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Springfield Business Journal

APRIL 10-16, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 1 APRIL 10-16, 2023 · VOL. 43, NO. 38 YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY SINCE 1980 $2.50 · SBJ.NET A Hunger for Connection by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net The husband-and-wife team of Joey and Mary Kris Palmer have owned the Filipino Market LLC on South Campbell Avenue since late 2020. Joey, who can’t stop polishing surfaces long enough to talk, is proud of the spickand-span store with its tidy rows of products, refrigerated produce and freezers full of meat and fish, including hard-to-find items like pork belly, beef intestine and moonfish. The store also ships “balikbayan” boxes back to the Philippines for customers. In the Tagalog language, the word translates to back home. Those who left their country to live and work in the United States go home, symbolically, through boxes of clothes, foods and supplies they send to family. Joey reckons he ships 150 boxes most months. The store is more than a place to buy food, Joey said; it’s a place to feel connected. The first customer on a recent morning was Jonalyn Macugay, a nurse at CoxHealth – one of many who have relocated from the Philippines to help with the local nursing shortage. Joey calls her sissy. “Everyone who comes in here is my sissy or my brother,” he said. Macugay moved to the U.S. in 2019 and is a regular shopper at the Filipino Market. “My tongue is still looking for the Filipino taste,” she said. “I am absolutely looking for this food.” When asked what her must-have item is, Macugay points to a bottle labeled “boneless bagoong tirong”: fish sauce. “In my place in the Philippines, all of our meals, all of our food comes with it. It’s very good,” she said. The Palmers have stocked more than a dozen varieties of fish sauce to suit the disparate tastes of a country made up of 7,000 islands. The Palmers are serious about building community. “We don’t pride ourselves on profit; we pride ourselves on people,” Joey said. They regularly host meet-and-greets to bring members of the Filipino community together. The events are potluck style, allowing Americans and Filipinos to sample each other’s dishes as they get to know each other. Mary Kris said people who move to SPECIAL EDITION INSIDE Business leaders share tips on preparing for a recession by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net With predictions of a possible recession continuing to receive national debate, a local panel discussion recently placed the topic in the crosshairs and offered suggestions for businesses to prepare. The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the March 29 event in which panelists weighed in on recession-proofing advice to help business owners in times of economic downturn. Jeffrey Zimmerman, dean of the Breech School of Business at Drury University, wasn’t shy about his recession prediction. “Are we going to go into a recession? Yes, but I only speak for me,” he said. “I would look for a recession probably more towards the fourth quarter of this year, leading into next year. How deep will it be is anybody’s guess.” Zimmerman, who was joined on the panel by Jeff Childs, senior adviser with SVN/Rankin Co., and Bob Helm, owner and managing partner at Elliott, Robinson & Co. LLP, said an inverted yield curve as well as high inflation connected with the national job market and consumer spending are key indicators leading him toward projecting a recession. “When the yield curve is inverted, it means short-term [investment] rates are higher than long-term rates. Why does that matter? Well, in terms of a recession, every recession since 1955 has been preceded by an inverse in the yield curve,” he said, noting there were two inversions last year. “That is one of the big indicators that people are looking at to say we are going to see a recession.” A similar prediction was made at a See RECESSION on page 34 See MARKETS on page 29 JYM WILSON CoxHealth nurse Jonalyn Macugay shops for the foods she grew up with at the Filipino Market. Asian markets offer many types of sustenance

APRIL 10-16, 2023 2 · SBJ.NET NEWS because ou chose what you love. Your business is your passion. Sure, there are days that aren’t as great as others, but you keep pushing forward. You deserve a bank that backs your passion – one that asks “What’s next?” instead of “What for?” Our bankers are here to do our part to make your dream a reality. Whether you’re just getting started or if you want to take it to the next level, we’re the bank of making it happen. We’re The Bank of Missouri. The bank of never working a day Let’s get started with a banker near you.

APRIL 10-16, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 3 Open for Business A company that sells outdoor gear for camping and off-road traveling expands to larger space. page 4 Dynamic Dozen SBJ announces the top 12 fastest-growing companies in the Springfield region. page 8 Election Roundup Springfield voters elect new City Council members and regional voters pass various bonds and tax levies. page 25 From the Ground Up American Momim Park takes shape in west Springfield. page 27 NEWS CONTENTS City looks to boost apprenticeships via $3M federal grant by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net After receiving a $3 million federal grant to bolster registered apprentices in southwest Missouri, the city of Springfield’s Department of Workforce Development is ready to launch open enrollment for the training program. The city was one of 39 agencies – and the only one in the state – awarded part of $121 million in Apprenticeship Building America grants allocated by the U.S. Department of Labor. The grant allows the city to expand industries served by registered apprenticeships, officials say, noting the program previously covered construction, health care, information technology, manufacturing and transportation. “This grant expanded that reach into public safety, education and renewable energy,” said Katherine Trombetta, spokesperson for the Missouri Job Center, which coordinates the city’s registered apprenticeship program. “It expands the scope and amount of registered apprenticeships that we will be creating for the region.” The apprenticeship model combines classroom learning with hands-on experience and pays the apprentice while providing them with a nationally recognized credential from the Labor Department upon completion of the program. “Our overall goal is to increase access to registered apprenticeships for anyone that is interested. We have an overarching goal to serve 1,275 people throughout the three years of the grant in a 10-county region,” Trombetta said, noting its service area duplicates that of the Springfield Regional Economic Partnership, covering Barry, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney and Webster counties. Trombetta said the Job Center is seeking partnerships with companies and organizations wishing to start their own registered apprenticeship programs. Private or public entities may already have internships and on-the-job training programs that could easily be turned into registered apprenticeships, she said. “Our staff is able to work with those companies to actually get that certification from the Department of Labor,” she said. The grant, which is fully funded by the federal agency, covers the cost of training for industry partners, Trombetta said. Additionally, the Job Center may also help apprentices with supportive services, such as transportation assistance and child care. In partnership Training partners in several industries plan to offer apprenticeship programs through the grant. Among them are Jordan Valley Community Health Center, Positronic Industries Inc. and the Springfield Police Department, according to officials. No specific amounts are being provided to participants, as officials say those totals will vary based on factors such as number of programs and apprentices. Another industry partner, CoxHealth, is no stranger to apprenticeship programs. The Springfield-based health system has JYM WILSON CLINICAL CARE Hannah Bridgewater works in the senior health department at Cox South Hospital as part of her apprenticeship training to become a certified medical assistant with the health care system. See APPRENTICESHIPS on page 32 Katherine Trombetta: Grant expands industries served by registered apprenticeships. Springfield officials want to reach nearly 1,300 apprentices over three years Read about the 16 products in the running for Voters’ Choice and Best in Show. page 9 Coolest Things Made in the Ozarks

