Expect to see more of J Dalton Turner in the future.
The Linn native didn't wait until he graduated from Lincoln University in spring 2019 to start making his mark on Jefferson City.
After a stint as operations manager at Busch's Florists in 2018, Turner's partner, Mitchell Woodrum, got him interested in Capitol City Cinema, Jefferson City's "independent, community-oriented arthouse theater."
Starting as a volunteer, Turner is now the cinema's executive director, where he oversees programming and coordinates special events and private rentals, writes grants, and is a liaison between the cinema's board and the community.
The theater strives to find films that cannot be seen elsewhere.
The theater on East High Street closed early during the COVID-19 pandemic, while still offering some virtual programming. It reopened to the public Sept. 18 with the film "Boyhood," a 2014 coming-of-age story.
Being closed for several months allowed the cinema to rent more to families and private gatherings. The theater can make popcorn and drinks, and Capitol City CORK and Board, next door, can make food for private events, Turner said.
With all of Turner's roles, he's still finding time to pursue his master's degree in business administration from Lincoln University.
Even when he earns that degree, he plans to continue work with nonprofits.
"I really do enjoy being involved with nonprofits and being able to see what they're advocating for, having communities realize they're here and what associations are able to give back to its members and the community," he said.
If you think millennials are narcissistic with a sense of entitlement that dwarfs their work ethic, Turner might change your mind. He has a strong sense of community, taught to him as a youth in Linn, and he works like he's got something to prove.
When he's not working at the cinema, he's often at his other job, with C2C Association Management, a full-service association management firm that serves statewide and even international associations. It is co-owned by Jill Hancock and Scott Penman.
Among other things, the firm offers direct support for member-based associations including planning conferences, taking care of mailings, back-end customer service/support and maintain membership databases.
Turner also works as a consultant and grant-writer for the Jefferson City Art Foundation. Among other things, he's helped with a successful $10,000 matching grant for a walking tour through the Missouri Humanities Council.
He's also a volunteer for Jefferson City's Cultural Arts Commission and Human Relations Commission.
With all of his coals in the fire, he still finds time to unwind.
"On the weekends when I'm free, I love to go to the lake with my partner," he said. "We have golden noodle and a pug. We go to our home at the lake and play on our jet skis and boat, that's about it. We like to be able to escape to the peace and serenity of the Lake of the Ozarks."