Ozarks Profile

President and chief executive officer of Hammons Products Co. in Stockton. Hammons Products got its start in 1946, when Hammons' grandfather, Ralph Hammons, began buying local black walnuts and selling the nutmeats under the name Missouri Dandy as an extension of his grocery store business in Stockton. The company now buys black walnuts hand-picked by people in Missouri and 11 other states and sells the nutmeats as a food ingredient and the ground shells for industrial uses. Hammons Products employs about 100 people year-round and an additional 30 to 50 in the fall. After graduating from Southwest Missouri State University in 1980, Hammons worked full-time for the company, with the exception of three years in law school and one year practicing law. Hammons became president of Hammons Products in 1997 and CEO in 1999. He is a member of the International Tree Nut Council, the Missouri Bar Association, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Stockton Area Chamber of Commerce, Missouri Chamber of Commerce and the Stockton Lions Club.

Age: 41

No. of years in Springfield/area: Hammons has lived in Springfield or Stockton all of his life except for six years in Texas and one in Kansas City.

Education: Hammons graduated from Stockton High School in 1974 and went on to receive a bachelor's degree in marketing from SMSU in 1980. He received his juris doctorate from Southern Methodist University in 1985.

Early career: Hammons' first job after high school was as a dishwasher in a restaurant. He began working in the plant in 1974 doing summer maintenance. Jobs during college included a summer working at Silver Dollar City, church youth director and accounting and computer work. "In our business, I have headed our sales and marketing to promote black walnuts and have assisted in general company management, employee benefits and strategic planning. Over the years, Dad shared with me everything he could about the business. I was also president of the company's Ellis Pecan division in Texas from 1993 to 1996, which gave me good experience in all phases of running a nut business."

Current projects: "This fall's priority is buying a large crop of nuts, then beginning production in a recently expanded plant after a long layoff and taking care of customers' heavy fall needs. Long-term, we plan to continue looking for better ways to hull, dry, store and process black walnuts, as well as promote increasing use of nutmeats, nut shells and other parts of the black walnut."

Management philosophy: "Clearly set out the mission and goals that you expect people to help achieve, listen for their ideas, share responsibility and praise and maintain the highest integrity."

Spare-time pursuits: Hammons runs 25 to 30 miles per week, with a few local road races and the occasional marathon. He also helps in various capacities with the United Methodist Church, including choir and assisting with youth activities. "Every now and then I play golf and in the fall sometimes hunt with my dad."

Family data: Hammons and his wife Kim have been married 19 years. They have three children: April, 16, a sophomore at Glendale High School, David, 14, an eighth-grader at Pershing Middle School and Adam, 9, a fourth-grader at Wilder Elementary School.