2018 40 Under 40: Mary Bozarth, 36

SBJ photo by Wes Hamilton

As in-house counsel for Little Sunshine Enterprises Inc., Mary Bozarth landed a job that allows her to combine her passion for children, education and the law. She created a legal department from the ground up for the daycare franchise, revamping staff and parent handbooks as well as corporate policies so they could be specifically tailored to each state in which Little Sunshine operates.

Outside of Little Sunshine, Bozarth also pursues her passions by teaching a class in the criminology department at Missouri State University and staying involved in the lives of young people by volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters’ College 101 program.

What is your theme song? I listened to the Rocky theme a lot when I was studying for the Florida bar exam, and it still motivates me whenever I hear it.

What was your professional aha moment? I realized that my work/life balance was disturbingly off. It came at a time when my father was ill and I was traveling back and forth from Fort Lauderdale to Springfield. I moved back to my hometown soon after, and it was the best decision of my life.

What do you miss most about the 1990s? The music.

What is your best productivity hack? I have really intricately organized email folders. It helps to get an accurate answer quickly – especially when trying to remember which question pertained to which of the 21 Little Sunshine schools.