Opinion: SBJ awards programs reflect market's DNA

I look at Springfield Business Journal’s Men of the Year cover, and I see a whole lot of white guys staring back at me.

I look at our upcoming class of Most Influential Women, and I see many Springfield-based entities represented and very few outside of the city.

I look at our city, and I see the region’s heartbeat for commerce, and I see 88.7 percent Caucasian.

The latter is a review of census data.

Where is the diversity? I ask it, and you ask it.

One of the great things about the communication business is that it goes two ways. This year, we’ve heard constructive criticism about a lack of diversity in our professional awards, particularly in race and geography.

As SBJ’s editorial director, I have the same concerns. I also see the awards as a fair representation of our city and, in particular, our business demographics. SBJ covers business-to-business news in a 50-mile radius of the city. Our awards cover the same geographic area.

From a mere population standpoint, that’s a pool of nearly 680,000 people, according to data collected by the Springfield Business Development Corp. However, narrowing that to businesspeople with careers and achievements meeting the awards criteria, the pool becomes much smaller.

Now, let’s consider Springfield’s daytime population. The city of 165,000 balloons to nearly 250,000 people during business hours. Commuters from surrounding counties average 25-30 minute drives, and much of that traffic flows into Springfield.

By virtue, then, more Springfield businesses are going to be represented in the awards, even though the recipients might live in bedroom communities. That’s where their community involvement highlights civic and nonprofit work in their respective hometowns. On the surface, though, it might look like only companies in Springfield are getting recognized.

Reviewing the numbers from the recent Most Influential Women awards cycle, nominations for businesswomen who work at Springfield businesses outnumbered those from all other cities by a 3-1 margin. The applications returned at about that same rate.

Here’s where I point out the obvious: If you want to see a change in the awards results, get engaged. And you can. Nominate someone. Your banker in Nixa or insurance agent in Rogersville has really impressed you? Look at our list of awards at SBJ.net/events to find the appropriate place of recognition. You had a remarkable experience with a doctor of international descent? Go to SBJ.net/healthcare to nominate them for Health Care Champions. You think you know a younger candidate for Men of the Year? Fill out the brief form at SBJ.net/MOTY. (Note: The individual making the nomination is always held in confidence.)

Then, should you receive one, complete the application. The businesspeople throughout the Springfield area drive these awards.

SBJ essentially acts as a clearinghouse for the awards nomination, application and selection process.

These annual awards are not popularity contests, though you can find those in our city. There’s a defined process. SBJ staff members select respected professionals to serve as a third-party judging panel for each award. Then, we solicit nominations and send applications to all who have been nominated. All returned applications are organized and turned over to the judges for their scoring. Once scored, SBJ staff crunches the numbers to determine the honorees.

The outcomes of the judging become front and center when our newsroom staff picks up the baton and writes about the honorees’ careers.

When I think about what SBJ can do about the diversity matters, the key point is in selecting judges. We recognize that and commit to searching out panels that are well-rounded by industry, race, gender and city. Increasing diversity among the judges can only help in producing more diverse recipients – without forsaking quality.

We’d be foolish not to listen to our readers. I want you to know we’re listening. There’s just no silver bullet answer for immediate results. It requires interaction.

I am confident there are diverse professionals out there deserving of these awards. Let’s work together to connect with them and help improve talent attraction and retention in our area. We look forward to a more widely diverse community and SBJ’s awards reflecting the changes.

Springfield Business Journal Editor Eric Olson can be reached at eolson@sbj.net.