Carson Edwards Jr.

| Corporate Climber |
Carson Edwards Jr.
Global Account Executive, Marriott Global Sales Team, Marriott International Inc.

Washington, D.C.
Age: 37

If anyone understands life on the road, it’s Carson Edwards Jr., CASE. Consider his upbringing: born in Buffalo, N.Y., but raised in Richmond, Va., Camden, N.J., Washington, D.C., the Bronx and Norfolk, Va. Then there are the weeks he travels for his globetrotting Marriott job. “I enjoy it, but it’s not glamorous—it’s work,” he says. Still, Edwards isn’t complaining, as he’s happy engaging with planners at some 55 of Marriott’s top association meetings accounts, helping coordinate global get-togethers that can range from 10 to 20,000 attendees. Edwards’ role models—his mom, teachers and track coaches—kept him focused and self-disciplined as a youth and through college and an MBA program. As a result, he’s worked his way up Marriott’s corporate ladder. In 2005, Edwards wanted to give back and suggested that Marriott fund a scholarship in the name of Alice S. Marriott for Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority’s hospitality students. “It feels good to help other young people achieve their goals,” says Edwards, whose aim was to honor the hotel family’s matriarch for her efforts to educate students about the hospitality industry.

—M. Boisclair