Arthur Blank Story

In 1963, blank graduated from Babson College with a B. S. degree in business administration and accounting. He is also the receiver of an honorary degree from the Furman University.

Career

After graduating, Blank worked at Arthur Young and Company as a senior accountant. He left the company and joined the Daylin Corporation, where he swiftly rose to the president of Elliott’s Drug Stores/Stripes Discount Stores, which was a division of Daylin.

Blank moved to the Handy Dan Home Improvement Centers division after the company decided to sell of the drug stores division. Blank was forced to resign from his post as Vice President after an internal power struggle.

In 1978, Blank co-founded Home Depot with his Elliott’s CEO, Bernard Marcus. The store’s innovative warehousing concept helped revolutionize the home improvement business and the venture made the founders billionaires. Blank retired as the company’s President in 2001, after having served 19 years at the post as co-chairman.

Currently, Blank is the Chairman, President and CEO of the AMB Group, LLC and Chairman of The Arthur Blank Foundation.

He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Amory University and the boards of Staples and Cox Enterprises.

In 2002, Blank bought the Atlanta Falcons franchise in the NFL.

In 2004, Blank purchased the Georgia Force, an Arena Football League franchise and moved the team back to Atlanta after several years.

Heights

In 2003, Blank was named ‘Georgia’s Most Respected CEO’ by the Georgia Trend magazine.

In 2006, Blank was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame.

Personal Life

Arthur Blank has had two marriages previously, which ended in divorce. He and his first wife, Diana J. Blank, have three children from their marriage – Kenny, Dena and Danielle.

In 1995, Blank married Stephanie V. Blank from Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The couple had three children – Joshua, Max and Kylie blank – before ending their marriage in divorce.

Blank is currently engaged to Angela Macuga, a mother of three.

Blank is a signatory for The Giving Pledge and is committed to give away at least 50% of his wealth to charitable causes.

Awards

In 2005, blank was named ‘National Entrepreneur of the Year’ by Ernst & Young LLP.

In 2011, blank received the Freeing Voices, Changing Lives award from the American Institute for Stuttering.

In 2014, Blank was inducted as a Georgia Trustee, an honor given by the Georgia Historical Society and the Governor of Georgia to individuals for reflecting the ideals of the Trustees’ in accomplishments and community service.

Arthur Blank Speech