APRIL 24-30, 2023 APRIL 24-30, 2023 · VOL. 43, NO. 40 YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY SINCE 1980 $2.50 · SBJ.NET 14 Mill Market targets mid-May launch by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net After months of delays that pushed its opening into 2023, the debut of 14 Mill Market is expected May 13. A clock on the website of the Nixa food hall and entertainment venue is counting down the days, hours and minutes until the targeted launch, which owners Rich and Leah Callahan say will serve as a soft opening. Leah Callahan said she and her husband hold monthly meetings with their on-site food vendors, which led to bumping back its yetto-be determined grand opening celebration. “It’s manageable, but it’s stressful,” Callahan said of the scheduled soft opening. “What they’ve asked us is to consider May 13 our soft opening and run a week of soft openings by invitation only, so that by the next weekend they’re ready to roll. That next weekend is Nixa Sucker Days, so we’re going to go nuts.” The Callahans are a constant presence on the 3.6-acre project site at 203 E. Mount Vernon St., as Rich serves as general contractor through Callahan Construction LLC. Leah said Base Construction & Management LLC originally was selected to lead the project designed by Insight Design Architects LLC. However, she said the estimated project cost with Base would have exceeded the couple’s $3.7 million budget, which led to the Catch a Wave See WAVE on page 30 See FOOD HALL on page 35 HEATHER MOSLEY END IN SIGHT Leah Callahan, co-owner of 14 Mill Market, says the newly installed 33foot bar, along with a planned lineup of 10 food vendors, should be ready for customers next month. Special edition inside Yin the DA LIFE 12K Square feet of 14 Mill Market’s food hall building Despite delays, owners of Nixa food hall stay on $3.7 million budget by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net Every day, 10,000 Americans turn 65, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and local developers are betting on some of them looking for new living spaces. In 2018, Springfield Business Journal published an article titled “On Watch for the Silver Tsunami” on the projected boom of senior housing developments in the area ready to welcome newly minted retirees. U.S. Census Bureau figures from 2021, the latest data available, show 15.9% of Springfield’s 169,700 population is aged 65 or over. Of these, 3,111 seniors still work. Some 16% of residents ages 60 and older received food stamps in the last year. Among senior homeowners, 30% were still paying off a mortgage. According to the 2022 University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging, nine out of 10 Americans between the ages of 50 and 80 wish to remain in their homes as they grow older – though 47% said they had given little thought to how to do so, and only 34% said their home has what it needs to allow them to age in place. Additionally, 2022 data from investment management company Merrill finds more than half of retirees ages 50 and over move into smaller homes after retirement, but a majority wish to age in place. At the time of SBJ’s initial reporting, it seemed developers were betting on a change of heart. The story reported that just-completed facilities for the older population included 31 duplexes in the $7.5 million Tera Vera development, 36 independent living units in the ‘Silver tsunami’ in housing on pause as older generation moves at its own pace
APRIL 24-30, 2023 2 · SBJ.NET 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 24-30, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 3 NEWS CONTENTS The SBJ newsroom shadows five business leaders for this annual feature. page 11 Day in the Life Open for Business A nonprofit moves to expanded space in a building it purchased last year. page 4 Business Spotlight There’s a change at the top of the $2 billion, Springfield-based Hiland Dairy. page 6 Executive Insider MSU football coach Ryan Beard shares his love for the game. page 8 Opinion Page Digital Editor Geoff Pickle considers ethical consumption, particularly when it comes to inclusiveness and business practices. page 33 by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net As continued rumblings of an economic downturn are amplified by news of bank failures, businesses large and small may find themselves scrutinizing their operating budgets for any opportunity to save. In a survey last year of 500 C-suite executives by national media company CFO.com, nearly all of them – 99% – said they intended to make budget cuts due to recession concerns. And recession worries continued to rank as the top challenge for chief financial officers in 2023. There is one resource these executives may be overlooking in their cost-cutting measures: business services provided by the Springfield-Greene County Library District. The library offers workspaces and meeting rooms, research databases, technology training and a growing makerspace, all available to individuals and businesses at no cost. Information resources Katy Pattison, manager of the library’s Schweitzer Brentwood branch, heads up the library’s Business Connect service, and she outlined the services available for free to entrepreneurs and businesses with library cards. One of its key offerings is kind of a no-brainer. “Everyone knows the library has books, but they may not know that we can get just about any book they want, because we can also borrow books for them from other libraries,” she said. Offerings include ebooks – no need to come to the library in person – and audiobooks, which can be absorbed during commutes or business travel. Many magazines are also available online. The library also has online research tools available to cardholders. Reference Solutions is a database of U.S. consumer and business information, allowing users to research companies to gather new sales leads or information about competitors, Pattison said. The resource also allows people to create consumer mailing lists for their target market for sales and fundraising efforts, or to uncover industry trends. A resource called Business Insights Global offers company, industry and investment reports, as well as business articles, market share data and company history for businesses worldwide. The information sources can be found online at TheLibrary.org/ business. Gabriel Cassady is co-owner with his wife, Kylie, of