APRIL 10-16, 2023 4 · SBJ.NET NEWS By Mike Cullinan, Reporter New business, new location, new owner? Send your info to newbusiness@sbj.net Artemis Overland Hardware A married couple with over 20 years of combined experience in health care teamed up to open Breast Imaging of the Ozarks LLC on Oct. 10. Drs. Logan and Amanda Lackey co-own the six-employee business at 2144 E. Republic Road, Ste. E-104, in Farmers Park. The venture, also known as The Breast Center, offers screening and diagnostic imaging services for breast and bone health, including mammograms, biopsies, ultrasounds and bone density scanning. Amanda Lackey said the couple signed a five-year lease for roughly $3,877 per month with Farmer’s Park LLC but declined to disclose startup costs. The Breast Center fills 2,629 square feet formerly occupied by Five Pound Apparel LLC. The Lackeys most recently practiced in radiology with Mercy Springfield Communities before launching their first-time ownership venture, she said, adding the center offers a spa-like environment with robes, calming scents and snacks. Branson Bank opened a temporary, modular branch Feb. 13 at 17035 State Highway 13 in advance of a permanent facility at the same site in Branson West. Halley Fleming, the bank’s chief marketing officer, said the branch’s opening resulted in the closure of a lending center the bank operated at 16208 State Highway 13, Ste. 103-A. Staff from the lending center are now part of the six employees at the Branson West branch led by Eric Simkins, vice president of commercial lending, she said. Fleming declined to disclose startup costs and lease terms for the 1,850-square-foot modular facility with Federal Construction Inc. She said the construction project is still in the design phase with no cost or timetable set, and added a late summer groundbreaking is likely. Branson Bank has $329 million in assets, according to its website, and five branches, including three in Branson and one in Forsyth. The retail store for Artemis Overland Hardware, which sells outdoor gear for camping and off-road traveling, moved Nov. 1 to 16237 E. Olive St. from 616 E. Tampa St. Aaron Matkowski, who co-owns the 5-year-old company with wife Keri Franklin, said they purchased the Olive Street building for $550,000 from Rio Contracting LLC, which moved to Ozark. Matkowski said the new location gave the five-employee business room for expansion, which included space for installation work. Nearly half of the 8,200-square-foot facility is devoted to a shop and warehouse, he said. Additionally, he said the store’s new home allowed expanded inventory, including truck accessories, such as bed racks, plus paddle sport and backpacking gear. The company, which reported revenue of $1.56 million in 2021, a growth rate of 442% between 2019 and 2021, was named to Springfield Business Journal’s Dynamic Dozen in 2022, which recognizes the 12 fastest-growing companies in the Ozarks. ☎ 417-501-1190  ArtemisOverland.com Breast Imaging of the Ozarks Branson Bank ☎ 417-730-9300  BreastImagingOfTheOzarks.com ☎ 417-334-9696  BransonBank.com OPEN FOR BUSINESS Aaron Matkowski KATELYN EGGER APC is the best choice for commercial solar. Businesses throughout MO, OK, and AR are accessing the potential of their commercial building rooftops and installing commercial solar. In return, increasing their businesses sustainability by significantly reducing future electricity costs and creating cash flow over the life of the system. APC Solar is the solar contractor of choice for dynamic energy solutions that enhance capital and decrease operational costs. Trusted by CPA firms and numerous local entrepreneurs! apcsolar.com 888-272-9875

