Ozarks Profile: Lisa D. Nally

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Lisa D. Nally|ret||ret||tab|

Vice president of community development and special events, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, 202 S. John Q. Hammons Pkwy. The Chamber of Commerce is an advocate of business, working to assist existing businesses, stimulate new jobs and in general, promote the economic health of the Springfield area. The chamber is a not-for-profit organization with more than 2,000 members who believe that fostering business growth in Springfield improves the quality of life for the entire area. Nally is one of four department managers on a staff of 22. She works in cooperation with the chamber's board of directors and volunteer task forces and committees. Nally is the president of the Downtown Springfield Association, program chair of the Southeast Rotary, and serves as a director on the boards of the North Springfield Betterment Association and the Urban Districts Alliance. She also serves on the city's Gift of Time committee, is a public relations co-chair for Celebrate Springfield and is a member of Chamber of Commerce Executives of Missouri and the American Chamber of Commerce. |ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Age: 43|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|No. of years in Springfield: 26. Nally moved to Springfield in 1974 from Memphis, Tenn.|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Education: Nally graduated from Glendale High School and went on to receive a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Southwest Missouri State University. She also has a mini-MBA from SMSU and has participated in Leadership Springfield and the U.S. Chamber's Institute of Association Management program. |ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Early career: "I worked in various jobs, from the Easter Bunny at the mall to disc jockey to retail sales to graphic designer to receptionist to hotel sales director and general manager to marketing director to special event director. I believe all had an effect on what I do today. Being able to work at the chamber and having worked with so many volunteers who have a true passion about the community and the direction it is heading is very exciting and rewarding," Nally said. |ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Current projects: Nally has been busy planning the chamber's Golf Expo, Business & Technology Expo, the North Springfield Betterment Association's just-held chili supper and hanging new DSA banners downtown. |ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Management philosophy: "Surround yourself with awesome people. Leaders create leaders who create leaders. Hire for attitude and train for skill."|ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Spare-time pursuits: Nally spends her spare time volunteering and spending summer weekends at Table Rock Lake boating with friends. She is also a deacon at Covenant Presbyterian Church. |ret||ret||tab|

|bold_on|Family data: Nally is married to Michael, product manager for Redneck Trailer Supplies. She has a son, Ryan, a sophomore at Parkview High School, and an exchange student from Venezuela, Elena. She also has two dogs, Elvis and Rambo. |ret||ret||tab|

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