SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 25 MARCH 6-12, 2023 40 UNDER 40 Whitney Williams was hired at CoxHealth Foundation to organize special events. Then, six months after beginning as senior development officer, the pandemic hit, and all events for the foreseeable future were canceled. “I was called upon to step up and assist in areas that were uncharted territory,” says Williams, 36. She not only stepped up but went above and beyond. Williams helped obtain the funding that made the COVID-19 ICU possible. She also serves as chair of the Ozarks Neurological Foundation. Her profession collides with this volunteer work when she designates a gift from CoxHealth to the organization each year. She recognizes others’ work in the community, too: “How lucky are we that we have such a network of professionals in our community that we can rely on, call upon and work together to help our community prosper and grow?” she says. Your proudest moment? Personally, the birth of all three of my babies. Professionally, playing a role in securing support to pay for the COVID ICU at CoxHealth during the pandemic. Best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Hit your second shot first. In golf and in life. Favorite hobby or creative outlet? I love to read and play golf – equally my favorites! —Michaela Satterfield, Contributing Writer WHITNEY WILLIAMS CoxHealth Foundation Madison Yohn had been on the job as content coordinator for the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau for one year when she knew she had to do something with the video-sharing app TikTok. “I didn’t know much about it or where to begin, but I knew it was essential to jump on the wagon now rather than later,” says Yohn, 25. Two years in, the @lovespringfield TikTok account has some 27,000 followers, and Yohn was invited to present it at the U.S. Travel Association’s annual conference. “This opportunity would never have even presented itself if I hadn’t decided to take a leap of faith,” she says. Yohn is the mastermind behind the Ozarks Coffee Trail, which draws coffee enthusiasts to 30 participating locations, and she writes the CVB blog, which has had nearly 900,000 views in total. Your proudest moment? Winning the Rising Star Award from the Missouri Division of Tourism in my third year at the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. Your most treasured possession? I have a completed princess book from Disney World and Disneyland where I saw and got photos from all the available princesses. Best celebrity meeting/sighting story? I got to interview John Goodman when I was the social media intern at Missouri State. I still look at that video all the time! Favorite food item to order in the Springfield area? The Hawaiian surf-and-turf tacos from Not’cho Ordinary Taco. —Karen Craigo, Reporter MADISON YOHN Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau Inc. HEATHER MOSLEY CONGRATULATIONS JOE EVEREST for joining the following Springfield Sertomans in being recognized as someone who is truly being a SERvice To MANkind: JW DeLong, Travis DeLong, Dave Puckett, Nick Burlison, Dan Reiter, Chris Davis, Kris Nau, Don Angell, Jared Doty, Rob Blevins, Tyler Moles, Jason Graff, Rob DeVore, Anthony Tindle, Mel Saunders.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTU2Njc4