JUNE 24-30, 2024 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 1 JUNE 24-30, 2024 · VOL. 44, NO. 50 $2.50 · SBJ.NET YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY SINCE 1980 FOCUS City Utilities of Springfield, Watershed Committee of the Ozarks work together to protect waterways amid threat from ‘forever chemicals.’ PAGE 9 Erlen Group subsidiary plans $57M expansion by Geoff Pickle · gpickle@sbj.net A subsidiary of Springfield-based Erlen Group is expanding to Partnership Industrial Center West, which officials say is nearing full occupancy. Cold Zone, a provider of cold storage logistics solutions, broke ground June 20 on a $57 million, 170,000-square-foot facility in the northwest Springfield industrial center, according to a news release from the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. The new facility is in addition to Cold Zone’s three buildings spanning 400,000 square feet in Erlen Group’s Springfield Underground, said Christina Angle, chief financial officer for Erlen Group. Cold Zone, which currently has 40 employees, intends to add 25 jobs as part of the expansion, Angle said. “The Springfield region has a strong food processing and manufacturing industry. Cold Zone has been fortunate to grow with our clients in this industry since 2008 by providing exceptional logistics solutions and first-class service,” Angle said via email. “With Springfield Underground full, we are excited to bring our capabilities to the ‘surface.’” Angle said Erlen Group purchased the 46-acre site in PIC West in January for undisclosed terms. Edwardsville, Illinois-based US workplace drug test cheating on the rise by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net A recent national study revealed that U.S. workers are cheating on workplace drug tests at a record-high level. The percentage of employees whose drug test showed signs of tampering jumped more than six-fold in 2023 from a year prior, according to an annual report from Secaucus, New Jersey-based drug testing company Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX). Quest conducted nearly 9.8 million drug tests in 2023 on behalf of employers. Of that total, 8.4 million were urine-based drug tests, 1.3 million were oral fluid tests and 73,000 were hair tests. The increase in substituted urine specimens in the U.S. workforce – roughly 31,000 of over 5.5 million tests – was 633%, according to the report. Quest’s analysis of lab data also found that the urine drug positivity rate for all drugs in the overall U.S. workforce remained at a record high of 4.6%, up over 30% from a low of 3.5% between 2010 and 2012. The overall positivity remains at the highest level in more than two decades. “Honestly, it’s fairly consistent with what we’ve been discussing within the industry,” said Mickey Moore, owner and CEO of See COLD on page 39 See DRUG on page 45 TAWNIE WILSON TEST TIME Leah King with Tomo Drug Testing prepares materials for a test at one of the Springfield-based company’s laboratories. EVOLUTION: 2024 EDITION | ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT INSIDE Cold Zone breaks ground on facility in nearly full PIC West Christina Angle: Cold Zone is growing with its clients. National study shows signs of tampering up sixfold year over year
JUNE 24-30, 2024 2 · SBJ.NET Details + Tickets at SBJ.net Mastering the Tools of Tomorrow Seize the Future: Learn to Harness the Power of Generative AI for Your Business Tuesday, July 9th ▪ 2-4pm Aetos Center for the Performing Arts; Meridian Title Performance Hall
JUNE 24-30, 2024 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 3 NEWS CONTENTS A Conversation With ... SBJ interviews Doug Neidigh of the Ozarks Clean Fuels Coalition about advancing clean fuels technology. page 10 Energy & Environment Open for Business The first Springfield branch of a Kimberling City-based bank is open along the Medical Mile. page 4 Business Spotlight A mobile coffee trailer supports Springfield’s running community one drink at a time. page 6 From the Ground Up MSU’s College of Business is expanding Kemper Hall for the Construction and Management Program. page 37 Economic Impact Awards MSU president Clif Smart is selected as SBJ’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement in Business honoree page 42 Opinion Page Columnist Mark Holmes says trust is important to customers – and nurturing it can give a business a competitive edge. page 49 With state funding in hand, council considers single bid for bridge repairs by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net A single bid was received by the city of Springfield for repairs and renovations to the historic Jefferson Avenue Footbridge, a landmark structure spanning 13 tracks of rail yard just north of Commercial Street. Springfield City Council is scheduled to vote June 24 on whether to accept the bid, submitted by Springfield contractor Branco Enterprises Inc. in the amount of $10.8 million and allow the project to move forward. Funded at the full amount, the bridge would have full paint treatment, instead of an overcoat, and maintain its south stair approach, instead of removing it. The bid included three lower-priced alternates, starting at $8.5 million. The lowest bid offered a paint overcoat instead of a full repaint with removal of the existing south stairs approach. The next highest bids offered a paint overcoat while keeping the approach TAWNIE WILSON CLOSED The view from atop the Jefferson Avenue Footbridge is currently offlimits, but with council approval, it could be available in fall 2025. See BRIDGE on page 43 New SWMO banking institution to debut this fall by Geoff Pickle · gpickle@sbj.net A new southwest Missouri banking institution, with several Springfield-area banking veterans on board, is set to open in early September with regulatory approvals in tow. Officials with Carthage-based Four States Bank announced in a news release this morning that the institution received regulatory approvals from the Missouri Division of Finance and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. It will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Four States Bancshares Inc., which has been cleared for approval to act as a bank holding company by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Jeff Williams, president and CEO, said in a release that 4SB is the first new bank charter approved in the state of Missouri in nearly 16 years. Executives at Four States Bank include: • Board Chair Gary E. Metzger, a banking veteran of 45 years who