DYNAMISM IN DRINKS: WHO WINS YOUR 2014 VOTE?
Derek Herrera, RuckPack
In a world where the news headlines are oftentimes depressing, we need heroes and inspiring people. Enter Derek Herrera – CEO of RuckPack and a veteran marine who was badly injured in 2012, when he was shot in the spine while leading his team during combat operations in Afghanistan.
RuckPack is a caffeine-free peak performance nutrition energy shot, developed by Herrera’s predecessor Major Rob Dyer, who tested it with his special ops forces while on the front lines – it is now available on the mass market, after the firm won investment on ABC’s Shark Tank in 2012 and quickly built a $5m turnover.
Herrera took the RuckPack role on in August, and told my colleague Rachel Arthur: “One of the major reasons I wanted to lead a business was to show others, particularly veterans and employers, the relevance a military skillset has in the civilian business world”
“I got into the functional beverage industry because I saw an incredible opportunity to build and lead a small team of motivated individuals in taking a small company to the next level. This is very similar to my background as a Marine special operations officer, where I led small teams in very chaotic and uncertain environments,” he added.
“I had no idea I would end up in this industry,” Herrera told Arthur. “But I’ve worked tirelessly to get up to speed, quickly gaining industry knowledge – it has become my new passion.”
http://www.beveragedaily.com/Markets/60-second-interview-the-day-job