rick & Susan Goings
Orlando, Florida & Charlottesville, Virginia | PathNorth members since 2010
Rick Goings is Chairman Emeritus of Tupperware Brands. Throughout his successful career, he has held numerous global senior management positions in Europe, Asia, and the U.S. Under his leadership at Tupperware Brands, the company received numerous awards and recognition including Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies for eight consecutive years, Forbes America’s Most JUST Companies, Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies, Forbes America’s Best Employers.
A Navy veteran, Goings started his first company, one of the nation’s first direct sellers of home security systems, at the age of 24. His success brought him to the attention of Avon Products where he was recruited and held numerous senior management positions: President Avon Germany, Group Vice President & Senior Operating Officer Pacific Rim, and President of Avon USA. In 1992 he joined Tupperware as CEO for more than two decades.
Goings was an early proponent and outspoken advocate in redefining the role and purpose of business, from the near-myopic focus on shareholder value to accepting responsibility for all stakeholders, including customers, employees, and each community they serve. To this point, he was part of a select group of global business leaders which convened at the Vatican with Pope Francis to enhance support for this initiative.
Beyond business, Goings’ humanitarian and philanthropic efforts have been a fundamental part of his entire career and have emphasized women’s empowerment throughout the world, as well as children’s safety and development. An engaged member of the World Economic Forum for over a decade, Goings was positioned at the forefront of thought leadership in Davos on the empowerment of women. He was an inaugural Champion with United Nations’ HeforShe women’s initiative and a founding member of their Leadership Advisory Council.
His work in the service of children, both in the US and abroad, spanned 3 decades of service on the National Board of Governors for Boy & Girls Clubs of America, where he also served two separate terms as the organization’s chairman. Goings led the initiative to open Youth Clubs outside the US and co-founded the World Federation of Youth Clubs with his wife, Susan Porcaro Goings. He currently serves as the organization’s Chairman which has Affiliates in more than 35 countries representing over 3000 Youth Clubs.
Goings serves as Chair of the Rollins College Board of Trustees, as member of the national board of the Smithsonian Institution, a member of the Advisory Board of the Global Peter Drucker Forum, a 20-year member of Yale’s Chief Executive Leadership Institute and initially served on its Advisory Board, and is a member of The Economic Club of Washington, DC.
Goings has been recognized globally with the distinguished decree of "Chevalier (Knight) de la Légion d'Honneur" presented by the former President of France, the prestigious Marco Polo Award bestowed by the People’s Republic of China, the Herbert Hoover Humanitarian Award by Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Holmes Group named Goings as CEO of the Year.
Goings was educated at Guilford College and is the recipient of several honorary doctorates including Rollins College and Bryant College.
He is a life-long physical fitness devotee and has practiced Transcendental Meditation twice daily since his 20’s. In addition, Goings is an avid horseman.
Susan Porcaro Goings. An advocate for women’s empowerment, a supporter of at-risk youth, and co-founder of the World Federation of Youth Clubs (WFYC.org), Susan, a former television news broadcaster, traveled the world gathering inspirational stories of women and their journey to a confident life (chainofconfidence.com). From more than 30 countries, they opened their hearts and lives to her and shared their personal stories of triumph.
As a student at the University of Florida, Susan began her career with WFTV where she became their first female Account Executive. Upon graduating from Rollins College, she joined KABC-TV, Los Angeles, breaking another barrier as their first female Account Executive while simultaneously hosting an on-air travel show. She quickly transitioned to the role of broadcast journalist and on-air personality, covering major news events and anchoring several shows. During her broadcast career, she interviewed political dignitaries, newsmakers, and celebrity legends.
While residing in Los Angeles County, her interests in civic issues led to her election to the Hidden Hills City Council. While serving as the city’s Mayor Pro-Tem, she resigned her office following the sudden death of her husband. With her three small children, she returned to Florida to be near family.
Today Susan and her husband, Rick, provide financial resources for college scholarships and youth development programs for at-risk youth. During their global travels, observing the great needs of children and teens, they began creating international youth clubs in Mexico and South Africa, ultimately founding the WFYC, a non-profit organization that helps facilitate education and training, now serving thousands of young people in more than 30 countries.
Susan serves on the Rollins College Hamilton Holt Board. She was awarded the “Voice for Women Award” by the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument (Washington, DC) for her exemplary global commitment to women’s economic empowerment, has served as the Chairman of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Conference, has been recognized by the Mennello Museum as an Outstanding Community Leader and by Boys & Girls Clubs in South Carolina as a Champion for Youth.