APRIL 10-16, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 5 by Eric Olson · eolson@sbj.net Banking & Finance Branson Bank added Lacy Mehrhoff as vice president and senior mortgage lender. With 20 years of residential mortgage experience, she’s also responsible for managing the mortgage department. Central Bank in Springfield hired Jonathan Gonzalez as a retail officer and banking center manager. He has six years of customer service and managerial experience in banking and holds a bachelor’s in business and marketing management from Missouri State University, as well as an associate degree in business from Ozarks Technical Community College. Old Missouri Bank named Forrest Thompson to the new role of community bank president in the Mount Vernon market. He joined OMB in 2019 and most recently was an assistant vice president, loan officer. Thompson holds a bachelor’s in business finance and management from MSU. Multipli Credit Union was named the best-performing credit union nationwide by S&P Global Market Intelligence. The annual list of the top credit unions is based on member growth, total number of loans per member, net worth as a percentage of total assets, delinquent loans as a percentage of total loans, and return on average assets. Also ranking locally were Assemblies of God Credit Union, No. 71, and TelComm Credit Union, No. 78. Nearly 1,800 credit unions qualified, having more than $100 million in total assets and a net worth ratio of at least 7% as of Dec. 31, 2022. Communications The city of Ozark hired KOLR on-air personality Jenifer Abreu as communication manager, a new role for the city. She worked for KOLR since 2016 and co-anchored the morning show “Daybreak” since 2020. Health Care Citizens Memorial Hospital promoted three employees to new leadership roles: Rachael Swopes to clinical director of behavioral health therapy services, Angela Long to director of behavioral health operations and Suret Thompson to director of nursing in the Parkview Geriatric Wellness Department. A licensed clinical psychologist and CMH employee for eight years, Swopes has served in clinical practice and as clinical director for school-based therapy services. She holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Tulsa and completed a child clinical psychology internship at Duke University and a psychology residency at Behavioral Healthcare of Rural Missouri Inc. in Stockton. Long has worked for CMH for 15 years, mostly in nursing and overseeing behavioral health in the clinic setting and at Parkview Geriatric Wellness. She holds a bachelor’s in nursing and a master’s in nursing-executive leadership from Purdue University. Thompson, a registered nurse, has worked at CMH for 10 years, starting as a phlebotomist, then as a charge nurse and preceptor. Innovation O’Reilly Automotive Inc. (Nasdaq: ORLY) and Bass Pro Shops placed Nos. 229 and 277, respectively, out of 300 companies on Fortune’s annual list of the country’s most innovative companies. In partnership with Statista, the list ranks companies based on innovations in products, processes and culture. O’Reilly Automotive scored highest in culture, at No. 87, and Bass Pro performed best in product innovation, at No. 146. Law Piatchek & Associates promoted Kathy Lampley to office manager. She’s worked at the firm since 2000, primarily in client services. Greene County Circuit Judge Jerry Harmison Jr. was selected to succeed retiring Presiding Judge Michael Cordonnier. Harmison is slated to complete the current term, then start a two-year term on Jan. 1, 2024. The county’s 31st Circuit Court also chose Kyle Kanable as family court commissioner to succeed Judge Regi Martin, who died in February. Kanable operates the Law Office of Kyle Kanable. Send your company’s new hires, promotions, awards and achievements to newsmakers@sbj.net or click “Talk to SBJ” on our homepage. Please include job titles and relevant career and educational experiences. We’ll publish high-resolution color photos attached as space permits. LET US KNOW NEWSMAKERS Send announcements to newsmakers@sbj.net Swopes Long Harmison Kanable Lampley Suret Thompson Mehrhoff Gonzalez Abreu Forrest Thompson www.groomsinc.com “WE WERE DOING COOL ROOFS BEFORE THEY WERE COOL” - JIMMY SPEARS, DELTA ROOFING 417-831-5634 | 1-800-884-1918 www.DeltaRoofing.net

APRIL 10-16, 2023 6 · SBJ.NET NEWS by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net A plan to convert the vacant Boyd Elementary School into a mixed-use apartment building drew 10 members of the public with comments at the April 3 Springfield City Council meeting, with most in support. Developer Matt Blevins of the Boyd School Redevelopment Corp. proposed a 17-unit apartment building with 3,500 square feet at ground level to be reserved for a commercial tenant. Restore SGF, the city’s organization dedicated to rehabbing older homes, is interested in the space. Council considered a resolution to rezone the 1.5-acre North Washington Avenue property to planned development from single-family residential. The resolution stated the building could hold a maximum of 24 dwelling units. Councilmember Monica Horton offered an amendment to restrict the building to a maximum of 20 apartments, and it was unanimously approved. Addressing council, Blevins said his partners love the history, architecture and people of the Midtown neighborhood, where the school is located. “I applaud the neighbors for how much they not only care about their homes, but for the neighborhood, and it is truly refreshing to see their commitment to their neighbors and the district as a whole,” he said. He noted he met with neighborhood residents on four occasions to be forthcoming about plans and to get their feedback. “After each iteration of our meetings, we took their comments into consideration and made modifications that we could to the project,” he said. Most residents spoke in favor of the adaptive reuse of the school as a way to preserve the historic building. As Dee Ogilvy noted, if it is not redeveloped, it is at risk of experiencing demolition by neglect. Some expressed concern that alcohol could be sold at the building. Nearby resident Nathan Davis said before he purchased his home, it had been a fraternity house that hosted noisy keg parties, and he wants to preserve the character of the neighborhood by keeping alcohol out of it. Blevins noted that the development group has committed to prohibiting uses such as bars, taprooms, nightclubs and dispensaries, while limiting hours of operation to be in keeping with a neighborhood setting. Council will vote on the measure April 17. MoDOT rethinks medians Council passed a resolution asking the Missouri Department of Transportation to suspend its plans to add medians along the East Sunshine Street corridor, while supporting other aspects of MoDOT’s plans to improve the route. Council voted 7-1, with Councilmember Monica Horton voting no and Andrew Lear recusing himself. The medians would limit drivers’ ability to make left turns from Sunshine Street with the goal to improve safety on the heavily trafficked route. Members of the East Sunshine Street business community, led by Thomas Fowler, president of State Bank of Southwest Missouri, 3310 E. Sunshine St., have expressed their objection to medians because they believe they will prevent customer access. Fowler has rallied more than 80 businesses to communicate their objection to medians to MoDOT. MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna told council the department has put the project on hold until 2024 at the earliest so it can gather more information and talk to GreatSouthernBank.com/business Commercial Lending 800-749-7113 We’re pleased to welcome Rob Fulp to our Great Southern Bank Commercial Lending team. Rob brings decades of experience and expertise, and as part of Great Southern, is backed by a company with extensive resources and a century of helping our customers and communities grow and thrive. Welcoming Rob Fulp ROB FULP Regional Managing Director of Commercial Lending Springfield, Southwest Missouri & Arkansas CITY BEAT From the April 3 City Council meeting • Businesses rally against medians on East Sunshine Street. • Proposed city code change would ban marijuana public use and odor. • Errors force delay in two zoning projects. Full City Council coverage is at SBJ.net/citybeat Patrick McKenna: Medians were the chief safety component of MoDOT’s East Sunshine Street plans. Matt Blevins: Resident feedback has resulted in improvements to development plans. Council mulls repurposing of Boyd School Apartments and retail space are proposed for Midtown development See COUNCIL on page 33

APRIL 10-16, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 7 NEWS Early registration discount ends April 30. Reserve your booth today! SGFBusinessExpo.com Unleash Your Business Potential at the SGF Business Expo! October 26 | Springfield Expo Center FIND OUT MORE:

