David Atkisson Spring eld Of ce Leader J.E. Dunn Construction
Joselyn Baldner President/CEO Central Bank
Max Buetow President and CEO CoxHealth
Thomas Douglas CEO JMARK Business Solutions, Inc.
Chris Jarratt Chief Creative Of cer Revel Advertising
Johnny McNeil Vice President Community Relations Community Partnership of the Ozarks
Tim Rosenbury Director of Quality of Place Initiatives City of Spring eld
Benjamin Sapp Partner | Business Development Sapp Design Architects
Jack Stack President/CEO SRC Holdings Corp.
James Stapleton Co-founder Code
Dean Thompson
Executive Director-Regionalism and Economic Development Spring eld Area Chamber of Commerce
Pamela Yancey President/CEO Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB
THE WARRIOR’S JOURNEY OFFICE IN SPRINGFIELD, MO
BE REMARKABLE
We want to see more women share their stories with others through public speaking. Through a six-week training program, you can learn how to choose and clarify a shareable message, develop it into a compelling and impactful talk and learn how to con dently share it with others. Raise your con dence, tell your story and be remarkable. Learn more about Remarkable at ladieswholaunch.biz417.com/remarkable
JOIN
CRAFTING A LEGACY
We are proud to announce the inaugural cohort of Biz 417’s The Legacy Network, presented by Guaranty Bank. designed to enhance participants’ leadership skills, expand their network and amplify their in uence to craft a lasting legacy. Hosted at Drury University, this professional development program runs from September 2024 to March 2025. Check out the members at legacynetwork.com/members.
PHOTO BY KATY ST. CLAIR
Jessica Harmison-Olson, Adam Reichert, Laine Scholz, Simoriah Stogner, Nate Thiry, and Abbye Bobbett are a part of the inaugural cohort of The Legacy Network. Sessions will begin in September.
One of Biz 417’s newest programs is Remarkable, a six-week public speaking course aimed at helping more women feel confident and prepared to take the stage and share their most vulnerable and impactful stories. Our second Remarkable class has concluded, which means a second cohort of female leaders has gotten a crash course in public speaking. Read about the experiences of two of the participants below.—Katie Pollock Estes
SOME REMARKABLE GALS
“Yesterday, I took a powerful step. I decided to embrace empowerment by sharing my story with 14 women I had only met 10 weeks ago. I’m pleased to say that I didn’t cry or die while presenting on stage. Thank you, Biz 417, for providing a platform where local women leaders can gather, share their journeys and re ect on what has shaped them into the leaders they are today. ”
—Rachel Watson
“Thank you to Biz 417 for featuring our very own Darla Stringer alongside so many other incredible 417-land women. It’s an honor to be in such great company, and we can’t wait to see what the future of Counter Negative holds.”
—Counter Negative Recovery & Wellness
“So proud to be featured as a breakthrough business in Biz 417 magazine!”
—Ponchairo, whose owner Melissa DuVall was featured in the May/June edition of Biz 417
Kevin Dunaway
Fail Forward
No one wants to hear about when you got it right. This is a quote that my speaker coach Lori Robertson often shares not only with me when we are working through building out a talk or speech that I am giving, but also with the women in our Biz 417 Remarkable public speaking course. It’s so true. We learn so much more when leaders are willing to share when they messed up and what they learned from it—and share what strategies it took to finally get it right.
That’s why our recurring “Nailed It, Failed It” story (p. 24) is one of my favorites. Sometimes it’s hard to pull the Failed Its out of those we are featuring, but not this time. Our current class of 10 For The Next 10 that you are meeting in this issue is full of self-reflection and humility, and it is ohso-refreshing. Check them out on p. 38.
When we see people succeeding and owning their space, we tend to assume it has come easily to them or that “it must be nice…” Once we can peek behind the curtain a bit, though, we see that everyone has a story that can help someone else. It’s the ultimate act of true leadership to be vulnerable and let others in on the struggles you overcame to earn the spot you hold today.
Personally, all of 2023 felt like one big Failed It for me because I hit rock bottom burn out. It was scary, especially as a business owner, to feel that way. The only thing I knew to do was give myself a time-out in the form of a month-long sabbatical, which my team was thankfully so supportive of. I truly thought I would come back from that month and—poof!—it would all be better. That is definitely not what happened. It’s only now, reflecting back on it a year later, that I can start to piece together the steps I took to fall back in love with my job and my business. I’m building out a talk for it that I hope can resonate and help others who may be in a similar place.
My Nailed It is that I put in the work—a lot of personal self-reflection and work—and then
I made some hard choices, big changes and major investments in my business. Now, I am more energized and inspired than ever to keep creating and building. Similar to the 10 people we are featuring in this issue, I am psyched about everything that’s possible for my business and our region in the next 10 years. A great reminder that if you’re going through it, just keep going.
Logan Aguirre Publisher, Biz 417
LOGAN’S FAVORITE LESSON
If you ever have the chance to meet with Conrad Griggs, say yes. He is a gifted storyteller and an eternal optimist, and he is full of endless words of wisdom. He’s an all-around mood boost. I’ve been fortunate enough to have regular coffee meetings with Conrad this past year and always leave feeling better than when I arrived. It inspires me to want to be that person for others. Read what he had to say when our Biz 417 editor Dori Grinder sat down with him for Advice & Whiskey on p. 33.
1
“When young people go into job interviews and they’ve played a sport competitively, they have an advantage because they’ve already been successful in a team environment. Our workforce bene ts from strong athletics for children.”
—Gerard
Barbero, Boys Director of Coaching, Sporting Springfield,p. 48
2
“I want people to think of Spring eld and think of us as a hightech, engineering town. Our company and our growth can help change this perception.”
—Adam Toth, President, Toth & Associates, p. 43
3
“I just never felt like I wasn’t going to succeed. I have sat in rooms with investors in suits presenting my plan, but I never took no for an answer.”
—Vanessa Howe, owner, BelowZero Cryospa, p. 22
4
“It’s
important to have courage to pursue your goals with con dence. Introduce yourself. Be bold, and take the chance on your dreams.”
—Dave Schaumburg, Assistant Director of Aviation,
Springfield-
Branson
National Airport, p. 24
5
“Sometimes projects just take a little more time and a lot more e ort, but ultimately they turn out to be really strong just like beehives.”
—Debbie
Shantz Hart, co-owner, Housing Plus and DHTC Development,p. 64
Dependable
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The employee bene ts industry is constantly changing, but that does not mean the quality of a business’ bene t options has to. From fully insured and selffunded health plans to extensive market knowledge, Med-Pay’s comprehensive services allow clients and their employees to focus on what matters most: the success of their organization.
“When I was a young man, I measured goals in weeks and months, but really good big things take time to happen...The big things take a lot of work, but they’re worth it. You have to be persistent.”
—Tyler Moles, read more p. 22
Growing Tech Jobs
An aha moment catapulted James Stapleton to start his own business. Can it help our region become the next tech industry hub? Page 20
Go for the Cold
Pushing through a barrage of rejections didn’t deter Vanessa Howe on her path to creating Below Zero Cryospa. Find out how she was able to Breakthrough. Page 22
Winning and Losing
When our 2024 class of 10 For The Next 10 honorees share their most memorable career successes and failures, we all win.
Page 24
HEAT INDEX
These stories are bubbling up right at press time, and you need to know what’s hot.
BY DORI GRINDER
BANKING NEWS
The rst new bank charter in the state of Missouri since 2008 is making news in southwest Missouri. Four States Bank has received regulatory approval from the Missouri Division of Finance and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Four States Bank will be based in Carthage and will serve small and mediumsized businesses, farmers and residents of the four-state region of southwest Missouri, southeast Kansas, northeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas.
PIC WEST EXPANSION
Breaking ground soon on a new 170,000-square-foot facility in Spring eld’s Partnership Industrial Center West, Cold Zone, a subsidiary of the Erlen Group is expanding and will create numerous job opportunities in the region. The new facility will be located on a 46-acre, shovel-ready site and has the potential to expand up to 800,000 square feet in the future.
WHIP IT
This year marks the 50th Anniversary of Pineapple Whip, and summer is the perfect time to celebrate. In addition to their four distinctive trailers strategically placed in Spring eld, the Fortner family has added ways for locals to enjoy Pineapple Whip yearround with pints in the freezer section of local Hy-Vee stores.
MARY KROMREY
MATT LEMMON
RON SCHNEIDER
ANDREA SITZES
LARRY STOCK
FOUR TO FOLLOW WITH JOEL THOMAS
Joel Thomas is the principal of the BUF Studio Spring eld o ce, which is a business that started in 2020, providing services in architecture, engineering and interior design. Thomas works to establish relationships within the workplace as he helps manage projects and support his team. These four social media accounts/ podcasts bene t him personally and professionally.
BY LAUREN FLYNN
@SimonSinek
“I think Simon Sinek is great. The way he’s able to simplify and put things into perspective, tell you why and how people typically think or react to a situation, and how you need to adjust your mindset and think about it a different way, so you can be more effective and more ef cient in your management processes. He brings you a lot of ‘aha’ moments.”
