A Moline elementary school that will soon undergo an expansion project is being renamed after a longtime Quad Cities community and business leader.
The Milan-based Group O announced today, Dec. 9, that Lincoln-Irving Elementary School will be renamed the Robert Ontiveros Elementary School to honor the life and legacy of the late Robert “Bob” Ontiveros. Mr. Ontiveros was the founder of Group O, a nationally respected business leader, and lifelong advocate for Moline’s Floreciente neighborhood where he grew up.
The Moline-Coal Valley School District approved the name change at its school board meeting Monday night, Dec. 8.
Lincoln Irving, located at 1015 16th Ave., Moline, has about 350 students, according to the school’s website. The school district is planning a $28 million expansion and renovation project of Lincoln Irving beginning in March 2026. The project includes major changes to the exterior and interior of the building as part of plans to close Willard Elementary School and merge that school with Lincoln Irving. The building expansion is scheduled to be completed in August 2027.
Mr. Ontiveros, a longtime community and business leader, died Feb. 8, 2022, at the age of 83.
“Bob was a strong community leader, a kind-hearted person, and a visionary. He shaped and changed our community to what it is today; for his impact has forever changed the Quad Cities area and beyond. We are grateful to have been a part of his journey and we will continue to work towards his dream of a world where there is equality in business,” the Ontiveros family said in a statement shortly after his death nearly four years ago.
For the Ontiveros family and Group O, the school tribute carries deep meaning.
“This is more than a school renaming. It’s a celebration of the values Bob lived every day: hard work, generosity, and belief in the potential of every child,” the family said in a statement released Tuesday. “We are honored that his name will continue to inspire future generations in the community that shaped him.”
True to his Floreciente roots
Mr. Ontiveros’ story began in Moline’s Floreciente neighborhood. In 1974, he and his wife, Blenda, founded Bi-State Packaging from the back of their family station wagon — the small venture that eventually grew into Group O, now one of the nation’s largest Hispanic-owned companies with more than 1,000 employees across 40 locations.
Throughout his life, he remained deeply committed to expanding opportunity in the region. His
philanthropic leadership supported education, economic development, and accessible healthcare, benefiting organizations such as the Black Hawk College Foundation, Augustana College, Western Illinois University, Niabi Zoological Association, and the Community Health Care Clinic.
In the Floreciente neighborhood, the Ontiveros family helped revitalize the neighborhood through initiatives such as Mercado on Fifth (which he co-founded with granddaughter Maria Ontiveros), West Gateway Partners, and ongoing support for youth-focused programs.
Among his many recognitions, Mr. Ontiveros received the Order of Lincoln, Illinois’ highest award — a meaningful connection as Lincoln-Irving Elementary adopts his name, Group O said in the release.
The school’s renaming serves as a lasting reminder of his belief that strong communities grow through investment in people, opportunity, and education, according to the school district.
Group O is a business process outsourcer specializing in packaging, incentive marketing, supply chain, and mobile device testing solutions. Headquartered in Milan, and with major operations in Minnesota, Texas, and Mexico, the company employs more than 1,000 professionals.
