Frank Harrison, a fourth-generation family leader of what has become the nation’s largest Coca-Cola bottler, served as guest speaker at Union University’s annual Faith in the Marketplace, at the Carl Grant Events Center, Thursday.

Harrison, a Christian, incorporated the teachings of Jesus Christ into his message, which he uses at Coca-Cola Consolidated – a public company he desires to grow profitably while making a positive difference in the lives of over 17,000 employees and the communities they serve.

“I want our company to be honored and blessed, and that leads me to our purpose at Coca-Cola Consolidated,” Harrison said, “Our culture or our purpose is simply this – to honor God in all we do, serve others, to pursue excellence and to grow profitably.

“Any kind of company, public or private.”

But it’s not just inside his company – Harrison works as a missionary in the United States and other regions throughout the world.

He founded a ministry called ‘With Open Eyes’ in the Sudan.

J. Frank Harrison, III officially began his career with Coca-Cola Consolidated in 1977, but it was in 1902, when his great-grandfather, J.B. Harrison first introduced Coca-Cola to the Carolinas.

Early in his career Frank worked in a number of entry level positions including running routes and operating bottling lines.

“The annual luncheon highlights speakers that have gone above and beyond in integrating faith in the marketplace,” said Karen C. Miller, interim dean of the McAfee School of Business at Union University, “Our goal for this event is to bring business leaders in the community together to hear how people have truly been Christian leaders in business and how they can take things they hear here, and implement them into their organizations to become servants, leaders, with a Godly heart in their role in their businesses.”

(PHOTO: Frank Harrison, left, with Jackson’s James Kirkland at Faith in the Marketplace luncheon)