Glen Taylor

Glen Taylor, owner and founder of Taylor Corporation, started his career with Carlson Wedding Service while attending college at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He purchased the business in 1975 and has dramatically grown the family-owned and privately held firm through acquisitions and startups to become one of the top 10 graphics communications businesses in North America. Taylor Corporation’s core purpose is to create opportunity and security, especially for its employees, which has not changed during Taylor’s 40 years of ownership and leadership. Taylor Corporation’s current family of 80-plus subsidiaries has more than 100 patents and patent applications and provides services to 50 percent of the Fortune 500 companies.

Taylor has a profound commitment to the communities in which he resides. He has been an involved Mankato leader and supporter of civic organizations. His longstanding involvement and support of Minnesota State University, Mankato, has included serving on the early foundation board (1979–90) and being the largest philanthropic supporter of the university. Taylor was a Minnesota senator from 1980 to 1990 and has received many awards and recognition for his service, including the Distinguished Service Award from the Minnesota Association for Education of Young Children, 1987 Minnesota Business Hall of Fame, 2012 Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame, and the Toastmasters International Communication and Leadership award.

At Minnesota State, Mankato, Taylor graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in 1962, received a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1977, served on the University’s Foundation Board for more than 10 years, and was awarded the university’s first honorary doctorate (Honorary Doctor of Laws), in 1996, for his distinguished professional career and volunteer service. His talks at Minnesota State, Mankato, have ranged from chats with students in the residence halls to the 2013 College of Business Morgan Thomas Executive Lecture attended by hundreds of students and regional business leaders. In 2014, Greater Mankato Growth awarded Taylor Corporation and the College of Business the Brian Fazio Business Education Partnership Award for its internship collaborations.

Taylor is an engaged community and civic leader, giving his time and support to many initiatives but especially to early childhood, higher education, and human services. Organizations such as United Way, YMCA, and especially Minnesota State, Mankato, have been major philanthropic recipients. The North Mankato library, YMCA facility, and Minnesota State Mankato sports center bear his name.