Elmquist lands job at Branson chamber/CVB

Kirk Elmquist is now vice president of sports development for the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Businessman Kirk Elmquist has a new gig after recently exiting a high-profile sports position.

Elmquist started Nov. 18 as vice president of sports development for the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & Convention and Visitors Bureau, said Jeff Seifried, the organization’s president and CEO.

“I was encouraged by his wealth of knowledge in all things sports,” Seifried said.

Elmquist most recently served as tournament director for Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge. Bass Pro last month announced it would not renew its sponsorship of the PGA Tour’s Legends of Golf circuit and therefore eliminated Elmquist’s position, Springfield Business Journal previously reported.

Elmquist said “good networking relationships” led to him quickly getting a new job at the Branson chamber and CVB.

“It’s a new journey, and I’m very excited to stay in the industry that I’m most familiar with,” Elmquist said.

The vice president of sports development role is new for the Branson chamber and CVB, though the organization has a sports department with two employees, Seifried said.

Led by Elmquist, the sports team will work on bringing fishing, boat racing and baseball tournaments, among other sports events, to the tourist market.

“The team manages all of those opportunities and then goes out and sells Branson,” Seifried said.

A native of Lima, Ohio, Elmquist moved to Springfield in 1997 to work as associate executive director for the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, according to SBJ archives. He’d later go on to become one of the founding front office team members of the Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field. His career also has included a stint at Millwood Golf and Racquet Club and roughly five years with the company formerly known as Morelock-Ross Builders Inc.