Bob Stohler developed the idea for Bloomington Brands LLC as a means to connect two of his most cherished organizations, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and Indiana University. First, he convinced Jim Hagedorn, the CEO at Scotts, to let a group of students manage one of the company's brands, and then he persauded Dan Smith, now Dean, and Jonlee Andrews, Clinical Professor of Marketing, at IU's Kelley School, to let Kelley's students participate.
Selling bold initiatives to senior management characterizes Bob's professional career. Always an out-of-the-box thinker, Bob likes to turn ideas into tangible programs.
He retired from The Scotts in 2003 where he was an EVP and a member of the company's executive committee. Bob led the company’s $1.5 billion North American business, its principle unit. Prior to managing that business, he managed the Lawns SBU where sales and profits doubled under his leadership.
Bob joined Scotts as VP of its International division in 1995 and resided outside London until returning to the United States in 1998. Before Scotts, Bob was President of Rubbermaid Europe, based in Luxembourg. He also held international assignments with Procter & Gamble (Philippines) and with SC Johnson (UK). In the early 1990’s, Bob was CFO of Synthes North America, a Swiss-owned leader in orthopedic implants.
With two degrees from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, BS '64 and MBA '69, Bob returned to campus upon retirement and now resides in Bloomington, IN. He is a former president of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business Alumni Board. Bob also serves on the school’s advisory boards for the Center for Brand Leadership and the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
As an undergraduate, Bob was a four-year manager of the men’s Basketball Team. Also, he participated as both a manager and rider in the Little 500 bicycle classic. He was manager of the winning team in 1962 that was depicted in the film, Breaking Away. See photos at the bottom of this page.
Together with his wife of 42 years, Sylvia, Bob established a fellowship for ex-military officers who are transitioning to civilian life by pursuing an MBA degree at Kelley. Bob’s own military experience was with the U.S. Navy where he served as an officer aboard the carrier, USS Saratoga
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Dave Blase (sunglasses) in the actual 1962 Little 500 race
and later depicted in the film Breaking Away as 'Dave Stohler'.
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