Kevin Carroll - Nike
Recipient of the 2003 SMEI Marketing Communicator of the Year Award
 
Nike started as a handshake between a runner and his coach in Eugene, Oregon.  They invested $500 each and began to import Japanese-made athletic shoes into the US to dislodge the German-made shoes dominating the athletic footwear industry.  Thirty years later, Nike employs 22,000 people and is the largest sports and fitness company in the world.  Famous for the Swoosh logo, Nike products are sold in 140 countries worldwide.
 
So it is a good thing that Kevin Carroll speaks 5 languages in addition to English!  With an undergrad degree in speech communication, and master's studies in sports medicine, he was a high school health educator before becoming head athletic trainer for the Philadelphia 76ers.  He spent 10 years as an Air Force translator, and is now known as Nike's Katalyst - nurturing the company, provoking new ways of thinking, and motivating and inspiring the entire organization.  He travels around the world promoting the culture and spirit of Nike, and has developed a deep understanding of team dynamics and interpersonal communication.