Leadership - Management

Coca Cola’s Carlton Curtis

By Peter Langlois

Arguably the foodservice/hospitality’s most visible ambassador from any company, Coke’s Carlton Curtis is also the man to turn to in a time of crisis.  When the Mississippi Restaurant Association contacted The National Restaurant Association in dire need of water following the Katrina disaster on the Gulf, whom did the Association call?  None other than a guy who has stepped forward time after time: Carlton Curtis. 

While I’m not criticizing FEMA, there’s no question in my mind that Coca-Cola has the best distribution network of any global company.  When he got the call, Carlton starting making calls to key contacts within Coke to make things happen.  Anticipating a call from FEMA, Coke had already been producing bottled and canned water, not under its proprietary labels, but under generic labeling—“drinking water.” Within hours two semi-trailers were in Mississippi!   Then Carlton asked the key question: “What else do you need?” 

Of course the needs along the Gulf coast in each state continue to be monumental, but the greatest need is a return to normalcy.  In talking with Carlton, he told me Coke’s mission is to restore the business vitality of the region, and that means spending a lot of time, effort, and money getting restaurants, foodservice operations and other hospitality businesses back on line.  “We’re working diligently with operators to restore equipment with regard to safety and sanitation.  It would compound the disaster to not have sanitized lines pushing our products, so we’re out in the field rolling up our sleeves in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi to do this.  Each piece of equipment must be checked, and even replaced if need be.”

I’d say we’re lucky to have Carlton (and Coke) not just as one of our highest profile readers, but also even more importantly as a leader within the industry.  Whether it’s giving back by supplying water or giving forward by providing numerous scholarships to students interested in hospitality careers, he’s doing more than just his duty every day.  He told me: “Peter, there are so many heroic stories in this whole Gulf disaster.  I wish they could all be told!”  I’d say Carlton’s is one such story.  We applaud your efforts on behalf of Coke!

Bio:

Carlton L. Curtis
Vice President of Industry Affairs
Coca-Cola North America Foodservice & Hospitality Division

Carlton Curtis is vice president of industry affairs for the Foodservice & Hospitality Division of Coca-Cola North America.  He has served in this position since September 2003. 

Curtis joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1972, and has served in a variety of marketing and communications positions including vice president of corporate communications and corporate public relations. In 1994, he was appointed director of worldwide education marketing. Three years later he was appointed vice president and executive assistant to the president of Coca-Cola USA. In 2000 he was named vice president and executive assistant to the president of The Coca-Cola Company.  

Part of his industry leadership includes serving on the board of trustees of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, an organization of which The Coca-Cola Company is a founding member. He is also active in the Women’s Foodservice Forum and on the Advisory Council of the Elliott Leadership Institute.  

Curtis’ community and volunteer work includes serving on:  

• Past president, University of Georgia’s National Alumni Association

• Board of Trustees, National 4-H Council

• Executive Advisory Committee, Campbell School of Business at Berry  College

• Board of trustees, Howard School of Atlanta

• Board of visitors, Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Board of trustees, World Trade Center Atlanta

• Board of Governors, Children's Miracle Network

 Curtis is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications. He lives in Atlanta with his wife and two children.