Springfield Business Journal_2020-06-15

SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 35 JUNE 15-21, 2020 2010 DAVID ROSS, 39 Then: Director of Operations, Morelock-Ross Builders Inc. Now: President and Co-owner, Ross Construction Group LLC Ten years ago, David Ross wasn’t con- sidering starting his own company. Things changed in 2017, when he exited Morelock- Ross Builders and co-founded Ross Con- struction Group with his brother. “I always had my sights set on leading a company,” he says of his younger self. “At that time, starting a new company wasn’t really part of the thought process. “We definitely feel that we made the right decision.” Ross Construction Group has since com- pleted around 40 projects, with another 2012 KATIE DAVIS, 37 Then: CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks Now: Owner, Dream Big Consulting/Consultant for The Great Game of Business When she was working with Big Broth- ers Big Sisters of the Ozarks, Katie Davis gained passion in seeing nonprofit organi- zations grow and gain sustainable funding. By 2016, Davis decided to take a break from Big Brothers Big Sisters to spend more time at home with her children. She started freelancing as a consultant for The Great Game of Business, and now her work with nonprofits has come full circle. Nonprofit organizations were asking her to help them grow and gain sustainable funding. She held her first workshop in February 2017. 2011 CARA RESTELLI ERWIN, 42 Then: Director of Community Outreach, Better Business Bureau of Southwest Missouri Now: Community Wellness Coordinator, Springfield-Greene County Health Department Through her role as community well- ness coordinator at the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, Cara Restelli Erwin points to the expansion of tobacco control initiatives among her biggest ac- complishments since her 2018 hiring. That included providing guidance on the city’s Tobacco 21 Act, which passed last year, and increased the purchase age for tobacco products to 21 from 18. 2013 JESSICA KRUSE, 40 Then: Attorney, Greene County; partner, Ozarks Elder Law LLC Now: Associate Circuit Judge, Christian County Jessica Kruse is sitting on the other side of the bench now. Formerly an attorney and partner at Ozarks Elder Law LLC, Kruse was appoint- ed by Gov. Mike Parson to the associate cir- cuit judge position in Christian County in September 2018. Back in 2013, she also was serving as guardian ad litem in family, pro- bate and juvenile court in Greene County. She says 2019 was a year of transition. “You have to adjust your mindset from advocate to neutral,” Kruse says. “There’s not a lot of issues that are black and white and very clear, so I have to make dozen that he says are in progress, includ- ing the Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bot- tling Co. expansion on North Packer Road. Employing 19, the company’s work is 80- 85% subcontracted. Beyond work, Ross welcomed another child in 2012, and he’s now the father of three who are 13, 11 and 7 years old. —Geoff Pickle, Web Editor “Since then, we’ve had 24 different orga- nizations that I have worked with in some capacity,” Davis says. She added that some are both local and nationwide. Making the change has had pros and cons, she says, but it’s helped her to still make a difference in the nonprofit industry. “The two biggest pros is the flexibility in my schedule – I am able to truly stay at home and control my hours a lot more,” she says. “Second, getting to focus on my strengths and what I am really good at.” —Karen Bliss, Contributing Writer At the Health Department, her focus is on chronic disease prevention and helping people live healthier lives. She previously worked six years with the Springfield Fire Department as its fire and life safety educa- tor. “The topic has changed from fire safety to health, but really at the end of the day the result is the same,” she says. “In both the Fire Department and Health Depart- ment, it’s a challenge to be in a role that promotes upstream thinking.” —Mike Cullinan, Reporter some hard decisions.” She handles 60% of the domestic cases in the county, as well as juvenile law, associ- ate civil cases and some associate criminal cases. Her appointment is a four-year term, which she plans to run for again in 2022. “I plan to do this as long as I can,” she says. Kruse stays busy with her three kids who