欧美视频

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 欧美视频 (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.

 

鈥淎t UCM, our values of community and service guide how we care for one another,鈥� Wicker said. 鈥淧roviding 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.鈥�

It is this kind of responsiveness 鈥� listening, acting and finding practical solutions 鈥� that helped UCM earn a spot among the Warrensburg Star-Journal鈥檚 Best of the 鈥橞urg 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 (Best Golf Course), (Best Outdoor Eating Area/Patio), (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. 

 

鈥淲hen 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,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was special enough that I moved here without knowing a soul.鈥�

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 鈥淗oliday Health鈥� series.

 

鈥淎bsolutely, I think that it鈥檚 the community. It鈥檚 what attracted me and why I stay,鈥� Wicker said in an appearance on Central Speaks, UCM鈥檚 official podcast. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 find that everywhere, where everybody fosters a spirit of collegial work together.鈥�

Beyond Paychecks

 

Wicker said recognition from the Best of the 鈥橞urg 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鈥檚 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 鈥� 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鈥檚 family-focused approach to wellness.

 

鈥淎s 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,鈥� said UCM staff member Chris Young. 鈥淭his 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 鈥渢otal compensation鈥� 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鈥檚 role at UCM has been intentional. Wicker and his team have worked to move beyond what he calls 鈥渢ransactional, paper-pushing鈥� processes to become a collaborative, solution-focused resource for employees.

 

That spirit was evident during this year鈥檚 Professional Development Day, when HR facilitated the 鈥淐reating a Positive Workplace鈥� 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鈥檚 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.

 

鈥淎ny time we have brought forward a well-vetted initiative, the response has been, 鈥楬ow can we make this work?鈥欌�� Wicker said. 鈥淭hat collaborative mindset is a big part of why UCM is not just a good place to work, but one of the best.鈥�
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 鈥橞urg awards are based on community votes and presented annually by the . For Wicker, the recognition is both a validation of what has been accomplished and a reminder to keep going.

 

鈥淲e appreciate the award and the affirmation it brings,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut we will keep pushing to improve, because our people deserve nothing less.鈥