Overheard

After three issues of Springfield Business Journal’s sister publication Joplin Tri-State Business, it’s clear that federal contract business is hopping in that corner of Missouri. For instance, earlier this month Joplin-based Gestalt LLC signed a $7 million defense contract to help build the U.S. Air Force’s next generation of command and control software. The new software is said to give field officers and soldiers access to the same information that is now available only to generals. And St. Louis-based LaBarge Inc. is expanding its Joplin operations by 60 jobs this year in order to produce cable assemblies for the defense and aerospace industries. The Joplin plant recorded $41 million of the company’s $182 million in 2005 revenues.

One Down, Five To Go

It’s not the way they thought it’d happen, but the Ozarks Technical Community College board has narrowed its presidential candidates to five. Luke Robins withdrew from the race May 11, after accepting Louisiana Delta Community College’s chancellor position. The five remaining finalists are: Brian King, president of Cabrillo College in Aptos, Calif.; Hal Higdon, vice president for administration of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, Miss.; Greg Rutherford, vice president and dean for economic and work force development and director of Regional High Technology Center at Haywood Community College in Clyde, N.C.; Peter Sireno, president of Darton College in Albany, Ga.; and Bob Shackleford, vice president for student development at Rockingham Community College in Wentworth, N.C. At press time, school officials were midway through interviews. OTC expects to fill the position by the end of May, before founding president Norman Myers retires June 30.

Best Buy: SLS

SLS International Inc.’s products have hit Best Buy shelves. The Ozark-based speaker manufacturer earlier this month debuted its Q-Line Gold System at 618 Best Buy stores across the country. The system, developed with Grammy-winner Quincy Jones, retails for $799.

Next up for SLS: “The Apprentice.” SLS products will appear on the June 5 season finale of the NBC reality show.

Interesting Ad

Interesting: a Wall Street Journal advertisement announcing its advertising revenues. The April 24 edition has a full-page ad touting its top-ranked performance versus 252 other national publications, according to research by CMR. It’s no surprise that national newspaper ad revenues have weakened, but WSJ appears to be OK. Its $292 million sold year-to-date in March is $49 million more than it was in 2005. Ad revenues at U.S.A. Today, Time, Fortune and Business Week are all in the red at this point. In the black are Newsweek, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report and Money.

Slice of Nice

Victory Mission Thrift Store is asking for your socks and underwear. Throughout the month of May, the mission is running its “Socks ‘n’ Skivvies” campaign to collect new undergarments for men and women of all ages and sizes. The store will accept donations all month; there is also a drop-off event May 20, when visitors can drop off donations from 10 a.m.–noon at the warehouse, 1315 W. Chestnut Expressway. [[In-content Ad]]