YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
Kaitlyn McConnell has a deep affection for the Ozarks region. She’s the eighth generation of her family to live in southwest Missouri.
Her historical affinity plays out at work as media relations manager for CoxHealth, where she launched a writing series about the hospital’s history. McConnell also created a new strategy for CoxHealth’s social media, helping its Facebook page grow nearly 350 percent since 2015.
Given her passion, McConnell started the website, OzarksAlive.com, to publish stories and photographs about people, places and unique bits of regional culture each week. Its Facebook page has over 25,000 likes. While her first love is the Ozarks, McConnell spent nearly three years living in Norway working for the oil and gas industry and has visited 27 countries.
Have you ever met a celebrity? I was the biggest Andy Williams fan. When I was 17, I wrote him a fan letter and got to meet him backstage at one of his shows in Branson.
What are you doing to make the Ozarks better? While (in Norway), I had the chance to really miss the Ozarks. When I came back, I made a concentrated effort to get plugged in. One of my main focuses at the moment is as president of Missouri Writers Hall of Fame.
What is your best productivity hack? To accomplish a large project, I try to do a little bit of work on it every day.
What is your theme song? Bobby Darin’s “Fabulous Places.”
Specialty bakery and national chain Nothing Bundt Cakes made its Springfield debut; Angelia Fox became a first-time business owner upon opening A&A Boutique & Country Decor; and Marshfield gained a drive-thru coffee shop.
Molly McCleary, owner and farmer of Maypop Flower Farm, says she’s seen edible flowers used many ways in different areas of the country. McCleary was initially contacted by several bakers, but says …
Carley Joy, sales and marketing director of SafeSpace Company says she and her father, CEO Rick Williams, have an honest and open communication style. Williams says the key is never to take things …
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Carol Taylor, former president of Evangel University, tells features editor Christine Temple about the new challenges she faced leading students, staff and faculty through a year of learning in a …
Michelle Romero, owner of PKD Venue, says because of her busy schedule, using social media has helped her marketing efforts. Incorporating your journey, including struggles as well as victories, can …
John, Jason and Jeremy Chapman, owners of The Acoustic Shoppe, say the pandemic just accelerated retailers moving sales online. They say customers appreciate the convenience and it allows them to …
Alex Neville-Verdugo, museum director of the Discovery Center Springfield, says though she’s currently between mentors, they have been important in her professional development. She says the …
Jennifer Leonard and Curtis Marshall, co-founders of Tie and Timber Beer Company, say pivoting to curbside service and opening their beer garden allowed them to serve customers while maintaining …
When Emily Laurie learned she had a malignant melanoma, she looked for a hobby to take her mind off the diagnosis. She made a bead bracelet and shared it online. Within days, she had a large number …
Did your business experience supply chain issues due to the pandemic? Jeff Eiserman, senior risk advisor with Ollis/Akers/Arney, talks about the causes and what effect COVID-19 continues to have on …
