Joe Chlapaty H’10 is an Emeritus and current member of the Marietta College Board of Trustees and the parent of a 1997 alumnus. Mr. Chlapaty is an Entrepreneur/Chlapaty Investments LLC, and retired from Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., based in Columbus, Ohio. At ADS, he served in numerous roles, including as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (1980), President and Chief Operating Officer (1994), Chief Executive Officer (2004), Chairman of the Board (2008-2017), and Emeritus Chairman (2017-present). During his leadership role, he guided ADS from $55,000,000 in sales revenue in 1980 to the world’s largest producer of thermoplastic corrugated pipe and related products with current sales revenue of approximately $1,500,000,000; 60 manufacturing plants and 19 customer service centers worldwide with approximately 4,000 employees. He spearheaded an initial public offering and listing on the New York Stock Exchange in July 2014. Prior to his work at ADS, Mr. Chlapaty worked for the Lindberg Corporation and Arthur Anderson LLC.
His initial service as a Marietta College Trustee began in 1998, during which time he was the Chair of the Finance Committee. He was given Emeritus Trustee status upon completion of his term. He re-joined service to the Board of Trustees in 2024. Mr. Chlapaty also dedicated his time to his alma mater, the University of Dubuque (Iowa), where he began working with the Board in 1992 and serving as Chairman of the Executive Committee. He is now a Chairman Emeritus.
Mr. Chlapaty has served on a number of professional and not-for-profit boards, including the Fifth Third Bank of Columbus, the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges, Lutheran Social Services, Dublin City Schools, Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus (2008-present), KIPP Journey Academy (2009-present), Columbus Partnership, American Heart Association, United Way of Central Ohio, and the Columbus Symphony.