Chamber names Pellham-Phillips Small Business of Year

Pellham-Phillips Architects & Engineers received the award from the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce on May 7 at Wellington Place.

While the firm employs just 25 people at its South Glenstone office, its designs loom large – from hotels such as Chateau on the Lake in Branson, to sporting venues including Hammons Field, to many of the area’s major churches and a large portion of the Ozarks Technical Community College campus.

“Springfield is a great community for the architecture and engineering business,” said principal Larry Phillips. “It’s a dynamic community, there’s a lot going on here, and there’s just a lot of work for us.”

The wide range of projects available has served architecture firms well; Butler, Rosenbury & Partners Inc. received the Strube Award in 1998, and Jack Ball & Associates Architects PC was among the finalists this year. The other three finalists were All Pet Supplies & Equine Center, Pearson-Kelly Office Products and Professional Massage Training Center Inc.

“Springfield (is) a great climate for all kinds of business, but especially architecture firms,” said Chris Ball, principal of Jack Ball & Associates, who noted that downtown revitalization has offered numerous design opportunities. “We’ve done a lot of rehab projects and adaptive reuse projects in downtown Springfield, as well as on Commercial Street, as a result. “

It’s been a long journey for Pellham-Phillips, a company formed when Phillips reunited with a former survey crew co-worker – Galen Pellham – in 1979 and the two decided to go into business together. Pellham now works in real estate.

And despite the company’s 30-year history and long résumé of projects, Phillips said the firm doesn’t feel old.

“If I had a crystal ball and could see the future for Pellham-Phillips, one of the things I’d be most encouraged about is the fact that even though we’re a 30-year-old firm, we’re a very young firm,” he said. “Our future is very bright.”

At least one of the judges for the award agrees.

“I teach small business marketing planning,” said Elizabeth Fletcher, chair of Evangel University’s business department. “So I looked at them both from the aspect of past performance and also future potential.”

For his part, Phillips understands the importance of being named the Small Business of the Year.

“When you work in a community for 30 years and then the chamber gives you this honor, it can’t help but be a really affirming experience,” he said, adding that his employees deserve more of the credit for the company’s success. “I’m just the guy who has my name on the door, but everyone in the firm deserves this honor.”

The Judges

The Small Business of the Year Award, given since 1992, is presented by the chamber’s Small Business Council and determined by an independent panel of judges.

Judges for this year’s event were Elizabeth Fletcher, chair of the business department at Evangel University; Ron Bottin, dean of Missouri State University’s College of Business Administration; Ted Amberg, owner of 2006 winner Amberg Entertainment; and Lynn Morris, president of 2007 winner Family Pharmacy. [[In-content Ad]]