Meet Biz 417's 2023 Biz 100

Biz 417’s Person of the Year: Hal Donaldson

Read about why we selected Hal Donaldson as Biz 417's Person of the Year for 2023.

Brad Erwin

President, Paragon Architecture
M.Arch., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: Brad Erwin founded Paragon Architecture in 2010. Over the past decade, the firm has gained recognition for sustainable architectural design, specializing in education, civic, public safety and health care facilities.
2023 Game Changer: This year, Erwin pushed the effort to refocus Paragon Architecture’s attention on regional collaboration and economic development. “The Paragon Architecture team continues to grow as we expand our office footprint in St. Louis and establish a firm presence in Northwest Arkansas with a new office on the Fayetteville Square,” Erwin says.
Words to Lead By: Erwin says an important area of focus to move Springfield forward is “redevelopment within the city limits of Springfield as we grow into the City of Springfield’s Forward SGF Comprehensive Plan. Mixed-use development and continued redevelopment along our corridors are needed to keep our community vibrant.”

Rob Haik

Principal/Founder, HDesigngroup
B.S., Drury University
New
7-Second Summary: Rob Haik has worked in architecture for more than a quarter century. He leads hdesigngroup alongside partners Brent Stevens and Todd Bolin—a group that he refers to as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a leadership trio with different strengths that go perfectly together. He says: “We are proud and fortunate to be involved with so many community projects that have impacted our landscape.”

Nick Nelson

Museum Director, Springfield Art Museum
M.F.A., Georgia Southern University; B.F.A., Georgia Southwestern State University
Returning, second year
7-Second Summary: Nick Nelson is leading the way as Springfield Art Museum continues to grow and fulfill its 2028 master plan. Improvements have been made to museum grounds and adjoining green spaces like Fassnight Creek and Phelps Grove Park. “The Springfield Art Museum is preparing for an era of transformative growth,” Nelson says. “We look forward to renovation and expansion of our facility as well as a new strategic plan that will take us into our next century of service to the community.”
Write This Down: “We are a cosmopolitan destination in the heart of nature with a unique and compelling local culture and history. If we can be the best Springfield, Missouri, we can be, we can’t lose,” Nelson says.

Geoff Steele

Executive Director, Gillioz Center For Arts & Entertainment
New
7-Second Summary: The Gillioz Center for Arts & Entertainment came off a pandemic shutdown to complete a record year in programming for the theatre. And with Steele at the helm, this historic theatre isn’t finished evolving. “Much progress has been made preparing for our centennial celebration in 2026,” Steele says.
Write This Down: Steele shares one way to get in the zone. “I literally have ‘windshield sessions’ where I drive completely unplugged and take in the scenery. It helps me develop strategies and clarify next steps. It really is a privilege to live in the Ozarks.”

Mark Walker

Chairman/CEO, TransLand
B.A., Drury University
Returning, Seventh Year
7-Second Summary: Mark Walker has been CEO of TransLand since 2013 and has been leading the company’s delivery of transportation services for the past decade.
Fun Fact: “Working in our Community Garden at TransLand is how I unplug and de-stress,” Walker says. “I’m often joined by my wife, Mary, and our gardening friends Beth and Martin Cramer. We grow all types of vegetables along with dahlias, gladiolas, zinnias and sunflowers.”

Brian Weiler

Director of Aviation, Springfield-Branson National Airport
M.S., University of Central Missouri; B.A., Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Returning, Fifth Year
7-Second Summary: Brian Weiler has led Springfield-Branson National Airport to a bounce back from dipping travel during the pandemic. In fact, Springfield-Branson National Airport celebrated its busiest month ever in June, with 126,370 airline passengers passing through.
2023 Game Changer: The airport is also set to receive a $6.4 million federal grant to improve its tarmac.

Dr. Brad S. Johnson

President, College of the Ozarks
Ed.D., Baylor University; MAMFC, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; MARE, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; BSED, Baylor University
New
7-Second Summary: Dr. Brad Johnson took on the role of the 17th president of College of the Ozarks in 2022. He’s the driving force behind the college’s educational missions.
Fun Fact: When he’s not leading the charge at College of the Ozarks, Dr. Johnson loves hiking and boating around Lake Taneycomo, Table Rock Lake and Bull Shoals Lake.

