Lifetime Achievement in Business: Mary Kay Meek

Mary Kay Meek

Mary Kay Meek doesn't consider herself to be a traditional businessperson. That's probably because her career has been anything but traditional.

Meek re-entered the work force in 1985 after taking a 16-year hiatus to raise her four children. After earning a real estate license, she became the president of Trymeek Corp., the real estate division of Meek's Building Centers. She also became the company's community relations director.

Over the next several years, Meek worked alongside her husband Terry. When the company needed to buy land to add a new building center, she helped broker the deal.

Through the years, Meek has donated her time and talent to an amazing number of community projects. She helped the Community Foundation of the Ozarks evolve from an all-volunteer organization with marginal funding into a thriving nonprofit organization, which is run by a professional staff.

Through the Junior League of Springfield, she helped start a low-cost day-care center for inner-city residents. During her tenure as president in 1982, the Junior League secured a building that now serves as the organization's headquarters.

When the local president of the United Way left in 1986 shortly before the organization's annual fundraising drive, Meek became the organization's acting president and helped lead a successful and lucrative campaign drive.

From 1991 to 1996 she served on the Board of Education for Springfield Catholic Schools, and last year she chaired the board of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. Meek also is a strong supporter of Ozark Public Television, serving on the board and helping organize fund-raising events.

Meek's community spirit hasn't gone unnoticed, and she has received numerous awards. Despite those accolades, Meek remains modest.

"I've been recognized far more than I deserve," she said. "People point to this and that, but the truth is my successes have come through the hard work and efforts of many people."