Springfield's Best finds new director

Pollard, who started as the full-time executive director of Springfield’s Best Locally Owned Companies Dec. 27, has the job of patching apparent rifts in the organization and stopping the erosion of membership.

The board of the local small-business advertising co-op was looking for a part-time director to replace George Freeman, who resigned in July over disagreements regarding the future of the organization. However, Kauffman said Pollard’s skills, experience, personality and enthusiasm impressed the board enough to turn the job back into a full-time position.

“(Pollard) is an exceptional sales individual who has a true grasp on the value of the organization,” said Michele Kauffman, Springfield’s Best board president. Pollard will spearhead recruitment, communication and dues collection at Springfield’s Best’s 1454 E. Sunshine St. office.

She’ll also be charged with recovering lost memberships – some from longtime partners.

When Freeman resigned, the organization was approaching 65 members. Springfield’s Best currently has 59 members, according to Kauffman. Membership reached more than 100 at one point in the group’s 11-year history.

Freeman added nearly 20 members in his two-year stint, which ended with Freeman’s questioning the group’s continued existence.

“I’m going my own way, and I’d like to keep my nose out of it,” Freeman said, when asked about the details of his split.

Several longtime members are rumored to be out the door, though confirmation could be obtained only from The Tower Club General Manager Jeff Anderson, who said his business, a founding member of Springfield’s Best, left in December because it didn’t feel that it was receiving enough bang for its advertising buck.

Board Vice President Brenda Obeidat, president of Ivy League Corporate Services, resigned in December but wouldn’t say.

“I wish the organization and its new director good fortune in developing the strong leadership that is needed, involving the whole membership in its decision making and bringing Springfield’s Best back to the peak of their vision, mission and pledge to excellence,” she said.

Kauffman said a new vice president would be chosen this month and acknowledged she and Obeidat disagreed, though Kauffman refused to reveal details of the dispute.

“The truth is, she didn’t believe in my leadership,” Kauffman said.

Scott Gibbons, president of Tritel Communications Inc. and Springfield’s Best board member, said rumors of arguments are overblown.

“Anytime you have that many business owners collectively … you’re going to have people that disagree once in a while,” he said. “But … the health of the organization is very good.”

Pollard has a long history with Springfield’s Best and hopes to jump-start a revival.

“I think we can get back on track and get where we want to be in 2006,” she said. “I’m very passionate about the organization.”

Pollard was on Springfield’s Best’s founding board, serving from 1994 to 1999 while she was a co-owner of All Service Plumbing, Heating and Cooling. After selling All Service to current owners Al and Karol Spencer in 1999, Pollard headed to London. She moved back in July to be close to family.

Kauffman said 15 people sought Springfield’s Best’s lone paid job, which was set to be a part-time executive administrator position and not the full-time executive director position that it had been previously.

Pollard wouldn’t outline her specific plans to grow the organization, but said, “I have lots of plans, too numerous to mention.”

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