APRIL 1-7, 2024 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 1 APRIL 1-7, 2024 · VOL. 44, NO. 38 $2.50 · SBJ.NET YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY SINCE 1980 EDUCATION Amid a growing aviation industry, Fly SPS is nearing the completion of its inaugural flight school year. PAGE 9 Developer seeks approval of C-Street plan by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net Plans to redevelop a 7.5-acre area that encompasses parts of the Commercial Street Historic District and the Midtown neighborhood received a mixed reception when introduced to Springfield City Council at its March 25 meeting. Commercial-Pacific Street Redevelopment Corp., headed by developer Titus Williams, president of Prosperiti Partners LLC, is looking to begin a four-phase development of an area bounded to the north by the 400-500 blocks of East Commercial Street and extending south of Pacific Street. The project includes renovation of the 42,000-square-foot Missouri Hotel, which Williams has been planning to renovate since he purchased the property in 2017. The area, comprising 17 parcels, is between North Jefferson Avenue to the west and Benton Avenue to the east, and it also includes 536-540 E. Commercial St., a commercial structure built circa 1900 and targeted for demolition after falling into disrepair. The council bill, presented March 25 for its public hearing and slated for a vote on April 8, would approve the redevelopment plan with a declaration of blight for the entire area, authorize a tax abatement within a section of the plan area and execute an agreement with the developer to begin redevelopment. The plan consists of four separate projects. It would kick off with the Pacific South Project, which would build 72 townhomes starting immediately upon passage of the bill. Next would come the 540 Commercial Project, a new mixed-use residential, retail, restaurant and office building. The Missouri Hotel Restaurants navigate inflationary pressures for menu pricing by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net Ongoing inflationary pressures continue to take a toll on the food service industry, impacting the cost of goods, labor and customer dining habits, which in turn cut into already low profit margins, local restaurateurs say. While growth in menu prices continued a deceleration in February that began 11 months ago, the prices still increased 4.5% when compared with the same month in 2023, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. It’s been a rising trend for the industry since February 2020, the month before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Over the four-year period since then, the BLS says menu prices are up 25%. To raise or maintain menu prices is a decision many restaurant executives are debating. Among them are Laine Scholz, owner of Garbo’s Pizzeria LLC, and Bryan Bevel, who launched The Pitch Pizza & Pub in 2017.. Scholz, who is no stranger to working in the 34-year-old pizzeria, is new to becoming a sole owner of the establishment in Chesterfield Village. In December 2023, she purchased the remaining 50% stake in the business she did not own from her mother, founder Pam Babcock. “We try to raise our prices incrementally every few years,” Scholz said, noting doing so is standard industrywide. “Or you do it if you’re keeping an eye on your profit See CITY on page 21 See RESTAURANTS on page 19 CITY BEAT Missouri Hotel update one of four projects envisioned KATELYN EGGER PRICE DECISIONS Garbo’s Pizzeria has largely held the line on large price increases for its menu, officials say, noting specialty pizzas and salads have seen a cost uptick in the past couple years. Here, Jack Scholz preps some personal pies. Laine Scholz: A profit margin of 5%- 15% in restaurants is a success. Officials say raising prices is part of current business climate
APRIL 1-7, 2024 2 · SBJ.NET Mark Your Calendar! sbj.net/Connect Engaging Presentations • Networking Opportunities Tickets on sale soon! The area’s premier business education and networking event, featuring flagship SBJ brands September 19, 2024
APRIL 1-7, 2024 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 3 CONTENTS A Conversation With... SBJ interviews OTC’s Jennifer Crouch on early childhood education challenges in the state. page 10 Education Open for Business A St. Louis-based boutique clothing chain debuts at the Battlefield Mall. page 4 Business Spotlight Dolly Parton’s Stampede marks 30th year in Branson. page 6 News Jordan Valley Community Health Center names new CEO. page 7 Dynamic Dozen Read about this year’s fastestgrowing area companies. page 8 Restore SGF paves way for homeownership Nixa 2045 taking shape through public feedback by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net In a city where only 42% of homes are owner occupied, one organization is trying to change the math. Restore SGF, whose stated mission is to help families achieve dreams of homeownership, is helping to fund home purchases in five of the city’s historic neighborhoods through its Down Payment Assistance Program. The program offers $9,000 to first-time homeowners whose income is up to 150% of the area’s median income. Buyers are not required to pay the money back if they reside in the home for at least five years. Alyssa and Michael McDaniel signed the first contract for a home purchased through the program on March 20, and they moved into the Doling Park East home with their children Nevaeh, 4, and Brixton, 1, right away. “It’s just perfect for us,” Alyssa McDaniel said. “The neighbors are so friendly.” While the family expressed excitement, it’s also a cause for celebration for Brendan Griesemer, executive director of Restore SGF since January. Griesemer said three and a half weeks after the program launched, five closings were scheduled – and four of the houses, purchased from an investor, were former rental properties. “They’re flipping to owner occupants, which is exactly what we were trying to do with this program,” he said. The program was funded through a $466,000 grant from the city of Springfield, Griesemer said. “Based on kicking it off with little fanfare, we knew we had a lot of word of mouth,” he said. “The response has been really great.” He noted the funding will pay for around 50 down payment assistance grants. “If things go well, we’ll run through