Who: Don Knauss
Host: Dean Tom Gilligan, McCombs School of Business
When: October 11, 2012   5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Where: Jessen Auditorium

Donald R. "Don" Knauss joined The Clorox Company as chairman and chief executive officer in October 2006. As CEO, he has overall responsibility for directing the company's worldwide business, which generated revenues of $5.2 billion in fiscal year 2011.

Prior to joining Clorox, Knauss spent 12 years with The Coca-Cola Company. He joined the company in 1994 as senior vice president of marketing for The Minute Maid Company, and, in 1996, was promoted to senior vice president and general manager for Minute Maid's U.S. retail operations. Beginning in 1998, Knauss served nearly two years managing Coca-Cola's businesses in ten countries of Southern Africa. In 2000, he was named president and chief executive officer of The Minute Maid Company. He became president and chief operating officer of Coca-Cola North America in 2004.

Knauss previously held a variety of positions in marketing and sales with the Frito-Lay and Tropicana divisions of PepsiCo, Inc. He began his business career as a brand manager in the paper products division at Procter & Gamble. Prior to that, he served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps.

A native of Highland, Ind., Knauss holds a bachelor's degree in history from Indiana University. He serves on the Boards of Directors for the Kellogg Company and URS Corporation; Indiana University, Dean's Advisory Board, College of Arts & Sciences; University of San Diego, Board of Trustees; Morehouse College, Board of Trustees; and Marine Corp University Foundation, Board of Trustees.

Knauss has a long-standing commitment to promoting workplace equality and embracing diversity. In 2006, he received The Jackie Robinson Foundation's ROBIE Award for industry achievement. The ROBIE Award is the foundation's highest tribute to an individual who has promoted and expanded opportunities for minorities in the corporate world.

One of Don's personal passions is promoting education. In 2007, Don and his wife Ellie launched and personally funded the Knauss Scholars Program. This annual program provided 15 children of Clorox employees as much as $10,000 each – $2,500 per year for a four-year program – to be applied toward accredited colleges and universities, as well as vocational and technical schools.

For more information contact Jay Shah, VIP Speaker Series Chair