VP of Academic Angie Gaines graduates from Leadership Missouri & Dr. Shawn Strong named Distinguished Alumni

Published on November 17, 2022

State Tech Vice President of Academic Angie Gaines graduates from Leadership Missouri and Dr. Shawn Strong named Distinguished Alumni.

LAKE OZARK — In a ceremony on November 10, the 2022 class of Leadership Missouri graduated 32 leaders from organizations across the state. State Tech’s Vice President of Academic Affairs Angie Gaines was one of those graduates.

The class spent the previous seven months traveling across Missouri, networking with peers and learning about challenges and opportunities facing our state.

The celebration also marked the completion of the 31st class of the Leadership Missouri program. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry founded the program in 1990 and has hosted classes each year — with the 2020 program postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I would like to congratulate all of our Leadership Missouri graduates. It’s been a great experience to work with these very talented leaders from across Missouri and help grow their potential to Missouri move forward,” said Daniel P. Mehan, President and CEO, Missouri Chamber.

Alongside the graduation ceremony, the Missouri Chamber also took a moment to honor State Tech President Dr. Shawn Strong, a 2017 graduate of Leadership Missouri, with the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award.

“I am honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Strong. “Leadership Missouri is the premier leadership program where current and emerging leaders — both men and women — come together to become better leaders and to make our communities stronger. As a

participant in the program, I learned so much about the challenges and the opportunities of our beautiful state and our communities. As a graduate and alumni of Leadership Missouri, it has been a pleasure to continue to help the program grow great leaders.”

Strong, President of State Technical College of Missouri, stood out as a distinguished alumnus due to his longstanding service to the program, including his strong leadership of at State Tech, named the best two year college in the country.

“Shawn Strong is a leader among leaders and his generous service to Leadership Missouri has been vital to our program’s success. This honor is very well deserved and I congratulate him on being named the 2022 Leadership Missouri Distinguished Alumni,” said Mehan. “With the success of our alumni and leaders like Strong, it is clear that Leadership Missouri is no less vital today than it was at its founding. Right now, Missouri needs strong leadership to confront today’s challenges. We need leaders like Strong and our 2022 graduates who can work across industries and regions to unite our state. That is exactly what Leadership Missouri provides and we are very grateful for Strong, our new graduates and everyone who helps make Leadership Missouri a success.”

The 2023 class of Leadership Missouri is now accepting applications.  Learn more at mochamber.com/leadershipmissouri and https://www.statetechmo.edu