International Division Inc. founder Forest Lipscomb Jr. died Feb. 27 at the age of 88. Lipscomb had been suffering from throat cancer and late last year sold the Springfield-based company, more commonly known as InDiv, to eight employees, with majority shareholder Jose Sala taking over as president.
Lipscomb was known for being a worldwide traveler, often racking up more than 100,000 miles annually until last year, according to his obituary in the Springfield News-Leader. His career began at Lipscomb Grain & Seed Co., where he later was president, and he was a co-founder of So-Lo Markets.Lipscomb started InDiv in Trinidad, West Indies, in 1958 and incorporated it in the U.S. in 1964. The company exports poultry farming equipment to customers primarily in Mexico, South America and parts of Asia. Lipscomb's travels took him to Cuba, where he met with Fidel Castro on a presidential trade mission in 1977, according to his obituary. He also was one of the first American businessmen allowed into China when it opened up for trade in 1979. The U.S. Secretary of Commerce awarded InDiv with the "E" certificate for exports in 1973 and the "E" star award for commerce in 1977.
The Repurposed Café
John Q. Hammons Hotels and Resorts has completed renovations on The Café, formerly a restaurant space next to its Courtyard by Marriott, 3527 W. Kearney St., near the Springfield-Branson National Airport.
The restaurant closed in November and reopened in late February as a banquet and meeting facility after the company spent an undisclosed amount on mostly cosmetic changes to the building's interior, including new carpet and wallpaper.
Courtyard General Manager Darren Harralson said the changes make the space better suited to the hotel's needs. The Café can accommodate up to 250 people, an increase of about 25 percent from its previous capacity, Harralson said.
The facility can also be split into smaller spaces, allowing for simultaneous events.
Nuclear Power Point Presentation
While City Utilities looks at ways to update communication abilities with its customers (page 5), two environmental groups are examining a potential source of cleaner energy. The Greater Ozarks Audubon Society and the White River Group of the Sierra Club present "Revisiting Nuclear Power" on March 17 at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, 4600 S. Chrisman Ave. The groups say that nuclear power, long considered too costly and risky to rely on for new energy generation, is being reconsidered in an effort to avoid potential regulation of carbon dioxide. The forum features speaker Mark Haim, co-founder of Missourians for Safe Energy. Haim argues that nuclear power, while creating less carbon dioxide than coal, is more dangerous.[[In-content Ad]]
April 7 was the official opening day for Mexican-Italian fusion restaurant Show Me Chuy after a soft launch that started March 31; marketing agency AdZen debuted; and the Almighty Sando Shop opened a brick-and-mortar space.