Dr. Mike Rakes

President, Evangel University
Doctor of Management Studies, Biola University; M.A., AGTS/Reformed Theological Seminary/Biola University; M.Div., Biola University
Returning, second Year
7-Second Summary: Dr. Mike Rakes is in his third year leading Evangel University as its fifth-ever president.
Words to Lead By: “This generation of young adults is not a problem to be solved, but a critical group of future leaders who will help address the division and suffering in our world,” Dr. Rakes says. “I would love to see our community continue to embrace young people who are just beginning their professional pursuits and rally around them with resources and support.”

Paula Dougherty

Owner/Private Investment Wealth Advisor/Investor in People, Achieve Private Wealth/Ameriprise Financial
M.B.A., Missouri State University; B.S., Missouri State University
Returning, Fourth Year
7-Second Summary: Paula Dougherty has been working with Ameriprise Financial for more than a quarter of a century, and her impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. Last year she was named one of the Best in State Women Wealth Advisors for Missouri by Forbes.
Fun Fact: Dougherty is a mentor to several new Sunrise Rotary members. “The energy in that club at 7 a.m. is unbelievable, and there are quite a few young up and comers already doing their thing to make an impact in 417-land,” she says.

Mark Harrington

President/CEO, OMB Bank
B.S., Missouri State University
Returning, Second Year
7-Second Summary: Mark Harrington founded Old Missouri Bank in 1999, and in March 2023 the bank formally changed its name to OMB Bank. Harrington has said the new name aligns the bank’s brand with its strategic growth initiatives and positions the bank for future growth.

Gary W. Schafer II

Managing Partner–Southern Missouri, Forvis
B.S., Missouri State University
Returning, Fifth Year
7-Second Summary: FORVIS is the region’s largest accounting firm, serving customers for more than 100 years. You might remember it as BKD CPAs; the name was changed to FORVIS in 2022 after a merger with Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP.
Words to Lead By: “Let’s seize the moment to articulate a vision for the future of our region,” Schafer says. “417-land is a great place to call home today and can be even better tomorrow, but that won’t happen by accident!”

Joseph W. Turner

President/CEO, Great Southern Bank
J.D., University of Missouri; B.S., Drake University
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: Joseph W. Turner has been with Great Southern Bank since 1991 and has been fulfilling the CEO role since 1999. In 2022, he was recognized for his contributions to the community by being named Springfieldian of the Year by Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

Pamela Yancey

Community Bank President, EVP Arvest Bank
New
7-Second Summary: As Community Bank President at Arvest Bank, Pamela Yancey is laser-focused on serving the community. “Servant leadership is a key motivator for me,” she says. “I look for ways to be involved in the community I love.”
2023 Game Changer: This year, Yancey is part of United Way of the Ozarks’ Women United Leadership Council, working to engage women in the Springfield metro area. “We are currently in the process of developing the structure for Women United as we guide the group’s vision, goals and impact in the community,” Yancey says. “Stay tuned as we look to provide members a unique volunteering experience, an avenue to create change and the opportunity to make lasting professional and personal connections.”
[EDITOR'S NOTE: On November 2, 2023 Pamela Yancey was announced as the next CEO of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & Convention and Visitors Bureau starting December 4, 2023.]

Michelle Billionis

CEO, The Coffee Ethic; Co-Owner, Cherry Picker Package & Fare; part owner, the Loose Goose
B.F.A., Art Education at Pittsburg State University, 1996
New
7-Second Summary: Michelle Billionis is probably best known for her role as CEO of The Coffee Ethic, a coffee shop in downtown Springfield. But she’s also one of the minds behind the new coffee, cocktails and pickleball facility, The Loose Goose, being developed as part of the Grant Avenue Parkway project.
2023 Game Changer: This year, Billionis has been involved in the pickleball community through sponsorships and participation in local tournaments—all to aid research and promotion for Loose Goose.

Lyle Foster

CEO, Big Momma’s Coffee & Espresso
Ph.D., University of Missouri; M.A., Brown University; M.A., Yale University
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: Lyle Foster has been a Commercial Street mainstay since he opened Big Momma’s Coffee & Espresso in 2007. Since then, he’s added a second location near Boonville and Division Street that offers food from Queen City Deli as well. Foster also serves as Greene County ARPA Community Grant Specialist, helping allocate $2.5 million to local businesses with 100 employees or fewer.

