Ozarks Profile

Director, Traffic Safety Alliance of the Ozarks and president of the Missouri Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs Inc. The Traffic Safety Alliance began in 1983 when the Springfield Police Department approached the Missouri Division of Highway Safety for funding to conduct overtime DWI enforcement. As a result, the Community Alcohol Safety Effort was established. The focus of CASE grew to include other traffic safety issues such as safety belts, child safety seats, bicycle safety, motorcycle safety and more. After a few years, the name was changed, first to Community Action Safety Effort, then to Traffic Safety Alliance of the Ozarks, to better reflect the purpose of the program. The Traffic Safety Alliance is now funded by the Missouri Division of Highway Safety and the city of Springfield, and its mission is to reduce the number of traffic accidents by creating a network of agencies involved in traffic safety, and to increase recognition of traffic safety issues. Biggs began with the Traffic Safety Alliance in 1989 as its only employee and saw the transition to a community traffic safety program, and then to a safe communities program. Biggs is a member and past officer of the Greater Ozarks Business and Professional Women's Organization and the Springfield Safe Kids Coalition, a member and past board member of the Springfield-Greene County League of Women Voters, a Class II graduate of Leadership Springfield and a member of Leadership Springfield Alumni Association, and a member of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Springfield DWI Task Force.

Age: 42

No. of years in Springfield/area: 20

Education: Biggs graduated from Jefferson City Senior High School in 1975, received a bachelor's degree in geography in 1979 and a master's of public administration in 1990, both from Southwest Missouri State University.

Early career: Biggs' first job out of high school was as a clerk with the Missouri Department of Revenue in Jefferson City. She worked this job while home during the summer from SMSU. After receiving her bachelor's in 1979, she began working for the city of Springfield Planning Department as a ride-share coordinator, developing a local carpool program. When this grant-funded position ended after three years, she became director of the local office of the National Health Screening Council of Volunteer Organizations, which organized and conducted health screenings for the public. After a year, Biggs went to work for the Job Council of the Ozarks, managing its Branson office and working with local agencies and businesses in placing individuals in job training programs. Biggs was with the Job Council for about four years before accepting her current position with the Traffic Safety Alliance.

Current projects: Biggs is working on organizing the Team Spirit Leadership Training Conference a week-long conference designed to empower youth to take an active role in traffic safety issues, including preventing alcohol and other drug use. The goal is to provide participants with motivation, leadership skills and information. As president of the Missouri Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs Inc., Biggs is working on the Leadership Conference, district conferences and is gearing up for the legislative session to lobby for pay equity, the Missouri Equal Rights Amendment and Social Security reform.

Management philosophy: "Teamwork, and being willing to do whatever it takes. In a small office, I have to be willing and ready to do anything it takes to get the job done. We have a reputation of coordinating and implementing programs that are well-organized, thought-out and successful, and it takes teamwork to make that happen."

Spare-time pursuits: "Spending time with my family, and Business and Professional Women's Organization activities."

Family data: Biggs is married to Mark Biggs, a professor of mass media at SMSU. The Biggses have a 3-year-old son, Wyatt.

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