Springfield Business Journal_2020-01-24

SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 3 WINTER 2020 2020 BOOK OF LISTS I n the heart of Springfield Business Journal’s new offices in Chesterfield Village hangs the art featured on the cover of this year’s Book of Lists. It’s a massive 8-foot by 6-foot mixed-media piece crafted by SBJ Associate Publisher Marty Goodnight. It’s aptly titled “City of Stories.” The piece imaginatively symbolizes our work at SBJ. We document – week after week – the history of our city through storytelling. Springfield’s history is extensive. It’s colorful. And even as full as the painting is, there’s room for more. Our business community’s story is not yet finished. The foundation of our storytelling is twofold: people and data. Throughout this edition of the Book of Lists, you’ll find those building blocks. Each list is carefully researched to tell the story of an industry. Sometimes those stories spell change. Such is the case with Mercy Springfield Communities being un- seated as the area’s largest employer. It’s now CoxHealth. And in the real estate industry, Keller Williams now ranks as the largest residential real estate firm over Murney Associates, Realtors. It also shows emerging industries, with the Area’s Largest Breweries list making its debut. The lists tell the stories of retirements, promotions, growth and decline. The data is raw and real, and often is a jumping point for stories you see on the pages of SBJ. We publish this information for you, our readers, to inform and guide your business decisions. And we rely on you and area businesses to share your stories with us. Thank you for trusting us and taking the time to submit information. More thanks goes to SBJ researcher Kyle Boaz, who compiled the majority of the lists in this book, as well as the entire editorial team who edits these lists each week. And a final thanks to SBJ’s sales team, who con- nects the newsroom with new and growing businesses in our community. Welcome to the 27th Book of Lists. —Christine Temple Features Editor and Audience Development Director, Springfield Business Journal ‘ City of Stories’ This 27th annual Book of Lists shows the foundation of storytelling Kyle Boaz, researcher We’re Olsson , a nationally recognized engineering and design firm, with an office in Springfield, that adds purpose to every project we complete. olsson.com IMPROVING OUR WORLD ONE PROJECT AT A TIME. Editor’s Note