A hard work ethic has driven Wharton Executive MBA alumnus Clement Pappas, WG’09, to follow in his father’s footsteps as a business owner while raising two sons himself. His sense of loyalty and his philanthropy have built his vodka brand, Stateside, into a nationwide presence, and the company recently debuted Surfside, a “ready to drink” alcoholic beverage that Forbes has called the “fastest-growing canned cocktail.” Last year, roughly 2.5 cases of Surfside were sold every minute.
Pappas sponsors Major League Baseball teams, including the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves, and donates to up to 10 local charity events a week. But the most personal way in which he gives back is through the Peter Joseph Pappas Fund, a research-grant fund named for his first son, whom the family lost to complications from HELLP syndrome, a severe form of preeclampsia. “It’s a way to honor Peter,” he says. “We continue to keep his memory alive.”
Today, Lauren and Clement’s sons Paul and Joey are five and seven.
Balancing the business and fatherhood keeps Pappas busier than ever, but the time he spent pursuing Wharton’s Executive MBA program was invaluable despite the crush, he says: “Somehow, over the generations, everyone has young kids, and somehow, everybody comes out just fine. Same thing for people going through WEMBA. They come out loving the experience. It is a lot to juggle, but you find a way — and you’ll be happy that you did it.”
This story is by Joanna Blaz. Read more at Wharton Magazine.
Posted: June 14, 2024