The Mel Robbins Podcast
“Her simple tips and tricks that a person can use in their personal and professional life are great little exercises that are easy to do, and can be very effective. She’s able to really streamline the processes for these brain trainings, so that they aren’t long and arduous things that you have to continuously think about or take time out of your day to practice.”
The Joe Rogan Experience
“I just enjoy listening to Joe Rogan to relax. I like his honesty. He enjoys hearing all sides of the story. He brings on people from all walks of life, and appears to be very genuine during his interviews, and doesn’t try to necessarily push an agenda. He’s not afraid to speak his truth and admit when he’s wrong, and I like to listen to his interviews, just to gain a better understanding of people as a whole.”
@TheAngryTherapist
“John Kim is a life coach that I found. He’s VERY relatable. He is very honest about his downfalls and his personal growth. I value my personal growth, and my longing to be the best version of myself—to my wife, kids, family, coworkers. I believe these things are essential to being a good leader and business person. Personal well-being is the foundation of everything you do and are.”
C0-DEFYING
In his third act, Code ’s James Stapleton turns a much-needed spotlight on the tech industry— and the jobs new companies provide.
BY JENNIFER JOHNMEYER
ames Stapleton is no stranger to business ownership. His first foray as an entrepreneur began at 18 when he launched his first company, which led him through several creative and tech businesses before transitioning into his second chapter, a career in higher education at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. In that time, Stapleton started an entrepreneurship center at the university and worked closely with regional, state and federal economic development and government organizations before receiving an email 15 years ago that led to his next “aha” moment.
The email, from the federal administrator of the Delta Regional Authority, led to a meeting in which he posed several questions. The first
two (Where do jobs come from? What kinds of companies might create high quality occupations?) led Stapleton to research, beginning with the newly released Business Dynamic Statistics that were provided by the United States Census Bureau.
Stapleton learned that, beginning in the late 1970s, young firms across the country created nearly all of the net new jobs. He also found similar results in the lower Mississippi Delta region. According to UMKC’s Show-Me-Jobs report, in the last five years in Missouri, 82% of all new jobs created were by new companies.
“Missouri is doing really well as it relates to the growth of our technical economy. Missouri’s technology industry is close to being the same size in terms of GDP production as manufacturing, and manufacturing is the kind of industry we want to model other industries after,” Stapleton says, referring to a Missouri Chamber of Commerce report, titled Technology 2030.
That report also highlighted Greene County specifically. “We’re one of the few Missouri counties where more than 5% of all jobs are tech industry jobs,” he says. “The bulk of the
James Stapleton, on stage at Think Summit, connects the dots between funding, training and job creation.
[FORWARD THINKING]
jobs in Greene County are in IT occupations.” He put the answers to the first two questions together and realized there was a need for more companies employing technology occupations.
“As we create and eliminate jobs, we probably won’t see new jobs from existing employers. It was then I had the aha moment that I needed to fill the gap that existed. So we started Codefi.”
Codefi launched in November 2014 in Cape Girardeau. It was the area’s first co-working space and technology incubator, with a larger vision for economic growth: to be a catalyst to increase the formation and growth of technology-based companies in the region.
Codefi’s focus is on supporting startups because they are net-job creators. Stapleton explained that public business dynamics data going back to the late 1970s indicates that firms less than five years old are responsible for nearly all net new jobs created each year. “Most years, in most U.S. regions, established firms five years or older destroy more jobs than they create,” he says. “Thus, if it wasn’t for young firms, our economy wouldn’t create net new jobs.”
With an idea of the answers to the first two questions posed in that fortuitous meeting, Stapleton is focused on the third: What would it take for Springfield to become the startup capital of the Midwest? Stapleton believes the Springfield region is well-positioned for considerable growth in the tech industry in the future. Codefi and efactory recently took a big step, co-creating Innovate SOMO Funds, a firstof-its-kind regional approach combining a nonprofit fund created by charitable donations and a for-profit fund backed by limited partners, coinvesting to make equity and revenue-based investments in startups across southern Missouri.
This model serves to maximize impact in the earliest, riskiest stages of tech startup creation, when funding is most scarce and traditional investment models often fall short. Industry focuses are on the fields of information technology, tech manufacturing, financial services, health care and agriculture, driving job creation where it is most needed.
The total fund size is $2 million, from combined nonprofit and for-profit funds, with a geographic focus of the 47 counties served by the Southern Missouri Innovation Network.
Stapleton’s initial “aha” moment—and third act—is only getting started. “What if we decided to start 50 new high-tech, high-growth companies in the next several years? Fifty founders and co-founders into our ecosystem. Getting more people starting and learning.”
COLD IS SO HOT RIGHT NOW
Vanessa Howe has gone from a life-changing diagnosis to a life-improving business.
BY JENNIFER JOHNMEYER
The Problem
Vanessa Howe was an avid fitness enthusiast before a degenerative disc disease diagnosis threatened to destroy her quality of life. After trying a variety of options to help manage her pain, she found cryotherapy in Dallas while moving her sons to the area and realized the results could be life changing. Unfortunately, those services were not offered in Springfield.
The Big Idea
Howe decided that if there were no cryotherapy services available locally, she would need to bring them to Springfield herself.
“We have a large medical community, and I knew there was a need,” Howe says.
The Learning Curve
Howe made a business plan and took it to several banks. Her main expense was the equipment, with the cryospa machine, the first and only head-out electric version, at the forefront.
“They said ‘No, that’s too big of a risk. What do we do with this machine when you don’t make it? I was like, what are you talking about? I’m GOING to make it.’” After finding her first investor, Howe traveled to purchase the machine, only to learn via text message as she was about to make the purchase that the investor backed out. “I started talking to my friends and got three new investors, and was able to get everything together.”
The Takeaway
BelowZero Cryospa has been up and running since November 2022, and Howe has seen a range of clients from ages 14 through 80 book services. After breaking even in year one, business is booming, and Howe’s “when you don’t make it” equipment investment is almost entirely paid off.
PLACE TO BE
LADIES WHO LAUNCH
We hope you snagged your tickets early for this sold-out event. It’s a half-day women’s leadership event on July 18 that’s packed with networking, excellent speakers and so much inspiration.
REMARKABLE
Applications are open now for the Fall 2024 Remarkable class, which runs August 22 through October 29. Remarkable is a six-week public speaking course that helps women learn to craft and present an impactful message on stage. Applications close on July 12.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE EVENTS AND MANY MORE ON P. 56
Inspiring Education for the Next Generation
Tyler Moles joined the Discovery Center of Spring eld in April 2021 as Chief Operations O cer and moved into the role of CEO in March 2024. Learn about Moles’ goals, what inspires him and what excites him about the future.
BY MAX HAVEY
On key goals as CEO
Being able to serve more kids through outreach programming, through formal education and field trips. This center is a huge resource for the community and has capacity to serve a lot more kids. We’re bringing in a traveling Smith-
[CORNER OFFICE]
Moles (left) showcases sprouts from the indoor urban farm which uses aeroponics and tower garden methods to grow food that is donated locally; Discovery Center (above) has called downtown Springfield home for more than 26 years and continues to grow their programming and education o erings.
sonian gallery that we’ll have here for two years, starting this fall. The idea is to broaden the demographic of who we serve, and we’ll serve more kids by getting more adults interested too.
On advice he’d give his younger self
Rely on the wisdom of others more. At 40, I look at the world differently than I did when I was 25. We have younger employees who bring good things and sometimes they see things, that you just can’t see from where you’re at, and you must listen to them. The variety of perspectives and points of view helps create a better, more holistic vision.
On what inspires him
Watching parents put priority on inspiring education in the kids always inspires me. When I see parents interact with their kids and explain how things work in the Center, it blows my mind, and that’s one of the things that keeps me going.
On what excites him about the future
I’m super excited to see what can happen in a relatively short period of time. When I was a young man, I measured goals in weeks and months, but really good big things take time to happen. Ideas that I had three years ago are just coming to fruition right now. The big things take a lot of work, but they’re worth it. You have to be persistent.
On attendance growth
I recently found some attendance reports from 2010, and I can say that March 2024 was 1,000% of attendance at the museum compared to March 2010. We saw those numbers go up a little over the years and really spike post-COVID. The whole team contributed to making the Center super-relevant again, and I’m really proud of them and what we’ve been able to do. Seeing that 14-year-old piece of paper made me realize that we actually are doing something, and growth is happening.
Tyler
#NAILED IT FAILED IT
Subjects from this issue share their wins, wallpaper, and what it takes to not miss an opportunity.
