Tammy Fisher
Director of Public Relations
La Sierra University
Riverside, California
909-785-2016 voice
tfisher@lasierra.edu
June 9, 2003

RIVERSIDE- Thomas Coughlin, Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (USA), will be the featured speaker for the La Sierra University Commencement Program Sunday, June 15, at 8:00 am. He will speak on “The Secret of Wal-Mart’s Success” and will also be presented with an Honorary Doctor of Law.

Coughlin is responsible for the U.S. operations of Wal-Mart Discount Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAM'S CLUBS, as well as Walmart.com. Prior to this position, Coughlin served as President and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores Division and SAM'S CLUB (USA). Since joining Wal-Mart Stores in 1978, Coughlin has served as Vice President of Loss Prevention; Vice President of Human Resources; Executive Vice President of SAM'S Club Operations; Executive Vice President of Specialty Groups; and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Wal-Mart Store Operations. In the fall of 2001, he was elected to the Wal-Mart Board of Directors. Mr. Coughlin is also Chairman of the Board of Directors for Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE). This role puts him in the position to witness the profound impact that SIFE team projects, including those performed by La Sierra University students, are having in the world. Mr. Coughlin’s other affiliations include: California State Hayward Educational Foundation; ChoicePoint, Inc.; the National Association of Chain Drug Stores; the NorthWest Arkansas Community College Foundation; and St. Edward's High School. Coughlin graduated from California State University with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. He and his wife, Cynthia, have three children.

La Sierra University has 321 graduates, with 106 in the School of Business and Management.

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