Lindenwood Magazine - Spring / Summer 2020

Barczykowski Runs Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri while Running Half Marathons by Brian Vorce As the CEO of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, Bonnie Barczykowski (’87, ’97) encourages girls to stay active, pursue their interests, and become the leaders of tomorrow. Barczykowski exhorts these ideals because she’s lived them in her personal life and career. Twice a graduate of Lindenwood University, earning a bachelor’s degree in education in 1987 and a Master of Business Administration in 1997, Barczykowski (Hoesli) worked her way to the top from modest beginnings. As a first-generation college student, Barczykowski made her higher- education decision with help from a source outside her family. “My high school counselor walked me through the entire process, everything from choosing my major and university to applying for financial aid,” Barczykowski said. “My experiences at Lindenwood, both in the undergraduate and graduate programs, prepared me for life in general–personally and professionally. Every aspect of my time at Lindenwood influenced who I am and what I do today.” Before Barczykowski joined Girl Scouts in 2012, she was a business owner, author, and motivational speaker, helping women lead healthy, active lives. She owned and operated five Curves locations in the St. Louis area. For 12 years, Barczykowski grew her fitness centers for women to be among the largest in the world. As a motivational speaker, she led local and national training seminars and was the keynote speaker at many conventions for healthcare and fitness. For the Girl Scouts, she is responsible for driving long-term growth, developing new and creative initiatives to meet the needs of members and their community, along with advancing Girl Scouts as the premier leadership organization for girls. “Seventy percent of all women who hold a leadership position were at one time a Girl Scout,” Barczykowski said. “I want families of young girls to realize there is no other out-of-school organization that offers the variety of experiences that Girl Scout does. Where else can a girl as young as 5 years old explore the outdoors, give back through community service, be part of a team, and build skills and earn badges in everything from cybersecurity, space science, and app development to entrepreneurship, public speaking, and budgeting?” Barczykowski is also involved in the St. Louis community. Her Lose to Win STL program inspired thousands of individuals to live healthier lives, and she has served on numerous boards and committees. “I choose to give back, help others, and be involved because my life has been impacted by many individuals who chose to do the same,” Barczykowski said. “Paying it forward is an enjoyable way to live!” Barczykowski received many health- and business-related awards, including the St. Louis Business Journal’s “2015 Most Influential Business Women.” Also in 2015, Barczykowski was honored as an outstanding alumna of Lindenwood’s accelerated degree program. In her spare time, she also stays physically active. As a member of the Seven Continent Club, she will run a half marathon in all seven continents. Having already completed Australia, North America, and Europe, in September she will travel to Patagonia to check South America off the list. Next March, she will run in Antarctica. “I am taking a family member on each trip with me, making fabulous memories along the way,” Barczykowski said. She met her husband, Dan at Lindenwood when he attended the University of Missouri–Rolla and was visiting a friend at Lindenwood. They have now been married 32 years and have three children: Aimee, 28, Amanda, 25, and Danny, 20, and two grandchildren, Ben and Nora. The Barczykowskis live in Weldon Spring, Mo. n “Paying it forward is an enjoyable way to live.” BONNIE BARCZYKOWSKI SPRING/SUMMER 2020 | 5 4 | SPRING/SUMMER 2020 Lindenwood University REAL SUCCESS