YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY

Springfield, MO

Log in Subscribe

2010 40 Under 40: Stephanie Brown

Posted online
Put a fundraising challenge in front of Stephanie Brown, and she’s bound to knock it down.

As Ozarks Technical Community College’s director of alumni relations and special events, Brown’s track record includes capturing the college’s first $1 million gift, organizing the OTC Foundation golf tournament, which has netted $45,000 in three years, and increasing scholarship disbursement by 22 percent.

“Ozarks Technical Community College is young in comparison to most colleges,” Brown says. “The OTC Foundation is even younger. Our struggle has been to educate community members about the benefits of OTC.”

Last year, Brown launched a Leadership Reception program to educate community members about the mission and efforts of the college and the foundation. Brown says the receptions have been crucial in an OTC capital campaign that’s raised $7 million of its $10 million goal.

Then, she created donor receptions as a way for scholarship recipients to meet their donors.

“Working with donors and being able to make education affordable and attainable to our students is the best part of my position,” Brown says of the scholarship program that awarded 200 scholarships in the 2009–10 school year, up from 40 awarded in 2005.

“These events have given OTC an opportunity to educate community members, reward our scholarship recipients, thank our donors and develop new relationships.”

Brown also steps to the classroom as an adjunct business teacher.

“Working with students to help them achieve their goals has helped me to have another perspective in my career,” she says. “I keep in touch with several of my students, as I want to know what they have accomplished, and I want them to know they can come to me for advice.”

Brown is active in Springfield Rotaract and will serve as its president this year. As Rotaract’s winter party co-chairperson for two years, she helped raise $12,000 for Boys and Girls Town of Springfield’s holiday project fund. The money helped area children make the most of their school experiences, paying for prom dresses, letter jackets, music lessons and art supplies.

Additionally, she’s served as treasurer for the Association of Fundraising Professionals the last two years and helped organize its annual Philanthropy Day.

Brown is a member of The Network, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s young professionals organization, and was appointed to the chamber’s Community Focus Steering Committee in 2007 and 2009.

“I will continue to do my part to help achieve the vision of a better future,” Brown says.[[In-content Ad]]

Comments

No comments on this story |
Please log in to add your comment
Editors' Pick
From the Ground Up: Republic Intermediate School

The Republic School District is on track to open its Intermediate School for fifth- and sixth-grade students for the 2025-26 academic year.

Most Read
Update cookies preferences