Carla Cooper
Carla Cooper, WFF Chair, 1996-1999
Currently Senior Vice President
Quaker, Tropicana and Gatorade Sales
Carla never wanted to attend her first WFF Conference. As the highest-ranking woman at
Coca-Cola, she reluctantly agreed to accompany a $10,000 check that Coke was giving to the
fledgling organization. After her first conference experience, she never wanted to leave.
Her legacy was creating a business model to give structure and solid finances to the
organization during a high-growth period when membership grew from 200 to 1,600. She
changed the board structure, raised prices on Conference to make it more professional and even
invited men into the group (controversial at the time.)
She is also credited with beginning the research efforts at WFF to understand and set the
metrics for success.
After 25+ years in the foodservice industry – at Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola and the
Kellogg Company, Carla remains a respected leader known for her strong leadership skills as well as
her grace and style.