2008 Business Leader of the Year: Harris DeLoach Dedicated to Giving, Passionate about People   By: Stefanie Caraviello   Self-admittedly shy, Harris DeLoach doesn't like to talk about himself. However, during an interview, it is easy to see why this man of tall stature and soft-spoken words was named by his peers as the 2008 Business Person of the Year. Harris DeLoach is someone who deeply values the people in his life: his family, his coworkers and his friends. He has made people his priority, and it is the people who have enabled his success that he wants to talk about. The Past Harris E. DeLoach Jr. is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Sonoco Products Company in Hartsville, S.C. That's a long way from his first job carrying a paper route when he was 14 years old. DeLoach is a Columbia native and the oldest of three siblings along with his sister Julie and his brother John. He graduated from Eau Claire High School and stayed in the capital city to attend college. DeLoach graduated in 1966 with a degree in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina and then again in 1969 with a J.D. degree from the USC Law School. 1969 is the same year he married his wife, Louise Malloy Hawes of Conway. The two have been married 39 years and have three children and three grandchildren. DeLoach chuckles slightly when talking about his parents, especially his mother. With a grin on his face, he recalls one thing she would say to him. "My mom always told me she was going to raise me to be a gentleman, if nothing else." And that she did. According to DeLoach, the example his parents set with their lives showed him the way he wanted to live his. "Mom and Dad both instilled a work ethic in me to get jobs done to the best of my ability and to give back. I have a responsibility to help people and to give back to the community", says DeLoach. Through his career at Sonoco, DeLoach has been able to do just that give back. After practicing law in Hartsville for 13 years, DeLoach joined Sonoco in 1986 as vice president of administration and general counsel. Even back then, the former Chairman and CEO of Sonoco, Charlie Coker, knew DeLoach was a man with a future. Coker told DeLoach, Dont just come down and practice (law). Come down and let me give you a business to run. That's exactly what happened. DeLoach worked his way up by running several Sonoco businesses and by July 2000 was named president and chief executive officer of what is today a $4.0 billon, worldwide, vertically integrated packaging company that operates in about 330 locations and has approximately18,600 team members. DeLoach says without his company's talented team members, neither he, nor Sonoco, would be as successful as they are today. "It's been a great experience for me. I've been surrounded by great, hard working people. One reason I went to Sonoco is because of all my clients, Sonoco seemed to fit my cultural beliefs about people... I truly believe people do build businesses. If you have a good business strategy and bad people, the business will not work. Having the best people around builds the business strategy and makes it better." The Present Sonoco was founded in 1899, in Hartsville on the belief that people build businesses. It is a core value the company still holds today. DeLoach says "it is not unusual to find two or three generations of one family working at Sonoco, and many employees have never worked anywhere else. This could be due to our company's emphasis on personal and professional development, performance rewards, safety and the company's productive, positive work environment. We are committed to helping every employee reach his or her full potential." Sonoco has been recognized for its commitment to employee development. The company has twice been named one of North America's Top Companies for Leaders. This prestigious annual distinction is sponsored by the global human resources company Hewitt Associates, in partnership with the RBL Group and FORTUNE magazine. The companies included on the list were selected and ranked by a panel of judges using criteria that included leadership practices, company reputation, leadership culture and values, and business performance. In 2005, Sonoco ranked 20th. Then in 2007, Sonoco moved up to the 17th ranking. DeLoach credits Sonoco's people development practices and talent reviews with being two of the reasons the company was honored. Sonoco invests in talent reviews to make sure the right people are in the right jobs. Employees with the right performance and promotability characteristics are evaluated and prepared for future positions. Because Sonoco likes to promote from within, the talent review process enhances our efforts to develop employees' careers within and across businesses. DeLoach's and Sonoco's commitment to developing people also translates into helping improve the communities in which the company operates. DeLoach believes Sonoco has an obligation to the cities where we do business. We are connected to those cities to help with the community's education, welfare and quality of life issues. Fulfilling that obligation, Sonoco dedicates significant resources to education and community involvement. In Sonoco's hometown of Hartsville, the company provides needed financial support for school programs and supplies while employees volunteer their personal time to most area schools. DeLoach himself currently serves on a plethora of school and community boards, including the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics Foundation, and the University of South Carolina Business Partnership Foundation. In recognition of his efforts, he was named by the Pee Dee area council of the Boy Scouts of America as the recipient of its 2006 Distinguished Citizen Award. In a recent commencement speech to Lander University's class of 2008, DeLoach emphasized the importance of giving back. DeLoach told the graduates, You came to Lander as seekers of knowledge. If you haven't already done so, find a cause you are passionate about. Make a pledge to devote your own personal resources to service projects. Infuse your time, money and energy into building communities and doing good works. DeLoach also spoke to the graduates about an issue he firmly believes in sustainability. "I'm not talking about putting your beverage cans in the nearest recycling bin. It's much larger than that. The sustainability of communities around the globe depends on the people like you with energy, enthusiasm and a lifelong willingness to give back." Giving back is an important component of Sonoco's commitment to sustainability. According to Sonoco, sustainability means meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. "Sustainability from Sonoco's perspective begins with packaging. How do we create more sustainable packaging? It starts by developing for our customers packaging that's better for the environment and more cost effective. But sustainability goes far beyond just making environmentally responsible products. It goes beyond how we operate our business. Sustainability also involves how we treat the communities where we do business." Although Sonoco is a leader in operating its business