ASU Commencement is May 13
General Cigar Holdings is a publicly traded $2 billion plus international company with more than 5,000 employees and holdings in cigars, real estate, wholesale distribution, nursery products, publishing, and packaging. Mr. Polite served as the chief operating officer for two years before retiring in 2000. He previously served as executive vice president of operations and as president of a subsidiary, CMS Gilbreth Packaging Systems, Inc. Prior to joining Gilbreth, Mr. Polite served as executive vice president for quality and technology for the global manufacturer of containers, Continental Can Company, in Norwalk, Conn. He joined Continental Can in 1969 and served in a number of positions as he advanced to general manager of the eastern division, vice president for sales and marketing, vice president for manufacturing and technology, and executive vice president. Mr. Polite received a bachelor’s degree from Augusta College in 1969 and completed a number of leadership and business strategy courses, including the Advanced Studies and Executive Training Institute of Harvard Business School. He is a member of 100 Black Men of New York and serves on the board of directors of the Philadelphia Police Athletic League. He is also a member of the Augusta State University Foundation. Other News Stories: Commencement | Faculty and Staff Appreciation | Nursing | ROTC Commissioning | Campus Construction | Lyceum | Cullum | Sandarg Award | Physical Plant Award | ITS
May 2006 |
More than 1,000 candidates for graduation may take part in the annual commencement being held on Saturday, May 13, at 2 p.m. at the Augusta Civic Center. Edward B. Polite, a ’69 alumnus and former chief operating officer of General Cigar Holdings, Inc., will be the featured speaker.
