2026 Business Leaders of the Year: James Tillman

For James Tillman, entrepreneurship is not just about opening restaurants and watching businesses grow.

He says his greatest achievements are about building organizations where people can develop meaningful careers, gain confidence and reach goals they did not always see as possible.

Tillman is part of the ownership behind Springfield’s First Watch daytime cafe locations and the first Huey Magoo’s chicken tenders restaurants in Missouri.

His local story with First Watch began in 2017, when he helped bring the brand to Springfield with a $2.2 million project, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.

In 2023, Tillman and his wife, Lisa, introduced Huey Magoo’s to the Queen City, opening the chain’s first Missouri restaurant on East Sunshine Street – the first of multiple.

Across these concepts, Tillman says he is proud of the growth and profitability they achieve, but he still measures his greatest accomplishment in people, not sales.

Over the course of his career, he’s helped build multiple successful businesses and create opportunities for hundreds of employees.

He says he wants his restaurants to be places where a first job can become a long-term path or a launching pad to something new.

His leadership philosophy starts with the idea that actions matter more than titles. That sets the tone, he says.

“I believe that leadership requires a vision and adaptability,” Tillman says. “The business landscape continues to evolve. A good leader must embrace values by combining them with compassion.”

He says he wants every person in the organization to feel valued and heard, from the manager overseeing a packed Saturday brunch to the crew member learning a first station.

That same mindset shapes his community work.

“I believe that businesses have a responsibility to be active contributors to the communities that support them,” he says. “Throughout my career, I have worked to use our platform for positive impact.”

His restaurants regularly partner with schools, universities, charitable organizations and community groups through food donations, in-kind contributions, fundraisers and sponsorships. They also serve as gathering spaces, hosting meetings, events and community celebrations, he says.

Tillman says he views this involvement as an opportunity rather than an obligation. By giving back consistently and encouraging his teams to do the same, Tillman says he aims to build strong businesses that help strengthen the communities around them. 

“We strive to make a meaningful and lasting difference beyond the walls of our businesses,” he says.