Biz 417 | Growing Pains | May/June 2024

Growing Pains

Springfield’s best growth opportunity is through annexing unincorporated areas. This seemingly simple solution has complex e ects on neighboring communities, infrastructure and more.

The question is: Is there a path forward?

See how Sandler enables the next level of success by empowering sales professionals and leaders to master the craft of selling.

56 GROWING PAINS

New borders could lead to broader horizons for Spring eld with the potential to annex unincorporated areas. We try to untangle what this means for the community, and for our neighboring cities.

BY LUCIE AMBERG

City administrator for the City of Republic, David Cameron foresees the growth of Spring eld as a catalyst for other nearby cities.

20 ON THE RISE

Pam Yancey takes on an exciting new role.

21 FOUR TO FOLLOW

Josh Sullivan shares his social media recommendations.

22 FORWARD THINKING

The Urban Land Institute seeks to promote growth in 417-land.

24 CORNER OFFICE

Husch Blackwell CEO Jamie Lawless shares how to land your dream job.

Breakthrough strategies

25 BREAKTHROUGH

Learn the idea behind Melissa DuVall’s practical product.

25 REBRAND

Obelisk Home gets a fresh look under Nathan Taylor’s leadership.

26 MY LOOK

Gail Smart shares her tips for mastering a timeless wardrobe.

28 WHAT’S ON MY DESK

Bill Hennessey’s favorite momentos and keepsakes from his of ce at Mercy.

Tools to help you dominate

40 ROOTED HERE

Nixa Hardware & Seed Company celebrates 125 years in Nixa.

43 CULTURE CLUB

Keep Supply nurtures company culture with unique practices.

44 DO IT NOW

Local organizations address food waste in the Ozarks.

46 WORKSPACE

The Spring eld-Greene County 911 and Of ce of Emergency Management’s newly renovated space.

66 CALENDAR

Our roundup of May and June networking events.

Everywhere

68 THE SCENE

Look for familiar faces at these recent local business events.

Katie Pollock Estes

Jamie Thomas

Jo Jolliff

Jordan Blomquist

Logan Aguirre PUBLISHER LOGAN@417MAG.COM

Megan Johnson VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS & CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS MJOHNSON@417MAG.COM

Ammie Scott Motes VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY & SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE ASCOTTMOTES@417MAG.COM

J.J. Massey FINANCE DIRECTOR ACCOUNTING@417MAG.COM

Bernadette Pry OFFICE MANAGER BERNADETTE@417MAG.COM

Erin Payne OPERATIONS COORDINATOR EPAYNE@417MAG.COM

Jami Wightman SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE JAMI@417MAG.COM

Janelle Haik ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE JANELLE@417MAG.COM

Kaitlyn Messina ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE KAITLYN@417MAG.COM

Kathy Grieve ACCOUNT SERVICES MANAGER KATHY@417MAG.COM

Nicki Sherwood ACCOUNT COORDINATOR NICKI@417MAG.COM

Katie Batliner ADVERTISING DESIGNER

ADVISORY BOARD

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 Stapelton 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

For over 40 years, 417-land clients and their employees have trusted Med-Pay with dedicated service, expert guidance and product innovation. We work harder so your life is easier.

Consistency

Med-Pay o ers expert guidance and remains on the leading edge in the ever-changing world of healthcare.

Stability

Med-Pay provides options for both fully insured and self-funded plans for any size organization, crafted around every unique circumstance.

Longevity

Med-Pay is one of the longest-running Third Party Administrators in the state of Missouri. Employee

Biz 417 is proud to announce the launch of The Legacy Network! Bringing together some of 417-land’s most influential leaders, this program gives you the opportunity to learn from the likes of Jack Stack, David Cameron, Lori Robertson and more. For full details, visit biz417.com/legacynetwork

BEST IN THE BIZ

It’s almost time to celebrate the Best Places to Work in 417-land! Our full feature on this year’s list-makers will be revealed in the September-October issue of Biz 417. In the meantime, if you can’t wait to nd out who made the list, you can check out our sneak-peek blog when it comes out at biz417.com/bestplaces417

PREPARE FOR LAUNCH

It’s almost time for 417-land’s ultimate women’s leadership event. This year features a Rise & Shine workshop, a global humanitarian and lmmaker, a local nonpro t change-maker, a panel from the 2024 Women Who Mean Business and more. Head to biz417.com/ ladieswholaunch for details.

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTERS

•Ladies Who Launch

•Biz Break

PHOTOS

LEAH STIEFERMANN

THE BEST DAY

Think Summit 2024 was a day filled with inspiring speakers and meaningful connections, and we left feeling energized. It sounds like you did too! We got so much great feedback from Biz 417 readers who attended the event. If you missed this year’s Think Summit, you can still purchase ondemand access to all the day’s talks. Just head to biz417.com/thinksummit.

“I have been to so many of these types of events in my career, but this was hands down the best I have ever attended! I laughed, I cried, I was inspired, some of their words validated I was on the right track with my team, and I looked within myself to advance my own personal growth. It was a wonderful experience!”—Carla Waller, DirectorofSales&Marketing,Hotel Vandivort

“Congratulations on a successful Think Summit. It was artfully executed—not that I expect anything less.”—SaraChoate,Managing DirectorHumanCapitalSolutions, KPM CPAs & Advisors

STARTS WITH THE RIGHT PROPERTY PLANNING FOR BUSINESS GROWTH

RANKIN COMPANY, LLC

M. 417.860.5447

je .childs@svn.com

P. 417.887.8826 ext. 104

Je Childs, SIOR, CCIM - SVN/Rankin Company

“The regional culture is starting to evolve, and [SB 979] is revealing one of the pain points. We should be grateful when these things get exposed because these are places where we can adjust and adapt, moving forward with a whole new culture and mindset… Southwest Missouri has so much to o er and so much potential, but we have to work collectively.”

—David Cameron, city administrator of Republic, p. 56

3

“It’s moving away from isolated buildings on isolated sites to an integrated, mixeduse, neighborhoodoriented approach. ULI has been promoting this kind of mixed-use pattern for decades.”

—Tim Rosenbury, founding member of Urban Land Institute, p. 22

“You can’t speak enough about the importance of that hallway communication.”

—Bill Hennessey, Vice President of Mission at Mercy, p. 28

“[Annexation] extends city limits, which allows more people to be eligible to vote and to serve on boards and commissions. You’ve probably heard people say they’d love to vote or serve on a commission, but they can’t because they live outside the City of Spring eld.”

— Richard Ollis, former Springfield city council member, local business owner, p. 56

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6

“People meditate, people exercise, people read—and they gure out some way to block out their work and what’s worrying them. [Fishing] is my block.”

—Jack Stack, President and CEO of SRC Holdings Corporation, p.

72

“Every communication, every decision needs to be with their people in mind because the people are what are going to drive the business. It’s the little things that can make or break a culture.”

—Lindsay Bauer, director of people and culture at Keep Supply, p. 43

Jeff Childs, SIOR, CCIM Senior Advisor, invested in 417-land

Tipping Point

In the next few months, critical decisions will impact the future of Springfield. A few key conversations and issues are bubbling in the background that are all connected, and the outcomes will determine our path forward. To quote Lou Holtz, “In this world, you’re either growing or you’re dying.” Which one will it be for Springfield?

Annexation is one of those topics that’s been bubbling for years. This year, steps were taken to begin the process of annexing key parts of unincorporated Springfield, specifically those that are not compact and contiguous, which raised flags for surrounding communities. We chose to do a deep dive into what it all really means, who it impacts and, if it is ever to come to fruition, what’s the path forward? I think Lucie Amberg did a great job trying to detangle this complex problem.

This summer, the Citizens’ Commission on Community Investment will evaluate and prioritize the highest and best use for local sales tax capacity upon the scheduled 2025 expiration of the current ¾-cent Police Fire Pension Sales Tax. The commission is tasked with reviewing intelligence and performance history for the Police Fire Pension, public safety data and trends,

and Forward SGF Comprehensive Plan capital project priorities. In full disclosure, I am serving on this commission which will bring a final report and recommendation to City Council by June 30. Depending on if it’s placed on the ballot, how it’s allocated and if the citizens approve it, this could be a game-changing funding source for transformational projects as outlined in Forward SGF.

In April 2025, we will vote on our next mayor who will be the first mayor to serve a four-year term, a change that was voted on this past April. The pro to this change is that a mayor can create a lot more momentum and impact long-term strategies with a four year term rather than a two year term—where you are spending at least six months of that term running for re-election.

This mayor could step into a role with a lot of citizen support pointing to growth, with confidence to boldly lead us forward. Or with signals that we want to pull back and take a slower approach. Each path has risks. The complete Lou Holtz quote is: “In this world you’re either growing or you’re dying, so get in motion and grow.”

One positive signal of putting things in motion for our region is the announcement at Think Summit of the newly formed LORE. According to their site, LORE, Leaders for Ozarks Region Evolvement, is uniting efforts aimed at improving quality of life and attracting a skilled workforce in the broader Springfield region. LORE aims to catalyze transformative change over the next 20 years, effectively writing the future for our community.

Could LORE be the tipping point that moves the balance toward growth? As you’ll learn from our “Growing Pains” article, communication and collaboration are the first step to putting things in motion to grow.

Logan Aguirre Publisher, Biz 417

PHOTO BY LEAH STIEFERMANN

“Relationships are key in our community. We are cautiously optimistic that we will grow in 2024.”

—Pamela Yancey, President and CEO of Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau

Downsizing

Bill Hennessey, Vice

President - Mission

at Mercy, shares his favorite keepsakes in his new of ce. Page 28

Transforming 417-Land’s Future

Nonpro t organization Urban Land Institute strives to create change in the real estate sector through research and education related to

land use and urban development.

More Than a Rebrand

Interior designer and now sole owner of Obelisk Home Nathan Taylor shares how he hopes to elevate customer experience with Obelisk Home’s recent rebrand. Page 25

PHOTOS BY KATY ST. CLAIR, BRANDON ALMS

EXTEND AND ENHANCE YOUR BUSINESS...

Switching Hats

Destined for leadership with the organization, Pam Yancey trades in her board hat to join the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau as President/CEO.

BY DORI GRINDER

After nearly 35 years in banking, Pam Yancey is putting her skills to work for the community that she has loved for 30 years. As the new President/CEO of Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau, Yancey began her new role in December 2023, but her years of volunteer experience within the organization and with the community make the role an obvious fit. She served on the Taney County Partnership board, the economic development arm of the Chamber, for 10 years and served as the chair. Yancey was also in her second term on the Chamber Board and was about to serve as the chair. “Serving on the board really gave me a better insight into what goes on here, but I tell you, until you switch that hat off and put on the Chamber/ CVB hat and get in and see what all goes on every day, you really don’t know,” says Yancey.