APRIL 10-16, 2023 8 · SBJ.NET NEWS sponsored by NEW for 2023! Introducing Giving Guide Strategic Partner sponsorships! Become a Strategic Partner in the Giving Guide and tell SBJ readers about your commitment to supporting the nonprofit community and gain valuable exposure to a socially conscious audience. The Giving Guide is the ultimate resource for businesses that support the nonprofit community. Contact advertising@sbj.net to request details. The 2023 Giving Guide will be published on August 28th. If your agency needs board approval to participate, contact advertising@sbj.net to request details you can present to your board. The deadline to reserve your 2-page spread for 2023 is June 30. SBJ unveils 12 fastest-growing companies by SBJ Staff · sbj@sbj.net The scores have been tabulated for Springfield Business Journal’s 2023 Dynamic Dozen, recognizing the 12 fastest-growing companies in the Ozarks. The D12 companies, in alphabetical order, are Citizens Memorial Hospital; CoxHealth; Enviromental Works Inc.; Epic Strategies LLC; GigSalad LLC; Little Sunshine’s Enterprises Inc.; Next Level Solutions; Old Missouri Bank; Pluck LLC, dba Keep Supply; Russell Cellular Inc.; Sun Solar LLC; and Superior Rents & Sales Inc. A countdown of company rankings to No. 1 will be held May 18 during a reception and awards ceremony at Oasis Hotel & Convention Center. Also at the ceremony, SBJ will honor professionals with individual awards and present the Judges’ Choice Award to Keller Williams Greater Springfield. Determined by an independent panel of judges, the individual honors are awarded in seven categories: • Top CEO: Paul Bosovik, 27North Inc.; • Top Chief Operations Officer: Weston T. Wiebe, College of the Ozarks; • Top Chief Financial Officer: Cathy Hubert, Harmony House; • Top Chief Information Officer: Katie Wendt, Environmental Works Inc.; • Top Sales/Marketing Professional: Tessa LeRoy, Environmental Works Inc.; • Top Human Resources Professional: Lindsay Bauer, Pluck LLC, dba Keep Supply; and • Employee of the Year: Lisa Christy, Harmony House. The Dynamic Dozen fast-growth companies are determined by a numbers-based formula that awards points for both annual revenue and percentage growth in 2020, 2021 and 2022. In their applications, eligible companies reported gross revenue of at least $250,000 in each year, and they must operate headquarters within 50 miles of Springfield or must have provided segmented revenues for the 50-mile radius. Tiffany Nichols, senior vice president of State Bank of Southwest Missouri, verified the numbers in the D12 applications. Profiles of the companies and individuals will appear in a publication debuting at the event and distributed in SBJ’s May 22 edition. For more information and past honorees, visit SBJ.net/D12. • The 2023 Dynamic Dozen individual honorees and the Judges’ Choice were selected by an independent panel of judges: • Nickie Bland, first vice president of Cadence Bank; • Sarah Eiffert, director of human resources and workers’ compensation for Connell Insurance Inc. and a 2022 Most Influential Woman; • Austin Fax, member at Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law LLC and a 2021 Trusted Adviser; • Clay Goddard, president of the Burrell Behavioral Health Southwest Region and a 2019 Health Care Champion; and • Kenny Kabak, director of music and youth ministries for Christ Episcopal Church and a 2023 40 Under 40 honoree. Meet the Judges Goddard Kabak Bland Fax Eiffert BK&M scales back design for council by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net If BK&M LLC’s plans for a mixed-use development at a heavily trafficked corner in the University Heights neighborhood are to advance, Springfield City Council must approve a zoning change. That issue will soon come to a head. Developers are scheduled to appear before council April 17 for a public hearing on their request to change the zoning at the corner of Sunshine Street and National Avenue to commercial from single-family residential. Developers were scheduled to present their plans to the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission on April 6, hours after this publication went to press, to try to gain that body’s approval. City staff has already given its qualified approval. Meanwhile, a group of 12 neighborhood residents filed a lawsuit against BK&M in December 2022 to halt the development in the century-old neighborhood that has resisted commercial development. The neighbors cite deed restrictions that prohibit all but private residences in University Heights. In January, BK&M filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on the basis of precedent rulings that maintain restrictive covenants that are in doubt should be resolved in favor of free use of property. However, at the end of March, Greene County Presiding Judge Michael Cordonnier denied the motion. BK&M has drawn up plans for The Heights, See DESIGN on page 28 Resident input spurred changes to The Heights

