MAY 15-21, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 1 MAY 15-21, 2023 · VOL. 43, NO. 43 $2.50 · SBJ.NET by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net When the Ozarks Regional YMCA listed its 62,000-square-foot downtown building for sale in June 2022, the possibilities were wide open for the 1913 brick-and-stone structure. Among them were the chance it might be torn down for reuse as apartments, like the YWCA building across the street from it, demolished in 2018. Few would have predicted a bank would purchase the building at 417 S. Jefferson Ave. The successful bidder in the private auction conducted by Zamora Real Estate was Rolla-based Phelps County Bank, which paid $2.05 million plus $102,000 in fees, closing on the sale May 1. The building was listed for sale nearly a year earlier for $4.5 million. It’s a page from the bank’s Rolla playbook, where it occupies a former hotel that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and where Marilyn Monroe once spent the night. “We all say our office was Marilyn’s room,” said Linda Goff, the bank’s vice president of marketing. CEO Dominic DeLuca said the new bank branch in Springfield will serve individuals and businesses. “Checking accounts and auto loans, real estate loans, your small-business real estate loans – you know, this kind of simple banking, for lack of a better term,” he said. The bank is zeroing in on a temporary location to open right away, and the search for new employee-owners will begin soon, with the Jefferson Avenue building to open in 2025. IN THE AIR Aerial acrobatics are on display at a local training studio. PAGE 6 Chamber selects Small Business Award winner by Geoff Pickle · gpickle@sbj.net The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce on May 10 unveiled the winner of its 2023 W. Curtis Strube Small Business Award. Kare Health & Wellness LLC, a functional medicine business from owner and founder Keri Sutton, took home the top honor during a ceremony at Oasis Hotel & Convention Center, according to a news release. “Keri Sutton’s small-business story is incredibly inspiring,” chamber President Matt Morrow said in the release. “By continuing to apply everything she learned on her journey to establishing Kare Health & Wellness, she and her team have built a strong and sustainable model to provide patient-centered functional medicine.” Sutton’s search for answers to her own health issues resulted in the creation of the functional medicine business. Sutton describes her health journey in a video on the company’s website, noting she began with traditional treatments while working as a hospitalist after graduating from nursing school. “All of the physicians I had seen were unable to help me. I thought there had to be a different way,” she said in the video. “I started researching different things on my own. I found integrative and functional medicine, and I was very intrigued by that. It made sense to me that looking at something that’s going on with a patient from a big picture and ... determining the root cause would make the most sense in See CHAMBER on page 25 See BANK on page 24 Keri Sutton launched her functional medicine business after experiencing health issues. YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY SINCE 1980 JYM WILSON CEO Dominic DeLuca, who stands in front of a rounded wood-and-brick fireplace with Craftsman features, says many of the original architectural elements of the former YMCA building will be restored. Rolla bank purchases former YMCA for $2M and plans $4M in renovations Phelps County Bank expands to downtown
12 FASTEST-GROWING COMPANIES: LISTED A-Z ▲ Citizens Memorial Hospital ▲ CoxHealth ▲ Enviromental Works Inc. ▲ Epic Strategies LLC ▲ GigSalad LLC ▲ Keep Supply ▲ Little Sunshine’s Enterprises Inc. ▲ Next Level Solutions ▲ OMB Bank ▲ Russell Cellular Inc. ▲ Sun Solar LLC ▲ Superior Rents & Sales Inc. DOZEN 2023 Presented by INDIVIDUAL AWARDS: C-SUITE CEO: Paul Bosovik, 27North Inc. COO: Weston T. Wiebe, College of the Ozarks CFO: Cathy Hubert, Harmony House CIO: Katie Wendt, Environmental Works Inc. SALES & MARKETING PROFESSIONAL Tessa LeRoy, Environmental Works Inc. HUMAN RESOURCE PROFESSIONAL Lindsay Bauer, Keep Supply EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR Lisa Christy, Harmony House JUDGES’ CHOICE: Keller Williams Greater Springfield MAY 18 | 5:30 P.M. Oasis Hotel & Convention Center Find out more at SBJ.net/D12 LAST CHANCE TO PURCHASE TICKETS NO. 1? WHICH COMPANY WILL BE
MAY 15-21, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 3 NEWS CONTENTS A local couple’s app is connecting the community to diverse businesses and resources. page 11 Diversity in Business Open for Business CoxHealth opens a clinic at Sunshine Street and National Avenue. page 4 Business of the Arts Sculpture Walk Springfield debuts its eighth collection in the quality of place initiative. page 8 Cityscape Reporter Karen Craigo discusses wedding trends and neighborhood quarrels on her beat page. page 26 Opinion Page Executive Editor Christine Temple shares a cautionary tale of AI in hiring practices. page 23 by Geoff Pickle · gpickle@sbj.net Real estate holding company Tenedor Pesado LLC, the recent buyer of a large Chesterfield Village office building, is aptly named. The company, whose name means “heavy fork” in Spanish, now is the owner of the 2215 W. Chesterfield Blvd. property known for its signature giant fork, said Abbye Bobbett, architect and chief operations officer for Kinetic Design and Development LLC. Kinetic is a partner with Sanders, Myers & Blackwell CPAs LLP in the real estate company that acquired the three-story building, Bobbett said. “This property fit the bill of exactly what both of us were looking for,” Bobbett said. Realtor Gerald Zamora of Zamora Real Estate said he brokered the property deal, which closed May 1. The seller, Springfield digital commerce firm Classy Llama Studios LLC, listed the 25,271-square-foot property for sale at $5 million, according to a listing document provided by Zamora. The financial terms of the deal were undisclosed. HEATHER MOSLEY Kinetic Design leaders, from left, Abbye Bobbett, Griffin Bobbett and Adam Kreher stand with SMB partners Jacob Sanders, Matthew Blackwell and Chris Myers at the building the companies purchased together. See BUILDING on page 20 Social group brings LGBTQ+ people together by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net Last May 4, the Facebook group that became 417 Out And About was created. The private group curates activities for