The time that Charles Eitel spent at Oklahoma State University was filled with cherished memories. The Tulsa native earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University's business school in 1971.
He described his days at OSU as "the best four years of my life." He was involved in various organizations and held multiple leadership positions. He was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, president of Blue Key, president of Intercollegiate Knights, and a member of the UP Business Student Council. He was recognized as a Top-Ten Senior and received the Raymond D. Thomas Award.
Attending business school was a great experience for him. Dean Richard Poole and Professor Bob Hamm were his greatest mentors and made an everlasting impression on him. Little did he know that this time would be the foundation for a successful career.
As an accomplished company leader, author, and speaker with a diverse and highly developed skill set to drive corporate financial growth and culture development. In 2009, he co-founded Eitel & Armstrong, a consulting practice that provided hands-on operating and financial guidance to middle-market companies.
Charles Eitel published two books chronicling his management experience in facilitating corporate turnarounds and building powerful company cultures: Eitel Time: Turnaround Secrets and Mapping Your Legacy: A Hook It Up Journey. Also in print were 84 Quotes, which is a book of valuable quotes that guided and inspired.
Eitel was active in several civic and professional organizations, including the World Presidents' Organization and "Points of Life." He was recognized by multiple organizations and was honored with the City of Hope Spirit of Life Award in 2004 and the 2008 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee in the Consumer Products Category. He was also a former board member of Ladd Furniture and the George West Mental Health Center.
Charles Eitel was inducted into both the College of Business Hall of Fame (1997) and the OSU Alumni Hall of Fame (2005). He also served on the OSU Foundation Board of Trustees. In 2008, he was inducted into the Sigma Nu Hall of Fame and, in 2012, became the National Regent for Sigma Nu, a position he held until July 2014. Also, in 2008, he received the prestigious Henry G. Bennett Distinguished Fellow for the International School of Business Award.
He was a frequent speaker at the university level at OSU and the University of Virginia-Darden School of Business and is the subject of a five-part case study at Harvard University School of Business that is used to teach MBA students high-performing management principles.
