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INVESTING IN THE REGION
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By Debra Solomon
Baker
 DR. ALTON LACEY
president,
Missouri Baptist University
When job-related frustrations abound, some head for the gym, while
others make a beeline for the refrigerator. But for Dr. Alton Lacey,
President of Missouri Baptist University, the perfect tonic is a
chat.
“When I start feeling sorry for myself, I go straight to the
student center and talk to students. Seeing their talents and the
way that they are developing and growing—that makes everything
worthwhile,” Lacey says.
Under his ten-year leadership, enrollment at Missouri Baptist, an
evangelical Christian, liberal arts institution, has doubled, with
a 10 percent increase from just last school year. The University
has added graduate-level programming, which is continuing to expand.
Its newest offering will be an education specialist degree to train
individuals for such upper-level education positions as school
district superintendents.
In addition to this expansion in programming, Lacey is coordinating
plans for a new fitness and recreation complex, a student coffeehouse,
and a library renovation.
Lacey, however, does not rest on his laurels. He is acutely aware
that educational institutions are at risk for many things, including
stagnation.
“One of the challenges is to keep people looking ahead. It’s
easy to fall into a rut—to offer the same courses year after
year,” says Lacey, a former chemical engineer. “We have
been in a growth situation for quite some time, but I don’t
think it’s something that we can take for granted.”
Because Missouri Baptist does not receive any governmental
support, it relies exclusively on donors and on tuition for its
sustenance. In return, its product, the graduates, are trained to
become community leaders.
“While we are serious about the faith aspect [of the institution],
we are, first and foremost, an educational institution,” says
Lacey. “We believe in the free and responsible search for truth,
the cultivation of character, and in an education that prepares
students for service. We believe that they should use their education
to bring about positive social change.”
In addition to his role at the University, Lacey, himself, has a
long list of St. Louis organizations to which he has focused his
energy. He has, for instance, chaired several United Way boards,
served on the by-laws committee of Kirkwood Baptist Church, and
on the board of directors of The Rossman School.
LEADERSHIP CIRCLE INSIGHTS
When you think through all that you hope to accomplish, on a professional
level, during 2006, which one thing tops your list? Why?
“At the top of my list for 2006 is ensuring that the men and
women fighting to preserve freedom and democracy around the world
have the best products, services and support that Boeing provides
so they can return home safely to their families and communities.
And here in St. Louis, I want to be sure that The Boeing Company
does all it can to enhance the communities where we do business
and where our employees live and work.”
Pat Finneran
St. Louis regional executive and vice president/general manager
for Logistics Support Systems,
The Boeing Company
“Professionally, the top of my list is occupied by a focus
on making the
organization that I lead an even more potent force in the world
of marketing. 2006, just like any other year, must be a year of
growth, improvement, and greater efficiency.”
Clifford Franklin
chairman and president,
FUSE Inc., an affiliate of Final Phase Marketing
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