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ulver-Stockton College’s history is chock-full of stories that trace the paths of alumni who have accomplished incredible things. From professional athletes and world-renowned opera singers to global leaders, C-suite executives, and even a Deputy Attorney General of the United States, all of these stories have one common element: the journey to success for these alumni truly began on “the Hill.” Since 1853, Culver-Stockton College has focused on teaching students not only how to generate ideas but how they can use the tools they have been provided on “the Hill” to turn their ideas into workable solutions. As the new addition to the Gladys Crown Student Center began to take shape in early 2021, the school’s administration sought a lead donor to name the building. The college recognized the importance of partnering with a philanthropic leader who would serve as a champion for IDEA-focused thinking at this pivotal moment in the school’s history; after all, the donor’s name would adorn the outside of a building dedicated to Innovation, Design, and Experiential Activities. What eventually transpired was a break from tradition, but an appropriate name for the building that reflected the project’s very nature. Born in the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurism, the space seeks to inspire and demonstrate the power of collaborative thinking. The Johnson-Turner IDEA Center has been named by and for two alumni who also serve as members of the Culver-Stockton College Board of Trustees, Mr. Scott Johnson ’71 and Mr. H.B. Turner ’79. Their tradition-breaking decision to jointly name the IDEA Center signals the kind of transformative change that is possible when visionary people join together.
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Scott Johnson is an idea man. An innovative thinker, entrepreneur by trade, and natural connector, Johnson has a passion for making big things happen. In his career, he has served as a catalyst for new directions in the health industry as owner and CEO of Basic Brands, Inc., Basic Organics, U.S. Health Club, and University Nutrition. In his community outreach and over the course of a lengthy history of volunteerism, he has connected people in his town of Columbus, Ohio, and beyond with big, global initiatives through his board service for such organizations as Aladdin Shrine, the Ohio Commodores, the Arnold Classic, and the Culver-Stockton College Board of Trustees. In his capacity as a philanthropist, he has provided students on “the Hill’’ with opportunities for advancement and connection by naming the Johnson E-sports Arena, contributing to essential building projects, and providing crucial scholarship support. Johnson seeks to broaden the student experience for all CulverStockton College students and has sought to provide them with opportunities to stand out in the world of work. From offering unique mentorship opportunities to appearing as a featured speaker, he is continuously seeking new ways to connect with Culver-Stockton College students. Recognizing the importance of giving back to his alma mater, Johnson had been waiting for the right project to present itself which would solidify his legacy on “the Hill” in a way that honored his commitment to entrepreneurship and collaboration. Johnson shared,
“When the IDEA Center was presented to me, I thought long and hard about what this project could accomplish over the years… I realized that the IDEA Center could be the tipping point for a student to strive for the next level or next goal (and) to open their minds to real world experiences, not just book learning.” “What excites me the most about the IDEA Center is that it fulfills a goal of mine to make a difference in someone’s life. I once read that you work to make a living, you make a living to make a life, and then you make a difference,” Johnson shared. “I truly think that the IDEA Center can help make a difference in the lives of Culver-Stockton students.”
In his quest to make a difference for the next generation, Johnson saw an opportunity to match the intended energy of the IDEA Center and quickly identified a collaborative partner in the naming, fellow Trustee H.B. Turner. Johnson shared, “H. B. Turner is someone that I respect immensely. Being around (him) is always a positive learning experience and we think alike on almost every subject; he is a very successful entrepreneur and a loyal friend.” It is no stretch to suggest that H.B. Turner embodies the very principles of leadership, entrepreneurship, design-centric thinking, and innovation the IDEA Center’s activities seek to instill in Culver-Stockton College students. The naming of the Johnson-Turner IDEA Center pays tribute to Turner’s long-standing commitment to serving the place where it all began for him.
“When I heard (the IDEA Center) was going to be strictly for ideation, innovation, and creation for students, that was what really sold me because I think that is what makes Culver students unique and different,” Turner shared. “When they come to Culver, they learn different skills, but they also learn how to put those skills to work, solve problems, and come up with creative ideas. I think that is the exciting thing about the IDEA Center.” Turner has a lifetime of leadership experience, having retired in 2018 from his post as President and CEO of Heatron Inc., where he led an innovative design and manufacturing team responsible for the development and updating of components for crucial and often lifesaving medical devices. Ever the entrepreneur, Turner is now the primary owner and Chairman of Peachtree Lighting, a manufacturer of LED lighting fixtures in markets throughout the USA and internationally. Consistently tying his success back to his time at CulverStockton College, Turner shared, “I look back on my career and so many things that I was blessed enough to be able to do are really the result of some of the things I learned and the relationships I developed at Culver-Stockton over the years.” Winter 2022 | 19
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Turner, who has been repeatedly recognized for his leadership, has shared his passion for entrepreneurship and forward-thinking decision making with the Culver-Stockton College community in the years since he left “the Hill.” He has sought to lead by example through his many interactions with students and his philanthropic contributions to the institution, most recently with the naming of the JohnsonTurner IDEA Center, which he hopes will inspire others to give back to Culver-Stockton College.