Sally Hargis

Vice President/Vice Chairman of the Board, Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co.
B.S., University of Missouri
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: Sally Hargis is leading the way in a company that has been in the family for more than 100 years. Hargis is the granddaughter of Ozarks Coca-Cola’s founder Edwin C. “Cookie” Rice Sr.
2023 Game Changer: This past summer, Ozarks Coca-Cola broke ground on a new manufacturing facility. By next May, the company will be producing Coke and Dr Pepper brands in cans.

Andi Hilburn-Vaini

Owner/Operator, 28 McDonald’s Restaurants
MBA, Drury University
New
7-Second Summary: In May, Andi Hilburn-Vaini celebrated the one-year anniversary of doubling the size of her organization, thanks to the acquisition of an additional 14 restaurants for a total of 28 McDonald’s locations across southern Missouri.
Words to Lead By: “With more restaurants comes more opportunities to provide the 417 community with jobs, charitable support and more. I’ve been able to offer more upward mobility, promotions, advancement and more jobs in general to the communities I serve.”

Andy Kuntz

President/CEO, Andy’s Frozen Custard
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: Andy Kuntz’s parents founded Andy’s Frozen Custard in Osage Beach in 1986, and he has been steering the ship from the Springfield-based headquarters and growing the company to more than 135 locations in 15 states as of September.
2023 Game Changer: Through a partnership with Richard Childress Racing (RCR), driver Austin Dillon, B.J. McLeod Motorsports and driver Anthony Alfredo, Andy’s Frozen Custard’s investment in NASCAR has expanded. Bonus for you: That means the Three-Crete concrete is returning to Andy’s Frozen Custard menus too, and the Andy’s Showcar is going on tour.

Teresa McGeehan

Owner/Operator, Class Act Management/McDonald’s
Returning, Third Year
7-Second Summary: Teresa McGeehan has a long history with McDonald’s, starting when she was just 16 years old working at the counter at one of the restaurant’s locations. She climbed the ladder over the years, and now she is the owner and operator of a whopping 19 McDonald’s locations in southwest Missouri. She became owner of her first restaurant in 2009 and has continued to grow over the last 14 years.

Paul Sundy

Co-CEO and Co-Founder, Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar
Associate of Arts, Ozarks Technical Community College; Bachelors in Business Management, Evangel University
Returning, Fourth Year
7-Second Summary: Restaurants are in Paul Sundy’s blood, and Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar is at the heart of his dining empire. The restaurant started here in Springfield but has expanded into other markets, including places in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Alabama.
Words to Lead By: “As a key player in the revitalization of downtown Springfield, I’d like to see our community re-embrace the downtown area post-COVID,” Sundy says. He points out that a true downtown convention space could be a step in the right direction.

James Tillman

Owner/Principal Manager, First Watch
Returning, Fourth Year
7-Second Summary: James Tillman and is responsible for bringing dining options like First Watch, FD’s Grillhouse and more to Springfield, and he has invested in more than 50 commercial real estate projects.
2023 Game Changer: Tillman opened the region’s first Huey Magoo’s restaurant near the intersection of Sunshine Street and Highway 65. He has plans to open three to four more in 417-land, including one in Ozark near Highway 65 and Highway CC and one in North Springfield near Kansas Expressway and Kearney Street.

Joshua Widner

Owner and Business Manager, Good Spirits & Company
Returning, Second Year
7-Second Summary: As leader of Good Spirits & Company, Joshua Widner is a guiding force behind many local restaurants and bars, including Cherry Picker Package x Fare, Golden Girl Rum Club, Sweet Boy’s Neighborhood Bar, Best of Luck Beer Hall—and even more on the way.
2023 Game Changer: This fall, Good Spirits & Company opened a new headquarters in the Rountree area—a neighborhood that is already home to another of the company’s projects: Cherry Picker Package x Fare. More than just offices, it’ll be a community space with food-centric events.

Teresa Coyan

Chief of Staff/VP Governmental Relations, CoxHealth
M.B.A., Webster University; B.S., Missouri State University
Returning, Sixth Year
7-Second Summary: Teresa Coyan’s work connects her with both stakeholders in the medical community and local elected officials.
2023 Game Changer: This year Coyan moved into a new role at CoxHealth. “Even after 15 years at CoxHealth, I continue to discover new facets of our deep-rooted community connections and our team’s unwavering commitment to patient care,” says Coyan.

