Meet Leadership Missouri's Laura Coalter Parker of Cape Girardeau

Laura Coalter Parker of Coalter Insurance Group — a second-generation family-owned business founded in 1984 with offices in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Perryville — was elected by her Leadership Missouri peers to be their 2021 class president earlier this year.

Leadership Missouri, a program founded in 1990 by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has a mission to "identify current and emerging leaders to enhance their leadership skills and deepen their knowledge of the state," according to a news release.

Parker, a graduate of Cape Girardeau Central High School and Southeast Missouri State University, heads the 30th Leadership Missouri class with 26 participants from all over the Show Me State.

"Learning more about the state helps me to be a better well-rounded leader," said Parker, who is president of Coalter Insurance, recognized as the 2019 Small Business of the Year by the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce. "I was born and raised in Missouri, so it only makes sense to explore the other cities in our state."

Parker and other Leadership Missouri participants have been following a monthly itinerary, which includes Kansas City, Jefferson City, Warrenton, Chillicothe, St. Louis, Lake of the Ozarks and Cape Girardeau.

The group spent three days in Cape Girardeau in October.

Curriculum

"In Cape, our main focus was on public safety," Parker said, adding her class visited the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse in addition to fire and police stations in the City of Cape Girardeau and heard remarks from various officials: 32nd Circuit Court Judge Scott Lipke, 2nd District Cape Girardeau County Commissioner Charlie Herbst and Cape Girardeau Police Chief Wes Blair, among others.

A trip to the Missouri Conservation Department in Cape County Park North and a stop at the downtown Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce offices to hear about local philanthropy programs were also on the agenda. The class also patronized several Cape Girardeau restaurants during their three-day visit.

Parker said economic development, workforce issues and education have been additional topics on the Leadership Missouri syllabus.

"I had never before been to a charter school and got to experience one in Kansas City," Parker said.

"The largest spectrum of what I've learned has been in state government. Being in Southeast Missouri, I feel we're more removed from state government. I typically shied away from politics and have learned we should have a voice. (Our legislators) are voting on our behalf so it's important not only as a citizen but as a business owner to understand what they're voting on," she said.

Commitment

Those who take part in Leadership Missouri's program, running from June to December, are expected to give up several days each month to be part of the class.

"It's absolutely been worth it and (Leadership Missouri) is an incredible experience. I feel fortunate and blessed to get to collaborate with people I consider educated, smart, 'power thinkers.' There is such diversity in the program. We have engineers, lobbyists and State of Missouri employees. I've been a sponge being with them," Parker reflected.

Takeaways

"We're all trying to figure out and navigate how to recruit and retain people in our different industries," Parker said, noting the regular gatherings have had a cumulative effect on her.

"Being around them just makes me want to be a stronger leader."

Parker also believes her Leadership Missouri colleagues have learned something about her home region.

"My colleagues in the class have learned a lot about Southeast Missouri from my feedback," she said.

Philosophy

"For me, being a leader means you're always coachable and you're always accountable and always growing," Parker explained. "My goal is to continue to grow my leadership skills and invest in growing our business. I see it this way, if we're successful we're not only helping (our) business grow, but we're also helping our employees grow."

Final thoughts

Parker, who noted the Leadership Missouri tagline for this year is "be the leader you want to follow," said she will not soon forget the Leadership Missouri experience once it ends.

"I feel the relationships I've made will be a forever connection for me and forever friends."