the marketing, design and public relations firm 2oddballs LLC. By chance, Cassady met Pattison at a networking event, and she described some of the library’s online resources. “Data is a big part of what we do, especially these days in marketing,” Cassady said. “It is just an incredible resource. We’re able to get contact information of companies and corporations and demographic data – that’s the really cool part.” Cassady said he was astonished by the amount of useful information he found in his favorite library research tool, Mosaic. The Experian product is described on that company’s website as a customer segmentation solution allowing businesses to “target consumers with precision.” With data from 126 million households, Mosaic tracks 650 lifestyle and interest attributes, its website states, providing insight into behavior, attitudes and preferences of customers. This allows marketers to match products to consumers’ behaviors and lifestyles and to leverage predictive insights while gaining an understanding of location and market profiles. “It’s both scary and fascinating that there’s that much data out there,” Cassady said. “It’s pretty cool for a business of our size to be able to get a hold of data that rich.” Cassady said 2oddballs recently used data on behalf of a client who was pitching a buyer presentation to Lowe’s. With the KATELYN EGGER Katy Pattison, manager of the Schweitzer Brentwood branch, said all 10 Springfield library branches have reservable co-working and meeting spaces, including this room suitable for a two-person collaboration. See INFO on page 28 Gabriel Cassady: The library’s research tools informed a client’s pitch to Lowe’s. Library district offers research tools, industry and consumer data, and software training at no cost to businesses Info and More 126M Households from which search tool Mosaic collects data
APRIL 24-30, 2023 4 · SBJ.NET NEWS By Mike Cullinan, Reporter Editorial Intern New business, new location, new owner? Send your info to newbusiness@sbj.net Nova Center of the Ozarks Goodlettsville, Tennessee-based discount retailer Dollar General Corp. (NYSE: DG) opened DG Market on Jan. 30 at 797 Hughes Road in Willard. Dollar General officials declined to disclose startup costs for the new market, which employs 17 and is located near the Willard Police Department. Officials say the roughly 10,000-square-foot store carries food, cleaning supplies and clothing sold in Dollar General shops, as well as an assortment of top 20 products typically sold in traditional groceries, including dairy, fresh meats and produce, and perishable items. The Willard shop is one of seven DG Market locations in Missouri and the first in southwest Missouri, officials say, noting the company currently has no additional Springfield-area stores in development. According to its website, the 1939-founded Dollar General Corp. operates over 18,800 stores in 47 states. Feb. 18 was the public debut of Nixa Public Schools’ Aetos Center for the Performing Arts. The 514 S. Nicholas Road venue at Nixa High School opened with a show by Mike Super, winner of NBC TV show “Phenomenon,” capping off a $15.3 million project, according to school officials. DeWitt & Associates Inc. served as general contractor for the 35,000-square-foot addition and 15,000-square-foot interior renovation project designed by Dake Wells Architecture Inc. The two-story Aetos Center includes an 1,100-seat auditorium with a stage, orchestra pit, catwalk, set-building shop, storage, media room, concession/ticket office and lobby. Springfield-based Meridian Title Co. late last year entered a $300,000, five-year sponsorship with Nixa Public Schools for the Aetos Center, which includes outdoor and interior company signage. Upcoming events include “Boy Band Review,” which benefits the Nixa chapter of nonprofit Care to Learn, and “Madagascar the Musical,” according to its website. Nonprofit Nova Center of the Ozarks Inc. completed a move Dec. 2 to 1311 E. Woodhurst Drive, a few dozen steps across the street from its 6-year home. The new location in 15,000 square feet is 50% larger than its former East Woodhurst Drive space, said Nova Center Executive Director Cheryl Cassidy. The 1992-founded nonprofit, which provides residential, day program, behavioral and employment services for people with developmental disabilities, purchased the building last year for an undisclosed price from Meek’s Lumber & Hardware. Relocation and renovation costs also were undisclosed. Cassidy said moving has provided more room for staff as Nova Center seeks to gradually expand service offerings for the roughly 100 clients it serves in Greene and Christian counties. About 20 clients are expected to be added to its on-site day program, she added. Clients typically are aided by Nova Center throughout adulthood and current clientele ages range from the early 20s to around 80 years old. ☎ 417-889-3121 NovaCenterOfTheOzarks.org DG Market Aetos Center for the Performing Arts ☎ 417-685-1285 DollarGeneral.com ☎ 417-724-6200 NixaPublicSchools.net/Aetos OPEN FOR BUSINESS Cheryl Cassidy apcsolar.com 888-272-9875 info@apcsolar.com Businesses throughout MO, OK, and AR are accessing the potential of their commercial building rooftops and installing 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 KATELYN EGGER
APRIL 24-30, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 5 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 by Eric Olson · eolson@sbj.net Accounting KPM CPAs & Advisors added Shelly Lea as benefits and human resources coordinator. She previously served as a senior HR coordinator at American National and has nine years of experience. Lea holds a bachelor’s in hospitality and restaurant administration from Missouri State University, as well as HR certificates from MSU and the HR Certification Institute. Banking & Finance Arvest Wealth Management was named to the National Association of Plan Advisors’ list of the nation’s top defined contribution adviser teams with assets under advisement over $100 million. It’s the firm’s second year in a row recognized by NAPA. Education Drury University named Alex Riddle as executive director of facilities. He has 30 years of experience as an operations manager and methods engineer, including stints at Thorco Industries, Paul Mueller Co., Honeywell International and The Boeing Co. Riddle, who holds a bachelor’s in drafting and design, with a minor in