SBJ names Economic Impact Awards finalists

by Eric Olson

SBJ Reporter

eolson@sbj.net

It's shaping up to be a memorable summer for Larry Wallis, CoxHealth president and CEO. In August, Wallis will retire from CoxHealth, where he has worked for nearly 40 years. In July he'll be recognized for a lifetime of business accomplishments in the Springfield community.

An independent, five-judge panel declared Wallis the recipient of Springfield Business Journal's 2004 Lifetime Achievement in Business Award, which will be presented at the annual Economic Impact Awards banquet. The 2004 gala will be held July 22 at The Tower Club.

"I'm honored to be recognized and take great pride in receiving the Lifetime Achievement in Business Award," Wallis said in an e-mailed statement. "However, any recognition I receive is a reflection of the collective efforts of the CoxHealth organization."

Laurie Cunningham, CoxHealth director of public relations, has worked with Wallis for almost 15 years. Cunningham said she admires his business and personal skills applied in day-to-day work.

"His contributions here are seen and felt every day," she said. "He has taken CoxHealth to a leadership position in our community as a health care provider. I can't think of a better person for (the award)."

The judges also determined the 15 finalists three finalists in each of five categories that are vying for Economic Impact awards. The categories and finalists are:

Banking:

Great Southern Bank

Signature Bank

Town & Country Bank, Republic

Commercial lines insurance:

American National Property and Casualty

Commercial Insurance Underwriters

Nixon & Lindstrom Insurance

Engineers:

HBH Engineers, Republic

Mathews & Associates

Sherman Engineering Services, Bolivar

Physicians and clinics:

Cox Women's Center

Family Medical Walk-In Clinic, Nixa

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Group

Retirement communities:

The Montclair Retirement Center

The Ozarks Methodist Manor, Marionville

The Waterford at Ironbridge

The 2004 judges are Virginia Fry, managing partner at Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin, a 2003 Economic Impact Awards honoree; Ken Schwab, agent with Wilhoit Properties, a 2002 honoree; Steve Thompson, president of ProTel, a 2000 honoree; Robert Wyatt, dean of Drury University's Breech School of Business; and Charlie O'Reilly, board vice chairman for O'Reilly Automotive Inc. and SBJ's 2003 Lifetime Achievement in Business honoree.

All applicants were judged on their employment and employment growth from 2002 to 2003, and all categories but banking were judged on revenue and revenue growth for the same period; banks were judged on local assets and deposits.

All applicants were also asked to explain how, beyond employment and dollar figures, their business has impacted the Springfield area economy.

Companies were scored on a 5-point scale for each of these economic impact factors, as well as receiving an "overall" score.

The SBJ Economic Impact Awards begin with a 6 p.m. reception on Hammons Tower 22nd floor, and dinner is at 6:45 p.m. on the 21st floor. Tickets for the event are $40 each and are available through July 12. For more information, call Diana Weber at 417-831-3238.