Ozarks Profile

Managing broker for the Highland Springs office of Carol Jones, Realtors, 5000 Highland Springs Blvd. Carol Jones began Carol Jones, Realtors, in the spring of 1983 with five agents who worked out of the kitchen in her home. Carol Jones, Realtors, now employs 280 agents in nine locations in southwest Missouri and reported more than $348 million in gross sales in 1998. Crosby joined Carol Jones, Realtors, in the fall of 1983 as an agent. She later earned her broker's license and became the managing broker for the Highland Springs office in 1991. She is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Club and the Multi-Million Dollar Club, and a member of the Carol Jones, Realtors, President's Club and the Springfield Board of Realtors. Crosby also serves on the Southwest Missouri State University College of Arts and Letters Advisory Council, the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts Advisory Council and the Springfield Ballet Board of Directors. In 1991, she was the recipient of the Springfield Area Arts Council's "Ozzie" award.

No. of years in Springfield/area: 36

Education: Crosby graduated from Carrollton High School in Carrollton.

Early career: Crosby's first job was working in a drug store beginning in eighth grade and continuing through high school. After graduating high school, she took a position at KMBC-TV in Kansas City as an assistant film director. After moving to Springfield in 1963, Crosby was a full-time wife and mother, raising four children while serving as the executive secretary for Springfield Little Theatre and later, the general manager for the Springfield Regional Opera. In 1983, Crosby began her career in real estate, choosing the field because she still had a young son at home and needed flexible hours and a career where earnings would reflect the dedication, time and service given.

Current projects: Crosby is involved in the Ala Carte series for SMSU's College of Arts and Letters, Nutcracker 2000 for the Springfield Ballet and the Play Reading Committee for Springfield Little Theatre. She is also a member of SMSU's Literary Society's 18th Century Realism group.

Management philosophy: As an individual who has purchased and sold homes of her own, Crosby said she understands that the most important service a Realtor can give to a client is to listen carefully to each client's specific needs and also to know the current market.

Spare-time pursuits: Crosby said she loves to read and travel whenever possible, especially to New York or London, and spend time with her family.

Family data: Crosby is married to Dr. Jim Jameson, a retired orthopedic surgeon and active computer and jazz buff. She has four children, Kerry, who does advertising and sales for a furniture broker