Cordia Harrington | CEO and President of The Bun Company, One of the Top 25 Women Business Builders

Cordia Harrington

CEO and President of The Bun Company, One of the Top 25 Women Business Builders

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Fee Range
$10,000
Travels From
Nashville, TN, US

Cordia Harrington
Biography

Cordia Wilkinson Harrington is an entrepreneur who has excelled in manufacturing, transportation, the quick service restaurant segment, and real estate & construction.
Harrington is owner and founder of The Bakery Companies, which includes four plants and 12 product lines, serving elite customers in the United States, Caribbean and South America. In addition, her businesses include Bakery Express (trucking) and Cold Storage of Nashville (a freezer facility). Harrington's focus on regulations, sustainability, employee policies and state-of-the-art equipment have led the company to grow organically into one of the Top 50 Fastest Growing Woman-Owned Businesses, and earn awards such as EY Entrepreneur of Year (2015-Southeast Program) and 2016 Most Admired CEO, Lifetime Achievement. Her passion and drive to create opportunities, make a difference, and impact lives has enabled her to recruit top talent and earned respect in a traditionalist industry. Elite customers include McDonald's, Five Guys, Sara Lee, Whole Foods, Jason's Deli, ConAgra and others.
Harrington's past entrepreneurial enterprises include an award-winning real estate and construction company opened in 1981 and sold to Coldwell Bankers in 1989. In 1989 Harrington graduated McDonald's Hamburger University as a registered applicant and purchased a McDonald's franchise. Proving her ability to lead and motivate, Harrington earned the opportunity to build two additional McDonald's restaurants. With the addition of a Greyhound Bus franchise to the McDonald's complex, Harrington served over 80 buses per day, increasing restaurant sales to top 40 in the United States.

Along with impeccable business ethics, Harrington has leadership experience with community, business and civic boards. She served on the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta's Nashville Branch from 2008-2013. She is a member of Belmont University's Board of Trustees (2008-present), Chief Executives Organization (CEO) Board of Directors-President Elect, American Bakers Association (ABA) Board of Directors-President Elect, the BarbaraBush@90 Committee and Points of Light Committee honoring President George H. W. Bush. Governor Bill Haslam appointed Harrington to serve on the Tennessee Education Lottery Board of Directors in 2015.

Harrington has corporate board experience, serving on the boards of Zoes Kitchen (NYSE: ZOES), and Williams Food (Kansas City).

Harrington has been recognized in dozens of local and national media outlets for her commitment to excellence, enthusiasm and business savvy. In 2016, she was recognized as the University of Arkansas Johnson Fellow, received Millikin University's Excellence in Entrepreneurship award and was inducted into the YWCA Academy of Women of Achievement. The Bakery Companies were also named to the list of 50 fastest-growing private companies in Tennessee and were finalists in the Business with Purpose awards. Harrington has received dozens of awards for her dedication to furthering female entrepreneurship.

Cordia Harrington
Featured Videos

Current: People Magazine

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People Magazine
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American Society of Baking
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Cordia Harrington
Featured Keynote Programs

Get your BUNS in Gear...

With economic times declining, it is the right time to RISE to the occassion and start your business...live your Dream! A focused speech on how resourcefulness can pay off in turbulent times! This presentation can also be geared for a "healthy lifestyle" motivated presentation.

No is NOT an OPTION

As a guest on "A Big Idea", Cordia presents a compelling story how to persevere and focus on the Goal. You too can "live the American Dream" as Cordia does owning a Banking Company with over $50 million in sales. She has mentored 15 friends and family to millionaires.
NO is not an Option is a title that can work well for University Groups, Entrepreneur Gatherings, and Professional Corporate Meetings...the details are applicable to all! Humor and Enthusiam make this a fun event.

Making DOUGH Rise

On the high speed bun line, Cordia makes 1000 buns per minute...YEAST is the resource to make the buns RISE!! What are the resources you need to MAKE DOUGH?
She has the courage to spell it out with humor and humility...

BUNS of Steel...

This baker has faced serious adversity, and has learned what it takes to be tough and tough it out...Courage, Determination, Faith, Forgiveness...all weave a KEYNOTE that resonates with top CEO's! A woman in a Mans Industry, balancing raising 3 young sons, on her own...BUNS of Steel!

Cordia Harrington
Featured Reviews

Cordia Harrington
Featured Articles & Resources

Cordia Harrington's The Bun Company to Become $100M Company

Written by E.J. Boyer The Bun Companies, a Nashville-based provider of bakery products for wholesale clients, is buying a Georgia-based bakery, in a deal that will double its...
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