The College of Business at Missouri State University will soon have a 37,000 square foot addition thanks in part to a significant gift from the Robert Gourley family. This gift was announced at the groundbreaking ceremony today (Oct. 15) for the Robert Gourley Student Success Center at David D. Glass Hall.

“Students within the College of Business at Missouri State will be amazed at the transformation planned for Glass Hall,” said Missouri State University President Clifton M. Smart III said. “This gift, along with so many others, allows us to give our business students a place to sharpen their skills, collaborate on projects and become prepared for successful careers.”

Gifts for Glass Hall exceed $5 million

The Missouri State University Foundation announced gifts and pledges totaling more than $5.4 million for the building and another significant gift from David D. Glass.

“We are so pleased with the numbers of alumni and friends that have made major gifts to this project,” said Brent Dunn, vice president for university advancement and executive director of the Missouri State Foundation. “Our fundraising will continue and we anticipate more people will make investments in this important project.”

The addition of the Robert Gourley Student Success Center and renovation of Glass Hall will allow the College of Business to better serve its current student community while also providing space for growth and unique educational opportunities. The state-of-the-art teaching facilities will prepare students for global careers in business, as well as provide space for business, community and alumni events.

Other significant donors

Other donors to the project include:

• O’Reilly Auto Parts
• American National Insurance
• BKD, LLP and BKD Wealth Advisors, LLC
• Central Bank of the Ozarks
• Marlin Network
• James K. and Patricia A. Jones
• Jack and Stacey Thurman
• Jeffrey E. and Lisa Allen (and the Allen Family)
• Kevin and Marla Elliott
• Brian and Kim Hammons
• Dwain and Donna Hammons
• William D. and Heather Perry
• Scott and Jennifer Huff
• Richard and Teresa Ollis and family
• Gifts in honor of Dr. Vincel Bixler
• Jon and Jo Baker
• Scott and Allison Salmon
• James H. (Jim) Wilson
• Nancy and Randy Allen
• Richard L. Bullock and family
• Dr. Stephanie and Gary Bryant
• Dr. Steve and Jane Parker
• James and Robin Robeson
• Bradley Thomas
• John E. and Lori K. Wanamaker

Addition, renovation include many new features

Features within the new Student Success Center and renovated spaces of Glass Hall include:

• A state-of-the art finance and trading lab, simulating the New York Stock Exchange trading floor
• Entrepreneurship and sales labs
• Dedicated career placement and business advisement centers
• Corporate interview rooms
• A corporate recruiter touch-down space
• An advertising agency lab, which will function as a working advertising agency
• A production studio
• Collaboration and team meeting spaces
• A full-service café

The renovations to Glass Hall are expected to be completed by fall 2017.

About Bob Gourley

Mr. Gourley was born in Detroit, Michigan, but grew up in Mountain Grove, Missouri. He graduated from the business organization and management program at Missouri State University in 1960 while working full-time to pay for his tuition.

“Practical experience and solid instruction in the disciplines of business at Missouri State made me ready for the business world,” said Mr. Gourley. “I feel it is important to give back to your community, those in need and those who helped me along the way.”

After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a Second Lt. Infantry Officer, worked in sales and started an entrepreneurial venture. He later moved into ownership of several different businesses, including a beverage distributorship, photo-developing, and camera stores and a startup bank in Kansas City.

In 2010, he published a book about creating, launching and growing an enterprise, “Make Money for Bob: The Bottom Line on Entrepreneurship.”