oversaw Liberty Bank in Springfield leading up to its 2015 acquisition by Simmons Bank. • Board director and President Williams, who has more than 30 years of southwest Missouri banking experience, most recently serving as Joplin region president for Liberty Bank and Guaranty Bank. • Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and board director Carter M. Peters, who previously served as CFO at Guaranty Bank. • Chief Credit Officer Cheryl Holyfield. • Chief Information Officer Nick Lofaro, who previously held the same title at Guaranty Bank. Other board directors named in the release are Logan Aguirre, J. Ryan Hamilton, Garry L. Robinson, Jerry D. Ross, Patrick Scott, Steven D. Simon, Stephanie Stenger and Brian A. Williams. Four States Bank will operate its Carthage headquarters at 213 Lyon St. The bank’s first branch is slated to open in September at 1232 S. Range Line Road in Joplin, and an application for a branch at 1496 S. Garrison Ave. in Carthage is pending, according to the release. Williams said via email that Four States Bancshares Inc. has raised more than $25 million in capital, the majority of which will be invested in the bank ahead of the planned opening this fall. “Four States Bank will have a strong team of experienced bankers,” Williams said in the email “We anticipate doing deposit and loan business with the individuals and companies that we have built relationships with in the past, along with referrals from our board members, investors and customers.” •
JUNE 24-30, 2024 4 · SBJ.NET NEWS Congratulations on your retirement! Kim Cash By Mike Cullinan, Reporter and Cayli Yanagida, Editorial Intern New business, new location, new owner? Send your info to newbusiness@sbj.net Table Rock Community Bank After accruing nearly a decade of legal experience at Springfield law firm Wampler & Passanise PC, Taylon Sumners-Schwartz launched her own practice May 31 in Mount Vernon. Sumners-Schwartz Law LLC, which occupies 1,800 square feet at 101 E. Dallas St., has a criminal focus and serves clients on matters ranging from felonies to minor traffic offenses. It marks a first-time ownership venture for Sumners-Schwartz, who left Wampler & Passanise earlier this year to start the firm near her hometown of Aurora. The two-employee firm also includes Sumners-Schwartz’s sister, Taegan Hadlock, who declined to disclose startup costs or lease terms with building owner Randee Stemmons. Sumners-Schwartz has a bachelor’s in sociology and anthropology from Nebraska Wesleyan University and earned her Juris Doctor in 2020 from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. She spent the past four years as an associate attorney at Wampler & Passanise, where she began in 2015 as a legal assistant. Two industry veterans in the Queen City took advice from past clients and co-workers to team up on a new venture, leading to the Jan. 25 opening of Mammoth Technology. Tyson Petty and Brandon McClure co-own the home-based managed information technology service provider. Petty said there were no startup costs for the company, adding he and McClure are its sole employees. Mammoth Technology focuses on small to medium-sized businesses with the intent of filling gaps in the industry. It also looks to determine a client’s why and understand its mission to allow for customization of IT services. McClure and Petty have both worked in the southwest Missouri tech industry for decades, with business ventures including Petty’s invention HyJax Power, a mobile device charger that can be used for vehicles, and multiple startups in IT services and business technology solutions. Kimberling City-based Table Rock Community Bank opened its first Springfield branch on April 29. The 3550 S. National Ave., Ste. 100, location is a full-service branch with checking, savings, certificates of deposit, loan services and a drive-thru among its services, said Shannon Dotson, assistant vice president and marketing and business development officer. He declined to disclose startup costs and lease terms for the 2,800-square-foot branch in a Bradford Centre building along the Medical Mile. The building also houses also houses CoxHealth’s Ozark Neuro Rehab Center. Dotson said Tyler Maggi, Springfield market president, leads the five-employee location. Charles Hachtel is CEO of Table Rock Community Bank, which also has branches in Kimberling City, Branson West and Crane. The company, which added its Crane branch last year, was purchased in 2022 by southeast Missouri operation Alton Bancshares Inc. The bank merged with Alton Bancshares’ First Community Bank of the Ozarks in 2023. ☎ 417-272-9300 TRCBank.com Sumners-Schwartz Law Mammoth Technology ☎ 417-990-5255 SSMoLaw.com ☎ 417-720-8007 GoMammothTech.com OPEN FOR BUSINESS Charles Hachtel and Tyler Maggi TAWNIE WILSON
JUNE 24-30, 2024 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 Geoff Pickle · gpickle@sbj.net Arts Nixa High School student Emma Snow was named the winner in the 2024 7th District Congressional Art Competition for her piece titled “Pizza House.” Nixa High School’s Audrey Upton-Rowley won second for “The Reflection of a Musician,” and “Royal Gorge” by Paxton Taylor of Carl Junction High School was third. Snow’s piece will hang in the Cannon Tunnel at the U.S. Capitol for a year, and she’ll receive two free Southwest Airlines tickets to attend the winners’ celebration in Washington, D.C., on June 27. Banking & Finance Arvest Bank was named to Forbes’ annual list of the top U.S. employers for new graduates. Arvest is among 35 companies listed in the banking and financial services industry of the list, which is based off surveys of young professionals. Education Nixa Public Schools employees Robert Farquhar and Craig Finger were presented with the Service to Education Award by the Nixa Education Foundation. The award highlights their time and contributions to the district. A retired district employee of 35 years, Farquhar returned to serve as the group home liaison and provide support for at-risk students. Finger is director of bands, recently adding a course called United Sound that works with students of all abilities. Amos Bridges and Justin Orf were inducted into the Nixa Public Schools Academic Hall of Fame. A 2013 Nixa graduate, Orf is a project facilitator for the city of Nixa. Bridges is a 1998 graduate and works as editor-in-chief of the Springfield News-Leader. First-generation Drury University student Cody Blakley received the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. The scholarship was awarded to around 2,100 American undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds. Law Seven attorneys who are members of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association were honored with Women’s Justice Awards by Missouri Lawyers Media. The honorees are Abby Craigmyle of CoxHealth, Taylon Sumners-Schwartz of Sumners-Schwartz Law LLC, Elizabeth Fax of the Greene County prosecutor’s office, Sarah Donelan of Donelan Law LLC, Danielle Kincaid of The Elder Law Group LLC, Anne Salle Mason of Neale & Newman LLP and Karen Johnson of Evans & Dixon LLC. Nonprofit United Way of the Ozarks hired Brandi VanAntwerp as its new leader. VanAntwerp became president-elect on June 17 before she was slated to start as president and CEO on July 1, succeeding Greg Burris. With more than 16 years of nonprofit leadership experience, VanAntwerp joins United Way from Foster Adopt Connect Inc., where she was executive director since 2021. