2007 40 Under 40 Honoree: Chris Upp

Despite numerous job offers from around the country after graduating from college, Springfield native Chris Upp decided the Ozarks was where he wanted to be.

“I felt that the Ozarks was a great place to live and raise a family and that the opportunity to work toward a leadership role at Conco and in the community was very real,” he said.

Upp, who holds a degree in mining engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla, started as a project engineer at Conco Quarries Inc. in 1996.

Now, as director of quarry operations, Upp manages production of more than 2 million tons of crushed limestone, supervises 53 employees from four labor unions in Springfield and Willard, and manages an eight-figure annual operations budget. He also is responsible for managing community and customer relations, and making sure that compliance with all regulations is maintained.

Fortunately, he’s not working alone.

“The culture of our company, and (of) the Springfield area, is to always help one another,” Upp said.

He has several community endeavors. In addition to being president-elect of the Willard Chamber of Commerce, he is a trustee at Campbell United Methodist Church, a volunteer at the American Red Cross and a coach at Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield and the YMCA.

He also educates others about his industry.

“Over the last eight years, I have been involved with the Missouri Minerals Education Foundation, whose mission is to educate teachers in the state about the importance of minerals and rocks have in our everyday lives, and how to pass that information on to their students,” he said.

Upp and his wife, Jill, have been married for more than 10 years.

They have three sons: Nathan, 8, Tristan, 6, and Ryan, 3.

Stats

Position: Director of Quarry Operations, Conco Quarries Inc.

Age: 33

Favorite professional sports team: St. Louis Cardinals

A quote to live by: “We’re so busy watching out for what’s just ahead of us that we don’t take time to enjoy where we are.” – “Calvin and Hobbes”

Information accurate at the time of the honor.