2008 Small Business of the Year Finalist: Jack Ball and Associates Architects

Employees: 10

Springfield-based architecture firm Jack Ball & Associates was founded in 1974, and it specialized in design work in the K-12 education arena.

These days, the founder’s son is at the helm of the business. Chris Ball joined the firm in 1995, became a partner in 1998 and bought his father out in 1999.

Chris Ball said education is still a key focus for the company, though it has branched out a bit.

“We’ve got some ongoing church projects. We just finished a bank down in Neosho for Community Bank & Trust (and) we’re doing a large private residence in Springfield right now,” he added. “Even though (education) is our bread and butter, we still are diversifying our work load.”

For several years leading up to 2007, Ball said the firm’s focus was on growing its staff and diversifying its portfolio so that it could take on larger projects, such as the $31 million high school now under construction in Republic.

Each person on the firm’s nine-member staff fills a niche, Ball said, whether it be in expertise about historic tax credits, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design specifications or interior design work.

The company also does urban planning, and it is working on designs for a new building for the Polk County Health Department in Bolivar.

“I think the challenge for the next two or three years going forward is going to continue to be to … maintain and grow our client base while continuing to expand on that diversity,” Ball said.[[In-content Ad]]