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks was recognized as a Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Growth Award Winner for program excellence in 2023. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks is among 100 organizations out of more than 230 nationwide to receive the honor. Solar Vroom Solar Inc. was chosen by the U.S. Air Force’s AFWERX program for a Small Business Innovation Research contract focused on smart solar management. Vroom Solar is among companies working to strengthen national defense through the program. NEWSMAKERS Send announcements to newsmakers@sbj.net Bridges Blakley Fax Kincaid Donelan Craigmyle VanAntwerp Finger Snow Orf Farquhar 417.447.4400 | CarnahanEvans.com The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements. A Full Service Business and Estate Planning Law Firm • Corporate & General Business • Tax & Estate Planning • Real Estate • Labor & Employment • Banking • Litigation & Dispute Resolution • Employee Benefits • Construction • Cooperative & Utility • Marijuana & Hemp 417,708.6035 | heritageofspringfield.com
JUNE 24-30, 2024 6 · SBJ.NET by Cayli Yanagida · Editorial Intern Before creating Sub 24, neither Stefany Benson nor Brian Fields knew how to make coffee. What they did know was that there wasn’t a place open early enough to get a good cup before the 5 a.m. start of a typical race day. So, they made it their goal to change that. After a year of planning, Sub 24 was born in November 2021, serving hot and iced coffees, smoothies, hot chocolate, lemonade and seasonal beverages. The mobile coffee trailer appears around the Midwest at races from 5K to 100 miles. Being an ultrarunner, or someone who runs anything longer than the 26.2mile marathon, Fields named the trailer after those ambitious enough to run 100 miles in under 24 hours. Although Fields said he has yet to beat the 24-hour mark, he and Benson have promised free drinks to anyone who does in races where Sub 24 serves. Growing from its roots in Republic, Sub 24 has impacted the southwest Missouri running community through partnering with businesses and groups such as Bass Pro Shops’ Fitness Series, OneSolePurpose, Joplin Roadrunners and Ozark Mountain Ridge Runners. With each event, Fields and Benson work toward expanding their business, one drink at a time. Starting off strong Fields, 43, began his running career with the 2-mile run during his time in the military. As a leader in charge of soldiers struggling with the run, Fields challenged himself to exceed all expectations by running at the pace of someone 17 years younger than him. He was 32 at the time and continues to serve as a reservist. “I decided to get to where I could pass it at an 18-year-old level just to eliminate excuses for my soldiers,” he says. “That’s basically how it started.” Fields started with 5Ks, eventually working his way up to 100 miles. He met Benson in 2019 while she was the gymnastics teacher of his daughter Addison, and the two celebrated five years together this month. The start of Sub 24 included a lot of trial and error, Benson says, as neither of them had any experience in business. Over time, they created a drink menu based on their own tastes and the input of others, trying out different coffee beans and experimenting with recipes. “We’ve watched a lot of videos and adapted things to fit what we like,” she says. “Our families have been great and have done a lot of taste testing for us.” During Sub 24’s running events, Fields usually participates in the race while Benson serves customers. They have also served at fall festivals and private events. Within the next few years, the couple hopes to travel more as they continue to expand. “We’ve reached out to some people,” Benson says, “but a lot of it just happens organically. Eventually, it would be something where we want to travel and go to other places and set up at those races.” Running uphill Running 100 miles in under 24 hours is not for the faint of heart, Fields says, emphasizing that many of the 100-mile races he runs have an intense elevation factor. This can make a sub-24 time “not likely,” but highlights the benefits of caffeine during a long-distance race. According to an article from Precision Hydration, strategic caffeine use can be helpful when exercising for longer than 12 hours. In a study published by the National Library of Medicine, caffeine intake during the peak of exhaustion – which occurs at night during a 24-hour run – can improve time to exhaustion by about 14%. Fields says people will sometimes consume sugary drinks and experience an energy crash. To avoid this, he tends to drink black coffee while racing during the night. Karen Latham Olson, vice president of Ozark Mountain Ridge Runners, says she’s always ready to get a hot cup of coffee with chocolate or caramel from Sub 24, no matter the hour or season. She knew of Fields through friends in the running community, and they became acquainted through her years of involvement in OMRR. “If they’re there, I’m going to get a cup of coffee,” she says. “I love their coffee and I want to support them.” As of now, Sub 24 is a side hustle for Benson and Fields, who both have roles outside of working the coffee trailer – Benson as an administrative assistant at Abacus CPAs LLC and Fields as a Republic City Council member. However, they hope to expand to a brick-and-mortar business. Reasons for running While their 2023 revenue came in at just under $20,000 and the investment to start the business was around $60,000, Fields says it’s not about the money. “There’s the potential