it this year,” he said. Griesemer said Restore SGF wanted to provide an incentive for homebuyers because of the city’s low homeownership rate, which is 27 percentage points below the 2023 Missouri average of 69%, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Unveiling the study’s findings at a Springfield City Council luncheon in December, researchers from Atlanta-based APD Urban Planning and Management said the city had substandard rental housing stock that is expensive to bring up to date, and at the same time it is difficult for a personal buyer to afford a home. “Stabilizing neighborhoods means you reduce turnover, so perhaps there’s more of a balance between rentals and owner occupied,” Deborah Jensen, senior planning and design manager for APD, told council. When the housing study was released, Griesemer occupied a different role as the city’s assistant director of the Department of Planning by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net Planning typically begins with gathering information, and that’s the approach the city of Nixa is taking as it embarks on its next comprehensive plan. Titled Nixa 2045, the plan is being designed to guide the city through its next two decades upon its adoption by Nixa City Council. As details of the plan come into focus and public input is provided, themes are emerging – like the need for workforce housing, the desire for parks and other public amenities and the wish to attract business and industry so residents do not have to leave the city for employment. The information-gathering effort began with an online survey that kicked off in December. Simultaneously, Nixa residents were invited to serve on the Community Stakeholder Committee, which will conclude its meetings in May. Another part of the info-gathering process was a March virtual open house to solicit feedback on topics like land use and development, transportation, placemaking, green spaces and community health, and the economy. Additionally, a pop-up event was held March 16 as part of the Nixpo Business Showcase, an annual event of the Nixa Chamber of Commerce, at Nixa High School. There, maps were on display to show future development areas, and participants could use sticky notes to add their ideas into the mix. The plan is expected to be finalized by late summer. The cost of the contract with Olsson Inc. for consulting and for drafting the plan is $150,000, approved by Nixa City Council in June 2023. See RESTORE on page 18 See NIXA on page 22 Comprehensive plan looks to add workforce housing and amenities Scott Godbey: Community input helps provide consensus for next 20-year plan. TAWNIE WILSON Brendan Griesemer: Restore SGF looks to make an even bigger impact on Springfield’s historic neighborhoods. FIRST-TIME OWNERS Alyssa and Michael McDaniel, pictured with children Nevaeh, 4, and Brixton, 1, moved into the city’s homeowner rolls in March as the first recipients of Restore SGF down payment assistance. Down payment assistance program underway in five neighborhoods
APRIL 1-7, 2024 4 · SBJ.NET NEWS By Mike Cullinan, Reporter and Jillian Smith, Editorial Intern New business, new location, new owner? Send your info to newbusiness@sbj.net Mod On Trend A Springfield drink shop had an ownership change Oct. 28 as married couple Michael Elder and Sean Scarborough purchased Downtown Health Bar from Brandon and Brittny Stockstill. Elder declined to disclose the purchase price for the 323 E. Walnut St. business, which has been renamed Modern Sips Acai Bar. The menu includes acai bowls with toppings such as fruit, granola, Nutella and peanut butter, as well as protein smoothies and energy drinks. Prices range $4-$12. The business is registered with the Missouri secretary of state’s office under Limitless Springfield LLC. Elder said he and Scarborough also are both real estate agents with Keller Williams Greater Springfield. They signed a three-year lease for an undisclosed rate with Springfield Lofts for the 1,700-square-foot shop, which employs four. Elder said they also have past food service experience working for Starbucks, adding they desired to get involved again in the industry. Medical spa Hydration Sensation Wellness & Beauty LLC opened downtown Oct. 5 at 420 W. College St., Ste. 104. Sarah Lewis is owner and sole employee of the business, which offers IV infusions, Botox treatments, injectables such as vitamin B12 and zinc, weight loss consultations and mental health coaching. With startup costs at $30,000, she is subleasing the 2,250-square-foot space for one year from Foster Adopt Connect Inc. for $2,000 per month. The rate is reduced as she said the nonprofit contributes about $400 a month for the original lease it signed with The Shoppes at College Station LLC. Hydration Sensation is a side hustle for Lewis, who said she has 10 years of health care experience and continues to work as a family nurse practitioner at CoxHealth Center Marshfield. Mother-daughter duo Tania Rakel and Marta Gaska are the owners of Midwest-based women’s boutique clothing store Mod On Trend, which opened March 7 in the Battlefield Mall. It’s the sixth Mod On Trend store but the first location outside of the St. Louis metro area. Rakel declined to disclose startup costs or lease terms with mall owner Simon Property Group for the 1,100-square-foot space next to Altar’d State. Rakel said her family has a history in the fashion industry spanning back generations to her grandparents in Poland, adding she and her daughter decided to continue the legacy, which led them to open their first boutique location in 2013. Mod On Trend carries its own clothing brand, along with Vervet jeans and Sahira Jewelry. Prices range $20-$100 for clothing pieces, and the store also sells online. Rakel said their target audience is geared toward women ages 25-40 looking for everyday pieces to standout garments. ☎ 417-340-5303 ModOnTrend.com Modern Sips Acai Bar Hydration Sensation Wellness & Beauty ☎ 417-496-3175 Facebook.com/ModernSipsAcaiBar ☎ 417-812-5575 HydrationSensation.com OPEN FOR BUSINESS Ashley Meizler, store manager KATELYN EGGER MORE PHOTOS AT SBJ.NET 417-895-2770 foundationcreditunion.com *Subject to approval. Member must be in good standing. Rates vary with term and credit history and subject to change. Other terms and conditions may apply. Credit union membership required.
