Before joining Coca-Cola Consolidated to lead their t-Factor initiative, Mark Whitacre found redemption and purpose in an unlikely place: prison. Listen in as Mark shares his remarkable journey from selfish leadership to servant leadership, and how he and Melissa Blalock disciple and inspire corporate executives worldwide to do the same.
About Guests
Mark Whitacre currently serves as the Vice President of Culture and Care at Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. and Melissa Blalock is the Director of Operations of the t-factor initiative, Business Culture Manager and Chaplaincy Liaison.
Mark joined the t-factor initiative at Coca-Cola Consolidated as Executive Director in 2019. Prior to joining Coke Consolidated, Mark served as the COO of Christian Business Men’s Connection (CBMC). He was the COO and Chief Science Officer from 2006 to 2013 at Cypress Systems, Inc., a California biotechnology company where Mark still serves on their advisory board today. After completing his B.S. and M.S. degrees at Ohio State University, Mark earned his Ph.D. degree at Cornell University in biochemistry. He worked as an executive for three Fortune 500 companies, including Ralston Purina (now Nestle), Degussa (Evonik), and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM). He was recruited at ADM when he was 32 as the President of the Biotech Division in 1989. Mark has extensive international business experience, having lived in Germany for four years working for Evonik at their world headquarters in Frankfurt.
Mark and his wife Ginger reside in Florence, KY. They have been married 43 years and have three adult children.
Melissa joined the company in 2004 as the Executive Assistant to the former President & COO of Coke Consolidated. She served as Manager of Corporate Affairs for five years wherein she supported various community, sustainability, communication and government relation projects and initiatives. She has over three decades of experience in supporting high-level executive leadership roles and managerial experience in both the corporate and legal industries.
Melissa and her husband Allan reside in Waxhaw, North Carolina.