SGF Insider

In this month's episode of SGF Business Insider, Chamber President Matt Morrow shares audio from interviews with volunteer leaders featured at our recent Member Appreciation Celebration. The event is both an opportunity to thank members for their investment of time, talent and resources in the Chamber's mission, as well as a mid-year accountability check-in on strategic progress. You'll hear from...

Join us for a conversation with Leslie Forrester, Executive Director of the Springfield Regional Arts Council. Tune in as we talk about educating, advocating, and collaborating for the arts community and how to exercise your creative muscle. Special thanks to American National for sponsoring the Leadership Springfield Plugged In episodes.

In this month's episode of SGF Business Insider, Chamber President Matt Morrow sits down with Vicki Pratt , the Chamber's new senior vice president of economic development. They cover a variety of topics all aimed at providing a look at what goes into the process of economic development, how it impacts the overall community, and what communities need to do - and not do - to encourage private secto...

Join us for a conversation with Amy Blansit, senior faculty in the Kinesiology department at Missouri State University and the founder and CEO of the Drew Lewis Foundation. Tune in for a discussion about building authentic connections, moving to a thriving life and looking at how our citizens can make a local difference. Special thanks to American National for sponsoring the Leadership Springfield...

This month, Chamber President Matt Morrow sits down with Chief Paul Williams of the Springfield Police Department. They talk about the department's work in crime prevention, officer recruitment efforts, and ways that the business community can help in crime prevention. They also highlight the Chamber's new Let's Keep Springfield Safe Business Toolkit, which gathers multiple resources for businesse...

Join us for a conversation with Danny Collins, owner and founder of 37 North Expeditions as we talk all things social connections, curating exceptional outdoor experiences, following dreams and finding inspirations to start something new.  Special thanks to American National for sponsoring the Leadership Springfield "Plugged In" episodes of the SGF Insider podcast!

In this episode, Chamber President Matt Morrow talks with Greene County Commissioner John Russell and ARPA Grant & Equity Specialist Dr. Lyle Foster . They talk about how funding from the American Rescue Plan is being directed to small businesses and nonprofits in our area, how the process is going so far, and what organizations can do to get involved.

Join us for a conversation with General Seat A City Councilwoman and CoxHealth Chief Diversity Officer, Heather Hardinger as she shares about charting career paths and the role diversity, equity, and inclusion play in workforce development.  Special thanks to American National for sponsoring the Leadership Springfield "Plugged In" episodes of the SGF Insider podcast!

In this episode, Chamber President Matt Morrow talks with Joseph Fuller. Fuller is a professor with the Harvard Business School and a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and they talked about addressing workforce issues. Specifically, they discussed research Fuller and his colleagues have conducted into the concept of "hidden workers," and how businesses can connect with them to...

Join us to hear interviews with SPS school board candidates produced by Leadership Springfield and a coalition of community organizations. With a shared goal of educating voters and engaging candidates with citizens, the nonpartisan coalition has produced candidate forums in 2020 and 2021 as well. Tune in before you vote on April 5 to learn about each candidate. Special thanks to American National...

In this month's episode, Chamber President Matt Morrow sits down with two women blazing a trail for others in the Springfield community: Crista Hogan, president of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association Rachel Anderson, director of the efactory at Missouri State University. The two will be recognized on March 10 as the recipients of the 2022 ATHENA Award and the 2022 Virginia Fry Rising Star...

Join us as Rachel Anderson, Director at the eFactory, and Kevin Johansen, Founder and CEO of AgButler discuss the remote workforce, regional growth, technology in agriculture, and other great ways entrepreneurs in our community are scaling up, growing, and making a difference. Special thanks to American National for sponsoring the Leadership Springfield "Plugged In" episodes of the SGF Insider pod...

This month, Chamber President Matt Morrow talks with Wendy Doyle. Wendy is the president and CEO of United Women's Empowerment (United WE), a non-profit organization based out of Kansas City that tackles barriers to women's economic growth. They work with decision makers and community leaders, field research on women's economic development, and contribute to numerous policy reforms – including equ...

