JACKSON, Tenn. — May 2, 2023 — Frank Harrison, CEO of Coca-Cola Consolidated, said the purpose of his work is to honor God and to serve others during Union鈥檚 annual Faith in the Marketplace lecture April 27 in the Carl Grant Events Center.
Harrison began his lecture by asking the audience, 鈥淲hat is your purpose in life, and what is the legacy that you want to leave?鈥�
Harrison鈥檚 great-grandfather first introduced Coca-Cola to the Carolinas, and Harrison is now the fourth-generation family leader of what has become the nation鈥檚 largest Coca-Cola bottler.
Soon after coming into leadership at Coca-Cola Consolidated, Harrison realized that he would one day be held accountable for the influence that the company has had for God.
As he began to pray about this legacy, a man mentioned the influence of chaplain ministries within secular workplaces. After this, Harrison placed the company鈥檚 first chaplain at a plant in Nashville, and he soon realized the great benefit of these chaplain ministries.
鈥淎 few months later, we got a call from our HR people that said, 鈥楩rank it鈥檚 incredible what鈥檚 happening here,鈥欌�� Harrison said. 鈥淭oday, we have about 80 chaplains working with 17,000 employees and their family members.鈥�
Harrison finished the lecture by describing the purpose statement of Coca-Cola Consolidated, which states its purpose is to honor God in all they do, to serve others, to pursue excellence and to grow profitably.
鈥淥ur purpose is our culture, and our culture is our purpose 鈥� they are one in the same,鈥� Harrison said. 鈥淲hen you get culture right, that鈥檚 when you strive to get great results.鈥�
Along with his work in Coca-Cola Consolidated, Harrison co-founded Open Eyes, a public, non-profit ministry dedicated to equipping leaders throughout the world who serve those in need, share the message of Jesus Christ and disciple believers.
鈥淸Harrison鈥檚] leadership is a great example that we should not be afraid to integrate our faith in the workplace but to instead be moved by the power God has given us to share his love with those we work beside daily,鈥� said Karen Miller, interim dean for the McAfee School of Business.
The Faith in the Marketplace luncheon is for students and local business leaders to experience nationally recognized speakers who have excelled as Christian leaders in the workplace. The event is sponsored by the 51社区 McAfee School of Business.