the local LGBTQ+ community, some members of which may feel isolated from other supports. The idea was born on a game night on New Year’s Eve 2021, when John Fahey, co-owner of Wallace Rae Salon, and a group of friends drew up a list of things they wanted to do in the coming year – things like bowling leagues, sports nights and regional outings. The group considered inviting more people to join in the fun, as linking people’s hobbies with networking might help members of the LGBTQ+ community build relationships locally. “We’re a group of people that are alienated from our families and our church groups, which are the traditional means of social networking,” Fahey said. His husband, Jason Ray, the executive director of the Southwest Missouri Council of Governments, brought his organizational expertise to play and registered 417 Out And About Inc. as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit so it could open a checking account to pay for activities. Today, there are 540 members in the Facebook group, administered by Fahey, Ray and Matt Le, owner and photographer at Luxium Creative. Fahey reflected on the night it all got started. “At that point we were noticing that there weren’t many things to do in the springtime, so we See SOCIAL on page 29 ‘Heavy fork’ building changes hands in Chesterfield Village Architecture and accounting firms team up to buy property from Classy Llama John Fahey: Many LGBTQ+ people are limited in social networking options.
MAY 15-21, 2023 4 · SBJ.NET NEWS By Mike Cullinan, Reporter and Presley Puig, Editorial Intern New business, new location, new owner? Send your info to newbusiness@sbj.net Hamra Center An ownership change for 417 Pet Sitting LLC took place at the start of the year. C.J. Miles said he purchased the business Jan. 1 from Amanda Reinert for undisclosed terms. Miles, who also owns Pasta Express on East Battlefield Road, said he mostly runs 417 Pet Sitting from an in-home office. With nine employees who work remotely, 417 Pet Sitting offers in-home services to clients, including daily visits for cats and dogs, private dog walks and overnight sitting. Daily check-ins cost $25 per visit and overnight stays are $100 nightly. Miles said all employees undergo a background check and are insured, bonded and licensed by the company. He said the business is almost 15 years old and the ownership transition has been smooth with Reinert staying on the rest of the year as a consultant. Springfield-based Hamra Enterprises LLC opened its first Wendy’s restaurant in Mount Vernon on April 27. The fast-food eatery, 1501 E. Mount Vernon Blvd., is located in the TA Travel Center near Interstate 44. “This new travel center provides a new level of service to area residents and travelers alike and represents our ongoing philosophy of providing quality and convenience to those we serve,” said Mike Hamra, president and CEO of Hamra Enterprises, in a news release. The restaurant spans 2,705 square feet, said Eve Metheny, director of brand marketing for Hamra Enterprises. When fully staffed, the restaurant will have 50 employees. The drive-thru and indoor dining are open daily from 6:30 a.m. to midnight. Hamra Enterprises now has 98 Wendy’s restaurants in five states, including 41 in Missouri. CoxHealth’s newest clinic opened April 17 at the southwest corner of Sunshine Street and National Avenue. The Hamra Center, the 32,000-squarefoot facility at 1819 S. National Ave., houses the CoxHealth Advantage Care clinic and urgent care that officials say are meant to improve access for patients in central Springfield. The clinic offers primary multidisciplinary care and basic lab and X-ray services on-site, according to Brock Shamel, senior vice president of Cox Medical Group. The urgent care facility is open daily for 12 hours a day. CoxHealth officials say the Hamra Center employs 50, which includes Brandi Eilenstein, who manages the Advantage Care clinic, and Ashley Miller, who manages the urgent care. The center was designed by H Design Group LLC and BSA LifeStructures Inc. of Overland Park, Kansas. KCI Construction Co. was general contractor. CoxHealth in August 2021 purchased the 2-acre property across the street from Mercy Hospital Springfield. ☎ 417-269-2700 (urgent care); 417-269-9220 (Advantage Care) CoxHealth.com 417 Pet Sitting Wendy’s ☎ 417-300-2167 417PetSitting.com ☎ 417-429-1222 Wendys.com OPEN FOR BUSINESS REBECCA GREEN Ashley Miller and Brandi Eilenstein 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
MAY 15-21, 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 Art The Springfield Art Museum’s 2023 Art In Bloom contest issued eight prize awards among three categories. The juried winners for floral design are Jennifer Herman of Countryside Gardens, Best In Show; Rcena Maness of Flowerama, Best Creative Arrangement; and Neletha Fuemmeler of Hickory Hills Country Club Floral, Best Traditional Technique. The juried winners for fashion design are Katie Jankovitz of Norman’s Bridal, Best in Show; Nate Branscom of Moon City Tailoring and Alterations, Best Creative Design Concept; and Sara Gonzalez of Ensembles of the Past, Best Traditional Use of Materials. The people’s choice winners are Cherrelle and Samuel Hitchcock of Flora & Forge, for floral design, and Kashena Star Northrip of The Fools Gladly, for fashion design. Cash prizes awarded totaled $11,500. Banking & Technology OMB Bank hired Oksana Kigilyuk as vice president and mortgage loan officer. In nearly 20 years of working in lending, she’s held posts with Home Mortgage Group and Bank of Little Rock Mortgage. Health Care Citizens Memorial Hospital added physician assistant Glenn Gardner to the staff at the El Dorado Springs Medical Center and Walk-In Clinic. Certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, he holds a bachelor’s in biology and general science from John Brown University in Arkansas and a master’s in physician assistant studies from Missouri State University. CMH hired three registered nurses to leadership positions: Maeghan Kidd as director of clinic nursing and quality, Memory Curry as clinic educator and Kim Presley as the long-term care educator for CMH Foundation’s facilities. Kidd previously worked five years in clinic operations for Mercy Women’s Services. Curry is a former clinical instructor at Missouri Southern State University’s School of Nursing. Presley has worked 24 years for CMH, most recently as director of clinic nursing and quality. Three Springfield-area health care systems received grades ranging from an A to a C for hospital safety