Bob Funk says he realized the ministry was not his calling when he found there was a "great awakening at the end of every sermon." Yet, if ministry's mission is hope, Funk found his calling — and success helping families and communities — by giving individuals a leg up in the job market . Funk co-founded Express Employment Professionals, begun in 1983 in Oklahoma City, and serves the company as chairman and chief executive officer. Growing from 30 franchises in 11 states in 1984, Express reported matching 540,000 job-seekers with about 84,000 companies in three countries in 2017. The privately held staffing firm reported $3.4 billion in sales and just awarded its 800th franchise. Funk's aim
There is no school room like the lessons learned on the milkin’ end of a cow at 3 a.m. in morning. As the wind blows the sweet smell of freshly cut hay, the clouds begin to paint the sky with pink light as the sun prepares for its grand entry. Working the family farm at an early age, I learned that the livestock depend on you to be there every morning, the cows can’t wait on the milker, the crops will die in the field without the harvester and the good Lord made it all. Hard work, leadership, faith and dependability are the lessons thousands of Oklahoma kids learn every day as members of the FFA. When they put on the iconic blue corduroy jacket, they wear the pride, the achievement and co
