Published by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce • www.springfieldchamber.com • February 2012 • Volume 30, No. 2

Business Spotlight, page 5 • Your Chamber, page 6 • New Members, page 11

SpiritSPRINGFIELD

There are more ways than ever for Chamber members to generate sales leads through the Chamber’s programs and services. Our structured net-working events provide prime opportunities for you to make high quality contacts that can help to boost your business’ bottom line.

ConnectForLunch – This program helps Chamber members get to know each other in a format that provides time to build the trust and confidence that leads to referrals and new customers. The program arranges face-to-face lunch meetings for you -- as often as each week.

Business2Business Connection A.M. - This bi-monthly breakfast event provides a venue for Chamber members to promote their products and services and develop new leads in a structured format. Attendees are small business owners and managers.

Business2Business Connection - Promote your products and services and develop new leads at this structured program over the lunch hour. It’s speed-networking, with the Chamber’s signature touch.

A.M. Edition

Chamber benef it:Leads generationLooking for ways to

We can help!generate new customers?

• TheproposedE-Verifyordinancecontains illegal provisions that create too much legal risk and potential cost for the CityofSpringfield.

• Illegalimmigrationisanationalissuethat should be addressed at the federal level–notbyregulatorymandateson localsmallbusinesses.

VOTE NOFebruary 7th

DON’T FORGET

Vote“NO” on Question 1 – Itwillcostourcitytoomuch!

2SpringfieldSpirit|February 2012

CalendarComplete details and online registration information can be found atwww.springfieldchamber.com.

2/1 Small Business Council “60 Minutes to Success” 11:45 a.m. -1 p.m. Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce 202 S. John Q. Hammons Pkwy.

2/2 Good Morning, Springfield! 7:30 a.m. Mercy Hospital Springfield - McAuley Conference Center 1235 E. Cherokee Street Sponsored by St. John’s Corporate Health & Wellness

2/4 Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Drury University - Trustee Science Center 900 North Benton Avenue

2/7 Member Briefing 3:45 -5 p.m. Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce 202 S. John Q. Hammons Pkwy.

2/9 Business After Hours 5 -7 p.m. Bates & Associates, AIA 433 W. Walnut Sponsored by Bates & Associates, AIA

2/16 Business2Business Connection A.M. 7:30 -9 a.m. Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce 202 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway

2/16 SBDC Annual Meeting 11:30 a.m. -1 p.m. Hickory Hills Country Club 3909 E. Cherry

2012 Officers

Chairman of the BoardJohn Wilson, JSW Consulting

Chairman-electBrianFogle,CommunityFoundationoftheOzarks

TreasurerJakeMcWay,CoxHealth

Assistant TreasurerJohnBlack,CityUtilities

Vice Chairman, Community Development/Special EventsDr.JenniferJackson,SpringfieldBusinessJournal/SBJ Publishing,Inc.

Vice Chairman, Economic DevelopmentDr.HalHigdon,OzarksTechnicalCommunityCollege

Vice Chairman, MembershipDawnHiles,DruryUniversity

Vice Chairman, Public AffairsJeffSchrag,TheDailyEvents

2012 Directors

TimBellanti,AssociatedWholesaleGrocersShaunBurke,SpringfieldBusinessDevelopmentCorporation (GuarantyBank)*GregBurris,CityofSpringfield*MeghanChambers,Staxx/JellyBeansTimConnell,ConnellInsurance,Inc.ThomasDouglas,JMARKBusinessSolutions,Inc.BradErwin,TheNetwork(ParagonArchitecture,Inc.)*DonFlatau,JohnDeereReman–SpringfieldJeffreyGower,WilFischerDistributingCo.JohnHancock,Prime,Inc.JerryHarmison,Harmison&Pearman,P.C.TomHilmes,CNHRemanDr.StephenKleinsmith,NixaPublicSchools*MattMorrow,HomeBuildersAssociationofGreater SpringfieldJohnOke-Thomas,Oke-Thomas+Associates,Inc.SylviaPropps,3MCo.LindaRamey-Greiwe,SpringfieldNews-LeaderDaveRoling,EmerySapp&SonsDebbieShantz-Hart,HousingPlus,LLCClifSmart,MissouriStateUniversity*JonSwope,MercyHospital-SpringfieldKellyWeaver,JPMorganChaseJimAnderson,ChamberofCommerce*

*Ex-officioboardmember~

SpringfieldSpiritispublishedmonthlyfor members of the

SpringfieldAreaChamberofCommerce.

