Ozarks Profile

General manager, Highland Springs Country Club Inc., 5400 Highland Springs Blvd. Developed by John Q. Hammons Industries in 1989, Highland Springs is a private golf, tennis and social club. Hammons purchased the land for Highland Springs 20 years before construction began with the foresight that the area would be the site of the next premier country club in Springfield. The 18-hole golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones II, is ranked by Golf Digest as the No. 6 golf course in Missouri. The 42,000-square-foot clubhouse is the focal point of the 600-acre Highland Springs community. Stahlman, who was one of the first employees hired at Highland Springs, began as the assistant general manager and was responsible for hiring all of the initial front-of-the-house staff and setting up the first menus, training manuals and procedures. Stahlman is a member of the Club Managers Association of America and a past board member of the Missouri Restaurant Association.

Age: 35

No. of years in Springfield/area: 35

Education: Stahlman graduated from Kickapoo High School in 1982 and attended Southwest Missouri State University.

Early career: "At the age of 15, I began my first job in the food and beverage industry, which is probably what directed my career in this business from the beginning." Stahlman's first job was at Riverside Inn in Ozark, where he did a little of everything. In 1983, when University Plaza opened, Stahlman worked as a captain in John Q's Fine Dining. He moved to assistant manager after working in John Q's for a few years, and he became manager in 1986. "Several nights a week, I also served as manager on duty for the 271-room hotel, with responsibilities of overall management of the hotel, two restaurants, lounge and the 1,500-seat banquet facility." Stahlman left in 1989 to become the assistant general manager at Highland Springs. In July 1995, he left Highland Springs to become the club manager at Millwood Golf and Racquet Club and help in the initial clubhouse planning. Less than a year later, he returned to Highland Springs as the general manager.

Current projects: Stahlman is working on preparing Highland Springs' 2000 budgets and capital expenses, including the planning budgets for the golf course and clubhouse. He is also implementing new lunch, dinner and banquet menus and completing 1999 projects.

Management philosophy: "I wouldn't ask anyone to do anything I wouldn't do myself. In catering to a clientele who have been to many places and seen many things, it's important in the club environment to exceed member expectations, and our staff maintains the motto: 'never say no.' We try to create a fun, family-oriented atmosphere for both the members and the staff."

Spare-time pursuits: Stahlman spends time golfing, biking, playing racquetball, riding his motorcycle, going to the lake and on annual hunting trips with his dad, surfing the Web, going someplace warm in January and cooking out.

Family data: Single