Blake Schreck ’78 can’t help but feel proud when he drives around Johnson County in Kansas and sees all the new development in the area. For the past 20 years, he has served as the president and economic development director for the Lenexa Chamber of Commerce. Lenexa’s population has grown from a little over 48,000 in 2010 to almost 54,000 in 2017, and the city can boast of several new projects and developments, including City Center Lenexa currently in the works.
Prior to joining the Lenexa Chamber, Schreck had served as director of economic development for Overland Park’s Chamber of Commerce and president of the Olathe Chamber of Commerce.
“It gives me tremendous satisfaction to see that growth,” Schreck said. “I feel like I’ve been responsible for some of that growth.”
When the Wichita, Kansas native, was playing baseball in high school, he met several players from other teams. They all had offers from several colleges, and six of them decided to play at Missouri Western together.
“My adversaries became my teammates. I have a lot of great memories.”
He played baseball as shortstop all four years at Missouri Western and even played basketball for the Griffons a couple years. Schreck was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005, and the 1975 baseball team he played on was inducted in 2007.
Schreck, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Marketing, said he visits campus quite often for sports events and appreciates that Head Baseball Coach Buzz Verduzco makes the baseball alumni feel welcomed.
Recently, Schreck joined the Western League for Excellence at the Regents level in order to support the University with an undesignated gift each year.
“I like to give back because of my wonderful experience,” he said. “Missouri Western was a great place to get an education and I am so proud of what it has become.”