Forty Under 40: Donovan ‘Don’ Russell

Donovan Russell, 37, began his professional career as a radio sports announcer and ended up as the director of sales and marketing for Honeywell Internationals Bentonville office.n

Russell grew up in Richardson, Texas. He earned a bachelors degree in marketing and finance from Baylor University. Russell began working as a radio personality during his senior year at Baylor and quickly switched to the advertising side of radio.n

After graduation, he went to work as a junior salesman for Wyeth Consumer Healthcare in Dallas (Advil, Robitussin cough syrup and Centrum vitamins).n

In 1996, he was promoted to be national accounts manager for Wyeths Wal-Mart business. He moved to Bentonville to set up the companys Wal-Mart sales team.n

In 1998, Russell went to work for Clorox Co. in Bentonville, spending three years in a national accounts manager role.n

In 2001, he was hired by Honeywell to set up that companys Wal-Mart sales team, which now has eight employees.n

Russell is over Honeywells Consumer Products Group in Bentonville. The company sells automobile products, such as Fram air filters, Prestone antifreeze and car-care chemicals and Autolite spark plugs.