Chamber Names Harmony House as Small Business of the Year

On Nov. 10, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce named Harmony House the recipient of the W. Curtis Strube Small Business Award. Through donations and community support, Harmony House has grown substantially; its new facility, which opened in 2017, makes it the largest domestic violence shelter in Missouri.

Chamber President Matt Morrow noted Harmony House’s track record of providing exemplary service to its clients. “And, like many in our business community, they have focused on creating a strong workplace culture and being an employer of choice to attract and retain talent,” Morrow says.

417 Magazine Publisher and current Chamber Chairman Logan Aguirre sees elements of the Great Game of Business in Harmony House’s success. "As Great Game of Business practitioners at 417, I have had the privilege of watching the impact GGOB has made on the Harmony House team,” Aguirre says. “I see this reflected in their cohesive culture and laser-like focus on delivering effective services while being the best stewards of the funds they raise."

The 2021 finalists were announced in September and represented a diverse range of industries, such as healthcare, transportation, technology and nonprofit service. In addition to Harmony House, finalists included Burgess Aircraft Management, LLC (dba OzAir Charter Service), Dynamic DNA Laboratories, Loehr Health Center and TheraCare Outpatient Services, LLC. Biz 417 is proud to be the presenting sponsor for this annual event, which shines a spotlight on small businesses that power innovation in 417-land. 

Full press release from the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Jennifer McClure, vice president of strategic communications, cell: 417-597-0228
Jeremy Elwood, communications manager, direct: 417-450-6776

Harmony House receives 2021 Small Business Award

Springfield, Mo. – During its annual event on November 10, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce announced Harmony House as the recipient of the 2021 W. Curtis Strube Small Business Award.

Started by a concerned group of community members in 1976, Harmony House has been providing shelter and support services to domestic violence survivors ever since and has impacted the lives of more than 20,000 women, men and children who have been served to date.

The center was originally incorporated as the Family Violence Center and began as a grassroots all-volunteer organization with the first survivors being sheltered in volunteers’ homes and area hotels, then in rented shelter homes. Through donations and community support, the organization has grown over the years; its name was changed to Harmony House in 2010, and its new facility that opened in 2017 makes it the largest domestic violence shelter in Missouri.

“It’s impressive how Harmony House has incorporated business best practices to ensure best-in-class service to its clients,” said Chamber President Matt Morrow. “And, like many in our business community, they have focused on creating a strong workplace culture and being an employer of choice to attract and retain talent.”

The Small Business Award is named for Dr. W. Curtis Strube, late director of the Breech School of Business Administration at Drury University, who was a dedicated advocate of small business and founder of the Chamber’s Small Business Council.

Honorees are determined by written applications scored by an independent panel of judges, consisting of the previous recipients, local business experts, and volunteers from the Small Business Council.

This award, presented by the Chamber’s Small Business Council since 1992, celebrates the success of the organization’s small business members and recognizes the important role small businesses and entrepreneurs play in the local economy. More than 80 percent of Chamber members have 50 or fewer employees.