She draws the connection to the hard work she saw in her husband, a retired musician who played in the Branson shows for 29 years. “I’d always laugh and say ‘to the people sitting in the audience, you make it look like anyone could just pick up an instrument and play,’ but I know all the hours, practice and hard work that goes into it,” says Yancey. As a part of the staff now, Yancey notes all the details that go into making something great.

Branson is poised for growth with a jump of more than 1 million visitors since 2019, and it reached its high-water mark in 2023 with 10.28 million annual visitors. And with Yancey’s insider experience, there will be very little time needed to orient her to the community and its players. “Relationships are key in our community. We are cautiously optimistic that we will grow that [number of visitors] in 2024,” says Yancey.

HEAT INDEX

At press time, we’re buzzing about appointees who will decide the future of soon-tosunset sales tax and are excited for the big name concerts coming to 417-land this summer.

BY DORI GRINDER

TO SUNSET OR NOT?

With the sunset of Spring eld’s ¾-cent Police Fire Pension Sales Tax approaching in 2025, the Mayor has appointed a Citizens’ Commission on Community Investment to examine the issue. These 28 appointees who live or work in Spring eld, will be gathering April through June to investigate and make recommendations to City Council on how to potentially replace the sales tax. Their aim is to develop a recommendation that continues to fund pension obligations, advances public safety and prioritizes projects identi ed in Forward SGF.

CRISIS TEAM FOR HIRE

Former CoxHealth pros Steve Edwards and Kaitlyn McConnell have teamed up to create McConnell Edwards, a crisis communications business. The two announced the partnership on Facebook. Their experience managing communication during the pandemic offered the perfect training ground to be able to offer their services to others.

NEW WAY TO SPLASH

Word just hit Spring eld of a new aquatic facility that will be located near the Betty & Bobby Allison Sportstown. With 70,000 square feet and an Olympic-sized pool and diving well, Well Aquatic Center will offer indoor competitive opportunities and will be a hub for innovative water therapy, promoting holistic wellness for all ages and abilities.

JOHN MYERS

CUONZO MARTIN

RACHEL ANDERSON

MARIA NEIDER

MATT

FOUR TO FOLLOW WITH JOSH SULLIVAN

Josh Sullivan, founder of Fried Design Co., shares the accounts he can’t get enough of.

BY LAUREN FLYNN

@SGFCO

“They are real good dudes doing real cool things in Spring eld. Their products are always super rad, and they really care about Spring eld and showing off that pride. When I moved back to Spring eld in 2011, I saw a great sense of local pride—and then watched it seem to fade away. I love what they’re doing.”

@417FOODIST

“This is a real Spring eld treasure. Shining a light on a lot of these places is also great and is such a good way to drive traf c for some of these smaller folks. I wish he did more gas station food reviews. Maybe a new segment I can co-host?”

@KERRIFERRIS

“Over the last year or so, I’ve become a big time gym rat. Kerri started her journey before I did, and it was super inspiring to see her and her husband George’s transformations and enthusiasm. It’s such a positive inspiration when you’re trying to convince yourself to get up and lace up the running shoes.”

@ROGANKNOWSBEST

“He’s the best bartender this side of the Mississippi, and I’ll ght over it. Whether at Golden Girl or Good Spirits HQ, he’s always posting what he’s serving up, and I immediately become thirsty for happy hour.”

TRANSFORMING 417-LAND’S FUTURE

The new Southwest Missouri chapter of Urban Land Institute gathers professionals in every sector of real estate development. They seek to create positive change for decades to come.

BY JENNIFER SWENSON

Southwest Missouri is now home to its own chapter of Urban Land Institute, or ULI. ULI is a nonprofit organization that focuses on research and education related to land use and urban development. With more than 45,000 members in 80 countries, the grassroots organization is well-known for its leadership in fostering sustainable and thriving communities. In South-

west Missouri, ULI is bringing together professionals from multiple disciplines, each involved in some aspect of real estate development, to ignite critical conversations, resources and initiatives that will transform 417-land’s future.

“Real estate development is a really big tent, involving architects, city officials, bankers, real estate agents, developers and more,” says Brandon Biskup, a Springfield-based architect and the founder and chair of the local chapter. “ULI provides a connector and offers a huge body of knowledge on the latest research and best practices.” According to Tim Rosenbury, AIA, founding member of ULI and Director of Quality of Place Initiatives for the City of Springfield, “ULI is to the development community what the bar is to the legal profession or the American Medical Association is to physicians. ULI engages many of the people involved in the development enterprise.”

Biskup discovered ULI’s potential after attending a conference of the Northwest Arkansas chapter in early 2023. “He came back from that conference on fire,” says Rosenbury. In addition to Biskup and Rosenbury, realtor Nancy Caughlan Evans and architect/developer Bruce Adib-Yazdi have been key champions for the effort; each has played a crucial role in getting ULI off the ground in the region.

The local chapter offers core programming of quarterly panels and socials. These events serve as resources for continuing education and innovation. For example, at one of the chapter’s initial events in summer 2023, a consultant from Northwest Arkansas highlighted a unique approach for middle housing. “We hear from a lot of people that we have a housing crisis,” says Biskup, “and [the speaker] provided a new idea that is latching on in other communities. The event planted a seed

BY ALEX KHNYKIN

PHOTO

ULI Members gather for a lunch meeting in the Fairbanks Community Center hosted by the Drew Lewis Foundation.

in people’s minds that we can do this locally.” ULI recently hosted a panel on transportation. “We are looking at the future—recreational trails, bike lanes, bus infrastructure and even more modes of transportation, like autonomous cars and the trucking industry,” says Biskup.

Biskup refers to the “endless potential” of ULI’s offerings and cites special initiatives that have taken place in other communities, such as a women’s leadership group and a real estate diversity initiative. “ULI is impact-oriented and member-driven. We don’t want to be just a networking group,” he says. “If there is something people are passionate about, ULI can help with it.” ULI recently launched a professional development initiative, where individuals can dive into “the nuts and bolts” of an issue. The initiative’s kickoff event offered an in-depth site tour of Springfield’s new Moxy Hotel with developer Tim O’Reilly; attendees learned about the challenges of building the hotel and how they were overcome.

All this comes at a fitting time for the region, amid the City of Springfield’s implementation of its comprehensive plan, Forward SGF 2040. Forward SGF 2040 is a blueprint that will direct Springfield’s development and guide decision-makers over the next two decades. The plan “prescribes a different way of looking at how we develop real estate in the community,” says Rosenbury. “It’s moving away from isolated buildings on isolated sites to an integrated, mixeduse, neighborhood-oriented approach. ULI has been promoting this kind of mixed-use pattern for decades. [The organization] offers research and results in this kind of development, which is going to be a different way of doing things in Southwest Missouri. By having an active ULI chapter, development in Southwest Missouri will be better.”

Rosenbury continues, “The comprehensive plan doesn’t map out what should be done. It identifies broadly the ‘how’ of development, but the private sector determines what gets to be built. [With ULI], there could emerge a cohort of real estate developers that are able to responsibly innovate by accessing the information that ULI has accumulated on mixed-use and dense development. We are going to need the next generation of developers to think differently about almost everything, simply because everything is different.” To that end, ULI’s leadership is dedicated to supporting emerging young professionals and seeks to get them involved as early in their careers as possible.

Urban Land Institute is all about facilitating a forum of like-minded individuals who want to tackle community development comprehensively. The Southwest Missouri chapter brings together city officials, engineers, realtors, neighborhood advocates and more. At meetings, attendees are free to ask tough questions and to engage in thoughtful conversations. According to Biskup, “ULI helps rise the tide and create lasting change.”

PHOTO BY ALEX KHNYKIN

The ULI July 2023 Social at Springfield Brewing Co.

HUSCH BLACKWELL CHIEF EXECUTIVE JAMIE LAWLESS ON HOW TO LAND YOUR DREAM JOB

She’s the leader of one of America’s largest law rms with more than 2,000 team members, 20 o ces (including one in Spring eld) and one virtual o ce—and she’s not a lawyer. Jamie Lawless shares how she landed the top role at Husch Blackwell.

BY REN BISHOP

For Jamie Lawless, success is the collision of opportunity, luck and preparation. After 26 years as a leader in innovative businesses, Fortune 500 companies and one of America’s largest law firms, she had all three when she was named chief executive elect of Husch Blackwell in July 2023.

For her, it was a dream job, leading a major law firm as its chief executive—a job she wasn’t sure was even possible for her.

With a strategic mission of people-first leadership, Lawless beat out more than 1,000 applicants for the top job at Husch Blackwell. She shares how with preparation, opportunity and luck, she landed her dream job—and you can, too.

Know Your Personal and Professional Values

While Lawless was looking for an opportunity to serve as an organization’s chief executive, the title wasn’t what drew her to Husch Blackwell. Instead, she was focused on finding an opportunity to serve that matched her values. “I’ve worked way too long and way too hard to be anywhere that’s not a perfect fit when it comes to values and culture perspective, and I wasn’t prepared to compromise on either,” she says. “Fortunately, Husch Blackwell’s values, their culture, their approach to people and clients were completely aligned, not only how I show up at work but in life. So accepting the role felt like coming home.”

Learn from Leaders Around You and Hone Your Leadership Style

For more than two decades, Lawless was surrounded by some of the top leaders, experts and minds in business, in a variety of industries. But she didn’t just excel within diverse environ-

ments, she intentionally sought out mentorship to develop her own leadership style. “Very early on in my career, I had access to many leaders at Fortune 500 companies and at AmLaw firms, both women and men, and through that exposure, I learned very early on what I valued and respected in their leadership styles and personal ambitions,” she says. “Equally, I learned what I didn’t find valuable or inspiring, and I think these lessons helped inform the kind of person and leader I wanted to be, the traits I admired.”

Gain and Maintain Clarity of Your Big Career Goals

No matter your current role, no matter your age, Lawless insists that clarity in decision making can help anyone reach and exceed their own professional goals. To do that, Lawless recommends creating a personal Board of Advisors: a group of trusted people in your network to keep you focused when doubt creeps in.

“Surround yourself with friends and mentors who not only will keep you focused, but will keep you on task during those moments when you will start to question yourself, because you will; we all do,” she says. “By building a team and network of people around you who are, in many ways, your confidence coaches, you’ll be able to better focus on the end goal when you start to doubt yourself.”

Believe You Can Land Your Dream Job

When the job alert hits your inbox, a friend texts you a link or you see a LinkedIn post with that dream job, shoot for the stars. Even if you believe you’re not ready, if you have the credentials, have the confidence to go after your dream job.

Lawless participated in a Women’s Leadership event in Florida last fall, where top female executives spoke about confidence. Three of the women on the panel shared how they encountered imposter syndrome themselves when their dream job came along, believing their resumes and CVs weren’t 100 percent ready for their current top roles.

