From t-shirts at campus events to branded apparel seen across St. Charles, the Lindenwood community is familiar with Stacee Gilmore’s work. As founder of Promotions Pronto, a promotional merchandise company, Gilmore has spent more than 20 years supporting local organizations and giving back to the community. That commitment earned her this year’s Heart of a Lion Award.

The Heart of a Lion Award recognizes those who work behind the scenes to improve the community, the University, and the lives of students. For Gilmore, giving back is woven into the way she does business. “Whenever somebody buys from us for an event, we always give back to the nonprofit or whatever the event is because we know that our items they buy directly take away from the cause,” she said. This approach has shaped her partnership with Lindenwood.

Promotions Pronto has sponsored and served on committees for both the Lindenwood University Gala and the Athletics Black and Gold event. This year, Promotions Pronto sponsored seven students to attend Missouri Boys State and American Legion Auxiliary Girls State of Missouri, hosted at Lindenwood. These students would have been unable to attend the event had it not been for Gilmore’s generosity.

Gilmore credits much of her success to the team behind her and the family roots that shaped her career. She began working in her mother’s small business after college, which set the foundation for Promotions Pronto. Gilmore started the business in 2005, working from home with her mother. 20 years later, Promotions Pronto is a thriving company with an office in Chesterfield and nine staff members. “I have an amazing team of people that I work with that help out and do a lot of the behind the scenes work to make me who I am,” she said. “We're an all female staff and we love what we do. We love our customers. They really make my life easy. They do a lot of things that they don't necessarily always get recognized for as well, so they're a big part of this.” Gilmore built the business with a people-first approach. Supporting her employees, customers, and community reflects the spirit of the Heart of a Lion Award.

Gilmore’s community impact reaches beyond Lindenwood. Promotions Pronto is a member of several regional chambers of commerce. Gilmore also supports nonprofits that serve individuals with disabilities, such as Boone Center Inc. and Community Living. “One of the things I'm the proudest about is just giving back to all of the nonprofits for people with disabilities,” she said.

This focus on hard work and giving back has created a culture among her team. While nominating Gilmore for the award, a colleague said, “She’s always kind, always gracious, and always willing to help, even when things get hectic. Her positive energy is infectious, and her belief in the mission of Lindenwood is deeply felt in every project." Whether it is doing what is right or by having grit, Gilmore embodies Lindenwood’s values every day through her work.