Top corporate exec brews new success: Virgis W. Colbert retires from Miller to concentrate on being an entrepreneur.Virgis W. Colbert, executive vice president of worldwide operations for Milwaukee-based Miller Brewing Co., announced his retirement, effective Dec. 31. One of BLACK ENTERPRISE'S 75 Most Powerful Blacks in Corporate America, Colbert headed a world-respected operations division that is focused on productivity, efficiency, quality, and exceptional customer service. In 1979, Colbert left Chrysler for Miller in search of greater opportunities for career advancement. At Miller, he rose through the ranks to the position of vice president. "I thrive on challenges and realized early on the importance operations had to the entire system, including vendor partners and the distributor network," says Colbert. "Virgis has a no-nonsense leadership style," says Norman Adami, president and chief executive officer of Miller. "Because he's a winner, he has been a pillar of leadership to Miller for 26 years and has played an instrumental role in the turnaround of this company." Colbert will remain on the board of directors and will serve as a senior adviser to the company. "I look forward to having the continued benefit of his insight long after his retirement," says Adami. "Virgis has been one of my most trusted advisers since I came to Miller two and a half years ago." Aside from enjoying more family time, Colbert will continue to provide civic service for organizations such as the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund Thurgood Marshall successfully argued the 1954 landmark case Brown v. Board of Education, ordering desegregation of public schools. He later became the first African-American appointed to serve as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. , where he is the chairman emeritus e·mer·i·tus adj. Retired but retaining an honorary title corresponding to that held immediately before retirement: a professor emeritus. n. pl. . Retirement will also include time spent with Production Stamping Corp., which Colbert purchased 52% of in November 2004. The metal stamping company accrued ac·crue v. ac·crued, ac·cru·ing, ac·crues v.intr. 1. To come to one as a gain, addition, or increment: interest accruing in my savings account. 2. approximately $10 million in 2004 revenues and specializes in deep-draw, MIG, TIG n. 1. A game among children. See Tag. 2. A capacious, flat-bottomed drinking cup, generally with four handles, formerly used for passing around the table at convivial entertainment. , and robotic welding welding, process for joining separate pieces of metal in a continuous metallic bond. Cold-pressure welding is accomplished by the application of high pressure at room temperature; forge welding (forging) is done by means of hammering, with the addition of heat. . Since then, the company, which services the lawn and garden, truck, and industrial manufacturing industries manufacturing industries npl → industrias fpl manufactureras manufacturing industries npl → industries fpl de transformation , has doubled employees and revenues. PSC (Public Service Commission) Same as PUC. recently purchased Excellent Manufacturing Inc., allowing it to expand into manufacturing and assembly of seating components for automobiles. "Our goal is to maintain a balanced portfolio of products [so that] we aren't totally dependent on one industry," says Colbert. |
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