Ozarks Coca-Cola names president, COO

Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co. today announced the promotion of a longtime employee to president and chief operating officer.

Entering the role is Bruce Long, who has worked with the Springfield bottler for 15 years, most recently as vice president of marketing and business development, according to a news release.

Long appears to succeed 15-year President and COO John Schaefer, who has retired, according to his LinkedIn page.

Long and Sally Hargis, the company’s vice president of corporate strategy, could not be reached by deadline for additional comment. The company’s website continues to list Edwin “Cookie” Rice as its chairman and CEO, and Long is the next-highest executive listed on its leadership team. Hargis is third on CocaColaOzarks.com.

The former head baseball coach for Southwest Baptist University, Long went on to play as a pitcher for the farm teams of the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies.

Long becomes president as Ozarks Coca-Cola enters a new era of growth.

The 95-year-old company in October completed a deal that grew its business by 60 percent, adding 37 new counties as well as distribution centers in Joplin and West Plains.