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Gala 2012 will feature Entrepreneurship On Saturday, March 31, 2012, the MAEF hosted its ninth annual fund-raising Gala at the Monticello Middle School. Each year the Education Foundation honors former graduates of Monticello High School who have achieved excellence in their field of endeavor. Proceeds for this event help teachers fund creative projects to benefit students throughout the Monticello school district. The 2012 Gala theme was Celebrate the Legacy of Learning — That’s Entrepreneurship. Meet this years Honorees: RICK STEPHENS : After an early career in educational publishing, Rick entered the hobby industry in 1980 working for a company that sold high end hobby products to U.S. retailers. He worked there for five years, learning the hobby industry while helping that company grow to become one of the largest distributors in North America. In 1985 the company was sold and soon after, Rick left to start Horizon Hobby, Inc. He and 3 other industry veterans started Horizon from the basement of Rick’s home. Today Horizon is a world leader in the design, manufacture, marketing, and distribution of hobby products. Major categories of product include radio control airplanes, helicopters, cars, trucks, and boats; model railroad equipment; plastic model kits; and general hobby items. Horizon has developed many of its own brands over the years including JR, Spektrum, Team Losi, Hangar 9, EFlite, Evolution, Saito, Hobbyzone, ParkZone and many others. Horizon sells to 2500 retailers in North America and 700 in Europe as well as consumers via the internet, and has distributors throughout the rest of the world. The company employs 650 people and has facilities in Champaign, IL; Ontario, CA; Harlow, England; Elmshorn, Germany; and Paris, France. Stephens’ passion for excellence in both corporate and non-profit environments and desire to teach leaders to become better leaders have been driving forces in his life for many years. Rick and Jeanene have been married for 38 years and have 3 married daughters and 5 grandchildren. He enjoys leading small group Bible studies, traveling, golfing, hiking, snowboarding and motorcycling. LARRY STEPHENS : After serving four years in the Air Force, Larry began a career in the financial arena working for American Investment Company. He was hired by the First State Bank of Monticello in 1973 as their consumer loan officer. Helping families to improve their homes, and manage long term needed purchases in his home town of Monticello. Larry was later promoted to Vice President of commercial loans and it appeared the die was cast for his career path. When Rick started Horizon Hobby in 1985 Larry joined his brother along with their father as an investor but never envisioned leaving First State Bank. Within a year however, Rick and Larry both felt that the company could grow even faster with a west coast distribution facility . Since the new facility needed a leader and one from the family would be best, Larry and his family decided that he would leave his career in banking behind to move to California. In 1986 Larry led the startup of Horizon West in Paso Robles California. In the late 80’s Larry moved his family to Richmond Virginia to oversee the start up of Horizon’s new east coast distribution facility, Horizon East. In 1992 after the acquisition of Hobby Dynamics he moved his family back to the home office in Champaign, Illinois to serve as Vice President of Operations. He later served as President, then Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Hobby Inc. Now Larry is retired and serves as Vice Chairman of the Board. Over the years Larry has served on church boards, as president of the school board where his sons attended in California , and as a board member of Restoration Ministries in Champaign prior to moving to Kentucky. He spends most of his time in Jamestown Kentucky or Venice Florida these days playing golf and spending time with his wife of 45 years. He and Karen have 2 sons and 6 grandchildren. |