industrial management, from Missouri State University, most recently operated Riddle Ranch, his family’s 320-acre cattle ranch in Carthage. Darin Poe was named director of the AG Ministry Leaders of Tomorrow Project at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. With funding from a $5 million grant from the Lilly Endowment, he is responsible for the design, deployment and management of new and innovative theological training to local church leaders and to provide a pathway to advanced ministerial degrees. Poe has 35 years of experience, including 22 years as youth director for the AG Southern Missouri District, and he holds a bachelor’s in history and a master’s in organizational leadership from Evangel University, as well as a doctorate in organizational leadership from Southeastern University. College of the Ozarks was readmitted to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, effective in the fall semester when teams for men’s and women’s basketball, cross country and track and field, as well as women’s volleyball and men’s baseball will compete in the NAIA. The college will continue its membership in the National Christian College Athletic Association. Health Care Citizens Memorial Hospital added Dr. Marcello A. Assmann to its emergency medicine staff. He previously worked as an emergency medicine physician at Mercy Hospital Springfield and in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, as well as stints as an emergency medical technician, paramedic and emergency department nurse, including with CMH, 2010-14. Assmann holds a doctorate in medicine from Ross University in West Indies and completed residency at Texas Tech University’s School of Medicine. NEWSMAKERS Send announcements to newsmakers@sbj.net Akers Farabee Cronkhite Lea Riddle Assmann Poe CORRECTION Artemis Overland Hardware is located at 1637 E. Olive St. An Open for Business item in the April 10 issue listed the wrong address. WE SPECIALIZE IN PROBLEM SOLVING FOR BOTH SMALL AND LARGE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ROOFING PROJECTS 417-831-5634 | 1-800-884-1918 | www.DeltaRoofing.net Insurance John Akers, vice president of benefits at Ollis/Akers/Arney, was recognized by the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors for 25 consecutive years as a certified insurance counselor. The designation requires at least 16 hours of coursework annually and covers benefits, property and casualty, agency management, personal lines, commercial lines, and liability insurance. Media Springfield Business Journal hired Michael Farabee as a business strategist in the advertising department. He previously managed accounts in pharmaceuticals and environmental services and worked in golf course business management and operations. Farabee also served three years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Nonprofit Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri Inc. added Suzanne Cronkhite as director of advancement, responsible for the social services agency’s annual and capital campaigns. She previously worked as development director for Springfield Catholic Schools and held development roles for Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph and the Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri.
APRIL 24-30, 2023 6 · SBJ.NET NEWS BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Milk Men by Nicole Chilton · Contributing Writer Gary Aggus started working for a dairy plant during college but never expected to turn it into a lifelong career. Nearly 50 years in the industry later, he’s passed down the role of Hiland Dairy’s president to Rick Beaman, who is also no stranger to dairy. “When I first met Gary, we didn’t know it, but we both started out in the industry in the exact same way,” says Beaman, who came to Springfield-based Hiland Dairy Foods Co. LLC in 2012 as vice president and this month became president. Aggus began his career at Foremost Dairy as a college student at Missouri Southern State University, and Beaman’s start was working with ice cream at Borden Dairy in High Point, North Carolina. Aggus recalls the last thing he thought he would do in college was stay in the dairy industry. “These guys got up early and worked long days,” Aggus says. “But when I was getting ready to graduate, one of my supervisors was ready to leave, so I figured I’d get some management experience. “It got in my blood.” Aggus, who joined Hiland Dairy in 1984 as a district sales manager, helped the company go from $90 million in annual revenue in 1984 to $2 billion last year. He became the company’s president in 2003. Now operating 19 production facilities and 64 distribution centers in the United States, including its headquarters in Springfield, Aggus says many in Springfield are surprised at how far, and how many of, Hiland’s products are sold. “We’ve had some nice, consistent growth,” Aggus says. “It feels great.” Beaman acknowledges he has big shoes to fill. “We want to keep it growing,” he says. “We’ll look at acquisitions that make sense, look at products to grow the business, and see what customers are wanting in order to continue good sales.” One factor that Beaman attributes to Hiland Dairy’s growth is that a percentage of the profits are reinvested into the company, depending on the level of performance. “We have a capital budget we spend each year, depending on the needs,” he says. “Some plants might need a new tank, a new silo or a filler machine.” The Springfield processing center recently installed a box line that will automate and supply products to retailers in cardboard boxes rather than recycled plastic crates. The company also relocated its general offices, including management, accounting and human resources, from the Kearney Street plant to Primrose Street on the southeast side of the city. Beaman says Hiland has created a culture of investing in its employees toward career development and education. It’s rooted in the company’s mission statement, which says Hiland Dairy aims to treat its “greatest asset, our people, with dignity and respect,” by providing “a competitive compensation package and continually training and upgrading the skills of our people.” Beaman says it’s common for employees to have 15-20-year tenures. “Our culture is to promote from within when we can,” Aggus adds. Hiland does not own any dairy farms, but it is a farmer-owned dairy processor. “Management reports to a board