2008 40 Under 40 Honoree: Logan Aguirre

Logan Aguirre grew up in a publishing family, so perhaps a journalism career was her destiny.

Aguirre is the associate publisher of GO Magazine, a publication of Whitaker Publishing, which also owns 417 Magazine.

A graduate of the University of Missouri’s school of journalism, Aguirre worked briefly in New York City before Sept. 11 forced a reorganization of her priorities and the desire to be close to family. She worked in St. Louis for several years before starting with GO in August 2006.

Aguirre is thrilled that she helped GO become profitable to the tune of $10,000 in 2007, enabling the magazine’s staff to benefit from the publishing company’s profit sharing.

“Our GO staff had sat by for three years watching bonus checks being handed out to their co-workers at 417 Magazine,” Aguirre says. “In January, we handed out profit-sharing bonus checks to the GO staff. That was my proudest moment.”

Aguirre challenged the staff to run each department as though it were a business, looking carefully at all expenses and finding ways to generate revenue.

“Everyone realized that – to steal a Jack Stack phrase – they had a stake in the outcome,” Aguirre said. “Everyone really had a team spirit about it, even though everyone was working long hours.”

GO is well on its way to surpassing its 2007 success, Aguirre said, and she looks forward to handing out bigger bonus checks this year.

Aguirre has been involved in community volunteering since high school, when she founded a community service club. That commitment continued through college and into her time in St. Louis, when she joined Junior League of St. Louis, served on the Cardinals Care Grant Committee and volunteered at Lydia’s House, a safe haven for battered women.

When Aguirre moved to Springfield, she transferred her membership to Junior League of Springfield and sat on the building committee for Isabel’s House, The Crisis Nursery of the Ozarks. She is now guiding seven new members through JLS orientation.

Last year, she served on Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s strategic planning committee to help launch The Network for Springfield’s Young Professionals.

Her biggest accomplishment, however, will be the birth of a daughter in August, a first child for Aguirre and her husband, Dave, whom she met on a blind date in St. Louis.

Double Play

Birth date: July 20, 1979

Family: I have been married to my husband, Dave, for three years. We are excitedly (and very nervously) expecting our first child in August.

Philosophy to live/work by: One that my parents live by and instilled in me, “Do what you said you would do.” I always do my best to live up to my word and over-deliver when possible.

In a fantasy world, which professional sport would you play? Considering I’m the least athletic person in the world, I would have to say professional football. It’s probably my best chance to meet Tom Brady.

Information accurate at the time of the honor.[[In-content Ad]]