Open for Business: Luxury Pools of the Ozarks LLC

Luxury Pools of the Ozarks LLC
After working in California and the Gulf Coast with Axiom Pools, Christopher Gates moved to Springfield to open Luxury Pools of the Ozarks LLC on July 10. With the backing of two silent investors, Gates said startup costs are $250,000 to offer high-end residential pools and outdoor spaces from a leased office and showroom at 3170 E. Sunshine St., Ste. C. With a background in stage scenery and fountain design, Gates transitioned into pool design 20 years ago with a focus on structural strength, efficient technology and water safety – including water features and chlorine-free sanitation options. He also offers outdoor kitchens and fireplaces, with projects ranging from $100,000 to $1 million. Luxury Pools of the Ozarks’ first project is underway in Strafford, and two others are in motion. The lone employee, Gates hires local subcontractors, such as H & H Concrete Construction Inc., Skyline Electric, Fraley Stone Co., Meek’s, Rosales Masonry Co. and SCP Distributors.
Hours: by appointment
Phone: (417) 844-7588
Web: LuxuryPoolsOfTheOzarks.com

WellSpring School of Allied Health
Kansas City-based WellSpring School of Allied Health added a Springfield site July 31 in the former Professional Massage Training Center, at 229 E. Commercial St. WellSpring School offers massage training similar to PMTC, which closed in late 2015 and left a 10,000-square-foot furnished school in the 133-year-old building. WellSpring signed a lease for undisclosed terms with Juliet Mee who ran PMTC said WellSpring President and CEO Don Farquharson. WellSpring  hired former PMTC employee Kristen Rokke as director, and Denelle Pantleo is the school’s massage program manager. The new school is registering students for two eight-hour classes per week or four four-hour evening sessions weekly at $15,475, Rokke said, totaling 750 hours of instruction time toward the 500 required before testing by state law. WellSpring also operates two schools in Kansas City and Lawrence, Kansas.
Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday by appointment, plus class sessions
Phone: (417) 863-7682
Web: WellSpring.edu

Highland Design Studio
Specializing in digital marketing, Penny Swearingin on June 2 opened Highland Design Studio at 122 S. Springfield Ave. in Bolivar. With a focus on web design and social media, Swearingin said she also teaches Facebook marketing directly to business owners and through videos available for purchase online. Working in marketing for 30 years and most recently operations and sales manager for Bolivar’s KYOO radio, Swearingin now has one employee and clients in the retail, manufacturing and religious nonprofit industries. “I’m building a lot of websites for people that had purchased sites from other companies that weren’t really happy with them – we’re redoing them,” she said. Her leased brick building also includes co-working desks for other small-business owners. Swearingin declined to disclose startup costs and lease terms.
Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday
Phone: (417) 399-1608
Web: Highland-Design-Studio.com