standards in a report by The Leapfrog Group. Based on over 30 national performance measures involving patient safety, Mercy Hospital Springfield received an A grade, followed by CMH with a B and Cox South with a C. Mercy Hospital Springfield scored best in the categories of infections, safety problems and hospital staff; CMH rated best in preventing safety problems, performing better than the average in the areas of harmful events, dangerous bed sores, patient falls and injuries, falls that cause broken hips, collapsed lungs, dangerous blood clots, and air or gas bubbles in the blood; and Cox South’s high scores were in safety problems, with better than average scores in patient falls and injuries, collapsed lungs, dangerous blood NEWSMAKERS Send announcements to newsmakers@sbj.net Presley Kigilyuk Gardner Curry Kidd clots, and air or gas bubbles in the blood. Law Carnahan Evans PC shareholder Joseph D. “Chip” Sheppard III was named to the 2023 Missouri Lawyers Media Power List as a Top 30 Mergers & Acquisitions attorney. The publication’s editorial team selects recipients based on attorney interviews, outcomes of significant cases and past reporting. Sheppard chairs Carnahan Evans’ cannabis/ marijuana law group and is a member of its transactional practice group. Nonprofit Convoy of Hope hired LeAnne K. Krell as chief legal officer to oversee its global legal strategy beginning in August. She has nearly two decades of experience working for Casey’s General Stores Inc. (Nasdaq: CASY) for which she held the roles of vice president, deputy general counsel and chief compliance officer. Krell holds a Juris Doctor from Drake University and a master’s in strategic leadership from North Central University, and she is a U.S. Army veteran. Technology PCnet LLC earned an information technology security certification called the Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements No. 21 SOC 2 Type II. The system and organization controls standards are audited by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and recipients are continuously monitored to maintain security performance levels. Sheppard arvest.com | (417) 885-7300 Finance and grow a business with digital tools from Arvest Bank. Goodbye nine to five, hello start-up. Goodbye limits. Hello possibilities. Member FDIC Loans subject to credit approval. Krell
MAY 15-21, 2023 6 · SBJ.NET BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT by Nicole Chilton · Contributing Writer In an unassuming location, across from Sequiota Park and neighboring 4 by 4 Brewing Co., is a place that defies expectations – and gravity. Springfield Aerial Fitness LLC, owned by Daniela Torres, is a studio offering classes and training for all ages interested in aerial fitness, pole and the circus arts. Torres says an early obstacle was deciding on a name for one of the first studios of its kind in Springfield. “There was nothing like this in Springfield,” she says. “Aerial wasn’t even a word many people knew about.” Torres jokes that people would ask if it was like the mermaid – “No, not like the mermaid,” she says. “We settled on Springfield Aerial Fitness.” Aerial silks is a type of circus or acrobatic performance art in which the performer climbs, wraps and maneuvers their body in and around two long pieces of fabric suspended from the ceiling. The performer uses their hands, feet and body to climb and twist around the fabric, creating various poses and movements, and incorporating drops and twists. In addition to silks, students at Springfield Aerial Fitness can also learn similar maneuvers on the trapeze or lyra hoop, a circular apparatus. When Torres began offering classes in 2016, she collaborated with Zenith Climbing Center, teaching silks and youth circus classes on Wednesdays and Fridays. “I had to climb every time, up the arch or up the big wall to set my points for the silks. And then take them down,” Torres says. “I honor that hard work and am so incredibly grateful to Zenith for giving me the opportunity and believing in me.” By October 2018, Torres was ready to open her own location and found a former dance studio that was a perfect fit, with rent costing $1,750 a month. “I paid a monthly fee to Phenomenon, a former dance studio, for Monday classes, and Zenith let me do a percentage of the sales,” she says. “So, I never took out a business loan and built this whole thing from the ground up.” Torres has spent the years transforming the studio to reflect her personality, adding sequined curtains, mood lighting and black glass chandeliers. The studio currently offers 18 weekly classes, three to five monthly workshops, plus open gym and private lessons, with class sessions ranging $15-$60. In addition to in-studio offerings, students and instructors perform during special events across the region. In May 2023, the studio hosted a student showcase, highlighting new work from students and instructors, and in June students will perform at Ozarks Pridefest as well as travel to Arkansas to perform at musician Randall Shreve’s album release party. “I work about 60 hours a week,” says Torres, who initially was the only instructor. The studio now has seven instructors and a contracted social media manager. Aerial arts is a relatively new fitness and performance concept, with some credit given to Canadian gymnast André Simard, who developed aerial acrobatics routines for the Cirque du Soleil in 1987. According to Torres, aerial arts doesn’t have a regulating body, and its history is a bit hazy, with some websites saying it wasn’t until 1998 that it was formally recognized as a performing art form. Torres initially experimented locally and in Cincinnati with a group of other curious but untrained people, but says she quickly realized “my silk on a tree was not a safe way to rig and that there was a proper form.” This led her to Boulder, Colorado, where she trained under Nancy Smith at Frequent Flyers, which started in 1988 and has influenced the aerial dance industry. Because of the lack of regulation, Torres says Springfield Aerial Fitness has high in-house standards for its instructors and students – not only with the aspect of the art form, but also how it relates to physical therapy and proper engagement. One of Torres’s first students, Mar Brichacek, started classes at the Zenith location in 2016. Brichacek, who has been involved in competitive dance throughout her childhood, plus softball, weight lifting and bodybuilding through adulthood, says she found a new way of training her body and mind through Springfield Aerial