of directors made up of our farmer owners,” says Hiland Marketing Manager Sarah Carey, via email, noting between the board and joint ventures with Prairie Farms and Dairy Farmers of America that represents approximately 7,000 dairy farms. The U.S. dairy industry, according to an economic study released by the International Dairy Foods Association in 2021, shows an impact of $752.9 billion, making up 3.3 million jobs and $41.6 billion in direct industry wages. Milk alone represents a $49 billion economic impact and supports over 62,000 jobs. “The dairy industry is very competitive,” Aggus says. “There were a lot more dairies when we got into the business than today.” According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the state is home to 36 Grade-A processing plants, and Hiland operates one in Springfield plus a Memory Lane plant in Fordland. “So many consumers know our company and our products,” Beaman says. Hiland Dairy makes over 500 products, including Silver Dollar City-branded ice cream, seasonal releases of eggnog and flavored milks. Beaman says the product development team works with internal staff to sample new products, as well as with focus groups and social media influencers. Laura Nielsen, a Nebraska-based food blogger with 12,000 Instagram followers, says she’s been consuming Hiland products since her elementary school cafeteria days. “Hiland has always been my go-to brand,” she says via email. “Now, my own daughter is drinking Hiland milk at her school, too.” Nielsen is a paid partner with Hiland since 2020, providing sponsored content on her blog and newsletter, as well as for Hiland’s special email promotions. “Hiland was at the top of my list because I use the products all the time and they are a Midwest-based company, which made sense for the majority of my audience,” she says, declining to disclose her earnings. Looking ahead, Aggus will remain with Hiland in a consulting role for an indefinite period. “To go from 130 miles an hour to zero is too drastic, so I’m going from 130 to 30,” Aggus says. “We’ll just see how it goes over time. I appreciate the company allowing me to do that. I think I can continue to provide some value to Rick and the team, and it will help me in my transition.” REBECCA GREEN Industry veteran Rick Beaman, foreground, is handed the Hiland Dairy president’s reins by Gary Aggus. Hiland Dairy Foods Co. LLC Owner: Operators of 7,000 farms Founded: 1938 Address: 830 E. Primrose St., Ste. 201, office; 1133 E. Kearney St., plant Phone: 417-862-9311 Web: HilandDairy.com Services/Products: Farmer-owned dairy processor, making ice cream, milk, butter, cheese and eggnog, as well as Red Diamond tea, lemonade and juice Employees: 350 local; 4,000 companywide 2022 revenue: $2 billion Longtime leader at Hiland Dairy is passing the baton
APRIL 24-30, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 7 NEWS Council members rush to post finance reports by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net Springfield City Council meetings occasionally begin up to five minutes after the scheduled start time, but the April 17 meeting gaveled in more than 35 minutes late. One reason for the delay became clear after a check of the Missouri Ethics Commission’s online campaign finance database, as four candidates – Mayor Ken McClure, Monica Horton, Abe McGull and newcomer Brandon Jenson – scurried to file reports before the start of the meeting. McGull was present for the start of the meeting, while Horton and McClure joined the meeting shortly after Mayor Pro Tem Matthew Simpson called it to order. A full council was present prior to consideration of the first council bill, after the city manager’s report. No explanation was given to the audience in the chamber or online for the delayed start. The Missouri Ethics Commission expressly requires a 30-day post-election report to be filed prior to a candidate taking the oath of office. Horton and McGull also filed their April quarterly reports during the delay, though those reports were due before midnight on April 17. Newly elected and reelected council members were sworn in toward the end of the meeting, after incumbent council members cast votes on remaining measures that had been introduced during their terms of office. Jenson was newly sworn to council during the meeting, along with Callie Carroll and Derek Lee, and incumbents McClure, Horton and McGull also repeated their oaths. City spokesperson Cora Scott later said the filings weren’t the only reason for the meeting’s delay, as transition meetings always include a lot of details to handle before oaths are administered. Additionally, Simpson entered the chamber after the meeting’s start time, having just received a Springfield Public Schools award as the year’s top Advocate for Education, Scott said. Local government watcher Linda Simkins, who runs the citizens oversight Facebook page Springfield/Greene County Start Local, said she was the person who raised a concern to city officials about the missing finance reports. Citizens for Ken McClure, the mayor’s campaign committee, filed its 30-day post-election report at 7:23 p.m., nearly an hour after the council meeting was scheduled to begin and a little over two hours before his oath of office was administered. That report showed receipts for the election cycle at $128,257 and expenditures at $107,592. Melanie Bach for Mayor, the committee belonging to McClure’s opponent in the election, has not yet filed its final report, but the April quarterly report showed total receipts of $30,478 and total expenditures of $16,269, meaning the unsuccessful candidate left nearly half of her contributions unspent. The due date for unsuccessful candidates to file their 30-day post-election report is May 4. Committee to Elect Monica Horton, the group representing the unopposed Zone 1 candidate, filed its April quarterly report at 7 p.m. and 30-day post-election report at 7:07 p.m. Receipts for the election cycle were $1,714, and all of those funds were spent. Brandon Jenson for SGF, the committee Meeting delayed for last-minute campaign filings See REPORTS on page 34 provided by CITY OF SPRINGFIELD New council members Callie Carroll, Brandon Jenson and Derek Lee are administered the oath of office during their first Springfield City Council meeting April 17. Also sworn in were incumbents Mayor Ken McClure, Monica Horton and Abe McGull, who ran unopposed April 4.
