Biz 417 September/October 2025

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Biz 417 September/October 2025

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Biz 100

Meet Biz 417's 2025 Biz 100

Meet the 2025 Biz 100. These are the people shaping the future of southwest Missouri and the Ozarks. This list gets to the heart of why they’re essential to our economy and culture.
Hammons family
BEHIND THE BUSINESS

The Story of Hammons Black Walnuts

Four generations strong, the Hammons Black Walnuts family works with an organized buying network across 12 states to supply the American black walnut to tables across the world.
Sam Timmerman
MELODY WITH A MISSION

How Sam Timmerman Creates Space for Creatives at the Melody Room

Sam Timmerman struggled to get his foot in the door early in his music career. He founded The Melody Room to help Springfield's new creatives take that first step.
Ron Davis
STORIED HISTORY

Ron Davis Has a Lifetime of Stories to Tell

With more than 40 years in local media, Ron Davis has worked in every form of traditional media and reflects on his career spent sharing stories.

Networking in the Ozarks

Find out where to meet and network with other business leaders in Springfield and southwest Missouri.

FIND OUT MORE

BIZ DIRECTORIES

Find the best in the biz right here.
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The Latest

Lincoln Whisler Talks 1984 Arcade
Small Businesses

Lincoln Whisler Talks 1984 Arcade

Lincoln Whisler, advertising director for Reliable Toyota/Lexus/BMW, is also one of the creative minds behind 1984 Arcade.

mar 2025 | Companies, Downtown Springfield
2025
Women business leaders in southwest Missouri
Women Who Mean Business

Meet the 2025 Biz 417 Women Who Mean Business

Each year, Biz 417 chooses five women who are guiding southwest Missouri into the future.

mar 2025 | Features, Leadership, People, Q&A
Business women in Springfield, MO
Women in Business

Meet These Inspiring Female Springfield Business Leaders

These women are breaking barriers and confidently leading companies across Springfield, Missouri.

mar 2025 | Branded Content, Companies, Leadership, Native Content
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2025
Pamela Yancey
Women Who Mean Business

Pamela Yancey is a Woman Who Means Business

Pamela Yancey, one of the Biz 417 Women Who Mean Business for 2025, is President/CEO of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB.

mar 2025 | Features, Leadership, People, Women in Business
Tom Conroy and Fred McQueary
Family-Owned

The Story Behind ProVino

A friendship and a passion for vino led to a collaborative start-up wine company spearheaded by three local couples.

mar 2025 | Wine
2025
Tiffani Claussen
Women Who Mean Business

Tiffani Claussen is a Woman Who Means Business

Tiffani Claussen, one of the Biz 417 Women Who Mean Business for 2025, is Chief Executive Officer at AMPROD.

mar 2025 | Features, Leadership, People, Technology
Vroom Solar's New Solar Energy Solution
Startups

Vroom Solar's New Solar Energy Solution

Vroom Solar’s newly launched solar energy solution is a DIY power plant that allows customers to plug into the sun anywhere, and Vroom...

mar 2025 | Companies
Carly Taft of Forvis Mazars.
Leadership

Navigating Change with Strategic Leadership

Carly Taft discusses navigating change as the Regional Marketing Senior Leader for Forvis Mazars’ northwest region.

feb 2025 | Ladies Who Launch, Leadership
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Jarad Johnson
People

Jarad Johnson: Human-First Workplaces in the Age of AI

At Biz 417's 2025 Best Places to Work Celebration, Jarad Johnson of Mostly Serious gave a talk on workplaces in the age of AI. Here are our...

sep 2025
Best Places to Work 2025 banner image
Best Places to Work

Best Places to Work in Springfield, Missouri 2025

Biz 417 is celebrating the Best Places to Work in southwest Missouri for the fifth year. Read about the small and large companies who made...

sep 2025 | Companies
Apply Now for Biz 417's Best Places to Work

Best Places to Work Applications

Apply now for Biz 417’s Best Places to Work in association with Best Places Group.

sep 01 2025 | Networking, Workspaces
Eric Albers
Culture

Eric Albers Talks Clay Art

Eric Albers, Architect/Principal at Insight Design Architects, first took an interest in ceramics while studying art in college.

sep 2025
Thomas Relford
Leadership

From the FBI to City Hall: Thomas Relford's Mission to Transform Bolivar

With a focus on strategic leadership, operational stability and community trust, Bolivar’s city administrator is turning challenges into...

sep 2025 | Leadership
Gabriela Verdugo-Johnson
Leadership

Get to Know Gabriela Verdugo-Johnson

Gabriela Verdugo-Johnson’s discipline was born in the water as a collegiate swimmer. Today, she is a successful real estate agent, business...

sep 2025
Sam Timmerman
Culture

How Sam Timmerman Creates Space for Creatives at the Melody Room

Sam Timmerman struggled to get his foot in the door early in his music career. He founded The Melody Room to help Springfield's new...

sep 2025 | People
Jackson Cantwell
Culture

Jackson Cantwell's Ride from High School to Hard Rock

With Olympian parents, a top NFL agent and the entire country watching, Nixa’s Jackson Cantwell is rewriting the high school athlete...

sep 2025

The Latest Biz People Pics

See pictures from Ollis/Akers/Arney 140th Anniversary, 2025
Biz People Pics

Ollis/Akers/Arney 140th Anniversary, 2025

Ollis/Akers/Arney 140th Anniversary presented by Ollis/Akers/Arney Insurance & Business Advisors, October 9, 2025. At History Museum on the...
See pictures from Dedication of Roy Blunt Hall 2025
Biz People Pics

Dedication of Roy Blunt Hall at Missouri State University, 2025

Dedication of Roy Blunt Hall at Missouri State University, on September 12, 2025.


417 Partner Content
See pictures from Ignite Conference, 2025.
Biz People Pics

Ignite Conference, 2025

Ignite Conference presented by Simmons Bank, October 3, 2025. At Convoy of Hope
See pictures from Biz 417's The Legacy Network Opening Reception 2025
Biz People Pics

Biz 417's The Legacy Network Opening Reception, 2025

Biz 417's The Legacy Network Opening Reception presented by Commerce Bank, September 15, 2025. At Commerce Bank.

Most Recent Biz Blogs

Best Places to Work Applications

The 2025 Biz 100 List

A Q&A with Springfield Mayor Jeff Schrag and City Manager David Cameron

Most Recent People Stories

Biz 417's 2025 Person of the Year: Sally Hargis

Jarad Johnson: Human-First Workplaces in the Age of AI

From the FBI to City Hall: Thomas Relford's Mission to Transform Bolivar

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Doug Pitt and What We Can Do When We Care to Learn

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