Fitness. “I was drawn to it because it was completely different from any movement style I’d done,” she says via email. “Something I loved about Springfield Aerial Fitness, and Dani’s teaching style specifically, was that the movement was encouraged to be a journey, not a destination with an end goal.” As one who deals with chronic pain, Brichacek says the philosophy of listening to her body versus pushing through the pain has been healing. “I have learned to appreciate what my body can do, more than what it cannot do,” she says. “Aerial also doesn’t care about what type of body you have; it is for every body.” Brichacek says in addition to the inclusive nature of the physical training, she also has found a community of family through Springfield Aerial Fitness, even meeting her spouse while taking classes. “My closest friends at the studio are my chosen family,” she says. “They were at my wedding when my family wasn’t. They have celebrated my good times, and held me through the bad.” Brichacek, in addition to being a student, also participated in multiple performances and taught as an instructor until last month. In the Springfield area, more aerial fitness studios are popping up, from aerial-specific training to dance and yoga studios that incorporate aerial silks and acrobatics. Torres says she’s excited to see more opportunities but warns that learning with trained professionals is crucial for safety and success. “It is so much more beneficial to get them some classes with professionals, with good engagement and developing good habits, or private lessons, if they want to work at a faster pace,” she said. • JYM WILSON Daniela Torres, owner and instructor of Springfield Aerial Fitness, performs on the lyra during the studio’s show, “Unleashed,” on May 7. Defying Gravity Springfield Aerial Fitness teaches the art of aerial silks and performs for events Springfield Aerial Fitness LLC Owner: Daniela Torres Founded: 2016 Address: 2811 E. Galloway St., Ste. C Phone: 417-315-2861 Web: SGFAerialFitness.com Email: 417aerialist@gmail.com Services/Products: Aerial arts training and school, offering classes and workshops in aerial, pole and circus arts, plus entertainment for hire for events 2022 revenue: Would not disclose Employees: 7
MAY 15-21, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 7 NEWS Council’s repeal of ordinance saves cost of referendum by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net Springfield City Council skirted a referendum election with a unanimous vote at its May 8 meeting to repeal a declaration of eminent domain. With that Feb. 21 declaration, council had sought to acquire the property at 334 N. Main Ave., where the Hotel of Terror haunted attraction has operated for 45 years. The eminent domain declaration would have allowed the structure to be torn down to make way for the Renew Jordan Creek project and the replacement of the Main Street Bridge, as well as the construction and maintenance of other storm and water infrastructure. The city and Hotel of Terror owner Sterling Mathis agreed to continue negotiations for the purchase of the building and relocation costs for its movable contents. Prior to voting for the repeal, Councilmember Brandon Jenson urged both sides to move quickly to avoid running up construction costs with a long delay. The repeal made moot another resolution, which would have asked voters to decide in an Aug. 8 election whether to let the eminent domain ordinance stand and the building be condemned. An election would have cost the city an estimated $250,000, according to City Attorney Rhonda Lewsader. Mathis appeared in person at the meeting to make a case for council to repeal the petition. “We’re here because the city is trying to take my property for way less than it’s going to cost to move or rebuild somewhere else,” he said. Mathis said the city began its negotiation with a $200,000 offer four years ago, in line with an appraisal of the attraction as a vacant building – not a turnkey haunted house that has been in seasonal operation for 45 years. He noted 15,000 people visited the attraction in October 2022. The city’s current offer is $550,000, according to Mathis. He said a construction company has told him recreating the attraction elsewhere would cost $1.5 million-$2 million. Mathis owns another downtown building, the Dungeons of Doom, a haunted attraction built into a grain elevator at 701 W. Wall St. There is room in that structure for the Hotel of Terror’s contents, he said, but the property needs its roof replaced, metal silos removed, sprinklers installed and other work, priced at $500,000, before a now-closed area can be opened to visitors as a new Hotel of Terror. Mathis said a moving company hired by the city found the majority of the features he has built into the attraction over the years cannot be moved. He added that a city-recommended builder believes he can do design work for $130,000-$150,000, but Mathis – who said he is not opposed to moving – needs more time to work it out. Chamber group promoting regionalism nears quarter-century mark by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net After nearly 25 years, an organization focused on the economic growth of southwest Missouri is revisiting how best to promote regionalism among the 10 counties in its purview. Officials with the Springfield Regional Economic Partnership say the group has undergone a variety of structures involving financial support from members since its formation in 1999 when it launched as the Ozarks Regional Economic Partnership. Vicki Pratt, senior vice president of economic development for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, said the SREP is a coalition that doesn’t have a formal structure, such as a nonprofit. It comes under the umbrella of the Springfield Business Development Corp., the economic development arm of the chamber formed in 1983. “It’s a coalition of the economic development organizations across the 10-county area that is focused together on the things we can do better together as opposed to trying to do individually,” she said. “It’s pooling our resources – talent, time and money – in order to get things done that are important for all of us but can’t really be done well at any one individual level. It’s much better to look at it from the regional level.” The partnership is built on the foundation of regional cooperation, officials say. It spans Barry, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney and Webster counties and includes 649,960 people, according to 2021 census