to use the coffee business to fund a nonprofit,” he says. “I’ll set up a group where we go run to help with mental health.” Fields plans to support Wellness for Warriors, which is run by the CoxHealth Foundation and aims to support the first responder and veteran community. Benson says Fields feels strongly about this due to his three deployments, which led to his struggle with PTSD after returning home. “Running has been an outlet for him for his mental health, so he wants to help other people cope with PTSD as well,” Benson says. “Hopefully, they can find that same passion and purpose that he has found with running.” Latham Olson, whose husband is a retired military member, says members of Springfield’s running community usually have a hidden driving force behind their dedication to the pursuit. “You get a lot of veterans that pick up ultrarunning,” she says. “It’s a healthy form of dealing with post-traumatic stress and finding community again, especially after retiring.” And while Sub 24’s mission is to support runners, Latham Olson says that the community has gone out of its way to support Sub 24. “It’s about getting out there,” she says. “When you’re on a trail or road and you’re at mile 50, you support each other. It’s about the struggle together and getting through those hard times.” • BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Running on Purpose Sub 24 LLC Owners: Brian Fields and Stefany Benson Founded: 2021 Phone: 417-437-9013 Website: Sub24Mo.com Services/Products: Hot and iced coffee drinks, smoothies, hot chocolate, lemonade and seasonal beverages Employees: 2, with help from Fields’ 15-year-old daughter Addison Startup costs: $50,000-$60,000 2023 Revenue: Just under $20,000 Stefany Benson and Brian Fields, pictured with Fields’ daughter Addison, own Sub 24, providing runners with caffeine and supporting local communities. TAWNIE WILSON Coffee trailer Sub 24 serves running community
JUNE 24-30, 2024 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 7 NEWS Springfield Lake Boathouse Salute to Kenmar Construction team: Loyal for 25 years plus! Left to right: Erik Nation – 27 years | Tom Wallace – 25 years Scott Campbell – 27 years | Linda Smith – 28 years | Bill Sperry – 25 years Command Family Medicine ATTENTION: BUSINESS OWNERS Minimize time off for employees with sick children by offering instant access to their PCP via phone, email, or text with same or next day appointments. Ensure superior care at an affordable price. COMMAND FAMILY MEDICINE Serving patients in Springfield and Branson command.md | 417-351-2900 12:24 PM My son fell off the slide at school. They are worried his arm might be broken. What should we do? We have an opening at 1:30 this afternoon. We can x-ray his arm here at the office today. Court removes barrier to BK&M development by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net A judge has ruled that restrictive covenants limiting the University Heights neighborhood to private homes are mostly unenforceable. Greene County Circuit Court Judge Derek Ankrom ruled June 14 in a case brought last year against the developer BK&M LLC by 12 plaintiffs and two interveners – all residents of University Heights neighborhood – where BK&M plans a commercial development at the corner of Sunshine Street and National Avenue. A decision by Ankrom had been pending since a two-day trial was held in January regarding restrictions placed on many of the neighborhood’s deeds by Eloise Mackey, who devised and advertised the restrictions when the neighborhood was platted in 1925. In his ruling, Ankrom wrote about each of the plaintiffs by name and showed how they were in violation of some aspect of the deed restrictions they were citing to prohibit the commercial development. The verdict in the case clears a hurdle to BK&M’s development plans. The most recent idea announced was for a combination food hall and pickleball establishment, following a plan for a tall mixed-use residential and commercial building and another for a boutique grocery store. Now, Ralph Duda, partner in BK&M, says the nature of the development is in flux, and the food hall idea is out. “I’m not sure about the food hall proposal,” he said in a June 17 text message. “The neighborhood clearly desires a less intense use case.” Duda added that he would be meeting his team later in the week to discuss next steps. “Ultimately, we desire to rezone this site for commercial use, but we must be good Developer abandons concept of food hall in favor of less intense use for neighborhood Derek Ankrom: Some original deeds cited all restrictions, but others included none of them. See COURT on page 38 SBJ founder to be inducted into Missouri Newspaper Hall of Fame by Geoff Pickle · gpickle@sbj.net Springfield Business Journal founder Dianne Elizabeth Osis will be inducted into the Missouri Newspaper Hall of Fame, according to an announcement June 20 by the Missouri Press Association. Osis is among four inductees selected to be honored Sept. 20 at the MPA’s 158th annual convention and trade show, slated to be held this year in Springfield. The other inductees are Doug Kneibert, former editor of the Sedalia Democrat; Mike O’Brien, former editor and columnist for the Springfield News-Leader; and Michael Stair, former city editor for The Joplin Globe, according to a news release. Osis retired from SBJ in January 2017 after founding the publication in July 1980, according to past reporting. She remains a board director for the company, which started as Top’s Executive Journal, aka The Ozarks’ Pulse, before becoming SBJ in 1983. Osis’ daughter, Jennifer Jackson, succeeded Osis as publisher in 2011. Jackson in January was succeeded as publisher by Marty Goodnight, who plans to buy the business in 2026. The MPA release credits Osis with her pioneering work in journalism. “Osis’ work as one of the first female business journal publishers in the nation broke barriers and paved the way for other women in the industry,” MPA officials said in the release. “Her commitment to journalism and mentorship of aspiring journalists continues to have a lasting impact, fostering growth and success of countless individuals during her career.” MPA Hall of Fame inductees receive Pinnacle Awards, and plaques featuring them will be put on permanent display with other inductees in the MPA office in Columbia and in the student lounge in Lee Hills Hall at the University of Missouri’s Missouri School of Journalism. • Dianne Elizabeth Osis founded Springfield Business Journal in 1980.
