Forty Under 40: Avery Starks

A big man with a warm handshake who is determined to leave a strong legacy, Avery Starks is gaining awards and accolades as he ascends ladders in the retail world.

Although things don’t always go as planned, he’s learned to trust the outcome.

For instance, Starks went to the University of Arkansas to play football for Houston Nutt but ended up being a Razorbacks cheerleader.

“I never would have done that, but as it turned out, my cheer coach was very inspirational, and I met many meaningful people in my life from cheer,” he said.

While studying organizational leadership, Starks worked for retail merchandiser Crossmark, but that wasn’t his intended career. He was surprised to be heavily recruited upon graduation by another merchandiser, Acosta, and began to realize the many opportunities available in retail.

“I leaned toward finance, so it was like an accident that I found my niche,” Starks said. “My plans were always different.”

Starks was raised in the tiny south Arkansas town of Humphrey, by parents who emphasized church, education and music.

He aims to be a leader who changes business culture. Since joining Dannon in 2012, he’s facilitated impressive sales growth with Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

Dannon supports his passion for underprivileged children, so Starks devotes time and resources to groups such as Life Source and Champions for Kids. He’s active with the Supplier Retail Share Group and the Walmart SPARC Supplier Advisory Board.