Presbyterian College Alumnus Matt Navarro ’99, Global President of the Parent Company of Stanley 1913, to Deliver Annual Robert M. Vance Lecture on Business Ethics
February 4, 2026
Presbyterian College alumnus Matt Navarro ’99, global president of PMI WW Brands, LLC, the parent company of Stanley 1913, will deliver the college’s annual Robert M. Vance Lecture on Business Ethics at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, in Edmunds Hall.
Navarro’s innovative leadership has helped transform Stanley 1913 into a global lifestyle brand recognized for its durable drinkware and sustainability-driven ethos. Under his guidance, the 110-year-old company has experienced record-breaking revenue growth and redefined its relationship with consumers through a blend of innovation, brand storytelling, and environmental responsibility.
Stanley’s rise from heritage utility maker to cultural phenomenon has been phenomenal. Once primarily known for rugged thermoses for outdoorsmen and workers, Stanley achieved extraordinary mainstream popularity in recent years — especially through social media trends that turned its oversized, colorful Quencher tumblers into a widely shared lifestyle accessory among Gen Z, millennials, and beyond. Annual sales soared from roughly $70 million in 2019 to an estimated $750 million by 2023, illustrating how a century-old brand can re-energize itself for a new generation. Viral videos and hashtags like #StanleyCup have generated billions of views online and helped make Stanley’s drinkware a ubiquitous presence at workplaces, gyms, and everyday life.
“As Stanley 1913 has shown, great brands don’t just sell products — they connect with culture,” said Dr. Anita Gustafson, president of PC. “Matt Navarro’s leadership exemplifies how thoughtful strategy, deep values, and genuine engagement with consumers can revitalize a legacy company while inspiring broader conversations about ethics and purpose in business.”
As global president, Navarro oversees strategy, operations, and partnerships across Stanley’s North American and international divisions. His tenure has included high-profile collaborations with retailers such as Target, REI, and Scheels, as well as industry recognition from Fast Company and the NPD Group for the brand’s rapid rise in the consumer goods sector.
Before joining Stanley, Navarro held senior leadership roles at Amer Sports, a global corporation whose portfolio includes Salomon, Arc’teryx, Peak Performance, Atomic, Suunto, and Wilson. As vice president of sales for North America, he served on the company’s senior leadership team and oversaw business development across multiple outdoor and performance brands.
A 1999 graduate of Presbyterian College, Navarro’s return to campus reflects the college’s enduring influence on his professional journey. His lecture will explore how ethical decision-making and purpose-driven leadership can drive business success while advancing social good.
The Robert M. Vance Lecture Series on Business Ethics is funded by a generous gift from the Bailey Foundation and named after the late Robert M. Vance, a Clinton businessman and former PC trustee.
Vance considered ethics, honesty, and integrity paramount and lived these qualities as a business leader. The lecture series is a tribute to the late businessman’s legacy and numerous contributions to the Clinton community. The series serves as an opportunity for high-profile leaders in the business world to speak with PC students on how to run a successful business that maintains a moral code that employees can take pride in and use as a guide for day-to-day activities.
Past speakers include:
- Minor Shaw, Chair of The Daniel-Mickel Foundation
- Mike Baur, CEO, ScanSource
- Jim Samples ‘85, President, HGTV
- Danny Morrison, President, Carolina Panthers
- Bob McCoy, former Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Wachovia
- John Allison, Chairman and CEO, BB&T
- Walter Alessandrini, Former South Carolina Entrepreneur of the Year
- Jim Micali, Chairman and CEO, Michelin NA
- Bert Gall, Senior Attorney, Institute for Justice
- Jim Rosenberg ‘75, President and CEO, Burroughs and Chapin
- Chad Prashad ‘02, President, World Acceptance Corp.
- Robin Boren ‘97, Senior Vice President, Southern Company
- Charles Brewer, founder of MindSpring Enterprises
- Norman Scarborough, the William Henry Scott III Professor Emeritus of Entrepreneurship
- Steve Smith 84, President of Swagelok North Carolina/East Tennessee