MichelleWest VicePresident,CommunicationsClaireFaucett PublicRelations/InteractiveMediaManagerKristenKelley ArtDirectorEmilyDenniston PublicAffairsProjectManager

~JimAnderson PresidentBradBodenhausen ExecutiveVicePresidentJenniferDalton VicePresident,AdministrationSandyHoward VicePresident,PublicAffairsBrentMcCoy VicePresident,MembershipRyanMooney SeniorVicePresident,EconomicDevelopment

®

Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce

Thank you for the opportunity toservetheChamberasChairmanin2012.WhenIthinkaboutthedirectionthattheChamber’s Board of Directors has estab-lishedforthisyear,Ibelieveitmaybebestdescribedasleveragingmomentum. Under Jerry Harmison’s leadershipin2011,theSpringfieldAreaChamberofCommerce experienced record-breakingsuccess. That success provides us with astrongfoundationtocontinueourwork. In2012,wewillintensifytheCham-ber’s focus on economic development, placeapriorityonmemberconnectivityand continue to take a leadership role in creatingamoreinclusivecommunity. Addressing theseprioritieswill helpus continue on the path of achieving regional economic sustainability for theSpringfieldarea. Ilookforwardtoworkingwithyoutokeepourcommunitymovingforward.

Chairman’s Message

John Wilson

SpringfieldSpirit|www.springfieldchamber.com 3

EconomicDevelopmentActivityTracker www.business4springfield.com

The Chamber and its economic developmentsubsidiary,theSpringfieldBusinessDevelopmentCorporation,serveastheleadbusinessexpansionandattractionorganizationsforSpringfieldandthesurrounding10-county region. TheActivity Tracker measures the year-to-date level of economic development project activity and indicateswhichprojectshavebeenannounced.Visit www.springfieldregion.com for more informationaboutprojectannouncementsandSpringfieldareaeconomicnews.

Year End 2011Announced Projects 12 NewJobs 1,167 NewPayroll $40.4M NewCapitalInvestment $73.6M

Current Active Projects 18

Total New Projects 31 ExistingBusinesses 23 NewBusinesses 8

AnnouncedProjectsfrom2011:DigitalMonitoringProducts,RomaofSpringfield,JohnDeereReman,GoldMountain Communications,AmericanProducts,PROFormancePowertrain,HealthMEDX,NowataPrinting,UndercoverTrucks,PaulMueller,CNHReman,DiamondInternational.

BoardReport

John Wilson, chairman of the Cham-ber’s board of directors, presided over his first meeting of the Chamber board on January 17. The board approved several appoint-ments to Chamber volunteer leadership positions for 2012 including new directors. Thomas Douglas, JMARK Business Solutions, Inc., Debbie Shantz-Hart, Hous-ing Plus, LLC and Kelly Weaver, JP Morgan Chase were approved to serve one-year terms. Ex-officio directors for 2012 will be Shaun Burke, Guaranty Bank, representing Springfield Business Development Corpo-ration; Greg Burris, City of Springfield; Brad Erwin, Paragon Architecture, represent-ing The Network for Springfield’s Young Professionals; Dr. Stephen Kleinsmith, Nixa Public Schools; and Clif Smart, Missouri State University. The board also approved chairmen for Chamber committees and task forces (see list page 4).

