By Matthew Purucker · News Editor
J. Frank Harrison III, chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, gave the annual Sticht Memorial Lecture in Business and Ethics on Sept. 24 in Sticht Lecture Hall.
Harrison spoke to students and other attendees about how the role of Christian faith and volunteer service interacts with the bottling company’s business vision and practices.
“Just walk in God’s purpose for your life. … That is true success, whatever that is, and you’ve got to figure that out,” Harrison said. “But go be incredibly successful, walking in your purpose, and then I promise you, you will leave a powerful legacy.”
Harrison began the lecture by discussing Open Eyes, a Christian service organization which aims to plant churches, provide relief and development and spread Christianity in East Africa. Harrison’s son, James, inspired Harrison to help found the organization after he died while serving as a missionary.
“We (Open Eyes) travel to the most remote parts of the world, remote Sudan, Tajikistan. We go back in these villages,” Harrison said. “They had no idea who Jesus is, but they’re back there drinking a Coke. How does that work? If they can get that answer, I mean, the world would be evangelized.”
Harrison emphasized the necessity of a good corporate culture and the company’s chaplaincy program for its employees, highlighting how it has improved lives. He also reiterated the value of stewardship.
ardship, generosity and servant service to the company’s vision.
“Every person that I met (at Coca-Cola Consolidated) that weekend was all in for the mission, passionate about the gospel of Jesus Christ, passionate about business and operational excellence and deeply committed to servant leadership,” President Bradley Lingo said in his speech introducing Harrison, referencing the time he visited the company eight years ago. “It was incredibly impressive, by far the most impressive corporate culture that I had ever seen.”
Near the end of the speech, Harrison connected the topics of the lecture to the t-factor Leadership Initiative, a company program that encourages the development of Christian culture in organizations.
Harrison started working for Coca-Cola Consolidated in 1977, and he is the great-grandson of the company’s founder, J.B. Harrison, who brought Coca-Cola bottling to Charlotte, N.C. The fourth-generation business leader became chairman and CEO of the country’s largest independent Coca-Cola bottler in 1996.
“He’s really brought transformation to the company,” former Vice President Mike Pence said. “He’s created a purpose-driven culture that honors God, serves others, pursues excellence and profitability and (it) has a record of success that is the envy of the marketplace.”
Harrison’s presentation was one of the annual lectures that honors J. Paul Sticht, namesake of the lecture hall in the Hall of Arts and Letters. Sticht led R.J. Reynolds Industries, Trans World Airlines, Campbell Soup and Federated Department Stores. He graduated from Grove City College in 1939 and died in 2008.
“Be a risk taker for Christ in order to commit your life to him. You’ll be amazed (at) the difference he’ll make in your life about 40 years from now, or 50 when you’re my age. What a difference,” Harrison said. “Get the foundation strong in Christ. Read, pray, obey. Read the Bible, study the Bible, memorize the Bible. … Pray about everything. Pray all the time.”