“I think that a lot of the difference between 80 percent ready and 100 percent ready for a dream job is in our heads,” she says. “As women, we are too hard on ourselves. We need to go for the stretch opportunities. We need to be able to fail fast. We need to be able to say that we tried to do something bigger than what we thought we could do, and we succeeded. You work hard enough and you’re going to get the job done. We need to ignore the voice that says we’re 80 percent there. We can rise.”

COURTESY HUSCH BLACKWELL

SIT BACK AND RELAX

What started as an idea at a baseball game turned into a cozy, stylish and practical product.

BY JORDAN BLOMQUIST

The Problem

Have you ever been at a baseball game, an outdoor concert or a tailgate and panicked as the temperature dropped or it began to rain? Melissa DuVall experienced that too many times. As a sports mom, she attended her son’s baseball games in the afternoons. “Then we’d go into extra innings, and it would get chilly on me,” she says. She didn’t want to risk missing pivotal parts of the game by going back to her car to fetch a blanket.

The Big Idea

DuVall created Ponchairo—a wearable, hooded blanket that is stored in a pouch on the back of an outdoor chair. “It’s the best of both worlds,” DuVall says. “You get a blanket, but it fits you like a poncho so it’s hands-free.” The fabric is buttery soft, windproof and waterproof. The business is on the underside of the blanket, lined with pockets to store hand warmers, phones, snacks, etc.

The Learning Curve

Even with a great idea, inventing a product can come with doubt and uncertainty. When DuVall decided to make the jump and create her product, her first patent application was declined. “I had to make the decision then: Do I want to appeal?” she says.

The Takeaway

DuVall took a chance on herself and her idea, opting to file a notice of appeal. It was successful and she secured the patent for Ponchairo. Running the business has become DuVall’s side hustle, as she still has a full-time biotech job. She has been marketing her product for two years now, and annual net sales are up 75% and their trade show sales are up 50%. Ponchairo is available on ponchairo.com, on scheels.com and at the Scheel’s location in Overland Park, Kansas.

More Than a Rebrand

SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS

Dake Wells Architecture, Inc.; Ireland Architects Inc.; Ozark Empire Fairgrounds & Event Center; Volt Credit Union; and 417 Magazine (we’re so excited!) are nalists for the Spring eld Area Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Award this year.

PLAN AHEAD: LADIES WHO LAUNCH

Biz 417’s annual Ladies Who Launch women’s business leadership event isn’t until July 18, but tickets are already going fast! Get tickets before they sell out by visiting biz417.com/ ladieswholaunch.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE EVENTS AND MANY MORE ON PG. 66

Interior designer, industry expert and now sole owner of Obelisk Home Nathan Taylor sets out to rewrite his brand’s story and elevate the customer experience through the company’s recent rebrand.

BY KALI SALAZAR

After becoming the sole owner of Obelisk Home in July of 2023, Nathan Taylor decided it was time to make the brand his own and focus on telling a new story. This refined focus sparked the rebrand for Obelisk Home, which consisted of a new logo, website and Taylor’s personal favorite, adding antiques to their retail mix. He is excited to help his clients incorporate antiques and inherited pieces into their designs because he believes they tell a deeper story than meets the eye. “Like antiques,” Taylor says, “we all as people are a collection.” And he wants that meaning to shine through in the way he incorporates these pieces into a space.

In addition to adding antiques to their collection, Taylor plans to continue to expand Obelisk Home’s reach to areas as far as 100 miles outside of Springfield. Nicole Fuller, Director of Strategic Relations at Obelisk Home, says the company has grown by 25% in the past five years. This growth positions Obelisk Home to continue to expand to areas outside of 417-land. Taylor sees this expansion as an opportunity to bring people into Springfield that have never been here before to experience all that their store and the community have to offer.

Going forward, Taylor wants to continue to curate the brand’s story and elevate the customers' experience with their company. “Curated and elevated—we want to elevate each other in our team, curate the story that we tell and elevate what we bring to this community,” says Taylor.

This new season at Obelisk Home has redefined the dynamic of their business and is the first step in reaching their future goals for the company.

[REBRAND

Melissa DuVall

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT 75 YEARS OF serving Springfield and the Ozarks

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT 75 YEARS OF serving Springfield and the Ozarks

After 75 years, Nabholz is proud to say our name is still synonymous with integrity.

After 75 years, Nabholz is proud to say our name is still synonymous with integrity.

Our company has grown to include over 1,400 team members whose hard work has cemented our reputation in the construction industry.

Our company has grown to include over 1,400 team members whose hard work has cemented our reputation in the construction industry.

We have proudly served the Ozarks and Springfield for more than 40 years.

With an extensive portfolio of work under our belt, we have the

With an extensive portfolio of work under our belt, we have the experience to deliver your project successfully — regardless of size.

We have proudly served the Ozarks and Springfield for more than 40 years. With an extensive portfolio of work under our belt, we have the experience to deliver your project successfully — regardless of size.

LOOKING FORWARD SINCE 1949

LOOKING FORWARD SINCE 1949

417.450.6000 |

SERVING THE OZARKS FOR OVER 40 YEARS

With 75 years of experience and an unparalleled depth of service capabilities, we serve our clients’ full range of facility-related needs. Our Springfield project experience varies in size, scope, and complexity, but the level of quality, attention to detail, and care our people apply to their work does not. We strive to be a single-source provider for our customers, eliminating the need to hire multiple specialty contractors while assuring all work is delivered with Nabholz’ signature integrity.

BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY

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3

4

5

YES, WE CAN DO THAT

PRECONSTRUCTION & CONSTRUCTION

From interactive preconstruction meetings to extensive renovations and new builds, Nabholz has the experience to deliver quality commercial construction

MAINTENANCE & REPAIRS

Working as an extension of your maintenance sta , Nabholz o ers a comprehensive array of on-site facility maintenance and handyman services, ranging from emergency repairs to total renovations.

CUSTOM FABRICATION & CABINETRY

With on-site fabrication and millwork shops, our craftsmen have the skills and equipment to create unique products not available in most stocks, from industrial turntables and mezzanines to custom desks and reception areas.

INFRASTRUCTURE & EXCAVATION

First to hit the job site, this group performs excavation, groundwork, and utility work, and also creates roadways and parking surrounding facilities. Additionally, they complete standalone heavy highway, infrastructure, and roadwork.

ENERGY PERFORMANCE & SOLAR

Entegrity (a Nabholz company) specializes in energy performance contracting. From LED light retrofits to solar panel installation, we focus on saving clients money through reducing operation costs.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD SERVICES

When buying or renovating a building, engaging an environmental contractor should be your first step. Nabholz has a team of professionals that provides testing, remediation, and consulting services for hazardous environmental materials, and are experienced in Phase I & II environmental assessments, asbestos abatement, and mold remediation.

MACHINERY INSTALLATION, MOVING, & SERVICE

Our industrial team safely transports, assembles, and maintains clients’ most crucial pieces of machinery. From setting an MRI to transporting and assembling a 20-ton injection mold machine, they do it all.

CRANE & EQUIPMENT RENTAL

Nabholz owns and maintains an impressive fleet of equipment available for rent, including forklifts, backhoes, and a large variety of cranes. Our NCCCO-certified operators are more than capable of completing one-o jobs, such as setting rooftop air units.

Rise and Shine sponsored by

TAILORED AND TIMELESS

Gail Smart plans for a variety of events from basketball games to hosting alongside her husband Clif Smart, outgoing president of Missouri State University.

BY JO JOLLIFF PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRANDON ALMS

Gail Smart balances a variety of looks. While at MSU with her husband and president of the campus, Clif Smart, she might wear a skirt and blazer to match his coat and slacks for a board meeting or a simple dress to show their support at a basketball game.

Regardless of what she is dressing for or where she is going, she always strives for a timeless and modest look, taking inspiration from one of her favorite style icons, her mother-in-law. Her father-in-law was the dean of the architecture school at the University of Arkansas, so they also entertained and dressed for very similar occasions. “She always has something beautiful on and is very classic and timeless,” she says. “Whatever she is wearing, she always looks put together.”

Smart strives for this same sense of style, describing her style as traditional. You’ll often nd her in her favorite closet staples, simple yet high-quality pieces like black turtlenecks, dresses and pants she invested in with the intention of taking care of them. “I would always advise people to invest in quality pieces,” she says. “I know I have had some pieces for over 15 to 20 years that are still in style or have come back in style.”

Despite focusing on the quality of her clothing, Smart says creating a capsule wardrobe similar to her own does not have to be expensive. “I am not shopping at the most expensive places at all, so I certainly think anyone can emulate my style and nd a lot of basic things even at Target,” she says.

In addition to her staple items, Smart enjoys shopping for special occasions like the inauguration to step outside of her usual style. But whether she’s nding a new stylish dress or donning a splash of maroon to show her MSU pride, these elements come together in a chic look that is unmistakably Smart’s own unique style.

[

DOWNSIZING FOR SUCCESS

Vice President - Mission at Mercy Bill Hennessey shares his favorite keepsakes and mementos that ll his o ce.

BY JO JOLLIFF

PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRANDON ALMS

In his 35 years at Mercy, Bill Hennessey has had nearly 10 office spaces. His previous office was an expansive space at Hammons while his latest is perhaps the smallest. “I felt horrible because it was the most beautiful office, with 12 huge windows,” he says. “But now I’m right where I need to be, right in the middle of things with easy access to everyone.”

When David Argueta became president of Mercy, he relocated senior leadership to ensure they were easily accessible and had a

pulse on the daily happenings of the hospital. Through the transition, Hennessey has seen a multitude of benefits. “It’s definitely enhanced communication with leadership,” he says. “You can’t speak enough about the importance of that hallway communication.” With a smaller space, Hennessey has also been intentional with what he keeps in his office, narrowing it down to the most meaningful and important items. “When you have 35 years in a place you collect a lot of things in different nooks and crannies,” he jokes.

Certificate for Advanced Formation

Mercy’s 18-month deep dive program shares their heritage, mission and values. Two months of the course are spent in a convent with a small cohort of around 10 others with additional twohour conversations together each month. Hennessey attended Advanced Formation himself in 2011 and now helps facilitate the program. “I would say that was really formative to my time as a Mercy leader and pretty pivotal to have this deep dive into who we are as a ministry and how we’re different,” he says.

Cardinal

Sister Mary Natalie gifted Hennessey a plant with a little cardinal in it for his first day on the job. Twenty-nine years old at the time, Hennessey didn’t quite have the green thumb to keep the plant alive but always kept the cardinal. “It’s to remind me of the very beginning, of the welcoming aspect of Mercy and the reminder that that’s what I am called to do every day—to be a person that will welcome, that will serve and show that same hospitality the sisters did to me,” he says.

