Overheard

The Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau has learned that construction plans on the former arena site in downtown Springfield have deterred one of its larger convention-type events from coming to town. The Gold Wing Road Riders Association was scheduled to hold its 2008 Wing Ding in Springfield but is moving to an alternate city, according to the CVB’s May newsletter.

“The move is due to the potential for construction on the vacant lot next to the Expo Center and the announcement that Hammons Hotels was planning to build a hotel on the parking lot in front of University Plaza Convention Center,” the newsletter states. The Gold Wing group planned to use a village theme, tying together the vacant lot, UP, the Expo and Jordan Valley Ice Park. The Wing Ding brought nearly 12,000 people here in July 1999, which still stands as the record July for room demand in the city. “This is an unfortunate loss for Springfield and southwest Missouri,” the newsletter reads.

Liberty Bank Date Moves

Michele Osborn and Springfield-based Liberty Bank are scheduled to go into mediation June 1. The date was postponed from April 19. Former financial adviser Osborn alleges her ex-supervisor, Phil Wannenmacher, manager of Liberty Investment Services Inc., discriminated against her and sexually harassed her between February 2003 and February 2006. Osborn and her attorney, Denise Anderson of Kansas City, filed a charge of discrimination with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last April. The two sides decided in February to enter mediation even though EEOC is still conducting an investigation.

More Women-owned Firms

Missouri has emerged as a leader in its growing number of women-owned businesses compared to the rest of the country, according to a recent report by the Center for Women’s Business Research. The state showed a 46.7 percent increase in women-owned businesses between 1997 and 2006, outpacing the national growth rate of 42.3 percent. With 141,986 women-owned businesses, Missouri ranks 18th in the country. Among those firms, Missouri ranked 14th in both employment, which totaled 152,782, and sales, which totaled $22.8 million.

OTC & Mercury Marine

Mercury Marine has signed on to lease space from Ozarks Technical Community College to house employee training through the school’s work force development division. The Camdenton boat manufacturer will enter a sublease agreement for space at the former West Plains Veterinary Supply building, 614 N. Washington Ave. off of Chestnut Expressway. OTC leases the building from Chestnut Expressway Properties LLC. OTC will coordinate and conduct training on an as-needed basis at the facility with Mercury Marine employees, who will provide and maintain all equipment. Remaining space will be used for leadership and management training, specialized welding training and the school’s construction readiness program, set to debut May 23. Enrollment ends May 16.[[In-content Ad]]