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

Fly Fishing on the North Fork with Paden Wilcox
Culture

Fly Fishing on the North Fork with Paden Wilcox

Paden Wilcox spends his downtime fly fishing to help relax before the business week.

jan 2022 | Fishing, Outdoors
Wing Yee Leong of Leong's Asian Diner in Springfield, MO
Family-Owned

Getting Creative at Leong's Asian Diner

When an industry-wide labor shortage forced Leong’s Asian Diner to shrink its hours of operation, Chef Wing Yee Leong made sure his...

jan 2022 | Family, Food
Get to Know Care to Learn CEO Krystal Simon
Women in Business

Get to Know Care to Learn CEO Krystal Simon

Care to Learn’s new CEO has big goals but keeps her focus streamlined. Krystal Simon spoke to us about her professional stepping stones,...

jan 2022 | Networking
BKD team receives award
Corporate

How BKD CPAs and Advisors Keeps Employees Engaged

Rewarding employees for going above and beyond is one of the ways BKD CPAs and Advisors stays competitive with top-tier talent and engaged...

jan 2022 | Companies
Jack Stack photo by Brandon Alms
Leadership

Jack Stack’s $100 Million Plan

SRC Holdings Corp. is pursuing a big, ambitious goal. CEO/Founder/President Jack Stack believes it’s the right plan for the economic...

jan 2022 | Companies, Leadership
Julie Masterson
Style

Julie Masterson's Style Goals

As dean of MSU’s Graduate College, one of Julie Masterson’s style goals is to make sure others feel comfortable around her.

jan 2022 | Biz Style, Style
Passing the Torch: Q&A with John Oke-Thomas
Leadership

Passing the Torch: Q&A with John Oke-Thomas

This month John Oke-Thomas of Oke-Thomas + Associates, Inc., steps into the role of Chairman of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce...

jan 2022 | Leadership, Q&A
Rendering of apartments in Springfield, MO
Culture

Springfield’s Latest Challenge: Attracting Young Professionals

The crucial word is “community”—both the kind you physically live in and the kind that makes a city feel like home.

jan 2022 | Commercial Street, Downtown Springfield

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Biz Events

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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 Randy Bacon's The Art of Being ME, 2022
Biz People Pics

Randy Bacon's The Art of Being ME, 2022

Randy Bacon's The Art of Being ME, presented by Burrell Health, April 21, 2022. Burrell Administrative Campus
See pictures from the Annual Springfield Chamber of Commerce Meeting, 2022
Biz People Pics

Annual Springfield Chamber of Commerce Meeting, 2022

Annual Chamber Meeting, presented by Springfield Chamber of Commerce, March 22, 2022. Oasis Hotel & Convention Center.
See pictures from Think Summit 2022
Biz People Pics

Think Summit 2022

Think Summit 2022 presented by People Centric Consulting Group, February 4, 2022. Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts.
See pictures from Biz 100 Party 2021
Biz People Pics

Biz 417's Biz 100 Party 2021

On November 10, attendees raised a glass to the most powerful and influential business leaders in 417-land at Biz 417's Biz 100 Party...

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