St. Johns

When Hennessey first arrived at Mercy, then called St. John’s, they were celebrating their 100th anniversary. He was asked by the head nun to be the committee chair to plan the celebration. “It was the most wonderful experience I could have imagined and really grounded me here in our heritage, our history,” he says. Their centennial year included a historical display showing every decade of their history in the community, and it was soon followed by their rebranding from St. John’s to Mercy. He recalls: “Two years later I stood up in front of the group and said: ‘This is where we’re going. We need to come together as one organization and serve as Mercy. We are here to serve and how do we best work together and thrive in a very complicated world of health care?’”

 Drums

Hennessey has played the drums since he was 10 years old and now enjoys playing in Mercy’s doctors band, Caduceus. He was the first non-physician in the group, which formed 35 years ago. They are now a 501C3 nonprofit focused on giving back to the community by playing for local events like Springfield Catholic School’s Emerald Evening, where they played everything from Stevie Wonder to Taylor Swift.

Sister Lorraine

found Spring com

Among the many photos of his family, Hennessey keeps one framed photo of a former coworker, Sister Lorraine Biebel. The two worked together on many committees and projects over the years. “Many considered her the Mother Teresa of Springfield because she served the most vulnerable, the most poor and those in greatest need,” he says. Sister Lorraine founded The Kitchen and her retirement was a big moment for all of Springfield, as well as for Hennessey and his wife, Dawn, pictured beside her at her retirement party.

Attorney PROFILES

The jury is in on finding the attorney that is right for you. Browse our Attorney Profiles to learn more about some of 417-land’s favorite attorneys and their practices. These legal experts are ready to take on your case.

The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Past results afford no guarantee of future results and every case is different and must be judged on its own merits, and depends on the quality of your attorney.

Cantin Mynarich, LLC, aggressively defends people against a wide variety of criminal allegations including sex and pornography-related offenses, serious drug and conspiracy offenses, assault, firearm, fraud and whitecollar crimes. They represent clients in state courts throughout Southwest Missouri and in federal courts in Springfield, Jefferson City and Kanasas City.

Being accused of a crime can be confusing and scary, so Shane, Erica and Samuel prioritize frequent communication with their clients. They use their experience, skill and resources to fully investigate the facts and all possible defenses in order to achieve the best outcome for each client. Because Shane, Erica and Samuel only handle criminal matters, they have developed strong relationships with prosecutors and courts. Due to their reputation and results at trial and on appeal, other lawyers often refer their most complex cases to the attorneys at Cantin Mynarich.

Shane Cantin, Samuel Gearhart, Erica Mynarich

Evans & Dixon, LLC, is a full-service, regional law firm trusted by small and large business owners throughout Southwest Missouri.

They represent clients in a multitude of areas, including bankingrelated litigation and loan review; business organization; employment matters; estate and succession planning; general civil litigation; insurance-related litigation and claims; mediations; shareholder agreements; transactions and outside general counsel for corporations.

By operating with the client’s best interest in mind, Evans & Dixon, LLC, is committed to helping business owners and insurers throughout 417-land achieve business success. Whether you’re an entrepreneur delving into a new small business venture, an established owner looking to merge or sell, or a CEO seeking counsel to protect your company, their business attorneys have the experience to tailor advice to your specific needs.

Your needs come first in Evans & Dixon’s approach to Workers’ Compensation law. Their attorneys are well-practiced at different claim-handling philosophies and, with a long-standing reputation of timely communication, are often involved in legislation.

Of course, in litigation, there is nothing more important than experience. Evans & Dixon’s Civil and Commercial Litigation attorneys approach complex tort cases, involving a multitude of industries, with necessary aggression and a focus on timely results.

Learn more about their strengths and resources at evans-dixon.com.

Back row: Kevin Dunaway, Of Counsel; Brad Tuck, Member; Jacob Eddy, Senior Associate; Karen Johnson, Member; Lynn Rodgers, Of Counsel Front row: Shari Lockhart, Member; Joshua Baker, Senior Associate; Brittany Perry, Senior Associate

For 50 years, Wampler & Passanise has provided clients with the highest quality legal representation. Managing Partner Joseph S. Passanise and Associate Attorney Taylon Sumners-Schwartz use a team approach to case management, leading the firm’s paralegals, investigators, and researchers to develop defense strategies for clients facing criminal allegations at the federal, state, and municipal levels.

Wampler & Passanise

417-882-9300 | ENTRAPPED.COM

2974 E. BATTLEFIELD, SPRINGFIELD

The attorneys believe that surrounding clients with a team of professionals who believe in them reinforces their power to make meaningful life changes. The firm defends clients facing the most serious and complicated charges, including whitecollar embezzlement and fraud, Federal cases, felony and misdemeanor DWI, homicide, domestic violence, and weapon/drug violations.

Wampler & Passanise has been recognized among the region’s best criminal defense firms by Best Lawyers® for 14 years, Super Lawyers® for 16 years, AVVO, the National Trial Lawyers (NTL) Top 100 for 14 years, and the NTL Top 40 Under 40.

Passanise has been practicing law for over 25 years and is a Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers. He received the Charles M. Shaw Award for excellence in trial advocacy in 2013 and is a former President of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Passanise was recognized for Firm Leadership in 2023 by Missouri Lawyers. He is a past recipient of the Lon Hocker Trial Advocacy Award from The Missouri Bar and is a sustaining member of the National College for DUI Defense.

Sumners-Schwartz has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® In America for the past two years for Criminal Defense: White Collar and in the Up-and-Coming category by Missouri Lawyers in 2022. She serves on the Greene County Historical Sites board and Go Red for Women.

The Springfield Business Journal has recognized both attorneys as Trusted Advisors.

Joseph S. Passanise, Managing Partner; Taylon Sumners-Schwartz, Associate Attorney

Husch Blackwell

As Springfield’s only Am Law 100 firm, Husch Blackwell is uniquely positioned to serve as a trusted legal partner for local business leaders. By prioritizing the client experience, the firm empowers its people to develop collaborative legal solutions that draw on the collective knowledge of its 1,000+ attorneys nationwide and the business acumen of its professional staff. Backed by the experience of world-class business teams, Husch Blackwell lawyers don’t just solve legal problems, they help clients make datadriven decisions, optimize their operations, and gain competitive advantages.

Ozarks Elder Law

In the heart of the Ozarks, Lori Rook champions the mission at Ozarks Elder Law—dedicated to safeguarding Southwest Missouri’s aging population.

As the driving force behind the esteemed “Ladies in White,” Rook combines legal acumen with unwavering compassion. Specializing in estate planning, Medicaid, probate and nursing home planning, she and her team offer adept guidance with deep empathy for their clients.

With nine offices across SWMO, Ozarks Elder Law provides free consultations, offering peace of mind by serving as steadfast allies, shaping legacies, and helping families navigate through future planning intricacies with skill and care.

Springfield Partners: Cory Collins, Christopher Peterson, Bryan Wade, David Agee, Michael Cosby (not pictured: Lauren Hawkins)

Back row: Mel Myears, Lisa Dewoody-Clark, Katherine Douglas-Johnson Front row: Tessa O’Donnell, Elyse Hartley, Lori Rook Choosing a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertising.

PHOTOS BY KATY ST. CLAIRE, COURTESY OZARKS ELDER LAW

RoundTable Legal: Law

O ce of Corey Kilburn

RoundTable Legal is a Client Centric, IP Smart, Business Savvy boutique firm specializing in Intellectual Property, Contracts, and Business law with a keen focus on Arts, Entertainment, and Sports. Blending legal expertise with a profound understanding of creative and business dynamics, Corey Kilburn and his team assist entrepreneurs, businesses, artists, and creatives with comprehensive solutions addressing not only legal, but practical strategies. Recognized on the elite “Power List” of top Entertainment Lawyers, Kilburn is a “SuperLawyers Rising Star” in Business, IP, and Trademarks. Honored with SBJ’s “40 under 40,” Kilburn is a fierce advocate whose deep understanding of the creative industry and ever-evolving business environment sets him apart as a trusted expert. Schedule a Legal Strategy Session today to safeguard and advance your passion and brand.

417-834-5280 | ROUNDTABLELEGAL.COM

CKILBURN@ROUNDTABLELEGAL.COM

4730 S. NATIONAL AVE. B1, SPRINGFIELD

Twibell Pierson

The Twibell Pierson Law Firm began in 1975 when attorney Bert Twibell left the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office for a career in private practice, helping people solve their problems. Today, the attorneys of Twibell Pierson have over 90 years of combined experience, and strive to provide unmatched criminal defense and client service.

What separates Twibell Pierson from other firms is the team approach they take to every client and case. When you hire them, you are hiring their entire firm, not just one attorney.

Twibell Pierson is the proud recipient of recognition that includes Bert Twibell and Branden Twibell being recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White Collar, as well as being recognized by Best Law Firms® in 2024 as a Tier 2 firm for Criminal Defense: General Practice in Springfield.

417-862-1741 | TWIBELLPIERSON.COM

901 E. ST. LOUIS ST., SUITE 1600, SPRINGFIELD

Bryan Delleville, Bert Twibell, Cole Roberts, Kristie Pierce, Scott Pierson and Branden Twibell

Corey Kilburn

PHOTO BY JUSTICE GLOVER, LEAH STIEFERMANN

You’ve made your mark. Now it’s time to craft your legacy.

Today is the best day to cultivate the next generation of leaders in your organization. The Legacy Network, brought to you by Biz 417, is perfect for those in manager, director or C-suite roles who have recently been promoted or are poised for growth.

Application window closes May 15. Learn more and apply today at biz417.com/legacynetwork

Presented by Hosted by

“They flipped a silver dollar to see who would get the assignment. Efton lost the flip and came to work in the store.”

—Larry McCroskey, owner of Nixa Hardware & Seed on the importance of a sliver dollar in their company history. Read more on p. 40

Culture Abounds

The majority of new hires at Keep Supply are from employee referrals, touting a positive experience with the company.

Easy Ways to Eliminate Waste

Two organizations are putting food scraps to good use and generating less waste in the land ll. Find out how you can join the move to better sustainability.

Command Central

A sneak peek into the Of ce of Emergency Management where community preparedness comes rst. See how this communication hub provides calm in the face of crisis.

PHOTO BY KATY ST. CLAIR

DEEP ROOTS GROW SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS

With a family tree that reads like a Christian County who’s who list, Nixa Hardware & Seed Company has been securely rooted in 417-land for more than a century.

BY DORI GRINDER

Nixa Hardware & Seed Company is celebrating 125 years and is the oldest business in Nixa. With a core business of seed, cultivating customer loyalty and establishing successful roots, it’s a story that was planted in 417-land more than a century ago.

