Business Journal continues to change, evolve

Each week, we dedicate our Business Spotlight page to a company that is celebrating a significant anniversary, which we define as one ending in five or zero. We’ve dubbed these companies – or events or entities such as the St. Pat’s Parade, Artsfest and AIDS Project of the Ozarks – our anniversary partners.

When we decided to focus the Spotlight page, our initial concern was that we might not uncover enough anniversary partners to make the idea work. But boy, were we wrong. Here it is May, and SBJ News Editor Eric Olson assures me that even with those companies we’ve already featured so far this year, he’s got more than enough businesses on his list.

“I’d rather have more than enough, so that I can pick and choose the better ones,” he said.

Another way in which our anniversary celebration has made its way into SBJ’s pages is the Retro SBJ columns penned by former staff members. Truth be told, those columns are favorites of mine. I think it’s interesting to find out what it was like to work at SBJ in the past.

Come to think of it, even though I’m still on staff, and thus not eligible to do an official Retro SBJ piece, it might be fun to look at some of the changes I’ve seen since I’ve been on board.

I started as an SBJ intern in 1999 and joined the staff in December of that year. Thus, probably one of the biggest changes I’ve seen is that I now get a paycheck for my efforts – which comes in quite handy for the Hoover family budget.

There have been many personnel changes at SBJ since I’ve been here. But there are some familiar faces, too, most notably those of SBJ Publisher Dianne Elizabeth and Vice President of Finance Dorothy Gardner.

My first editor was Paul Flemming, who left SBJ for Springfield News-Leader and is now working for Gannett in sunny Florida. He was a great teacher and possessed knowledge of our craft that I continue to strive for.

When I got to SBJ as an intern, there was one e-mail account. Everyone on staff used it. That changed, however, when I joined the staff, as my job was to compile a Daily Update e-mail publication. That publication is now defunct, but I like to think it was a great idea that was just ahead of its time. Perhaps its time is coming.

SBJ’s editorial team is now led by Editor Clarissa French, who had the job that’s currently mine – special section editor – when I started work at SBJ. The special section is now called Inside Business, but as I’m fond of saying, it is still very special. Clarissa still has copy-editing skills that don’t miss a thing, and even after all these years, I still learn from her often.

Then there’s Eric, who started out as a general reporter in 2000. And man, was he green! I could cite a specific example, but I promised to drop it when he was promoted to news editor. Suffice it to say he’s learned a great deal, and I think he’s doing a great job leading SBJ’s news content.

There have been several other internal changes to the SBJ family. I just know that I enjoy each one of my coworkers, and each one brings strengths to the company.

My kids all say I work at “the ABC shop,” because I “make letters” all day. I suppose, as they get older I’ll have to correct them, but for now, I think that description works.

I’ve enjoyed watching downtown grow and change, too. I used to love walking in the afternoons over to the now-closed Springfield Coffee Co. for some fresh-brewed tea. Artist/proprietor Scott Hepper was quite entertaining, so I’m not sure if my visits were just about the tea, after all. Good Girl Art is now housed in Springfield Coffee Co.’s former location.

I do know that there are a lot more places to eat downtown than there used to be. Maria’s, Roly Poly and Gailey’s Breakfast Café are all new additions, but Nonna’s has been in its present location for at least as long as I’ve been working downtown. And the lasagna is still my favorite dish.

Sometimes with significant anniversaries, there’s a bit of a letdown after the milestone passes and the celebration ends. But I don’t think that’s going to be the case with SBJ. I can’t help but believe that the years to come will hold just as much excitement for the publication and its readers.

Maria Hoover is Inside Business editor.