Gerard Barbero, read his story p. 48
“As coaches, we’re a part of that stage in life where parents are so in uential in their players’ lives. We played in a game with 9-year-olds on a team, and the parents were a little over-excited, and we had a halftime talk on the sidelines with everybody—players, parents, coaches. We all had to understand what direction we wanted to go and ensure our players heard a positive message from parents and their coaches. After that short conversation, you could see the massive difference in both the players and the parents. There was more at stake than a soccer game at that moment.” #NailedIt
“I can be a ery individual, especially when I rst started coaching. We were about to potentially advance to a championship game, and I didn’t like a call, and I ended up getting kicked out of a game when I was 24. To sit there and not be able to help kids in a challenging moment because I was sel sh, that had a huge impact on me. I never wanted that to happen again. Leading by example became a priority that day, and I’m still working toward it.” #FailedIt
“In 2012, I was at a conference when I was in the room with Brian Weiler, the director of aviation at SGF. At that point in my career, I was working in airports in Kansas City, and I knew I wanted to work and live in Spring eld, but I didn’t have the courage to walk up and introduce myself to him. Seven years later, I saw a job posting, nally got the nerve to send an email and introduce myself, but I shouldn’t have waited that long. It’s important to have courage to pursue your goals with con dence. Introduce yourself. Be bold, and take the chance on your dreams.” #FailedIt
Ashley Krug, read her story p. 45
“I am the chair of the communications/marketing committee of the Solid Waste Association of North America, and we had the opportunity to speak to Congress about the challenges of recycling in small cities. That’s something I was super-terri ed to do, but it was an awesome opportunity to highlight the Midwest, that we’re a really important and large part of the work recycling nationwide. It was a great way to advocate for more funding and more resources coming our way.” #NailedIt
“It’s embarrassing. I was interviewed on NPR a couple of years ago about food waste and recycling, and I was on the spot being asked about food waste. We know each person will waste about 400 pounds of food every year, and I told the reporter, ‘400 pounds. That’s two John Cenas.’ That taught me how to be better prepared for interviews and think through some talking points and examples to always have in my back pocket.” #FailedIt
Michael Smith, read his story p. 49
Dave Schaumburg, read his story p. 41
“Getting the grant for the jet bridges was a huge win for us. It was calculated and took a lot of coordination to make sure that we were putting our best foot forward, that we were submitting a package that made good sense to the FAA to fund. It was such a huge win and the rst big step to get us to the point where we can move forward with that terminal expansion, which will change everything for the better at the airport. I had a really good feeling we were going to get it, but man when I got that call that we were getting the grant, it felt good.” #NailedIt
“Toward the end of 2019, we got a phone call from a nationwide insurance company, that was in need of some help. He got my name as a referral from somebody else who we had worked with in the past, and today, we still have that client. They’re our biggest client and we have a great relationship with them. In that moment, I realized all the blood, sweat and tears that we put in to start up this company in the rst 18 months, we were on the map. A really big company reaching out to us was very validating that we were on the right track, and we grew our success as a company from serving them well.” #NailedIt
“We had a candidate interview really well, maybe one of the best interviews I’ve ever had. When we brought the leader in, they weren’t able to perform on what they said. The direction the director-level leader wanted to take was not in alignment with our vision for the company. That particular person eventually resigned, but we learned in that process that we needed to change the way we hired leaders. Now, we do multiple group interviews, with a half-day, in-person interview experience in Spring eld. I y in candidates to have lunch with us. How a candidate interacts with others is just as important and strategic as a candidate who can talk a good game.” #FailedIt
Alyssa Ingle, read her story p. 42
“When I became interim CEO, I was so excited, but I was just going to try it out. I bought wallpaper for my of ce, and if I made it a year, I was going to put the wallpaper up. Two years later, our facility is thriving, and the wallpaper is up in my of ce. I couldn’t believe that I would be able to thrive in this position. It wasn’t my trajectory to do this job; I just wanted to be a therapist. But I love working with others to solve big problems and nd solutions together.” #NailedIt
“I had two jobs in college, and I got a job at Del Rio, which was my favorite Mexican restaurant in Joplin. I couldn’t remember people’s orders and would always leave margaritas at the bar, and I had to let myself go from that job. I didn’t get red, but I gured I failed at that job. Knowing my weaknesses is just as important as knowing my strengths, and you keep going and failing forward until you thrive.” #FailedIt
Jeremy Wells, read his story p. 40
“I think I nailed it in some ways by being okay with not having all the answers as we created The Ozarker Lodge. Earlier in my career, that would have been really hard for me. But with The Ozarker, I was comfortable asking questions and knowing I didn’t have all the answers. That helped me build the right team, and for something special to be built, you have to have the right team.” #NailedIt
“Several years ago, there was one client at Longitude° that had so many red ags. We took on an aspirational project and a client that we weren’t ready and equipped to win on delivery. The client and our team didn’t align on expectations, but we ignored it because it was the right price point. We were a little too green for the work, and we spent way too much time on the project, and no one won. Now I’m 100 percent clear on what we do and don’t do well when pitching to clients, so we can be successful in every project we take on.” #FailedIt
James Stapleton, read his story p. 20
“I nailed it when I married my wife. It’s not easy being a partner with an entrepreneur. Despite my non-linear career, and many ups and downs, mostly ups, Stacy has been the world’s best friend.” #NailedIt
“I failed it by waiting too long to engage in more public discussions and work to ll the skills and opportunity gaps that have prevented more entrepreneurs and workers outside major mentors from thriving in the tech economy.” #FailedIt
“Don’t let other people dictate who you should be. Be your own person. Know who you are.”
—Conrad Griggs, p. 33
Brand Makers Local
Working Like a Dog
Dr.
Page 30
Page 28
Etching Out Success
Conrad Griggs, Business Development of cer at Regent Bank, shares advice and aspirations from his career.
Page 33
[ROOTED HERE]
Pawsitive Thinking
Traditional physical rehabilitation techniques meet cutting-edge technology—and a serious passion for animals—in this highly specialized Spring eld business.
BY TARYN SHORR-MCKEE
Dr. Kara Amstutz was at a veterinary convention in Las Vegas when she discovered Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI), a post-graduate certification program in veterinary rehabilitation and acupuncture. At the time, the company was based in Denver, Colorado, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. So how did this highly specialized business come to Springfield?
BY THE NUMBERS
“A hands-on career requires hands-on training.”
—Dr. Kara Amstutz
CRI appeared in Dr. Amstutz’s world rather serendipitously, as advanced pain management had recently piqued her interest. She and husband Dwight Amstutz founded their first Springfield practice, Hometown Veterinary Hospital, nearly 10 years prior, and they were heartbroken when families had to say good-bye to a pet because of debilitating pain or immobility. In 2013, “Dr. Kara,” as clients call her, became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist through CRI.
One year later, Dr. Kara opened River Canine Rehabilitation, transitioning her practice to pet rehabilitation and pain management. She added
HEADQUARTERS: SPRINGFIELD, MO // PRIVATELY OWNED COMPANY
Students work on Caniken Models from Anatomy In Clay Learning System to practice sculpting di erent muscle groups to better learn canine anatomy.
Dr. Kara
Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist to her resume in 2019 and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2023—one of just 65 in the United States.
When the opportunity arose to purchase Canine Rehabilitation Institute in 2022, the Amstutzes didn’t hesitate. Because the business operated between two seasonal locations, there were logistical factors with moving it to a permanent one, but Dr. Kara never considered running CRI somewhere else.
Although moving CRI to Springfield was primarily for personal reasons, it benefited the company. Dr. Kara says, “Having a home base allowed us to significantly expand our business.” Between 2022 and 2024, class offerings increased by 50%. Core certification courses include CCRT, canine rehabilitation assistant (CCRA) and veterinary acupuncture (CVAT), among others, while Canine Therapeutic Exercise and Exercise Physiology of the Working Canine are some of the continuing education courses.
About 1,400 students, mostly veterinary professionals and physical therapists, travel to Springfield annually for four- to five-day courses offered yearround. Dozens of independent instructors and teaching assistants join them, a mixture of established veterinarians with their own practices, veterinary school professors and physical therapists. “That collaboration between vets and human physical therapists is the biggest thing that makes CRI stand out,” Dr. Kara says. Regardless of their career field or specialty, all instructors have one thing in common: they completed a CRI certification.
Everyone’s favorite staff members, “dog professors,” are local 417-area working and competition dogs. An important element of CRI programs is that students work with a variety of breeds, sizes and ages. Dr. Kara explains this emphasis on in-person learning is another major thing separating CRI from other programs. “A hands-on career requires hands-on training. [This approach] restores passion to practitioners, and in turn, hope to pet owners and health to pets,” she says. To that end, students spend over 80 hours in the classroom and must complete a 40-hour internship.
CRI students don’t have to search for internship opportunities; they can complete their 40-hour requirement onsite. Right next door, Dr. Kara opened Momentum Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in March 2024. The specialty veterinary practice is the only one of its kind within three hours, focused on improving pets’ quality of life through pain management and physical rehabilitation. In addition to traditional gym equipment like exercise balls and treadmills, Momentum uses highly specialized treatments and tools including cold laser therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, shockwave therapy and acupuncture. “Most of what we do here [at CRI and Momentum], we did on humans first and figured out how to modify it for animals,” says Dr. Kara.