APRIL 1-7, 2024 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 5 NEWS Mayor: New group to strategize on expiring fire, police pension tax by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net As the sun prepares to set on a city of Springfield sales tax, Mayor Ken McClure announced on March 27 the formation of the Citizens Commission on Community Investment to explore options for its possible replacement. The city’s three-quarter-cent sales tax, which generates some $45 million per year exclusively for the Police and Fire Pension Fund, is scheduled to expire in March 2025. The current tax is the third five-year tax that was first approved by voters in November 2009. The commission that is now being formed would comprise about 25 Springfield residents. The list of names is still being finalized, McClure said, and suggestions were offered by Springfield City Council members. The goal is to make sure various interests are represented, McClure said, adding that names will be released in early April. The commission’s charge is to put forth a recommendation on whether the city should seek a new three-quarter-cent tax, McClure said. The commission would report its recommendation to council by June 30, which would give council time to review it and, if necessary, prepare ballot language for the November election. McClure said at a Jan. 9 meeting of council, there was broad consensus that if a new tax is sought, it must fund ongoing pension obligations of $3.5 million-$5 million, and it should also advance public safety initiatives. Additionally, it should address initiatives in the Forward SGF comprehensive plan, such as transformative capital projects and neighborhood issues. The formation of the commission, which will have a limited threemonth charge, will be put forth by the mayor as a resolution at the April 8 council meeting. McClure said the committee should be large enough to provide broad-based input but small enough to be functional. “I think you’ll find it to be pretty diverse in terms of its interests. That’s the only way this is going to work,” he said. He noted it will incorporate business and private interests with plenty of input from the housing discussions that are ongoing in the community. McClure said the current tax was first approved because of severe underfunding in the Police and Fire Pension Fund. According to past Springfield Business Journal reporting, at the time it was initially passed in 2009, the fund was facing a shortfall of more than $200 million, and a previous effort to pass a 1-cent tax had failed in the polls in February of that year. The tax freed up an estimated $3 million-$4 million that had been spent on city pension contributions. For two years before its initial passage, the city had contributed more than 50% of payroll to the fund, and actuarial estimates found the city’s recommended contribution could have reached 63% the following year had the tax failed. McClure said the city has an obligation to pay into the pension fund, which still pays out to 97 police officers and firefighters or their beneficiaries. “That’s a major hit out of our budget,” he said. “We have to go back 15 years ago; it was pretty rough back then. … There were a lot of negative impacts on the city budget.” The city’s Police and Fire Pension program closed, McClure said, and employees hired since that time are part of the Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System, or LAGERS. The tax did what it was supposed to do, McClure said, noting the fund has done well. It is actuarially funded at 90.5%, and LAGERS is at 94%-95%, he said. McClure said the city will have an obligation of $3.5 million-$5 million for the fund for the foreseeable future, regardless of whether a new tax is put forth or whether it passes. “If we do not continue, the city’s obligation to fund that pension requirement continues – that doesn’t go away,” he said. “Should that not happen … that’s a major hit out of our budget.” McClure said the city’s sales tax is currently at 8.1%, which he called competitive with other communities. The city’s website breaks that down to a state sales tax of 4.225%, a city sales tax of 2.215% and a county sales tax of 1.75%. In St. Louis, the total is 9.68%, and in Kansas City, it’s 8.99%, according to tax compliance consultant Avalara. • $45M Funds generated annually by city’s three-quarter-cent sales tax No one knows your business as well as you do, and no one knows banking like Arvest. Trusting our expertise in business banking means you’re free to focus on what matters most - growing your business. Contact us today to start focusing banking around your business needs. Let us focus on the banking. Focus on your business. Member FDIC arvest.com/business
APRIL 1-7, 2024 6 · SBJ.NET BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Horsing Around by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net The 2024 season marks the 30th year for Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction in Branson. The show is a mainstay of the music city, offering equestrian stunts as well as acrobatic feats, comedy, magic and a four-course dinner to boot. Audience members are divided between two sides of a roughly 1,000-seat arena with steep tiered seating that offers an unobstructed view of the arena floor. The show takes the form of a light-hearted competition between the north, whose riders wear red costumes, and the south, clad in blue. Red or blue flags are sold and can be seen waving in the arena to help audience members root for their team. While the show unfolds, some of the speediest servers in the city work their way down the long rows, pouring sweet tea and lemonade and depositing bowls of soup, whole roasted chickens, ears of sweet corn and more – most of it handheld fare, no fork necessary. As they serve, they also act as cheerleaders, pausing to urge on their side’s team. They frequently pump a fist in the air to give support or shake a vigorous thumbs-down signal when the other team is mentioned. It’s a rollicking contest, and the stakes are boosted by audience participation, including children who compete to coax their team’s chickens across a finish line or grown-ups who toss toilet seats toward pegs as giant horseshoes. There’s even a piglet race that is surprising in its intensity as the animals, wearing red or blue neckerchiefs, tear around the ring. Stampede shows are offered in both Branson and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, a city closely associated with the show’s namesake, country music star and multi-business entrepreneur Dolly Parton. Parton also has another dinner show attraction, Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Established in Branson in 1995 as Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, Parton dropped the “Dixie” – a reference to the Civil War South – in 2018. At the time, she said the change reflected a change in attitudes. “It will remove any confusion or concerns about our shows and will help our efforts to expand into new cities,” she said in a news release from World Choice Investments LLC, which owns the Stampede. Stampede officials said Parton is not expected to visit the Branson attraction this year to mark the local attraction’s anniversary. An unusual workplace The attraction employs 250-300 workers, according to company officials. Abby Ingram is one of them. A performer, Ingram specializes in trick riding, and she also dances and occasionally serves as host, she says. “I do a little bit of everything,” she says. Ingram describes herself as a crazy horse girl as a child growing up in the area of Portland, Oregon. “I absolutely loved horses – loved riding,” she says. “I also loved being on stage.” Ingram learned about the Stampede when she was in college, and she put in an application. “I got a call to come down and audition, and the rest is pretty much history,” she says, noting she joined the Stampede in June 2021. Ingram says working for the Stampede is very fun – and very different. “There are not any other jobs I can think of like it,” she says. “It can be physically demanding, but it’s so much fun to say I ride horses for a living.” Ingram says performers do a lot of things to pull the crowd in and get them excited. “It’s so much fun to watch audiences get excited and get into the action, especially kids. They love it when they get to come down and do the chicken chase,” she says. Observing the kids is her favorite part about being a performer, she says. Although Ingram gets to wear the spangled costumes under the spotlights, the job is not all glamour, she says. “If I’m not performing, I’m moving things around backstage or grabbing horses for another act,” she says. She notes performers are high-level athletes, and the work can be exhausting. “I’m very used to it,” she says. “As long as the audience can’t tell, we know we’re doing our job right.” During the holiday season, performers may work up to five shows a day for a 13-hour workday, she says, but some days have just one show for a four-hour shift. “The longer you’re at the Stampede, you learn how to pace yourself and give the audience a show they want to come see,” she says. Natalie Modglin is the marketing manager for the Stampede, and it’s a role she’s been in for a little over a month. Modglin says she likes what she sees at the show. “I’ve seen a lot of fun – a lot of memories being made,” she says. “From the minute they walk in the front door to pick up their tickets, there’s a smile on their face, and when they’re leaving, they still have a smile on their face,” she says. “What I love most is seeing families together, taking pictures, laughing, standing up and cheering. These guys do a great job of getting the audience involved.” Who’s visiting The Stampede is a privately held company, and by policy it does not disclose attendance or revenue figures, but some information can be gleaned from the travel profile dashboard maintained and updated constantly by the city of Branson. The dashboard shows the average visitor took in 2.7 shows on the most recent visit to the city, and 48% of those were dinner show productions like the Stampede. Live shows are the fifth most popular activity for visitors, after shopping, experiencing downtown, dining at restaurants and going to Silver Dollar City. Some 40% of visitors to Branson said they participated in live shows, and a quarter cited them as having an influence on their choice to visit Branson. Among respondents, 83% associate Branson with live shows or entertainment, and 81% see it as a wholesome family destination – and piglet races seem to fit that description. • Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction Owner: World Choice Investments LLC Founded: 1995 Address: 1525 W. 76 Country Blvd., Branson Phone: 417-336-3000 Web: DPStampede.com Email: salesmo@dpstampede.com Services/products: Dinner attraction featuring four courses and a stunt-filled show for all ages 2023 revenue: Would not disclose Employees: 250-300 PATRIOTIC FLAIR The show and competition at Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner Attraction pits the north side of the arena against the south but ends in a unifying patriotic display. MORE PHOTOS AT SBJ.NET TAWNIE WILSON Equestrian stunts and meal are highlights of Dolly Parton’s Stampede
APRIL 1-7, 2024 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 7 NEWS Biz boot camp expands by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net Following what officials call a successful 2023 launch in Springfield, the Missouri Small Business Development Center at Missouri State University and the Efactory have taken an early-stage business boot camp on the road. The first Springfield cohort for the program, which targets aspiring or current small-business owners, was completed in April 2023 at the Efactory. A second cohort in Springfield followed in the fall, said Sandra Smart, technology and commercialization specialist with Missouri SBDC. Four other cohorts, three of which are outside Springfield, are now in progress, she said. Covering eight sessions over roughly two months, attendees learn best practices, such as creating an LLC and setting up a business bank account, and discover local resources designed to help small businesses grow. “We had an overwhelming response for applicants on the initial one that we ran with over 100 people applying to be a part of that,” Smart said, noting a similar applicant response last fall for the cohorts. Each was capped at 10 participants. A $30,000 donation from the U.S. Bank Foundation allowed the entrepreneurs to participate in the program’s first cohort at no cost, according to Efactory officials. Smart said an undisclosed amount of funding from Innovate SOMO, aka the Southern Missouri Innovation Network, a collaborative initiative of the Efactory and Cape Girardeau-based technology incubator Codefi Foundation on Rural Innovation, is covering costs for the additional cohorts. “The Innovate SOMO program is providing funding for participants to attend at no charge throughout the region as we deploy these programs,” she said, adding current and future cohorts are aiming for a 30-person cap. Innovate SOMO’s programming includes training and education programs, business-building assistance and help in creating jobs for entrepreneurs in 47 counties in southern Missouri. Innovate SOMO was the beneficiary of two grants from the Missouri Department of Economic Development last year, totaling roughly $3.5 