In a powerful speech at Georgia Southern University’s Norman Fries Distinguished Lectureship Series, Don Waters, Savannah native and former CEO of Brasseler USA, shared a personal account of his path from college student to influential business leader. Waters took listeners on a journey from his early challenges in Savannah, through his rise in law and business, to his ultimate role as a CEO, weaving in reflections on the role of family, perseverance, and vision in shaping his success.
Waters expressed gratitude for the support of friends, family, and mentors who helped shape his path. He discussed his formative years in Savannah and Bulloch County, recalling both the family’s struggles—like his father’s debilitating injury and subsequent job loss—and the sacrifices made to ensure he and his brother, Gene, had opportunities to succeed.
He credits his family’s resilience for instilling in him a strong work ethic and determination, which fueled his early career as he worked multiple jobs while excelling academically. Waters emphasized the importance of these experiences in developing his commitment to hard work and lifelong learning.
His journey to success began with an unexpected conversation with his father about college. Though he initially resisted, his father’s quiet encouragement and his parents’ vision for his future motivated him to attend Armstrong State College (now part of Georgia Southern). This turning point, which he called “the simple act that changed my life,” set him on a trajectory that he hadn’t envisioned, one that would eventually lead him to a dual career as a lawyer and certified public accountant (CPA).
Excelling in college, Waters pursued a degree in accounting with support from a mentor, professor Lamar Davis, who encouraged him to set his sights on law school. Inspired by this guidance, Waters went on to earn his law degree at the University of Georgia, even taking on the ambitious challenge of simultaneously preparing for both the bar and CPA exams. Passing both exams in the same year, Waters became one of the first in Georgia to achieve this dual credential, a move that opened doors for him in both law and business.
Upon completing his formal education, Waters returned to Savannah and joined the region’s largest law firm, Hunter MacLean, where he quickly made partner. However, his ambition and dedication to continuous learning prompted him to take a position with the renowned accounting firm Arthur Andersen in Atlanta, where he honed his business acumen while working with top executives and corporate clients. This experience broadened his perspective on management and provided insights that would later inform his leadership style.
Returning to Hunter MacLean as a partner, Waters focused on tax law, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate planning, becoming one of the region's top attorneys in business law. His commitment to excellence caught the attention of PricewaterhouseCoopers, one of the world’s leading accounting firms, which offered him a position as a direct-admit partner with the goal of establishing a Savannah office. Waters took on this challenge, building invaluable connections with major corporations across Southeast Georgia, but he ultimately decided that his heart lay in Savannah rather than in the larger cities Pricewaterhouse had in mind.
Waters’ career took a defining turn when he accepted the role of CEO at Brasseler USA, an international manufacturer of precision dental and medical instruments. As CEO, he built the company into a major player in the healthcare industry, managing growth across North America and Europe and implementing a management style inspired by servant leadership. Under his direction, Brasseler expanded its reach, forged new international partnerships, and maintained high standards of quality and innovation.
Reflecting on his time at Brasseler, Waters emphasized how the role of CEO allowed him to blend his legal and accounting expertise with his passion for strategic vision and servant leadership. His dedication extended beyond profits to the well-being of his employees and the Southeast Georgia community.
“Our creed was simple,” he said, “Lift the values, share the vision, manage the business, make others successful.”
In his address, Waters outlined his vision for Georgia Southern University and its role as a cornerstone for Southeast Georgia's progress. Waters advocated for expanding Georgia Southern’s role in regional healthcare and economic development, stressing that the university’s partnerships with local medical institutions could bolster medical and dental education access in the region. Highlighting Georgia Southern’s impact on public health, engineering, and educational excellence, he praised the potential of collaborative programs with the Medical College of Georgia and Augusta University, which aim to position Georgia Southern as a major research university in the state.
In 2017, Waters retired from Brasseler after leading the company for 23 years, leaving behind a legacy of growth, leadership, and service. Upon retirement, he and his wife Cindy established the Waters Foundation, focused on supporting healthcare and education initiatives in Southeast Georgia. Waters noted how he and Cindy had decided to form a family office and charitable foundation, placing a large portion of their wealth into local initiatives as a “gift from God,” meant to be used for the good of others.
As Waters looked back on his career, he reflected on his journey from a young stock boy at Kmart to a CEO, emphasizing that it was the support of family, mentors, and community that shaped his path. He left the audience with a vision for Georgia Southern as a key driver of Southeast Georgia’s development, stressing the university’s role in advancing healthcare, education, and economic opportunity for the region.
“The only thing that stops us from realizing this vision is limited vision itself,” he concluded, inviting the audience to work with him toward a brighter, more prosperous future for Southeast Georgia.
