Springfield Business Journal kicked off its 35th year in publishing and celebrated the achievements of Queen City businesses and professionals last night during the 15th annual Economic Impact Awards banquet at Ramada Plaza Hotel & Oasis Convention Center.
Dr. John Bentley received the Lifetime Achievement in Business Award for his 50 years of service to the Springfield community, resulting in the creation of the Jordan Valley Community Health Center.
"Just imagine if we could take this clinic, this Jordan Valley Community Health Center clinic, and enlarge it, expand it, make it into a larger area, statewide, nationwide," Bentley said. "Just think of what our health care would be. It would be phenomenal."
Top honors also were awarded in four company categories. Paragon Architecture Inc. topped the list in the one to five years in business category; H Design Group LLC was top seed for the six to 15 years in business category; TSI Technology Solutions LLC nabbed the top honor for 16 to 29 years in business; and Mercy Hospital Springfield netted its second award of the night in the 30 plus years in business category.
The Springfield hospital also was honored as Philanthropic Business of the Year, providing more than $73 million in community benefit in 2013.
Springfield Economic Development Director Mary Lilly Smith was honored as Business Advocate of the Year for her work facilitating such projects as development of the Heer's building, and Alisa Lawler, vice president of business development with CU Community Credit Union, took home the Community Involvement Champion Award.
The champagne flowed and the balloons fell as SBJ Publishing Inc. President and Chairwoman Dianne Elizabeth Osis thanked the community for its continued support of SBJ.
"I have a general attitude of gratitude tonight," Osis said, recognizing businesses and staff members.
SBJ will kick off its 35th year in publishing with a special masthead in the July 28 issue – Volume 35, No. 1. The special publication of EIA honorees can be accessed in SBJ's digital edition released this afternoon or in the print edition mailed over the weekend.
The masthead will run as part of a year-long celebration as the company approaches its 35th anniversary in business July 2015.[[In-content Ad]]
