Global candy group moves HQ to Springfield

Springfield got a little sweeter last month when Retail Confectioners International moved its headquarters to town. And the candy group's new executive director had much to say about it.

Kelly Kennedy left her Springfield Symphony development manager job to take the executive director post of RCI, a 92-year-old trade association for more than 500 retail candy makers and suppliers.

Kennedy started Jan. 4, and RCI's Chicago headquarters settled into Springfield on Jan. 28.

Kennedy's connection with the confectioners dates back to 2006, when she served as the liaison between RCI and the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, where Kennedy managed group and convention sales. Partly due to another southwest Missouri connection - Candy House Gourmet Chocolate owner Terry Hicklin - RCI was holding its 2007 national convention at Springfield's University Plaza Convention Center. RCI's board of directors took note of Kennedy's hands-on approach to planning the event; she even traveled to Hershey, Pa., to get a taste of the 2006 event.

"Of all the cities we've been to (for our national convention) in the nine years I've been with the organization, Springfield was the only CVB that really got involved in making the experience really good," said Hicklin of Joplin-based Candy House. "Our members, when they met her, commented that if we ever made a change, she'd be a great person to have."

Kennedy, who had stints with InterContinental and Hilton hotels, was interested in the job. "I wasn't interested in a move," she said.

"As part of the interview process, they talked about the prospect of moving the office, and when they started to see numbers about what the savings would be, it became clear that was what they wanted to do," she added.

RCI board member Hicklin said the association pays about a third of its former rent payment for its 600-square-foot space at 2053 S. Waverly St., Ste. C, though Kennedy declined to disclose the lease rate. Simson Investments LP led by Joe Carmichael owns the Waverly office, where Kennedy and office manager Kim Krueger run shop.

Hicklin said the organization also enjoys substantial savings on other monthly bills such as phone service and insurance.

CVB Executive Director Tracy Kimberlin said he hopes other groups will take notice of the cost savings available by locating in Springfield.

"Springfield is very affordable, especially compared to major metropolitan areas like Chicago. We hear that from groups all the time," Kimberlin said. "This area can offer a lot more visibility for groups like this, at much lower cost."

Kennedy said those savings are crucial for RCI, a 501(c)6 nonprofit that relies on member dues and cost sharing with the cities that host its four to six regional conventions each year.

Another factor in the decision to move was Ad Systems Inc., a Joplin-based marketing company that has worked for four years with RCI, primarily publishing its bimonthly newsletter.

"This move allows us to have sit-down, face-to-face meetings (with Ad Systems), which are a lot easier when you're laying out publications," Kennedy said.

Kennedy's former boss, Kimberlin, hopes that having the international group in Springfield opens up the possibility of future RCI events in town.

"Springfield is going to be front and center with the group," Kimberlin said. "We've hosted (RCI's) national event here, and we'd love to host it many times in the future."

Kennedy said RCI's national and regional conventions probably won't be in Springfield in the near future, because the group rotates its events to be near more of its members. However, she said the decision to move to the Queen City is indicative of the success of efforts to raise the city's visibility.

"This is a representation of that vitality in Springfield, showing we have a city that is very vibrant and growing," Kennedy said. "It adds some credibility ... showing that organizations like ours want to be here and can operate out of Springfield."

Her first order of business: help plan RCI's April 19-23 regional conference in Savannah, Ga.