MAY 6-12, 2024 26 · SBJ.NET NEWS Executives: Logan Aguirre, owner and publisher Employees: 27 Products/services: Multimedia publishing on platforms including print, social media, website and e-newsletters Founded: 1998 Leadership 417 Magazine was started in 1998 by Radio 2000, which sold the publication in 2001 to Whitaker Publishing LLC founders Gary and Joan Whitaker. Leadership at 417 Magazine remained steady until 2020 when the Whitakers’ daughter, Logan Aguirre, purchased the company. Aguirre began employment at 417 in 2006, ascending to president and associate publisher before becoming owner. 229% While revenue and profit at 417 Magazine in all business units and products has grown since 2020, the company has seen a 229% increase in digital revenue since 2019. The increase is driven by a focus on new product offerings and audience expansions. Additionally, the company projects a 40% year-over-year increase in digital revenue as part of its five-year plan. Shining For its 25th anniversary in 2023, 417 Magazine chose “2,500 hours of shine time” as a goal for giving back to the community. The entire staff contributed to the goal, reaching 2,590 volunteer hours by year’s end. Additionally, the company gave back $247,551 to local nonprofits last year through sponsorships, promotion, photography and financial donations. Executives: Stephanie Ireland, owner and CEO Employees: 5 Products/services: Commercial architecture firm Founded: 2000 Origins After passing her architectural registration exam in 2000, Stephanie Ireland founded her architecture firm, which began as Ireland and Associates before a name change in 2008 to Ireland Architects Inc. The company has operated in the same building at the corner of Sunshine and Stewart streets for the past 20 years. Kitchen Ireland Architects has been active on projects with nonprofit The Kitchen Inc. for nearly 20 years. It designed a medical clinic renovation in 2005, followed by a dental clinic remodel in 2007 and greenhouse project in 2011. In 2017, it designed the agency’s first homeless shelter and its administration building a year later. The firm is now designing a second homeless shelter on the nonprofit’s campus. Balance With several women working at Ireland Architects since its start, firm leadership has long provided its employees the ability to work from home, such as when one of their children is sick. Firm officials say doing so gives its workers more flexibility as they seek to strike a better work-life balance. Executives: Aaron Owen, CEO Employees: 40 Products/services: Event center Founded: 1937 $45M The economic impact for the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds & Event Center in 2023 reached $45 million – a 55% increase from the $29 million in 2016, officials say, noting some of the growth over the years has been fueled by new events such as the O’Reilly Auto Parts Outlaw Nationals Monster Truck Show, as well as new and expanded facilities. The newest addition, the 164,000-square-foot Wilson Logistics Arena, opened in January. Collaboration One of the key initiatives demonstrating Ozark Empire Fairgrounds & Event Center’s commitment to innovation is its collaboration with the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks. Through its partnership, the organization has allocated space within its grounds for the cultivation of native plant species, which contributes to preservation of local ecosystems and an educational platform for visitors. Support Aside from annually opening its facility free of charge to nonprofit groups to host community events, the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds & Event Center donated more than $113,000 last year to community groups. The donation was in exchange for organizations such as church groups, sports teams, school clubs and 4-H and local chapters of the National FFA Organization volunteering to help with parking, concessions and other duties during events at the fairgrounds. Executives: Christopher Moss, president and CEO Employees: 23 Products/services: Financial institution Founded: 1935 Title Starting in 1935 as Springfield MFA Employees Credit Union, Volt Credit Union has undergone several name changes over its history. It was rebranded to its current title in 2018 from its prior name of Community Financial Credit Union, which was changed in 1999 to better reflect its expanded field of membership. Involvement Volt donated money, time or inkind services to more than 30 nonprofits and local schools in 2023. Examples included matching over $2,000 in community member donations to Make-A-Wish Foundation, participation in the United Way of the Ozarks’ Day of Caring and promoting a Council of Churches of the Ozarks coat drive to the credit union membership. Change After nine-year leader Loretta Roney exited Volt in 2023 as its president and CEO, credit union veteran Christopher Moss was hired to fill the executive role. Officials say since his arrival, the credit union has launched products and services to its members. These have included developing a home improvement loan and implementing a customer relationship management software system. Glass Hall renovation and the Robert W. Plaster Center for Advanced Manufacturing at Ozarks Technical Community College. “Dake Wells Architecture exemplifies the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation that drives our local economy,” chamber President Matt Morrow said in a news release. “The commitment to creating not just beautiful spaces, but also spaces that enhance the lives of Springfield residents, is truly commendable.” Chamber officials estimated approximately 360 attended the annual ceremony. Dake Wells received the award over finalists, in alphabetical order: • 417 Magazine, a lifestyle and business publication owned by Logan Aguirre. • Ireland Architects Inc., an architecture firm led by Stephanie Ireland that started in 2000. • Ozark Empire Fairgrounds & Event Center, an organization in business since 1937 that holds over 100 events annually. • Volt Credit Union, a financial institution with 7,000 members in the Springfield area. “We founded the firm and have worked to build a place where the focus has been on doing the best design work that we can do, and particularly design work within the public realm,” Wells said. “In other words, it’s projects, places, and spaces that serve the community in some way.” In late 2018, the firm opened a second office in Kansas City. “We’re kind of gaining a little bit of brand recognition in the Kansas City market, which is a market where there are a lot of really good firms,” Wells said. “Whether there will be another office in another location at some point, I suppose that’s possible.” While declining to discuss plans for a new office, Wells said the firm has no intention of leaving downtown. “We’ve always been committed to the success of downtown,” he said. “As architects, we understand and we believe in how important a strong downtown environment is, frankly, in any city, any town.” Last year’s Small Business Award winner was Kare Health & Wellness LLC, a functional medicine business from owner and founder Keri Sutton, according to past reporting. Honorees are selected based on written applications reviewed by an independent panel of judges comprising previous recipients, local business experts and volunteers of the chamber’s Small Business Council. Judges this year were Brad Coy, Impact Recruiting Partners LLC; Heather Haun, Kare Health & Wellness LLC; Paige Oxendine, Habitat Communication and Culture LLC; Andy Peebles, Carnahan Evans PC; and Angie Way, Gold Mechanical Inc. and formerly BRP Architects. The council was founded by the late Curtis Strube, a former director at Drury University’s Breech School of Business Administration. • Award: Architectural firm gaining traction in KC Continued from page 8
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