Celebrating his 23rd year with Coca-Cola Consolidated, Rory Regan’s journey is one marked by dedication, growth and an unwavering commitment to service. As the Senior Director of IT Infrastructure Systems and Services, Rory started as a telephone technician supporting branch phone systems.
Rory leads a talented team, stating, “My role is to make sure every Teammate has the right technology they need to accomplish the mission and deliver on our Purpose. I have the honor and privilege to lead an amazing and intelligent group of people who makes sure that happens every day and night.”
Rory reflects on his journey to his current senior leadership role. He credits strong mentorship and collaborative leadership for his advancement, saying, “I was told early on here that my career is mine to own, but I never had to do it alone. I took that to heart and had great leaders around me every step of the way to coach and mentor me.”
He explains that sometimes that meant some sound counseling when he was going in the wrong direction. “Those tough conversations made me a better person and leader in the long run.”
Throughout his career, Rory has led nearly every function within IT, embracing opportunities that pushed him out of his comfort zone and helped him learn new facets of both technology and the business.
As an Air Force veteran, Rory finds the Company’s values deeply resonate with his own. “I am a veteran and am proud to have served our country. I was blessed to have found a place coming out of the service that shared the same core values of Honesty, Integrity and Service Above Self. That made my transition much easier.” The culture at Coca-Cola Consolidated is characterized by teamwork and a commitment to not allowing others to fail. Rory notes, “It makes me feel like I never stopped serving, just changed uniforms from one with a name and rank to one with a Coca-Cola Consolidated logo.”
For Rory, the greatest joy in working at Coca-Cola Consolidated is the people. He is inspired by the Company’s approach to technology, emphasizing that the focus is not just on innovation but on improving Teammates’ jobs and enhancing customer experiences.
“The great part is the focus is not on the technology itself but how we make a Teammate’s job a little easier or the customer’s experience with us a little more personal. That kind of focus makes technology a powerful tool to improve all areas for the right reasons. That inspires me to come in every day and be a part of that magic.”
Empowerment is a daily reality for Rory in his role. He says he has those moments every day. “It starts with something as simple as providing a self-help way to reset a forgotten password … to making sure we have the right device in the hands of our Teammates to get the job done or guiding our next generation of leaders like I was throughout my career here. I enjoy serving others, and this role gives me the opportunity to do it every day in so many ways.”
Rory attributes his success to the supportive environment at Coca-Cola Consolidated. “Any success I have had here at Coca-Cola Consolidated is because of the Teammates who worked and supported me in every role, the leadership that coached and guided me, and the feedback from those we support provided to make things better. It takes all of those to grow a career and much more.” He also appreciates the Company’s strong commitment to learning and career growth, having benefited from leadership and technical training opportunities.
One of the highlights of Rory’s career has been helping Teammates step outside their comfort zones and succeed in new challenges.
Rory Regan with his team at Coca-Cola Consolidated (pictured front row, furthest right).
For those considering a career at Coca-Cola Consolidated, Rory’s advice is clear and heartfelt: “If you want to be where values mean more than words, then show up ready to work hard with a servant’s heart and a passion for learning – you will never regret it.”
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