New2012Chamberboard members approved

4SpringfieldSpirit|February 2012

Community Development/Special Events DepartmentViceChairman–Dr.JenniferJackson,SpringfieldBusinessJournal/SBJ Publishing,Inc.

Non-Profit RoundtableChairman–BartBrown, OzarksFoodHarvest

Economic Development DepartmentViceChairman–Dr.HalHigdon, OzarksTechnicalCommunityCollege

International Business CouncilChairman–DavidAgee, HuschBlackwell,LLP

The Network for Springfield’s Young Professionals Chairman–BradErwin,ParagonArchi-tecture

ViceChairman–DarlineMabins,GuarantyBank

Development Issues Input Group Chairman–MikeNichols, HuschBlackwell,LLP

Springfield Regional Economic PartnershipChairman–SharonWalker,ManpowerViceChairman–LynetteDilbeck,CityofCassville

Transportation Committee Chairman–KellyTurner,OlssonAssociates

Membership DepartmentViceChairman–DawnHiles,DruryUniversity Ambassadors (membership by appointment) Chairman–ChrisLouzader,MidwestFamilyBroadcastGroup

Business After Hours Committee Chairman–PaulDevlin,APLUSPayrollLimited

Chairman’s Club Chairman–CaryPrater,Ollis&Company

Red Carpet CommitteeChairman–BrianRoy,BluCurrentCreditUnion

Small Business Council Chairman–J.W.Gibbs,Elliott,Robinson&Company

Public Affairs DepartmentViceChairman–JeffSchrag,TheDailyEvents

Governmental Relations Committee Chairman–BrentSingleton,Heim,Young&AssociatesViceChairman–RyanDeBoef,MissouriStateUniversity

Local Issues Public Policy Task Force (membership by appointment)*Chairman–GaryPowell,HuschBlackwell,LLP

Voice of Business Committee (membership by appointment)Chairman – Chip Sheppard, Carnahan, Evans,Cantwell&Brown,PC

School Board Candidate Endorsement CommitteeChairman–DavidKarr,ConcoCompanies

Past Chairmen’s Advisory Council Chairman–TimRosenbury,Butler,Rosenbury&Partners

2012 Committee Chairs

SpringfieldSpirit|www.springfieldchamber.com 5

HometownDisposal talks trash and has equipment to back it up Hometown Disposal, Inc., a locally owned and operated waste removal company, offering the community a variety of services including residen-tial curbside collection (both trash and recycling), commercial containers, roll-off containers, compactors and special pick-up. Owner Richard Brownsberger started the com-pany in 2008 with the philosophy to provide “quality customer service and competitive rates with no surcharges.” When he first started the business, Brownsberger drove the roll-off truck himself, but business has grown rapidly over the past four years to 10 employees and may be looking to hire more in the near future. The company launched a new website (www.hometowndisposal.com) in December offering additional features such as Online Bill Pay and employment application form along with detailed descriptions of each of its services. To further meet the needs of its clients, Hometown Disposal also provides updates via Facebook , particularly on days service might have been interrupted due to a holiday or weather.

Spotlight

• Owner:RichardBrownsberger

• Address:1841N.FarmRd.203 Strafford,MO65757

• Phone:(417)869-9393

• Website: www.hometowndisposal.com

• Email: richard@hometowndisposal.com

• Products/Services: TrashHauling

Hometown Disposal, Inc.

6SpringfieldSpirit|February 2012

Your Chamber

This year, the Chamber will host its 20th annual Small Business Award Lun-cheon on May 2nd at The Tower Club. More than 250 business professionals will gather at the luncheon to recognize the important role small businesses play in Springfield’s regional economy, as well as honor the top five finalists in the W. Curtis Small Business Award competition. The Chamber will look back at the award’s history and announce the 2012 award recipient. Sponsorship opportunities are still available, please contact Jen Johnson for more information.

