Gloria Roling, program coordinator, community development/special events and executive director, Leadership Springfield, Springfield Chamber of Commerce

Promoting active participation in not only the current Leadership class but also among the almost 600 graduates of Leadership Springfield. Providing the coordination of activities and procedures allows Leadership Springfield to offer a high-quality, stable program to 30 new community leaders and 30 high school students each year.

These graduates strengthen their leadership skills, broaden understanding of local issues and build mentoring relationships with business leaders. It would be difficult to find a nonprofit board of directors in Springfield that does not contain at least one Leadership Springfield graduate.

What is Leadership Springfield?

Leadership Springfield’s mission is to pool willing people and combine their expertise into a resource leading the community in a positive direction. In the early 1980s, volunteerism was at an all-time low in Springfield. There was a general thought in the community that a program to train leaders was greatly needed. In 1984, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Junior League of Springfield and United Way joined forces to research a leadership program for Springfield. From this process, Leadership Springfield was born.

Regarding Leadership Springfield, you noted that many graduates are in small business. Why is it important that businesses, regardless of size, and businesspeople find a way to give back to the community?

Leadership Springfield reaffirms the value in giving back to the community and how improving the quality of life for one benefits all, no matter whether they work for a large or small organization. How do you help members get the most out of their chamber involvement?

I encourage active membership volunteers to serve on committees or task forces that address special challenges affecting the Springfield area as a place to live, work and do business.

I try to personally welcome and call members by their first names, thus letting them know how important they are to us and the community. We want them to … be enthusiastic about their chamber investment.

Tell us about your family and your spare-time interests.

My husband, David, has been a true blessing in my life. He and I share lots of interests and projects. We have five grown children and six grandchildren that keep us in smiles and always looking forward to our time together. Unfortunately, they all live away, so we find as many weekends as we can to visit. We enjoy restoring older homes and antiquing, so we purchased a bed and breakfast that needed our vision and lots of elbow grease. After realizing that it was a bigger project than either one of us needed, we now enjoy entertaining and searching for a new, less labor-intensive project. We do have lots of bedrooms and baths to accommodate the family troops when they come.

My parents owned the Studebaker dealership in my hometown and they graciously passed us the family-owned Golden Hawk. David was hooked immediately and thought that we needed more. We now have three Studebakers and are always looking for more garages, but I’m standing my ground at three. My parents moved to Springfield two years ago and have been a constant support when David and I get into a project over our heads.

What’s the last good book you read, and why did you like it?

The only time that I allow myself the luxury to read, because of the lack of spare time, is when my husband and I are on vacation. Choosing a good book to read is always one of the first things I do, except for our last trip. I just happened to observe someone reading, “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” in the airport. I read it as soon as I could and simultaneously my husband and I both related to the personal message. We have not only shared a copy with all of our children but also established our own goals that we have put in action for our retirement.

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