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The top 16 Coolest Things for 2022 will be featured in the April 18 edition of SBJ. These products will be chosen to represent the diversity in our manufacturing community and will showcase the best of Ozarks ingenuity! The top 16 products manufactured in the Ozarks this year were chosen by a five-person selection committee: • Michael Eaton, executive director of the Missouri Association of Manufacturers; • Allen Kunkel, director of the Jordan Valley Innovation Center at Missouri State University; • Chris Jarratt, chief creative officer and co-founder at Revel Advertising; • Christine Temple, executive editor of Springfield Business Journal; and • Jessi Whitten, chief of operations at Coryell Collaborative Group. A“hidden industry” — that’s how Custom Metalcraft Inc. President Nikki Holden describes manufacturing. And yet, she says, “Everything we touch and use in our daily lives, all the inputs are from manufacturing.” Holden’s insight into her industry is precisely why Springfield Business Journal launched Coolest Things Made in the Ozarks last year. We knew southwest Missouri is strong in manufacturing, but the industry’s impact on the local economy, and even international markets, needed a stage to showcase the best of Ozarks ingenuity. In the 14 counties in the southwest corner of our state, manufacturing is one of the largest industries, employing nearly 42,000 people, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. For this award event, we asked these manufacturers to submit one of their products to be evaluated by a selection committee. We met and picked the 16 finalists you’ll read about in this issue based on impact, innovation and uniqueness. Now it’s up to readers to select the Voters’ Choice winner at SBJ.net/CoolestThings through April 12. Event attendees will also be able to pick a Best in Show after meeting the manufacturers and seeing their products up close at the event on April 26. We hope you enjoy this special edition as we uncover the stories of these cool products made right here in the Ozarks. Springfield Business Journal Executive Editor Christine Temple can be reached at ctemple@sbj.net. Uncovering the Ozarks’ cool products Editor’s Note Meet the Selection Committee Christine Temple PRESENTING SPONSOR CONSULTING SPONSOR Kunkel Whitten Eaton Jarratt 62% Dark Milk Chocolate and Fleur de Sel bar Expedition Truck: 30A Ascender Hunting and fishing Bootfoot Waders Power module for U.S. Air Force and Navy aircraft emergency ejection seats maxxLup Beverage Infusion System TranStore intermediate bulk container tanks 16 COOLEST THINGS COOLEST THINGS WHY? Online voting for the Voters’ Choice Award is open until April 12. Vote for your favorite by scanning the QR code or visiting SBJ.net/CoolestThings We combine military, off-grid and recreation into one truck. Finalists answer why their product is the coolest thing made in the Ozarks. It’s made by hand locally, but from cocoa beans we source directly from small farmers across the globe. GMO (Garlic, Mushroom and Onion) Cannabis Flower There hasn’t been a legal adult-use availability of this product – ever. We’re the only ones in the greater Springfield area that grow and develop it. Original Vanilla Double Strength This is our original, flagship product, and it’s still No. 1, 96 years later. Spiced Vanilla Oat Latte bottles It’s hyperlocal and all about the love for our community. Bootfoot Waders are mainly used in the Midwest, so being able to produce them and distribute them here by people that know the product makes it a purposeful product. Small Batch Honey whiskey The Ozarks are rich in limestone, which makes our water perfect for producing traditional American whiskey – an extremely cool Ozarksborn product. It isn’t necessarily a glamorous item, but it goes into so many glamorous products, supplying the most recognized beverage companies in the world. Locomotive wheelsets Given Springfield’s rich history of the Frisco being from here, it is something that is still a part of the heritage of the area and is something unique but necessary for the movement of freight. Leveraging the engineering, associates and local supplies in the Ozarks, we are able to create lifesaving devices for U.S. Air Force and Navy aircraft. This is a great example of an collision of local craftsmanship, allowing for the transformation of raw materials and raw ingredients into an experience that fosters community. XV-24 with AlarmVision It adds live video monitoring through AI-driven analytics to customers’ existing video surveillance and seamlessly pairs with users’ security systems to identify real events in real time with a real response. Tool belts and bags for women Tool belts designed by and designed for women are almost impossible to find, so to find them created, designed and made here in the Ozarks brings an extra-special uniqueness. Student-Made Apple Butter Consumers enjoy it, but by purchasing, they also know they are supporting strong individuals, and that really impacts the future of our country and our region. 2023 Bass Tracker Classic XL Supporting over 3,200 jobs across the region, this locally manufactured fishing boat is designed and priced to make owning a boat accessible to everyone. Logger’s Lip Balm and Hand Salve Not only do our products work excellently and are priced within reach for anyone, but we are also now Climate Neutral Certified and use only certified vegetarian and plant-based ingredients. SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 11

12 · SBJ.NET APRIL 10-16, 2023 COOLEST THINGS Now operating as 27North, Paul Bosovik and team have brought to market an expedition truck like they’ve never built – it’s for off-road and off-grid travel. The company aims to jolt sales to support its conversion vans and get on track to its stretch revenue goals. Citing sluggish 2022 RV industry sales, Bosovik says 27North came short of its $12 million annual projection but now targets $16 million this year. SBJ: You’ve been building conversion vans since 2017. Why is now the time to roll out the 30A Ascender expedition vehicle? Paul Bosovik: It was a combination of market demand and wanting to expand our company. There is a lack in the industry of supply right now – there’s really only two major manufacturers in the country that do expedition trucks. SBJ: How is it different than 27North’s other vehicles, and what did it take to get it to market? Bosovik: The vans are built on a Mercedes van chassis. They’re very limited on how extreme off-road and offgrid you can go versus expedition trucks. For example, the wheels and tires are almost double the size, and in suspension, the weight it can handle is almost double. It’s twice as capable for extreme overlanding. If you wanted to go to Antarctica, a van is probably not going to get you there. Baja is pushing the limits on a van. But the expedition trucks are made for these extreme climates and terrain. SBJ: Any major challenges or hurdles overcome in the project? Bosovik: Competitors don’t share details, so, we spent close to $1 million in development: How do you mount the shell to the truck? How do you design and make a shell? Water system, electrical system – we had to design completely new systems. We’re exactly a year in development, and it’s still ongoing. SBJ: How has the company marketed the truck, and what other plans do you have? Bosovik: Social media and trade shows have been our most successful avenues in marketing and advertising it. Our next step is [social media] influencers. They take it out for a couple of weeks and create a lot of content and boost our brand by posting video and pictures of them using the truck. The first one we have secured is the Instagram handle @Lion_ King25. He’s famous in snowboarding. Then we have @TimMuniz_ a professional off-road pickup truck racer, Baja 300. Another one is @ JarrodTocci. The new style of marketing is called microinfluencers. These aren’t guys that have millions of followers. According to recent market studies, they’ve proven to be more influential than the major accounts. SBJ: Have you sold any yet? What are the key features? Bosovik: We have six under contract, and they’re all in the million-dollar price point, depending on the level of security features. In general, we’ve noticed people wanting built-in coffee makers or espresso machines, where we run the water and power directly. A hidden gun safe has been very popular, too. It’s got 150 gallons of freshwater capacity and a 2,000-amp hours lithium-ion battery pack – those are almost double what our competitors use. SBJ: What’s the production plan? Bosovik: It’s all custom order based, and our current capacity is six a year. All six are presold – all out of state. Interview by Editorial Vice President Eric Olson. Owner: Paul Bosovik Employees: 20 Founded: 2017 Web: The27North.com Instagram/Facebook/Twitter/TikTok: @The27North 2022 revenue: $8 million Product pricing: $750,000-$1.5 million Paul Bosovik Expedition Truck: 30A Ascender 27NORTH INC.

SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 13 APRIL 10-16, 2023 COOLEST THINGS Creating ethically sourced and sustainably cultivated products is a priority for Askinosie Chocolate, its owners say. Co-owner Lawren Askinosie, daughter of founder Shawn Askinosie, said the nearly 20-yearold company is proud to call Springfield home. Commercial Street houses its longtime factory, where the venture’s line of chocolate bars is produced, including its award-winning 62% Dark Milk Chocolate and Fleur de Sel bar. Crafted with hand-pressed cocoa butter, the bar uses cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, powdered goat’s milk and a hint of sea salt. It’s sold nationally in roughly 750 stores in 48 states. SBJ: How and when did this product come about? Lawren Askinosie: We developed it in 2011. It was a few years after we had started making chocolate. We were selling our dark chocolate bars and white chocolate bars. We had a harebrained idea of what if we can make a bar that appealed to all the folks asking if we can make a milk chocolate that still felt like us. We experimented for a couple of years until we settled on a recipe that we felt like was perfect. For us, that meant using goat’s milk, which is pretty unique, and really tweaking that cocoa percentage until we settled on one we felt tasted like it had that robust flavor that dark chocolate people love but was also palatable, easy to eat and would appeal to people who like a sweeter bar. It remains to this day one of our top-selling chocolate bars that we make. It’s also won awards for us. We’ve won two Good Food Awards, which are considered to be the Oscars for food producers. It’s also won some international chocolate awards. SBJ: Where does it fit in popularity with the line of chocolate bars you have? Askinosie: It’s in the top three. It was our No. 1 seller until about 2018, which is when we released our red raspberry chocolate bar and then our vegan dark milk bar – our coconut milk chocolate bar, which is plant-based. Those are our top three, and they kind of rotate around through the years. SBJ: How many iterations of this bar did you create before being satisfied? Askinosie: Dozens. And that’s usually the case for new products that we release. In this case, it took about two years, which was about average. We do things a little more quickly now, so it usually takes about a year. This one has been around for a while, and this was back in the early stages. There was really no one else making a bar like this. We were starting from scratch and weren’t even sure if this would work well. It took a long time. SBJ: How many chocolate bars do you produce? Askinosie: We have around 20. We keep about 15 (stock-keeping units) in stock all the time – and these are chocolate bars that are on the shelves in places like Whole Foods around the country. We also make a lot of seasonal, limited-edition bars throughout the year that are more what we call microbatch. These are bars that aren’t part of our core product line, so they sell through pretty quickly. Interview by Reporter Mike Cullinan. Owners: Shawn Askinosie and Lawren Askinosie Employees: 21 Founded: 2005 Web: Askinosie.com Instagram: @askinosie 2022 revenue: Would not disclose Product pricing: $10 Lawren Askinosie 62% Dark Milk Chocolate and Fleur de Sel bar ASKINOSIE CHOCOLATE LLC As the COVID-19 pandemic closed businesses and kept people at home, The Coffee Ethic owner Michelle Billionis wanted to find a way to get her product to customers. Creating ready-to-drink lattes in bottles that could be shipped and delivered was the end result. Billionis and her team are still making and selling them today. With more flavors in development, her goal is to see the downtown coffee shop’s product in stores around Springfield. SBJ: How did you get the idea for this product? Michelle Billionis: People love coffee and need coffee; it’s just a comfort. People during COVID could not come to us and get their coffee. We wanted to get it to them. It just made sense to try and make this portable. My team and I put our heads together and figured out a way to make it happen, so COVID was the sole reason we started that. SBJ: Are there plans to make more ready-to-drink lattes in bottles? Billionis: We have some seasonal ones. We’ve done mint mocha for Christmas, a date latte during Valentine’s Day and we’ve done chai in a bottle, but we don’t have those consistently. The two we do consistently are the Remedy Cold Brew and the Spiced Vanilla Oat Latte. We are waiting on equipment to do it more efficiently – probably won’t be until end of 2023, beginning of 2024. SBJ: How long does it take to come up with a readyto-drink recipe? Billionis: The staff gets together and starts talking about what flavors we want to do for the next season. For the Spiced Vanilla Oat Latte, it was part of our seasonal draft latte. We liked it so much that we bottled it. It was so popular, people kept asking for it. We come up with that stuff as a team; we knew we had to get this out to the people. SBJ: Why was it important to keep most of the materials needed for the product local? Where do you source your materials? Billionis: It’s important to me to keep money local, and it’s just fun to partner with a fellow small business. Additionally, the carbon footprint and the accessibility. You can call today, maybe get (the bottles) tomorrow. We source bottles from Mother’s Brewing Co. We were trying to do something quickly and locally, so we started buying bottles from them. SBJ: Do you have expansion plans and what are your goals for your product? Billionis: Whether it’s bottles or cans, we’re exploring all of that right now to reach that goal of seeing our product in every grocery store or convenience store in Springfield at least. Maybe even every bar. I can see it being an option for people who don’t want to drink. We’re also thinking about adding decaf to that for people who don’t want to drink caffeine. We want people to have a local product they can just grab and go with. SBJ: How has this product affected your business? Billionis: It’s expanded our wholesale options. People really seem to love something that’s prepackaged. Sometimes when we’re catering, it’s easy to bring some of those and then the line doesn’t get really long; it’s just quick and easy to serve to someone. Interview by Editorial Intern Presley Puig. Owner: Michelle Billionis Employees: 14 Founded: 2007 Web: TheCoffeeEthic.com Instagram: @thecoffeeethic 2022 revenue: Would not disclose Product pricing: $4.25-$5.50 Michelle Billionis Spiced Vanilla Oat Latte bottles THE COFFEE ETHIC LLC