Sponsorship opportunities for Small BusinessAwardLuncheon GreeneCountyvoterswill consider aproposedballot issue inApril that

wouldinstituteacounty-wide1/8-centsalestaxtofundpublicsafetyneeds.Thesalestaxwouldfundadditionalsheriff’sdeputiesanddetectives,prosecutingattorneys,jailcorrectionsofficers,juvenileofficers,pre-trialofficers,courtsecurity personnel and support staff. Revenue also would be used to increase the capacityof the jailwithminor remodelingandprovide sufficient courtroomandofficespacefortheJuvenileOffice. TheChamber’sLocal IssuesPublicPolicyTaskForcewill reviewthe issuethismonthandtheBoardofDirectorswillconsidertheproposalatitsFebruary21meeting.Chambermembersareinvitedtosubmitwrittencommentsaboutthisissuefortheboardtoconsider.PleasesendyourcommentsbyFebruary16toBradBodenhausenattheChamberoffice:P.O.Box1687,Springfield,MO65801orbye-mailtobrad@springfieldchamber.com.

GreeneCountyPublicSafetySalesTax–BallotIssueProposal

Your Chamber

SpringfieldSpirit|www.springfieldchamber.com 7

When you purchase an annual pass to Good Morning Springfield! and/or Business After Hours, you receive a discounted rate and the convenience of a one-time charge for your business or professional organization. About the events: Good Morning, Springfield!Find out what’s happening in our community at Good Morning, Springfield!, while you enjoy break-fast. Each month we cover timely topics and provide updates from leaders of the City of Springfield, Greene County, Springfield Public School System and the Chamber. Buy Now! Business After HoursMake new connections with po-tential customers and colleagues at Business After Hours, a relaxed networking event that begins each month at 5 pm. There’s always good food and drink, along with door prizes. Buy Now.

2012Annual passesnow available for BusinessAfterHoursand GoodMorning,Springfield!

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to host a hiring event called Hiring Our Heroes. The goal is to help military veterans and their spouses find meaningful employment with local businesses. Hiring Our Heroes Veterans Event will take place on Thursday, March 15 at the National Guard Armory, 1400 N. Fremont Ave from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free for employers and military veterans and their spouses. If you are an employer with job openings the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce would like to encourage you to register to participate. Please visit: www.hoh.greatjob.net today to register. Registration closes March 9. Since the launch of this program in March 2011, the U.S. Chamber has hosted 83 hiring fairs in 41 states. Thus far, the hiring fairs have hosted more than 81,000 veterans and military spouses and given them the opportunity to meet with over 4,000 different employers. As a result, they have helped more than 6,000 veterans and military spouses and 60 wounded warriors find employment. This event is being sponsored by U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, VETS, Missouri Career Center, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Experience Works and the Federal Medical Prison.

HiringOurHeroes employmentfair

Chamber board member John Hancock (far left), Prime, Inc. visits with (from left to right) Senator Bob Dixon, Representative Thomas Long and Representative Sara Lampe at a legislative luncheon hosted by the Chamber board for the local legislative delegation on January 20. The luncheon provided an opportunity for members of the board to present members of the state House and Senate with the Chamber’s 2012 legislative priorities including changes to the workers’ compensation system, employment law reform and tax credit reform.

8SpringfieldSpirit|February 2012

MaryBethO’Reilly honored as 2012 Springf ieldian

Top: Mary Beth O’Reilly, recipient of the 2012 Springfieldian Award. Middle: Mary Beth O’Reilly received a hug from her grandson Charlie O’Reilly . Bottom: Mary Beth O’Reilly congratulated by long-time friend Virginia Fry and her husband.

