Live Green: O'Reillys receive award

So Armstrong probably doesn’t mind that the O’Reilly family has adopted Armstrong’s Live Strong slogan to define the automotive company’s corporate culture.

March 17 was Live Green day in O’Reilly Automotive land, and not just because it was St. Patrick’s Day. The O’Reilly family received the 2006 OTC Excellence in Business Award during an afternoon reception.

Larry, Charlie and David O’Reilly, and sister Rosalie O’Reilly Wooten sat down for a conversation with Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce President Jim Anderson before a crowd of 300 at Ozarks Technical Community College.

Larry told of his involvement with the Lance Armstrong Foundation, where he is one of 12 board members.

Rosalie shared her interests in the outdoors and arts, evident in her work for Ozark Greenways, Missouri State Council of the Arts and Discovery Center.

David talked about his first summer job with the company.

And Charlie, the oldest sibling, expressed gratitude for the risks his father and grandfather took to start the business in 1957.

But the underlying themes were family and corporate values. They’re synonymous with the O’Reillys.

The company has printed more than 20,000 Team O’Reilly T-shirts with Live Green on the back, outlining the company’s key principles: respect, teamwork, honesty and dedication, to name a few.

“I love the culture,” said Greg Johnson, a materials handler at the corporate distribution center. “Just like they said up there on stage, that’s how it is.”

Just three months on the job, Johnson said he’s already had supervisors show appreciation for his work. And they aren’t bothered by his questions about company operations.

“They’re already showing me how I can move up in the company,” he said.

The renowned culture – it was recognized in Jason Jennings’ 2005 book “Think Big, Act Small” – stresses hard work and commitment.

Apparently, it’s the only way they know how to live.

“A principle that was taught to us as we grew up was to lead by example,” Larry O’Reilly told the crowd.

Giving back

That culture has spilled over into the community.

“Yes, they’re great businesspeople, but their heart is with the needs of this community,” said Greene County Commissioner Harold Bengsch after the event. “That’s what makes them so special. Anywhere there seems to be a need, there seems to be an O’Reilly.”

The O’Reillys serve on numerous community and corporate boards, where they make monetary and personal contributions.

“You’ve got to give back to balance things out,” Larry O’Reilly said.

Architect and Missouri House of Representatives candidate Dan Scott was drawn to the awards reception in part because of a recent O’Reilly contribution made to his campaign fund.

Scott received a personal letter and the maximum $300 contribution from Charlie O’Reilly when the Republican announced his candidacy for downtown’s legislative district.

But Scott’s personal connection to the corporation goes a bit deeper.

“We were kind of growing up together,” said Scott, who likens the company to a neighborhood kid.

Scott is four years younger than O’Reilly Automotive Inc.

O’Reilly Automotive just grew to become the most successful kid on the block. Now, Scott wants a piece of that corporate success, which includes a $2 billion sales milestone last year and a record stock price of $38.30 a share on March 1.

“I just talked to my stockbroker and said, ‘Let’s get them on the watch list and make a purchase,’” Scott said.

The chamber’s Anderson told the audience he has held O’Reilly shares long enough to pay for his daughters’ college education through the stock’s appreciation.

Small-business owner Kevin M. Postel walked away from the O’Reilly conversation with a better idea of how to build a business.

Postel may buy a Texas company that would double the size of his Postel Maps & Atlas Inc.

“I’m trying to make an intelligent decision,” he said, adding that he’ll use the things learned from the O’Reillys – hard work, diligence and patience – in building his business.

Postel also had a question about getting employees to work hard.

Larry O’Reilly had an answer: “To give 110 percent, you’ve got to let (employees) be involved and be themselves.”

Looking ahead, O’Reilly Automotive will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, and the family expects company revenues to double to $4 billion in 2010.[[In-content Ad]]