College of Business Administration Award Recipients
Entrepreneurial Award
Mark S. Rampolla, Bus Ad '91
Redondo Beach, Calif.
Understanding what it means to Be The Difference, Mark’s ambition is simple: help entrepreneurs change the world for the better. As founder and CEO of ZICO Pure Coconut Water, he is a pioneer in what has become an $8 billion global beverage category.
Mark first encountered coconut water as a Peace Corps volunteer in Central America and later had the idea for ZICO while running a packaging division for International Paper in the region. The avid athlete drank coconut water after exercising and was fascinated by the all-natural product that had the properties of a sports drink. In 2009, Mark sold a minority stake in ZICO to the Coca-Cola Co. The beverage giant purchased the entire company four years later.
Mark, who also holds a master’s degree in environmental management and an M.B.A. from Duke University, and his wife, Maura, are now investors and advisers to dozens of food, beverage and technology companies, all of which have a deep social mission.
Additionally, Mark is involved with Homeboy Industries, an organization founded by a Jesuit, helping the group scale its social businesses and create ways for men and women to escape gang life in urban Los Angeles.
Fun Facts
Hometown: Pittsburgh
Favorite quote: “ The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little." — Thomas Merton.
Childhood dream job: An artist. It would be OK to be messy.