million funded via Sandra Smart: A virtual business boot camp is planned for later this year. Branson and Bolivar are among new sites for small-business program See CAMP on page 26 Jordan Valley Community Health Center appoints new CEO to replace longtime leader by SBJ Staff · sbj@sbj.net Jordan Valley Community Health Center has appointed a new CEO as its founding leader prepares to retire. Dr. Matthew Stinson, who is currently JVCHC’s executive vice president of primary and behavioral health services, is transitioning into the president and CEO role on June 1, according to a news release. He’ll succeed Brooks Miller, the health system’s president and CEO since its founding in 2003. “I am humbled and grateful for this opportunity,” Stinson said in the release. “It will be a privilege to lead this highly skilled team of professionals that share such a deeply rooted commitment to Jordan Valley’s mission – improving access to health care and providing it with excellence and compassion. Our strength comes from remaining focused on innovating to serve our patients at the highest level.” Stinson joined JVCHC in 2007 as a family physician, became medical director in 2010 and joined the organization’s executive team in 2014. The JVCHC board selected Stinson through a search process that started in late 2023, according to the release. Miller is slated to retire this year. Under his leadership, the federally qualified health clinic has expanded to include medical, dental and vision services. The organization has more than 730 employees across the region. “As we started the search process, board members took the time to seek counsel from peers that have experienced a similar transition with the retirement of a founding leader,” board Chair Mike Schnake said in the release. “Those intentional efforts shaped a process and hiring plan aligned with our desire for a strong and seamless leadership transition that preserves our culture, prioritizes service to our patients and positions Jordan Valley for continued success. We have absolute confidence in Dr. Stinson’s ability to achieve that mission and vision.” • Matthew Stinson has worked at JVCHC since 2007.
APRIL 1-7, 2024 8 · SBJ.NET NEWS PRESENTED BY WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW DEBBIE SHANTZ HART CO-OWNER, DHTC DEVELOPMENT, HOUSING PLUS AND SUSTAINABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS Her residential developments – now a $110 million portfolio – bolster the affordable housing options in Springfield and beyond. GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THE LIVE INTERVIEW & HAPPY HOUR TUESDAY, APRIL 16 | 3:30-5 P.M. THE BACKLOT AT ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE PURCHASE TICKETS AT SBJ.NET/12PEOPLE SBJ reveals area’s fastestgrowing companies by SBJ Staff · sbj@sbj.net The scores have been tabulated for Springfield Business Journal’s 2024 Dynamic Dozen, recognizing the 12 fastest-growing companies in the Ozarks. The D12 companies, in alphabetical order, are Arvest Bank, Command Family Medicine PC, Convoy of Hope, CoxHealth, Eagle Outdoors LLC, Environmental Works Inc., Epic Strategies LLC, Keep Supply, Next Level Solutions, OMB Bank, Phoenix Home Care & Hospice and Toth and Associates Inc. A countdown of company rankings to No. 1 will be held May 9 during an awards ceremony at Oasis Hotel & Convention Center. New for the 2024 awards, an independent panel of judges selected one company for the Dynamo Award, which honors a company that has shown consistent and substantial growth in the number of employees and revenue over its lifetime. To be considered, a company must have an annual revenue of at least $2.5 million in its last calendar or fiscal year and have been in business at least 20 years. The judges selected O’Reilly Automotive Inc. for the first Dynamo Award. Also at the ceremony, SBJ will honor professionals with individual awards. Determined by the judges, the individual honors are awarded in four categories: • Top CEO/Managing Partner: Gary W. Schafer, managing partner of FORVIS LLP. • Top C-suite Executive: Ericka Peppers, chief operating officer at Bryan Properties. • Top Sales/Marketing Professional: Ryan Bowling, OMB Bank. • Top Human Resources Professional: Jessieca Hollister-Graham, Digital Monitoring Products Inc. The Dynamic Dozen fast-growth companies are determined by a numbers-based formula that awards points for both annual revenue and percentage growth in 2021, 2022 and 2023. In their applications, eligible companies reported gross revenue of at least $250,000 in each year, and they must operate headquarters within 50 miles of Springfield or must have provided segmented revenues for the 50-mile radius. Tiffany Nichols, senior vice president of State Bank of Southwest Missouri, verified the numbers in the D12 applications. Profiles of the companies and individuals will appear in a publication debuting at the event and distributed in SBJ’s May 13 edition. For more information and past honorees, visit SBJ.net/D12. • The 2024 Dynamic Dozen Dynamo Award and individual honorees were selected by an independent panel of judges: • Josh Clair, branch manager at QPS Employment Group Inc. and a 2023 Men of the Year honoree. • Marc Mayer, senior vice president at Guaranty Bank and a 2023 Trusted Advisers honoree. • Zora Mulligan, executive vice president at Missouri State University and a 2023 Most Influential Women honoree. • Jennifer Pyck, learning consultant at Higginbotham Insurance Agency Inc. and a 2023 Most Influential Women honoree. • Kevin Routh, fatherhood program director at Pregnancy Care Center and a 2023 Men of the Year honoree. Meet the Judges Mayer Pyck Routh Clair Mulligan Glove plant set for PIC West by SBJ Staff · sbj@sbj.net A manufacturer of utility gloves is planning a multimillion-dollar plant in northwest Springfield. Youngstown Glove Co. intends to construct a new $15 million facility in Partnership Industrial Center West, according to a Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce news release. The timeline and size of the project were not disclosed in the release. “We are pleased to have such a unique and innovative company choosing to invest in our region and crafting a set of products that can be used by a wide range of industries right here at home as well as across the country,” said Matt Morrow, chamber president, in the release. Youngstown Glove Co. intends to initially create 20-25 jobs as part of the project, with plans to grow that workforce to 75100 employees over the next few years. A new rubber glove line is slated for the factory. Youngstown, which makes utility gloves for industrial, construction and utility line use, is a subsidiary of Aurora-based Blackstone Investment Group Inc., according to the release. Youngstown’s website indicates shipments originate from 575 W. High St. in Aurora. •
