Wendell Godwin, a senior business executive who directed all sales functions in an 18-state area for a national Fortune 1000 company, has been named dean of the School of Business at East Central University. He will begin on May 17.
Godwin held several positions during 13 years at Standard Register of Dayton, Ohio, a document management and technology company, advancing to area vice president for the Central Area based in Dallas. He was promoted twice in the last three years to help rebuild teams in underperforming areas. He finished 2009 with the top performing area in the company, including all market segments, while serving as the director of healthcare sales.
Godwin helped reorganize the company several times over the past decade and managed profit and loss responsibility for $65 million in sales. He was directly responsible for a team of 75 sales associates and leaders and had indirect responsibility for 30 other support and sales resource associates.
He graduated from Pauls Valley High School in 1980 and is a 1984 graduate of ECU's School of Business
"Many ECU alums who know Wendell strongly endorsed him for the position," said ECU President John Hargrave. "I am excited that he is bringing his expertise to the academic world and confidant that his leadership will represent a new direction for the School of Business, especially as we consider the possibility of a new School of Business and Conference Center on our campus."
Godwin's career includes experience in management, manufacturing, marketing, sales, finance, training, forecasting, budgeting and human resources
"He will bring dynamic leadership to ECU's School of Business," said Dr. Duane C. Anderson, provost and vice president for academic affairs. "His knowledge of the business world will have a positive impact on the future of the school."
Godwin has been a member of the Professional Selling Advisory Board at the McCoy College of Business at Texas State University. He said he loves to teach and has focused much of his career on recruiting young professionals.
"I enjoy seeing bright-eyed college graduates experience their first job and then begin to see success through their own hard work and dedication," Godwin said. "I am looking forward to returning to ECU where my journey began 26 years ago. I sat in the same chairs that students sit in today and participated in many of the same activities.
"I will bring my passion of excellence from the business world, leadership skills and my vision to grow this university into the future," he added.
Godwin started his career as a sales representative for Moore/ RR Donnelley in 1984, gaining experience in sales, operations, call center management and sales training in positions in Denton, Texas; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Fresno, Calif.; and Houston, Texas.
He joined Standard Register in 1996. He was a regional sales manager in Houston, Tulsa, Dallas and Oklahoma City and was an account executive for strategic accounts for two years in Dallas. He became area vice president of sales for the Dallas area in 2007, accountable for all sales functions in a 13-state area.
He was selected for Standard Register's Executive Advancement Program and asked to complete an MBA degree at Southern Methodist University, focusing on executive leadership to help prepare him for future advancement opportunities. While working on the degree he traveled to Japan, China and Mexico to gain a better understanding of global economics, governments and leadership challenges facing business executives.
At ECU, Godwin held leadership positions in several campus organizations and was president of the Student Senate his senior year. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the ECU Alumni Association.
He and his wife, Susie, have three sons, Ben, 15; Adam, 12; and Sam, 8. Godwin is the son of Jan (Godwin) Doss of Pauls Valley and the late Theron Godwin.
Godwin lived most of his life in Pauls Valley until he came to ECU. Most of his relatives live in the Pauls Valley, Ada and Ardmore areas, he said. His brother, Tracy Godwin, and his wife Vicki live in Ada, and brother Jim Godwin and his wife Sonnia live in Springer.
Godwin has been a volunteer coach for 10 years for the Coppell, Texas, YMCA basketball program and the Coppell Youth Soccer Association and has worked with Cub Scouts for eight years. He served two years on the Board of Directors for Texas Xpress, a non-profit sports organization.
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