Samantha Sorenson
Contributing Writer
SMC Trustee John Moore was seemingly born into a role of supporting and advocating for Spartanburg Methodist College. His father’s passion for his alma mater led to a family’s commitment to supporting and growing it.
Moore’s father, William “Bill” Moore, attended SMC back when it was known as Spartanburg Junior College. While the institution’s name was different, the heart and mission of the College remained the same – reaching students who needed a unique path to higher education and helping them build the necessary foundation to succeed in the world beyond.
“My father always credited SMC with providing him the boost he needed to complete his four-year degree at NC State,” Moore said. “After college, he became a textile executive for the Reeves Brothers organization before eventually purchasing and running Sally Foster Gift Wrap.”
Bill Moore was committed to giving back to his community and the College that helped him grow. He served on the Spartanburg Methodist College Board of Trustees for years and was passionate about helping students achieve. For some people, passion is a personal focus, but for Bill and the Moore family, it has become a way of life.
“My father wanted our family to continue our involvement in SMC after him,” Moore explains. “He asked me, just prior to his passing in 2005, if I would continue the tradition of Board service, and I agreed.”
He welcomed the opportunity when asked to serve in 2014. What might have started as a father’s passion quickly became the son’s.
“Spartanburg Methodist College is unlike so many other places. The faculty and staff truly live out the College’s mission to equip students with the knowledge, skills, virtues, and mindset needed to thrive personally, create positive change in their communities, and lead purposeful lives,” he said. “It’s deeply rewarding both to work with dedicated people and to see SMC’s impact on students’ lives.”
That impact only grew during Moore’s tenure on the Board. When he started serving as a Trustee, he was unconventionally young, only 32. His age, however, wasn’t viewed as an impediment, and he quickly became involved in one of the most essential things a college board can do – searching for and appointing a new president.
For a young professional new to Board service, the experience was educational and invaluable. Dr. Penny Fisher, the Board Chair at the time, nominated Moore to be on the search committee. Throughout the lengthy process, the committee members narrowed their selection to Scott Cochran, a former business executive making waves in higher education. This decision marked a turning point for the College.
Since then, Moore has rolled up his sleeves and worked alongside the College’s leadership to strategically transform SMC from a two-year school struggling with enrollment to a four-year school offering bachelor’s degrees, online classes, and membership in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) alongside other four-year institutions. He has also been appointed Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee and elected Chairman of the Board.
“We’ve grown rapidly in the past decade, but the moves the college has made have been well-thought-out and planned,” he explains. “The decision to offer bachelor’s degree programs, for instance, wasn’t made lightly, and there was a lot of debate around the topic. Ultimately, it’s been a great move for the College.”
The decision to offer four-year athletics and join the NAIA followed suit.
“Our four-year degree programs have allowed students to stay at the college they love and graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Our four-year athletics programs allow students to continue at SMC without having to give up their athletic career,” Moore said. Both moves have exponentially increased SMC’s impact, allowing the College to serve students better.
For Moore, board service has been a rewarding endeavor for various reasons. He’s gotten to continue his father’s legacy at a deserving college. He’s experienced personal and professional growth under the mentorship of senior Board members. And he’s been a part of multiple historic moments for the College – from announcing its first bachelor’s degree programs to surviving and even thriving through the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Moore will pass the Chairman of the Board position to Reverend Jerry Gadsden this year and serve as the Immediate Past Chair. He’s confident that the excellent work SMC has started will continue, and he’s proud that, during his time of service, he’s seen the College balance its commitment to helping students thrive with its commitment to financial stability and expansive growth.
When considering what comes next for SMC, several things come to Moore’s mind.
“We’re entering a time when industry and education are working together to promote education,” he shares. “Spartanburg Academic Movement’s new Movement 2030 program is committed to helping increase the college graduation rates in our community. We’re excited to be a part of that movement.”
Outside of his Board service for SMC, Moore is the President and Chief Compliance Officer of MTM Investment Management and actively serves on the Board of Trustees for Gibbs Cancer Center. He is also a member of the President’s Advisory Board of Wofford College, his alma mater.
Moore is also excited about selecting new Board members. Since he has experienced the tremendous personal growth that comes from serving, he’s hopeful that younger Board members will have the same growth opportunity.
He’s hopeful that the current Board will be instrumental in choosing members committed to “leaving the college better than they found it.”