Building Community to Better Serve Students

From left, Facilities, Maintenance and Operations employees Bryce Supitilov, Kyron Mason, Shannon Haugen, Rebekah
Oar and Grace King. FPO is responsible for custodial services, building maintenance, energy management strategies,
grounds and landscaping, event logistics support and design and construction project management.

 

The staff member came in from the summer heat, sweat beading on their forehead, eager to talk and just needing to be heard.

 

Cory Wicker, Ph.D., associate vice president of Human Resources at the University of Central Missouri (UCM), listened. Within days, Wicker, Human Resources Coordinator Colleen Shore and the HR team turned that conversation into action, distributing more than 100 Frogg Toggs cooling towels to employees working in the sun for Facilities, Planning and Operations, the Distribution Services Center, Skyhaven Airport and Mules National Golf Club.

 

“At UCM, our values of community and service guide how we care for one another,” Wicker said. “Providing Frogg Toggs to employees working in the heat is a simple yet meaningful gesture that reflects our commitment to a safe and supportive work environment.”

It is this kind of responsiveness — listening, acting and finding practical solutions — that helped UCM earn a spot among the Warrensburg Star-Journal’s Best of the ’Burg honorees for 2025. The university was named a Star Business in the Best Place to Work with 25 or More Employees category, alongside recognition for Mules National Golf Club (Best Golf Course), Traditions Restaurant (Best Outdoor Eating Area/Patio), SPIN! Pizza (Star Business in the Pizza Place category), the Foster Knox Childcare Center (Star Business in the Preschool/Childcare category), and the University Health Center (Star Business in the Hospital/Healthcare category).

 

A Strategic Start

 

Wicker, who joined UCM in 2023 from a position with the Louisiana Board of Regents, said the opportunity to help rebuild and lay a strong HR foundation was part of what drew him to Warrensburg. 

 

“When I talked to people before I joined, I heard a lot of the things I was already doing, building processes, focusing on people, creating a strong foundation,” he said. “It was special enough that I moved here without knowing a soul.”

His first months included a formal needs assessment and listening tours with employees, paired with data from an engagement survey and a compensation study conducted before his arrival. Those conversations and findings led to new and revived programs, such as an employee discount program, a campus benefits fair with free flu shots, a Jet dental hygiene clinic and expanded wellness offerings like the “Holiday Health” series.

 

“Absolutely, I think that it’s the community. It’s what attracted me and why I stay,” Wicker said in an appearance on Central Speaks, UCM’s official podcast. “You can’t find that everywhere, where everybody fosters a spirit of collegial work together.”

Beyond Paychecks

 

Wicker said recognition from the Best of the ’Burg is gratifying, but the goal is to create and maintain an environment that keeps talented people at the university. That means looking at what matters to employees day to day, knowing that satisfied, engaged staff are better equipped to provide the exceptional support UCM students deserve.

 

While UCM cannot always match private-sector salaries dollar for dollar, Wicker said the HR team works to make the university a place where people choose to stay because they feel supported, valued and connected.

 

One example is UCM’s partnership with the Student Recreation and Wellness Center, MU Extension and BlueKC to host the Dining with Diabetes summer series on campus. This engaging and educational cooking class was designed for adults with diabetes or pre-diabetes or anyone who cares for someone with diabetes. Hosted in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center during June and July, the series gave participants meal-planning guidance, cooking demonstrations, tastings, a resource book, recipes and access to a private Facebook support group — all for a $20 fee. Employees were not required to submit leave to attend, but they did need to notify their supervisor in advance. Since the program was considered a work event, non-exempt employees were allowed to flex their one-hour lunch during the week of participation. Spouses were also welcome to join, underscoring UCM’s family-focused approach to wellness.

 

“As someone who was just diagnosed last year as a Type 2 diabetic, I appreciated UCM making this program available to us. The instructor kept things moving, and the time flew by. The classes were open to any employee, so several others were learning diabetic meal strategies not for themselves but to support family members,” said UCM staff member Chris Young. “This course was a tangible example of UCM setting the tone with a positive, supportive workplace culture. I enjoyed it."

That same philosophy drives other initiatives aimed at professional growth and personal well-being, such as annual “total compensation” statements that help employees see the full value of their benefits. These include health coverage, retirement contributions, tuition assistance for employees and their families, access to childcare, generous holiday schedules, wellness activities and campus resources.

 

A Culture of Collaboration

 

The shift in HR’s role at UCM has been intentional. Wicker and his team have worked to move beyond what he calls “transactional, paper-pushing” processes to become a collaborative, solution-focused resource for employees.

 

That spirit was evident during this year’s Professional Development Day, when HR facilitated the “Creating a Positive Workplace” training. Staff members shared ideas in small groups on ways to boost morale and strengthen community in their departments, generating a collection of practical, people-focused suggestions that have since been shared across campus. Wicker said it’s a reminder that many of the best ideas come from employees themselves and that small efforts can make a big impact.

 

This culture shift has been made possible by support from university leadership, including President Roger Best, Bill Hawley, vice president for Finance and Operations, and the Board of Governors.

 

“Any time we have brought forward a well-vetted initiative, the response has been, ‘How can we make this work?’” Wicker said. “That collaborative mindset is a big part of why UCM is not just a good place to work, but one of the best.”
For the HR team, creating an exceptional workplace culture serves a higher purpose: ensuring UCM's students receive the best possible support from employees who genuinely love coming to work each day.

The Best of the ’Burg awards are based on community votes and presented annually by the Warrensburg Star-Journal. For Wicker, the recognition is both a validation of what has been accomplished and a reminder to keep going.

 

“We appreciate the award and the affirmation it brings,” he said. “But we will keep pushing to improve, because our people deserve nothing less.”