Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a team to grow and support a business. In fact, for the most effective CEOs, it’s not lonely at the top at all. Because those are the leaders who have surrounded themselves with a team of professionals they can trust, a team that will not only share their vision, but also help steer them there, avoiding pitfalls along the way.
According to an article written for the Harvard Business School Press, CEOs should be looking for a team of professional advisers that supplement the strengths and weaknesses of the in-house team and in doing so “create an environment that allows everyone to go beyond his or her limitations.”
In practical terms for Springfield Business Jounal, that has meant our trusted advisers have been there to save our bacon a time or 10.
With as much importance as we all place on the business relationship we share with our certified public accountant, banker, attorney, insurance agent and wealth manager, it seems unfitting that these historically have been the least celebrated professionals in the SBJ awards line up. SBJ Special Products and Events Manager Diana Weber claims these are the people she relies on most when soliciting quality nominations for virtually every other event we hold. After all, who knows better than the professional advisers the health of a company and the strengths of its leaders? However, in relying on the advisers to supply nominations, they have been overlooked for recognition of their own.
This year, SBJ decided we’d do something to right that wrong with the launch of a new event and special publication focused solely on the accomplishments and contributions of the trusted advisers who form the supportive structure for a thriving business community in southwest Missouri. Of course, we can’t take all the creative credit. Rather, it is a borrowed concept which has proven itself in other marketplaces and has been championed by other business journals like SBJ.
Here’s how it works: For the past several months, SBJ solicited nominations via our website and print publication for honorees in the following five categories: bankers, insurance agents, lawyers, CPAs and wealth advisers.
In addition, we wanted to recognize three up-and-comers who may represent any one of the five professions mentioned, but have not practiced for the five-year minimum requirement for recognition in another category. Finally, we were looking for that one stand out trusted adviser at the pinnacle of his or her career to recognize as a legacy adviser. Each nominee responded to a detailed questionnaire, requested a letter of recommendation and enclosed a resume, all of which were evaluated by an independent panel of five judges representing a cross-section of the local business community.
As you will see on the following pages, the results of the process in this inaugural year were phenomenal. They were not perfect. For instance, there was not adequate response from CPAs this year to make for a meaningful honor. We will have to make the necessary adjustments here to generate more active participation from CPAs in years to follow.
All honorees will be celebrated at a luncheon event Sept. 19 at Highland Springs Country Club. Much thanks goes out to the group of elite sponsors that have made the celebration possible. Advisor Ink, Sandler Training by Trustpoint, LaTour Advisory Group Inc. and Ameriprise Financial have our sincerest appreciation.
SBJ Publishing Inc. Publisher Jennifer Jackson can be reached at jjackson@sbj.net.[[In-content Ad]]