data. Chambers of commerce, economic development groups, and municipal and county governments in the 10 counties are among those that have representation in SREP, although Pratt said there’s no longer any formal membership. Pratt said there used to be a flat fee for annual membership. While she was uncertain of the amount, a 2017 document on the city of Republic’s website noted an annual minimum investment of $5,000. “At this point, there is not a membership fee,” said Hollie Elliott, executive director of the Dallas County Economic Development Group and SREP chair. “It’s more of a convening of trust. This regional partnership really is built on that, investing in those relationships that, for example, I might have with counterparts in other counties and communities. We’re able to get together and share information and problem-solve.” Structure seeking While the SREP doesn’t have a board of directors, a chair is elected, Pratt said. As chair, Elliott also sits on the SBDC Board of Directors. According to the SBDC website, the nonprofit developed a menu of services in 2011 for its SREP regional partners. While the site didn’t note levels of investment its partners could make, Pratt said service options included a website presence, economic profile and chamber representation to do retail outreach at International Council of Shopping Centers conventions. Those services have fallen by the wayside in recent years, she said. “We’re still working through what that structure needs to be and should be,” Pratt said. “We’re having conversations with our respective organizations across the region. The conversations aren’t about the money as they are about what are you looking at from a regional entity going forward.” The partnership holds quarterly meetings with the most recent in Springfield drawing around 25 people, Pratt said, adding the locations change frequently. Nixa will host the next one, most likely in June, she said. Elliott said she’s been participating in SREP meetings since 2017 and sees the group having a capacity for relationship building for diverse counties in the economic development sphere. “Hopefully, in the future, it is a way to better communicate regionalism with Springfield. That’s something Springfield definitely wants to see as value to the region,” she said. “This is one area where there’s many regional partners that are already kind of together and part of a committee.” On topic She said most of the meeting discussions cover topics such as site readiness and infrastructure needs in the 10 counties. Workforce development and talent attraction also are regularly covered, she said, noting Dallas County had a recent addition to boost those seeking careers after high school. The $12 Vicki Pratt plans to visit more communities within SREP’s 10-county region. 650K Population in Springfield Regional Economic Partnership area as of 2021 See SREP on page 28 SBJ FILE The city and the owner of Hotel of Terror are renewing negotiation talks. CITY BEAT Also from the May 8 City Council meeting: • Council members debate short-term rental permit applications and policies. • University Heights president asks mayor to recuse himself from upcoming zoning vote. • Recent council candidate requests public statement in support of LGBTQ+ community. • Matthew Simpson is unanimously reelected as mayor pro tem. Full City Council coverage is at SBJ.net/citybeat Brandon Jenson: City and Hotel of Terror owner should negotiate expediently to save money on construction. $250K Estimated cost of a referendum election A council member stresses savings by negotiating quickly on Hotel of Terror purchase See CITY on page 27
MAY 15-21, 2023 8 · SBJ.NET by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net With the 2023-24 Sculpture Walk Springfield collection officially revealed April 29, 31 pieces are scattered like Easter eggs throughout the city. It is the eighth collection released by the Sculpture Walk Springfield nonprofit, whose vision statement describes it as “a museum without walls with access to all.” The collection consists of temporary sculptures, most of which are up for a year, as well as 13 permanent acquisitions that have become landmarks in the community. The group’s mission is, in part, to enhance quality of life while promoting economic vitality, according to the organization’s website. The new collection is made up of conversation starters, like “Long Way Home,” a 12-foottall, sky-blue structural steel composition by Cape Girardeau-based artist Nathan Pierce. It’s a piece that seems to have fallen out of orbit and landed at the corner of Park Central West and South Campbell Avenue. Or there’s “When We Were Young” by North Carolina-based sculptor J. Aaron Alderman, newly sited in front of Hotel Vandivort at 305 E. Walnut St. That one is a 6-foot-6-inch steeland-copper sculpture of three human figures climbing upward. This replaced another of Alderman’s sculptures, “When Lightning Strikes,” a female figure crouching in steel and copper. Bridget Bechtel, executive director of Sculpture Walk since February, said this year’s collection has larger-scale pieces than those featured in the past. She said she enjoys the fact that the collection keeps growing in size and scope. “I hope in the next few years we start to see more public art in Springfield and expand the program,” she said. Many of the pieces are arresting. Some – like “Spiranthes,” a steel rendering by Springfield artist Nick Willett of a native Missouri orchid, located at the entrance to Founders Park – might also be called beautiful. But beauty is not a requirement, Bechtel said. “Art doesn’t have to be beautiful,” she said. “Art is a conversation starter. It can be the new weather. Instead of talking about, ‘Is it sunny today?’ we can talk about, ‘Did you see that sculpture down on Campbell?’” Willett, who earns a living doing installations for Bass Pro Shops, has two pieces in this year’s collection, both chosen from conceptual drawings he submitted. The other, “Dematerialize, Manifest, Transport,” is at Walnut Street and Kimbrough Avenue. Artists who exhibit in Sculpture Walk get paid stipends, and the amount is flexible, typically $1,000-$5,000. Bechtel said artists are Nick Willett’s sculpture of a native Missouri orchid, “Spiranthes,” is located at the entrance to Founders Park. Burrell Behavioral Health’s Be Well Community Bells – this one painted by local muralist Samantha Cox – are part of Sculpture Walk for a second year. The gate to the Rountree neighborhood is a permanent Sculpture Walk exhibit. HEATHER MOSLEY Sculpture Walk Springfield aims to be workforce attractor, boost quality of life
