Keeping Students on the Field and in School (with Tim McLaughlin)

How can a community keep its children in school and on a pathway to graduation and beyond? How can public-private partnership build a program for disadvantaged kids that becomes effective even beyond its creators’ dreams? Listen as our guest shares how the Fields and Futures program was created, its exponential impact on the youth of Oklahoma City, and how a “stone soup” mentality enriched the project to benefit the entire community. Tim McLaughlin says he feels fortunate to have his family’s values that built Advance Food Company, the business his father David co-founded in 1973.  As Vice President of Corporate Accounts, Tim had over 25 years of experience helping the company grow from $25 million in sales to $900 million before the family sold a majority interest in 2010.  Through his family business experience, Tim learned how to “connect the dots” and identify and overcome obstacles to achieve a sustainable, long-term vision.  After the sale, Tim felt blessed to have the luxury of investing in projects where he and his wife Liz can make a big impact, that are sustainable, and where he can use his unique ability to build strategies that achieve the long-term vision. They founded Fields and Futures, a non-profit that helps overhaul and maintain school playing fields so kids can find a pathway to graduation and beyond by keeping them engaged in sports and school. Tim has a degree in Business Management from the University of Oklahoma. He serves as director on several local organization boards including the Oklahoma Zoological Society, Police Athletic League, Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation, and Heritage Hall Board of Trustees. Tim also serves as an OKC member of the Neighborhoods Subcommittee and as an Advisory Board Member for ArtSup?!, a creative after-school extended learning opportunity for inner city youth. In 2017, Oklahoma City University honored Tim with the Able Lemons/Paul Hansen Award for Sports Excellence. Tim and Liz have four children and live in Edmond, Oklahoma. Bigger Than Business is the show where you’ll discover real-world stories of business owners living their purpose. You’ll encounter men and women all over the world who draw strength from understanding why they do what they do and how they remain true to that purpose through the ups and downs every business owner will face. www.thecapitalchartroom.com