SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 27 MARCH 6-12, 2023 40 UNDER 40 CONGRATULATIONS COLLEGE of BUSINESS EO/AA/M/F/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity BIZ BEARS 40 UNDER 40 HONOREES! Accelerate Your Career with a Business graduate degree. Scan the QR code to learn about our 100% online and seated programs. Business.MissouriState.edu AND ALL 2013 Sara Forhetz Then: Reporter, KY3 Inc. Now: Founder, Intentional Pursuit Ministries After exiting broadcast journalism for nonprofit work in 2021, the professional focus for Sara Forhetz is now primarily aimed toward sharing her faith through speaking engagements. Forhetz, 40, was a reporter at KY3 for 16 years before taking a part-time job as the lead reporter for international humanitarian relief nonprofit Convoy of Hope. She left the organization six months ago to devote more time to public speaking about Christianity, a pursuit started seven years ago. She dubs her work as Intentional Pursuit Ministries, noting she recently spoke in Africa. “It wasn’t until recently that I could actually do it more vocationally, where I’m busy enough that it feels like a full-time job,” she says, adding she will continue to help Convoy on a freelance basis. What’s your best advice to young professionals? Build relationships over product. Success flows out of relationships. Your boss matters and your co-workers matter. Build a relationship with them as people and, honestly, the rest will take care of itself. —Mike Cullinan, Reporter 2017 Katie Towns Then: Assistant director, Springfield-Greene County Health Department Now: Director of health, Springfield-Greene County Health Department Since being recognized as a 40 Under 40 honoree, Katie Towns has grown professionally at the Springfield-Greene County Health Department all the way to the top level. Towns in 2021 was named director of health – after five months as acting director – succeeding Clay Goddard. Towns, 44, says she and her team have been shaped by COVID-19, a time when the Health Department took center stage as the city worked its way through the pandemic. “We have to rely on one another,” Towns adds. “You can’t necessarily overcome those effects without other people. You’re not alone in this.” With the pandemic mostly in the rearview mirror, Towns now says she’s thankful to have more time taking care of herself and her children. Best advice to young professionals? Work hard and learn early how to be yourself. Find your voice, your signature, your originality, and trust that to lead you. —Geoff Pickle, Digital Editor 2015 Ryan DeBoef Then: Chief of staff, Missouri State University Now: Partner, Hahn DeBoef LLC Ryan DeBoef may have started a new role, but he’s kept his former employer close. As a partner at a government relations firm doing business as Hahn | DeBoef Government Relations, MSU is a client, along with the city of Marshfield and Codefi. His role lobbies for the interests of clients to the state legislature. “The ability to represent clients from the southwest part of the state and have an impact on my home and on our home is really important to me,” DeBoef, 42, says. The change came nearly a decade after serving as chief of staff to MSU President Clif Smart. There, he points to top accomplishments as establishing a citywide polling station at the campus welcome center, securing $100 million to reimagine the university’s math and science facilities and increasing MSU’s operating appropriations from the state by $10 million. Since he was a 40 Under 40 honoree, he also married his wife, Juli, and with that gained two bonus kids to add to his family of two sons. Best piece of advice to young professionals? Swing for the fences. Go all in. —Christine Temple, Executive Editor 2018 Chuck Dow Then: Financial adviser and field director, Northwestern Mutual Now: Managing director, Synergy Wealth Solutions Inc. At the end of 2020, Chuck Dow embarked on a new venture within financial planning. He launched the Springfield office of St. Louis-based Synergy Wealth Solutions Inc., leading and training a team of now 12 full-time financial advisers while growing his own advising practice. Dow, 44, has learned two keys to success are to “surround yourself with really talented people who are smarter than you and build the culture that people want to be involved with.” He’s still working on another key: delegating tasks. He says he’s experienced fast growth at Synergy. “As we stood there in December of 2020, this was nothing but an idea,” he says. “To go from an idea to a thriving office with 12 full-time advisers in basically 24 months, I’m really proud of it.” What he most loves about financial advising after a decade in the industry hasn’t changed. He says it’s building deep and personal relationships with clients. Best piece of advice to young professionals? Never stop being a student. —Christine Temple, Executive Editor
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