- Dee Gerstenkorn, VP Marketing
BCI Mourns Sudden Loss of Jim Lang, Board President
Jim Lang, true friend, trusted advisor, and President of our Board of Directors, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, September 5.
“Jim was a mentor, advocate and most of all a great friend to all that knew him,” said Tony Spielberg, CEO. “Jim taught us the importance of servant leadership and how to be a sharer of knowledge to those that want to engage and grow. But most of all, he gave us a tremendous example of how to be a great human being.”
Jim was a Partner and Consultant for Collaborative Strategies Inc., and it was in this role that he became connected to BCI.
“When I think of Jim, the word that comes to mind is ‘visionary’,” said former CEO, Chuck Blossom, who hired Jim for strategic planning at BCI in early 2008. “Jim had unique vision for BCI. He was an out-of-the-box guy. He would make suggestions, and we would say, ‘we’d never thought about that before’.”
According to Blossom, Jim was “blown away” by what the organization was and what we were doing and immediately wanted to be part of the Board. “He really felt that more people needed to learn about BCI and its mission.”
Over the years, Jim’s talent as a business strategist and experience working with other industries and businesses influenced the direction and growth of BCI. In 2017, the Board elected Jim as its President, and this spring, he led the organization in drafting a new set of core values (business-minded, ability-focused, servant-hearted, and success-oriented).
“Jim’s leadership and love of our mission was inspiring and invaluable,” said Spielberg. “He was a visionary who had a heart for integrating people with disabilities into the workforce and a very clear picture of what BCI could be. Undoubtedly, his vision will continue to guide us.”
In addition to serving on BCI’s Board for the past 10 years, Jim was also on the advisory board for Enterprise Bank in St. Charles and a lecturer at Enterprise University.
Jim leaves behind a beautiful family, a tremendous legacy in the world of business, and a huge hole in the hearts of the many who admired him.
A visitation for Jim will be held on Saturday, September 8 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Hutchens-Stygar Funeral and Cremation Services, 5987 Mid Rivers Mall Dr., Cottleville, 63304. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, September 9 at 10:00 a.m. at Bogey Hills Country Club, 1120 Country Club Rd., St. Charles, 63303.
“Jim was a genuinely good man, and I know we are all grateful for having known him,” said Michelle Stringer, Senior Business Manager. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Jo Marie and his family.”
