Steve Sholtes, Adrian Trimpe Distinguished Service Award

Steve Sholtes graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Pennsylvania in 1978. Also the captain of the cross country and track team, he still holds the school record for the 5000-meter run in track.

As a 34-year veteran at Procter and Gamble, a multinational consumer goods company that markets to more than 180 countries, Sholtes began his career in the New York marketplace. He held a variety of sales and marketing roles at the company, including special project work in category management, store operations, shopper loyalty and out-of-stock management. Before beginning his most recent role as U.S. Industry Affairs manager in 2004, Sholtes spent five years involved in Procter and Gamble’s first formal ethnic marketing efforts.

Before retiring in December 2012, Sholtes’ responsibilities as industry affairs manager included serving as vice chair of the WMU Food Marketing Advisory Board. After just one month of retirement from Procter and Gamble, Sholtes accepted a position as U.S. country manager for Advantage International, a global supplier of retailer perception information. He will continue his role on the Food Marketing board at WMU.

Sholtes is married with three children and currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio. He regularly attends the Food Marketing Conference hosted by WMU.