SRC Celebrates OTC Graduates Preparing to Lead Its Next 100 Years
On December 4, 2025, SRC Holdings celebrated its newest graduates from its associate degree program, created in partnership with Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC). The graduation marked the successful end of a challenging three-and-a-half-year journey designed to enhance both the individual SRC employee-owners who participated and SRC’s future.
The OTC–SRC partnership is a long-standing, application-focused program where participants complete 19 courses over 10 semesters while working full-time. Students develop technical skills, leadership fundamentals, financial knowledge, and a continuous-improvement mindset. Classroom lessons are combined with real-world SRC challenges, ensuring each concept has immediate, practical value.
From the beginning, students understood that the curriculum was only part of the experience. Another component involved learning how to handle uncertainty, manage time constraints, and balance family life, overtime, and academic demands. The program teaches much more than just content: it teaches capacity.
“Education teaches you specific skills,” said SRC Holdings President Tim Stack, “but skills like time management and stepping outside your comfort zone can only be learned through doing tough things. I hope the time you've spent over the past three and a half years has built your confidence—and that you can carry that confidence into handling challenging situations in the future.”
A Cohort That Grew Into a Team
What started as a group of 20 strangers ended as a close-knit cohort of 12 who graduated—an achievement fueled by perseverance and strong team bonds.
Students supported each other during late-night shifts, exchanged messages about research, and uncovered each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
“People truly get to know one another,” said Krisi Schell, Executive Vice President of HR at SRC Holdings. “We see how much they come to rely on each other—and cheer each other on to reach the finish line.”
Graduating from the program was a significant achievement, not only because of the personal sacrifices involved but also due to the positive impact these graduates are already making across SRC.
Capstones Deliver ROI—And Reveal Leadership
A key feature of the program is the capstone experience, where students work in cross-functional teams to analyze real business challenges and present data-driven solutions that meet operational needs across SRC. This year’s four teams examined opportunities in EV component remanufacturing, laser-cleaning automation, accounts payable optimization, and process improvements.
“The future is happening now,” said Stack. “And you’re helping us explore exciting opportunities that will help us evolve and grow.”
The graduates demonstrated their ability to analyze complex problems, evaluate new technologies, and suggest improvements aligned with SRC’s culture and long-term operational realities. Together, their proposals promised over $1.2 million in potential ROI.
Shaping SRC into the Next Century
For SRC, the partnership with OTC does more than just award degrees. It creates capable, confident, culture-forward leaders—people ready to guide SRC into its next century.
“We are on a quest to become a 100-year-old company,” Stack said. “Our future growth will depend on the leaders we develop today. Those leaders will come from this room. People like you are helping ensure that SRC remains a company people enjoy working for.”