Springfield Business Journal_2019-03-18

N e w a n d P r e o w n e d I n v e n t o r y 3199 W Sunshine St Springfield, MO 65807 888-587-9344 www.wehrrvs.com Visit Us To See The Difference According to a 2019 Forbes article, 70% of employers have improved their physical environments to encourage healthy behaviors. With improvements to the workplace on the upward trend, has your company worked to enhance its environment to optimize employee productivity? CONNECTING EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AND WELLNESS themanor.elfindaleretirement.com 1707 W Elfindale St, Springfield, MO | (417) 831-2273 Visit us. See the difference. A lovely place that doesn’t feel like a “nursing home,” but is truly a “care” facility. Jan Atkinson via Google Reviews 40 · SBJ.NET MARCH 18-24, 2019 2002 RICHARD VANCE, 47 Then: Franchisee, McAlister’s Deli Now: Restaurant Consultant; Independent Marketing Director, Team National It seemed sweet tea was in the veins of Richard Vance. But the McAlister’s Deli franchisee of 14 years got out of the busi- ness in 2011. “Six restaurants and three kids didn’t merge with what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” says Vance, who started at the first McAlister’s in Mississippi at the age of 19. “Emotionally, it was like a divorce.” He’s now applying the lessons learned as a consultant to other restaurateurs. Spring- field franchisor Great American Taco is among his current handful of clients. “I teach the anatomy of business,” Vance says of the nine clients he’s helped. “I find your pain points, where you’re bleeding and how to fix it.” On the side, he earns money as an inde- pendent marketing director for Team Na- tional, a direct sales outfit. Now, he says a perk is traveling while he works: “It’s more about the freedom with the kids.” —Eric Olson, Editor 2003 MICKEY MOORE, 45 Then: Development Director, St. John’s Community Health Foundation Now: Owner and CEO, Tomo Drug Testing When Mickey Moore went from dedicat- ed career professional to business owner in 2007, he felt comfortable with the decision to purchase Employer Screening Services of Missouri – now Tomo Drug Testing. Af- ter all, his parents owned businesses and his in-laws were entrepreneurs. But Moore says he had a lot to learn as a newbie business owner. “The first five years was learning what be- ing a business owner involved,” he says. “I felt like I had to know how to do everything.” The last five years has been learning to let go. With a talented team in place, he de- scribes his role as company visionary. That affords him more time with his daughters, who swim competitively – one at the University of Arkansas and the other in high school at New Covenant Academy. Still an avid golfer, he also coaches at New Covenant: “It’s a great way for me to re- main involved in the game while also being invested in the kids.” —Sony Hocklander, Contributing Writer 2004 STACY BURKS, 49 Then: District office director, U.S. Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond Now: Executive director, American Red Cross of Southern Missouri Working with Missouri Sens. Kit Bond until 2010 and Roy Blunt until 2015, Stacy Burks was familiar with natural disasters. When in Joplin after the 2011 tornado, Burks was impressed to see the Red Cross in action. Fast forward to 2015 and the position she holds today: “I like helping people and feeling like I’m in service to other people. That’s one of the things that really makes me feel successful when I go home at night,” Burks says. “And the Red Cross does that each and every day.” She can’t predict when disaster will turn workdays into overnights. But she still pri- oritizes her family. They enjoy time at the lake, church and cheering her 13-year-old’s softball games. With a staff of seven and a 90 percent volunteer workforce, teamwork remains key to Burks’ business philosophy. “We all rely upon each other to provide the best services for clients,” she says. —Sony Hocklander, Contributing Writer