Dr. C.J. Davis

CEO, Brightli, Inc., and President/CEO of Burrell Behavioral Health
Psy.D., Forest Institute of Professional Psychology
Returning, Fifth Year
7-Second Summary: As CEO of Burrell and Brightli, Davis continues to work relentlessly to meet the growing demand for addiction and mental health care.
2023 Game Changer: Burrell and Brightli’s footprint continues to grow. Davis says: “Formation of a large parent company last year has increased our ability to respond promptly to community needs and achieve scale for greater impact. Our now 5,000 employees make a difference across not only Springfield but the expanded region. Coming soon is a Youth Crisis Center that will service kids in crisis 24/7 through a newly created adolescent resiliency campus.”

Amanda Hedgpeth

Chief Operating Officer, CoxHealth
M.B.A., Missouri State University
New
7-Second Summary: Amanda Hedgpeth wears many hats in her position, from mentoring new leaders at CoxHealth to leading a complete revamp of CoxHealth’s strategic plan in summer 2023.
2023 Game Changer: In January, Hedgpeth moved into the Chief Operating Officer role at CoxHealth after 17 years with the organization.

Marshall Kinne

President, Med-Pay, Inc.
B.B.A., Southern Methodist University
New
7-Second Summary: Marshall Kinne, son of Med-Pay, Inc.’s founder Gordon Kinne, became president of the company in June of this year. He was also co-chair of Friends of SPS, working to get the recent school bond issue passed with support from a large majority in April.
Fun Fact: When he’s not leading one of the state’s largest third-party insurance companies, Kinne can be found on the trails. “I’ve recently started to enjoy mountain biking given the investment at Fellows Lake and other surrounding trails,” Kinne says. “It has been a blast!”

Gordon Kinne

Founder, Med-Pay, Inc.
B.S., Missouri State University
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: In 1984, Gordon Kinne founded Med-Pay, Inc., which is now a powerful force in Missouri’s third-party insurance market. In fact, it’s one of the largest in the state.
2023 Game Changer: Kinne says he’s excited for a new chapter at Med-Pay, with his son, Marshall Kinne, leading the company.

Richard Ollis

CEO, Ollis/Akers/Arney
B.S., Missouri State University
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: Richard Ollis is leading a company originally founded by his great-grandfather. Since he’s taken charge, Ollis has merged three insurance agencies into one regional agency, becoming the largest independent agency in the area. Ollis/Akers/Arney, an employee-owned business, has also recently launched a training and development initiative. “Being part of others’ growth is extremely rewarding,” Ollis says.
Fun Fact: Ollis is a co-founder and president of Restore SGF, an effort to promote home ownership and rehabilitate housing in Springfield’s historic neighborhoods.

Crista Hogan

Executive Director, Springfield Metropolitan Bar
J.D., Tulsa University; B.B.A., George Washington University
Returning, Seventh Year
7-Second Summary: Crista Hogan’s role as executive director of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar allows her to lead the organization in helping people attain education, housing and employment opportunities.
Fun Fact: Oops! Hogan says she accidentally re-engaged with the Junior League of Springfield this year. “I thought I was signing on for a short gig and got drawn into a much larger commitment,” she says. “It’s been challenging but super-fun and satisfying to work with old friends and the next gen of leaders.”

Randell Wallace

Partner, Kutak Rock LLP
J.D., Vanderbilt University Law School; B.A., Drury University
Returning, Seventh Year
7-Second Summary: As one of the key leaders of Kutak Rock, Randell Wallace is not slowing down. “I am still in the busiest working phase of my career, and enjoying working with a great team of attorneys in tackling complex and interesting projects.” Local financial and nonprofit organizations and local businesses are among his client base, and he specializes in real estate acquisition and divestiture, planning and zoning, economic development incentives and more.

Elizabeth Wente

Partner, Spencer Fane LLP
J.D., Southern Methodist University; B.S., Tulane University
New
7-Second Summary: As a partner at Spencer Fane, Elizabeth Wente has designed her practice to collaborate with employers who have an eye to implementing preventative employment strategies—a strategy that has helped clients mitigate the potential for employee-related legal issues and improve employee relations following a labor shortage.
Fun Fact: This year, Wente led a committee in designing the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s new approach to educating the community on school board candidates and served on the boards of directors for both the chamber and Friends of the Zoo.

