Lenoir-Rhyne College PROFILE Magazine

Gathered around Margaret and Tony Jackson conference room last fall are L-R alums, left to right, back row: David Bolick '99, Jon Porter '98, Chris Frye '96, and Len Bartlett '96; front row: Chris Campbell '98, Ben Payseur '99, Cindy Bonacum Taylor '96, Wade Wolgemuth '96 and Eric Johnson '96.

When you walk into the offices of THE JACKSON GROUP, you might think an L-R young alumni chapter meeting was taking place, but you’d be wrong.

Out of the twenty-some employees at Tony and Margaret Jackson’s company, two-thirds are recent graduates of the college, many of whom were still in diapers when the Jacksons established their business twenty-five years ago as of April 1. The company that began as health-care management consultants has branched out into three separate divisions: employee and customer surveying; management development, customer service and intervention; and JACKSON GROUP Interactive, a multimedia production company.

"We are a very young company," said Tony Jackson of his work force. "It was something we decided to do; we made a conscious decision to hire recent graduates. We expect turnover, but we try to counter that with perks and career development paths. It creates a culture that is exciting, enthusiastic and fun!"

Members of the Class of 1969, Tony and Margaret Huss Jackson weren’t the first in their families to attend L-R. "There are more than fifteen L-R grads in our family since the 1930s, and this year we have a freshman, sophomore, junior and senior represented," said Margaret, "Most of us even met our spouses there." It is little wonder, then, they turn to the college for their office family.

"L-R enrolls good people. Good people make for good relationships, and good relationships are good for business. The breadth of the students coming from such a liberal arts focus results in vocal, active people with admirable qualities. Basically, we just like the way L-R does it," stated Tony. "I feel for people who aren’t liberal arts graduates. They often become disenchanted with their chosen careers and don’t have the skills to make a change."

As the Jacksons work toward retirement as co-chairmen and senior consultants, they have passed the torch to their son Alan, now president of the company, and stock ownership to their other two children: Brian, a doctoral candidate at UVA and Mary Margaret, a sophomore at L-R. But they are finding it difficult to let go: "I think this past year we took, what? One day of vacation?" Tony asked his wife. She nodded, and they smiled. They’ve created an inviting, dynamic office with well-educated Hickory residents. It is no wonder they find it difficult to step back.