Biz 417

12/20/2024

Joey Powell, Public Relations/Marketing Director at Friends of the Zoo/Dickerson Park Zoo, starts each day thinking about how to bring more visitors to the Zoo. Her enthusiasm shines through her wardrobe, as she selects fun outfits to wear to work. She has been styling her outfits with animal print since she first started working at the zoo eight years ago. 🐆

Joey Powell, Public Relations/Marketing Director at Dickerson Park Zoo, dresses in wild prints and accessories to help visually represent her wild job at the zoo.

12/18/2024

Big things are happening at Springfield-Branson National Airport! This fall, Midwest Premier—a hub for private and corporate travel—will complete its $6.7 million renovation and expansion.

Major investment at General Aviation at SGF improves the first impression for business leaders and visiting VIPs.

12/14/2024

Brea Brown and Cara Burch's friendship spans nearly 20 years, so starting a podcast together felt natural. The duo launched "Delete This History," where they share their top three online searches each week. Over a year and 4,578 downloads later, their bond has grown even stronger.

Meet the two friends behind the Delete This History podcast.

12/12/2024

Ladies, don’t miss out on the empowerment opportunity of a lifetime! We want to see more women on stages, both within their work and at regional conferences, so we designed Biz 417’s Remark/Able program. During this six-week training program, Biz 417 helps women choose and clarify a shareable message, develop it into a compelling and impactful talk and learn how to confidently share it with others.

Applications close December 20—apply now at biz417.com/remarkable!

12/06/2024

Meet Ron Schneider, the new Springfield-Greene County Park Board Director. 🌳 With over 20 years of experience in park management, Schneider is passionate about enhancing Springfield’s parks and recreation opportunities.

An outdoor enthusiast and marathon runner, he’s already exploring the Ozarks and connecting with the community. Learn more about Schneider's vision for local parks and his favorite local escapes. 🚴

A childhood filled with the joys of movement made a big impact on Ron Schneider. Now the new Parks Director has made it his mission to bring those same joys to Greene County.

12/05/2024

To become an employer of choice, it's important to identify areas for improvement, recognize what’s working and understand how your benefits are viewed by employees. Biz 417's Best Places to Work serves as a powerful catalyst, enabling your company to elevate employee culture and productivity, enhance client engagement and create an exceptional workplace environment. Ready to learn how you stack up agains the best of the best in 417-land? Don’t wait—apply today at biz417.com/bptw

12/03/2024

In 2025, we’re taking Biz 417's Ladies Who Launch presented by Forvis Mazars to the next level with more connections, more content and more inspiration. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Ladies Who Launch is evolving into a regional conference located at the Branson Convention Center.
2. There are two different ways to experience Ladies Who Launch: the Classic Ticket and the Fully Loaded Ticket.
3. If you choose the Fully Loaded Ticket, you’ll enjoy two days packed with happy hours, morning activities, an interactive Rise & Shine workshop presented by Burrell Behavioral Health and more in addition to the Main Stage Content on Thursday.
4. Limited table sponsorships for both ticket options are available, giving you and nine others the ability to experience the event at a reserved table.

To dig into the itinerary, book your tickets and more, visit our website now at biz417.com/ladieswholaunch!

12/02/2024

Ever feel like you failed it after a holiday break? Same here—it happens to the best of us! Check out others' "nailed it" and "failed it" moments.

11/26/2024

The first Biz 417 Legacy Network cohort is learning invaluable lessons and forming lasting bonds while gaining access to the top leaders in our market. 💡

In her recent reflection, Janelle Grove shared how Tom Douglas led the group through a powerful leadership exercise, teaching them the importance of creating environments where people feel safe to show up as their true, authentic selves. 🙌

This program is about more than leadership skills—it’s about building trust, expanding perspectives and unlocking your potential to lead in extraordinary ways. 🚀

Don’t miss out on being part of next year’s cohort. Applications are open all year—apply today! https://legacynetwork.biz417.com/

During a recent session with the Biz 417 Legacy Network, Thomas Douglas led a powerful leadership exercise on fostering environments where our teams can show up as their true, authentic selves. 💡

We were tasked with preparing three stories highlighting personal and professional achievements we’re proud of. What we didn’t know? We’d be sharing these stories with the entire cohort that morning. 😳

🙌Full transparency, I might have chosen different stories had I known I'd have to share in front of the group. But not knowing forced me to be my genuine self. It was a lesson in vulnerability—sharing real experiences and being celebrated for them by other successful leaders. It reminded me how empowering it feels to show up authentically. 🙌

Psychological safety is a pillar of thriving, innovative teams. ✨

As leaders, we’re responsible for creating environments where people feel valued, respected, and safe enough to bring their whole selves to the table. When people feel secure, they can share ideas, voice concerns, and even make mistakes without fear—leading to extraordinary results. 🚀

↗️ Lead with empathy. 🤝 Understand and meet team members where they are.

↗️Encourage open dialogue. 🗣️ Show that every idea and concern matters, no matter the rank.

↗️Normalize vulnerability. 💬 Share your challenges to demonstrate that imperfection is part of growth.

↗️Celebrate diverse perspectives. 🌍 Embrace differences, knowing they fuel innovation.

↗️Provide consistent support. 💪 Be a leader your team knows will have their back.