MAY 15-21, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 9 paid through donations from individuals and businesses. The nonprofit houses its fund at Community Foundation of the Ozarks. “The artists are our bread-and-butter,” Bechtel said. “If you want to see art, you have to take care of artists. You have to do right by the people who are bringing you joy.” With Sculpture Walk, artists don’t have to worry that they will be offered payment merely in exposure. “You can’t buy groceries with exposure,” Bechtel said. “But you can die of exposure,” Willett chimed in. Tim Rosenbury, director of quality of place initiatives for the city of Springfield, said environmental sculpture is a quality of place feature. “Environmental sculpture, and Sculpture Walk in particular, add to that kind of community character that makes Springfield more competitive as a place for businesses to locate and for employees to live,” he said. Additionally, outdoor sculpture has a landmark quality and helps with wayfinding, while also serving as a tourism draw. “The other thing that’s important in a city like Springfield, where we have 40,000 college students, is that it speaks to the enlightened younger generation that Springfield gets it,” he said. “If we want to attract the brightest and the best, then we need to be the brightest and best, too.” Most sculptures are in public spaces, but a handful are placed at businesses, and there are no special sponsorship requirements for that, Bechtel said. Businesses can have their name on a sculpture, the official map or other materials with a donation, offered at various tiers that begin at $1,000. Curtis Marshall, co-owner of Tie & Timber Beer Co. LLC at 1451 E. Cherry St., is a member of the Sculpture Walk Board of Directors, and he also has two sculptures at his brewery – one in the beer garden and the other an archway made of illuminated, weathered boards that is situated next to a “Welcome to Rountree” sign. That one is called “Portal #5” by Gabe Meyer and Jared Zillig. Marshall said Sculpture Walk reflects well on the city by showcasing a spirit of energy, curiosity and enjoyment. It’s a lot like the vibe he has tried to establish at his business, he noted. As a bonus to hosting artwork, Marshall said he gets a kick out of welcoming art lovers who pause for a beverage as they move from one installation to the next. Brian Weiler, director of aviation at the Springfield-Branson National Airport, still has a sculpture from the 2021-22 collection on display – “Rings,” by Illinois artist Aldon Addington. Weiler acknowledged not many people are going to walk to the airport to see its sculpture, but he said he likes how having a Sculpture Walk piece ties the airport back into the community. “When you think of Sculpture Walk, you think of downtown,” he said. “Having a piece here helps draw the airport to its roots, which is our city. We’re not out here by ourselves; we’re part of the community, and we want it to be that way.” Burrell Behavioral Health is in its second year of participating in Sculpture Walk with its Be Well Community Bells – iron bells painted by artists to tell personal stories about mental health. A bell by artist Samantha Cox, known locally for her murals, is located at the intersection of Park Central East and Benton Avenue. Bailey Pyle, a Burrell clinical provider, said the painted bells help to reduce the stigma of talking about brain health. Like Bechtel, she sees art as the spark for conversation. “Our brains follow us everywhere,” Pyle said. “To expect that we can leave those difficulties at home is ignoring part of our humanity. This is about encouraging those conversations, encouraging help-seeking and encouraging us as a community that is healing together.” • “Art is a conversation starter. It can be the new weather.” —Bridget Bechtel, Sculpture Walk Springfield “It speaks to the enlightened younger generation that Springfield gets it.” —Tim Rosenbury, City of Springfield
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SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 11 MAY 15-21, 2023 by Karen Bliss · Contributing Writer Michelle and Duan Gavel are fulfilling a vision for Springfield: Anyone in the community can find multicultural businesses and services just by opening an app on their smartphones. As owners and founders of All Things Diverse SGF, the Gavels designed the app that serves as a directory of hundreds of diverse businesses, organizations and resources in the Springfield area. The app is available on both Google Play and the App Store. It debuted in July 2022 and has since been downloaded over 1,000 times and received 35 five-star reviews. Michelle Gavel said she moved to Springfield from Chicago to attend Missouri State University in 2003, and it was difficult for her at the time to find businesses in the Queen City that provided the hair care she needed. “I would basically have time on breaks where I would go home, get all my hair care products and visit my hairdresser so that I could get those kinds of things taken care of, because I didn’t know where to locate those things down here in Springfield,” she said. Duan said his and Michelle’s personal struggles in finding diverse resources is what grew into the idea of creating the All Things Diverse SGF app. “Springfield is so word-of-mouth and it drives me a little crazy,” he said. “If you’re not in the little group that knows, you might miss it. I felt like a lot of things in Springfield were that way, and there needs to be an easier way to list all the diverse things and someone can go to one place to see it all.” Building an app While All Things Diverse SGF is free for users and for businesses or organizations listed on the app, All Things Diverse SGF LLC is a side business owned by the Gavels to provide technology services. For their day jobs, Michelle is director of student access and opportunity for Springfield Public Schools, and Duan is a reliability compliance specialist for City Utilities of Springfield. Duan graduated from Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in physics in 2007 and also received a bachelor’s in information technology/software development in 2021. He used those skills to create the All Things Diverse SGF app. App users are able to search for businesses by category from services like real estate agents to personal care. Once a business is located in the app, the user can find contact information or a direct link