Ozarks Profile: June Lammers

Tell us about your job.

June Lammers is a sales manager for the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. "I am responsible for the association, organization, military reunion and religious markets," she said. She attends several trade shows each year and "targets meeting planners in hopes that they will bring their convention, meeting or event to Spring-field." She said she also attends various group conventions and gives bid presentations to groups to attract their next conventions or events to the city.

What led you to this job?

Lammers' parents both had careers in association management, she said. "When I would attend their conventions as a child, I would always think this is what I want to do when I grow up, I never changed my mind." She graduated from the Hospitality and Restaurant Administration program at SMSU in 1991 and has since worked in the sales departments of various hotels in Springfield. She joined the CVB in 1996.

What are some of your biggest challenges?

"One of my biggest challenges is not currently having a convention center able to accommodate large convention groups," Lammers said. "Many large conventions 5,000 to 10,000 people have inquired about meeting in Springfield due to our location; however, we just don't currently have the facilities to accommodate their entire convention."

What, in your experience, have been some of the city's hottest selling points?

"Definitely the affordability of Springfield when it comes to our lodging facilities, restaurants and attractions," Lammers said. "The friendliness of our local community has always impressed our convention visitors, and our proximity to Branson has often been a major selling point."

Of which group or convention you've brought to Springfield are you most proud?

"That would have to be the 1998 reunion of the United States Marine Raiders," Lammers said. "It was a WWII reunion that I gave the bid for in Spokane, Washing-ton, in 1997. After much campaigning, the membership vote was nearly unanimous to come to Springfield. ... The Raiders were a special group of people that shared their wartime stories with me, and their spirit and patriotism was quite moving. ... I was so excited about winning the bid, I missed my flight home."

What do you anticipate for future convention business in Springfield?

"With the growth of the community, the development of Jordan Valley Park and additional convention space being discussed, I see the convention business on a steady increase for Springfield," Lammers said. "I am excited about these changes and look forward to the day when I can sell the city to larger convention groups."

Please tell us about your family and your interests.

Lammers is originally from Jefferson City, where, she said, most of her family still live. "I am married to my husband, Kent, who is employed with Great Southern Bank. I enjoy aerobics, running with my golden retriever, Jake, reading Patricia Cornwell and attending all of the Springfield-Ozark Mountain Ducks games I can with my husband."