Founded in 1899 by F.M. Wasson, Nixa Hardware & Seed Company was originally located in a small wooden building just west of Main Street in Nixa. The early store carried tools, windmills, horse-drawn wagons and Model T

“Customers tell you what they want, and being an individual, family-owned store, we have the ability to diversify and meet those needs.”

—Jeremy Pryer, general manager

Fords. In 1911, a larger store was built near the corner of Main Street and Highway 14 and quickly became a central hub of activity in Nixa. The store was a community gathering place and provided other important services like the post office. Since mail wasn’t delivered directly to people’s homes, the post office generated additional foot traffic to the store.

Current owner Larry McCroskey, now semi-retired, is the keeper of company stories. He shares the simple beginnings of the store owned by his greatgreat uncle F.M. Wasson and how ownership changed hands over the years. It didn’t exactly follow today’s standard succession plans. Needing help in the store in 1906, F.M. Wasson called in two nephews, Herbert Hawkins and Efton Hawkins, to see who would take on the task. “They flipped a silver dollar to see who would get the assignment,” says McCroskey. “Efton lost the coin flip and came to work in the store.”

The next generation to step in was L.D. “Mack” McCroskey, after running up a considerable fertilizer bill during a 3-year drought in the 1930s. Mack

Jeremy Pryer, general manager and Larry McCroskey, owner (far left) have both had a variety of duties over the years. The second store location (above) was built in 1911. A portrait of F.M. Wasson, founder, (left) and his pocket knife are featured in the o ce.

was offered a position at the store to work off his debt. Soon after, he sold his hogs to scrape together enough money to marry Efton Hawkins’ daughter, Averiel, and cement his family’s place in company history.

In 1945, Mack was selected as the first mayor when the community established Nixa as a fourth class city.

In the 1960s, Mack and Averiel’s son and current Nixa Hardware & Seed Company owner Larry McCroskey got an early start working in the store. As an industrious third-grader, he swept the floors to earn enough money for an ice cream cone.

Then at 12 years old, he helped harvest the seed.

In 1974, Larry and his wife, Jeanne, purchased the store from Mack—along with Larry’s sister Macanna and her husband Gary Murray. The four ran it together successfully for 31 years, until the Murrays sold their portion to Larry and Jeanne in 2005.

Nixa Hardware & Seed Company is the oldest seed processor in Missouri. The company owns its own farms to cultivate and harvest seeds, and it carries more than 120 types of seed. They supply seed not only to 417-land, but several states beyond as well. They also have developed their own fertilizers, feed and 30 other specialty products like custom seed mixes and blends that aren’t found elsewhere. “We understand the unique soil and climate of Southwest Missouri,” says Seed Specialist Josh Jenkins. “We offer proven varieties for this area to ensure our customers have the best chance of successful growth.”

As Nixa Hardware & Seed Company continued to grow and shift over the years, so did the need for a larger building. In 1988 the business moved to its current location near the corner of Highway 14 and Highway 160 in Nixa, and it has slowly added square footage and warehousing space over the years, now occupying 120,000 square feet of facilities.

Customer loyalty plays a factor in the legacy of Nixa Hardware as well. The store offers direct-to-consumer prices and the ability to purchase in large quantities, and knowledgeable staff keeps customers coming back. “Customers tell you what they want, and being an individual, family-owned store, we have the ability to diversify and meet those needs,” says General Manager Jeremy Pryer. “Whether a customer needs a part for their lawn mower, help with a plumbing repair, what kind of seed to plant, feed to use or to help figure out the stove pipe they need, we are dedicated to helping customers find what they need at an affordable price.”

Nixa Hardware & Seed is currently in its fifth generation of family ownership. Larry and Jeanne’s daughters Christi, Cami and Casi and their spouses Allen, Josh and Jeremy all have active roles in the company, including department management, IT, accounting and advertising.

Family ties and a deep understanding of their homeland and the people in it are the glue that keep Nixa Hardware & Seed growing strong after more than 100 years in business.

The original Nixa Hardware store was built in 1898. After a new location was built in 1911, the original building was used for seed and fertilizer storage. The original building was torn down in 1973 and was located near the current site of Diversified Plastics in Nixa.

Brookline Doorworks

Brookline Doorworks has been a staple in the Ozarks for the last 30 years and counting. As a family-owned and operated enterprise, Kevin and Christine Howell have nurtured the business, infusing it with a commitment to reliability and excellence. Specializing in the installation and maintenance of residential and commercial garage doors, Brookline Doorworks has IDEA certification, ensuring top-tier service and expertise.

apart is their personalized touch—customers can see their new garage door imposed over a photo of their own home or even take samples to assess under their own lighting.

“Brookline Doorworks displays a commitment to service and community.”

Their expansive showroom in Springfield, Missouri, serves as a testament to their dedication. Here, clients can peruse a wide array of overhead door products sourced from the industry’s leading manufacturers. What sets Brookline Doorworks

In the image, Kevin and Christine Howell proudly stand before a recent installation: high-speed doors designed to optimize traffic flow and bolster workplace security. The SG 5000 High Speed commercial door by Hormann has impressive operating speeds of up to 80 inches per second, illustrating the blend of innovation and practicality that defines Brookline Doorworks’ offerings. Beyond business, Brookline Doorworks displays a commitment to service and community.

Photo by Katy St. Clair

MAINTAINING QUALITY CULTURE

Keep Supply nurtures a progressive and impactful company culture through its support of employee security, encouragement of growth and development of unique company practices.

BY EM BLACKSTONE

Every single thing a company does needs to be intentional,” says Lindsay Bauer, director of people and culture at Keep Supply. “Every communication, every decision needs to be with their people in mind because the people are what are going to drive the business. It’s the little things that can make or break a culture.”

Based in Springfield, Keep Supply specializes in selling industrial refrigeration parts. Within the company lies a remarkable and distinctive company culture. Keep Supply embraces progressive concepts, such as practicing the Great Game of Business and providing employees with extensive benefits and opportunities within the company that encourage personal growth.

Around 75% to 80% of new hires originate from employee referrals, a testament to the positive experiences felt within the organization. Key account manager Erica Ewell has been working for Keep Supply for nine months. Already, she has four referrals under her belt and

likely more to come. When first coming into the company, Ewell was surprised that it practiced the Great Game of Business, which educates employees on the financial earnings, setbacks and goals of the company. “This is the first company that I’ve worked for that’s been so transparent,” she says. “Even to know if we’re in the green or the red, I’ve never had the privilege of working for a company where we actually knew where we stood.”

Along with transparency, Keep Supply is in no short supply of celebrations for birthdays, company accomplishments, holidays and personal accomplishments that create a sense of community within the company. Full medical, dental and vision insurance for employees and their families is also a driving factor that creates support and security for employees. Along with a sense of community and security, the company fuels professional growth through internal training sessions known as “lunch and learns” held a couple times a month.

For Ewell, the company’s interest in employees translated to an interest in personal growth. Within two months, Ewell was encouraged to pursue a higher position. For employees like Ewell, this support makes a significant impact. “I’m also a single mom, so having the company support me and be flexible with me and be understanding with that is a game changer,” she says. “That’s the kind of culture I think is important to look after.”

The company also strives to promote trust and communication between employee and employer through the Culture Club, composed of eight representatives from all departments. Their goal is to preserve the unique culture and provide direct feedback from employees, so they are aware of what is and isn’t working within the company.

As for Bauer, she started with Keep Supply in September 2022, when the company had 30 employees. Today, the company is experiencing rapid growth and expecting to have more than 100 employees by the end of 2024. “It’s a magical place,” Bauer says. “And as any company grows, sometimes that magic can get lost. We can hire people that don’t contribute as positively as you’d want them to, or you can end up with communication struggles, which is another important part of GGOB.”

Bauer offers advice to any business wanting to protect and maintain their company culture: “Be intentional with everything you do, because even the things that to us may not matter, really matter to someone.”

[CULTURE CLUB]

The Scrap Pack

Everyone in 417-land disposes ve pounds of food a week, on average. Here’s how two organizations are addressing a problem with no time to waste.

BY REN BISHOP

Standing in the Springfield landfill, Ashley Krug watches as a truck pours out a full load of one item: hot sauce. “I give tours all the time, but when you see a full load of a perfectly usable food item, it just hurts,” she says. “There are too many hungry people in our community for our landfill to be full of food scraps.”

Giving tours of the Springfield Landfill is one of many ways The City of Springfield educates the community about local sustainability practices. As market and sustainability coordinator, Krug leads a team that works to find new ways to divert used items away from disposal.

And each year, 30,000 to 40,000 tons of food scraps end up in the Ozarks’ largest landfill—most potentially generating methane, most able to be composted.

Across 417-land, citizens, municipalities and nonprofits are addressing the food waste issue with innovative solutions. Two passionate composters share how.

In 2018, Springfield Compost Collective was founded on the idea that everyone can do something to positively impact the environment. Justine Campbell co-founded the nonprofit with a group of passionate Springfieldians who were looking for a practical way to address global warming, she says. “Food waste is a crisis across the globe, with more greenhouse gasses produced from food scraps producing methane in the landfill than the emissions of driving cars,” she says. “But it’s also something that I could try to tackle and create a solution for in our community. Not driving a car feels daunting, but collecting food scraps, that was something we could do.”

In 2018, a handful of businesses signed on to have their food scraps picked up once a week and then turned into compost. But as

“There are too many hungry people in our community for our landfill to be full of food scraps.”

—Ashley Krug

interest grew, so did the Collective’s impact.

In 2019, the Collective launched a residential pick-up service, picking up any food scraps from homeowners across the community for a $25 monthly fee. Residential pick-up service includes a bucket, a liner, pickup and drop off, as well as experts who ensure that fruit, vegetables, dairy and meat are composted properly. The Collective picks up scraps from offices, apartments and restaurants, too. The basic service for local businesses is $50 to $60 per month (depending on container size) and includes weekly pickup. Sign up for the program at springfieldcompostcollective.org

“We really want to move away from the term waste in general,” she says. “There are very few things we want to waste and put into the landfill. Gathering your food scraps isn’t just composting, it’s a step to slow down and acknowledge what you can do to ensure that you’re not wasting something that could have another purpose, one step closer to closing the food loop and working toward a more regenerative community.”

Since the 1990s, the City of Springfield has been composting yard waste. But in the past decade, the City has led a three-tiered approach to address food waste in the Ozarks. The first approach is the most obvious and has the largest goal: awareness. The City has a team of six educators who make more than 200 presentations a year, sharing how citizens

can reduce food waste through prevention. Workshops on expiration dates, how to properly store food, meal planning, intentional grocery shopping tips and strategies for using every leftover in the fridge are key elements to this important work. “I think a lot of people don’t know the best ways to utilize and store food in their own homes,” she says. “When we put cilantro in water in our fridge, that makes it last so much longer so it can be used longer. Being more intentional with the food we purchase can ensure it doesn’t go to waste in the first place.” Another way to reduce food waste is through what composters call food rescue, or ensuring that edible food can be eaten by hungry individuals.