APRIL 24-30, 2023 8 · SBJ.NET Ryan Beard EXECUTIVE INSIDER MSU football coach injects passion into new role After taking over as head football coach in January at Missouri State University, Ryan Beard is set to lead the Bears into its next season beginning Aug. 23. by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net The exit of Bobby Petrino as head football coach at Missouri State University in December and promotion of defensive coordinator Ryan Beard to the role a day later felt like a whirlwind to the program’s new leader. That’s not to say Beard wasn’t ready to take on the responsibility, recalling he couldn’t get on the phone quick enough with MSU President Clif Smart and Director of Athletics Kyle Moats to express his desire for the job and that the university and Springfield was where he wanted to be. The swift decision from the administration was the answer Beard wanted to hear, but also was one he admits took a bit to process. “The first time I got to really take a breath and realize what just happened was probably spring break,” he says, adding he took his wife, Katie, and their four children on vacation for a few days. “It was the first time I could take a deep breath, take it all in and digest what had transpired the last few months. I know it sounds crazy as that was two months after I got the job, but everything happened so quickly.” His four-year contract runs through Jan. 14, 2027, with an annual base salary of $275,000, plus additional incentives and benefits. “I always wanted to be a head coach. I’ve had that on my mind since the day I got into the coaching profession,” says Beard, 33, the program’s 22nd head coach, and likely the youngest, according to MSU officials. “It suits me well. Some of my assets as a person shine through in the role of a head coach.” Walking into Beard’s office in the Forsythe Athletics Center on MSU’s campus, two passions are apparent: family and football. Framed photos of his family, along with artwork from one of his children, are prevalent in his space that’s a short walk away from Robert W. Plaster Stadium, where the football Bears play their home games. Beard says he occasionally had conversations with Petrino, his father-in-law, about what he wanted his future to look like. Petrino, who initially left MSU for an office coordinator position at University of Nevada-Las Vegas, is now in the same role at Texas A&M. Beard began work at MSU in 2020 and helped lead the Bears to two NCAA FCS playoff appearances. The team grabbed a share of its first conference championship in 30 years during Petrino’s tenure, and the trophy now sits prominently on a bookcase in Beard’s office. “Two words fit me pretty well: passion and energy,” Beard says of his coaching style, noting it extends to his life in general. “Everyone should find their purpose in life and do that. Find something that you wake up and you enjoy doing. That makes you better at whatever you’re doing.” When it comes to football, Beard considers himself very intense. “There’s an old saying, ‘When it’s time to play, play hard. When it’s time to work, work hard.’ When you step on those lines, it turns on,” he says, snapping his fingers. “It’s time to work and do things the right way and live up to the standard that you talk about.” Ronnie Fouch, co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach at MSU, said he’s known Beard since 2017. The two shared an office then at the University of Louisville, where they both were on the coaching staff. “We’re really close and worked up the ranks together,” Fouch says. “He’s a straightforward guy and he means what he says. He I always wanted to be a head coach. I’ve had that on my mind since the day I got into the coaching profession.”
APRIL 24-30, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 9 HEATHER MOSLEY really cares about the guys, which aligns with how I feel.” Exactly as Beard described himself, Fouch says Beard is energetic and passionate about his work. “He really brings out the life in guys on the field and shows his emotion, getting enthusiastic and chest bumping,” Fouch says, noting Beard’s interest in the players extends to helping them become more responsible in the community. “But he also knows how to demand and confront the details of what our defense or offense requires.” Prior to his start in coaching in 2012, Beard was a standout player at Western Kentucky University. He was a defensive back from 2007-11 at the school where he was a twotime All-Sun Belt selection and named to the league’s All-Freshmen and All-Academic teams. Beard, who holds two degrees from Western Kentucky – a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in recreation and sports administration – says few people know he was studying veterinary medicine in college before fully committing to football, noting he loves horses and other large animals. He had played three seasons as a starter on the team and learned pre-vet clinicals were scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday, both important football practice days. He sat down with his coach and realized his love for football superseded his interest in becoming a veterinarian. “I put myself into it at that point. Football was a love of mine and enjoyed doing it,” he says. “I took 18 hours that summer and switched to a business degree.” Sports have been part of Beard’s life for as long as he can remember, adding as a child he played soccer, baseball and football, as well as participated in karate. “It was anything and everything my mom could do to keep me busy. I was that kid,” he says. “I needed to be going. I was always high motor. Whatever I do, I kind of do it hard and fast and with everything that I have. That’s kind of who I am in regard to even how I coach. You’ll get everything I’ve got. Whatever I do, I try to do it to the best of my ability.” Growing up in a sports family, he says dinner table discussions are frequently sports related. “It’s kind of ingrained in who we are,” Beard says, noting he and his wife, a former collegiate golfer, have even taken up pickleball. “Anything you can compete in, I’m game.” It’s hard to imagine Beard has much time for other athletic pursuits outside of work these days, as he and Katie are raising four children all under the age of 5, including two 1-year-old twins. Beard says when he’s not working, you could often find him spending time in the backyard playing ball with his kids or pushing them on the swing set. “I can’t even put it into words what being a dad is and how much it has changed my life,” he says. “I couldn’t have a better life partner than Katie. She’s brilliant; she’s beautiful and an unbelievable mom. She’s just a warrior at home for us. I wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for Katie, that’s for sure.” Beard incorporates a “family first” mentality at MSU, noting it’s not unusual to see his children running through the halls outside the coaches’ offices or on the practice field. “My guys know that if there’s anything that comes up with your family, it’s not negotiable; you go do it,” he says. The importance of family and giving full effort to all that you do was instilled at an early age by his parents, Beard says. “They taught us what it takes to be successful. You can’t just show up and wish it into existence,” he says. “There’s a term we use around the house: Never be too big to make the coffee.” It’s a philosophy he applies to the young coaches on his staff. “No matter what your role is in the organization, add value,” he says, whether that’s carrying a positive attitude or suggesting ideas at staff meetings. “Make yourself an asset.” •
