4 - KEVIN KLOCK, CEO, Talking Rain (Sparkling Ice)
Kevin Klock is living proof that you can go all the way to the top of the food-chain with an engineering/operations background, taking Sparkling ICE – a 21-year old brand that was not setting the world on fire - from $10m to more than $350m in retail sales in three years.
Pathway to the top: Klock started his career as a production supervisor at Ralston Purina before spending seven years at Nestlé in a variety of operations and leadership positions. His next move was to Dairy Farmers of America as plant manager of a facility producing Frappucino for the Pepsi/Starbuck’s joint venture.
He joined TalkingRain in 2006 as vice president of operations, becoming senior vice president and general manager in 2010, president in 2011 and CEO in 2013.
Education: Klock has a chemical engineering degree from Oregon State University.