was the recipient of The National Indie Excellence Award and the Independent Author Network Book of the Year Award.

Kevin Hancock is an award-winning author, speaker, and CEO. Established in 1848, Hancock Lumber Company operates ten retail stores, three sawmills, and a truss plant. The company also grows trees on 12,000 acres of timberland in Southern Maine and is led by its 550 employees. 

Hancock Lumber is a six-time recipient of the “Best Places to Work in Maine” award. The company is also the recipient of the “Maine Family Business of the Year” award, the “Governor’s Award for Business Excellence,” the MITC “Exporter of the Year” award, and the Pro-Sales national “Dealer of the Year.” 

Kevin is a past chairman of the National Lumber and Building Materials Dealers Association. Kevin is also a recipient of the Ed Muskie “Access to Justice” award, the Habitat for Humanity “Spirit of Humanity” award, the Boy Scouts of America “Distinguished Citizen” award, and Timber Processing magazine’s “Man of the Year” award. 

Kevin’s first book, Not For Sale: Finding Center in the Land of Crazy Horse won three national book awards. His second book, The Seventh Power: One CEO’s Journey Into the Business of Shared Leadership was released on February 25, 2020, and is being distributed by Simon & Schuster. 

Kevin is a frequent visitor to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota and an advocate of strengthening the voices of all individuals—within a company or a community—through listening, empowering, and shared leadership. 

Kevin is a graduate of Lake Region High School and Bowdoin College. He lives in Maine with his wife Alison.