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SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL ·
BOOK OF FACTS-3
FALL 2018
WELCOME
T
eamwork cannot be
underestimated.
I was reminded as
the Springfield Busi-
ness Journal news
team went on our
yearlong fact-finding mission to build
this fifth-annual Book of Facts. There
is, of course, the internal teamwork of
organizing, researching, editing, de-
signing and collaborating. But I also
saw the fingerprints of teamwork on
the other side, the sources of the cred-
ible data – local, state and federal gov-
ernment agencies, trade associations,
the companies cited and nonprofit
entities. It takes a team to solicit and
compile the information from their sources into the facts we seek to inform
business leaders.
When I think of a team, I visualize people drawn together to stand firm
with a single purpose. The unity is critical because the next step is movement
– striving for the objective, side by side with arms locked together. In this uni-
fied front, there isn’t fear or room for distraction. This team’s purpose cannot
be thwarted.
It’s a powerful image and even more so when you are part of it or see it in
action.
Teams come in many forms: physical, relational, spiritual and ideal. I en-
courage you to recognize the teams in your spheres, as I credit the team that
assembled this book.
Welcome to the 2019 Book of Facts.
—Eric Olson
Editorial Director,
Springfield Business Journal
Special thanks to
Springfield artist Madeline
Brice, who furnished artwork
for this book.
We selected a piece from
her installation, “The House of
Mirrors,” that appeared at the
Springfield Art Museum’s 99x
Cirque Americana event in fall
2018. Brice is a Missouri State
University graduate, having earned a bachelor’s
degree in fine arts painting in 2015 and a bachelor’s
in art history in spring 2018.
Brice has been an artist for seven years, creating
works for exhibitions throughout the Midwest. She
also was selected for the Springfield Art Museum’s
“Art in Our City” special rotating exhibition with
works from various local neighborhoods.
TEAMWORK
MAKES THE
NUMBERS WORK
Fifth-annual book curates many sources
to deliver new statistical guideposts
Madeline Brice
COVER
ART
Wes Hamilton,
graphic design
and layout
Matthew Henderson,
research