Rick Britton

President/CEO, Digital Monitoring Products Inc.
New
7-Second Summary: Rick Britton’s team employs hundreds of southwest Missourians, and the company supports numerous nonprofit organizations that help the homeless, support those with food insecurity and more.
2023 Game Changer: This year, DMP won the naming rights to the new Convoy of Hope global headquarters and training center in Republic.

Jerry Cook

President, Loren Cook Company
Returning, Third Year
7-Second Summary: A family business, Loren Cook Company was founded by Jerry Cook’s father. It specializes in producing air-moving products.
Fun Fact: Tesla chose Loren Cook Company to manufacture stainless steel centrifugal blowers to be used in a die casting press at Tesla’s Austin, Texas, Gigafactory.

David Moore

President/CEO, Paul Mueller Co.
M.B.A., University of Chicago; B.A., Middlebury College
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: Paul Mueller Co. was founded by David Moore’s grandfather, and now Moore is leading its growth. He brought the Great Game of Business’s open-book management system to Paul Mueller, a company that now has locations across the globe in places like Iowa, the Netherlands and Vietnam.

Joe Reynolds

President, Central States Industrial
B.S., Missouri State University
Returning, Fifth Year
7-Second Summary: Joe Reynolds has been leading Central States Industrial since 2015, and in the past three years the company has become an employer of choice in southwest Missouri thanks to his team’s focus on company culture. Reynolds is also expanding his knowledge by taking classes through The Wharton School of Business.

Jack Stack

President/CEO, SRC Holdings Corp.
B.S., Elmhurst College
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: Jack Stack literally wrote the book (The Great Game of Business: The Only Sensible Way to Run a Business) on open-book management after developing a system that brought SRC Holdings Corp. back from the brink and into success.
Fun Fact: Wondering how Stack unwinds? He says his “second shift” is at Maso Pizza Bar.

Chris Jarratt

Chief Creative Officer/Co-Founder, Revel Advertising
B.A., Drury University
New
7-Second Summary: With Chris Jarratt in the lead, Revel Advertising has won 13 Telly Awards and more than 100 American Advertising Federation Addy Awards. His team has donated more than $100,000 in branding and marketing services to local nonprofits through the company’s Revel with a Cause program.
Fun Fact: “Movies are my meditation, my yoga, my way to unplug and lose myself in another world,” Jarratt says. “So, the Jarratts are Alamo season pass holders.”

Erin Danastasio

Executive Director, Hatch Foundation
B.S., University of Missouri
Returning, Third Year
7-Second Summary: Erin Danastasio’s role at Hatch Foundation allows her to support grassroots efforts to focus on the community. Danastasio is in her second year co-leading Celebrate Springfield, a month-long event that draws attention to many of the city’s most interesting cultural features.
Words to Lead By: “We’re naturally an extremely humble community,” Danastasio says. “While this can be a wonderful trait, it can also be damaging if we’re not careful. We have every reason to be proud of our community and we need to harness that.”

Brandy Harris

CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield
M.A., Early Childhood Education & Family Development, Missouri State University; B.A., Speech Communication with a minor in Global Studies, Drury University
Returning, Fourth Year
7-Second Summary: Brandy Harris’s leadership at Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield is powered by her own childhood experience of attending 13 schools before settling at Springfield’s Reed Academy. And she’s continuing to make waves. Harris and her team are prepping for a big development in 2024, when they will open The Risdal Family Center for Great Futures, a state-of-the-art teen center exclusively for middle and high school students.

Mary Kromrey

Executive Director, Ozark Greenways
M.S., Missouri State University
Returning, Fourth Year
7-Second Summary: At Ozark Greenways, Mary Kromrey works to preserve and conserve key properties within our region for conservation, agricultural or recreational goals through a variety of easements.
Words to Lead By: “We are the heart of the Ozarks. Let’s own it by embracing and fostering the outdoor recreation economy for the benefit of residents and visitors alike, now and for future generations.”

Jaimie Trussell

CEO, Council of Churches of the Ozarks
B.A., Anthropology and Communication, Missouri State University; M.A., Communications
New
7-Second Summary: Council of Churches of the Ozarks, with Jaimie Trussell leading the way, works to improve the quality of life of vulnerable populations. “Despite five decades of exemplary service, the scope and scale of the work the Council of Churches does is still a best kept secret,” Trussell says.
Words to Lead By: “About 1/4 of our population  struggles with material, relational and educational poverty. We have so many great nonprofits working to help those in crisis, but the real community transformation will happen when we figure out how to keep people out of crisis in the first place.”