With all the forward momentum, what’s next for Dr. Kara and CRI? A primary focus is participating in clinical research, a step toward advancing the understanding of veterinary rehabilitation worldwide. “The goal is veterinary rehab in every community.” Dr. Kara states.
Amstutz’s dog, Nutmeg, often works as a “dog professor,” letting students practice on a real dog.
CREATING 417-LAND’S BRAND
A number of local entities are working to de ne 417-land’s brand. Biz 417 spoke with two of them to nd out why that’s good for the business community.
BY JENNIFER SWENSON
How do we define 417-land? How does it look to outsiders? How do we ensure a strong future for the Ozarks?
Two area organizations—the newly formed Leaders for Ozarks Region Evolvement (LORE) and the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB)—are seeking to answer these important questions.
The concept for LORE grew out of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Community Leadership Visit to Northwest Arkansas. The group saw firsthand how four cities (Bentonville, Fayetteville, Springdale and Rogers) had united to attract new talent and to improve the quality of life in that area. “It was the first time I’d heard the term
‘regionalism,’” says Erin Danastasio, Executive Director of Hatch Foundation. “In Northwest Arkansas, the cab driver, the grocery store clerk and the retail owner all have the exact same speech. They know how the community defines itself and can showcase that to the rest of the country.”
Following the visit, Hatch Foundation and Community Foundation of the Ozarks funded a study on regional development; the study suggested the formation of a nonprofit focusing on branding, workforce attraction and quality of life. LORE is the outgrowth of that study. The nonprofit is bringing together business leaders across a 10-county region to identify common problems and find solutions
[THE BIG QUESTION]
LORE was announced at the 2024 Think Summit event.
“It’s our elevator pitch. It’s an encompassing message about who we are, what embodies the city, the character behind it.”
—Megan Buchbinder
“We have so many wonderful benefits in our region—the arts, the outdoors, the attractions. If we can educate our community and define or brand ourselves, we can showcase our quality of life.”
—Erin Danastasio
that will positively impact the region for generations to come. “Because LORE will be led by the private sector, it can be more nimble and reactive to a situation,” says Danastasio. “The private sector isn’t tied up by red tape, and it understands how a win for one city or county is a win for the whole region.” LORE’s first initiative will focus on branding. “Branding is a quick win,” says Danastasio. “We have so many wonderful benefits in our region—the arts, the outdoors, the attractions. If we can educate our community and define or brand ourselves, we can showcase our quality of life.”
“Branding is a hot topic right now,” says Megan Buchbinder, Director of Marketing for Springfield CVB. “It’s our elevator pitch. It’s an encompassing message about who we are, what embodies the city, the character behind it.” Over the last six months, Springfield CVB has been working with Heart & Mind Strategies, a market research firm based in Virginia, to articulate Springfield’s unique brand.
Taking a community-focused approach, the rebranding project will drive Springfield CVB’s advertising and campaigns. “We would love for everyone in Springfield, from business owners to community members, to see themselves in our brand,” Buchbinder says. “CVB’s job is to reflect Springfield as a destination and to create more cohesion.” The rebranding will strengthen Springfield CVB’s mission to promote economic development through travel and tourism. “Everyone has to be a visitor first,” she says. Visitors may come to Springfield to attend a conference, or travel iconic Route 66, or interview for a job. And while they’re here, they might fall in love with the area and decide to move here. “At the CVB, we are not an island,” says Buchbinder. ”We look at the city’s priorities, such as economic development through manufacturing, and we ask ourselves how travel and tourism can help.”
Similarly, LORE is committed to the economic development of the Ozarks region. Branding goes hand-in-hand with LORE’s biggest longterm goal: workforce attraction.
“We want businesses and organizations to partner with LORE to pitch the job,” says Danastasio. “We want individuals to come to our website and see what resources we have and what it’s like to live here.” Danastasio looks to the Northwest Arkansas Council to anticipate the impact LORE will have on Southwest Missouri. Over the last three decades, the Council has been the driving force behind the building of the Northwest Arkansas National Airport, highway expansion, clean water access and more. By collaborating with 417-land leaders from the private, public and nonprofit sectors, LORE will “be a catalyst for transformation,” Danastasio says.
BEYOND BUSINESS
Trusted Leaders in Accounting and Consulting
KPM CPAs & Advisors, an accounting, tax, and consulting firm, has been a cornerstone in Springfield and Branson for over 50 years. With nearly 100 employees, KPM offers many services, including audit, tax and consulting solutions. Their expertise spans numerous highly-regulated industries, providing clients with specialized support.
Beyond traditional audit and tax services, KPM can support clients with a variety of individual and business services. Travis Walker, Patti Callaway, and Sara Choate represent an entire team of specialized consulting professionals. Sara Choate, PHR, SHRM-SCP, serves as the managing director of KPM’s Human Capital Solutions practice. Choate assists businesses with their HR and strategic needs, offering services in HR compliance, recruiting and re-
tention, leadership and team development, and organizational design. Her focus on human capital helps clients manage their workforce efficiently and effectively.
“Supporting clients beyond audit and tax for
over 50 years.”
Patti Callaway helps to lead the the payroll and accounting outsourcing services, facilitating efficient and accurate payroll processing and tailored accounting services to clients in a variety of industries. Travis Walker, CPA, ABV, heads the firm’s fraud evaluation and valuation services. He brings his expertise in investigating fraud, litigation support and business valuation, providing insights and best practices for clients.
Clients of KPM view them as true advisors who help businesses achieve their strategic goals. KPM is committed to enhancing the lives of their clients and communities, making them more than just accountants.
Travis Walker, Patti Callaway, Sara Choate
PHOTO BY KATY ST. CLAIR
[ADVICE & WHISKEY]
A COLORFUL CAREER
Conrad Griggs, business development o cer at Regent Bank, sat down to regale us with stories and advice from a long career in Spring eld. He’s a great story-teller and a familiar face on and o the golf course at Twin Oaks Country Club.
BY DORI GRINDER
On his aspirations growing up
“I wanted to be a basketball coach. I had the ability to motivate kids and get them to think more positive than negative. These kids walked away believing they could do anything, if they put their mind to it.”
On interesting career experiences
“During the six-month period while I was waiting for my background check before becoming a cadet [for the police department], I went to work for a mortuary service. My job was to drive hearses for the different funeral homes. I called my wife to ask if we were still on for a date that night. I said, ‘I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news.’ She said, ‘What’s the good news?’ I said, ‘I’m picking you up in a limousine!’ She said, ‘That’s great! What’s the bad news?’ ‘There’s a body in the back.’ True story! I picked her up. I took the body to the mortuary, put it on the slab and we went on a date!”
Reflecting on 11 years serving on Springfield City Council
“Never ever, ever build roads that don’t have an economic payback.”
On his approaching birthday
“I’ll only be 80. It can be a curse if you want it to be, but it’s all state of mind. Right now, what I do for the bank, and serving the Lord, I’ll be
doing it until he says, ‘It’s time for you to come home, boss.’ It’s a good gig!”
The most important business lesson
“Relationships. One-on-one personal relationships. This is the main principle behind Faith in Business at (Regent) Bank. Treat people like you want to be treated.”
Life lessons
“Don’t let other people dictate who you should be. Be your own person. Know who you are.”
Conrad Griggs and Dori Grinder at the Twin Oaks Country Club.
YOUR JOURNEY SOLD OUT
Ladies Who Launch presented by Forvis Mazars is back, July 18, and bigger than ever! At this event, we’re learning to embrace our journey. We’ll talk about growth, making an impact and elevating your presence.
INTRODUCING
RISE & SHINE
RISE & SHINE
This dynamic workshop focuses on emotional intelligence and mastering your inner influence—our most sought-after topic from attendee feedback. Ladies, this is your chance to conquer challenges, enhance leadership skills and shine brighter both personally and professionally. Uncover the power of your voice and learn to lead through influence in today’s business world.
CONFERENCE AGENDA
8:30 A.M. Rise & Shine Workshop - SOLD OUT
An official pre-conference workshop presented by Burrell Behavioral Health
11:30 A.M.
12:00 P.M. Doors Open Welcome: Logan Aguirre Lunch will be served
12:20 P.M. Control the Chaos Lunch Keynote: Christina Ford Presented by Husch Blackwell
1:35 P.M. Women Who Mean Business Panel Panelists: Dr. Grenita Lathan, Krystal Simon, Laura Gates, Nancy Bogart, Sarah Adams-Orr Moderator: Logan Aguirre Presented by Central Bank
2:45 P.M. The Power of Your Personal Brand Workshop Keynote: Lori Robertson Presented by Mercy
4:00 P.M. One Step Further
Keynote Speaker: Mallory Brown Presented by Forvis Mazars 5:15 P.M. Rosé with Rosie Presented by Cereset & Rosie
MALLORY BROWN
CONFERENCE KEYNOTE
Mallory is a worldwide adventure traveler, documentary filmmaker, and humanitarian advocate. She inspires audiences to live a passionate, generous and global life through a culture of empathy.
