MAY 6-12, 2024 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 3 by Geoff Pickle · gpickle@sbj.net One business partner in a portfolio of First Watch restaurants and commercial property has sued the other over allegations that include breach of fiduciary duty and fraud. Joseph Hulston on April 19 filed suit in Greene County Circuit Court against business partner James Tillman and Tillman’s wife, Lisa. The suit alleges, in part, that Tillman acted on business endeavors, paid increased salaries and misused funds without the knowledge or permission of Hulston. The Tillmans have denied the allegations through their attorney. Hulston and Tillman in 2017 formed Ozark Endeavors LLC for the purpose of managing seven franchised First Watch restaurants and a development property located at the southeast corner of Kansas and Kearney streets, according to the lawsuit. Their first location of First Watch opened at 2946 S. National Ave. in 2017, according to past reporting. Hulston and Tillman are 50% business partners in Ozark Endeavors, among other LLCs tied to First Watch operations, according to the lawsuit. The petition also points to Kansas & Kearney LLC, indicating Hulston is 70% owner and manager, and Tillman is 30% owner and manager for the business created to hold development property. The suit alleges Tillman made business decisions involving Ozark Endeavors without the consent of Hulston, sometimes representing a conflict of interest related to Tillman’s other business operations. The suit points to a 2019 incident in which Tillman allegedly made the decision, without Hulston, to move Ozark Endeavors’ headquarters within Springfield to a property controlled by Tillman. Rent for the headquarters increased to $9,750 from $1,710 per month with the move, according to the allegations presented in the lawsuit. “Tillman’s unilateral decision to move the headquarters from 610 E. Battlefield to 1840 S. Ingram Mill Road was done without the consent, permission or agreement of Hulston,” the lawsuit reads. “Further, Tillman had a conflict of interest and was not NEWS CONTENTS A Conversation With ... SBJ talks with the co-owner of El Cafecito on her new Mexican snacks and drinks venture. page 10 Small Business Open for Business Italian street food is the focus of a new food truck in Springfield. page 4 Business Spotlight Harvest Grow Supply offers more than a thousand products in its 6,000 square-foot Springfield store. page 6 On the Job Reporter Mike Cullinan shares observations of unique offerings at soon-to-open Moxy hotel. page 21 Opinion Guest columnist Ron Bogart says the pathway to leadership might come sooner than expected – so be ready. page 29 Bridging a Gap See LAWSUIT on page 25 Gen Z gets bad rap on attitude toward jobs, local employers say First Watch business partner sues another for breach of fiduciary duty, fraud by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net While the members of Generation Z are largely new to the workforce, stereotypes about their work ethic, technology focus and salary demands are pervasive. Defined by the Pew Research Center as those born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z is needed to fill jobs in a myriad industries – a labor participation issue that is only going to grow as those from older generations retire, employers and young workers agree. However, despite that workforce challenge, some employers are hesitant to hire Gen Z applicants, according to a recent study from New Jersey-based research group Intelligent. The study that surveyed 800 U.S. managers, directors, and executives who are involved in hiring found a widespread belief that recent Gen Z college graduates are struggling with many aspects of professional life, making them less desirable to hire. Nearly 40% of survey respondents said they avoid hiring recent college graduates for positions they’re eligible for in favor of older candidates. Roughly one in five employers say that when it comes to job interviews, recent college graduates are unprepared, with 53% saying applicants struggle with eye contact. Additionally, roughly half of employers say young prospective workers ask for unreasonable compensation and that they have had candidates show up to their interviews dressed inappropriately. Survey results notwithstanding, Gen Z is seen in a more favorable light by some local employers. “I think that Gen Z gets a bad rap that they’re lazy and this and that,” said Dennis Bailey, recruiting manager at distribution company SGC Foodservice per his LinkedIn page. Bailey said most prospective employees he deals with are seeking jobs in the operations department, which includes warehouse and sanitation maintenance work. Bailey, who retired from the Navy in 2021 after 22 years of service, said he spent more than a decade of that time as a military recruiter. He became quite familiar with Gen Z members over that span, as they made up the majority of recruits. See GEN Z on page 30 REBECCA GREEN USING ADOBE STOCK AI
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