in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner, to DeLoach and Sonoco, sustainability is much more than recycling and developing more eco-friendly packaging. "People need to understand what sustainability really is. It's not about a single item. It's how do you sustain and improve the lifestyle that we have and enjoy today? Sustainability is everybody's job. It's not just mine, it's not just yours. We all need to think about what we can do better to make life better... there are things we can do today in education and the environment to make this world a lot better place for everyone 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 years from now." The Future Fast forwarding 10 years from now, DeLoach believes the future will be bright for South Carolina businesses. However, to make that success happen, DeLoach says one issue desperately needs to be addressed. "If I had to think out 10 years from now and think of issues that would make South Carolina a more successful state in terms of recruiting industry and in terms of quality of life for our employees and our citizens, I think the top of the list is education." DeLoach says businesses looking to move to South Carolina, or people looking to work in South Carolina, look at the state's education system as a main factor. DeLoach believes "it's going to be very difficult for South Carolina to meet its goal of economic growth and per capita income improvement without focusing on and helping the education system in South Carolina." Concerned from both a business and personal standpoint, DeLoach says people who get an education do much better in life than those that do not. DeLoach says if we can better South Carolina's educational system, then the future will be brighter for all of the state's children. "What I'd like to see in the future for all of South Carolina's children is the opportunity to graduate from high school with a good education and the opportunity to go to an affordable college, so that they can create for themselves and their families a quality of life, such as I've enjoyed and so many of us have enjoyed." When asking DeLoach where he sees himself 10 years from now, the chuckle that first came at the beginning of the interview returns—because his answer deals with family. "Ten years from now? Well, I have three grandchildren. Maybe I'll have more, I don't know. But I have a three year old, a two year old and a six month old. One of the things I will enjoy is seeing a 13 year old, a 12 year old and an 11 year old and watching my children enjoy raising teenagers. I plan to enjoy watching them have as much fun raising teenagers as I did. I had hair back then, and I don't have it today, so that's what I will enjoy doing." Then his answer takes on a more serious tone as DeLoach reflects on the life he's led, the contributions he's made and the wisdom his parents instilled early on—give back. DeLoach has focused his life on the people who've helped him succeed, and in his final thoughts, he can't help but bring it back to them with his future goal of continuing to be involved. "I started working when I was 14 years old carrying a paper route, and I've worked my whole life. I have to stay busy, and I have to stay active. As long as I'm making a contribution, having fun and doing things that are proactive, then I'll still be engaged or involved in some form or fashion." Stefanie Caraviello is the multimedia managing editor at the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. E-mail her @ Stefanie.caraviello@scchamber.net.

"I can think of few South Carolinians more deserving of this honor than Harris DeLoach. His commitment to Sonoco, his colleagues at Sonoco and the business community in South Carolina is second-to-none. What really sets Harris apart is his commitment to the future of South Carolina as demonstrated by his work on behalf of the Governor's School of Science and Math. In that regard, Harris is a true visionary and all of us in South Carolina are grateful for his efforts." Jim Micali, chairman, president of Michelin North America (retired.)   "It has been my privilege and pleasure to have known the Deloach family for over 30 years not only as their personal friend but also as their family physician. Harris is a remarkable individual whose wisdom and knowledge is overshadowed only by his honesty and integrity. His leadership and motivational skills are truly remarkable. He has the respect of his peers as a person and as a leader with great vision. Without question, he has made the Hartsville area as well as the State of South Carolina a better place in which to work and live." M.B. "Bubba" Nickles, Jr., M.D., DeLoach family physician.   "Harris DeLoach epitomizes the very finest attributes of the successful 21st Century executive. He is extraordinarily knowledgeable about the reality of global competition. He understands the need for innovative, value-added products in growing his company. And, he is able to articulate his vision for Sonoco with great clarity to his customers, shareholders and employees alike. But, most important, he maintains the headquarters of a truly international company in South Carolina where he generously gives back to his community and state. Harris is a valued member of the Palmetto Institute Board and a vital part of the critical intellectual mass that will lead South Carolina's success in the fierce competition of the new global economy. I applaud his selection as Businessman of the Year." Darla Moore, chairman of the Palmetto Institute.   "Harris is enormously bright and capable. He became CEO of Sonoco at a time when strong leadership was required, and he certainly has delivered. He leads by setting high expectations and by his own example of hard work and by interacting with Sonoco's employees. He understands that people are critical to the success of the company—that people build businesses. He is a remarkable leader, and the company's good performance in the current difficult business environment reflects this." Charlie Coker, former President and CEO of Sonoco Products Company.   "Harris DeLoach has been extremely successful in building and running a very complicated $4 billon business, and he has done it the right way. He insists that his employees, costumers and shareholders all are treated with courtesy and integrity. He takes care of them and in return has earned their loyalty and desire to succeed. At the same time, he has been committed to his community, his state and educational institutions, and he has generously given his time to the advancement of both. He truly deserves this honor as 2008 Business Person of the Year." Bill Boyd, shareholder, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd PA.     Family: Wife, Louise, Sons Harris III and John Wilson, and daughter, Jeanette Native: Columbia (lived more than 35 years in Hartsville) Favorite holiday: Thanksgiving Favorite color tie: Red In my spare time I: enjoy piddling in the yard, deep-sea fishing, surf fishing, hunting and visiting with family. My pet peeve is: being called Harry Favorite historical figure is: Benjamin Franklin. He had such a diverse life. I'd like to sit down, have a glass of wine and talk with him. Clemson or Carolina: Carolina