CWU Alumnus, Tommy Bahama CEO Featured in Forbes Magazine

One of the most distinguished business alumni from Central Washington University has been featured in Forbes magazine in a special feature section titled, Meet The Leaders And Businesses Who Are Inspiring To Change The World.

CWU alumnus Doug Wood was recently featured in Forbes magazine.

Doug Wood, the chief executive officer of the lifestyle clothing brand Tommy Bahama, is described as a "strong, effective leader responsible for more than 20 years of the company's impressive growth and expansion." The 1987 alumnus was named president of the company in 2008 and CEO in 2015.

Under Wood's leadership, Tommy Bahama has expanded the brand's charitable efforts, such as the Garden of Hope & Courage, Skin Cancer Foundation, No Kid Hungry, Bike Ms, The Refugee Artisan Initiative (RAI), Fashion Scholarship Fund, The Rainier Scholars, Golf Charity Golf Tournament Series, and Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Beginning next month, Tommy Bahama will donate to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and participate in a "round up" program at their retail stores for guests to donate.

"I'm fortunate to be at a company where an unbelievable charitable spirit is part of our culture," Wood is quoted as saying. "Employees at every level get involved in a grassroots, bottom-up, not just top-down approach to giving. ... We also support employee-driven initiatives - from supporting refugee groups and fundraisers to sponsoring a team of Tommy Bahama employees in the Bike MS ride, where employee participation and money raised have increased every year."

According to a 2015 Ellensburg Daily Record article, Wood is a Kittitas County native who went to school in the Kittitas School District and later, Ellensburg High School. His father worked for the city of Ellensburg, and his mother owned Buttons Jewelers downtown.