PepsiCo Beverages North America

Q&A with Heather Hoytink, South Division President of PepsiCo Beverages NA

Heather Hoytink is a proud Orlando resident, a 2023 Orlando magazine Woman of the Year and the first female division president at PepsiCo Beverages North America. She also grew up in a military family.

Helping our nation’s military families is important to Hoytink in her work at PepsiCo. Here, she shares her personal thoughts, the company’s initiatives and advice on what we all can do to support our community’s veterans and their families.

Orlando Magazine: How did you first become involved with Rolling Remembrance and what does your involvement mean to you? 

Heather Hoytink: Rolling Remembrance has been an annual Memorial Day tradition at PepsiCo since 2015, and I’ve had the pleasure of being involved from the very beginning. This incredible program comes to life through two vital partnerships—with our veteran employee resource group, PepsiCo VALOR, and Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, an organization which provides college scholarships and educational counseling to children who have lost a parent in the line of duty.

To me, Rolling Remembrance really hits home, as both my brother and father are retired Army veterans, and my grandfather was in the Navy. I understand the sacrifices military families make. From time away from their families, missing key milestones to frequent relocation across the country, our military service members often put our country and our freedom ahead of themselves.

And unfortunately, some of these heroes make the ultimate sacrifice. Approximately 25,000 children have lost a parent in military service over the last 35 years. Many Gold Star families struggle to make ends meet, with 52 percent of surviving spouses making less than $50,000 per year, according to the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation.

Through Rolling Remembrance, we are helping ease the financial burden on military families so children who have lost a parent in the line of duty can attend college and pursue their educational and professional dreams. It’s our way of giving back to those who have given so much to us and our country. To date, Rolling Remembrance has raised more than $2 million for the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, providing more than 320 years of college for their scholars.

I look forward to seeing this program come to life each year and love the continued local support it garners in our community as we come together to support Gold Star families.

PepsiCo Beverages North America

OM: How does PepsiCo support the military and its veterans in the Central Florida community?

HH: Beyond Rolling Remembrance, PepsiCo is committed to hiring local veterans and supporting them through the transition to civilian life here in Central Florida, and across the nation. We’ve proactively established partnerships with key military hiring organizations such as Military.com, Recruit Military and Veteran Jobs Mission, all of which focus on hiring and supporting veterans by matching them with rewarding careers.

Our employee resource group, VALOR, also has chapters in Florida and across the U.S. that are committed to recognizing and supporting the military, veterans, their families and our communities. This includes internal recognition, mentorship and benefit programs as well as partnerships with non-profit organizations who support servicemembers and veterans in the communities where we live and work.

For local veterans based here in Orlando, I highly encourage you to visit our career hub at www.Pepsicojobs.com/military.

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OM: What were the most important things you learned while growing up in a military family?

HH: Where do I start? Growing up in a military family taught me so much including discipline, grit and mental toughness, but one thing that has stuck with me to this day is upholding a strong sense of responsibility for others. I always lead with a people-first approach, and I hold myself and my team accountable in constantly seeking new ways to serve and uplift one another and our local community. Rolling Remembrance is a perfect example of just that.

My experience also fuels my inspiration for the impactful work done specifically for military families by organizations like the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation. I’ve seen firsthand that service and sacrifice goes beyond the individual members of our military and veterans—and it’s important to acknowledge the role of their families who make tremendous sacrifices of their own.

OM: How can the public best support its military and veterans?

HH: No effort is too small when it comes to supporting our military and veterans. First and foremost, thank them for their service, strength and bravery and express your support. Let them know “I’ve got your family’s back”—or as they would say, “I’ve got your six”—when they may be going through a period of transition. Whether it’s providing a home-cooked meal or a few hours of childcare when a spouse is deployed or sharing tools and information to help them adjust to their new neighborhood, a few heartfelt words and small actions can go a long way.

Local community members can also lend their support by seeking out charitable organizations like Children of Fallen Patriots who are working day in and day out to support the military, veterans and their families. Beyond financial contributions, volunteering your time or expertise can be just as valuable to help them deliver on their missions.