Kevin Plank
Encyclopedia
Kevin A. Plank is an American CEO and founder of Under Armour
, Inc., a leading manufacturer of sports performance apparel, footwear and accessories based in Baltimore
, Maryland
, United States
.
, Maryland
, and he has four older brothers. He was removed from Georgetown Preparatory School
because of poor academic performance, but went on to play football at Fork Union Military Academy
. Plank then attended the University of Maryland
.
, Plank avoided rules that restricted student athletes from taking jobs by launching businesses of his own. Plank developed Cupid’s Valentine, an annual business that sold roses for Valentine’s Day. He put away $17,000 from the rose business, which eventually became seed money for Under Armour.
The original concept for Under Armour was born out of necessity, as Plank was the self-proclaimed “sweatiest guy on the football field.” Frustrated by his sweat-soaked cotton t-shirts' inability to keep him dry and comfortable, he started the hunt for a material that would wick the sweat from his body to make him lighter and faster.
From local tailor shops in College Park, Maryland
to the garment district of New York City
, Plank, upon graduating from Maryland in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, searched for synthetic materials to test his hypothesis. Plank ran through seven prototypes before deciding on the one he wanted to use. He then asked his former teammates to try on the shirts, explaining that his alternative to a basic cotton T-shirt would enhance their performance on the field. As Plank's friends moved on to play professionally, he would send them T-shirts, requesting that they pass them out to other players in their locker rooms.
A turning point for Plank and his start-up, Under Armour, which was now based out of a Georgetown rowhouse owned by his grandmother, came late in 1999. A $25,000 advertisement in ESPN Magazine spurred $1 million in direct sales for the following year and athletes and teams began buying the product.
In 2003, Under Armour’s first TV advertisement featured a football squad huddled around Plank’s former University of Maryland teammate Eric Ogbogu
, shouting “we must protect this house.” The phrase became shorthand for the Under Armour brand and can be seen and heard throughout college football stadiums across the country.
and Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. In addition to sitting on the University’s Board of Trustees, Plank played an integral role in the development of an endowment fund that the Dingman Center uses to invest in viable startup businesses. Plank is also responsible for the development of the annual Cupid’s Cup business competition. The competition got its name from Plank’s “Cupid’s Valentine” rose business he began while attending the University.
In addition to his involvement with his alma mater, Plank also stays active within the Baltimore and Washington DC communities sitting on the Board of Directors for the Baltimore City Fire Foundation, the Greater Baltimore Committee and Greater Washington Sports Alliance
. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees for Living Classrooms, a Baltimore-Washington based non-profit organization dedicated to the hands-on education of young people using urban, natural and maritime environments as “living classrooms."
On a national level, Plank is also a member the Board of Trustees for the National Football Foundation and the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association
. His involvement in philanthropy has also translated to his business. Under Armour supports the V Foundation for cancer research and has its own Power in Pink campaign, raising funds for breast cancer research and education. In addition, Under Armour supports The Boomer Esiason Foundation, The Rock Foundation, Ronald McDonald House and Conservation Fund. The Company also has a “Give Back” program, encouraging employees to become involved with local charities.
Under Armour
Under Armour is an American sports clothing and accessories company. The company is a supplier of a wide range of sportswear and casual apparel mainly focusing on hi-tech sportswear for professional athletes...
, Inc., a leading manufacturer of sports performance apparel, footwear and accessories based in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Early life
Plank's mother was the mayor of KensingtonKensington, Maryland
Kensington is a town in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,873 at the 2000 census. Greater Kensington encompasses the entire 20895 zip code and its population is an order of magnitude larger than that of the town at its center....
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, and he has four older brothers. He was removed from Georgetown Preparatory School
Georgetown Preparatory School
Georgetown Preparatory School is an American Jesuit college preparatory school for grades 9 through 12. It is the oldest all boys school in the United States, and the only Jesuit boarding school in the country...
because of poor academic performance, but went on to play football at Fork Union Military Academy
Fork Union Military Academy
Fork Union Military Academy is a private, military boarding school located in the town of Fork Union, Virginia. The school is more commonly known by its acronym FUMA ....
. Plank then attended the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
.
