Almost half of the St. Louis Cardinals’ 2011 World Series championship roster once played in Springfield. Several more stars of last season’s Texas League championship squad have been promoted to Memphis and are a phone call away from the majors. However, Springfield develops much more than baseball players.
Legendary UCLA just signed former Missouri State University men’s basketball coach Steve Alford (1996–99) to a seven-year, $18.2 million contract and fellow former Bears basketball coach Cuonzo Martin (2008–11) just completed his second season of a five-year, $6.5 million deal with the University of Tennessee. Yet, more than sports figures make career advances through Springfield.
Robert Henley, general manager at University Plaza Hotel, has just accepted the opportunity to manage a much larger hotel in Norfolk, Va. In 18 months, he had completely transformed an aging property by emphasizing local connections and reinvigorating the leadership team. The hotel was recognized a few weeks ago by the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau with the 2013 Hospitality Award for innovations such as the Wednesday night Happy Hour Live, programs offering guests goldfish for their rooms and complimentary bikes to tour the city, and local businesses featured at the Terrace Grille and Tower Club dining venues. Above all, Henley’s leadership provided a genuine interest in reaching out to the community to establish partnerships.
That news came on the heels of losing three nonprofit executives to bigger markets – Matt Morrow of the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield to Birmingham, Ala.; Ryan Nicholls of the Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management to Jefferson City to direct the state’s emergency management agency; and Brad Toft of Ozarks Regional YMCA to Toledo, Ohio, with a YMCA budget three times the size.
The promotions were well deserved, and we will miss each of them for their leadership in the community. Each is an independent acknowledgement that good things are happening in Springfield.
Just as the Cardinals must restock their system in order to achieve sustained excellence, Springfield should always strive to attract, cultivate and, as often as possible, retain outstanding professionals.
Businesses and organizations should always be on the lookout for the next generation of leaders. Obviously, compensation must be competitive and the working conditions remain attractive. But today’s young professionals also focus on where they want to live. They want to have access to street festivals, greenway trails, outdoor activities, quality restaurants, concerts and nightlife. Springfield should continue to do all it can to reinforce its position as the third-largest city in the state by enhancing its metropolitan amenities and walkability.
Greater diversity is an important part of becoming more cosmopolitan. Employers should work with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s young professionals group, The Network, and our colleges to recruit a more diversified workforce. But more than that, the business community must then be welcoming to the newcomers and their families.
Aspiring movers and shakers want to make a difference, and they are eager for new challenges. Craft a new initiative or identify problems for them to address. But take a page from the Cardinals’ farm system and set up your stars for success. Let them experience some wins before advancing to the next level.
There are many opportunities to serve on civic and nonprofit boards, some of which are sure to fall in an area the young professionals are passionate about. It provides another chance to hone skills and make valuable contacts. Also, the more they are connected to a community, the longer they are likely to stay.
Find ways to recognize star performances throughout the organization. Not only is it a reward for them, it can stimulate others and motivate them to hit the next home run.
As a former college coach, commencement was one of my favorite days of the year. It was a time to reminisce on just how much my players had grown during the past four years, the achievements they earned, the experiences we shared and the anticipation of their bright futures.
Springfield will inevitably lose some of its rising stars to bigger markets. However, we can take a great deal of pride in being a place for future champions to reinforce the fundamentals, cultivate a strong work ethic and establish an enduring relationship with the community.
Rusty Worley, executive director of Urban Districts Alliance, can be reached at rusty@itsalldowntown.com.
