Scott Barbour, who took over as CEO of Advanced Drainage Systems in Hilliard, Ohio, in 2017, said one of his early mentors taught him to think long term.
Tom Bettcher, the division president at Emerson Climate Technology in Sidney, Ohio, taught Barbour about the importance of doing what was the "right thing, even if it wasn't necessarily the best move in the short term."
Barbour earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Southern Methodist University and his MBA in marketing from Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management.
Q: How would you describe your company and its culture?
Barbour: Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS) is the leading manufacturer of high-performance thermoplastic corrugated pipe, providing a comprehensive suite of water management products and superior drainage solutions for use in the construction, agriculture and infrastructure marketplace. Recently, we have focused on growth, increasing sales in the last quarter by 6.7 percent on revenues of nearly $414 million and completing a $1.08 billion acquisition of Infiltrator Water Technologies, a leader in on-site septic wastewater treatment.
Sustainability is a natural fit with everything we do at ADS. From our beginnings more than 50 years ago as an agricultural drainage company to a water management company, ADS' focus has always been on the environment. We responsibly manage stormwater and employ sustainable raw materials using 400 million pounds of recycled plastic each year to keep it permanently out of landfills. As importantly, we really try to instill sustainability in our corporate culture, encouraging and allowing our employees to develop their own sustainable practices.
