John R. Alm, BS '73

Setbacks in John Alm's rise to the helm of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. fueled his determination to succeed and ultimately led him to create a leadership development program for underserved inner-city youth.

He earned his degree from the School of Management in 1973, but only after several failed attempts and a stint in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He credits university admissions staff for providing the second chance he needed to prove himself. That generosity evolved into Alm's lifelong commitment to extending the same grace to others.

Alm became a certified public accountant and worked for Price Waterhouse and 20th Century Fox Film Corporation and before joining the Johnson Coca-Cola Bottling Group as senior vice president and chief financial officer. His career at the world's largest marketer, distributor and producer of nonalcoholic beverages spanned 20 years, culminating as president and chief executive officer.

His success in business was not his only passion, however. Several years before retiring, he and his wife, Carolyn, founded the Paintrock Canyon Program in 2000, an effort to help underprivileged young people achieve their dreams. Situated on a 7,000-acre working ranch in Wyoming, Paintrock Canyon is "the perfect place for students to realize new life lessons and begin to 'paint/create' a future pathway to success," Alm said.

Now part of the C5 Youth Foundation sponsored by Coca-Cola, Paintrock Canyon has offered hope and opportunity to more than 2,500 teens nationwide. The program follows teens from eighth to 12th grade, teaching them how to form positive relationships, the importance of making positive contributions to their community, leadership and preparation for higher education. The program develops "make a difference" adults who become leaders in their communities. "My own success gave me the resources to provide inner-city youth with a second chance in life and a future filled with hope," Alm said.