Heart of America names new president

Heart of America Beverage Co. today installed a new president, a next-generation family leader in the company.

Mindy Hoff was promoted to the role after working the past five years as principal for the distributor of alcohol and other beverages, according to a news release.

Hoff said she would work to bring "more excitement" to an industry that's been harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think a lot of people are hurting right now, especially our bars and restaurants,” she said in the release. “If I can be one piece to help our customers regain a lot of the business they lost during COVID, I would consider my work a success.”

Hoff succeeds her brother, Harwood Ferguson, who is now a principal at the company after a roughly five-year stint as president, she said via email this morning. Lance Foresee is Heart of America's CEO.

The president role previously was held for nearly 40 years by her father, company founder Jim Ferguson.

"When I became the Coors distributor in Springfield in 1978, I never thought I'd be here today watching my daughter start to take over as president of our community," said Jim Ferguson, who is now the company's chair, in a provided statement. "I realized my dream. Now, I am getting to watch Mindy build her own and lead our business to new heights."

Heart of America produces annual revenues ranging from $75 million to $100 million and ships over 4 million cases of product per year, said Hoff. Molson Coors is the company's No. 1 supplier, she added.

Hoff said another goal at the company is to raise its workforce. She said the 191-employee company typically runs a workforce over 200 but is currently facing staffing shortages like other businesses.

Springfield-based Heart of America distributes in Greene and 19 other southwest Missouri counties, according to its website.