Leading the way
LOREN BENOIT/Press Tony Thompson, a nationally renowned business executive, speaks about the next generation of students and their dreams during a Kroc Scholarship Luncheon Thursday afternoon at the Kroc Center.
Kroc Scholarship Luncheon attendees listen to Tony Thompson speak about the next generation of students and their dreams Thursday afternoon at the Kroc Center.(LOREN BENOIT/Press)
Featured Kroc Scholarship Luncheon speaker Tony Thompson is a nationally renowned business executive having held positions at Papa John’s International, Miracle-Gro, Coca Cola and most recently was the CEO of Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation. He is also the incoming Chairman of the Board of The National Salvation Army Board of Directors. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
COEUR d’ALENE — Becoming a CEO doesn’t happen overnight, and it certainly doesn’t happen without challenge and sacrifice.
But it’s not impossible, even for those who come from humble beginnings.
"I never would have dreamed that I would have the opportunities to do the things that I have done," National Salvation Army Advisory Board chairman Tony Thompson said Thursday. "I became the CEO of a public company and the president and COO of another public company that are public brands. It’s just a real honor to be a part of that. But the journey there wasn’t necessarily typical."
Thompson grew up in a lower-middle class family in Louisiana. His dad worked for Montgomery Ward and in the banking industry, but their life was not glamorous or wealthy. Thompson realized at an early age that work was a necessity.
"Coming from somewhat of a financially challenged family, I needed the spending money. If I wanted those parachute pants in the ’80s, I had to pay for them,” he joked. “I had various jobs throughout high school. I started working about 10th grade and I really have worked pretty much my entire life.”
Kidding aside, Thompson’s experience in the workforce always included aspiring to achieve more. He shared some of his experiences Thursday while delivering the keynote speech at the Inspiring Tomorrow's Leaders luncheon, an event that benefits the Dr. Riggs Leadership Scholarship.
Thompson, a former president and CEO of the Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation, discussed his journey from repair shop and construction jobs to enrolling in college, working for Coca-Cola and Scotts Miracle-Gro as well as Papa John's International, which introduced him to the Salvation Army.
He said he was only an average student, but he always had "internal desire to do more and to accomplish and achieve, no dream of what I would go on to do and be. I just wanted to do better."
This atypical success story served as an inspirational tale of determination and self-discovery, a fitting theme for the luncheon, which supports a scholarship based on leadership traits and capabilities.
“As I look back to my personal journey, it was all those very, very uncomfortable challenging times that developed me more than anything else," Thompson said. "That’s when I was really getting shaped. Didn’t see it at the time, this is all hindsight and reflection.
“As you’re advancing, you will get noticed. If you are good at what you do, you will get noticed,” he said. “Being good at what you do is core because it’s not who you know and it’s not what you know, it’s who sees what you know. That’s how this world works, so if you’re really really good at what you do, it doesn’t mean you’re going to get CEO, but you’re going to get recognized and noticed.”
This is the sixth and largest year for the Dr. Riggs Leadership Scholarship, which will award $1,000 to 10 area high school seniors. It was created by the Kroc Center executive staff and advisory board to honor Dr. Jack T. Riggs for a lifetime of leadership excellence. The recipients were chosen out of nearly 80 who applied.
Gus Koch, 23, was the first and only student to be awarded the scholarship in its inception year after proving his leadership skills through his work with the Hayden Triathlon.
Since receiving the scholarship, Koch has graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in microbiology and starts medical school in the fall.
"It was hugely affirming to me," he said. "It inspired me even as I went through school to say I’m doing this for me because I want to do it but also for the people that supported me and believed in me. I found it really motivating."
He said this sort of recognition is significant for the students as they further they educations as well as the communities that support them.
"I think it’s going to pay off for the community, not only for the kids and for the mission of Salvation Army, but for the whole community," Koch said. "They’ll come back and they’ll start businesses, they’ll be leaders in the community and do whatever they want to do.
"It’s huge. You almost can’t describe it, and now it’s something all these kids will experience."
2018 Dr. Riggs Leadership Scholarship recipients:
Shay Carlock, North Idaho STEM Charter Academy
Leah Gackstetter, Post Falls High School
Zayne Hunter, Wallace High School
Kylee Jenneskens, Tekoa High School
Emily Kladar, Coeur d'Alene High School
Marie Michalson, Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy
Jessica Millard, North Idaho STEM Charter Academy
Paige Pence, North Idaho STEM Charter Academy
Taylor Riley, Timberlake Senior High School
Ryan Sorensson, Coeur d'Alene High School