JUNE 24-30, 2024 8 · SBJ.NET NEWS Make a splash this summer with better guidance & smarter decisions. YOU DESERVE BETTER abacus.cpa 417.449.CPAS (2727) Antidiscrimination policy guides airport contracts by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net At the Springfield-Branson National Airport, as at all U.S. airports, a focus on diversity is business as usual through the disadvantaged business enterprise program. Joy Latimer, assistant city attorney for the airport, is responsible for ensuring the airport meets targets for the Federal Aviation Administration’s civil rights program, which includes maintaining compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and contracting with businesses owned by qualifying disadvantaged business owners. The DBE program is the U.S. Department of Transportation’s method of complying with Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. The DBE program has two components, one for construction and one for airport concessions. DBE goals are part of a Title VI plan Latimer crafts every three years, and public meetings are conducted for input, Latimer said. For construction, the DBE goal is 6%, meaning that for any federally funded construction program, 6% of funds must go to businesses that are certified as disadvantaged businesses. Recipients of federal funds, like the airport, are required to set their own DBE goals for contractors, subcontractors and agency partners and must also monitor the results, according to the Department of Transportation. To qualify and be certified as a DBE, the DOT states, 51% of a business must be owned by one or more people who are socially or economically disadvantaged, and the management and daily business operations of the business must be controlled by one or more of the disadvantaged business owners, which includes women and minority group members. The DOT website characterizes the DBE program as the strongest tool it has for creating a level playing field in its distribution of a substantial amount of public funds for the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit Administration and the FAA. Airport targets As noted, construction contractors working at the airport must be 6% DBE certified. That is the policy for any project for which the airport receives federal funds or grant money, which is anything inside the airfield, Latimer said. “Six percent of what we pay them has to go to a registered DBE,” she said. The airport concessions DBE program has two separate targets, she said: 0.4% for rental car companies and 2.7% for non-rental car concessionaires, including the airport coffee shop, two gift shops, two restaurants and the parking company. The targets can be hard to hit, she said, although the airport is in compliance. “We’ve improved on the rental car side, but we’re still struggling in the regular concessions side,” Latimer said. She noted it doesn’t matter if a business self-identifies as disadvantaged; that status must be certified by the government through an application process to count toward the airport’s goals. “It’s sort of out of our hands,” she said. “We don’t contract directly with anyone besides our concessionaires.” The DOT has operated its DBE program for more than two decades. The Missouri Regional Certification Committee, which operates a unified certification program for the state’s DBE certifying agencies, including MoDOT, listed 1,338 certified DBE firms in 2022, and 917 of those had home offices within the state, according to MoDOT. Although the coffee shop, Travellers House Coffee & Tea, is local, Latimer noted the gift shops are run by an international company, which the airport website lists as The Paradies Shops, and restaurants are operated by a national company, Tailwind Concessions. The airport’s rental car agencies are listed on its website as Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Dollar Rent a Car, Hertz, National/Alamo, Payless and Thrifty. When companies are not themselves DBEs, they have to meet the airport’s goals by purchasing goods from registered companies, Latimer said. Attainable goal Brian Hutsell, St. Louis-based senior aviation engineer with Crawford, Murphy & Tilly Inc., said for construction contracts, achieving the DBE participation target is typically attainable, depending on the type of project. Participation is commonly seen in landscaping, electrical materials and pavement accessory supply, concrete crushing and materials hauling and trucking, he said. Occasionally, there are smaller projects that may not lend themselves to DBE participation, Hutsell said, but the three-year program maintained by airports allows for some variation in participation levels from project to project. Hutsell said CMT works with other teams for professional services to meet the airport’s DBE requirements. Most are in St. Louis or Kansas City, with one long-term partner in Springfield. FAA requires inclusion of disadvantaged businesses See DBE on page 41 Joy Latimer: Disadvantaged business targets can be hard to hit with airport concessions.
SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 9 JUNE 24-30, 2024 FOCUS ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT TAWNIE WILSON WATER PARTNERS Mike Kromrey of Watershed Committee of the Ozarks and Elizabeth Robertson of City Utilities keep an eye on the region’s watershed. ‘Forever chemicals’ by Karen Craigo · kcraigo@sbj.net Elizabeth Robertson, City Utilities of Springfield’s director of water treatment and supply, is a chemist, but sometimes she’s also a detective. In November 2022, Robertson’s team began testing for a pernicious pollutant known as PFAS. The acronym stands for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances – industrial chemicals with multiple applications – that are often called “forever chemicals.” “When they were developed, it was because of those properties – they were hard to break down, waterproof, durable, great for a lot of applications in the industrial and commercial world, but that makes them really terrible for the environment,” Robertson said. “They were made for our benefit, but it just so happens they have this negative side effect.” That negative side effect is that they break down slowly, and as the Environmental Protection Agency explains on its PFAS fact sheet, they are found in the blood of people and animals worldwide, as well as in water, air and soil. The chemicals are found in so many consumer and industrial products that they are challenging to study. Not long into her team’s investigation, Robertson said they found PFAS in the James River. That led to an investigation of its tributaries. “We followed the breadcrumb trail,” she said. Simultaneously, Minnesota-based 3M (NYSE: MMM), a global company with a Springfield factory at 3211 E. Chestnut Expressway, began to make the news as communities across the country sued it for allegedly polluting water sources with PFAS. Even so, Robertson said, the investigation focused on waterways. “We did not start at 3M and work our way down,” Robertson said. “We started with the James River, which led us to Jones Spring, which is less than 2 miles from the 3M factory.” It turns out that 3M had logged incidents with PFAS chemicals with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. “They did not get in touch with us, but they reported something to MDNR,” said Robertson. “They did not consider the fact that with the karst typography and groundwater system, they would have impacted our sources.” This year, the EPA passed a rule limiting future PFAS levels in drinking water to 4 parts per trillion. A news release from City Utilities states, “1 ppt is equivalent to one drop of water in 20 Olympic-size swimming pools or equivalent to one second in 32,000 years.” In the past year, CU says it has detected a range of 3.1 to 16.0 ppt in the James River. Robertson said she remembered waking up one morning and opening her email to find a test result from Pearson Creek, which is fed by Jones Spring. It revealed levels of PFAS at 39 ppt. “I read it, and I was like – oh, my gosh,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it.” Robertson said she put a monitoring plan to work. “It’s been pretty consistent for the last several months coming out of Jones Spring and Pearson Creek,” she said. “I haven’t noticed a decrease yet, but they’re forever chemicals – they’re made for durability. “I don’t know what the half-life is there or how long it’s going to take to break them down in the environment, but it’s going to be a very long time.” CU sues On June 3, CU filed a lawsuit against 3M in the U.S. District Court for the Western District See FOREVER on page 12 $10.3B Class-action settlement by 3M to 11,000 public water systems CU, Watershed Committee partner to safeguard water amid new threat
10 · SBJ.NET JUNE 24-30, 2024 FOCUS ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT What is the Ozarks Clean Fuels Coalition? The mission is to support regional economic, environmental and energy security by advancing affordable clean transportation fuels and looking at fuel conservation technologies and practices. We do that through developing regional partnerships. In February, we achieved apprenticeship designation from the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities and Communities program. Our next phase is to apply for full designation. We plan to do that early in the fall. There are about 76 Clean Cities and Communities programs across the country. We started this project a little over a year ago through the Ozarks Clean Air Alliance. We worked with the Kansas City Clean Cities program and the St. Louis Clean Cities program to look at how could we create an entity that covered every county in the state by helping organizations and counties implement alternative fuel infrastructures that are affordable, that drive fuel efficiency and improvements. We ended up dividing the state into three regions. We’re going to cover the southern part of the state. We are hosting the program through the Ozarks Environmental and Water Resources Institute here at Missouri State University to facilitate engagement across the region and get students engaged. If you reach that full designation status, what funding would the coalition be eligible for to support the mission of expanding use of alternative fuels? We will be eligible for grant funding through the Department of Energy that only Clean Cities and Communities entities can apply for. They help support infrastructure, seeding alternative fuel markets and technologies in the area to test different equipment materials. By having the Ozarks Clean Fuels Coalition, we can also leverage existing grant funds that come from the U.S. [Environmental Protection Agency] and others for things like clean diesel funding or other federal funds that right now are coming out for electric infrastructure and electric vehicles. By having this coalition in southern Missouri, we can start looking at how do we plan for that infrastructure so we have more of a strategic process. We can look at it even as a statewide plan. So, how do we make sure we have proper alternative fuel infrastructure down the main corridors across the state into rural communities that need it? For some fleets, electrification might be a good opportunity for them in terms of cost and maintenance. Some it might be propane or natural gas or biodiesel. So, it’s really looking at each fleet and understanding what’s best for them from a maintenance standpoint, from a cost-effective standpoint, from a technical standpoint. What kind of entities would the coalition engage with? We’re targeting fleets, public and private fleets – from school districts to municipalities to over-the-road trucking to construction to local delivery fleets. Anywhere from large fleets to just fleets of one or two. I imagine capital could be a barrier in making some of these changes. What are some other