“(Given) my history with Culver-Stockton and the things I got from it, I felt like this was a great opportunity for me to be able to give back in a small way and to have some ownership for future students. Hopefully, those who are following in our footsteps will do the same thing for the college.” Like generations of Culver-Stockton College alumni who have come before them, both Johnson and Turner have taken the lessons they learned on “the Hill” and used them to build careers rooted in entrepreneurism, radical leadership, and successful disruption of the status quo. Individually, they have been changemakers. Together, they have forever changed the footprint of Culver-Stockton College and will positively impact generations of students. The Johnson-Turner IDEA Center is the physical representation of Culver-Stockton College’s commitment to preparing the students of today for the workforce of tomorrow and will provide an environment which gives students the tools they need to turn their ideas into solutions. President Douglas B. Palmer shared the importance of the Johnson-Turner IDEA Center and what it will do for the campus community. “Never once has a hiring manager requested three extra credits in a certain subject area, but 20 | Chronicle
they always desire recent graduates who can work well within a team,” Palmer said. Culver-Stockton College alumni and students know that formulating a good idea is only the beginning of a successful project. To enact real and lasting change, that first spark of an idea needs to be cultivated, explored, and even contradicted before the real magic of collaboration can happen. Built in the spirit of encouraging collaboration and the process of turning ideas into workable solutions, the Johnson-Turner IDEA Center is Culver-Stockton College’s answer to the growing need for young-career professionals who are creative thinkers, leaders, and problem-solvers. Though the Johnson-Turner IDEA Center has only been open for a few short months, CulverStockton College’s laboratory for innovation and design is already providing students with a space to nurture their ideas, design innovative solutions, and connect with global leaders. With the addition of the JohnsonTurner IDEA Center, CulverStockton College now has a dedicated space for students to focus on the seven pillars of experiential education: creative expression, leadership, simulation, professional experience, service learning, travel, research, and innovation. In the spirit of collaboration, innovation, and converting ideas into workable solutions, the Johnson-Turner IDEA Center was made possible by philanthropic contributions from alumni, faculty and staff members, corporate and foundation partners, and friends.
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GLOBAL BRIGADE OTHER NAMINGS The unique layout of the Johnson-Turner IDEA Center, which was built as an addition to the Gladys Crown Student Center, allows for collaboration among groups of various sizes and features state-of-the-art technology which connects the Canton, Missouri, campus to the world. Generous contributions from United State Bank and alumna Carolyn Peter ’66 and her husband Ross allowed for the construction and outfitting of two breakout rooms in the Johnson-Turner IDEA Center. These rooms, which accommodate smaller groups of 4-6 individuals, have been furnished with audiovisual equipment, moveable whiteboards, and soundboards to enhance the think-tank approcach of IDEA Center activities. The Johnson-Turner IDEA Center is also home to the Larry D. Thompson Executive Conference Room, which pays homage to the philanthropic support of alumnus and former Deputy Attorney General of the United States, Larry D. Thompson ’67. Thompson recently joined Senior Lecturer Eric Larson’s Global Business class via teleconference to share his perspective on global business and to answer questions about serving as the Independent Corporate Compliance Monitor and Auditor on the Volkswagon emissons fraud case. Connecting Culver-Stockton students to global leaders is possible through the state of the art conferencing capabilities.
Professors are already utilizing the state-ofthe-art technology in the break-out rooms and conference room to enhance experiential education and connect students with leaders and initiatives across the globe. Students in Assistant Professor of Business and Moorman Professor Dr. Matthew Osborn’s Global Brigade senior capstone course used the break-out rooms and conference room space of the Johnson-Turner IDEA Center to complete a project and enact global change. Throughout the first 12-weeks of the fall semester, Global Brigade seniors spent 90 minutes every Thursday working directly with coffee farmers in El Paraiso, Honduras, learning about their lives, business challenges, and economic viability. Working with the farmers to resolve and improve the supply and value chain, students learned the life cycle of the coffee bean and provided four possible solutions that would enhance economic results for the Honduras farmers. “The outcome of this project was incredibly rewarding and truly introduced solutions that had yet to be considered,” Osborn shared in response to his students’ comprehensive proposal, which offered a solution for using the entirety of the coffee plant, not only the coffee bean. “Our students were amazed at the practicality of the solution, but also grateful for being involved in sharing it with our partners in Honduras; that’s problem-solving,” Osborn concluded. Winter 2022 | 21