to the website. Besides businesses, there are also university resources such as multicultural groups or scholarship opportunities related to diversity, listed from Missouri State University and Drury University. Organizations such as the Amigos Latinos-Hispanic network and industry professionals are also included in the app. Diverse resources listed include multicultural small businesses, nonprofits, organizations or industry professionals seeking to serve the underrepresented, under-resourced or multicultural customer, Duan said. He said the demographics represented include people with disabilities, women-owned businesses, LGBTQ+, veterans, various religions, races and ethnicities, and multilingual people. Developing the app wasn’t difficult, Duan said, due to its simple design and functionality, but finding what businesses and organizations to include took up the bulk of the effort. He said he started with adding diverse businesses in the community the Gavels knew of first, and then online research through Google and Facebook. Duan input the details, such as business contact information and direct links to those businesses’ websites. “It did take a lot of work to get that data in the app,” he said. “But once the data was in there, the way the app was designed, it would just display it.” Michelle said in addition to helping the community connect with diverse businesses, they also wanted to help diverse business owners by offering a unique marketing platform. She noted many are small businesses. “We wanted to highlight that those resources are here,” she said of diverse businesses. “You just have to know where to find them. Instead of just stumbling upon them by chance, let’s be intentional about getting information out in front of the community.” DIVERSITY IN BUSINESS On the Map All Things Diverse SGF app is designed to help locals find a variety of multicultural services See MAP on page 16 JYM WILSON Michelle and Duan Gavel are creators of the All Things Diverse SGF app that promotes diverse people and businesses in the Springfield area. Big Momma’s Coffee & Espresso Bar on C-street is one of the businesses listed. 400 Number of businesses, organizations and resources available in the All Things Diverse SGF app
12 · SBJ.NET MAY 15-21, 2023 The Have Faith Initiative brought together 100 faith groups and nonprofits during the pandemic to support the region during the health crisis. What’s the goal now? It was crisis and urgency that brought us together and recognizing that communication was absolutely key. So, walking alongside the [Springfield-Greene County] Health Department and city and being able to ask questions. Out of that, there was relationship, on Zoom, but still meaningful connection that we recognized we’re better when we’re together. One of the things that happened as a way of celebrating – recognizing that space – was the Ozarks Festival of Faiths that took place this past January. To recognize we are different – and that’s great. Part of that vision was bringing folks around the table, building relationships and really figuring out how we can deepen that in places of understanding. We have a wide base of religious tradition here. We have resolved (to have) quarterly gatherings. Our spiritual lives and mental health and well-being was one (initiative) we named quickly. We’re already planning for our next Ozarks Festival of Faiths next year. A study from the Pew Reseach Center finds religious discrimination is at a high among Muslims and is growing against Jews and Evangelical Christians. What are the opportunities to educate? There’s a Buddhist community, the Ozarks Dharma Community, that practices here. We frequently partner with them. One of the ideas that my Buddhist sibling, Chris Williams, had in the wake of that is a walk and talk. It was a program that she had seen was happening in Canada to address the issue of polarization. It sounds overly simplistic, potentially, but brilliant. People get together and they go for a walk and there’s intentional questions and people are paired who are of different backgrounds to just get curious about each other. There’s research about this that when we walk together, that if we’re not having to have this face-toface conversation, that it’s just this beautiful movement of what can transpire. The planners of the Ozarks Festival of Faiths did it together. Some folks sat. I ended up getting to walk with a sibling who is of Hindu tradition and another friend who, we’re both Christian but we have different understanding. It wasn’t about judging each other. It was about going for a walk together. We started with talking about our own faith background and our practices now and what we would want other people to know about our faith. It was incredible these moments of being able to share honestly. We can group people and make assumptions, but when I sit down with another human and I’m present to their story, something changes and transforms. In the workplace, many religious holidays observed are from the Christian faith. But other holidays that might impact a person’s ability to work at times or participate in a group outing. How can workplaces be conscious of different religions? Knowing who’s there in the space and finding ways to share those traditions. I feel like food is such an easy starting place if there’s a diversity of people and a willingness to try. I’m cautious to be prescriptive. It is more just an opportunity to get curious about each other and create more space where that feels possible and OK and, in fact, celebrated. And working toward acknowledging that we’re not always going to get that right. How do we speak up honestly and let ourselves evolve? All these things sound really nice, but the work of it is really tough. National Avenue Christian Church was one of 200 organizations that opposed language in the state budget that prohibited funding of vendors and programs associated with DEI. That language was cut. What is the faith community’s role in DEI work? Being curious, getting more education and a recognition that there is racism within our systems. Some of that means we’re going to have to change. How can we wade further into conversations about curiosity and getting to know one another better and acknowledging this is really important? I name and claim it from my practice as a Christian. I understand it as that’s a big part of the work that Jesus did as he was working alongside people who were marginalized. The work is first actively listening and figuring out what does that mean and then what