Former Iams CEO to speak at BGSU

BOWLING GREEN, O.—Clayton Mathile, former Iams president and CEO, will come to Bowling Green State University Monday (Nov. 6) to present his beliefs on “The Importance of Mission, Vision, Value and Belief in Business.” He will speak at 5 p.m. in 206 Bowen-Thompson Student Union.

Under his supervision, revenues of the Iams pet food company grew from $10 million early in his tenure to nearly $1 billion at the time the company was sold. He also helped redefine premium pet food through his emphasis on Iams' nutritional value.

Soon after joining Iams, Mathile, a Wood County native, was promoted to vice president in 1975. He became president and CEO in 1980, owner in 1982 and chairman of the board in 1998.

Known for his unyielding devotion to his employees and customers, Mathile combined entrepreneurial spirit and an emphasis on values into a unique approach to business.

Prior to joining Iams in 1970 as a general manager, Mathile worked at General Motors Co. and Campbell Soup Co., both in Napoleon.

His presentation at BGSU is part of the Sky Bank–Edward and Linda Reiter Endowed Lectureship, established in 2004 to bring prominent figures to campus to discuss the role of values and ethics in the workplace. The lectureship is designed to recognize and nurture the commitment to ethical decision-making and the greater good exemplified by local residents Edward and Linda Reiter and Sky Bank.

The series is administered by BGeXperience, the University's values initiative that incorporates critical thinking about values in coursework and teaches students to think critically about their personal values in making decisions in everyday life.

The event is free and open to the public. A reception follows the lecture in 201 Union.

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(Posted October 30, 2006)