Graduation Speaker Drinks Coke

Emmnauel Welcomes Bonnie Wurzbacher

As Emmanuel College celebrates its 90th birthday at this year's graduation, the commencement address will be delivered by Mrs. Bonnie Wurzbacher, Senior Vice President of Global Customer Leadership at The Coca-Cola Company.

Mrs. Wurzbacher began her professional life as a teacher in the public schools of Chicago before switching to a business career. She is an accomplished public speaker and is known for her passion in advocating the role of successful, ethical and sustainable businesses as central to building the kingdom of God.

She leads the global business of a $1.5 billion portfolio of retail customers at Coca-Cola and reports to the company’s chief customer and commercial officer. Her global customer teams are responsible for driving the profitable growth of the beverage business for the company’s largest retail customers around the world working in partnership with its franchised bottlers. 

During her 24-year tenure at the company, Mrs. Wurzbacher has held various sales, marketing and management positions of increasing responsibility, including Corporate Vice President & Director, Customer Strategy; Region Vice President, Southeast Area; Vice President, McDonald’s Account; and Assistant Vice President, Education Market. She joined Coca-Cola in 1984 in Chicago as a national account executive with the Minute Maid division.

Mrs. Wurzbacher also serves on the company’s global advisory councils for customer and commercial leadership, women’s leadership and corporate social responsibility.

Mrs. Wurzbacher graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois with a BA in education in 1977 and received her MBA in general management from Emory University in Atlanta 1990. She has served on local and national boards including Gordon Foodservice, Inc.; the March of Dimes; the Network of Executive Women; the National Kidney Foundation; the Wheaton College Board of Visitors and Theatrical Outfit. She currently serves as chairperson of The Georgia Foundation of Independent Colleges and is a board member of The Leaders Lyceum and the International Committee of the National Association of Convenience Stores.

Mrs. Wurzbacher and her husband Steve enjoy playing golf, entertaining family and friends at their homes in Atlanta and Texas, and serving in various laity roles at Peachtree Presbyterian Church. They have one adult son, Daniel, age 29, and 11 nieces and nephews.

(Courtesy of The Coca-Cola Company)