Mary Beth O’Reilly, founder and president of the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks, and long-time health care professional and advocate, was honored Friday with the Springfieldian Award presented by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce at its 2012 Annual Meeting. For well over 50 years, the Chamber has honored an outstanding individual for lead-ership and commitment to our community. The Springfieldian Award is presented to a citizen who has exemplified outstanding community service, excellence in his or her chosen profession and dedication to improving the quality of life for Springfield and its citizens. O’Reilly began her career in health care as director of community services for Hospice of Southwest Missouri where she provided training and community seminars in aspects of death, dying and personal relationships. She then initiated, developed and managed a nurse triage, physician referral and education health program service at Mercy (then St. John’s Regional Health Care). Other positions held in health care include coordinator of community resources for Oxford Home Health Care, physician assistant for a local surgeon, and teaching pediatrics at St. John’s School of Nursing in Springfield. Community service has always been an important force in O’Reilly’s life. In 1996, O’Reilly founded the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks (BCFO) in memory of a friend who died of breast cancer at the age of 31. Since this time, O’Reilly has focused her efforts on supporting numerous non-profits, getting actively involved in nearly all of them. “She’s got such a strong willpower and passion to do what she can each and every day to help others,” says Rob Fulp, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Springfield First Community Bank. “I truly believe Mary Beth has been put on this earth to help others – and she’s doing just that.” “Mary Beth founded an organization (BCFO) that has now helped over 1,000 families in their journey through breast cancer,” says Crystal Webster, executive director, BCFO. “Mary Beth is passionate about making sure that the steps that are put in place now, go on to meet the needs of patients in the future.”

Mary Beth O’Reilly, 2012 Springfieldian, was greeted by her family.

SpringfieldSpirit|www.springfieldchamber.com 9

10SpringfieldSpirit|February 2012

MembershipRenewalsThank you for renewing The Chamber encourages members to do business with other Chamber members. Please consider these renewing members and new members the next time you have a need for products/services.

417MarketingAAAMissouriAdvancedColorPrintAllJ’sAutomotiveAmericanBusinessSystemsCo.,Inc.AmericanHeartAssociationAmericanProductsLLCAndersonEngineering,Inc.APLUSPayrollLimitedAssociatedWholesaleGrocersBellaBabyBenefitsUnlimitedBenjaminF.Edwards&Company,Inc.Best StorageBigWhiskey’sAmericanBar&GrillBradBradshaw,MD,JD,LCBranson Zip LineBridges For YouthBrookhavenHealthCareCascadeM3Casey’sGeneralStoreCatering CreationsChateauOnTheLakeResortSpa&Convention CenterCoffmanandCompany,PCColonialSupplementalInsuranceCopyProducts,Inc.CornerStoneFineJewelryCourtAppointedSpecialAdvocatesofSW MissouriCrackerBarrelOldCountryStoreCreativeOutdoorLightingD.O.C.LubricationSpecialistsDerailedFlooringOutletDewitt&Associates,Inc.DigitalLunchBoxDiscoveryCenterofSpringfield,Inc.DJRoofingSupply,Inc.EDCO-TheDocumentPeopleEinsteinBrothersBagelElPuenteMexicanRestaurantElectronicVideoSystemsEmpireBankEmpireDistrictElectricCo.Evans&Dixon,LLCExecutiveConferenceCenterFabickCATFimcoSteelSupplyCo.Fulton CommunicationsGHN|ArchitectsEngineersGorman-ScharpfBrentwoodChapelGreatAmericanTitleCo.GreeneCounty

GreatSouthernBankGreaterSpringfieldBoardofRealtorsGrovePharmacy,Inc.HDesignGroup,LLCHarshmanChiropracticClinicHealthMEDX,LLCHerrmanLumberCo.HeyleRealtors&CounselingServices,LLCHlavacek,Morris,McIntyre,Yates&Danielson,PCHomeBuildersAssociationofGreaterSpringfieldHospiceCompassusHuschBlackwellLLPiBodyDirectoryInternationalDivision,Inc.J.D.DickinsonCompressorCo.JamesRiverAssemblyJamesRiverBasinPartnershipJaredEnterprises,Inc.JayKeyService,Inc.JoeCostelloCompanyJohnD.Hume,DDSJohnnyMac’sSportingGoodsJordanEssentialsBath,Body&SpaKenmarConstructionKOLR-10TVLibertyBankLittle CaesarsLockwellHeating&AirConditioning,LLCMarch of DimesMayMotorCo.McCannPrintingCo.McLoud&Co.,LLCMedi-TransitofSpringfieldMignard&Associates/GerryAverettPhotographyMingAutoBeautyCenterMissouriSportsHallofFameMissouriStateUniversity-Dept.ofAgricultureMoseley’sDiscountOfficeProductsNabholzConstructionServicesNationalMultipleSclerosisSocietyNorthSpringfieldBettermentAssociationNorthwesternMutualFinancialNetwork- David YaktineOzarkFenceandSupplyCo.OzarkFlagDistributorsOzarkIndustrialLighting,Inc.PastaExpressPellaWindow&DoorCo.PlazaTowersQueenCityRoofing&ContractingCo.R.A.NevilleAssociates

