Executive Management

Executive Management
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• About the DeSantis Center
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• Director's Message

The DeSantis Center for Executive Management Education

The mission of The DeSantis Center for Executive Management Education is to provide high quality management education programs and to improve the management education process through research.

The cornerstone of the educational program is The Executive Management Program. This program is also offered off-site at corporate campuses either in its entirety or in an abbreviated format. The Center sponsors various credit and non-credit management education programs. These programs are held on the FSU campus, at corporate locations, and over the Internet.

Research projects of the Center address such issues as:

• What ways are effective for transferring knowledge from the classroom to the workplace?
• What role do managers and executives play in educating other managers and executives?

The Center was made possible by a generous endowment from Carl DeSantis, Chairman of the Board of Rexall-Sundown and a a former student of FSU. This endowment was matched by State of Florida funds. The Center is served by an Advisory Board made up of senior executives with an interest in executive education and FSU.

Mr. DeSantis founded Rexall Sundown, Inc. In response to consumer demand for an effective but inexpensive suntan lotion, DeSantis created Sundown®, a product which gained instantaneous local popularity. Recognizing the increasing interest and importance of nutrition and health products over twenty years ago, he then turned his attention to this industry and launched the company with the introduction of a single brand vitamin line, Sundown Vitamins®. Today, Rexall Sundown, Inc. is the leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of vitamins, nutritional supplements and other consumer health products. It sells approximately 1,300 products nationwide and in more than 50 countries under various trademarks, including Sundown®, Rexall Showcase International®, Rexall®, Thompson®, Rexall Managed Care®, and SDV Vitamins®.

His contribution will also create two new professorships in the College of Business.

Due to his generous support of Florida State University, Carl DeSantis was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University on May 3, 1999. Congratulations Dr. DeSantis!