14 · SBJ.NET APRIL 10-16, 2023 COOLEST THINGS College of the Ozarks provides students with hands-on vocational training as part of its mission. On campus and through its website, C of O Retail Operations Director Kiley Hutcheson says customers can purchase a range of student-made items like note cards, fruitcakes and small-batch, hand-crafted apple butter, which is sold around the world. SBJ: Why does College of the Ozarks make and sell apple butter? Kiley Hutcheson: College of the Ozarks has been established since 1906, and one of the first things we started with was our cannery, and out of the cannery we’ve evolved into fruit spreads, jellies and apple butter. The apple butter has carried through. We tried to stick with the recipe as close as possible to what we’ve always made. SBJ: Is the recipe a secret? Hutcheson: It is not in a vault, but it is one that we try not to give out because it is something we have passed down through the years. We have slightly modified it over the years. Currently, we have removed the use of red dye that gave the original recipe a dark rich color. Now, we add more spices – cinnamon, cloves and allspice – to enhance the natural color. It’s actually a lot better. It’s a keeper recipe. SBJ: How do education and culinary products relate? Hutcheson: At C of O, it’s a unique opportunity of what we do here. Students are getting quality education, but also through their workstations, they learn practical skills in a teamwork environment. When students first start, they might not think, “How is apple butter going to help me with my future career?” We’re teaching them aspects of understanding that producing something can be a reflection of you, your education and what the college stands for. That is quality and hard work. SBJ: What roles do the students have in making the apple butter? Hutcheson: Our fruitcake and jelly kitchen produces the product, and then it’s sent to the retail operations team, which makes sure the jars are inspected (and) quality checked. Then, they will run through the labeler, check those, then pack them up to either deliver to the campus gift shops or have them ready to pack for any oncoming orders from the website. When students are producing the apple butter in the kettles, they’re not just making apple butter. The end result will have the information about the school on it, and that it’s a student-made, hand-crafted, small-batch production. Students are the last ones to see the product before someone else gets it, so it really comes down to the students, their story, their hands. SBJ: What are some ways to enjoy the apple butter? Hutcheson: Of course, you can’t go wrong with just putting it on a piece of toast. But we have really tried to look at how to change apple butter, take a favorite, and evolve that. We have used our apple butter by mixing it into our scone mix; heat it up with orange juice to make apple cider. We have made a meat glaze, too, and added it to mashed sweet potatoes for autumnal flavoring. Interview by Contributing Writer Nicole Chilton. Owner: College of the Ozarks Employees: 2 supervisors; 17 students Founded: 1906 Web: Store.CofO.edu Instagram: @cofostudentmade 2022 revenue: Would not disclose (annually produces 80,000 jars of fruit spread) Product pricing: $8.95 for 8 ounces; $12.95 for 16 ounces Kiley Hutcheson Student-Made Apple Butter COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS Rooney McBride & Smith is proud to announce the promotion of Andy Scholz to Member of the firm. Practicing excellence. 1445 E. Republic Rd, Suite 300 Springfield, MO 65804 417-708-9681 rmsattorneys.com

SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 15 APRIL 10-16, 2023 COOLEST THINGS Copper Run Distillery in Branson West takes pride in the history that moonshine whiskey shares with the Ozarks Mountains and aims to create high-quality spirits using locally sourced ingredients and supplies. In October 2022, Copper Run released its Small Batch Honey, which has just two ingredients: small batch whiskey and locally sourced, raw honey, blended through a specific formula and stabilization/filtration process. SBJ: What was the inspiration behind Small Batch Honey? AJ Womack (general manager): One of our brand standards is to never use any artificial ingredients, but one of our sales reps kept telling us we needed a honey whiskey. It’s hard to use real honey, so most honey whiskeys on the market have artificial flavoring and color added. It took us about two years from inception, and then active development was about eight months of playing around with different recipes. SBJ: What did the development process look like? Lots of taste testing? Womack: One of the beauties of being a craft distillery is getting to pay attention to things like this. We knew we wanted to use real honey, so we got samples and started experimenting. We found a blend we liked, but it was the ugliest thing. The whiskey got cloudy and a reaction with the honey turned it black, even though it smelled and tasted fine. It took us another two to three months and experiments to naturally stabilize and purify the liquid. Keith Hock (co-owner): We had several focus groups over a fun six weeks, compiled their info, made changes and came up with what we believe is an outstanding flavor. SBJ: How has the market responded? Hock: New products always get attention, but I do think our honey whiskey tastes a bit different than the other stuff out there. Because we’re using real honey, it’s got good flavor but it’s not too sweet. Womack: We typically, on average, do 40-50 cases across all products that we sell out of the facility in a month, and 40-50 that are distributed outside. When the Small Batch Honey came out, 100 cases went out in just the first week. In stores, it’s available at Harter House and Schnucks, or at the distillery. Hock: In northwest Arkansas, we’re getting very good distribution. We’re at almost every single liquor outlet. SBJ: What are some favorite ways to drink it? Womack: There are multiple ways. In the summer on a hot day, added to a glass of ice tea makes an outstanding cocktail. It’s also great served on ice with a squeeze of lemon, or if you gently warm it, you’ve got a hot toddy, and stir it with a cinnamon stick. SBJ: What’s next for Copper Run Distillery? Womack: We’re not sure what we’re doing next, but our eyes are set on cinnamon whiskey, with real cinnamon sticks. We’re also playing with the idea of a rye whiskey. We’ve made cinnamon whiskey at the bar for tastings, but never as a commercial product. SBJ: What are your other top products? Womack: Our malted barley whiskey is very unique. If it were made in Scotland, it would be Scotch. But here in America, it’s called malted barley. It’s a mash up of malted barley and corn, and we finish it with 1% port wine. Interview by Contributing Writer Nicole Chilton. Owners: Keith Hock and Jason Iacobucci Employees: 6 Founded: 2009 Web: CopperRunDistillery.com Facebook: @copperrundistillery; Instagram: @copper_run_distillery 2022 revenue: Would not disclose Product pricing: $35 AJ Womack Keith Hock Small Batch Honey whiskey COPPER RUN DISTILLERY CONSTRUCTION | INDUSTRIAL | EXCAVATION | ENVIRONMENTAL | SERVICE 1.417.450.6000 | nabholz.com WE BUILD SPACES TO GATHER TOGETHER OUTDOORS The Ozark Mill, Ozark

