By Maureen Zegel

Three years ago, Tony Spielberg, ’95, walked into a noisy packaging plant, a not-for-profit serving adults with disabilities in St. Peters, Missouri. A successful entrepreneur and business executive, Spielberg had just sold a business and was looking for a career change.

“I saw a posting for a CEO of this organization, and I thought I’d apply,” Spielberg said. “When I walked through that door, I thought, ‘How did I not know this place existed?’ Take a tour and you’ll know why it’s hard to have a bad day in this place.”

The place is BCI, formerly known as Boone Center, Inc., founded in 1959 by two women who wanted to serve the employment needs of people with disabilities. Today, BCI’s St. Peters campus boasts a production center and a warehouse. A second packaging facility opened in Moscow Mills, Missouri. The two packaging facilities employ more than 350 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

On that tour, Spielberg hugs, fist bumps and high fives his way through the noisy 100,000-square-foot production space. He seems to know everyone by name and at times can be found working right alongside the employees. The CEO wants you to know his contract packaging and assembly business boasts a 99.6 percent accuracy rate and the men and women who work there lead productive lives.

“We have a dual mission that focuses on business and social objectives,” he said. “We package things you use every day like Woolite, Lysol and Dial. At the same time, we emphasize skill development with individual work plans that are tailored for each employee. We ensure the highest level of success for each person we serve.”

That dual mission is reflected in BCI’s fiscal growth, with expected revenue to reach $25 million in 2019. Community accolades include the 2018 Community Builder award by the St. Charles County Community Council. Additionally, StreetScape Magazine recognized Spielberg in 2017 as one of 50 Top Business Leaders making significant contributions to their communities.

A major advocate at the state and federal level for employment opportunities and choice, BCI opened a commercial cleaning company called Show Me Shine in 2011. And, in January 2019, they opened a first-of-its-kind vocational training facility specifically for people with disabilities. BCI’s goal is to offer 10+ vocations to 100+ students at the center by 2021.