Biz 417 May/June 2025

View Issue

Biz 417 May/June 2025

SUBSCRIBE

417 Magazine
Home
417 Bride
417 Custom
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

Find the best in the biz right here.
Financial
Attorneys
Meeting Spaces
Lunch Spots
Biz Services
More

The Latest

Paddio team photo for November/December 2021 Biz 417
Small to Mid-Sized

How Paddio Built Its Company Culture

Paddio, an online mortgage lender founded in 2020, has grown rapidly following its expansion into Springfield.

nov 2021 | Financial
Heather Hardinger & Paula Dougherty
Women in Business

Meeting of the Minds with Heather Hardinger & Paula Dougherty

Heather Hardinger and Paula Dougherty are proof that a pandemic can't get in the way of a perfect mentorship pair.

nov 2021 | Women in Business
Render of event center at Ozark Empire Fairgrounds
Small Businesses

Ozark Empire Fair's New Multi-Purpose Arena

What will the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds' $15 million multi-purpose arena mean for the local economy?

nov 2021 | Downtown Springfield
Rick Hughlett poses in front of Rick’s Automotive with his wife, Karen Hughlett, his daughter, Kala Comfort and his son-in-law, Travis Comfort.
Family-Owned

The Next Generation of Rick’s Automotive

Forty-one years after starting his family business, Rick Hughlett is preparing for the next generation to assume daily operations as he...

nov 2021 | Companies, Next Gen
2021
Tim O'Reilly, Biz 417's Person of the Year 2021
Biz 100

2021 Person of the Year: Tim O’Reilly

By developing BigShots Golf on East Kearney Street, O’Reilly Hospitality Management CEO Tim O’Reilly took concrete steps in transforming...

nov 2021 | Biz 100, Features, People
2021
Banner image of 2021 Biz 100
Biz 100

Biz 417’s 2021 Biz 100

Meet the 2021 Biz 100. You already know these names. They’re the people shaping southwest Missouri’s future. This list gets to the heart of...

nov 2021 | Biz 100, People
Biz 100 Party photo
Biz 100

Sneak Peek: The 2021 Biz 100 List

Find out who made it onto the 2021 Biz 100 list and grab your tickets for the Biz 100 Party.

oct 18 2021 | Biz 100, People
Springfield leaders gathered for Chamber of Commerce morning panel
Leadership

Logan Aguirre’s 5 Takeaways from the Chamber’s Community Leadership Visit

This year, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce held its annual Community Leadership Visit in Springfield itself. Here are five...

sep 23 2021 | Branson, Downtown Springfield, Nixa, MO, Republic, MO

Get Connected with Biz 417

Biz Break

Get access to local stories, networking events & more.

The Launch

Connect with women building and owning their careers.

Follow Us

Keep up with breaking 417-land Biz news.

Subscribe

Powerful business, in your hands.

Biz Events

Browse local networking events on our calendar.
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

The Latest Biz People Pics

See pictures from Ladies Who Launch 2022
Biz People Pics

Biz 417's Ladies Who Launch 2022

Ladies Who Launch 2022 presented by Volt Credit Union, July 14, 2022. Oasis Hotel & Convention Center.
See pictures from Secret Sauce Summit 2022
Biz People Pics

Secret Sauce Summit, 2022

Secret Sauce Summit by Adapt of Die, May 19, 2022. Hotel Vandivort.
See pictures from Small Business Award 2022
Biz People Pics

2022 W. Curtis Strube Small Business Award Luncheon

Small Business Award presented by Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, May 4, 2022. Oasis Hotel & Convention Center.
See pictures from Salute to Travel & Tourism Banquet 2022
Biz People Pics

Salute to Travel & Tourism Banquet 2022

Salute to Travel & Tourism Banquet presented by Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, April 28, 2022. White River Conference Center.

Most Recent Biz Blogs

20 Best Places to Work in Springfield, Missouri

From Idea to Startup: Build Your App and Compete for Pre-Seed Capital with Codefi

Where to Meet for Lunch on Mondays

Most Recent People Stories

An Open Letter to the New Springfield City Leadership

Better Block SGF and Springfield's Medical Mile

Bonnie Nolen with Bon Bon’s Candy House

Most Popular Biz Stories

Keeping College Station Theater Local

Angela D. Smith is a Woman Who Means Business

After 73 Years, Jay Key Service Remains Open to Change

Want more biz? We deliver.

Subscribe to Biz