16 · SBJ.NET APRIL 10-16, 2023 COOLEST THINGS Custom Metalcraft’s TranStore intermediate bulk container tanks, manufactured in Springfield, serve the specialty beverage industry to prepare wine, cold-brew coffee, distilled spirits and others. President Nikki Holden says the 350-gallon tanks originally were intended for chemical transportation. But in 1993, the wine industry realized the TranStore IBCs were extremely versatile and could be used for wine storage, fermentation, blending and bottling. Since then, she says Custom Metalcraft has been one of the go-to sources for these storage tanks. SBJ: How did Custom Metalcraft get into the beverage industry? Nikki Holden: Custom Metalcraft was started by my dad, Dwayne Holden, and his business partner, Jerry Cowen, who got their start at Paul Mueller [Co]. At the time, there weren’t many companies making one-off, unique items, which is what Custom Metalcraft started focusing on. In 1982, we added the TranStore line, which was designed to store and transport chemicals. Then in 1993, we got a call from a Missouri winery wanting to use our tanks, so we decided to see what the rest of the wine industry thought. We started attending the biggest wine conference in California, and after that, it grew from there. In 2006, we started working with distilleries and have also sold to wellknown coffee and soda manufacturers across the world. SBJ: What does the industry competition look like? Holden: As far as the square tank, about two other companies in the U.S. manufacture something similar. With respect to the wine industry, we established our name early on. We’re like the Kleenex of the portable tank world. We have just as big a reputation in the distilling industry as we do in wine. We made an appearance on TV show “Moonshiners.” That was cool! SBJ: Are there any other markets you’re in, besides chemicals and beverages? Holden: We have some products that we’ve sold to the cannabis industry and are working on how to find ways to utilize our equipment to standardize and streamline the cannabis extraction process. Manufacturing is a hidden industry. Everything we touch and use in our daily lives, all the inputs are from manufacturing. It’s so much in front of you. We have had some success with the brewing industry, but it’s been challenging because our tanks are not designed to be pressurized, and you need pressure to carbonate beer. We have found our cold-brew coffee tank design has worked well for making sour beer. SBJ: What are some of the companies that use your tanks? Holden: Oh, there are millions! Interview by Contributing Writer Nicole Chilton. Owner: Holden family Employees: 140 Founded: 1977 Web: Custom-Metalcraft.com Facebook: Custom Metalcraft Inc; Instagram:@custommetalcraft; Twitter: @custommetalcrft 2022 revenue: $55 million (TranStore tank sales alone) Product pricing: $3,500-$10,000 Nikki Holden TranStore intermediate bulk container tanks CUSTOM METALCRAFT INC. From Springfield, DMP designs, engineers, manufactures and sells intrusion, fire, access control and cellular alarm solutions internationally. Launching in March 2023 to regional and national retail, and commercial and financial institutions, officials say the XV-24 with AlarmVision is a patent-pending technology that works with existing video monitoring systems to fine-tune motion-detecting capabilities. Connected to a security network, the product finds available cameras and allows users to set parameters to receive the benefits of a smart motion detector that triggers notifications, responses and alarms in real time. SBJ: What separates DMP from its competitors? Alee Rouhani (marketing director): The security industry is made up of several multiglobal billion-dollar companies that do security but also make thermostats, air conditioning units, industrial fans, etc., and are usually headquartered, and almost exclusively manufactured, outside the U.S. DMP, the technology, and manufacturing were founded here in Springfield, and have been here for 45 years. SBJ: What need does the XV-24 with AlarmVision fill in the security industry? Barrett Hillenburg (product manager): In the history of security camera footage, if there is any motion, it’s a prompt to have to take a look. Or people are recording 24/7, 365 days a year, and it’s impossible to sort through that amount of footage. Rouhani: Even further, false alarms are a big problem, particularly if the authorities are called. Reports still indicate over 99% of alarms are false alarms – demonstrating the need for the XV-24, a more refined filter. There can be millions of dollars in fines, and in some areas, the authorities won’t even respond unless there’s a verified confirmation that someone is on-site. The XV24 with AlarmVision combines 24/7 monitoring for only relevant activity via AI video analytics with real-time notifications, including video clips sent with the detected activity notice to monitoring stations and end users for immediate review and response. SBJ: How does it work from a customer standpoint? Rouhani: Once installed, the customer sets where, what and when the XV-24 with AlarmVision should monitor, as well as the security system’s response. Users can highlight one or more specific areas in a camera’s field of view to be monitored, such as only desiring to monitor for vehicles within a certain distance around a building on weekends or for people at a door or entryway after operating hours. The XV-24 with AlarmVision syncs with DMP’s app, which allows users to view live video and sends video clips along with a notification when a relevant activity is detected. SBJ: What’s next for the XV-24? Kyle Heironimus (vice president of advanced products): The XV-24 is just the beginning for the AlarmVision platform. We are seeing it change the landscape of what traditional intrusion looks like. In the old days, you had an alarm on the door, type a keypad and hope you do it right. Then, the fob came along. As we look to the future, the system can tell who is in the building and exactly where. Interview by Contributing Writer Nicole Chilton. Owner: Rick Britton Employees: 370 Founded: 1975 Web: DMP.com Social: @dmpalarms 2022 revenue: Would not disclose Product pricing: Would not disclose Alee Rouhani XV-24 with AlarmVision DIGITAL MONITORING PRODUCTS INC.

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