Through partnerships with Ozarks Food Harvest, local farms, grocery stores and businesses are encouraged to donate edible food to those in need. “More than 26 percent of Greene County residents face food insecurity, many of which are children. Throwing away food that is still good to eat is unacceptable,” says Krug.

And for the true food scraps, there’s a process and a promise: Dish to Dirt. The City of Springfield’s Food Scraps Drop-Off Pilot program features residential food scrap drop-off containers at all three Springfield Recycling Centers. There, participants can compost anything scraped off a plate to then be turned into rich, locally produced compost.

“Our food scraps program is the most impactful way we can address food waste most directly,” she says. “Everyone eats, and everyone can drop off their food scraps. Everyone can make a difference when it comes to climate change. This is something everyone can do.”

The City of Springfield’s Dish to Dirt program o ers a way to dispose of food waste scraps at local recycling centers, where it is turned to compost.

Home for the Heroes

Take a look inside the newly renovated Spring eld-Greene County 911 and O ce of Emergency Management (330 W. Scott St., Spring eld), where 911 responders provide assistance in the face of danger and the OEM team implements proactive measures for community preparedness in the face of crisis.

BY JO JOLLIFF

1

The Emergency Operations center is activated during large-scale events that impact the Greene County community to coordinate response efforts and provide resources. Deputy Director of the OEM Darren White says the walls are built with a Kevlar-like material for added security with bulletproof glass. The media center is used by any of the OEM’s partners like the Spring eld Police Department. The room includes the public information call center with 24 seats, a computer and phone at each location.

2

During an activation the policy room is the conference room that the big leagues would use for communication, including the mayors of Spring eld and surrounding impacted cities, county commissioners and other necessary personnel.

3

The operations room is a central location for all elected leaders, senior ofcials and community organizations to coordinate response efforts with more than 70 workstations. Each chair and each table is speci c according to their department and position.

4

The Watch Center shows different displays of radios and communication platforms to monitor weather, traf c cameras and whatever is needed. A lot of their work starts within the Watch Center as they keep in touch with people out in the eld before activating for a crisis.

5

When the OEM is activated emergency personnel could be onsite anywhere from several hours to several weeks, so they provide a space for responders to use with beds, full laundry, restrooms, showers and locker rooms. The space also includes an in rmary and tness center that is shared with the 911 response team.

6 The Joint Information Center works to gather information during a crisis for rumor control. They watch social media, local television channels and other platforms to see what’s being said out in public. During an activation they may also be writing speeches for the mayor and other leadership to give in the media center to the press

FINANCIAL ADVISOR PROFILES

For 28 years Achieve Private Wealth, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC has helped clients achieve their dreams for today, tomorrow, and well into the future. With the exclusive Confident Retirement® approach, they break your financial goals into doable steps, taking the uncertainty out of planning and helping you live the life you’ve earned.

They are led by Chief Executive Officer of Achieve Private Wealth Paula Dougherty, CFP®, ChFC®, APMA®, BFA™, MBA, CLU®, CRPC®, CASL®, Private Wealth Advisor; J. Scott Taylor, CFP®, Financial Advisor; Chief Operating Officer of Achieve Private Wealth Sam Ackerman, APMA®, CRPC®, Financial Advisor; Heather Ince, CRPC®, Financial Advisor; Associate Financial Advisor Amber Vanderwal, CRPC®; Dalton Cloyd, Financial Planning Specialist; and Executive Assistant Taryn May.

Each advisor specializes in providing a comprehensive approach to financial planning including wealth management, portfolio construction, rebalancing, and investment management strategies. Additionally, they specialize in the areas of retirement planning and risk management strategies, as well as assisting clients with choosing employee benefits that fit their needs.

Achieve Private Wealth helps 417-landers work to achieve their financial goals based on what is truly important to them. They are here to help you adapt to any changes you face along the way and formulate plans for both the expected and unexpected. Call today and start working with an advisor. Your brilliant future starts here.

Back Row: Taryn M. May, Executive Assistant; Samuel Ackerman, Financial Advisor; Heather A. Ince, Financial Advisor; Amber Vanderwal, Associate Financial Advisor: Front Row: Joseph Scott Taylor, Financial Advisor; Paula J. Dougherty, Private Wealth Advisor (not pictured Dalton Cloyd, Financial Planning Specialist)

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Gr wing Pains

Across 417-land, there’s broad agreement that growth in Springfield is good.

While this growth can occur in many ways, annexation—the process that allows the City of Springfield to bring new territory into its jurisdiction—will almost certainly be part of it. Early this year, a bill was prefiled in the Missouri Senate that would make it simpler for the City to annex new territory. Some people looked at this bill and saw progress. Others saw a lack of clarity and, potentially, a slippery slope. The tricky part? They might all be right.

WRITTEN BY LUCIE AMBERG

In January, Senator Curtis Trent prefiled Missouri Senate Bill No. 979 (SB 979) for potential adoption in the current legislative session. At first glance, the bill may sound uncontroversial. It would eliminate a requirement of annexation that e ectively complicates the City of Springfield’s plans to annex certain properties within its Urban Service Area (USA).

The Urban Service Area (USA) is the area in which Springfield has an official intent to provide utilities and road maintenance, as resources allow. It’s bigger than Springfield, and it includes properties that are close to, but outside, the city limits. The City has been clear about its interest in eventually annexing some of these properties, depending on development. Many USA residents work or own businesses in Springfield and send their kids to Springfield Public Schools, and they may be able to connect to City Utilities instead of relying on private wells and septic tanks. But they can’t vote in municipal elections or serve on City boards. In some sense, bringing USA properties within the city limits feels intuitive—like the municipal equivalent of putting a ring on it.

But when news of SB 979 broke, some of Springfield’s neighbors saw it differently, and they let the public know. David Cameron, city administrator of Republic, told KY3 he was surprised that he hadn’t been contacted before the bill was prefiled. The chiefs of nearby fire protection districts—units that provide emergency services to areas outside Springfield’s city limits—expressed concern about the bill’s effect on their budgets and consequently, on their mission.

“We’ve known this could happen for years,” says Richard Stirts, chief of the Logan-Rogersville Fire Protection Dis-

trict (LRFPD), but one aspect of SB 979 raised particular alarm. “The new part is doing away with the ‘compact and contiguous’ piece of it, and that’s what got everyone concerned.”

He’s referring to language within current law that requires city annexations to be “compact and contiguous,” meaning that they have to connect to an existing city boundary. Jason Gage, city manager for Springfield, says that eliminating this requirement—as SB 979 would—is important for Springfield’s growth.

“We agree that keeping annexations compact and contiguous is, generally speaking, a very good planning approach,” Gage says. But within Springfield’s USA, he envisions some areas developing differently—with the earliest development happening on property that isn’t directly connected to a city boundary.

Gage thinks Hunt Branch, near southeast Springfield, will develop in this non-contiguous way. Springfield Mayor Ken McClure confirmed Hunt Branch is a focus for SB 979.

“THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION IS ALWAYS COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION.”

—Richard Ollis, former Spring eld city council member, local business owner

PHOTO COURTESY RICHARD OLLIS

This makes sense—last year, Springfield City Council approved construction of a trunk sewer line for Hunt Branch. The new line will serve locations along Highway 60 between Springfield and Rogersville. According to previous reporting, Phase 1 of construction is estimated to cost $3.9 million, and the sewer is widely considered crucial for Hunt Branch’s development. If Springfield’s going to invest in this infrastructure, it’s reasonable to want to bring that territory into the City.

But it’s currently served by the LRFPD, and Stirts says SB 979, as it was introduced, didn’t properly address the impact that Springfield annexation will have on his team’s operations. “I have no problem with them annexing,” Stirts says. “That’s part of the City’s growth. How we get there is another thing.”

Key stakeholders met on January 12 to discuss how they might get there. A couple of weeks later, SB 979 was referred to committee, and, as of press time, that’s where it remains.

What Comes Next?

This story began as a status update about SB 979, but it turned into a story about Springfield’s long-term growth, how it’s beneficial and why it’s challenging. It’s a story that has everything: crime stats, insurance rates and words like “karst” and “contiguous.” And sewers. So many sewers. It’s about the ordinary things that people rely on, like utilities and snow plowing, how these services are delivered and what happens when they come into conflict with each other. And it’s about why we need people who are willing to work it all out.

USEFUL TERMS

Words and phrases that are key to understanding Spring eld’s growing pains.

Annexation

The process by which a governing entity, like a city, can bring new territory into its jurisdiction.

Compact and contiguous

A current requirement for annexations in Missouri.

Looking Back—Way Back

Before 1976, annexing property into Springfield involved a mix of judicial, legislative and electoral processes that, frankly, sounds like a headache. State law changed in 1976, allowing for voluntary annexation. About a decade later, Springfield established the USA so that unincorporated areas would be less likely to develop without sustainable infrastructure, and in the 1990s the City began requiring USA property owners who wanted to hook up to City Utilities to sign consent-to-annexation agreements. According to numbers verified by the City in 2020 and presented at a Springfield City Council workshop last year, more than 400 consent-to-annexation agreements have been signed. Many were originally signed by developers who then sold lots to individuals, so the City estimates between 20,000 and 25,000 people are currently bound by consentto-annexation agreements.

Even though this represents more than 6,000 acres of property that could potentially become part of Springfield, the City hasn’t been aggressive about annexing, even when voluntary consent-to-annexation agreements are in place.

This is partly because many of the properties under consent-to-annexation agreements aren’t contiguous—they’re not touching a Springfield border—so they’re not eligible for annexation, according to current law.

“AS A CITY, WE’RE NOT INTERESTED IN BEING THE FASTEST GROWING CITY BY PERCENTAGE IN THE COUNTY. WE JUST WANT A REASONABLE, HEALTHY AND STABLE GROWTH RATE FOR THE FUTURE.”

—Jason Gage, city manager, City of Spring eld

While the “compact” portion of this requirement leaves room for interpretation—it basically means annexation should reasonably appear to be a uni ed section—the “contiguous” portion is crystal clear. Contiguous annexation must connect to an existing city boundary.

Fire Protection District

An entity that provides speci c services, which typically include responding to res and emergencies, for properties that aren’t part of a city.

Insurance Services Ofce score (ISO score)

A score assigned to re departments that can be used in the calculation of insurance rates. ISOs are assigned on a 10-point scale, with 1 being the best score.

Karst

A type of landscape that’s characterized by dissolving bedrock and features sinkholes, streams and caves.

