Photo by Katy St. ClairCity Manager, David Cameron, Mayor of Springfield, Jeff Schrag, and Biz 417 Publisher, Logan Aguirre
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Leadership
A Q&A with Springfield Mayor Jeff Schrag and City Manager David Cameron
Biz 417 hosted a live Q&A with Springfield, Missouri’s Mayor Jeff Schrag and newly-appointed City Manager David Cameron. Read what they had to say about the future of Springfield, its economic development, leadership and regional growth.
By Jordan Blomquist
Jul 11 2025 at 11 a.m.
On Thursday, July 10, 2025, Biz 417 Publisher Logan Aguirre sat down with Springfield, Missouri’s new mayor, Jeff Schrag, and new city manager, David Cameron, to talk about the future they envision for the city. This marked Cameron’s fourth day on the job, and his first Q&A since starting the job. Here are some of the big takeaways we got from the event.
Understanding the New Leadership Dynamic
Aguirre opened the event at Mother’s Brewing Company by asking Schrag and Cameron to define their roles and how they work together. Schrag explained that Springfield operates under a “weak mayor” system, meaning the mayor serves as the chairman of the City Council but does not hold administrative powers. Those responsibilities fall to the city manager, who functions as the CEO of the city’s day-to-day operations.
What “Disruptive Leadership” Really Means
Cameron addressed the phrase “disruptive leadership,” which has followed him since a Think Summit conversation years ago. Some embraced the term as a strength; others misunderstood it.
“Disruptive does not mean disrespectful,” Cameron said. “Never let fear get in the way of what you can do.” He acknowledged the phrase was weaponized but reiterated his belief that innovation and courage are essential during times of change.
Schrag agreed: “Disruption is something we need in our lives all the time, I think.”
In the First 90 Days
In this high-stakes leadership role, Cameron’s top priority in his first 90 days is the people on his team. “There’s amazing talent in the city of Springfield,” he said. “My priority in the first 90 days is to connect with as many groups as I can in this community.”
He hopes to show those who weren’t initially favorable to him that he has heart and he’s authentic. In his first 30 days, he’s excited to meet one-on-one with current staff and council members to start building those connections.
Moving Forward with Forward SGF
During the Q&A, Aguirre asked how to turn the Forward SGF plan from vision to action. Cameron pointed to the recently passed sales tax as a major milestone. “Thank you to everyone who put the work in,” he said. Cameron understands people want to see progress, and he’s looking forward to seeing it play out as they build the processes and mechanisms to move forward.
Schrag emphasized the importance of pausing to acknowledge each win and recognizing that the community achieved it together. “We made this progress together,” he said.
Is a Convention Center Finally Coming?
Building a convention center in Springfield has been talked about for years—as far back as the ’70s, Schrag said—and it is being heavily discussed again. Schrag said a group of forward-looking entities at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Visit Springfield, Downtown Springfield and City of Springfield gathered, and Visit Springfield took the lead on commissioning another study on where we are in the tourist market—the city’s fourth in 20 years. The conclusion remains the same: Springfield is missing out on a tremendous revenue opportunity by not having a convention center.
He also noted that State Senator Lincoln Hough secured $30 million in the state budget for a convention center in town, provided Springfield can match the amount within a year. Though passed by the House and the Senate, the funds are currently being withheld by the governor—not vetoed—but still possible. “My experience at Missouri State is generally that withholds come through,” Schrag said. “I keep reminding people that St. Louis and Kansas City get this all the time. The legislature is sending money to St. Louis and Kansas City all the time. It’s Springfield’s turn for some of the money that we sent to Jefferson City to come back to Springfield.”
When it comes to the one-year deadline, Cameron believes in the community. “I am very confident with our abilities,” he said. “I think this is a chance for us to demonstrate Springfield is all-in in downtown.”
Addressing the Criticism
Aguirre asked Cameron to respond to concerns that he might not be prepared to lead a city the size of Springfield. Immediately, Cameron said that it is completely fair criticism, but noted that much of his early work doesn’t show up on a resume. While he doesn’t have a degree in public administration, he learned to master disciplines most people don’t, coming from a smaller city where he had fewer resources. “What I learned was disciplines in finance, law, HR, IT, now AI,” Cameron said.
He said what prepared him and got him here is authenticity, process improvements, relationships and trust—qualities that haven’t changed from his time in a smaller city to now leading a larger one like Springfield. “If I start trying to adjust, I’ll adjust to the size,” Cameron said. “I have a lot of history and background, so I have a lot of resources to work with now—that’s how I’m going to tackle the city of Springfield, just like I’ve done every other big change or transition in my life, this is just the biggest one ever. But I’m up for the challenge.”
Final Words
Cameron left listeners with something to hold onto: “Don’t ever underestimate the size of your heart,” he said. “There’s no place you can’t start. If you want to go somewhere big, set your mind to it, your heart to it, don’t let fear get in the way.”
Who Is Jeff Schrag?
Jeff Schrag was elected mayor of Springfield, Missouri, in April 2025. Schrag is best known locally as the founder and former owner of Mother’s Brewing Company.
Who Is David Cameron?
David Cameron was appointed as City Manager of Springfield, Missouri, by Springfield City Council in May of 2025. Cameron is the former City Administrator for the City of Republic and has nearly 30 years of experience in local government.
