Central Illinois employers, nonprofit leaders, educators and rising professionals are invited to Live2Lead Springfield 2026, a one-day leadership experience at Erin’s Pavilion in Southwind Park on Friday, Nov. 13. Doors open at 8 a.m. for networking and the program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hosted locally by LeadershipDNA and powered by Maxwell Leadership, […]
SBJ staff
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Community Foundation hires grants manager
The Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln has hired Tobias Lewis as its grants and scholarships manager. In this role, Lewis will oversee the administration and coordination of the Community Foundation’s competitive grantmaking and scholarship programs, including supporting review committees and serving as the primary point of contact for nonprofits, scholarship applicants and community […]
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Chamber announces retirements
The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications to fill two positions in light of upcoming retirements of longtime employees. Lisa Schafer, vice president of operations, and David Earhart, vice president – member services, have both announced their plans to retire during the first quarter of 2027. Schafer will retire after more than 32 […]
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Career Connections
The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce is looking for area professionals to join its new Career Connections program to work with high school students exploring their future opportunities. Career Connections is a database hosted on the Chamber’s website where area students and counselors can find a local professional to interview about their career and educational path. Students will be able […]
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Beer, Brats & Beginnings to highlight brewery’s connection to medical district
The closure of Reisch Brewery in 1966 ultimately helped facilitate the creation of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine a few years later, an unusual connection that will be highlighted at a Beer, Brats & Beginnings event on Thursday, Sept. 10. The Reisch Brewery opened in 1849 and for 117 years operated on the exact […]
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Bistro Verde at LLCC reopens
Bistro Verde, Lincoln Land Community College’s student-led café, will reopen Tuesday, Sept. 8, and will serve customers Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The café will be open as Bistro To Go, a counter service concept, from Sept. 8-Oct. 8, offering soups, salads, sandwiches, weekly student chef specials, baked goods, coffees […]
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Springfield Area Arts Council hires new program director
The Springfield Area Arts Council has hired Andrew Schneider as program director, bringing together his experience as an entrepreneur, creative practitioner, community arts leader and statewide policy advocate. As SAAC’s program director, Schneider will take a leading role in the production and long-term development of the Levitt AMP Springfield Music Series, a nationally recognized program […]
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“DOGtors on Call” at Memorial Hospital
Springfield Memorial Hospital has expanded its animal-assisted therapy program with four newly certified therapy dogs, thanks to a $4,500 grant from the Springfield Memorial Foundation. The program, called “DOGtors on Call,” pairs hospital staff members who volunteer their time and their dogs to interact with patients. “We were delighted to help fund the DOGtors on […]
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Cathy Schwartz named inaugural recipient of Good Golly Miss Molly Kindness Award
The Mid-Illinois Communications Association has named Cathy Schwartz of Springfield as the inaugural recipient of the Good Golly Miss Molly Kindness Award, which honors individuals in central Illinois who demonstrate exceptional kindness and a commitment to uplifting others within the community. The award was established in memory of communications professional and former MICA president Molly […]
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Ceremony honors faculty leadership, pioneers of academic medicine
The June 29 investiture ceremony at the Memorial Learning Center in Springfield recognized three faculty leaders whose careers have shaped surgery, plastic surgery and emergency medicine across central and southern Illinois. Dr. Michael Neumeister was invested as the J. Roland Folse, MD, Endowed Chair of Surgery. Dr. Nicole Sommer became the Elvin G. Zook, MD, Endowed Chair […]
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New owners for DreamMaker Bath and Kitchen
After more than 20 years in business, Curt and Deb Trampe have sold DreamMaker Bath and Kitchen of Springfield. Matt and Beth Bozarth purchased the local franchise of DreamMaker, a full-service kitchen, bath and interior remodeling company, from the Trampes. “We are committed and excited to continue serving customers in a way that keeps DreamMaker […]
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Heather Burton wins 2026 Athena Award
Heather Burton has been chosen as the recipient of the 2026 Athena Award, sponsored by Illinois Women in Leadership. IWIL held an awards ceremony at Erin’s Pavilion in Southwind Park on July 23 to recognize the six nominees for this year’s award and announce the recipient. Heather Burton is president and Chief Executive Officer of […]