2022 40 Under 40 Spotlight: Dee King, 2017

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Then: Director of sales and marketing, DoubleTree by Hilton
Now: Chief of staff, Burrell Behavioral Health

Dee King decided last year to pursue a longtime goal and enter the nonprofit sector, which led her to Burrell Behavioral Health.

As Burrell’s chief of staff, King, 38, is the primary liaison for President and CEO C.J. Davis in internal and external capacities. She’s also the point of contact for its executive office and board, employees and stakeholders.

“For a long, long time, I’ve known I wanted to work for a mission that I felt passionate about,” she says of the job she started in June 2021. “This role, when you look at it, really boiled down to communication and relationships. It’s really that skill set that I’ve been able to bring into Burrell.”

Additionally, King became chair in January of The Network, the young professionals group of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. She also serves on the Community Partnership of the Ozarks Inc. Board of Directors.

Best advice to young professionals? Be willing to start at the bottom and work your way up. It can be the least popular job, but do it with a great attitude, and eventually you’ll get more responsibility.