David Cameron

City Administrator, City of Republic
B.S., John Brown University
Returning, Third Year
7-Second Summary: With a strong focus on strategic regional growth, Cameron has been leading the charge since 2016 as Republic undergoes rapid change.
Words to Lead By: “Even though I greatly advocate for work-life balance, I failed to live it myself,” Cameron says. “The lesson learned is to schedule breaks throughout the year and one big one in the summer. Everyone around you will appreciate it as well.”

Gary Gibson

President/CEO, City Utilities of Springfield
B.S., Missouri University of Science and Technology
Returning, Fourth Year
7-Second Summary: In his role at City Utilities, Gary Gibson is responsible for the electricity, natural gas, water, broadband and public transportation services of a 320-square-mile region.
2023 Game Changer: In October, a $1 billion master plan for the future of Lake Springfield was revealed. The land involved is owned by City Utilities, and the extensive plans include expanding the boathouse, creating “eco-islands” joined by elevated boardwalks and a new trail system, and more.

Lincoln P. Hough

Missouri State Senator, District 30
B.S., Missouri State University
Returning, Seventh Year
7-Second Summary: Before representing the 30th District, a role he has held since 2018, Lincoln P. Hough served as Greene County Commissioner, as well as in the Missouri House of Representatives.
2023 Game Changer: This year, Hough pulled together support for an I-70 funding plan that will make generational changes in transportation for the state.

Matt Morrow

President/CEO, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
M.B.A., Southwest Baptist University; B.S., Southwest Baptist University
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: Prior to his role leading the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, which he’s had since 2014, Matt Morrow served as Missouri press secretary and leader of the Springfield HBA and the HBA in Birmingham, Alabama.

Crystal Quade

District 132 Representative, Missouri House of Representatives
B.S.W., Missouri State University
Returning, Sixth Year
7-Second Summary: Since 2016, Crystal Quade has been representing the 132nd district, an area that encompasses parts of north and central Springfield. In that role, she also serves as Minority Caucus Leader.
2023 Game Changer: Quade has announced that she has entered the race for Missouri Governor. The election is in November 2024.

Paul F. Williams

Chief of Police, City of Springfield
M.S., Northeastern State University; B.S., Northern Michigan University
Returning, Third Year
7-Second Summary: In 2012, Paul F. Williams became Springfield’s Chief of Police, and he’s been in the role ever since.
2023 Game Changer: Coming off last year’s successful implementation of the Behavioral Crisis Center with Burrell Behavioral Health, this year Williams took part in a community engagement and public education campaign that resulted in overall crime reductions.

Jeff Childs

Senior Advisor, SVN/Rankin Company
B.S., Missouri State University (SMSU)
Returning, third Year
7-Second Summary: Jeff Childs specializes in retail, office and industrial properties in his role as a commercial Realtor.
2023 Game Changer: My wife and I have enjoyed working with Care to Learn,” Childs says. “I have been fortunate to work with numerous nonprofit clients this past year. It’s great to see them expanding and bringing so many wonderful opportunities to our area.”

John Griesemer

President/CEO, Erlen Group
B.S., Purdue University
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: John Griesemer has been at the helm at his family business, Erlen Group, since he took over in 2018 following the retirement of his uncle, Louis Griesemer.
2023 Game Changer: “Erlen Group continues to grow and evolve each of our divisions,” Griesemer says. “We have expanded our leadership team, added service lines and acquired additional aggregate locations.”

Bryan Magers

Owner/President, Bryan Properties Management
University of Missouri
Returning, Second Year
7-Second Summary: Bryan Magers leads a rapidly growing company with apartment, student housing and hotel projects all across 417-land, northwest Arkansas and Waco, Texas.
2023 Game Changer: In February 2023, Bryan Properties acquired Hilton Garden Inn in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. It has a prime location across from Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World. The company is also building and will soon open an Element Hotel by Marriott here in Springfield, near the intersection of National Avenue and Battlefield Road.