Join us as local business owner and Gallup Strengths expert, Caitlin Kissee shares her tips for setting SMART goals, giving yourself grace with goal setting and looking at goals through the lens of Strengths. Caitlin is the Signature Class Strengths Facilitator for the 2021-2022 program year. Let's dive in! Special thanks to American National for sponsoring the Leadership Springfield "Plugged In"...

This month, Chamber President Matt Morrow talked to two people very important to both the Chamber and the entire Springfield community. They're the Chamber board chairs for 2021 and 2022,  respectively: Logan Aguirre of the 417 group of magazines and John Oke-Thomas of Oke-Thomas and Associates.

With the release of the Community Focus Report this fall, we are diving into blue ribbons, red flags and how CASA of Southwest Missouri is turning advocacy into action, growing in innovative ways and supporting kids in our community. Tune in to hear this conversation featuring CASA Executive Director, Laura Farmer and CASA Program Director and current Captain Springfield, Rebecca Weber. Special th...

In this episode, Chamber President Matt Morrow talks with Lisa Farmer, executive director of Harmony House. Lisa and her team were awarded the 2021 W. Curtis Strube Small Business Award in November, and they discussed what the award means for her organization and how Harmony House is working to overcome some of the struggles facing organizations of all shapes and sizes.

This "Plugged In" episode of the SGF Insider podcast features Jeff Houghton, a four-time Emmy Award winning local TV host, writer, actor and improviser. Tune in to hear the Mystery Hour host's great advice on how to make big decisions, dreaming big and ultimately making something where we are. Special thanks to American National for sponsoring the LeadSGF "Plugged In" episodes.

This month we look at a unique program that is allowing our region to begin addressing the issue of workforce shortages in the health care industry. It's the University of Missouri's Springfield Clinical Campus. This partnership between Mizzou, Missouri State University, CoxHealth and Mercy is celebrating its fifth year in 2021. We talk with Dr. David Haustein, the associate dean of the Clinical C...

This "Plugged In" episode of the SGF Insider podcast features Darline Mabins, Executive Director of Minorities In Business. Tune in as we learn all about Darline's role as the new Executive Director, and how MIB is focusing on networking, advocacy and capacity building. Special thanks to American National for sponsoring the LeadSGF "Plugged In" episodes.

This month we're looking at the ongoing need for skills training in our region, and what one of our most important partners is doing to help address that need. We talked with Jordan Schreiber, director of student recruitment for Ozarks Technical Community College. She told us about how OTC is utilizing the Missouri Fast Track program, a relatively new initiative working to remove financial hurdles...

This "Plugged In" episode of the SGF Insider Podcast features Springfield Identity Project members, John McQueary and Joel Thomas. Tune in as we learn all about the Springfield Flag movement and what happens when you get a group of people who are passionate about Springfield together who want to share their love of SGF and help people own and embrace their community. Special thanks to American Nat...

Dr. Grenita Lathan was named superintendent of Springfield Public Schools in early 2021 and took the reins of the district in July. Chamber President Matt Morrow had the chance to sit down with her and talk to her on a wide range of topics, including: What attracted her to Springfield and SPS Her approach to leadership The district's response to the pandemic And much more

This "Plugged In" episode of the SGF Insider Podcast features Mary Kromrey, Executive Director of Ozark Greenways. Tune in as we learn all about how Ozark Greenways is connecting trails, people and our community. Special thanks to American National for sponsoring the LeadSGF "Plugged In" episodes!

In the second of our two episodes focused on workforce issues, we talk to representatives from two of the Springfield area's largest employers. They tell us how their own organizations tackle the challenge of finding enough employees to help them grow and succeed, as well as how they show those from outside our region all that Springfield has to offer. You'll hear from: Celeste Cramer, System Dire...