An international philanthropist, author and women’s equality advocate will receive Springfield Business Journal’s annual Lifetime Achievement in Business Award.
Nancy O’Reilly was selected by an independent panel of judges to receive the honor during SBJ’s 2021 Economic Impact Awards in July. The award recognizes a career of excellence in business and impact on the community.
O’Reilly has worked as a clinical psychologist for three decades and more recently founded the Women Connect4Good Inc. foundation to further the cause of women’s empowerment. In addition to leading the social nonprofit as president, she also travels for speaking engagements and writes books on the topic. O’Reilly’s latest is “In This Together: How Successful Women Support Each Other in Business and Life,” published in 2019. Last year, she was recognized by the National Women’s History Museum with a Women Making History Award.
SBJ’s 21st annual Economic Impact Awards will present additional individual and corporate honors: Missouri Small Business Development Center as Business Advocate of the Year; O’Reilly Automotive Inc. (Nasdaq: ORLY) as Philanthropic Business of the Year; Laura Farmer, executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southwest Missouri, as Community Involvement Champion; Don Helms, co-owner of Munchie Mo’s Sauces LLC, as Entrepreneur of the Year; and Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri Inc. as Charitable Nonprofit of the Year.
Economic impact honors also will be announced in five categories based on years in business. Finalists, in alphabetical order, are:
- Pitt Technology Group LLC, Pure & Clean LLC and TheraCare Outpatient Services LLC, in the 1-7 years in business category;
- Crawford, Murphy & Tilly Inc., Hurts Donut Co. and Phoenix Home Care and Hospice, for 8-15 years in business;
- Abacus CPAs LLC, Jordan Valley Community Health Center and Pearson-Kelly Technology, for 16-29 years in business;
- CASA of Southwest Missouri, Central Bank of the Ozarks and Citizens Memorial Hospital, for 30-74 years in business; and
- College of the Ozarks, CoxHealth and Mercy, for over 75 years in business.
Find more information about the event at SBJ.net/EIA.