Southeast Missouri State University student publication

Jackson business owner named to Board of Regents

Wednesday, August 14, 2019
University Photo

Jackson’s Signature Packaging founder and CEO Dennis Vinson was recently appointed to the Southeast Board of Regents on July 10.

Vinson, a native of central New Jersey, brought Signature Packaging from Atlanta to the Missouri town of nearly 15,000 in March 2007 and has remained in the area ever since.

As chairman of the board of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vinson has a strong business presence in the state, garnering governor Mike Parson’s attention and earning himself a spot on the Board of Regents.

“I was just honored to even be considered, because there’s a lot of people, a lot of other options that I’m sure he had,” Vinson said. “But I’m grateful and honored for the opportunity and looking forward to serve.”

The Board of Regents has primary responsibility for the governance of Southeast Missouri State University, according to semo.edu/board.

In the past two years, top state officials have reached out to Vinson to use Signature Packaging to introduce state initiatives. Former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens reached out to Vinson to use his company as a platform to introduce a tax cut proposal in January 2018. A year later, Parson did the same to introduce a “Fast Track” grant proposal in March.

Vinson’s business prowess has also been felt in the Cape Girardeau and Jackson communities.

“I’ve been blessed to have some good people here working, which afforded me the opportunity to get involved in the community,” Vinson said.

He is a past member of both the Cape Girardeau and Jackson chambers of commerce and a past board member for the Boys and Girls Club of Cape Girardeau. He’s also an advisory board member for the Bank of Missouri and a member of the board for the Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau.

“I think it's important to get involved in the community and what’s happening in your area,” Vinson said. “It’s important for all businesses, small and large, to have a good environment to operate in, which helps the economy and helps everybody thrive.”

Vinson is taking a student-first approach to his new position on the Board of Regents, one that he says will provide new and exciting challenges.

“The world is constantly changing, and you want to make certain that we’re changing as well, and that we have some forward thinkers that are looking to the new world we live in today, and that the students are being looked after,” Vinson said. “Education is a big piece of what we do. It’s a big piece of almost anybody’s economy.”

One trend Vinson noticed in higher education is how majors are being adjusted to fit the evolving economy and workforce, and he said he would like to see Southeast stay on pace with that trend so the university can stay relevant.

Vinson became acquainted with the university before his appointment to the Board of Regents when his daughters Crystal and Chelsea decided to pursue their education at Southeast.

Crystal graduated in 2016, and Chelsea is still enrolled at the university.

Vinson will officially begin his duties September 1.

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