No. 3: High-profile exits announced across multiple industries

A series of high-profile exits announced this year impacted multiple industries.

Among them are education industry executives, nonprofit heads, chamber officers and leaders in municipal government, architecture and engineering, and manufacturing.

Clif Smart, who has led Missouri State University since 2011, is set to retire from the school in summer 2024.

“It has been my greatest honor to serve as president of Missouri State University,” said Smart, who started at MSU as its general counsel in 2007 after a 20-year legal career.

A national search is being conducted for his successor.

At Drury University, officials announced in March the sudden resignation of President Tim Cloyd over “family health concerns.” Cloyd, who had led Drury since summer 2016, was succeeded on an interim basis by John Beuerlein, a financial analyst and philanthropist who is a nonvoting life trustee member at Drury after previously serving on the board 1991-2011.

Chris Bauman, the superintendent of the Ozark School District for five years, retired from the district over the summer. He cited plans to spend more time with family.

In the final month of the year, the Ozark board chose interim superintendent Lori Wilson as the district’s permanent leader. She previously served as its assistant superintendent of business and chief financial officer.

In the nonprofit sector, Brian Fogle at midyear signaled his retirement plans from Community Foundation of the Ozark Inc, where he’s served as CFO’s president since 2008. Winter Kinne, an 18-year veteran of the nonprofit, has since been appointed as Fogle’s successor.

The search is ongoing to find a successor for Brandi Bartel, the former executive director of The Victim Center Inc. A 19-year employee of the organization, she exited this year to spend more time with family.

Several high-ranking chamber officials left their roles in 2023.

Jason Outman exited in March after a two-year stint as president and CEO of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau. Pamela Yancey, formerly of Arvest Bank, started in December as the Branson chamber’s new leader.

At the Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce, five-year President Chris Russell stepped down “due to personal reasons” in March. Whitney Guison, co-owner of Simply Chiropractic, was named president and CEO in late summer.

Outside of Springfield, economic development specialist Gail Noggle retired in June. She most recently served as president and CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of Bolivar and Polk County. Her successor has not yet been named.

In architecture and engineering, Toth and Associates Inc. co-founder Lou Toth and Geoffrey Butler, the founder of 45-year-old Springfield architectural firm BRP Architects, set retirements this year.

And in manufacturing, Hiland Dairy Foods Co. LLC leader Gary Aggus stepped down in April after 20 years leading the company. He was succeeded by Rick Beaman, a company employee since 2012.