Scott Purvis did this interview from New Orleans, which is not where he lives.
Neither is California, where he was headed next.
Purvis’ job as vice president of human resources at Lowe’s Companies, Inc., a Fortune 50 company, takes him all over.
He’s away from his desk in Mooresville, North Carolina, for about two weeks every month.
“My team works in locations across the country, and it’s important for me to spend time with them. Traveling to their locations allows me to experience the vastness of our country, the customs, values and traditions of my team members and gives me a wide perspective on my job.”
His job requires that encompassing outlook: He is responsible for all H.R. services and solutions — including leadership development, talent acquisition, labor relations, diversity and inclusion, policies and processes, compliance and risk mitigation — for all of the home improvement company’s U.S. stores and distribution locations.
He has about 1,900 people on his team; Lowe’s has about 265,000 total employees.
‘A charming, jovial, tall guy’
“The thing about Purvis is, he’s a really humble guy. He has achieved so much but he tries to stay below the radar,” said Harry Hom, a faculty emeritus who taught in the psychology department from 1972-2009 and still conducts research on campus. He and his wife, Susan Hom, also a psychology faculty emeritus, were close to Purvis, who earned a bachelor’s in psychology in 1988.
They were so close, in fact, that Purvis and Harry Hom once went on a road trip to pick up the Homs’ son after his first year of college in another state.
“Purvis said, ‘Do you need someone to help drive? I am in good shape in my classes, we can do this!’ We had a great time,” Harry said. “Every time we stopped to get gas, he would call someone he knew in that town and chat with them — he knew someone in every town!
“We just had a great, cordial relationship. He was a charming, jovial, tall guy who was always laughing. He lit up the room when he walked into it.”
Susan Hom was one of two advisors to the Psi Chi psychology honors society.
“The officers at that time were a special group, and Scott was a natural leader in that group,” she said.
The club started new activities, including service projects and a fun annual banquet. When the club held a T-shirt sale, the image they picked was a drawing of Purvis, sitting on the hood of his Jeep. He was holding a flag that said “Jonathan’s or Bust” — a reference to a local restaurant where mixers were held for psychology students and faculty.
Purvis also worked on campus, parking cars at basketball games during the legendary Coach Charlie Spoonhour’s tenure. He was involved in Student Government Association, serving as an officer during one of the attempts to change the name of the school to Missouri State.
“I did feel like a part of the early pioneers who started chipping away at that issue,” he said.
In the summers, Purvis went back to his hometown of Branson and worked in the hospitality industry.
“I was impressed that he was managing hotels,” Harry Hom said. “Think about that — an undergraduate given that kind of responsibility.”
Growing a career
Purvis continued to say yes to impressive responsibilities. After Missouri State, he earned a master’s degree, then worked for Walmart in Arkansas in human relations, training and development. He met his wife, Karen, there; they have been together for 23 years and have two adult children.
After working in human resources for Novartis Pharmaceuticals, he accepted a position at Lowe’s.
He loves the company and is a self-described do-it-yourselfer.
“I give a lot of credit to my dad; he built our entire house when I was growing up,” Purvis said.
Purvis has MSU décor in his office, which has helped him find other alumni on the Lowe’s campus.
He gets back to the Ozarks to see his mom in Branson and to visit the MSU campus because he’s a trustee with the Missouri State University Foundation.
During a recent visit, he found Harry Hom in his lab and asked about ways to contribute to the psychology department.
“He already speaks to classes and finds internships for our students at Lowe’s, and now he wants to do something for the faculty he remembered,” Hom said. “He said he’s just been really fortunate and said ‘I think it’s my time to give back.’ It was a poignant moment for me.”
Purvis said he is excited and optimistic about the next chapter of his life.
“I am ready to plug back in to my alma mater and start giving to an organization that gave so much to me 20 years ago.”
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