APRIL 24-30, 2023 10 · SBJ.NET NEWS sponsored by The 2023 Giving Guide will be published on August 28th. The deadline to reserve your 2-page spread for 2023 is June 30. If you need board approval to participate, please contact advertising@sbj.net to request details you can present to your board at your next meeting. The annual Giving Guide is a platform for your 501c3 nonprofit agency to reach the influential readers of Springfield Business Journal to inform them on your mission and goals, seek volunteers and donations, and attract new board members. by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net The old business portion of the April 17 meeting of Springfield City Council included one bill that was downright elderly: the approval of a redevelopment project for a special taxing district created in May 2013. Council unanimously approved the redevelopment project on 96 acres at the southwest corner of West Sunshine Street and South West Bypass and will consider a measure to initiate tax increment financing at its next regular meeting. Council blew the dust off the measure not to clear up unfinished business before three new council members were seated – the most longstanding member, departing Councilmember Mike Schilling, began on council in 2015, after the creation of the TIF – but rather to meet a legal deadline. There’s a useit-or-lose-it requirement under Missouri’s Tax Increment Financing Act that council approve redevelopment projects within 10 years of the approval of a TIF plan. City Economic Vitality Director Amanda Ohlensehlen explained the history of the project, noting a TIF agreement between the city and Springfield Plaza Real Estate LLC was approved May 6, 2013. At the same meeting, council took up bills to approve two redevelopment project areas, but those were tabled at the time because the developer was not ready to proceed. Bills to approve the two redevelopment project areas were reintroduced in December 2016, and the first area was approved; however, the developer again asked to table the second. That was the measure OK’d by council April 17, nearly seven years later. Ohlensehlen noted RPA 1 encompasses the northern third of the 96-acre redevelopment area, about 36 acres, adjacent to West Sunshine Street. Since council approved the project in 2016, it has been redeveloped with 150,000 square feet of commercial retail space. RPA 2 includes the remaining southern two-thirds of the redevelopment area, about 61 acres, and the TIF plan would allow the redevelopment of 250,000 square feet of space for office uses. The TIF plan’s total project cost is $78.5 million, and reimbursable project costs are $9.6 million for primary road improvements, utility costs, the cost of a detention basin, and professional fees and capitalized interest on the developer’s private construction loan. Ohlensehlen explained the TIF agreement would allow tax revenue to be collected for up to 18 years within each redevelopment project. Revenues collected include payments in lieu of taxes, equivalent to all of the new tax revenue generated since the project was approved, and economic activity taxes equating to half of the incremental increase in sales tax from the project. Developer Tom Rankin of Springfield Plaza Real Estate told council the development firm had spent $4.5 million on streets, detention basins and other improvements to pave the way for lots to be sold in Phase 2. He said about 38,000 square feet are under construction next to Ulta Beauty in the large retail center, and Michael’s Arts and Crafts is about to relocate there. Fast food chain Whataburger is about to open, and a contract will soon close on a lot next to Central Bank. That leaves one lot to sell, he said. “We’ve been at this project for probably roughly 10 years now,” he said. “I was a much more humble developer 10 years ago than I am today after working with national retailers like we have for the last 10 years.” He added that he didn’t get all of the retailers he had hoped to in Phase 1, but some landed close by, which is disappointing for him but good for the city as a whole. “It’s been a good project,” he said. “I think it’s probably been a catalyst for the redevelopment of the area.” Council unanimously approved the activation of the next TIF phase. Boyd school project OK’d Council gave the green light to a project to convert the former Boyd Elementary School Council approves Springfield Plaza tax incentive plan TIF phase is given the nod a decade after it was first introduced Tom Rankin: Plaza Shopping Center has catalyzed development on the west side. See COUNCIL on page 34 CITY BEAT Also from the April 17 City Council meeting: • Council approves rezoning to turn former Boyd Elementary into apartments. • New marijuana regulations are now in effect in the city. • A rezoning is approved for a storage facility. • Recommendations for the use of nearly $3 million in funds from HUD are approved. • Council OK’s sanitary sewer improvements in north Springfield. • A new fire safety position is established through a collective bargaining agreement with firefighters. Full City Council coverage is at SBJ.net/citybeat 400K Combined area in square feet of Springfield Plaza retail and office space
SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 11 APRIL 24-30, 2023 F Y LI in the FIVE LOCAL EXECUTIVES, FIVE DAYS. Springfield Business Journal’s Day in the Life series gives you a glimpse into the world of five of our community’s leaders. In this year’s edition, we share the stories of a diversity champion, manufacturing general manager, trails advocate and nonprofit director, fulfillment center general manager, and businessman and chamber of commerce leader. The common thread is intense passion – for their work, employees and communities. SBJ’s editorial staff followed them as they racked up tens of thousands of steps, led community and company meetings, interviewed a new candidate and connected with longtime staff, enjoyed competition with staff, worked out, and toured some of the region’s largest manufacturing and distribution facilities. We also learned more about what drives them and got a front-row seat to their leadership styles. Join us as we share what we saw in the 2023 Day in the Life. —Christine Temple, Executive Editor DA E HART page 12 KROMREY page 16 HOLTBERG-BENGE page 14 LEE page 18 MITCHELL page 22
12 · SBJ.NET APRIL 24-30, 2023 AlgerianH T April 11, 2023 On this sunny Tuesday, Algerian Hart arrives around 8:15 a.m. at his office in Missouri State University’s Carrington Hall to prepare for the day as interim chief diversity officer and assistant to the president. It’s a trying time for his profession, as the Missouri House of Representatives less than two weeks earlier approved a budget that would block state funding for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at public colleges and universities. [Editor’s note: Just before press time, the Senate Appropriations Committee removed the anti-diversity, equity and inclusion language from its version of the budget.] Hart appears to take the news in stride, though preparations are being discussed in case of funding changes from Jefferson City. “It’s checkers in the beginning, but now it’s chess,” he says, noting President Clif Smart “and team got in front of it.” Hart’s office has posters of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and former Presidents Barack Obama and John F. Kennedy. Another featured on the wall lists the Nguzo Saba, the seven principles of the African American cultural celebration Kwanzaa: Umoja for unity, Kujichagulia for self-determination, Ujima for collective work and responsibility, Ujamaa for cooperative economics, Nia for purpose, Kuumba for creativity and Imani for faith. To Hart, the issues surrounding his profession and differences of opinion in society are relatively simple. It comes down to finding commonality to break down ignorance and unconscious biases. “There’s so many types of commonality,” he says. “Lack of conversation is a problem.” At MSU, Hart and his team are working to “quiet the noise” and “create a common space of communication,” he says. Hart, who previously was a professor and associate dean of the Graduate College, took on the interim chief diversity officer role in August last year. story by Geoff Pickle photography by Rebecca Green FOCUS DAY IN THE LIFE Those efforts might look like conflict resolution or inviting more people to the table to deconstruct barriers before they exist. And he sees the work as larger than MSU or academia. “Missouri State University is reflective of Springfield,” Hart says. At 9 a.m., Hart has a faculty candidate interview with Ryan Gordon, who is interested in working in kinesiology at MSU. “How’s it going so far?” Hart asks, grabbing a notebook from his desk. “Talk to me a little bit about your first impressions. What are some of your thoughts in wanting to engage?” It’s part of a full day of interviews for Gordon, who Hart says would be “a rockstar hire.” At 10:30 a.m., Hart heads down a floor in Carrington to meet with Smart for a one on one. Smart greets him with a smile and takes a seat on a chair in front of his desk, while Hart chooses a spot on the sofa. They’re discussing DEI strategies, particularly in light of the debate at the Missouri Capitol. “What’s your team’s thoughts on the Facing Racism training?” Smart asks, referring to the MSU program centered on racism, its history and ways to mitigate it. Hart responds, “I think it is valuable.” He discusses his office’s work introducing what he calls “culturally centric” workshops at the university. “This is created according to the data that colleges have. Now, we have our own training,” Hart says. “The timing is really good in how we’re dealing with Jeff City.” Hart takes a portion of the meeting with Smart privately. As he walks out of the office around 11:43 a.m., Smart calls after him, “A lot more to come.” After a quick stop in his office, Hart takes the stairs down to the bottom floor, exits and walks toward the nearby Plaster Student Union for lunch. It’s more stairs at the PSU, as he heads to the top floor. He stops a few times to catch up with colleagues – such as Plaster Student Union Director Terry Weber and MSU Dean of Students Andrea Weber – to swap stories and smiles across the handrails. He reaches his destination at the Union Club, a faculty and staff restaurant that overlooks the northeast side of campus, including the well-known Bronze Bear statue. Students stroll by below, and a food delivery robot is seen carrying out its mission near a roadway. From the buffet-style lineup, Hart gets a helping of salad, and the entree today is cashew chicken and fried rice. 8:15 a.m. – Arrives at office in Carrington Hall 9 a.m. – Conducts faculty candidate interview 10:30 a.m. – Has one on one with MSU President Clif Smart Noon – Eats lunch at the Union Club 1 p.m. – Follows up with student interested in DEI career 2 p.m. – Participates in Collaborative Diversity Conference planning, including Zoom meeting with a keynote speaker 4:15 p.m. – Arrives at Central High School baseball game AR Askinosie Chocolate 62% Dark Milk Chocolate and Fleur de Sel bar 27North Inc. 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SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 13 APRIL 24-30, 2023 He shares a brief conversation with Rhonda Stanton, an associate professor in the English Department. They hadn’t seen each other in a bit, and she wanted to say hi. While eating lunch, Hart says his role in the campus community often involves conversations with co-workers, whether that’s informal or part of his work in mitigating conflicts. Hart says his office is always open, though an email is just as good as an in-person ask. After lunch, Hart quickly follows up with a former graduate assistant who is pursuing new career ideas in the diversity, equity and inclusion field. The former students seeks guidance and feedback from Hart. Around 2 p.m., Hart has a planning meeting for the upcoming Collaborative Diversity Conference. This includes a Zoom conversation with Amy Blansit, CEO of the Drew Lewis Foundation, who is slated to present the keynote speech at the conference’s Inclusive Excellence Fund Gala on April 28. “It was a neat call because Amy is currently in Spain,” he says afterward. After wrapping up some work in the office, including planning for a