Greenville College Annual Report 2001-02

Campus Highlights

Christian Leadership Network

For any professional who has ever felt alone in their faith, Greenville College has developed a solution: the Christian Leadership Network (CLN). In addition to the immediate benefits to attendees, the organization also presents a great opportunity for the college. “It is exciting,” says President Mannoia, “because it is a long-term strategy that we believe will bring the college recognition, students, internship opportunities, and financial support.” 

Launched in fall of 2001, CLN consists of a series of luncheons with featured speakers. Each person invited to speak is a successful professional who has thrived in his chosen career without compromising his or her beliefs or ethics. CLN has targeted three cities so far: St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Chicago.
CLN held seven luncheons during the 2001-2002 series. St. Louis served as host to four speakers: Tad Edwards, president of AG Edwards; Bill Green, president of SCI Engineering; Dr. Mike Conoyer, an otolaryngologist and surgeon; and John Prentis, publisher of World Magazine. Two men spoke in Indianapolis: Jack Conner, owner and operator of Conner Insurance Agency, and Rich Nye, award-winning sports anchor/reporter for WTHR in Indianapolis. CLN held one luncheon in Chicago featuring Illinois Supreme Court Justice Robert Thomas.

These luncheons provide a great avenue for Greenville College to make new friends in the business communities of these cities. President Mannoia has taken the opportunity to get acquainted with these professionals during the luncheons and begin cultivating relationships. “CLN has been one of most energizing things I do,” President Mannoia claims. “It is particularly stimulating for me to be free to invest in long-term efforts like this one when so much of our attention tends to be focused on the short range immediate demands of our college work.”

As the name implies, networking is a key benefit of CLN and it is beginning to bring about noticeable results. Prospective students have visited the campus because of these contacts and several of the featured speakers have offered to come to campus as guest speakers. These contacts have also resulted in internships and employment opportunities for several students. Many St. Louis businessmen have also expressed an interest in becoming involved with Greenville’s inner-city ministry. President Mannoia is “amazed that, after little more than a year, there are well over 100 Christian professionals in three metropolitan areas who previously had never heard of GC that now have [the college] on their radar screens, and in some cases have indicated their desire to become more actively involved in helping [Greenville].”

Following last year’s success comes another full calendar of exciting speakers for 2002-2003. Four luncheons in St. Louis will include presentations by Bill Canfield, president, CEO and chairman of the board of TALK Corporation; Congressman W. Todd Akin, U.S. House of Representatives; Ed Watkins, president of Winning Endeavors and co-owner of the Show Me Believers, the St. Louis arena football team; Dr. Kenneth Smith, neurosurgeon at St. Louis University School of Medicine; Dr. Michael Bond, physician for the National Naval Medical Center; and Dan Lovell, a GC Biology and Chemistry major and the first GC student to speak at a CLN luncheon. In Chicago, Brian S. Wesbury, first VP & chief economist for the investment bank of Griffin, Kubik, Stephens & Thompson, Inc., will speak.

CLN is directed by Arlene Odom. For more information on CLN and the 2002-03 Speaker Series, visit: www.ChristianLeadershipNetwork.com.

Last updated: January 16, 2003