Local executive wins prestigious award
January 27, 2017
COLUMBIA, SC – Ellen Wittwer Rohde has received Pi Beta Phi® Fraternity for Women’s prestigious Carolyn Helman Lichtenberg Crest Award in honor of her professional achievements. Ellen served 22 years for the VF Corporation, a global leader in branded lifestyle apparel whose companies include Wrangler, Lee, The North Face, Nautica, Timberland and Seven for all Mankind.
The Carolyn Helman Lichtenberg Crest Award is presented annually to distinguished alumnae of Pi Beta Phi who exhibit excellence and outstanding leadership in their career or volunteer service to their communities. The award is named for past Pi Beta Phi President Carolyn Helman Lichtenberg, who was instrumental in forming Pi Beta Phi Foundation during her term from 1985 to 1991. Essential Fraternity initiatives, like leadership development programs and literacy, are supported through the stewardship of the Foundation.
During her career with VF Corporation, Ellen held numerous corporate staff positions in the areas of strategy, customer management, marketing and supply chain. She served as President of three different operating divisions: Vanity Fair Intimates, Girbarud Jeans and Healthtex. Her concluding role with VF Corporation was as a Senior Corporate Executive working in brand strategy and partnerships.
Ellen currently owns her own consulting company, The ELR Group, working with companies and private equity firms in the apparel industry worldwide.
She sits on the Industry Advisory Board for the Global Luxury Management graduate program at North Carolina State University. Ellen’s role includes guest lecturing, connecting faculty to industry leaders and interacting with students for career development, internships and career hiring.
Ellen also serves as an Adjunct Professor for the N.C. State College of Textiles. In 2012, she was named Textile Leader of the Year by the College’s Phi Kappa Psi and Kappa Tau Beta professional textiles and academic societies.
Last year, Ellen was named President of the North Carolina Textile Foundation, which makes the industry-leading work of the College of Textiles possible. She is the first woman to hold this role.
About Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women: Founded in 1867 at Monmouth College in Illinois, Pi Beta Phi has installed 204 collegiate chapters and nearly 300 alumnae clubs worldwide. Pi Beta Phi promotes friendship, develops women of intellect and integrity, cultivates leadership potential and enriches the lives of members and their communities. The Fraternity believes in the power of reading and through its philanthropy, Read > Lead > Achieve, promotes a lifelong love of reading that can unlock true potential. For more information, visit www.pibetaphi.org or follow Pi Phi on Twitter and Facebook.
