Forty Under 40: Matt Mitchell

A former professional runner, Matt Mitchell has shifted his competitive drive to the business world.nOriginally from New Jersey, Mitchell moved to Fayetteville to run track for the University of Arkansas. Specializing in the mile, he qualified for the Olympic trials in 1992 and was All-American in 1993. After graduating from the UA in 1994, he ran professionally for Brooks, the athletic shoe company, for a year.nIn 1995, Mitchell went to work as a business analyst for Nestl in Bentonville. nHe remained with the chocolate company for five years before switching to Clorox, which makes everything from bleach to K.C. Masterpiece barbecue sauce.nMitchell said he is motivated by competition. The highlights of his career include working on a sales plan for the launch of the Clorox Readymop in 2002 and Bleach Pen in 2003.nMitchell said working with Wal-Mart keeps everything fresh.n”You’re not going to get stagnant in a job like this,” he said.nMitchell helps coach his kids’ soccer and baseball teams. nHis advice for young people is: “Never stop challenging your boss, your company, to give you more responsibility, more opportunity.” nn