APRIL 1-7, 2024 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 9 NEWS EDUCATION by Nicole Chilton · Contributing Writer When Parkview High School student Aundrea Nelson first learned about the emerging Fly SPS program, she said she was intrigued. “When we talk about pilots, we tend to think of them as male, especially from TV and movies,” Nelson said. “I wanted female pilots to be seen a bit more.” Nelson, a junior, was one of 80 sophomores across the Springfield Public Schools district who applied to Fly SPS, and one of 10 who were accepted to the program after a random lottery selection and interview process. “I was so shocked,” she said. Fly SPS, launched in August 2023, is a two-year career and technical education program through the district that allows high school students to earn high school credit and, upon graduation, 27 hours of college credit and a private pilot’s license. “I still don’t think it’s clicked just yet,” Nelson said. Katie Kensinger, director of college and career readiness for SPS, said the program, which is a partnership with Ozarks Technical Community College and Premier Flight Center LLC, was developed because of the increasing demand for aviation careers. “Whenever we start a new program, we like to engage with our community industry partners, and learn about the needs we can help meet,” she said. The job market for pilots is anticipated to expand by 4% through 2032, with an average of 16,800 job openings per decade for airline and commercial pilots, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This mirrors the average growth rate across all professions. However, due to air travel demand continuing to surge, the Boeing Pilot and Technician Outlook 2023-42 highlights the importance of investing in early career-development programs that will “spark excitement among future aviators.” The program is free for SPS students, Kensinger said, adding, “We cover their textbooks, their equipment, their uniform, their program tuition and flight hours.” The tuition cost per student, per semester to the district is approximately $9,000 to $10,000, according to SPS officials, totaling the first cohort’s expenses across two school years and a summer term at an estimated $450,000-$500,000. Bledsoe said there are other costs to the district associated with the program, like textbooks and flight instruction fees, that could not be provided by press time. “Fly SPS is among a variety of career center programs which SPS students participate through OTC, so tuition for all of those programs are incorporated into our total budget,” said Teresa Bledsoe, SPS director of communications, in an email. According to the 2023-2028 SPS strategic plan, getting students college and career-ready is the top governing priority. The 2023-24 operating budget, adopted in June 2023, is nearly $364 million. Bledsoe said the costs associated with Fly SPS come from the district’s budget. Lessons from the sky Nelson said her first year in the program has been eye-opening, with field trips and site visits to the Springfield-Branson National Airport, learning about the aviation See FLIGHT on page 14 New Heights Fly SPS marks inaugural flight school year as OTC sets the stage for an aviation mechanics program launch REBECCA GREEN Fly SPS instructor Nick Blomquist, right, takes student Brin Johnson up in the air for a lesson. MORE PHOTOS AT SBJ.NET Katie Kensinger: Fly SPS offers employmentreadiness skills and college credit.
10 · SBJ.NET APRIL 1-7, 2024 The U.S. Bureau of Labor data say the average wage in Missouri for child care workers is $13.50 an hour. What are the challenges in recruitment for OTC and providers? As our community has been talking for really at least a couple of years now really seriously about the child care crisis, that is the issue: wages. Child care businesses cannot recruit and retain staff at the wages they can afford to pay with what families can afford to pay. That has to be solved for us to see any improvement. You can make more money doing just about anything else in our community. It’s certainly rewarding and fun, but it’s a hard job, too. We don’t have trouble recruiting students to the program. There’s a lot of interest in working with children and families. But I think the breakdown occurs when they go to find a job and realize that I can’t pay my bills. To help make child care more affordable and accessible, the Missouri Legislature is considering tax credits to taxpayers who donate to child care centers, employers who invest in child care needs and child care providers. What impact would those have if passed? It’s certainly something that’s going to help. I don’t think it’s a silver bullet. One of the challenges is that tax credits are something you have to have the capacity to sell to people. Here at OTC, we have a foundation. But your average small child care business, they don’t have the resources to recruit donors to take advantage of those tax credits. So, we’re looking at how we can leverage those tax credits and make them to where child care providers really can use them. I think the language in the bill allows an intermediary, maybe an organization like Community Foundation of the Ozarks or United Way, to collect the tax credits and then distribute the funding. Are there models in other states that are addressing the wage challenge for child care workers? In Kentucky, all child care workers automatically qualify for child care subsidy. If you work in child care, the state pays for the full cost of your child care. That’s a huge incentive. Michigan is doing something that they’re calling Tri-Share. So, child care costs are split. A third is paid by the employer, a third by the state and a third by parents. So, it’s providing more revenue for child care businesses so they can provide higher quality and recruit and retain staff, but also keeping the costs a little bit lower for families. Right now, we are one of six communities in Missouri participating in the child care community planning grant through Kids Win Missouri. That is really helping us identify the gaps in our child care services, and then start to identify possible solutions. One of the things that came out of that is that less than 1% of our philanthropic funding in Springfield, which is over $111 million, is being used for early childhood care and education. We really have some opportunity to leverage more of our philanthropic dollars to solve this issue. The chamber is involved in this work, and they’re really hearing from our business community members that this is a workforce issue. They cannot find people to work because they don’t have child