Welcome to Thrive Talk, a new segment where we sit down with a member of the Thrive team. From staff members, participants, board members and volunteers, we bring you their perspective on a part of Thrive Community Services.
Today we are talking with Randy Conlon, longtime board member for Thrive. Randy is most notably known for being a co-owner of the popular Galesburg business, Office Specialists, and for serving on various boards in the Galesburg community. Recently, Randy sat down with Dylana Larson, Director of Development for Thrive Community Services to talk about his experience on the board of directors.
Dylana: Randy, it has been a year now that you have been back on our board after serving on the KCCDD board previously from 1992 – 2015. We are glad to have you back!
Randy: It’s great to be back and see all the changes here at Thrive.
Dylana: How did you come to be on the board at Thrive originally?
Randy: I had been the Office Specialist sales rep for KCCDD back when they were renovating the Hawthorne center for daily use. At that time, Ned Hippensteel was the CEO and he inquired about me serving on the board. I had not served on a board previously, but being a new business owner, I was looking for a way to be involved in the community and I liked the mission of KCCDD.
Dylana: What first struck you about the Thrive/KCCDD organization when you first joined the board?
Randy: To see how engaged the staff are with the participants…the dedication of the team. Talking with the team and you realize how many have been working at Thrive for 10, 20, 30 years…it shows you that they realize what they are doing here is important. Returning to the board, I see the commitment of the staff continues to this day.
Dylana: What experience did you have with the world of intellectual and developmental disabilities before joining the board?
Randy: Being the Office Specialist sales rep for Thrive, I was familiar with what Thrive did, but no personal experience.
Dylana: Where did you grow up?
Randy: Born and raised in Galesburg, I attended Galesburg High School, as well as Carl Sandburg College.
Dylana: Coming back on to the board after an 8-year hiatus, what’s different?
Randy: You can see that the state of the financials is in a much better place. Through fiscal planning and changes financial planning, the organization is in a stable place.
Dylana: You’ve been attending our Thrive annual auction fundraiser for quite some time…how many have you been to?
Randy: We’ve (my wife and I) have been to nearly every one. In fact, that is how we came to visit Hilton Head Island for the first time as we won the coveted Hilton Head vacation auction item one year. It’s one of our favorite events in the Galesburg community, along with the Howl at the Moon event that Thrive does each year.
Dylana: When you’re not busy serving on Thrive’s board, where else might one find you?
Randy: Spending time with my family, especially our two grandkids. I enjoy hunting, fishing and playing golf. I also serve on the board for OSF St. Mary Medical Center.
Thank you, Randy for sitting down with us to chat about your experience being on the board. We are so glad to have your support on the board of Thrive Community Services!
That concludes our first Thrive Talk. Join us next time to hear more from our Thrive Team of staff, volunteers, participants and community partners. For more information on Thrive Community Services, please visit thriveGalesburg.org
Comments