Springfield Business Journal_2021-06-07

WHERE DESIGN & PURPOSE MEET SERVING SPRINGFIELD SINCE 1977 COMMERCIAL FURNITURE • DESIGN • SPACE PLANNING • INSTALLATION SERVING SPRINGFIELD SINCE 1977 INSPI ING SPACES CREATE INSPIRED PEOPLE 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 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 7 JUNE 7-13, 2021 by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net One of the owners of a Springfield in- door climbing gym is taking steps toward a new career that she says won’t impact operations at the business she helped found in 2016. Audrey Pauls, co-owner of Zenith Climbing Center LLC, is moving in Au- gust with husband Everett to Champaign, Illinois, where she’s been ac- cepted to the Uni- versity of Illinois College of Law. The couple own the gym with Au- drey’s sister, Jamie Strong. The move means Pauls is exiting her vice president of marketing and events position with the Ozark Chamber of Commerce, where she’s worked since 2018. She plans to wrap up work at the chamber by mid-July. Since she announced her law school plans late last month, Pauls said she’s had numerous people ask her if she’s selling the gym at 3534 E. Sunshine St., Ste. 3. “No, of course not. That’s my baby. I’m almost offended when people ask,” she said with a laugh. “The gym is my life, and I could not sell it.” She said Strong will maintain daily op- erations at Zenith, while husband Everett will work remotely. “My husband is still going to be super involved, just as much as he is now,” she said. “Almost everything he does right now can be done remotely.” Chamber change Pauls said she’s sad about leaving her role at the chamber but knew it was nec- essary to pursue a law degree. “I’ve been planning this probably for about a year and a half,” she said. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. My grandfather (Thomas Strong) is a lawyer and he’s always inspired me, so I think that’s one thing that made me want to pursue this path.” Strong is a founder of Springfield law firm Strong Garner & Bauer PC. Pauls’ departure is the latest in a series of movements in recent months at the NEWS Zenith co-owner plans exit from Ozark chamber Audrey Pauls will maintain business ownership while in law school See ZENITH on page 24 NEW HEIGHTS Audrey Pauls and her husband, Everett, are moving to Illinois this summer but the couple will remain co-owners of Zenith Climbing Center. MCKENZIE ROBINSON Greg Williams expects new chamber staff members will be in place this month.