Shaped by both education and experience, Raylene Appleby has built a career defined by breaking barriers and expanding opportunities for women.
She learned early how opportunity can change a life. Her drive to succeed — and to help other women do the same — traces back to her grandmother, an entrepreneur who owned two grocery stores. As a child, Appleby woke before dawn to work at the family business, standing on a box behind the counter to ring up purchases. Those mornings instilled confidence and a clear expectation.
“She’d say, ‘Someday you’ll have your own business, Raylene,’” Appleby said. “That never left my head.”
That belief carried her through a banking and insurance career, where she became one of Missouri’s first women in risk management. When the chance came to become the majority owner of an insurance company, she seized it — fulfilling her grandmother’s prediction.
Now a member of the Ozarks Tech Foundation Board, Appleby is driven by the conviction that women deserve every chance to build secure, meaningful futures. She also knows many women in the Ozarks face steep barriers to higher education.
“A woman’s personal power, influence and earning potential increase with education beyond high school,” Appleby said. “But access is not equal for all.”
That belief sparked the Women Connect4Good/Suit Yourself Endowed Scholarship at Ozarks Tech. Working with her longtime friend Dr. Nancy O’Reilly, founder of Women Connect4Good, Appleby helped rally 100 women to give $100 each. Dr. O’Reilly matched the gifts, creating a $20,000 endowment for women pursuing their education at the college.
But Appleby didn’t stop there. The first campaign push was a win, but she is already focused on doubling both outreach and the fund in the next year. She is calling on other women to step up and help elevate the next generation further. Appleby continued her outreach for donations, and as a result, doubled the fund in 2025. She plans to continue until the scholarship reaches $100,000.
Her commitment to Ozarks Tech students extends well beyond one initiative. She endowed the Theodore J. Andrews Memorial Scholarship in honor of her former colleague, known for his community service. She is also a longtime supporter of the Ozarks Tech Foundation Golf Tournament, which raises scholarship funds each year. For Appleby, these efforts represent more than financial support — they reflect trust in students determined to build stronger futures for their families.
Her work to empower women also reaches beyond campus. Nearly 25 years ago, Appleby co-founded Suit Yourself Boutique, which provides women entering the workforce with professional clothing and a boost of confidence. The boutique operates on a simple principle: women helping women. Appleby believes confidence matters, but she is clear about what creates lasting opportunity.
“Clothing can help you walk into that job interview,” she said. “Education helps you build a career.”
From the wooden box in her grandmother’s store to her leadership in Springfield, Appleby has sustained a lifelong practice of lifting others.
“I get up every day feeling grateful,” she said. “Count your blessings and make a difference.”