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.”
As part of the $168 million bond issue voters approved in April 2019, Springfield Public Schools is developing an early childhood center near Carver Middle School.
Joe Daues, CEO of the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks, says they want to spread the message of how they can help cancer victims. He says they plan to be highly visible on social media …
When Emery Bryant discovered new software that expanded her online yoga teaching capabilities, she recruited her favorite local instructors to start AWE Fitness. Not needing a brick and mortar space …
Jamie Thomas, vice president of Prosperiti Properties, says she spent years worrying that she’d miss opportunities if she put her family first. “The minute that I was brave enough to say, I’m a …
Gary Gibson, general manager of City Utilities, says public transportation is vitally important and the city is working to improve transit service with the acquisition of electric buses. He says they …
Tim Potthoff, project manager with Nabholz, says the construction industry needs skilled tradesmen. He says getting certified in a trade pays as well as most four year degrees without accruing as …
Paula Adams, president of Penmac, says they try to help clients find gainful employment regardless of whether they have a permanent address. She says they partner with Council of Churches to try …
“Sometimes I’m really bad at my email, other times, I’m very on top of it,” says Megan Short, executive director of Springfield Contractors Association. Short says to stay current, she often …
Donald Babb, former CEO and executive director of Citizens Memorial Hospital, says his grandfather was his first mentor. “He always told me, you can do whatever you want to do,” Babb says. “You …
Entrepreneur Amby Lewis says it’s important to show support for local businesses and events on social media. Lewis says liking. sharing and commenting on posts can increase awareness and help a …
Joe Hornickel, planning and zoning director for the city of Branson, says one of the community's goals is to have year round jobs like manufacturing. While Branson has good access to highways, …
