Five people, including two local businesspeople, died early Saturday in a plane crash outside Willard.
Environmental Works Inc. founder, owner and President Robin Melton, 46; Missouri Insulation & Supply Inc. President John Lambert, 44; and Lambert's three children, Grayson, 16, McKinley, 15, and Joshua Lambert, 10, died about 12:30 a.m. Sept. 15 as an aircraft John Lambert was piloting crashed while approaching Springfield-Branson National Airport, according to Tony Molinaro, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman in Chicago.
Molinaro said the wreckage of the small aircraft, a Cirrus SR22, was found about seven miles northwest of SGF. He noted the National Transportation Safety Board is leading an investigation.
Cathi Sheetz, controller with Missouri Insulation, said Lambert built a succession plan with the help of Husch Blackwell LLP, but she declined to detail specifics.
"He was a good businessman, and he did leave the means for the business to continue on. That is what we intend to do," Sheetz said. "We're trying to be the very best stewards of John's business."
In 1994, Lambert purchased the insulation installer and building material wholesaler, which was then called Missouri Home Insulation, Sheetz said.
Lambert was recognized by Springfield Business Journal in the 2005 40 Under 40 class, and he led the company to win two of SBJ's Dynamic Dozen awards in 2006 and 2007.
Lambert also was a
founding investor of OakStar Bank, and in July, he was named chairman of the fundraising arm of Ozarks Technical Community College, the OTC Foundation.
Officials with Environmental Works could not be reached for comment this morning, but the company sent SBJ a written statement Sept. 15.
The statement noted Melton's rapport with her staff, such as taking employees on company-paid trips for milestones, as well as her work in the community.
"Her high standards and values are embedded in EWI’s culture and impact all that we do," said Jason Smith, EWI principal scientist and group manager, in the statement. "We fully intend to continue her ideals for the company. EWI will continue to implement the vision, strategy and culture articulated by Robin."
Melton founded Environmental Works, an environmental consulting and contracting firm for public- and private-sector clients, in 1992. The company, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, has grown to encompass more than 50 employees and three locations in Springfield, Kansas City and St. Louis, according to the statement.
Melton, who was named among the inaugural class of Springfield Business Journal's 40 Under 40 in 1999 and a Most Influential Women honoree in 2001, also led her company to three SBJ Choice Employers recognitions 2007-09. In 2008, when Environmental Works
placed No. 2 in the 25-100 employees category, Melton noted the importance of her employees in moving the business forward.
"If you want the best, you have to treat them the best," Melton said at the time. "If you can find great talent and then do everything you can to nurture that, help them develop and provide opportunities for them, make them happy, make them productive, it's a win-win for the company and the individual."[[In-content Ad]]