Patrick Murney

Owner, Murney Associates, Realtors
B.S., Missouri State University
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: Murney Associates is one of the biggest names in real estate in 417-land, thanks in large part to the leadership of Patrick Murney.
Words to Lead By: “Real estate has always played such a significant role in people’s lives, often serving as their largest investment and the place where they write the stories of their lives,” Murney says. “Being able to accompany and guide individuals on this journey is a source of immense pride for us.”
Fun Fact: If you want to find Murney unwinding, look for him at Missouri State Bears sporting events. “It’s at the top of my list for sure!” Murney says.

Ross Murray

President, R.B. Murray Company
Returning, Second Year
7-Second Summary: Some of the big local transactions that Ross Murray has worked on for R.B. Murray Company include the French Quarter Plaza, the Spuer Center Plaza Shopping Center and the Town & County Shopping Plaza.

Ryan Murray

CEO, R.B. Murray Company
Returning, Second Year
7-Second Summary: Running R.B. Murray Company alongside his brother, Ross, Ryan Murray is in charge of the property management and receivership divisions of the company. The sale and leasing of office, retail and industrial properties are among his specialties.

Tom Rankin

Owner, Rankin Development
B.S., Missouri State University
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: Tom Rankin’s real estate brokerage was founded in 1990 and has been affiliated with SVN since 2006. “I continue to look for development opportunities in the Springfield and Republic markets while being more intentional with my time,” Rankin says.

Debbie Shantz Hart

Principal, DHTC Development, LLC/Housing Plus, LLC/HP Construction
J.D., University of Missouri-Columbia; B.S., Missouri State University (SMSU)
Returning, Seventh Year
7-Second Summary: From real estate law to affordable housing, Debbie Shantz Hart’s career has always focused on the world of real estate. In her current role, she’s developed more than 900 units of affordable family, senior and special needs housing.
Fun Fact: What does Debbie Shantz Hart do to relax? “Working out but in the summer swimming laps at Hickory Hills Country Club,” she says. “Crista Hogan and I are the founding (and only) members of the senior women’s swim team.”

Stephanie Stenger

CEO, Springfield Land LP
J.D., University of Southern California; B.S., University of Missouri
Returning, Seventh Year
7-Second Summary: Stephanie Stenger began working for her father’s businesses in the 1990s and today operates one of them with her brother: Springfield Land LP. Getting in on the ground floor of one of the region’s newest industries, Stenger is also part-owner of The Farmer’s Wife medical marijuana dispensary.

Brad Thessing

Founder, Thessing Commercial Properties
B.S., University of Missouri
New
7-Second Summary: Brad Thessing founded Thessing Commercial Properties in 2002, with an emphasis in developing retail shopping centers and mixed-use developments. Prior to that, he gained experience at an Overland Park, Kansas, financial investment firm that he founded with two colleagues, and at C.B. Baber & Associates, where he served as executive vice president and earned experience working in real estate. With Thessing Commercial Properties, he has closed more than $1 billion in sales.

Jonathan Garard

Owner, Grooms Office Environments
New
7-Second Summary: Jonathan Garard leads Grooms Office Environments alongside his wife, Audrey. And he has his eyes trained on growth. “Our strategy for growth has always been to ‘meet the needs of our growing community.’”
Fun Fact: Garard served in the U.S. Army and today is involved in The Warrior’s Journey, a nonprofit focusing on invisible wounds of service members.

Greg Johnson

President/CEO, O’Reilly Auto Parts
B.S., Tennessee Tech University
Returning, Third Year
7-Second Summary: In July, Johnson announced his plan to retire from O’Reilly Automotive at the end of January 2024. He’ll be succeeded by Brad Beckham, who currently serves as the company’s co-president.

Johnny Morris

CEO/Founder, Bass Pro Shops
B.A., Drury University
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: Johnny Morris founded Bass Pro Shops and has brought world-class destinations to 417-land with the development of Big Cedar Lodge, Payne’s Valley Golf Course, Top of the Rock and more.
2023 Game Changer: In March, the University of Missouri System Board of Curators named its wetlands institute after Johnny Morris. It’s now the Johnny Morris Institute of Fisheries, Wetlands and Aquatic Systems.

Jeffrey W. Russell

CEO, Russell Cellular Inc.
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: A former turkey farmer, Jeffrey W. Russell’s career in cellular started when he began selling Alltel wireless phones. Since then, he and his wife, Kym, have turned Russell Cellular (RC) into a nationwide business, with more than 800 locations in 43 states with more than 2,600 employees. And RC just keeps growing. Last year, RC achieved $1 billion in revenue, and this year Russell has promoted his son, Jeven Russell, to president of the company.

