The Harvey G. Foster Award - 2015: Chris Stevens ’74

2015: Chris Stevens ’74

For his distinguished work on behalf of the Notre Dame community and those in need, Chris Stevens ’74 is recognized with the 2015 Harvey G. Foster Award.

After holding leadership roles with Procter & Gamble and Anheuser-Busch, Stevens joined Keurig Inc. in 1996 and was one of the original four team members who launched the Keurig Premium Coffee System, which is now the number one coffee brewer in North America.  Stevens oversaw the Keurig brand, sales, distribution, and marketing strategies.

He left Keurig in 2013 to take a position as an adjunct professor at the Mendoza College of Business. Since returning to his alma mater, he has won numerous awards for his teaching.

"Wow, I am truly humbled to be mentioned in the same breath with the distinguished alumni who have been previously honored with the Harvey Foster Award,” Stevens said. “More than 40 years ago, Notre Dame gave me the foundation for a life of commitment to faith, family, friends, and the less fortunate.  It is a privilege to be back here in the classroom trying to help provide that same opportunity to the amazing students enrolled in business undergraduate and graduate programs."

In addition to his teaching duties, Stevens is the founder and C.E.O. of CS 74 Ventures LLC, a holding company of various initiatives in which he has invested/owns with the commitment of donating at least 50 percent of the profits to charitable causes. He also is a past board member of Mass. Crinc, the ALS Association of America, the Chicago Chamber of Commerce, and the Notre Dame Monogram Club.

"On behalf of my family, thank you so much for this incredible honor. I tell my students that it is impossible to sprinkle some happiness on others and not get some on yourself,” Stevens said. “I certainly know there are many other alumni who richly deserve this honor, but I am a humbled but very happy man to receive this recognition."