STEPHANIE ANDERSON
RISE & SHINE WORKSHOP FACILITATOR
As an Engagement Specialist with People Centric Consulting Group, Stephanie has a passion for helping build healthy organizations.
LORI ROBERSON
FEATURED SPEAKER
An accomplished keynote speaker, story strategist and speaker coach, Lori is on a mission to empower women in leadership to use their voices as a tool of influence and impact.
CHRISTINA FORD
LUNCH KEYNOTE
Christina is a business owner, nonprofit leader, coach's wife, and busy mom of six who shares lessons of a journey filled with accomplishments, celebrations, tragedy and loss.
WOMEN WHO MEAN BUSINESS
PANEL DISCUSSION
Learn more about the Biz 417 Women Who Mean Business honorees through a Q&A guided by Biz 417 Publisher Logan Aguirre.
Million-dollar ideas are so 10 years ago. In 417-land, these 10 leaders are thinking bigger by cultivating ideas, chasing dreams and building spaces that will change our community for generations to come. For these innovators, a decade is only the beginning.
Partner at Longitude° Branding and Design and Flyover Developments
ome of Jeremy Wells’ best memories as a kid were made in Branson.
S“Growing up, my family would camp out at Table Rock at Indian Point a couple of times a summer, and those are some of the best memories of my childhood,” he says. “I guess I’m chasing nostalgia, but I’m also trying to create spaces and places for real connection.”
Today, Wells is a partner at Longitude° Branding and Design and Flyover Developments. As a creative and a real estate developer, Wells is passionate about designing brands that resonate with travelers and families to make meaningful memories.
Since 2018, his design company has developed brand identities for hospitality companies looking to make a mark. Developing brand interactions was his favorite part of the work—so in 2021, he and his partner Dustin Myers purchased a roadside motel to build their own hospitality brand, The Ozarker Lodge. Part retro vibe, part Instagrammable hub, the hotel is booked and busy.
“We’re not some roadside mom and pop motel; we’re trying to elevate this area and inspire people to imagine what’s possible in hotels, restaurants, experiences and beyond,” says Wells.
In the year since The Ozarker Lodge’s opening, the hotel has earned a handful of national awards, and Wells is excited to do more. Flyover also recently added Ascent on Main in Parker, Colorado, to its portfolio, but that’s just the beginning.
His goal: to own and operate 10 to 15 more boutique hotels in the Midwest by 2034.
“Jeremy’s endeavors are poised to shape our community’s future by fostering job creation, developing sustainable and eco-friendly ventures for the benefit of future generations, and making indispensable contributions to our community’s welfare,” says Garage Door Guy President Derek Lyons, who nominated Wells. “What’s admirable about Jeremy is his unwavering commitment to approaching every idea with a communityoriented mindset. He’s constantly seeking ways to enhance the lives of everyone around him.”
Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter
Doug Austin
For the Record
Assistant Director of Aviation at Springfield-Branson National Airport
add up to six more gates, and with them, more travelers— and maybe, eventually, more connections and airlines.
ave Schaumburg spends a lot of time thinking about the carpet at the airport.
Originally opened in 2009, the current terminal at Springfield-Branson National Airport has more than 250,000 square feet, covered mostly in its iconic water, grass and stone abstract designs. But after 15 years and millions of travelers, the airport’s flooring and footprint are about to experience a dramatic change.
As assistant director of aviation, Dave Schaumburg oversees the infrastructure of the region’s busiest airport. And in the next 10 years, SGF Airport could double the annual travelers it saw in 2018. And, the airport will invest tens of millions of dollars to improve and expand to better serve more and more passengers.
Up first: a 250,000-square-foot expansion of the terminal ramp, increasing the concrete slab under the entire commercial terminal. The project was made possible by a $6.5 million grant from the FAA, thanks to an effort led by Schaumburg.
“By expanding the terminal ramp, we then have the infrastructure for the Airport Master Plan to really take off,” he says, surrounded by renderings of airport improvements. “The experience, the amenities, even an outdoor patio next to a bar overlooking the airfield—they all have the possibility to change and better serve our community.”
After the added concrete settles in 2025, the infrastructure improvements could begin. Schaumburg is considering a three-story parking garage to the west of the current commercial terminal. Once that’s complete, Dave’s dream project begins: a terminal expansion that would
“Dave is forward-thinking, which has paid off as the airport has experienced tremendous growth,” says Joy Latimer, Airport Legal Counsel. “SGF has repeatedly exceeded even the highest projected passenger numbers, and there is no end in sight. Dave has been and will continue to be instrumental in meeting the airport’s needs.”
No matter the runway to the next project, Schaumburg never stops pursuing innovation for SGF.
“Any thriving city in America is going to have a thriving airport,” he says. “Springfield is a thriving city and deserves a thriving airport. It’s the first impression of our entire community, and our community deserves the best.”
For the Record
FAVORITE PODCAST
New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce
AS A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
Fighter pilot
YOUR HOMETOWN Lake Ozark
YOUR COFFEE ORDER
Strawberry Hulk Smoothie from Smoothie King
FAVORITE WAY TO UNWIND IN THE OZARKS?
Boating on Table Rock Lake
MEANINGFUL MENTOR
Jim Anderson
Chief Executive Officer at Perimeter Behavioral Hospital of Springfield
Amental health crisis can happen to anyone, but for children, the experience can have dire results, says Alyssa Ingle. Supporting the mental health of children helps to establish and ensure their future as healthly adults in our community. “As a culture, we’ve lost a sense of self-efficacy for our children, so it’s important for mental health resources for our kids to help them get back to baseline and build resilience,” Ingle says.
Ingle is Chief Executive Officer at Perimeter Behavioral Hospital of Springfield, a 24/7 acute behavioral facility for children ages six to 17. Nearly 100 staff members ensure the safety of 32 children on a weekly basis, providing resources for children to help stabilize their mood and equip them with resources for a safe transition back home.
“Before a child leaves us, we have therapy set up in the community within seven days,” Ingle says. “I advocate for those resources and then work to ensure that they’re going to be provided.”
Ingle began her career at Perimeter as a therapist on the floor, but she knew she wanted to help build solutions in addition to providing services. After serving as director of business development, she took on the CEO role with a mission: to equip Perimeter staff with better training to respond to trauma more effectively, while advocating for more mental health resources for children in her community.
“Acute crisis stabilization services are an imperative piece of the continuum of care for those struggling with their mental health,” says Delaney Yocom, who submitted the nomination for Ingle. “The team at Perimeter creates opportunities for connection to tools that can guide their patients toward hope.”
As a leader, Ingle encourages her team to develop innovative programming that helps children have the time, space and support to recover from mental illness. From music therapy to holistic treatments, Ingle works alongside local health care providers to ensure children heal.
“When I do my job well, children receive the treatment to become successful leaders themselves,” she says. “When you see a child who was in our facility out working or they’re enrolled in college, even if they’re just still breathing, it keeps me going and doing this hard work.”
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb AS A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
Fashion designer
YOUR HOMETOWN Joplin
YOUR COFFEE ORDER
Sugar-free vanilla latte with almond milk at Echelon Coffee
FAVORITE WAY TO UNWIND IN THE OZARKS?
Any activity with her daughter, family and friends
MEANINGFUL MENTOR
Doneen Kaunley, her mother
On January 2, 2004, Toth & Associates (TOTH) began at Adam Toth’s parents’ kitchen table. The other first employee: his father, co-founder and fellow engineer Louis Toth.
“After working for a major corporation on ‘cool’ government projects, the work and responsibility I had were not that fun,” Adam says. “I realized it’s the work and responsibility, not the product, that makes work enjoyable, so I started a company where I would want to work.”
Now, 20 years later, Toth & Associates is an engineering firm with five offices throughout the country and closing in on 200 employees. Nearly all those team members are based in TOTH’s Springfield HQ, less than a mile from where Adam went to elementary school.
With a focus on building and sustaining relationships, Toth is committed to earning clients nationally and creating high-paying engineering jobs for the Ozarks. In 2023, Toth & Associates’ gross revenue was nearly $33 million, up from $24.6 million the year before.
“We are seen as a national expert in the electric utility space, and with that, we bring dollars into the Springfield market,” he says. “We’ve also helped our clients secure hundreds of millions in FEMA grant money across Missouri, improving critically important infrastructure, including our schools.”
TOTH supports communities throughout 417-land, helping to ensure safe, reliable and cost-effective power, streets, sidewalks, water and more to the region for generations to come. But the firm is doing more, taking on more and bigger projects as its impact and team continue to grow.
“The future of our community and country is heavily dependent on having reliable energy infrastructure, so attracting younger generations to this field is critical,” says Warren Brooks, Vice President of Electric Operations at City Utilities. “We work in a very challenging field where companies are always competing for talent, yet Adam has been able to not only maintain but grow the organization because of the culture he’s built.”
In 10 years, Toth hopes to have a bigger team—with a goal of leading 500 employees.
