Ingrid Saunders Jones

Ingrid Saunders Jones leads The Coca-Cola Company's global community engagement function, Global Community Connections. Under Ms. Jones' leadership, Global Community Connections works to make a unique and sustainable difference everywhere The Coca-Cola Company sells products, one community at a time, by focusing on four global priorities areas: Water Stewardship (conservation and sanitation), Fitness and Active Lifestyles (physical fitness and nutrition), Sustainable Packaging (recycling) and Education.

As chair of The Coca-Cola Foundation, Ms. Jones leads the Company's philanthropic commitment to sustainable communities. Under her leadership, The Coca-Cola Foundation has contributed more than $256 million to education and other community initiatives. The Foundation continues to provide scholarships to high school students from across the country, and supports initiatives which increase the academic success of students in public and secondary schools. Additionally, Ms. Jones serves on the board of The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation and The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.

Earlier in her career, Ms. Jones spent three years as executive assistant to the Honorable Maynard Jackson, then mayor of Atlanta, and two years as legislative analyst for the president of the Atlanta City Council, Mr. Carl Ware. She is a former executive director of the Detroit Wayne County Child Care Coordinating Council and also taught in the public schools of Detroit and Atlanta.

A native of Detroit, Ms. Jones earned a bachelor's degree in education at Michigan State University and a master's degree in education at Eastern Michigan University. In recognition of her work in the corporate world, as well as her many contributions to civic and community causes, Ms. Jones' alma mater, Michigan State University, honored her with an honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree.

A teacher by training, Ms. Jones' commitment to education and community development extends beyond the doors of the Coca-Cola corporate headquarters. She is a board member of Clark Atlanta University, the Carter Center, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, The Ohio State University President's Council on Women, and the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. She also is a member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the Society of International Business Fellows.

Recognition of her work and contributions include the 2007 Essence magazine's selection as one of 11 national "Women of Influence", the National Urban League's 2006 "Women of Power" award, the 2005 "365 Black" award sponsored by The McDonald's Corporation, the National Urban League's 2004 Leadership Award; the American Jewish Committee - Atlanta Chapter's Institute of Human Relations Award; the Woman of Achievement Award from the YWCA of Greater Atlanta; the National Council for Research on Women's Women Who Make A Difference Award; The President's Award from Morehouse College; The Ohio State University Foundation's John B. Gerlach Development Award; Georgia State University School of Business Hall of Fame; and the NAACP Legal and Education Fund's National Equal Justice Award -- among others.