are in elementary, middle and high school. She’s also on the board of Care to Learn and is involved in Rotary Club of Springfield. —Kathryn Hardison, Reporter 2014 CASEY WRAY, 40 Then: Director of Transitional Living for Footsteps Transitional Living, Good Samaritan Boys Ranch Now: President and CEO, Good Samaritan Boys Ranch Casey Wray has been working – and ad- vancing – with the Good Samaritan Boys Ranch for 18 years. His most recent stop is the post at the top, president and CEO. Wray works on building programs and helps to cultivate the identity of the ranch, he says. It’s been an exciting change and Wray says he’s glad to be a crucial player at this moment of growth for the nonprofit serving kids with behavioral problems or those who come from abusive homes. 2015 ROCHETTE DAHLER, 39 Then: Founder, President and CEO, Little Sunshine’s Enterprises Inc. Now: Founder and CEO, Little Sunshine’s Enterprises Inc. Rochette Dahler opened her first Little Sunshine’s Playhouse in 2002, and since then her preschool has grown quickly. Dahler went from owning one location to owning five corporate and six franchise lo- cations. In the last five years, the company shift- ed its business model away from franchises and Dahler hired a president, Brett Roubal, to help with the day-to-day operations. Now, Little Sunshine’s operates 25 schools, with four franchise locations “Usually, there is someone else being the mouthpiece of the organization, but now they are turning to me,” he says of his new job in January – succeeding Kevin Killian. Wray says the whole landscape of the program is being redone, as the nonprofit adds new programs and expands current ones, such as their Footsteps program, which aims to help youth learn to transi- tion out of the foster care system. This is the first time the ranch has added new pro- grams in its 60-year history. —Karen Bliss, Contributing Writer remaining. In 2019, the company recorded $43 million in revenue. “What I see as the resounding shift from five years ago to now is that we were still trying a lot of new things,” she says. “At this point in time we are in a refine and repeat mode. We’ve found a system that works re- ally well for us and serves our students and our staff.” —Karen Bliss, Contributing Writer Sam Coryell Ken Dawson Mike DeBacker Andrea Deckard Thomas Douglas Matthew Ennis Matt Gifford Chris Harmon Brian Hickman Jeff Jenkins Joseph Johnson Dr. Tim Jones Michael Kolstad Anjanette Labellarte George Lamelza III Brooke Liggett John Marion Jeremiah Mee Joe Metzger Dana Montgomery Kris Nau Timothy Oetting Jennifer Passanise Nicole Piper Catherine Reade Kelly Rostic Jennifer Sanders Jacob Sappington Jeffery Smith John Taylor Fawn Warner Kendra Williams Shan Wilson Ryan Zweerink 2007 Merissa Angell Dr. Carrie Arquitt Michelle Beach Janette Bleau Kristee Buff Mark Bybee Amanda Byrd Dr. Jason Crockett Chris Curtis Jana Daugherty Kristen Dixon Charity Elmer Ginger Godbehere Jeffrey Gower Jason Hainline Dawn Hiles Gregory Holman Olivia Hough Barbara Houser Rema Houston Eric Johnson Lori Johnson Doug Lurvey Rob Marsh Summer Massey Tammy Mast Addy McCord Kathryn Mihalevich Bryan Newberry Carter Peters Jason Rader Dr. Denise Roche-Caldwell Randy Rogers Kemmi Rusciano Michelle Sherwood Dr. Robert Steele Lisa Street Shawn Strong Chris Upp Tiffany Wilgus 2008 Logan Aguirre Allicia Baum David Beach Matt Bekebrede Heather Blades Neil Brady Bryan Cates Josh Compton Laura Daly Kristi Fulnecky Gretchen Gambon Nicola Gilardi Justin Harris Leslie Hill Tyler James Dr. Matthew Kienstra Dr. Samson Liu Marty Marsh Rebecca McKnight Benjamin Morris Michal Moss Early Natalie Murdock Ryan Nicholls Natalie Nunn Judson Poppen Kesha Quigg Robin Rees Terrie Reno Richard Russell Kevin Schlack Mark Sharp Jody Shelenhamer Dave Snider Stu Stenger Carla Stine Chris Swan Michael Textor Shelly Titus Gordon Weathers Jerrod Wheeler 2009 Jeff Allen David Anderson John Brinkmann Todd Buzbee Steve Childers Clayton Cooper Jennifer Dalton Wayne Dipper Bob Dixon Rob Dixon Craig Dunn Paul Ebisch Paul Engel Lara B.W. Fors Leah Hamilton Jenkins Don Harkey Beth Keith Sarah Kerner Alina Lehnert Shari Lockhart McKinney Stephanie Lutes Gavin O’Connor Brian Orr Joseph Reid B.J. Richardson Nancy Riggs Meredith Roberts Jon Robison Eric Rogers Jamie Schoolcraft Craig Scott Kimberly Shinn-Brown Brent Singleton Katheryne Staeger-Wilson PAST HONOREES