“My dream would be for Springfield to be seen as an engineering hub. Springfield has never been a hard science destination, but I want people to think of Springfield and think of us as a high-tech, engineering town. Our company and our growth can help change this perception.”
Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey AS A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? Doctor YOUR HOMETOWN Spring eld YOUR COFFEE ORDER
FAVORITE WAY TO UNWIND IN THE OZARKS?
Wake sur ng on Table Rock Lake with his four kids
MEANINGFUL MENTORS
His parents, Louis and Mary Lou Toth
President at Toth & Associates
Assistant Vice President, Commercial Lending, at Central Bank of the Ozarks For
Marshfield is the home of the longest running Fourth of July celebration west of the Mississippi River.
It’s a point of pride for the community, but it’s also something that Blair Gann just knows.
“My family is a fourth-generation farm family in Webster County, and the Saddle Club here, my great-grandpa was one of the founding members,” she says. “Marshfield is more than my home, it’s my family’s history, and it’s where I’m trying to leave a legacy.”
Gann was raised in Marshfield, where she began her professional life as an agriculture teacher. Now, she’s Assistant Vice President of Commercial Lending with Central Bank of the Ozarks, working to build connections and capital in Webster County’s economy. To do that, she develops relationships with local business owners and encourages leaders to not just live, but work, grow and build businesses in Webster County.
“Blair’s ability to harness the strengths of both innovation and tradition cultivates a dynamic environment, where local businesses thrive and residents flourish,” says Monica Stewart, President/CEO of Monica’s Media, who
nominated Gann. “Her commitment to staying ahead of the curve, while remaining deeply invested in the community, makes her an invaluable asset to our community’s continued success.”
As a leader, Gann serves on the board of The Webster County Fair, Marshfield Area Community Foundation and the Missouri University Extension Webster County. Plus, she started a nonprofit, the Webster County Market Animal Show and Sale, which cultivates skills and scholarships for local students.
After watching many Webster County young professionals leave for opportunities nearby, she helped launch Leadership Marshfield, a dynamic professional development experience designed to help young people engage, invest and, hopefully, plant deep roots in Marshfield.
The future of Webster County depends on local talent choosing to not just stay but invest and build on a tradition of success for a brighter future, she says.
“I’m a big believer in no one is coming to save us in our community,” she says. “If there’s a cow out of her pasture and you are the only one around, you have to figure out how to fix the problem yourself. We can help ourselves now, invest and innovate now, and 10 years or a generation from now, we will reap the benefits.”
FAVORITE PODCAST The Fallon Taylor Podcast
AS A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? Agricultural lawyer
YOUR HOMETOWN Marsh eld YOUR COFFEE ORDER
Sugar-free vanilla latte at Rise Coffee
FAVORITE WAY TO UNWIND IN THE OZARKS?
Riding horses and team roping
MEANINGFUL MENTORS
Jon and Lindsey Cartwright
Market Development Coordinator for Environmental Services at City of Springfield
As a theater major at Missouri State University, Ashley Krug had an assignment: learn how to behave like a tree.
“I went on a date and saw An Inconvenient Truth to do research for my acting class and learn more about the environment,” she says. “As cliché as it sounds, that night changed my life, and I changed my major.”
As Market Development Coordinator for Environmental Services at the City of Springfield, Krug describes herself as an educator and advocate for the Noble Hill Sanitary Landfill. The landfill is an invisible but vital resource for 417-land, and along with a team of five educators, she’s helping to extend the capacity of our community’s landfill through proactive recycling and waste management.
“Ashley is always on the lookout for ways to encourage citizens to rethink, repurpose and recycle waste,” says Laurie Davis, education outreach coordinator for Environmental Services. “The landfill is a limited community resource, so Ashley is always exploring ways to keep that message front and center in all of her interactions.”
In 2023, Krug secured USDA funding for Dish to Dirt, a citywide effort to keep food waste from ending up in the landfill. More than 14 percent of all waste, 40,000 tons of compostable food scraps end up in the landfill each year. Dish to Dirt empowers citizens to collect their food scraps and drop them off at one of three Springfield recycling centers, turning food scraps into rich compost.
For every pound of waste deferred from the landfill, the landfill’s life extends, with a positive impact on the environment and the local economy. Com-
panies looking to invest in communities look to infrastructure when making decisions, and sustainable practices with waste management are key to securing more and bigger investment in the region, says Krug.
“I see Springfield being the next city where forward-thinking, environ-
mentally conscious companies are looking to invest,” she says. “Sustainability isn’t scarcity. Sustainability is about making smarter decisions to ensure our environment in the Ozarks is just as beautiful in two generations as it is for us today. Being a little more thoughtful now can have a huge impact on our future.”
For the Record
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
Wasteland by
Oliver FranklinWallis AS A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
Marine biologist to study sharks, then a Broadway star
YOUR HOMETOWN Mountain Home, Arkansas
YOUR COFFEE ORDER
Iced tea brewed by her husband, Eric
FAVORITE WAY TO UNWIND IN THE OZARKS?
Gardening
MEANINGFUL MENTOR
Mary Kromrey
Executive Director at Watershed Committee of the Ozarks
Mike Kromrey is always thinking about decades when it comes to his work.
At Watershed Committee of the Ozarks, Mike leads a team of about 30 educators, conservationists and scientists who have a simple mission: keep our water clean. But 40 years after its founding, the organization’s work is increasingly challenging and complex.
“Global ecological systems are in crisis,” he says. “We’re using our 40th anniversary as a platform to use what we’ve learned in the last 40 years to scale up our local impact and prepare us to face the challenges of the next 40 years, which include population growth and climate change. We know what works best, we know how to do it, we just need to do more to keep pace with the threats we’re facing.”
Since 2006, Kromrey has worked to improve 417-land’s waterways through projects and education. When he was promoted to executive director in 2012, he helped foster partnerships with municipalities and other nonprofits to do more: more stream restorations, more innovative programs, more educational opportunities with local schools.
When it comes to clean water, there’s always more to be done, he says.
“Mike is a visionary leader who sees opportunities where others may see challenges,” says Marra Holt, communication coordinator for Watershed Committee of the Ozarks. “He’s willing to take risks and use lessons learned to adapt for the future. Mike embraces bold ideas and cultivates collaboration among community groups, nonprofits, agencies, businesses, students and hobbyists to make our collective clean water dreams a reality.”
For Kromrey, he’s always thinking about how his work will impact the next generation. But when there’s an endless stream of projects, literally, Kromrey is now focused on how the work for cleaner water can be more strategic for even greater impact in the decades to come.
“The challenges of population growth and climate change are tracking on an exponential growth curve, but our progress has only been linear,” he says. “We need to catch up. We need to do more.”
For the Record
BOOK RECOMMENDATION From Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks
AS A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
A conservationist with the Missouri Department of Conservation YOUR HOMETOWN Sullivan, Missouri YOUR COFFEE ORDER Black
FAVORITE WAY TO UNWIND IN THE OZARKS?
Floating, shing and hunting throughout the seasons
MEANINGFUL MENTORS
Brian Fogle, Dan Hoy, Mary Kromrey
Founding Attorney at Fortified Elder Law
When Rachel Fortenberry was in law school, she had a plan: She was going to work in the prosecutor’s office of a county in Ohio. She had accepted a job, had plans for the summer and had a path paved for her career ahead.
And then, she made a phone call.
“I called my dad to wish him happy birthday, and he said he was in the hospital,” she says. “They told me my dad had a mass on his liver and that the doctor said ‘cancer.’ He had to have a tumor removed, and I gave up that job and came home.”
Her father recovered, but her life changed. Now, she helps people navigate their own life-changing news: a terminal diagnosis, a devastating prognosis, a tragedy unfolds. And for so many of her clients, she’s the person they look to for guidance in navigating next steps as a person reaches life’s end.
As an attorney specializing in end-of-life care, Fortenberry is a millennial attorney paving the way for better, kinder end-of-life care for baby boomers and beyond. At Fortifield Elder Law, she helps her clients, but she’s also helping organizations and care providers increase and innovate their services, with more and better end-of-life care available for an aging population.
“Seniors are a forgotten population,” she says. “But they are an increasing population. What we’re trying to do is put Springfield and Southwest Missouri on the cutting edge of navigating these hard topics.”
Fortenberry serves on the executive board for Hospice Foundation of the Ozarks, a nonprofit that has distributed millions in grants for end-of-life services. With her help, the nonprofit is working to launch a premier End-of-Life Care Summit in 2025, with attendees from the four-state region coming together to design, develop and discuss best practices for end-of-life care.
“Knowledge truly is power, and education is the cornerstone of empowerment,” says Fortenberry. Working with HFO to create and distribute reliable information is crucial to helping others understand the necessary steps to take when faced with end-of-life situations.
“Rachel’s dual role as an HFO Executive Board Member, cochair of the HFO Advisory Committee and an elder law attorney underscores her holistic approach to serving the community,” says Anjanette LaBellarte, executive director of Hospice Foundation of the Ozarks. “By combining her legal expertise with her commitment to compassionate care, Rachel makes a significant and lasting impact on the lives of those she serves.”
