STLCC-Forest Park’s Master Class Series is Chosen Innovation of the Year

A special speaker series designed to show students how business leaders overcome obstacles to achieve success has been named the St. Louis Community College Innovation of the Year. 

The Master Class Series is based on the premise that behind every successful business leader is an inspirational story. It was spearheaded by the Business Club at the Forest Park campus in partnership with the St. Louis Business Journal and other campus departments. A core committee oversees each Master Class presentation; speakers are scheduled two to three times per semester, with two speakers per session. Student hosts guide each presentation. 

“These timely stories are not only of personal triumphs, but also of loss and disappointment,” said Angelic Cole, assistant professor in business administration who serves as the chair of the Master Class Series Committee. “What sets the leader apart from the ordinary business person, however, is how he or she reacts to life’s challenges.” 

The featured speakers in March were Robbie Montgomery and her son Tim Norman, owner and chef of Sweetie Pie’s restaurants in St. Louis and stars of the reality TV show on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network. Maxine Clark of Build-a-Bear Workshops and John Mozeliak of the St. Louis Cardinals also have been featured speakers.

In addition to Cole, other primary committee members include Kelli Harris, executive assistant to the president; Sandra Osburn, associate professor in communications; Claudia Perry, district coordinator of college communications; and Ena Primous, administrative assistant to the vice president for academic affairs.  

More information about this project can be found at http://www.stlcc.edu/Newsroom/2013/05/News49.html. 

The League for Innovation in the Community College established the Innovation of the Year Award to recognize an individual or group from each of the 20 member college districts who have used creative, productive approaches to meet new needs or solve old problems Criteria for the award are quality, efficiency, cost effectiveness, replication, creativity and timeliness. STLCC is a founding member of the League for Innovation. 

Established in 1962, St. Louis Community College is the largest community college district in Missouri and one of the largest in the United States.  STLCC has four campuses – Florissant Valley, Forest Park, Meramec and Wildwood – that annually serve more than 81,000 students through credit courses, continuing education and workforce development programs.  For more information about STLCC, visit www.stlcc.edu.