According to Living

With Karst, a publication of the American Geosciences Institute, development in karst landscapes “requires special sets of rules and regulations to minimize potential problems.”

Missouri Senate Bill 979 (SB 979)

A piece of legislation, pre led in the Missouri Senate in January 2024, that would effectively allow the City of Spring eld to annex territory within its Urban Service Area without requiring the annexation to be compact and contiguous.

Pre ling a bill

The act of formally introducing a bill for consideration at a legislative session.

Spring eld’s Urban Service Area (USA)

The area in which Spring eld has an of cial intent to provide utilities and road maintenance, as resources allow. It’s bigger than the city itself because it includes properties that are close to, but outside, current city limits.

“WE NEED SPRINGFIELD TO GROW. IT IS THE CATALYST CITY. FOR THE REGION AS A WHOLE, SPRINGFIELD HAS TO GROW AND WILL GROW.”

—David

Cameron, city administrator, city of Republic

Forward SGF, Springfield’s new comprehensive plan, identifies annexation within the USA as a priority. But so did Vision 20/20, the previous comprehensive plan. And this is kind of where we’re stuck; consider it Springfield’s “Consent-to-Annexation Era.”

And if you really want to understand the problem, you have to go back further—to the Paleozoic Era, when the karst landscape of the Ozarks was formed. Living With Karst, a publication of the American Geosciences Institute, describes karst landscapes as “underlain by limestone, dolomite, marble, gypsum and salt” and says they’re “areas of abundant resources including water supplies, limestone quarries, minerals, oil and natural gas,” many of which “make beautiful housing sites for urban development.” For 417-landers, this should sound familiar.

Here’s the challenging part: Living With Karst also says, “Urban development in these areas requires special sets of rules and regulations to minimize potential problems from present and future development.” Dr. Douglas Gouzie, professor of geology in Missouri State University’s

School of Earth, Environment and Sustainability, says that if you’d like a picture of karst, just “drive down Highway 60 or I-44. Anywhere that MoDOT has cut through a hillside, you’ll see stretches of dirt and clay. You’ll see chunks of rock that are just sticking up, and that’s really what our landscape looks like.”

According to Gouzie, almost 60% of the rock in this landscape is dissolvable, a process that doesn’t require the acid rain of ’80s nightmares. “Rain is naturally a little more on the acid side because it picks up carbon dioxide that occurs in the atmosphere,” he says. “Nature would have this landscape slightly dissolving anyway— that’s why we’re the ‘Cave State.’”

And while this is beautiful, it makes infrastructure planning more complicated. Living With Karst says that poorly designed or maintained septic systems “can contribute significant pollutants to the groundwater.”

Even a maintained septic tank could cause problems, depending on the characteristics of the land around and beneath it, according to Gouzie. “This limestone landscape has a lot of

passages through it,” he says. And while they’re not all massive caves, “you can move an awful lot of pollution through a two-inch firehose.”

All of which means that Springfield has a vested interest in continuing to provide sewer service within the USA, whenever possible. But given current legislative restrictions, it’s a Catch-22: If you take on the cost of building a sewer for sustainability purposes, you don’t know whether the City will fully benefit from the investment, economically.

How Statistics and Services Factor In “Growth follows infrastructure,” says Richard Ollis, who served on Springfield City Council from 2017 to 2023. In his perspective, Springfield has been a little hesitant to act on that proposition, partly because of the cost.

“The problem with only looking at that view is you don’t, in my opinion, understand the broader scope of what annexing could do,” Ollis says. “It extends city limits, which allows more people to be eligible to vote and to serve on boards and commissions. You’ve probably heard people

“I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THEM ANNEXING. THAT’S PART OF THE CITY’S GROWTH. HOW WE GET THERE IS ANOTHER THING.”

—Richard Stirts, fire chief, Logan Rogersville Fire Protection District

say they’d love to vote or serve on a commission, but they can’t because they live outside the City of Springfield.”

This discrepancy—the gap for people who are effectively Springfieldians but live outside city limits—shows up in critical statistics, too. According to data presented at a Springfield City Council workshop last year, if the entire USA became part of the City, Springfield’s population would increase by more than 65,000 people. The median household income would rise by almost 17%. “Companies look at those stats,” Ollis says, so it could make a difference in 417-land’s quest to lure chains like Cheesecake Factory and Trader Joe’s. Incorporating the USA would also have a positive impact on Springfield’s crime rates, which means our community might not show up on as many “most dangerous cities” lists.

Of course, no one’s talking about annexing the entirety of the USA in the near future— even though this is technically what SB 979 has the potential to allow. Gage says that explosive growth isn’t the goal. “As a city, we’re not interested in being the fastest growing city by percentage in the county,” he says. “We just want a reasonable, healthy and stable growth rate for the future.” He puts this number at 0.7% to 1% per year. The cost of annexation acts as a natural restraint on the process, he says. It encourages growth that’s strategic, intentional and, ideally, paired with infrastructure investments, which is how we got to Hunt Branch and SB 979. If Springfield’s going to invest in building the sewer line for Hunt Branch, Gage says it’s best for it to become part of the City, even though he doesn’t anticipate that its earliest development will be contiguous.

But Stirts says that the “compact and contiguous” restriction in current law is critical

for fire protection districts like the LRFPD. Without it, a city’s development becomes unpredictable, which makes it difficult for neighboring districts to plan. “If it doesn’t have to be compact and contiguous, they can cherry-pick whatever developments they’d like,” he says. “That’s what has the fire districts concerned and worried about the wording of the bill.”

The LRFPD opened a new fire station in the Hunt Branch area in 2020, and it employs career staff. Stirts says that the buyout plan originally described in SB 979 didn’t reflect these realities because it was based on an agreement that was outlined back in 1995. But since the bill was prefiled, the LRFPD and the City of Springfield have held ongoing talks. In March, they reached a tentative understanding that would amend SB 979’s buyout plan in ways that make it easier for the LRFPD to support.

Still, while Hunt Branch may be the shortterm focus of SB 979, in the long term, the bill could affect other neighborhoods. “This issue is a statewide issue for all fire districts and cities of any size wanting to grow,” Stirts says. “I cannot stress enough that the financial stability of fire protection districts depends on cooperation and legislation.” And a solution that works for the LRFPD in Hunt Branch might not work for other fire protection districts.

There’s a different piece of legislation, Missouri Senate Bill No. 1291 (SB 1291), that might address this issue on a statewide level, regardless of what happens with SB 979. If SB 1291 is enacted, fire protection districts would continue to provide services to annexed properties; in exchange for this service, the city that annexed the property would pay the fire protection district a fee that’s equivalent to the property tax revenue the district would have collected if the territory hadn’t been annexed. Like SB 979, SB 1291 is currently in committee.

The arrangement described in SB 1291 could be a reasonable compromise. But it could potentially create a wrinkle for homeowners. Fire departments are evaluated according to the Insurance Services Office (ISO) scoring system. ISOs are assigned using a 10-point scale, with 1 being the most exemplary score. These scores can be used to calculate property insurance rates. It’s reasonable to assume that homeowners will want the best insurance rates, which means they’ll want service from the fire department with the most exemplary ISO score—regardless of any agreement that exists between a city and a fire district.

Stirts says there are ways to address this question, too, but it’s all pretty complicated.

PHOTO BY BRANDON ALMS

ANNEXATION PLAN

Gray areas note the current city limit boundaries. The colored areas designate the priority levels on the horizon for annexation. Map is courtesy of The City of Spring eld and can be found on ForwardSGF’s website.

It’s another reminder of why these problems can only be solved by people who are willing to get deep in the weeds with them.

At this point, there’s no indication whether either SB 979 or SB 1291 will make it through the legislative process.

Gage says the City isn’t in a hurry. If SB 979 can be amended to reflect key compromises with Springfield’s neighbors, “there’s a good possibility that the bill will come out,” he says. “But it might be next session.” Even if the legislative process doesn’t pan out, he says there are other means by which the City might pursue annexation.

That’s happened in the past, with mixed results. An attempted annexation in 2003 narrowly failed to win voter approval. Other attempts in 2005 and 2007 were withdrawn. Some failed annexations have led to compromises with neighboring government entities, like the one in 2007, which sparked negotiations over boundaries and services between Springfield and Willard.

Springfield’s leash laws and fireworks restrictions are among the reasons frequently cited for annexation resistance, along with a desire to keep Greene County’s snow plowing services. In background conversations for this story, snow plowing services came up a lot, with Greene County consistently earning high marks for its service.

While this might sound like a small decision point, it’s a quality-of-life issue every winter, and it’s the kind of thing people consider when they’re asked whether they’d rather live in the City or in the unincorporated county.

SPRINGFIELD’S ROAD MAP

What is Forward SGF? And what can it tell us about annexation?

Looking Forward

Regardless of how bureaucratic these issues might sound, many of the key players believe the best path forward is a human one: They just have to keep talking about it. This is what Gage says Springfield is focused on now. “We called a timeout,” he says.

Stirts says that the initial meeting on January 12 made a difference. “Jason [Gage] and Senator [Curtis] Trent and the City have been fabulous to work with,” he says. “Hats off to them; they showed up to the meeting and talked through the issues.”

Ollis would love to see these conversations turn into ongoing talks about Springfield’s growth. “The best course of action is always communication and collaboration,” he says.

There are areas of mutual interest that could serve as a foundation for such talks. For example, Gage says that it’s imperative for Springfield to grow because cities can’t remain the same—if they don’t grow, they decline. And from his vantage point in Republic, Cameron agrees.

“We need Springfield to grow,” Cameron says. “It is the catalyst city. For the region as a whole, Springfield has to grow and will grow.” For him, the problem with SB 979 is that its intent isn’t clear. The bill’s immediate goal might be to incorporate the Hunt Branch area, but he’s concerned that its language could be applied more broadly in the future, especially long term, as new people step into leadership roles in Springfield. This lack of clarity creates confusion, and over time, it could erode trust.

When Cameron thinks about the future of 417-land, he draws from his past experience as a

city administrator in northwest Arkansas, which is widely known for its approach to regional development. There, he says, collaboration not only produced mutually beneficial growth; it also increased the region’s persuasive power when it was advocating for legislative outcomes.

Cameron says the Alliance for Healthcare Education, the new partnership between CoxHealth, Missouri State University, Ozarks Technical Community College and Springfield Public Schools, offers a good model for how this approach can work here.

The Alliance unites different entities around the shared goal of training health care professionals. “That was an opportunity because one organization can’t do it all on their own,” Cameron says. “That’s what regionalism is to me. It’s not just about how cities grow, but about what support services you need in those cities to continue to grow.”

If Springfield and its neighbors worked in a similar fashion, Cameron acknowledges that there’d be some negotiating and bartering, but every conversation wouldn’t be conducted from a defensive crouch.