When people feel safe, they feel empowered—and that’s when they truly show up for you. 🌈✨

P.S. If you ever have a chance to catch one of Thomas Douglas's sessions do yourself a favor and just go. 🚀🚀🚀

11/25/2024

We know you have a story to share, and you know it’s worth telling! For the fourth time, Biz 417 is partnering with speaker coach Lori Robertson to provide a select group of local women high-impact training to identify, craft and deliver a compelling 15-minute signature talk.

Through a six-week training program, Biz 417 helps women choose and clarify a shareable message, develop it into a compelling and impactful talk and learn how to confidently share it with others.

Applications close December 20th, and sessions will run February–April from 7:30-9:00 a.m. on Tuesday mornings at the 417 Magazine office. Don’t wait, apply now at biz417.com/remarkable ⭐

11/20/2024

Drumroll please…Biz 417’s women’s leadership conference of the year is BACK, and it’s bigger than ever before.

We’re thrilled to announce that tickets are on sale now for the eighth annual Biz 417 2025 Ladies Who Launch, presented by Forvis Mazars! For the first time ever, attendees can choose their experience and buckle in for a conference full of inspiration, collaboration and transformation.

Never attended Ladies Who Launch before? At its core, Biz 417’s Ladies Who Launch is a dynamic regional conference designed for female leaders, executives, boss babes and teams looking to take bold steps forward. We recognize the power in uplifting female voices in leadership tracks. Eight years ago, we curated a stage for women to inspire one another and build a network of other female powerhouses year over year.

The Classic Ticket includes access to the half-day conference with three keynote speakers and a panel with the 2025 Class of Biz 417’s Women Who Mean Business, while the Fully Loaded Ticket includes main stage content as well as Thursday morning activities, your choice of Rise & Shine workshops, a Wednesday night Happy Hour and more!

We hope you and your team will join us as we set the stage for your next steps or big leaps.

To learn about what each ticket option includes and to buy yours now, visit biz417.com/ladieswholaunch.

*Limited quantities of each ticket option available.

11/14/2024

The Biz 100 Celebration presented by SumnerOne was an incredible evening dedicated to celebrating the most influential business leaders in 417-land! 🌟 We thoroughly enjoyed honoring these remarkable individuals and their outstanding contributions.

A special congratulations to all our honorees, and a heartfelt shoutout to our Person of the Year, Johnny Morris, for his exceptional achievements and leadership. We’re so grateful Jeanie Morris and Megan Stack were able to join us and accept the award on behalf of Johnny!

We also want to extend a huge thank you to our generous sponsors—SumnerOne, BMW Springfield, Mediacom Communications and Regent Bank. Your support made this event truly unforgettable. Here’s to you all—cheers! 🥂

11/11/2024

We are continuing our celebration of Johnny Morris as our 2024 Person of the Year!

From his roots in the Ozarks to his global impact, Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops, has always had a genuine love for the Ozarks. His vision has brought us places like Wonders Of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium, Thunder Ridge Nature Arena, Dogwood Canyon and much more—all created to help people experience the beauty of the Ozarks. Through the Johnny Morris Conservation Foundation, he continues to protect and preserve the land, wildlife and fascinating history of this region he calls home.

"Hopefully, families go there 100 years from now, and they see the same view, the same nature that’s inspirational to people," Morris says.

Bass Pro Founder Johnny Morris's latest big idea to advance the Ozarks, Thunder Ridge Nature Arena, is why he’s Biz 417’s 2024 Person of the Year.

11/09/2024

Our Biz 100 list is here! 🎉 The Biz 100 is chosen by Biz 417’s editors, publisher and advisory board members, who evaluate each nominee based on their business success, impact on the local business community and community involvement over the past year.

💯 Visit the link below to see this year's list, and learn more about Johnny Morris, Biz 417's Person of the Year.
https://www.biz417.com/awards/biz-100/2024-biz-100/

11/08/2024

We’re proud to reveal Johnny Morris as our 2024 Person of the Year!

Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops, stands out as a risk-taker with a pioneering spirit. Though an entrepreneur, he is a conservationist at heart known for his bold ideas—like the new Thunder Ridge Nature Arena, which is why he was chosen as this year's Person of the Year. Morris continues to create opportunities for people to connect with and enjoy nature in inspiring new ways.

Through the Johnny Morris Conservation Foundation, he has positively impacted the Ozarks. The not-for-profit oversees Dogwood Canyon, the Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail, Audubon-certified golf courses and the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium. Thunder Ridge Nature Arena is also a part of the foundation and directs all proceeds to conservation efforts, protecting the land, wildlife and habitats of the Ozarks.

11/07/2024

Don’t miss your chance to celebrate and connect with the finest leaders in our region at the Biz 100 Celebration! Join us for an evening filled with delicious drinks, engaging conversations and unforgettable moments. This is a fantastic opportunity to mingle with top professionals and celebrate their outstanding achievements—snag your tickets now at biz417.com/biz100party and be part of a night to remember! 🌟

Get tickets online for 2024 Biz 100 Party here.

11/06/2024

Applications for Biz 417’s 2025 Best Places to Work are live—take 10 minutes and apply today! Developing an elite workforce with stellar employee experience is a top goal for many companies, but it can be difficult to know where to start and how you truly measure up.

This data driven survey and program provides an opportunity for your employees to give authentic and open feedback on the true employee experience at your company. Apply today at biz417.com/bestplacestowork 🏆

Companies are asked to complete the BCG Employer Questionnaire which asks about company policies, practices and demographics.