are the impacts because they’re seismic in our community. I have been refreshed and energized, especially in the interfaith and Have Faith Initiative conversations, that even though we might be at different levels of understanding, we want to work toward this goal and we recognize that this is a part of the conversation and that racism has been alive and well in our community here in Springfield. We have to talk about that and know our history and figure out how to do better. Tell me about your church’s position on DEI. Everyone is welcome here and we have a list of genders, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious background or not, all are welcome here. We’re really trying to live that out through a multitude of trainings. We made a move a couple years ago that our leadership of the church, we would ask them to go through anti-racism training. The next direction and move into the year ahead will be a revision of our bylaws and getting clear about how can that really be a value that weaves through every single practice from our hiring practice to our leadership. jenn simmons Lead Pastor, National Avenue Christian Church and Co-chair, Have Faith Initiative A CONVERSATION WITH ... REBECCA GREEN Excerpts from an interview by Executive Editor Christine Temple, ctemple@sbj.net FOCUS DIVERSITY IN BUSINESS Your Business Could be Under Attack 417-831-1700 / PCnetinc.com Download our Ransomware Survival Guide
SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 13 MAY 15-21, 2023 We’re all in this together. It’s become a popular catchphrase, but when it comes to diversity and inclusion in the workplace, it takes more than mantras to create lasting change. As leaders, we make progress when we shift from pep talks to executing plays from the playbook. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to the issues, these four simple practices have proven invaluable for leaders seeking to produce more diverse and thriving workplaces. 1. Practice humility. Be aware of your unconscious bias. Indviduals are predispositioned to view a situation in a particular way, even in the brains of the most well-meaning. While we may consider ourselves free of prejudice, research from McKinsey & Co. shows this unconscious bias is still hard at work. Unconscious bias in a leader can wreak havoc on organizational health if it goes unnoticed and unchecked. This is where leaders must practice humility and thoughtful examination of their own values, thoughts and behaviors. If you suspect your words or actions may be influenced by unconscious bias rather than your conscious values, one practical strategy is shifting the circumstances. Change the specifics of the scenario and determine if you still feel the same way. For instance, say you’re considering promoting a woman on your team, but the role requires rigorous travel and you’re concerned because she has young children. Flip the scenario: If this colleague was a man, would you be inclined to feel the same? While it’s far from foolproof, a simple exercise like this can help decision makers take a more honest and humble approach to leadership. This shifts you from a place of defensiveness to a place of discovery. 2. Practice communication. Emphasize why it matters. For lasting change, diversity must become more than a feelgood initiative in the minds of both the leader and the team members. A company pledge or statement communicating commitment to diversity and inclusion is a good start. To make it stick, leaders must continually practice speaking the language of inclusion and communicating the why behind it. Workplaces with diverse and inclusive cultures have become more profitable in some cases. Just how much? A Boston Consulting Group study reported that companies with more diverse management teams have 19% higher revenues due to innovation. Not only is focusing on diversity and inclusion the right thing to do, it’s a profitable thing to do. 3. Practice transparency. Make a plan for a diversity and inclusion audit. For your organization to improve in any area, it can be helpful to establish a baseline. While business owners often collect and analyze data relevant to their profits and losses, few record and report data pertinent to issues of diversity and inclusion. With your leadership team, begin conversations about implementing a regular audit to determine your organization’s baseline. You can then craft a strategy to get to where you want to be. If done thoughtfully, this kind of transparency can provide valuable insights for your specific industry and local network, and also pave the way for effective goal setting. When goals are stated and shared out loud, there is built-in accountability and a higher likelihood of measurable change. Taking first steps toward this audit demonstrates intentionality and a desire to improve. 4. Practice intentionality. Speak with your actions. Ultimately, action communicates a commitment to diversity and inclusion more than statements or policies ever will. Small steps can add up if taken with intention. As leaders, personal steps like sharing lunch with a co-worker from another background to building relationships or flipping the mentor/mentee role with a younger associate or new hire can impact culture tremendously. At an organizational level, intentionality may include more concrete steps, such as forming employee resource groups to help team members find a sense of belonging, hiring a chief diversity officer and empowering your diversity and inclusion leaders to swiftly address any actions that don’t align with company values. Demonstrating a truly diverse and inclusive company culture is quickly becoming the new benchmark for organizational health and long-term success. While these four practices are far from comprehensive, you can improve your organization’s diversity and inclusion every day with consistent, deliberate practice. Keith Noble is president of Commerce Bank in the Springfield region. He can be reached at keith.noble@commercebank.com. 4 strategies to foster diverse, inclusive company culture FOCUS DIVERSITY IN BUSINESS Barber Fitness Center Breech School of Business Administration Mathematics & Computer Science College of Graduate Studies This 100% online certificate will develop well-rounded leaders on whom organizations can depend on to advance their DEI efforts. Learn more at drury.edu/DEI Earn your Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leadership Certificate INDUSTRY INSIGHT Keith Noble In This Together
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