Entrepreneurial story
At the University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, Plank avoided rules that restricted student athletes from taking jobs by launching businesses of his own. Plank developed Cupid’s Valentine, an annual business that sold roses for Valentine’s Day. He put away $17,000 from the rose business, which eventually became seed money for Under Armour.
The original concept for Under Armour was born out of necessity, as Plank was the self-proclaimed “sweatiest guy on the football field.” Frustrated by his sweat-soaked cotton t-shirts' inability to keep him dry and comfortable, he started the hunt for a material that would wick the sweat from his body to make him lighter and faster.
From local tailor shops in College Park, Maryland
College Park, Maryland
College Park is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. The population was 30,413 at the 2010 census. It is best known as the home of the University of Maryland, College Park, and since 1994 the city has also been home to the "Archives II" facility of the U.S...
to the garment district of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Plank, upon graduating from Maryland in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, searched for synthetic materials to test his hypothesis. Plank ran through seven prototypes before deciding on the one he wanted to use. He then asked his former teammates to try on the shirts, explaining that his alternative to a basic cotton T-shirt would enhance their performance on the field. As Plank's friends moved on to play professionally, he would send them T-shirts, requesting that they pass them out to other players in their locker rooms.
A turning point for Plank and his start-up, Under Armour, which was now based out of a Georgetown rowhouse owned by his grandmother, came late in 1999. A $25,000 advertisement in ESPN Magazine spurred $1 million in direct sales for the following year and athletes and teams began buying the product.
In 2003, Under Armour’s first TV advertisement featured a football squad huddled around Plank’s former University of Maryland teammate Eric Ogbogu
Eric Ogbogu
Eric O. Ogbogu is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the New York Jets, the Cincinnati Bengals, and the Dallas Cowboys.-Early studies:...
, shouting “we must protect this house.” The phrase became shorthand for the Under Armour brand and can be seen and heard throughout college football stadiums across the country.
Management style
Plank still draws upon his basic athletic values at the office. In lieu of meetings, Under Armour has “huddles,” and posted on the wall in most conference rooms are the “Under Armour Huddle” rules, which encourage workers to “be prepared to huddle,” “manage the clock,” “know your position,” “run the huddle,” “execute the play” and “respect your teammates.” These dictums are at the heart of what has made Under Armour so successful.Philanthropy
Plank has been a long-time supporter of the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of BusinessRobert H. Smith School of Business
The Robert H. Smith School of Business is a school of business management within the University of Maryland, College Park. The school was named after alumnus Robert H. Smith...
and Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. In addition to sitting on the University’s Board of Trustees, Plank played an integral role in the development of an endowment fund that the Dingman Center uses to invest in viable startup businesses. Plank is also responsible for the development of the annual Cupid’s Cup business competition. The competition got its name from Plank’s “Cupid’s Valentine” rose business he began while attending the University.
In addition to his involvement with his alma mater, Plank also stays active within the Baltimore and Washington DC communities sitting on the Board of Directors for the Baltimore City Fire Foundation, the Greater Baltimore Committee and Greater Washington Sports Alliance
Greater Washington Sports Alliance
The Greater Washington Sports Alliance is a non-profit organization, founded in 2003 under the Greater Washington Board of Trade. Currently, an independent entity, its board is headed by Chairman Fernando Murias, Managing Partner of PriceWaterhouseCoopers. It is the regional sports commission...
. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees for Living Classrooms, a Baltimore-Washington based non-profit organization dedicated to the hands-on education of young people using urban, natural and maritime environments as “living classrooms."
On a national level, Plank is also a member the Board of Trustees for the National Football Foundation and the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association
Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association
The Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association is a trade association of the retailers, manufacturers and marketers of the sporting goods industry. The SGMA was founded in 1906 in New York, and is currently based in Washington, D.C. Currently, the SGMA represents over 1,000 manufacturers, retailers...
. His involvement in philanthropy has also translated to his business. Under Armour supports the V Foundation for cancer research and has its own Power in Pink campaign, raising funds for breast cancer research and education. In addition, Under Armour supports The Boomer Esiason Foundation, The Rock Foundation, Ronald McDonald House and Conservation Fund. The Company also has a “Give Back” program, encouraging employees to become involved with local charities.