He sees areas—like evaluating current boundary agreements between cities—that offer chances for win-win solutions. “The regional culture is starting to evolve, and [SB 979] is revealing one of the pain points,” Cameron says. “We should be grateful when these things get exposed because these are places where we can adjust and adapt, moving forward with a whole new culture and mindset… Southwest Missouri has so much to offer and so much potential, but we have to work collectively.”

In November 2022, the City of Spring eld adopted the Forward SGF Comprehensive Plan. It provides a vision for the Spring eld of 2040, along with speci c ideas about how to get there. Growth by annexation is among Forward SGF’s top 10 initiatives. The plan envisions annexation as something that will happen within Spring eld’s Urban Service Area (USA) and identi es parts of the USA as priorities for annexation. It recommends that the City consider an area’s annexation potential as it evaluates infrastructure improvements. This lines up with what Spring eld City Manager Jason Gage told us about the intent of Missouri Senate Bill 979—that it was sparked by Spring eld’s plan to build a sewer line in Hunt Branch, which is currently unincorporated territory in Greene County. It feels like an intuitive approach; assessing annexation potential when you’re committing to in-

frastructure spending seems like reasonable scal policy. Forward SGF echoes another idea that was expressed by sources we spoke to for this story—the need for regional cooperation and communication. According to the Forward SGF website: “It is critical the City works closely with surrounding municipal and county governments, utility providers, the regional planning agencies, business and environmental groups and other stakeholders. The City should facilitate conversations on topics that promote sustainable growth, a resilient economy and stewardship of the natural and built environment in the greater Ozarks region.”

To learn more about Forward SGF, visit ForwardSGF.com.

“Commenting is the single greatest power you have on LinkedIn.”

—Richard Bliss, CEO of Blisspoint

The Think Summit audience was rapt when Richard Bliss, CEO of Blisspoint, taught us how to work the LinkedIn algorithm.

NETWORK

 11 a.m.–1 p.m., Wednesday, May 1

SMALL BUSINESS AWARD

Join The Chamber for their annual Small Business Award event to celebrate the crucial role small businesses play in the Springfield economy. The top five finalists will be honored at the event followed by the announcement of the 2024 award winner.

Oasis Hotel & Convention Center, 2546 North Glenstone, Springfield. Visit SpringfieldChamber.com or call 417-862-5567 for more information.

 7:30–8:30 a.m., Friday, May 3

FIRST FRIDAY COFFEE

The Midwest’s Premier Business Brokerage Group with:

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. Participants can drop in for a few minutes or stay for the whole hour.

Free for Chamber members. Visit OzarkChamber.com for more information.

 8:30-10:30 a.m., Wednesdays

1 MILLION CUPS

Hear about local entrepreneurs who are growing businesses and ideas at this weekly presentation.

Bambino’s Community Space, 2810 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield. Visit 1mcsgf.com for more information.

 4:30-7 p.m., Monday, May 6

WE & CO BUSINESS MIXER

Whether you own a successful business or are looking to start one, this networking event is perfect for all business professionals. Mingle with other entrepreneurs and business owners in a social setting with drinks and appetizers. Don’t miss out on this chance to meet other Springfield business connoisseurs.

The Riff by Classic Rock Coffee, 1900 W Sunset St, Springfield. Visit weandco.org/events for more information.

 7:30–8:30 a.m., Thursday, May 9

GOOD MORNING, SPRINGFIELD!

Start your day with networking over breakfast at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast event. The May event takes place at the Springfield Cardinals Training Facility. The event will feature timely updates from representatives of the City of Springfield, Greene County and Springfield Public Schools. $35 for members, $45 for non-members. Visit SpringfieldChamber.com or call 417-862-5567 for more information.

 4-6 p.m., Thursday, May 16

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 May, participants will meet at The Preston Luxury Living.

Visit SpringfieldChamber.com or call 417-8625567 for more information.

 9–10 a.m., every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month

SCORE MEETUPS

These meetups are free networking events hosted by SCORE Southwest MO. Locations vary for this recurring networking event. Email Justyn Pippins (Justyn.Pippins@ ScoreVolunteer.org) or John Sample (John. Sample@ScoreVolunteer.org) for questions and more information.

 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., Tuesday, May 21

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 non-members. Visit NixaChamber.com for tickets and info.

 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., Thursday, May 23

GOOD AFTERNOON OZARK

MONTHLY NETWORKING LUNCHEON

Members and guests are invited to network and hear from fellow Ozark Chamber of Commerce members about issues in our businesses and community.

$20 for members, $25 for non-members. Ozark Community Center (The OC) 1530 W. Jackson, Ozark. Visit OzarkChamber.com for more information.

 4:30-7 p.m., Monday, June 3

WE & CO BUSINESS MIXER

Whether you own a successful business or are looking to start one, this networking event is perfect for all business professionals. Mingle with other entrepreneurs and business owners in a social setting with drinks and appetizers. Don’t miss out on this chance to meet other Springfield business connoisseurs.

The Riff by Classic Rock Coffee, 1900 W Sunset St, Springfield. Visit weandco.org/events for more information.

 7:30–8:30 a.m., Thursday, June 6

GOOD MORNING, SPRINGFIELD!

Start your day with networking over breakfast at the Springfield Area Chamber of

Commerce’s monthly breakfast event. The June event takes place at Evangel University. It will feature timely updates from the City of Springfield, Greene County and Springfield Public Schools. $35 for members, $45 for non-members. Visit SpringfieldChamber.com or call 417-862-5567 for more information.

 5–8 p.m., Thursday, June 6

CHAMBER SUMMER SOIREE 2024

Join The Chamber for a new summer kickoff event at Mother’s Brewing Company. Enjoy a brief program followed by live music, food and drinks and networking with fellow members. This event is a time to relax and celebrate our business community in a fun way.

Visit SpringfieldChamber.com or call 417-862-5567 for more information.

 7:30–8:30 a.m., Friday, June 7

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. Participants can drop in for a few minutes or stay for the whole hour.

Free for Chamber members. Visit OzarkChamber.com for more info.

 9–10 a.m., every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month

SCORE MEETUPS

These meetups are free networking events hosted by SCORE Southwest MO.

Locations vary for this recurring networking event. Email Justyn Pippins (Justyn.Pippins@ScoreVolunteer.org) or John Sample (John.Sample@ ScoreVolunteer.org) for questions and more information.

 4-6 p.m., Thursday, June 13

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 June, participants will meet at Walnut Street Inn.

Visit SpringfieldChamber.com or call 417-862-5567 for more information.

 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., Tuesday, June 18

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 non-members. Visit NixaChamber.com for tickets and info.

 4-6 p.m., Tuesday, June 18

2024 BIZ BLITZ EVENING EDITION

Spend the evening speed networking at Biz Blitz. This event will introduce you to new faces in 417-land and help you make new connections with other business professionals.

$15 for members, $25 for non-members. Missouri State University efactory, 405 N. Jefferson, Springfield. Visit springfieldchamber.com or call 417-8625567 for more info.

 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., Thursday, June 27

GOOD AFTERNOON OZARKS MONTHLY NETWORKING LUNCHEON

Members and guests are invited to network and hear from fellow Ozark Chamber of Commerce members about issues in our businesses and community.

$20 for members, $25 for non-members. Ozark Community Center, 1530 W. Jackson, Ozark. Visit OzarkChamber.com for more information.

International Women’s Day Celebration

Convoy of Hope’s largest Women’s Day Celebration to date featured guest Jenna Bush Hager. Guests packed 5,000 feminine hygience kits, enjoyed a meal and learned about empowering women all over the world.

Date: March 7, 2024 | Host Organization: Convoy of Hope | Location: Convoy of Hope Global Headquarters

Speakers: Doree Donaldson and Jenna Bush Hager | Website: convoyofhope.org

Doree Donaldson interviews guest Jenna Bush Hager

Emma Diehl, Polly Diehl

Charlotte Shireman, Jan Britton

Mollie Mason, Kimberly Thatcher, Kim White

Emily Edwards, Emily Thomas, Mitzi Lewis, Courtney Whitlock PHOTOS BY RYAN KOWALSKI

100+ Wise Women

Nearly 300 women gathered for an evening of empowering, enriching conversation with inspiring women leaders. Thirty-one female community leaders acted as table hosts asking engaging questions to spur deep conversations at each table.

Date: March 7, 2024 | Host Organization: Rosie | Location: The Old Glass Place | Website: leadershipsprinfield.org

Katherine Thompson, Stephanie Wan

Nichole Holt, Caitlin Kissee

Sunni Nutt, Cassie Potts

Dr. Amy Wutke, Pamela Hernandez, Sarah Kerner

Linda Merkling, Megan Meyer, Lindsay Conner, Diana Tyndall

PHOTOS BY RYAN KOWALSKI

Think Summit

A day lled with excellent connections and big ideas, Think Summit provided us a chance to tune up and tune in. We learned how to better engage on LinkedIn, heard announcements on the next step for regionalism and toasted our best advice during Drink Summit.

Date: April 3, 2024 | Hos: Biz 417 | Location: Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts | Website: biz417.com

Erin Danastasio, Callie Carroll-Swafford

Jhasmine Watson, Jill Rea, Cindy Mergen

Johnny McNeil, Dave Aguirre

Blaine Wallace, Marie Moore, John Meyers, David Argueta

Victoria Gorham, Jayson Workman, Amy Henson

PHOTOS BY GRACE CHIPLEY-THOMPSON

PHOTO

Richard Bliss, Kylie Jackson

Zion Spurgeon, Bryan Buschhorn

Julie Conway, Dami Odunewu

Brent Baldwin, Travis Comfort

Jason Hynson, Dan Reiter

Simoriah Stogner, Nobel Bowman Michelle Algya, Thomas Douglas, Andy Whaley, Jeff Bendure

PHOTOS BY GRACE CHIPLEY-THOMPSON

DOWNTIME Gone Fishin’

When he was 33 a neurologist told President and CEO of SRC Holdings Corporation Jack Stack he would be dead by 40 if he didn’t nd a way to decrease his stress levels. So Stack loaded up his family and went to Arrowhead Resort at Table Rock Lake for a relaxing trip. While there, he heard about a shing tournament happening nearby and decided to take part. “I got hooked because of the competition and then I began to realize that this is probably one of the most humble things you can do, to try to gure out how to catch a 15-inch sh that has a brain the size of a pea,” he says. “You begin to realize that there’s a process to it. There’s a science. There’s an art. And I’ve been at it ever since.” Stack now competes in tournaments for money runs and charities, but he still appreciates how it helps him de-stress. “People meditate, people exercise, people read—and they gure out some way to block out their work and what’s worrying them,” Stack says. “This is my block.” —Jo Jolli