YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
As executive director and sole employee for the Springfield Contractors Association, Megan Short wears lots of hats leading 335 member companies and overseeing 14 committees and 25 annual events for the nonprofit group.
She also is a member of SCA’s scholarship committee, which selects college students pursuing a degree related to construction or design. In summer 2018, Short served on a workforce development task force for the statewide Talent for Tomorrow initiative, her proudest accomplishment. Short was selected this year to serve on the leadership council for The Network, the chamber’s group for young professionals.
What was your first job? My first job outside of the farm and babysitting was a hostess position at Mexican Villa South.
What about your job would shock people? I periodically get to put on a hard hat and tour jobsites with members of the association.
What is your best productivity hack? Make time to really focus on one specific task when you’re on a deadline.
What did you learn the hard way? Communication must be a two-way street. It’s easy to just assume something is complete, but you can’t always assume no news is good news.
How many times do you hit the snooze button? Some mornings, I’m up five minutes before my alarm even goes off, then others I max out the number of times I can hit snooze.
Auto service veterans choose Springfield for long-term investments in Blue Iguana.
Sandra Smart, a technology and commercialization specialist, shares helpful advice and cautionary tips about the importance of tracking cash flow for new or established businesses. Smart works with tech entrepreneurs and hosts training workshops through the Missouri SBDC at Missouri State University's efactory.
Michael Smith and Chris Sawyer, COO and CEO of Next Level Solutions respectively, discuss how they keep their remote teams and offices in and out of country on the same page. Next Level Solutions was ranked #1 in the Springfield Business Journal's 2021 Dynamic Dozen.
John Oke-Thomas, architect and co-founder of minorities in business, responds to the accusation that minority businesses are only successful because of the priority they have received in lending. He says that if a business uses a loan well, it shows their worth.
Sandra Smart, a technology and commercialization specialist, shares tips for entrepreneurs who are ready to seek funding. Some of her tips apply broadly; some target technology industry businesses. Smart works with tech entrepreneurs and startups, and hosts training workshops through the Missouri SBDC at Missouri State University's efactory.
Hollie Elliott discusses common misconceptions about locating your business in a small town. She says that there are a lot of benefits that people may not consider.
Drawing on his own experience dynamically evolving his company and business model, Jim Meinsen discusses when and how you might need to draw on new technology. Jim and Debbie Meinsen are co-owners of TCI Graphics in Springfield.
John Oke-Thomas, longtime Springfield architect, discusses his philosophy on architecture. He says that future historians will be focused on the sustainability of our contemporary architecture.
Erin Hedlun, director of marketing and communications at Evangel University, says compassion is an important job skill. Hedlun says it is a component of what makes a leader.
Rachel Barks, owner of Artistree Pottery, talks about the concepting that went behind the aesthetic of the business.
Caleb Scott, coach and co-owner of Queen City Insane Asylum football team, says he had to sacrifice early on to make sure his team had places to play. With the business climate at the time, it wasn't easy.