RamadaOasisHotel&ConventionCenterReliableImports&RVsRepublicFordLincoln,Inc.Reward4OrgsRiceEquipmentService,Inc.Rick’sAutomotiveRockTennSafetyCounciloftheOzarksSchendel Pest ServicesSchillingSellmeyer&Associates,Inc.Sherwin-WilliamsCo.Shred-ItSpringfieldSight&SoundTheatresSimmonsFirstNationalBankSimplyDeliciousCatering/TheDiamondRoomSnapLock,Inc.SouthwestMissouriOfficeonAgingSpringHillPress,LLCSpringfieldBallet,Inc.SpringfieldBusinessJournalSpringfieldHotGlass,Inc.SpringfieldMetropolitanBarAssociationSpringfieldReadyMixCo.SpringfieldRestorationSpringfield-BransonNationalAirportSpringfield-GreeneCountyRegionalHealth CommissionSRCElectricalStateFarmInsurance-SusanMoberlySteelmanTransportation,Inc.Sunshine Car WashSunshineHealthMartPharmacyTerraconTheCoffeeEthicTheTowerClubTheWhitlockCompany,LLPThompsonBuickGMCCadillacU.S.BankUMBBank,NAVisionClinic-SpringfieldWarren Davis PropertiesWellsFargoAdvisorsWhichWich?SuperiorSandwichesWineStylesYates Promotions

SpringfieldSpirit|www.springfieldchamber.com 11

NewMembersWelcome to our newest members

#250 Mobile Advertising7381 W. 133rd St., #203Overland Park, KS 66213(417) 987-1398Advertising-Mobile Coupons

Austin’s Body Shop2729 W. RepublicSpringfield, MO 65807(417) 890-9449Automobiles-Body & Dent Repair

Carson’s Nurseries6607 S. CampbellSpringfield, MO 65810(417) 882-5200Nursery-Garden Center

Diamond International1529 E. Chestnut ExpresswaySpringfield, MO 65802(417) 869-1551Automobile Dealers-Commercial Vehicles & Work Trucks

Ikenroth Images(417) 576-8449Photographers

Port of Kimberling Marina & ResortPO Box 397Kimberling City, MO 65686(417) 739-3883Resorts-Timeshares

Satori Adventures & Expeditions(417) 844-5834Travel Expeditions

Security Finance2829 W. ChestnutSpringfield, MO 65802(417) 862-4420Financial Services, Planning, Consulting

Skinny Slims Public House323 S. PattonSpringfield, MO 65806(417) 987-0146Night Clubs-Bars

Sunbelt Credit2250 S. CampbellSpringfield, MO 65807(417) 877-8585Financial Services, Planning, Consulting

RibbonCuttingsGreat Southern Insurance – January 192925 E. Battlefield, #120

iBody Directory – January 251727 S. Campbell

Balance Fitness Studio – January 26 601N.National,#114

Athletic & Rehabilitation Center – February 81711W.Battlefield,SuiteQ

LobbyDisplayBusiness providing floral arrangements in John Q. Hammons Enterprise Center

Schaffitzel’s Florist1771E.AtlanticSt.(417)866-6222