Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week will feature a motivational presentation during the opening general session by Donald R. Knauss, chairman and CEO of the Clorox Company.


Tying in with the HDAW'11 theme, "Leadership - Strategies for Tomorrow," Knauss will share his insight on leadership strategies for winning organizations. The general session will kick off the five-day conference at The Mirage in Las Vegas, Jan. 17-20.

Under Knauss' leadership, Clorox is positioned to focus on health and wellness, convenience, environmental sustainability and a more multicultural marketplace. Despite a global economic downturn, Clorox continued a 32-year trend of raising its dividend to stockholders. The company launched Green Works, a line of cleaning products that are 99 percent natural, in 2008. The September 26, 2009 issue of Newsweek included Clorox as one of its "Greenest Big Companies in America."

Prior to joining Clorox, Knauss was executive vice president of The Coca-Cola Company and president and chief operating officer for Coca-Cola North America, president of the Retail Division of Coca-Cola North America, and president and chief executive officer of The Minute Maid Company, a division of The Coca-Cola Company. His career with The Coca-Cola Company spanned from 2000-2006.

"Our responsibility as leaders is to ensure we have not only the best people, but we are putting those people in positions that maximize and take advantage of their talent. Leaders at the end of the day make their people and assets more productive and valuable," said Knauss. "By driving effective strategy and by living your values everyday -- you can inspire. You can drive real progress."

For more information, visit www.hdaw.org.