barriers these organizations face in using alternative fuels? Yes, capital obviously is there. Great thing is there are some grants that help fund some of that, providing infrastructure like buying a new vehicle or having a fuel tank on site that holds biodiesel. Looking at existing diesel fleets, it might be easier for them to transition into a biodiesel fuel, which allows them to not have to change the engine or not have to change the vehicles but start using at least a certain concentration of renewable fuel. It’s really doing that fleet analysis with them to see what is the best option from a capital cost and from an operational payments cost so that when they start investing, it’s an efficient investment and feasible. The Department of Energy’s Clean Cities and Communities program has been running since 1993, and there’s experts from across the country that we can leverage to help fleets evaluate those opportunities. In looking at how you’ll measure success, what’s the baseline that our area is at now in terms of alternative fuel adoption, and then where are you hoping to be? Right now, we’re completing an evaluation of how much of the alternative fuel infrastructure we have in our region – electric charging stations, biodiesel pumps, natural gas, propane, how many of those are available? We know in our region, there’s very few. Then it’s setting goals in terms of how are we going to increase this strategically to support not only our region, but making sure if fleets leave our region, they have access to that fuel in other parts of the state and also working with other states. We’re also looking at how much diesel and gasoline, straight petroleum-based liquid fuels, are we reducing each year by providing more of the alternative fuels. Do you already have community stakeholders, fleets or those in the alternative fuel space on board with the coalition? We have an advisory board that’s made up of organizations like Biodiesel Coalition of Missouri, Wil Fischer, Ozarks Transportation Organization, Southwest Missouri Council of Governments, Dynamic EVC, Sun Solar, Ozark Greenways. Our goal is to have a good representation of not only fleets, but organizations or businesses that support the transportation industry. Right now, we’re working to build a coalition of members, and that is to bring in more fleets, public and private, as well as utilities and additional fuel infrastructure, but also equipment providers like engine manufacturers, car manufacturers, so that we build a coalition of resources that supports everyone. We’re trying to provide this as a nonbiased, objective process so that we provide as much information to fleets and organizations as possible and so that they can make the best decisions, and what resources we can provide to help them with that. doug neidigh Coalition Director, Ozarks Clean Fuels Coalition, and Sustainability Unit Manager, Ozarks Environmental and Water Resources Institute at Missouri State University A CONVERSATION WITH ... TAWNIE WILSON Excerpts from an interview by Executive Editor Christine Temple, ctemple@sbj.net Protect Your Data with PCnet “When’s a good time for me to steal your data?” – The Hacker 417-831-1700 / pcnetinc.com
SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 11 JUNE 24-30, 2024 FOCUS ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT THREE LIFESTYLES, ONE COMMUNITY INDEPENDENT LIVING | (417) 831-3828 ASSISTED LIVING | (417) 501-1000 SKILLED NURSING & SHORT-TERM REHABILITATION | (417) 831-2273 ELFINDALERETIREMENT.COM AREA'S LARGEST SOLAR CONTRACTORS Rank Name Address Telephone • Website Email # Systems Installed 2023 Local Revenue 2023 Local Companywide # Employees Local Companywide % Work Commercial Residential Brands Installed Top Local Executive(s), Title(s) Year Founded Locally 1 ARROWHEAD SOLAR 227 Downing St., Ste. 5, Nixa 65714 417-494-5056 • Arrowhead-Solar.com derek@arrowhead-solar.com 1,400 $16,000,000 $35,000,000 15 40 25% 75% REC, Qcells, Enphase, SolarEdge Derek Taylor, COO 2021 2 SUN SOLAR LLC 2531 N Patterson Ave, Springfield 65803 417-413-1786 • USSunSolar.com info@ussunsolar.com 1,043 $52,279,332 $55,000,000 146 217 12% 88% Tesla, Jinko, Graybar Caleb Arthur, founder/CEO & Pete Fischer, CFO 2012 3 SOLERA ENERGY 1725 N Packer Road, Springfield 65803 417-771-5817 • SoleraEnergyLLC.com info@soleraenergyllc.com 598 WND 51 51 50% 50% Generac, Solectria, SMA, Enphase Will Cox, co-founder/CEO; Mark Gardner, co-founder; Ryan MacDonald, chief operating officer & Lee Beaman, master electrician 2018 4 BLISS BROTHERS SOLAR 4173 S Farm Rd 103, Republic 65738 417-986-1906 • BlissBrothers.Solar info@blissbrothers.com 211 WND 9 9 20% 80% Enphase, Fortress Sol-Ark, SolarEdge, SMA, AP Systems, Generac, Lion Energy, Homegrid, Storz Power, Silfab, Qcells, Jinko, REC Kevin Bliss, managing director 2018 5 APC SOLAR 3202 W Republic Road, Springfield 65807 888-527-7697 • APCSolar.com 25 $6,000,000 $6,000,000 15 15 100% 0% SMA, Trina & Qcells Shawn Killion, general manager & Shawn Roberts, CEO 2018 Ranked by systems installed by the local office in 2023. Local is defined as a 50-mile radius of Springfield. SBJ relies on individual businesses to be truthful and accurate in their representation of the information listed. To be considered for future lists, email lists@sbj.net. Researched by Karen Bliss Karen Bliss © Copyright 2024 SBJ. All rights reserved. This material may not be republished, rebroadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
12 · SBJ.NET JUNE 24-30, 2024 FOCUS ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT of Missouri Southern Division to allege violations of the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. “3M discharged and is discharging various pollutants through its stormwater outfalls and into groundwater in violation of its federal and state discharge permits and the CWA, and such illegally discharged pollutants are presenting an imminent and substantial danger to human health and the environment in violation of RCRA,” the lawsuit reads. A statement provided to Springfield Business Journal by 3M noted the Springfield plant is a key part of the company’s global operations. According to SBJ list research, the company opened in 1967 and employs some 485 workers in the manufacture of tapes, adhesives and sealants. The Springfield plant spans 420,000 square feet on 100 acres. The company’s statement says only five 3M sites continue to manufacture PFAS as a commercial product, and the Springfield plant is not one of them. “We are committed to compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and we will continue to work to address legacy PFAS,” the statement says. “We announced in 2000 that we would phase out of manufacturing PFOA and PFOS, and we have done so worldwide. We also announced in 2022 that we would exit all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025 