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
Mindset by Carol Dweck
AS A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
First female president of the United States of America
YOUR HOMETOWN Rogersville
YOUR COFFEE ORDER
Lavender latte at Kingdom Coffee
FAVORITE WAY TO UNWIND IN THE OZARKS?
Camping at Stockton Lake
MEANINGFUL MENTORS
Noble Bowman and Sativa Boatman
Boys Director of Coaching at Sporting Springfield
Gerard Barbero began his soccer career before he could lace up his cleats.
More than 30 years ago in Georgia, Barbero began playing soccer at age 3. At 18, he scored a scholarship and played for Missouri State University’s soccer team. After college, his career as a player was over, but his career as a coach was taking off.
“I got my start coaching at Springfield Soccer Club, which is now Sporting Springfield,” he says. “I went and coached in Birmingham, Alabama, and came back because I love this city and I love working for this club, and there’s so much potential for soccer to grow here. Twenty years ago, soccer was barely available in our local high schools. Now, we’re a part of soccer’s exploding growth across the country.”
As boys director of coaching, Barbero oversees
coaches and teams for players ages 9 to 19 at Sporting Springfield. Last summer, his team of 17-year-olds, the 2006 Atletico Madrid, won the national championship for their age division in Denver, Colorado.
But for Barbero, he’s thinking beyond the scoreboard when it comes to soccer. A competitive soccer market brings more tournaments, more traveling teams and ultimately, more dollars to the local economy, and Sporting’s success as a club helps push forward more and better athletic facilities in the Ozarks. But developing players into champions of their own success with a growth mindset is Barbero’s persistent goal, he says.
“We’re working with the next managers, the next owners, the next entrepreneurs, and we’re helping to develop them as leaders,” he says. “When young people go into job interviews and they’ve played a sport competitively, they have an advantage because they’ve already been successful in
a team environment. Our workforce benefits from strong athletics for children locally.”
Brianna Reitzner is the mother of two Sporting Springfield players. Barbero’s innovative and supportive coaching style allows each player to shine, she says.
For the Record
FAVORITE PODCAST
“Any podcast about soccer.”
AS A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
Professional soccer player
“Coach is teaching players the importance of perseverance and grit, as well as how to be a part of a community, working together, to build each other up,” she says. “These are the future leaders of our community, and it’s all starting with the values being instilled on the pitch.”
YOUR HOMETOWN Marietta, Georgia
YOUR COFFEE ORDER Water
FAVORITE WAY TO UNWIND IN THE OZARKS?
Silver Dollar City with his wife, Kelly and their three daughters: MacKenly, Kacelynn and Sutton
MEANINGFUL MENTORS
Eric Sorlie, executive director of Sporting Spring eld, and Jerry Barbero
Chief Operations Officer and Managing Partner at Next Level Solutions
Next Level Solutions is a global IT services provider for property and casualty insurance companies. Over 300 team members are based in four locations: Guaynabo, Puerto Rico; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; Columbia, South Carolina; and the company’s headquarters in Springfield.
But away from work, you’ll find NLS co-founder, Chief Operations Officer and Managing Partner Michael Smith on the back of his tractor in Marshfield.
“Selfishly, I wanted NLS to be headquartered out of Springfield because I love this community; this is my home,” he says. “But Springfield is a strategic and low-cost city to build a tech company.”
Smith and Chris Sawyer, NLS President and CEO, launched NLS in 2018. The duo had worked in building custom solutions for software utilized by insurance companies and wanted to build a company that could combine good, hard work with smarter, custom solutions.
For the Record
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
Greenlights by
Matthew McConaughey
AS A KID, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?
Conservationist. “I love being in the outdoors.”
YOUR HOMETOWN
Marsh eld
YOUR COFFEE ORDER
FAVORITE WAY TO UNWIND IN THE OZARKS?
Boating on Table Rock Lake with his wife and kids
MEANINGFUL MENTOR
Jeremy Loftin
“Michael’s big dreams and small-town values have helped create a culture in which NLS is making significant impact for our national accounts, while maintaining a connectedness to our 417 home and community,” says Christie Browne, NLS Vice President of Delivery. “We’re able to do big things under Michael’s leadership because we follow his example of taking risks and believing in ourselves.”
Prior to starting NLS, Smith felt limited in his career opportunities. Now, he recruits top talent for high-paying insurance software professional jobs in Springfield, with opportunities for team members to grow, live and invest in 417-land. “We’re promoting people who are innovative, challenging the norm, looking for efficiencies and doing things differently, while working well with others,” he says. “I’m not looking for years of service, I’m looking for value added to the company, and we reward that mindset with a culture that supports their success.”
Since launching in 2018, NLS has quietly donated hundreds of thousands to local charities, including $68,000 raised for Men Wear Pink with the American Cancer Society. Investing in the community isn’t just a core value to NLS, it’s a call to action, he says.
417-land has proven to be a reliable resource for talent for NLS, and as needs arise, will continue to hire from the rich local talent pool.
“We believe that when you invest in people, they’ll want to invest in their community,” he says. “We have nearly 200 employees who live here, and we want our community to be the best it can be for them, too.”
White mocha
Making Space for Creativity
The efactory team opened a second location to further grow their outreach to the entrepreneur community. The new workplace achieves this goal in providing more space for all those who utilize it including Code , who efactory partnered with to ignite economic growth with their new satellite o ce in efactory’s newest location inside Brick City 3.
BY JO JOLLIFF
PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRANDON ALMS
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The efactory team looked into the history of the building and learned it was at one point, before the time of refrigerators, an ice house. As an ode to its roots, they built a table using ice hooks from the building. “It’s the centerpiece of our gathering area and harkens to the history of the building,” Director of Marketing and Communications Nicki Donnelson says.
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As the team expanded they saw a need for more space and used reservable cubicle seating to solve that. “Everything’s dedicated to our team, so they have a place they can save a spot for the day,” she says.
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Executive Director Rachel Anderson’s of ce is integral to the new space, she acted as visionary for the team. “She was an entrepreneur herself so she knows what they need,” Donnelson says. “They don’t want the average corporate of ce, they want something that looks different and is super functional.”
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The team’s spacious kitchen is in addition to 18 semi-private of ces and seven private of ces to serve the efactory team made up of entrepreneurs, remote workers, small businesses, creatives, partners, their staff members and local art design students.
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The Brick City building was formerly occupied by the Marlin Network. In their updates, the efactory team stayed true to Marlin’s creative history in the building. “We made the space our own but it wasn’t a lot of extra work for us because it was a really cool space to begin with,” she says. “We have lots of nods to the old Marlin space.”
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While moving to the new location, Donnelson says the team wanted to include lots of local artist’s work throughout the building. “That’s intentional to say, ‘Hey, cool things happen in Spring eld,’” Donnelson says. “Neat and innovative thinkers are right here.”
The team focused on making the new location an inspiring space. “I like the feel of our space because it feels like everything is possible,” Donnelson says. “There’s color, there’s vibrancy, there’s life, and that’s exactly what we stand for. We’ve reimagined what co-working can look like and are always trying to meet the diverse needs of our members. It’s always changing, evolving and open to being something new for the next person who needs it.”
The 2023 Ladies Who Launch leadership event was packed with incredible speakers, great networking and so much inspiration. This year’s event happens on July 18.
9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m., Wednesdays 1 MILLION CUPS
Hear about local entrepreneurs who are growing businesses and ideas at this weekly presentation. Bambino’s; 2810 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield; Visit 1mcsgf. com for more information.
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m., Wednesdays YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK
The Young Professionals Network (YPN) is a program of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce that creates inclusive spaces and networking opportunities while promoting personal and professional development for chamber members under 45. Locations vary; Visit joplincc. com or call 417-624-4150 for more information.
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 9 NIXA CHAMBER GENERAL MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON
The General Membership Luncheon is the perfect place for networking every month with over 125 business owners and representatives.
$20 for members, reservations required; River of Life Church, 308 W. Mt. Vernon St., Nixa; Call 417-725-1545 or visit NixaChamber.com to register and for more information.
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Thursday, July 11 SPRINGFIELD TECH COUNCIL LEARNING OVER LUNCH
Engaging panel discussion over valuable business tips and networking opportunities with peers over a complimentary lunch. Events are held in the efactory. For the July event, participants will meet in the FORVIS room on the first floor.
Registration required; 405 N. Jefferson Ave, Springfield; Visit sgftechcouncil.com for more info.
4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m., Thursday, July 11
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
Join fellow local business professionals at one of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s most popular events. Business After Hours is hosted in a new location each month. For the July event, participants will meet at Fire & Ice Restaurant & Bar.
$10 for members, $20 for nonmembers; Visit springfieldchamber.com or call 417-862-5567 for more information.
7:30 a.m.–8:30 a.m., Friday, July 12
FIRST FRIDAY COFFEE
Enjoy coffee and pastries in an informal networking atmosphere, where you’ll get a chance to meet and mingle with other Ozark Chamber of Commerce members. Locations will be announced on their website. Free to attend; Visit OzarkChamber.com for more information.
