Springfield Business Journal_2020-06-15

34 · SBJ.NET JUNE 15-21, 2020 2006 MICHAEL KOLSTAD, 54 Then: Associate Professor of Music, Evangel University Now: Vice President for University Advancement, Evangel University In 2006, Michael Kolstad was teaching, conducting and performing music at Evan- gel University, and he had an impressive list of concerts under his belt. Fourteen years later, Kolstad’s works now include orchestrating alumni, busi- ness, church and community relations to develop resources for Evangel outside of tuition dollars. Since becoming vice presi- dent for university advancement in 2014, his team of 10 has raised $24 million and doubled the number of first-time donors. Kolstad’s talent for fundraising emerged 2007 ROB MARSH, 47 Then: Director of Planning and Development, Advertising and Marketing, RPCS Inc. Now: Vice President of Operations and the Fresh Department, Pyramid Foods Pyramid Foods executive Rob Marsh has been a guiding force in the grocer’s growth to a multibrand regional chain from a hand- ful of stores in the late 1960s. Now, brands under the Rogersville-based Pyramid Foods umbrella include Price Cut- ter, Ramey’s and Country Mart. Marsh, at age 32, was the youngest mem- ber of the executive team at RPCS, the pre- decessor of Pyramid Foods. Back in 2007, he was researching touch-pay and self- checkout technologies. “I’ve climbed the ladder for sure,” he while he was chair of the music depart- ment, a role he accepted in 2007. After starting a marching band and growing the department by 80%, he and his team estab- lished a booster club that raised more than $1.3 million in the first two years. Presi- dent Carol Taylor noticed, asking Kolstad to “scale that up for the university” in the role he currently holds. Evangel, his alma mater, has been part of Kolstad’s life for three decades. He says it’s part of his DNA. —Sony Hocklander, Contributing Writer 2004 MATT MORROW, 47 Then: Executive Director, Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield Now: President, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce After a brief stint in Alabama, Matt Mor- row moved back to Springfield six years ago for what he calls his “dream job in my dream community.” As president of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, he’s tasked with representing the business community and promoting economic development. He says he learned the building blocks for the job leading the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield from 2001-12. Life outside the office has changed over the years. He and his wife Rachael have two 2005 JAY TITUS, 51 Then: Senior Vice President, Commercial Lender/Relationship Manager, U.S. Bank  Now: Missouri Division President, BancorpSouth Bank Jay Titus has banking in his blood. He’s worked in the industry for 26 years and, perhaps surprisingly, at only three banking institutions during that time. Titus is currently Missouri division pres- ident for BancorpSouth Bank, where he’s served for 12 years – the longest stint of his career. He spent about seven years each at U.S. Bank and Bank of America. At U.S. Bank, he was a four-year recipient of the Pinnacle Award recognizing the top 10% of producers bankwide. Managing BancorpSouth’s operations in kids, Annie, a sophomore at Glendale, and Alex, a seventh grader at Pershing. A health scare in fall 2017 didn’t stop his work, as he underwent surgery and treat- ment for melanoma. Scans from just last month show he remains cancer free. Morrow says stewardship and faith have been the guiding principles at work and home. “We all get a little window here … to af- fect constructively or positively the com- munity that we’re in,” he says. —Christine Temple, Features Editor Springfield and St. Louis the past five years, Titus is responsible for commercial lend- ing, credit administration, retail branch ad- ministration, private banking and strategic planning. He also leads the bank’s wealth management, mortgage and insurance lines of business. What most people might not know, the Drury University graduate came up through a Sam Walton scholarship and worked for Walmart and Sam’s Club stores for the first seven years of his career. –Eric Olson, Editor says, recalling his 1998 start as an assistant store director. “But it’s been a lot of hours and a lot of days.” In the last year, Marsh was diagnosed with leukemia and he’s making trips