care. The business community has to be a part of the solution. A study by the Mayor’s Commission for Children said nearly half of students locally who did not attend a high-quality early childhood center were not ready for kindergarten. When you talk about child care, you’re not just talking about a spot; you’re talking about the programming around it, right? There is child care that is, you could think about it sort of like warehousing children or parking lots for children; that’s not what we want. We really want high-quality experiences for young children that are going to impact them throughout their life because it is a two-generation workforce issue. It’s our current workforce having child care so that they can work, and we’re laying the foundation for our future workforce and our community. So, 90% of brain development occurs by the age of five. That’s where we really have our funding model in our country backwards. We invest a lot in K-12 and even higher education, but we invest very little in the birth to 5 years when the bulk of brain development is occurring. The Missouri Independent and Muck Rack did a deep dive into public records and found there are 200,000 kids in Missouri living in a child care desert. That is now predicted to be further exacerbated by the ending of pandemic-era subsidies for child care centers. Are we seeing that in our community? Absolutely. The pandemic funding is just winding down, so I really think in the next year we’re probably going to see a lot more closures in our community. Greene County is not actually designated as a desert, but we are in a lot of ways a desert because we have so many people that drive into work in our community that people from outside counties are taking up some of our child care slots. In our community, only 59% of kids birth to 2 years old are being served. That data is based on assuming that 70% of age-eligible children might need care. And then, even if there’s a slot, can they afford it? The median income in Springfield is a little over $41,000. The average annual cost for infant/toddler child care is over $13,000 a year. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that child care costs not exceed 7% of a family’s income. Child care subsidy is available, but the threshold for families to apply is so low for a family of four, you have to be making less than $31,000 a year. Until we figure out how to offer the child care workforce a competitive wage, it’s not going to get better. There are too many other jobs offering just so much more compensation. The field has to be professionalized. jennifer crouch Director, Early Childhood Education Center at Ozarks Technical Community College A CONVERSATION WITH ... KATELYN EGGER Excerpts from an interview by Executive Editor Christine Temple, ctemple@sbj.net 417-831-1700 • pcnetinc.com Our IT isn’t about technology, it’s about you. CONTACT US TODAY FOCUS EDUCATION
SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 11 APRIL 1-7, 2024 Why competency-based education is good for the business world Picture this: Elementary students are learning about supply and demand, scarcity, opportunity cost and other business-related concepts to understand how economics works in the world. To bring this learning to life, their teachers partner with local businesses to mentor students on entrepreneurship so they can open a small business within their school and hold a marketplace to apply their understanding of these economic concepts. In middle school, these students continue learning about a variety of career paths through job shadowing and engage with community members from diverse fields. One unit about body systems, health and diseases allows students to experience the health services field through being part of a mock clinic at their school. When these students get to high school, they can participate in apprenticeship programs that result in certifications that will allow them to begin a career upon completion of school or enter a college with credits already completed toward a degree. From elementary to high school, these students are experiencing competency-based learning, and these are real scenarios taken from across the state of Missouri right now. What is CBL? The Success Ready Student Network is working with 94 school districts across the state to build capacity and implement CBL to reimagine the assessment systems across the state. This represents 47% of all Missouri public school K-12 students. To define CBL, they have outlined eight contributing elements: 1. Students are empowered daily to make important decisions about their learning experiences, how they will create and apply knowledge and how they will demonstrate their learning. 2. Assessment is a meaningful, positive and empowering learning experience for students that yields timely, relevant and actionable evidence. 3. Students receive timely, differentiated support based on their individual learning needs. 4. Students progress based on evidence of mastery, not seat time. 5. Students learn actively using varied pathways and pacing. 6. Strategies to ensure equity for all students are embedded in the culture, structure and pedagogy of schools. 7. Rigorous, common expectations for learning (knowledge, skills and dispositions) are explicit, transparent, measurable and transferable. 8. Students engage in real-world learning experiences that support high school, college, career and workplace readiness. Positives for education CBL has been called many things, including standards-based learning, mastery learning and personalized learning. The benefits to the education system of this practice are seemingly endless. CBL aims to replace traditional assessment and accountability measures such as yearly standardized testing and quarterly benchmark assessments with real-world application of learning in meaningful ways. This real-world application increases students’ ability to retain and transfer their learning to other contexts, expands college and career readiness, increases both student and teacher satisfaction with the learning process and has the potential to transform our education system. Benefits in business One of the ultimate goals of CBL is to prepare students for a world that we do not yet know. In the examples shared above, students who engaged in the entrepreneurial cycle as fourth graders developed skills that they will take with them long after fourth grade. The high school students enter the workforce earlier than others with career skills that set them apart from their peers. One aspect of CBL that has been recently discussed amongst Success Ready Student Network partner districts is the concept of market value assets. Real World Learning uses this definition for MVA: industry valued