and are on schedule to do so.” The company commented on the CU lawsuit as well. “As the science and technology of PFAS, societal and regulatory expectations and our expectations of ourselves have evolved, so has how we manage PFAS,” the statement reads. “3M will address PFAS litigation by defending itself in court or through negotiated resolutions, all as appropriate.” In April, a federal district judge approved a separate class-action settlement through which 3M will pay about $10.3 billion over 13 years to more than 11,000 public water systems for PFAS contamination. Protecting water together CU is not alone in its efforts to protect the local water supply. For 40 years, the utility has partnered with the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks Inc. Mike Kromrey, executive director of the Watershed Committee, said because of the region’s karst landscape, which includes soluble rock types and a ground that is pocked by sinkholes, caves and springs, the region’s water supply is similar to a system of pipes, rather than the filters that would be comparable in other topographies. “Everything’s connected,” he said. “Whatever enters the ground will likely show up somewhere else.” Along with the city of Springfield and Greene County, CU serves as sponsor of the Watershed Committee, which leverages that funding by obtaining grants with CU’s scientific contributions providing a needed match. All are focused on protecting drinking water and keeping rivers and streams clean for wildlife and recreation. “It’s important to keep a holistic view of clean water and healthy rivers in our mind, because at the end of the day, we all live downstream,” Kromrey said. Kromrey described the drinking water supply as resilient. “If Fellows Lake becomes low, we’re able to pull water from Stockton Lake,” he said. “Thanks to many years of focus on a resilient water supply system, we’re in good shape.” To address the PFAS contamination, CU’s Blackman Water Treatment Plant is pulling in water from both Fellows Lake and the James River to create a percentage blend and protect drinking water. PFAS have not been detected in Fellows Lake. Kromrey noted the resilient supply comes at a cost. “As soon as we turn on the switch to pump water from Stockton, that’s a big, expensive pump,” he said. We’re lucky here, according to Kromrey. “In the water world, you definitely want your options, and we have been pretty unique in that we have so many sources to protect us against drought or possible contamination,” he said. The Watershed Committee focuses on nonpoint source pollution and source water quality, Kromrey said, and works to reduce agricultural and urban runoff and to reinforce stream banks. “A focus on long-term water quality is very important, and that’s the niche that the Watershed Committee of the Ozarks serves,” he said. Kromrey cited recent SBJ reporting that showed the Springfield region as the fastest-growing area of the state, and that adds even more urgency to the need to protect the region’s water supply. “It’s important for us to sharpen our focus and think about new ways to address this,” he said. “Hats off to Elizabeth and her team for being proactive and taking action on behalf of the community.” • Forever: 3M says it plans to cease PFAS manufacturing by late 2025 Continued from page 9 40 Years Watershed Committee of the Ozarks has operated 16.0 ppt Max ‘forever chemical’ level found in James River
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SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 15 NEWS In the ever-changing landscape of business, every organization has a unique story to tell: tales of innovation, resilience, and transformation. It is with great excitement that I introduce these stories of evolution. This dedicated space will shine a spotlight on companies that have navigated the complexities of the market, highlighting their journeys of growth and adaptation. Evolution is more than just a collection of success stories. It’s a platform where the intricate processes of business evolution are brought to life, offering readers an in-depth look at the strategies and decisions that drive growth. From startups breaking new ground with innovative ideas to established enterprises reinventing themselves to stay relevant, these stories are a testament to the dynamic nature of the business world. In this section, you’ll find engaging narratives that explore various aspects of business evolution. We’ll cover how companies identify opportunities, overcome challenges, and leverage their strengths to create lasting impact. Whether it’s embracing new technologies, affirming their core values, or adding new services to fill their client’s needs, each story provides valuable insights and inspiration for entrepreneurs and business leaders alike. For instance, you’ll read about a funeral home that is offering a new service for people who lose their beloved pets, and a small business owner that has found success by caring more about his employees than just their revenue. You’ll hear from an interior design firm creating spaces that foster engagement between teams, clients, and communities and a college with a legacy of building character and work-ethic in its students now under new leadership. These narratives are not just about celebrating success; they’re about understanding the process of evolution. We aim to highlight the strategic thinking, the trial and error, and the unwavering commitment that these businesses embody. By sharing their experiences, we hope to foster a deeper appreciation of what it takes to thrive in today’s competitive environment and inspire others to embark on their own paths of transformation. You are invited to join us on this journey of discovery. Evolution promises to be a rich source of knowledge and inspiration, offering a closer look at the heart of business innovation and progress. Stay tuned as we unveil these compelling stories, each one a chapter in the ongoing saga of business evolution. Welcome to Evolution: Unveiling Stories of Growth and Transformation AETOS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS . 16 CITY OF SPRINGFIELD DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT . . . . . . 18 KCICONSTRUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . .19 CALLAHAN HEATING AND COOLING . . . . .20 CHERISHED PETS FUNERAL HOME&CREMATORY . . . . . . . . . . . 22 COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS . . . . . . . . . 24 GRINDSTONE CONSTRUCTION, LLC . . . . .26 LEASTOFTHESE,INC. . . . . . . . . . . 28 MOVRR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 NABHOLZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 TOUCHÉDESIGNCO. . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Table of Contents VALERIE PISTER Director of Sales evo ution2024
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