Stop the Presses: SBJ to celebrate 25 years of 'Publishing with Pride' in 2005

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Dianne Elizabeth is president and publisher of Springfield Business Journal.|ret||ret||tab|

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Publication of this issue, Volume 25, No. 1, of Springfield Business Journal is a momentous time for the staff of our weekly newspaper. I suspect that after the paper "goes to bed," and we finish all the pre-press work, there will be a group celebrating at one of our center city pubs. I'll make sure of it.|ret||ret||tab|

The big anniversary event, however, is this Thursday night, July 22, at The Tower Club for the fifth annual SBJ Economic Impact Awards. On that evening, we'll recognize 14 organizations in five different economic sectors that have made a positive difference in Springfield and southwest Missouri through their expansion, employment, innovation and service to the general community.|ret||ret||tab|

Larry Wallis, president and CEO of CoxHealth, will be honored with the Business Journal's Lifetime Achievement in Business Award for outstanding accomplishments over the last 40 years. All of the honorees were nominated by readers and selected by a panel of independent judges.|ret||ret||tab|

A special, glossy and colorful publication including judge profiles, and profiles and photos of all the honored individuals and companies will be inserted in next week's issue. If you are attending Thursday night's awards ceremony, you will receive an advance copy. |ret||ret||tab|

We are honest folk here at SBJ. Honesty is one of our core values as an organization, but sometimes it comes as a kind of detriment to our own self-promotion. For instance, I must admit that although we are beginning Volume 25, we are not yet fully 25 years old. Like a person, we believe we must complete a full quarter century before we absolutely pull out all the stops in our celebrating.|ret||ret||tab|

We began planning SBJ's 25th soon after we downed the last champagne and sparkling mineral water in mid-summer 2000. Now, after the banquet flowers wilt, but before Labor Day, the staff will get together for a major strategy session to plan exactly how 2005 will be the best year yet in our newspaper publishing history.|ret||ret||tab|

Already the creative services department is working on an anniversary logo to run on the cover of each edition beginning on Jan. 3. The editorial department is brainstorming and researching the history of the Ozarks' business community over the past 25 years. We're looking to profile other businesses that began the same year we did, as well as trace the upticks and plateaus in local and area growth patterns.|ret||ret||tab|

The advertising and circulation departments are looking into old records to specially recognize and reward long-time advertisers and subscribers. We are very grateful for the opportunity to create Springfield Business Journal and our livelihoods. I truly believe that we could not have been so fortunate anywhere else. So many people helped us along the way. It will be a year of remembering, and we will do it all year long. |ret||ret||tab|

We always knew that as population and business in the Ozarks grew, so would Springfield Business Journal. We're glad and grateful and to have been there to see it, experience it and record it for you.|ret||ret||tab|

Please write to us with your own ideas for the SBJ 25th anniversary year in 2005.|ret||ret||tab|

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