Ozarks Profile: Bob Simpson

Bob Simpson

Director, Job Council of the Ozarks, 1514 S. Glenstone, in the Glen Isle Shopping Center. Job Council is the Workforce Development Department for the city of Springfield with responsibility to work in collaboration with business, labor, education, community groups and other government agencies to offer employment and training services to unemployed, often unskilled, workers throughout Christian, Dallas, Greene, Polk, Stone, Taney and Webster counties. Along with its interagency partners, the department supports a one-stop career center which provides training and retraining opportunities, workshops, GED preparation, vocational exploration and career guidelines, as well as a Job Club. Outreach to area employers is also an important element of center operations. Simpson is a member of the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals, a minister-member of the John Calvin Presbytery, serves on the the board of directors for The Kitchen Inc. and is the president of Training and Employment Administrators of Missouri.

Age: 61

No. years in Springfield/area: 7

Education: Simpson holds a bachelor of arts degree from Wheaton College in Illinois, a master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey and a master of organization development degree from Pepperdine University in California.

Early career: Following Seminary, Simpson served an initial stint as a teacher of English and religion in private secondary schools. He also coached football and basketball and won a New Jersey prep school state championship with one of his basketball teams. He went on to direct a United Way agency in St. Louis, worked as a therapist at the Masters and Johnson Institute, developed a private practice in marriage and family counseling, and before moving to Springfield, was a human resources executive in the aerospace industry. Simpson has also served several churches as interim minister, including First and Calvary Presbyterian Church, where he was a staff associate for a year before accepting the position with Job Council.

Current projects: Simpson and the Job Council staff are consumed with laying the foundation for making the transition to a new set of program requirements and performance standards that will become operative with the implementation of the Workforce Investment Act July 1.

Management philosophy: "Because I believe managing is a lot like coaching, my philosophy is pretty simple: Find some good players, teach them your game plan, drill them on the fundamentals of the game, and then get out of the way and let them play. On the playing field and in the workplace, I believe concentration and anticipation are the keys to success."

Spare-time pursuits: "Basketball, books and country music are three of my passions, so the Springfield/Branson area is a perfect place for me."

Family data: Simpson is married to Judy, his high school sweetheart from Peoria, Ill. They have three children: Sandie, Becky and Scott, and five grandchildren.