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 16
WORKING WOMEN IN NIXA LUNCHEON
Working Women in Nixa is a monthly powerful networking event geared to Nixa’s businesswomen and is held at the Main Event Center in Downtown Nixa. Each session is focused on empowering and connecting women in the community. $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers; 101-B S. Main St., Nixa; Call 417-725-1545 or visit Nixa Chamber.com for tickets and info.
11:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m., Thursday, July 18
BIZ 417’S LADIES WHO LAUNCH
This annual women’s leadership conference is the perfect way to spend half a day networking and being inspired and uplifted by the messages of excellent guest speakers. This year’s theme is
Embracing Your Journey. Speakers include humanitarian and filmmaker Mallory Brown as the keynote speaker, and lunch keynote Christina Ford, founder of Rebound Foundation and Kids Inn Child Care Center. End the day with Rosé happy hour. This event is sold out, and has a waiting list. $135 general admission; White River Conference Center, 600 W. Sunshine St., Springfield; Visit ladieswholaunch.biz417.com for more information.
7:30 a.m.–8:30 a.m., Thursday, July 11 GOOD MORNING, SPRINGFIELD!
Start your day with networking over breakfast at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast event. The July event takes place at Wilson Logistics Arena & Youth Ag Facility.
$35 for members, $45 for non members; Visit springfieldchamber.com or call 417-862-5567 for more information.
12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 23 SCORE MEETUP
These meetups are free networking and educational events hosted by SCORESouthwest MO. Hear from speaker Krishin Thadani and socialize with folks you know or meet some new acquaintances in person at Schweitzer Brentwood Branch Library or via a Zoom call.
Email Justyn Pippins (Justyn. Pippins@ScoreVolunteer.org) or John Sample (John.Sample@ ScoreVolunteer.org) for questions and more information visit www.score.org.
Members and guests are invited to network and hear from Ozark Chamber of Commerce mem-
bers about community issues. $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers; Ozark Community Center (The OC), 1530 W. Jackson, Ozark; Visit OzarkChamber.com for tickets and more information.
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 30 STATE OF THE STATE 2024 Come for a networking program and listen as keynote speaker Governor Mike Parson speaks on the workings and condition of Missouri. The event will be hosted at Great Southern Bank Arena. This event is sold out. 685 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Springfield; Visit business. springfieldchamber.com or call 417-862-5567 for more information.
7:30 a.m.–8:30 a.m., Thursday, August 1 GOOD MORNING, SPRINGFIELD!
Start your day with networking over breakfast at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast event. The August event will feature the annual State of the Schools update by Dr. Grenita Lathan at Kickapoo High School. $35 for members, $45 for non members; Visit springfieldchamber.com or call 417-862-5567 for more information.
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Thursday, August 1 SPRINGFIELD TECH COUNCIL LEARNING OVER LUNCH
Engaging panel discussion, valuable business tips and networking opportunities with peers happen over lunch. Events are held in the efactory. The August event will meet in the Jay Wasson Idea Loft located on the efactory’s second floor.
Registration required; 405 N. Jefferson Ave, Springfield; Visit sgftechcouncil.com for more information.
4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m., Thursday, August 1
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
Join fellow local business professionals at one of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s most popular events. Business After Hours is hosted in a new location each month. For August, participants will meet at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
$10 for members, $20 for nonmembers; Visit springfieldchamber.com or call 417-862-5567 for more information.
7:30 a.m.–8:30 a.m., Friday, August 2
FIRST FRIDAY COFFEE
Enjoy coffee and pastries in an informal networking atmosphere, where you’ll get a chance to meet and mingle with other Ozark Chamber of Commerce members. Locations will be announced on their website.
Free to attend; Visit OzarkChamber.com for more info.
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 13
NIXA CHAMBER GENERAL MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON
The Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce’s General Membership Luncheon is the perfect place for networking every month with over 125 business owners and representatives. Stay updated on what’s going on in the Chamber, in the city and with fellow professionals.
$20 for members, reservations required; River of Life Church, 308 W. Mt. Vernon St., Nixa; Call 417-725-1545 or visit www. NixaChamber.com to register and for more information.
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 14 2024 SBDC ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
Join the Springfield Business Development Corporation to gain insight on the local, state and national economic trends and plan for the upcoming year.
Tickets are $50 for SBDC investors and $60 for Chamber members; Oasis Hotel and Convention Center, 2546 N. Glenstone, Springfield. Visit SpringfieldChamber.com or call 417-862-5567 for more information.
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 20
WORKING WOMEN IN NIXA LUNCHEON
Working Women in Nixa is a monthly powerful networking event geared to Nixa’s businesswomen and is held at the Main Event Center in Downtown Nixa. Each session is focused on empowering, inspiring and connecting women in the community. $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers; 101-B S Main St, Nixa; Call 417-725-1545 or visit Nixa Chamber.com for tickets and info.
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 21 MAXIMIZE YOUR MEMBERSHIP
Make sure you are taking advantage of all the benefits of being a Chamber member. Meet for lunch and learn the ways your company can best utilize its membership. Free to Chamber members; Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce; 202 S. John Q. Hammons Pkwy, Springfield; Visit SpringfieldChamber.com or call 417-862-5567 for more information.
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Thursday, August 22
EXPERIENCE OZARK NETWORKING LUNCHEON
Members and guests are invited to network and hear from fellow Ozark Chamber of Commerce members about issues in business and the community. $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers; Ozark Community Center (The OC), 1530 W. Jackson, Ozark; Visit OzarkChamber.com for more information.
SGForum
Approximately 350 young professionals gathered for a day of empowerment with topics and speakers meant to inspire. Attendees heard about community development projects and more. The keynote was delivered by Devon Harris, a founding member of the 1988 Jamaican Olympic bobsled team. Date: June 21, 2024 | Host Organization: The Network/Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce | Location: Hill City Church Website: thenetworkspringfield.com
Sara Coatney enjoys the networking break.
SGForum is a great way for local YPs to stay connected to our community.
Ashley Norgard, Brandy Harris
Lauren Joslyn snaps a sel e during one of the event’s networking opportunities.
Panelists Elizabeth Wente, Katie Towns and Ryan Savage share insights from their own experiences in the workplace.
PHOTOS
Keynote Speaker Devon Harris
Alex Osredker, Jordan Blomquist, Kaitlyn Messina, Janelle Haik and Annah Crow
SGForum attendees weigh in during an activity.
The Network Leadership Council
One Big Class Reunion
Leadership Spring eld gathered to celebrate the graduation of Signature Classes 45 and 46 as well as honor alumni. The Kenworthy Award for Outstanding Leadership was presented to Larry Stock, and Tami Smith was awarded the inaugural Visionary Volunteer Award.
Date: June 11, 2024 | Host Organization: Leadership Springfield | Location: Oasis Hotel & Convention Center
Website: leadershipspringfield.org
Tami Smith, Carrie Richardson
Signature Class 45
Signature Class 46
Stephanie Wan, past president of Leadership Spring eld board
Teri Wingo, Andrea Battaglia, John Horton
Signature Class 45
Tami Smith and family
Summer Soirée
More than 300 members gathered to toast the season at the rst-ever Summer Soirée. Guests enjoyed networking and live music by Queen City Revue in Mother’s backyard. Brewed especially for the event, “Can Do Delores,” a strawberry lemonade lager, was featured.
Date: June 6, 2024 | Host Organization: Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce | Location: Mother’s Brewing Company Website: springfieldchamber.com
Maggie Parsons, Amy Henson, Victoria Gorham, Stephanie O’Mealy
Ashley Clair, Stacey Connell
Terri Hall-Flouer, Philip Herzog, Bill Hennessey, Chris Flouer Scott Wellever, Katelyn Cave, Chase Davidson, Nathan Valis, Ryan Cox
Brianna Cudworth, Sarah Lockhart, Mike Coan, Max Buetow
Marie Moore, Sam Spencer, Anjanette Labellarte, Brandi Bailey
Dean Thompson, Stephanie O’Connor, Dwayne Fulk
Unlock the freedom to build your own private cloud solution! Scale your servers instantly in our Springfield, MO Data Center with $0 upfront capital!
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DOWNTIME Hobbies at the Hive
Debbie Shantz Hart, co-owner of Housing Plus and DHTC Development, was inspired to start beekeeping after she read an article about Colony Collapse Disorder. “Our bee colonies were deteriorating, so I just started getting interested in bees,” Shantz Hart says. She joined a beekeeper class and has been beekeeping since then. Her beekeeping mentor, John Moore, has guided her and helped her grow in bee knowledge. One of her favorite parts about it is watching the bees, which she nds fascinating. Even though beekeeping is di erent from her professional work, Shantz Hart says that both jobs have parallels. “Sometimes projects just take a little more time and a lot more e ort, but ultimately they turn out to be really strong just like beehives,” she says.—Lauren Flynn
