You’ve heard of O’Reilly Automotive Inc., the Springfield-based auto parts retailer that’s been a darling of Wall Street since going public.
Well this episode, we sit down with an O’Reilly, Tim O’Reilly, the grandson of company co-founder Charlie Chub O’Reilly. Tim’s not in the auto business but we’ll find he’s definitely influenced by his family culture.
Tim's soft spoken but direct in leading his company, O’Reilly Hospitality Management, in putting philanthropy at its core:
"It kind of goes back to my upbringing. It's all I've ever known. My parents and family, they were very focused on community outreach and trying to good things to help people. It has a lot of basis in our religion and how we were raised.
"Someone who's a giving person fits well with hospitality."

From the onset, it’s obvious co-host Greg Burris and guest Cora Scott have great rapport from years working together. She’s the city of Springfield’s director of public information and civic engagement. That last part of her title is unique and adds a layer to her job that involves corporate citizenship.

Missouri State University is home to over 20,000 individuals and it’s a breeding ground for the next workforce and community leaders.
In this conversation, I hear that President Clif Smart Views corporate citizenship as a living organism on campus. And he and his team have a big influence and a front row seat for the next generation of professionals. We get to understand their psyche in this episode.