Watch Highlight Video

In October, Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC (Coke Florida) welcomed student-athletes and recent graduates from the University of South Florida (USF) for a Workforce Development and Career Summit in Tampa. The daylong visit offered a firsthand look at Coke Florida operations and career opportunities across the enterprise. This is a new program created to add additional value to our college/university partnerships. 

Representing collegiate sports programs ranging from football to track and field, participants arrived ready to learn about Coke Florida, our impact on Florida’s economy, opportunities within our workforce, and explore possibilities for their professional journeys. Throughout the day, they engaged with leaders, learned about different career paths, and saw how Coke Florida serves customers and communities across the state. 

Sessions kicked off at our headquarters, where the students received a game-time welcome by Coke Florida associates in corporate roles before meeting with members of the company’s management team. Senior leaders led conversations about career development, sharing their professional journeys, lessons learned, and perspectives on what success looks like for them. Others focused on connecting the dots between athletic competitiveness and career growth with their talk. 

The group then traveled to Coke Florida’s Tampa Distribution Center for insights on the region’s supply chain and distribution network, including automated fulfillment capabilities and a behind-the-scenes facility tour. They learned about the various roles involved in moving beverages from the distribution center to customers throughout the community, gaining a better understanding of the people and processes that support the business. 

At the final stop, Coke Florida’s Tampa Production Facility, participants explored the manufacturing process and saw how some of their favorite Coca-Cola beverages are produced. 

“For Coke Florida, the Career Summit represents another opportunity to connect education with economic empowerment,” said Kiah Wilson, Community Manager for Coke Florida’s West Region.  

“By welcoming local students into our facilities and introducing them to the people behind our operations, we’re helping emerging professionals see how their interests, education, and skills can translate into rewarding careers close to home,” she added 

At Coke Florida, we believe investing in the next generation of talent starts with strong partnerships with colleges and universities. This inaugural summit reinforced that commitment to the communities we serve.  

As the day wrapped up, students shared their favorite experiences and reflected on the opportunities available to them after graduation. Several participants even took the next step by applying for open positions with Coke Florida. Whether their future careers lead them into distribution, manufacturing, sales, or corporate functions, the USF student-athletes left with a broader view of the professional opportunities available in their own community from one of Florida’s leading consumer packaged goods companies. 

Thanks to our Coke Florida guest speakers and event coordinators: 

• Cass Black, Senior Vice President, Chief Customer Officer 

• Karla Radtke, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Administration 

• Valeria Obi, Senior Counsel, Labor & Employment 

• Amy Myers, Territory General Manager – Tampa/St. Pete 

• Lyle Mouton, Manager, District Sales – Tampa 

• Jeffery Lynn, Manager, Production – Tampa 

• Leonard Oliver, Manager, Quality Assurance 

• Ross Wilkins, Supervisor, Talent Acquisition Program 

• Kiah Wilson, Community Manager – West Region 

• Bianny Collado, Talent Acquisition Program Manager