meeting with the DEI Roundtable, a group of industry leaders who are slated to meet soon at MSU, Hart prepares to leave for the day just after 4 p.m. A meeting on professionalism statements and strategies is canceled at the last minute, giving Hart plenty of time to head to his son Rowen’s baseball game at Nichols Park. “The Central Bulldogs came out on top over Waynesville in the bottom of the seventh with a walk-off 7-6 victory,” Hart reports. “My son pitched, went 3-3, including an intentional walk in the bottom of the seventh. Great game.” • ONE ON ONE Hart updates MSU President Clif Smart as the two await further news on diversity funding from the state. CATCHING UP Hart stops on the way to lunch to chat with Plaster Student Union Director Terry Weber and MSU Dean of Students Andrea Weber. STEPPING UP Stairs are a constant for Hart during his day. It’s three floors to his office and four to the Union Club in Plaster Student Union. KING OF INSPIRATION A poster of Martin Luther King Jr. inspires Algerian Hart’s work as MSU’s interim chief diversity officer. FOCUS DAY IN THE LIFE
14 · SBJ.NET APRIL 24-30, 2023 FOCUS DAY IN THE LIFE HOL RGBENGE Jena April 4, 2023 In the John Deere Reman Electronics facility in northeast Springfield, dozens of employees work with small tools and microscopes to repair broken electrical components, everything from engine control units to GPS receivers. It’s delicate and precise work – and jobs that some said couldn’t be done. “When we started it around 2012, everyone said it wasn’t possible,” says John Deere Reman General Manager Jena Holtberg-Benge as she walks the facility floor. “It’s been very, very successful. It’s our fastest-growing business.” This is one of six facilities Holtberg-Benge oversees as part of Springfield-based John Deere Reman. On this Tuesday, it’s also where she started her workday, joining a tour of the facility with a couple dozen out-of-town guests. It’s part of a full day of education on the remanufacturing business for John Deere’s construction and forestry division’s customer support team, which works with dealers and large corporate businesses. Holtberg-Benge and Quality Engineer Aaron Frater take turns fielding queriers throughout the hourlong walkabout. “Sometimes people who do remanufacturing question whether this is a better product or not,” says Leonel Ruiz, John Deere territory customer support manager for the southwest U.S. “I want to make sure I’m not lying.” The remanufacturing process updates products with the latest technology, Holtberg-Benge says, often at a lower price. “When we say better than new, that’s what we mean,” she says. After a 10-minute drive, Holtberg-Benge is at her next appointment: another tour, but this time of what she calls the core center, a 280,000-square-foot remanufacturing facility in Strafford. As Hotberg-Benge brings up the rear of the tour, she chats with employees on the line. She greets them with a smile and, for many, by name. She slips away from the tour a few minutes early to join a financial review meeting. It’s a Microsoft Teams call in her office at story by Christine Temple photography by Heather Mosley the core facility. Hearing the numbers, she sits back in her chair, listening closely. She leans in as data and charts pop up on the screen. She lets her team drive the call and offers input with intention. She works in a tidy office with a few mementos on her desk, like a photo of her son, Kai. She also has a row of personal and team awards, one for community service and another for a company acquisition. A stack of a dozen books is perched on another corner. She says they are some of her favorites on leadership. “The Courage Playbook” by Gus Lee was one of the first books she read with her leadership team, a practice she takes on once a year. “The Goal” by Eliyahu M. Goldratt was the book that launched her career in manufacturing operations. She’s worked at John Deere for nearly 23 years and has led the remanufacturing team for six. At 10:45 a.m. she takes a 7-minute drive to her third, and final, John Deere facility of the day. It’s in the Partnership Industrial Center on Mustard Way. She’s just in time for another Teams call. This one’s on battery circularity. “It’s a whole new space for automotive and for heavy duty off-road,” she says of electrification. From her borrowed office space at the Mustard Way facility, Holtberg-Benge heads to a conference room for lunch with the visiting group. She connects with many of them, who are visiting from Phoenix to Montreal before they connect for a post-lunch debrief. Speaking to the group, Holtberg-Benge outlines some of the sustainability goals of the company: “95% of the content of every single vehicle we make in the future by 2030 needs to be recyclable; 65% of that material that we put into those machines should be sustainable content and 50% growth in remanufacturing revenue,” she says. “There’s a sustainability impact as a result of growing the business.” “That’s a wonderful message,” says Jeff Ehrhardt, who organized the day’s visit. “That should be in every sales packet.” After wrapping up her presentation, Holtberg-Benge heads to the manufacturing floor around 1:30 p.m. to catch the first shift as they end their workday. She says she walks the floor every day she can to connect with the team. While she has seven direct reports, she takes time to connect with as many as she can of the nearly 500 others at the shop. Many have worked there for decades. Her familiarity with the team is evident as one employee calls out: “Are you causing trouble again?” “Oh, definitely,” Holtberg-Benge replies with a laugh. Back in Holtberg-Benge’s temporary office space, Administrative Assistant Kristy Sweitzer swings by just after 2:30 p.m. to confirm travel plans for two upcoming trips: one to John Deere headquarters in Illinois and another to factory and distribution centers in TBE 8 a.m. – Tours John Deere Electronics on East Division Street 9 a.m. – Tours John Deere Core Center in Strafford 10 a.m. – Attends financial review meeting via Microsoft Teams 11 a.m. – Meets virtually on battery circularity 11:30 a.m. – Eats lunch on-site with the visiting group 12:30 p.m. – Kicks off construction and forestry large accounts meeting 1:30 p.m. – Connects with first-shift employees at the Mustard Way facility 2:30 p.m. – Checks email and prepares for the next workday 3 p.m. – Leads Reman/Power Systems compliance discussion via Teams 4 pm. – Attends leadership team meeting 5:15 p.m. – Has teambuilding event at BigShots Golf Copper Run Distillery Small Batch Honey whiskey Digital Monitoring Products Inc. 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