to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for treatment. “Life throws you curve balls,” Marsh says. “You can sulk about it or you can fight it. I’m doing everything I can to fight it.” He credits his wife of 20 years, Janelle, and their two kids for keeping his attitude positive. —Eric Olson, Editor 2008 NATALIE MURDOCK, 39 Then: Development Director, Foundation for Springfield Public Schools Now: Executive Director, Foundation for Springfield Public Schools In 2008, Natalie Murdock had just be- gun her journey with the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools. Now, she’s the executive director of the organization pro- viding aid to local teachers. The foundation altered its crowdfunding platform for teachers a few months ago to remove the $1,000 restriction initially es- tablished for smaller classroom needs. The platform is now open to any amount. “We kind of revamped it to meet a wid- er variety of needs,” she says, adding the 2009 DON HARKEY, 45 Then: Owner, Galt Consulting Now: Co-founder and CEO, People Centric Consulting Group LLC Business and management consulting has been Don Harkey’s professional focus for around 15 years, first at Galt Consult- ing and now at People Centric Consult- ing Group LLC, which he co-founded in 2012. Over the years, People Centric’s work has expanded to nearly 1,000 clients in 18 states. “We’ve really grown the business a lot,” Harkey says, adding he became the com- pany’s CEO and sole shareholder in 2018. “We felt like we were working in an area that was very much needed in the market.” foundation provides between $600,000- $1 million back to public schools per year. “The money stays local and there are no administration fees.” The foundation currently manages around $5 million in funds. “We’re an organization that a lot of peo- ple don’t really know exists in Springfield,” she says. “We continue to push and push to provide more resources.” —Kyle Boaz, Researcher A graduate of Leadership Springfield Signature Class 29, Harkey is in his sec- ond year as president of the organization’s board. With six years of board experience, he says it’s been gratifying to see the agen- cy’s impact. “The connection to the community, both personally and with the businesses, has been fantastic,” he says. “I’ve fallen in love with Springfield even more with it.” —Mike Cullinan, Reporter Dan Hoy Joe Kofron Anne Sallee Mason Laura McCune Brent McKinney Kim McKinnis Chuck Medley Kelly Morris John Morrison Whitney Morrow Chris Myer Mark Nelson Pamela Nelson Jeff Newkirk Stephanie Orman Scott Pace Joe Page Jeff Rogers Scott Rose Aaron Sachs Diana Sheridan Richard Vance Mark Viguet Brian Williams 2003 Lisa Alexander Don Angell J. Christopher Ball Nancy Bogart Michele Cantrell Blake Christian Jeff Chronister Paula Dougherty Kirk Elmquist Vera Gibbons Teresa Grantham Kathy Gross Rob Haik Brian Hamburg Kimberly Hamm Kristi Hinton Sandy Howard Jerany Jackson Melissa Lawson Andrea Letsch Shannon McMurdo Bruce Hartley Betsy Miller John Miller David Montgomery Jim Montgomery Mickey Moore Bryan Morris Rick Naegler Rodney Nichols Barby Pohl Matt Sellmeyer Cara Shaefer Debra Shantz Jeff Shore Gil Trout Trey Vance Julie Vanvig Andrew Wells Daniel Wooten 2004 James Barnes Lori Barnes Omar Barron Ron Bogart Stacy Burks Erik Crane Brandon Dake Dr. Jose Dominguez Jamie Dopp Steven Fenner John Gervais David Hamm Nolan Hardison Kimberly Harrington Vickie Hicks Aaron Jernigan Aaron Jones Benjamin Joplin Karl Kime Brian Kubik Bridgette Leonard Camille Lockhart Dr. J. Charles Mace Brian McCracken Jefferson McNatt Jay Miller Matt Morrow Rick Morsovillo Jane Patterson Greg Pearman Heather Ramsey Robert Rayl Dan Schumacher Deborah Scott Gaylon Smith Brent Stevens Chris Tuckness Polly Vandenburg Nancy Waring Wayne Wilson 2005 D. Todd Aeschliman Ted Amberg Sean Balisle Kim Bartelsmeyer Mindy Bransfield Rosalyn Buckner Rhonda Burks Jeffery Childs Brett Curry Mel Eakins Brad Gebhard Charlie Gerken Michelle Goddard Robert Grosser Bill Hammitt Ellen Hammock Michael Homeyer Lisa Jones Paul Kelley Tom Lacey John Lambert Dan Langhofer Don Louzader Tammy Mallow-Elly Rick Martens John Morton Christine Moses Joseph Passanise Craig Rechkemmer Joe Reynolds Nicholas Sanders Stacey Schultz Drew Spencer Crystal Stallings Robert Strang Brian Straughan Jay Titus Greg Walker Shelby Williams Eric Zackrison 2006 Amy Austin Brent Baldwin Jason Brawner Adam Brown Sam Clifton Cara Connelly PAST HONOREES