Overheard

Springfield Business Journal snagged two industry awards at the Sept. 13 Missouri Press Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest ceremony in Columbia. SBJ garnered a first-place plaque for Best Web Site and a second-place certificate for Best Local Business Coverage, behind St. Louis Business Journal. Judges called SBJ’s Web site, sbj.net, “easy to navigate; boxes of info easy to manipulate; not overwhelming; like online poll; ... advertising not too overwhelming.” About the business coverage, judges said, "good use of graphics to help tell stories. ... Also, overall good use of the sidebars and nontraditional story forms. Very much like the interactive component of the ‘Eyes & Ears’' column.”

Taxidermy on the Move

Caribou, sharks and a long-extinct Planes Elk skull were among more than 25,000 square feet of museum wildlife exhibits recently moved by Fry-Wagner Moving & Storage for the Bass Pro Shops Wildlife Museum. The relocation involved more than 900 taxidermy animals and was carried off without a hitch by 14 Fry-Wagner team members over 27 days. The items were moved into Bass Pro Shop’s trailers and off-site storage while the museum space in the Outdoor World undergoes renovations. Among the more interesting exhibits were more than 300 buck mounts, including nearly 90 that are King of Buck World Record White Tail Deer; the 500- to 1,000-year-old Planes Elk skull; and a replica of the largest shark ever caught on rod and reel, measuring 18 feet, 8 inches. This was Fry-Wagner’s second opportunity to relocate the shark, as the agency was contracted years ago to move the replica to Missouri from its original home in Florida.

Bye-bye Lunch Hour

How long is your average lunch break? If it is more than 35 minutes, you are above the norm for U.S. executives. According to a recent survey developed by OfficeTeam, the average executive’s lunch break has shrunk to 35 minutes, down seven minutes from a survey conducted in 2003. Polled managers also admitted they work through lunch more than half of the workweek. The survey was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with 150 randomly selected senior executives at the 1,000 largest American companies.

“In today’s 24/7 workplace, a lunch break often takes a back seat to e-mails, phone calls, meetings and pressing deadlines,” said Dave Willmer, executive director of OfficeTeam, a California-based staffing firm. “Many people are doing more work with fewer resources and, therefore, putting in more time at their desks.”

What does this mean to you? Willmer cautioned that professionals need time away from their desks to recharge and remain productive. “Managers set an example for their staff,” he added. “If they don’t take a break for lunch, their employees may feel inclined to do the same.”

Take the advice: Take a break.

Slice of Nice

Estate Publishers Ltd. raised more than $800 for Children’s Miracle Network during its “A Tour of Missouri Wineries” book release and wine tasting Aug. 15 at PFI Western Store’s Diamond Ridge Market. Nearly 200 guests helped raise funds that will be used to provide health care, research and education for children in the Springfield area.[[In-content Ad]]