Volunteer Highlight: Brian Ottman's journey with Mission: St. Louis

Brian Ottman’s first experience with Mission: St. Louis began at a bowling alley fundraiser in 2019, where he was introduced to our Executive Director, Josh Wilson. Brian’s interest in Mission: St. Louis was sparked listening to Josh speak passionately about the impact of the organization and what he was trying to accomplish in the community. Brian has now become a consistent volunteer, regularly helping with different programs and at times, bringing his family with him. As the Assistant VP of South-Central Car Sales Operations at Enterprise, Brian has also mobilized his team to volunteer at our Essentials Drives, dedicated to supplying groceries and basic needs to the St. Louis community. Curious to learn more about what motivates Brian to volunteer, we asked him a few questions. 

1.What inspired you to start volunteering with Mission St. Louis? 

“Ben Holman, who is president of the board, his, daughter and my daughter went to school together. Ben and I became friends through our kids. Then he introduced me to Josh and the work he was doing and, ended up meeting at a bowling alley fundraiser.” 

On each Essentials Drive Day, Jason Watson, our Senior VP of Engagement, leads volunteers through a Cultural Humility training, emphasizing the importance what it means to come into a space you are not from with respect and understanding of others and their differences. Jason shares his own story that has profoundly impacted volunteers like Brian. Those lessons have stayed with Brian during his volunteer experiences. He reflects on a story from when he volunteered at our Affordable Christmas event. 

2. How has your experience volunteering influenced your perspective on poverty or community needs? 

“I think it's really opened my eyes to some of the issues we have here in St. Louis. 

I think the biggest was, last year, at Affordable Christmas. I took a bunch of presents out to a car for an elderly woman that she had gotten for her grandkids. She thanked me, and I responded to her, ‘Oh, thank you for letting me be part of your community today.’ She literally just welled up and gave me a big hug. There was a connection there coming in with the right mindset that you're really here to be a part of their community. That’s a personal connection that was made that I don't think I ever could have if I hadn't listened to Jason and known his story a little bit.” 

3. What keeps you coming back to volunteer, and what do you find most rewarding about it? 

“I don't know anyone who can listen to Josh speak about what he's trying to accomplish in the city and not feel great about being a part of this organization. I'm very pragmatic. 

I think from a business perspective, I try to keep things very simple and kind of ‘What can we do that will have the biggest impact? What can we do to help get the right result?’ I think Josh runs Mission: St. Louis that way. It's very practical. It's measurable.  The things that that Mission St. Louis is doing with the city is having a positive impact in the areas that they're trying to impact, and I think that's outstanding.” 

 4. In what ways has volunteering with Mission: St. Louis impacted you? 

“I feel incredibly blessed to be born where I was born and raised the way I was raised and to have the opportunities that I was given and recognize that not everyone is in that same situation. Working with Mission: St. Louis has really helped me embrace that and realize that there's a lot of need here. There's a lot of opportunity for us to help lift other people connect with other people.”