and recognized skills acquired in high school that create a more seamless transition from school to postsecondary education and/or the workplace. MVAs can include internships, client-connected projects, entrepreneurial experiences, industry recognized credentials and college credit. Schools working to incorporate CBL hope to ensure every student has access to at least one MVA by the time they graduate. Expanding high school students’ access to MVAs has positive implications for the business world as students are graduating high school prepared to enter business spaces with increased communication, leadership, collaboration and social skills. While CBL started with the intention to reimagine and redefine the testing and accountability systems within our schools, the benefits to this approach to business and beyond are vast. Amber Howard is an assistant professor of elementary education and dean’s fellow for competency-based learning at Missouri State University, and Pam Hedgepeth is executive director of the Greater Ozarks Cooperating School Districts and a Success Ready Student Network facilitator. They can be reached at amberhoward@missouristate.edu and pam.hedgpeth@gocsdmo.org. Amber Howard and Pam Hedgepeth INDUSTRY INSIGHT FOCUS EDUCATION 3050 S. National 417.881.8822 M-F 9am - 6pm, Saturday 9am - 1pm LOCATIONS & HOURS: grovepharmacy.com Drop the Weight with oral drops! Semaglutide is available as sublingual drops for weight loss. Easy drop application under the tongue. Compounded in our lab. Same active ingredient as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus. 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12 · SBJ.NET APRIL 1-7, 2024 FOCUS EDUCATION Benefits of higher education found in refinement, earning potential The acceleration and velocity of change taking place around our businesses and enterprises means we need employees who care about helping us accomplish our missions. We need an engaged workforce serving the customers we serve with compassion. The U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics reveals 75% of employers view college credentials as high quality, leading to better employability. The truth is that 68% of entry-level jobs now require a bachelor’s degree, underscoring the critical role of higher education in accessing career opportunities, according to NACE data. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, individuals with a bachelor’s degree earn a staggering 84% more than their counterparts with a high school diploma. This substantial earning potential translates into a lifetime value of $2.8 million on average, emphasizing the unparalleled economic benefits of higher education. However, over the past eight years, confidence in higher education has sharply declined. In 2015, Gallup surveys showed 57% trust in its positive impact, but by 2019, this fell to 48%. By 2023, confidence hit a low of 36%. Projections suggest that public trust in higher education might fall below 30%. So, it’s not surprising that 50% of parents of college graduates, as noted by Ben Sasse, president of the University of Florida, now favor alternative career paths for their children, underscoring their skepticism towards traditional higher education. Perhaps it’s why this Bible verse from the book of Samuel jumped out at me when I was thinking about the importance of higher education for the workforce of tomorrow: “There were no blacksmiths in the land of Israel in those days. The Philistines wouldn’t allow them for fear they would make swords and spears for the Hebrews.” At the time, about 600 years before Socrates came on the scene, when the Jewish people needed to sharpen their tools, even their gardening ones, they had to pay Philistine blacksmiths for the service. These economic realities impacted the productivity of those who worked the land. Farming tools like picks and hoes played a crucial role in their daily lives. Maintaining their sharpness was vital to ensuring the hard work put into farming would yield meaningful results. Yielding oneself to the process of being sharpened by higher education can very much resemble the blacksmith’s heavy hammer and hot fire. These are the two main elements a blacksmith needs to shape a tool. In my view, now approaching four decades in higher education, one could easily make the case that the system of higher education functions like a blacksmith when we think of the roles that faculty and staff play in the learner’s life. The abundant evidence supporting the notion that a college degree greatly enhances one’s job opportunities and income potential is undeniable. Engaging in activities like meeting deadlines, fulfilling academic obligations and mastering punctuality serves as preparation for future employment, underscoring the significance of higher education in nurturing essential character traits. Pursuing a degree in higher education is a process of refinement, like the blacksmith’s heavy hammer and hot fire. It takes time, attention to detail and the willingness to be uncomfortable. The journey offers perspectives on life, history, purpose and suffering. Faculty come alongside the student to help guide them along the path to a degree, providing learning and mentoring support, kind but assertive redirection when needed and a roadmap to a future career. Equally important, staff members join in on this journey, ensuring that grades are processed, classes entered, financial aid processed and equipment secured, all in a lead up to the culminating event of graduation. And throughout this journey, difficult seasons will come. This is where the hot fire is most evident, providing moments for maturing and self-reflection, personal growth and an increasing capacity to not only endure but to also develop empathy for others facing similar struggles. College graduates demonstrate a host of top-level skills such as communication and collaboration, heightened self-confidence and refined critical thinking abilities. These important life skills don’t come by simply reading self-help books or watching YouTube tutorials. These competencies are forged in the hot fires and heavy hammers present throughout the higher education journey. Every student deserves the opportunity to experience the blacksmithing of a degree journey. This will equip them with the vocational and life skills necessary to enter their chosen career field ready to be innovative and compassionate leaders. Mike Rakes is the president of Evangel University. He can be reached at president@evangel.edu. INDUSTRY INSIGHT Mike Rakes Heavy Hammer & Hot Fire elfindaleretirement.com Now offering the full continuum of care. 417-501-1000 Independent Living 417-831-3828 417-831-2273
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