Biz 417 May/June 2025

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Biz 417 May/June 2025

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Culture

An Open Letter to the New Springfield City Leadership

Read recommendations for the future of Springfield, Missouri, guided by survey responses from the local business community.
Taylor Warwick
New on the Scene

Get to Know Taylor Warwick, COO of Mercy Springfield Communities

After years of leading health care expansions in Kansas City, Taylor Warwick embraces new opportunities as COO of Mercy Springfield Communities—and looks forward to diving into life in the Ozarks.
A&B Cycle team
Rooted Here

A Century of Cycling with A&B Cycle

For the past 100 years, A&B Cycle has been a mainstay in Springfield, Missouri. Its continuous commitment to serving its customers—from loyal cyclists to new riders—has solidified its spot providing 417-landers with a way to get outdoors.
College Station Theater
On the Rise

Keeping College Station Theater Local

With many changes over the past 15 years, Paul Tillman and his dad, Scott, have decided to keep the ownership and operation of College Station Theater local.
Better Block SGF and Springfield's Medical Mile
Vantage Point

Better Block SGF and Springfield's Medical Mile

A new placemaking effort is underway on Medical Mile, that 2.8-mile stretch between two giant health care systems on National Avenue in Springfield, Missouri. Better Block SGF is ready to tackle a very long challenge.

Networking in the Ozarks

Find out where to meet and network with other business leaders in Springfield and southwest Missouri.

FIND OUT MORE

BIZ DIRECTORIES

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The Latest

Shaking Hands Shutterstock Image
Strategy

Getting the Best Out of Your Employee Referral Program

Celeste Cramer, system director of recruitment and retention for CoxHealth, and Nikki Hampton, senior talent management consultant for...

mar 2020 | Business Services, Jobs, Recruitment, Strategy
Kurt Hellweg, former Chairman of the Board for ADF/IDF
Corporate

How Bill Darr Built ADF/IDF From the Ground Up

A $50,000 loan turned American Dehydrated Foods/Internation Dehydrated Foods into a $900 million company.

mar 2020 | Companies, Entrepreneur, Food, Pets
Askinosie Chocolate using eco friendly packaging
Strategy

How Do I Lessen the Carbon Footprint of My Business?

Business owners are looking for ways they can reduce their carbon footprints. But solutions are not always quick or easy. We talked with...

mar 2020 | Companies, Strategy
Hopapops product photo by Brandon Alms
Small to Mid-Sized

How Hopapops Got Its Start

After founding Red Monkey Foods, Jeff Brinkhoff decided to move on to his next big thing: developing a nutritional snack he calls Hopapops.

mar 2020 | Companies, Entrepreneur, Food, People
Egg production at Vital Farms
Strategy

Incubating Success with Vital Farms

Less than three years after opening its Springfield facility in October 2017, Vital Farms is undergoing a major expansion. The new 64,000...

mar 2020 | Companies, Strategy
2020
Jena Holtberg-Benge General Manager John Deere Reman
Women Who Mean Business

Jena Holtberg-Benge is a Woman Who Means Business

Jena Holtberg-Benge never says no to the chance to hop on a plane and start a new project. It’s led her as far away as China and India, and...

mar 2020 | Features, Leadership, People, Q&A
Kim Hamm and Kristen Bright Springfield MO
Leadership

Making Mentorship Work for Both Parties

How Kim Hamm and Kristen Bright formed a uniquely symbiotic mentor/mentee relationship at BKD CPAs & Advisors.

mar 2020 | Leadership, Strategy, Women in Business
Gary Gibson photo by Brad Zweerink
Strategy

Meet Gary Gibson, The New General Manager of Springfield's City Utilities

Gary Gibson has worked for City Utilities for 28 years, and has worked his way up to management and supervisory positions. Now, in the...

mar 2020 | Companies, People, Strategy

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2020
Carmen Parker-Bradshaw Community Health Expert
Women Who Mean Business

Carmen Parker-Bradshaw is a Woman Who Means Business

Carmen Parker-Bradshaw just began at Burrell Behavioral Health two years ago, yet she has already made great strides toward enhancing...

mar 2020 | Features, Leadership, People, Q&A
illustration of a business woman giving a presentation
Leadership

Catherine Bass Black and Teresa Coyan Talk Servant Leadership

Service hours, meet servant leadership. Two 417-land leaders appointed by Governor Mike Parson share how they’ve used their professional...

mar 2020 | Leadership, People, Strategy
Stock image of census paperwork.
Strategy

Census Day 2020 and Why It Matters for Springfield

April 1 is Census Day. Find out why that matters for the local business community.

mar 2020 | Companies, Politics, Strategy
Amy Austin Sits Down to Chat About the Future of Springfield
Leadership

Cheering on Southwest Missouri with Springfield's Amy Austin

Amy Austin is currently the chair of the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau board and she is all about making Springfield better....

mar 2020 | Advice & Whiskey, Strategy, Women in Business
Chill-Pak Packaging Machine
Culture

Chill-Pak: A Culture of Inclusion

Chill-Pak is not just a company that accepts differences, it’s a company that celebrates them. Company president Stephen Foster has a...

mar 2020 | Companies, Jobs, Strategy
2020
Debra Shantz Hart Owner, DHTC Development, Housing Plus and Sustainable Housing Solutions
Women Who Mean Business

Debra Shantz Hart is a Woman Who Means Business

Debra Shantz Hart owns three local businesses all focused on the same thing: affordable housing. Shantz hart is passionate about her...

mar 2020 | Features, Leadership, People, Q&A
2020
Dianna Devore Owner, Design Fabrication
Women Who Mean Business

Dianna Devore is a Woman Who Means Business

When the chance to purchase Design Fabrication arose in 2010, Devore took her chances. With little knowledge in the field, she boldly sold...

mar 2020 | Features, Leadership, People, Q&A
Unlivable housing conditions of 417 Rentals properties
Small Businesses

Dismantling an Empire: The Rise and Fall of Chris Gatley and 417 Rentals

When 417 Rentals, one of Springfield's largest providers of rental housing, filed for bankruptcy, local nonprofits and developers stepped...

mar 2020 | Companies, Features, Longform, People

The Latest Biz People Pics

See pictures from Access to The Issues 2019
Biz People Pics

Access to The Issues 2019

The Network's Access to the Issues series on July 17, 2019 at Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. Photos by Brad Zweerink.
See pictures from Chamber of Commerce's Public Policy 2019
Biz People Pics

Chamber of Commerce's Public Policy 2019

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce's Public Policy Speaker Series on July 12, 2019 at Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. Photos by...
Rotary Centennial Celebration & District Leadership Installation 2019
Biz People Pics

Rotary Centennial Celebration 2019

Rotary Centennial Celebration & District Leadership Installation 2019, on July 28, 2019, at Hickory Hills Country Club
Biz B-School: The Great Game for Small Business presented by OTC Center for Workforce Development
Biz People Pics

Biz B-School: The Great Game for Small Business presented by OTC Center for Workforce Development

Biz 417's B-School Breakfast Series: The Great Game for Small Business presented by OTC Center for Workforce Development. June 13, 2019....

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