David Foss

Board Chair/CEO, Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.
M.S., Minnesota State University
Returning, Sixth Year
7-Second Summary: David Foss has been with Jack Henry & Associates since 1999, rose to president in 2014 and has been serving as CEO since 2016.
2023 Game Changer: Jack Henry set an all-time sales record this past fiscal year, and Foss reported to MSNBC that their sales pipeline is “larger than it’s ever been.” The company’s revenue was up to $534.6 million versus $511.3 million the previous fiscal year.

Doug Pitt

Owner, Pitt Technology Group, LLC/Pitt Development Group, LLC; Founder, Care to Learn
B.S., Missouri State University
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: With an eye for both business and the needs of the community, Pitt serves as Owner of Pitt Technology Group while also continuing to guide the nonprofit he founded in 2008, Care to Learn.
2023 Game Changer: Care to Learn reached a huge milestone: 2 million needs met for local students. “This type of growth takes strategic planning and getting the right people on the team,” Pitt says. “They are passionate, driven and remain laser-focused on meeting the health, hunger and hygiene needs of students not only in our community but all across the state.”

Jack Herschend

Co-Founder/Co-Owner, Herschend Enterprises
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: With his brother, Peter, Jack Herschend founded Herschend Enterprises and served as chairman, president and CEO for 50 years.
2023 Game Changer: In September, Jack and Peter Herschend and Dolly Parton were all honored on stage at the Showstreet Palace Theater in Dollywood with Amusement Today’s Industry Golden Ticket Award.

Peter Herschend

Co-Founder/Co-Owner, Herschend Enterprises
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: Peter Herschend co-founded Herschend Enterprises with his brother, Jack. He served as vice president of marketing and vice-chairman.
2023 Game Changer: Peter Herschend and his brother, Jack, were selected as Kit Bond Citizen Leadership Award honorees. The award honors leaders dedicated to the economic prosperity of all Missourians. The Herschends have made more than $100 million in investments to Silver Dollar City to the benefit of the local tourism industry and worked to increase access to housing for seasonal workers.

Mary Kellogg-Joslyn

President/COO and Co-Owner, Titanic Museum Attractions
Returning, Seventh Year
7-Second Summary: Mary Kellogg-Joslyn founded Titanic Museum Attractions in 2006. But prior to that, she spent 10 years working at CBS and 10 years working for Walt Disney Co.

John McQueary

Co-Owner, Hotel Vandivort
B.S., Missouri University of Science and Technology
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: Hotel Vandivort is a key part of the heart of downtown Springfield, since the boutique hotel opened in 2015. The hotel is also a food and drink hotspot, with restaurant The Order on-site at Hotel Vandivort and the rooftop bar Vantage Rooftop Lounge & Conservatory on-site at its sister hotel, V2.

Tim O’Reilly

CEO, O’Reilly Hospitality Management
J.D., University of Missouri–Kansas City; B.A., Westminster College
Returning, Eighth Year
7-Second Summary: Since founding it in 2007, Tim O’Reilly has led O’Reilly Hospitality Management to build and manage hotels, restaurants and attractions in Springfield and beyond. On the horizon: the 2024 completion of the Moxy Hotel.
2023 Game Changer: The DoubleTree Hotel Springfield won the Hilton Service Impact Award this year, and O’Reilly Hospitality Management announced its sixth Cambria Hotel location, this one in Copper Mountain, Colorado.

Megan Stack

Foundation & Philanthropy Advisor, Bass Pro Shops
M.A., University of Washington Evans School; B.A., University of Colorado
Returning, Fifth Year
7-Second Summary: Megan Stack is the mind behind one of the region’s most exciting developments: Finley Farms. It draws visitors to Ozark for its gorgeous setting, top-notch restaurants, workshops and events and more.
Fun Fact: Stack serves on the board for the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.

Brad Thomas

President, Silver Dollar City Attractions
M.B.A., Missouri State University; B.S., Missouri State University
Returning, Seventh Year
7-Second Summary: Brad Thomas has been with Silver Dollar City attractions for more than 30 years, growing the ever-evolving amusement park that’s popular for its wild rides, entertainment and festivals.
2023 Game Changer: Readers of USA Today named Silver Dollar City the No. 1 Theme Park in America.