Blake Detherage

With small-town roots, specializing in health care and security systems BY ZACHARY ROTH Many businesses, whether they are local or national, had humble beginnings. For Matt Giacomini, Brandon Keafer and Senergy Electric, it was no different. “We waited three months for the phone to ring,” said Giacomini, Senergy’s president. “The first year was pretty slow. […]

Private ownership allows long-term attention to meeting customer needs BY DAVID BLANCHETTE LRS turns 39 years old this year and is going stronger than ever, with operations on five continents and the ongoing expansion of its world headquarters in Springfield. But the global leader of information technology solutions remains firmly rooted in the Springfield community […]

New occupant of former Café Brio space is full of possibilities BY THOMAS C. PAVLIK JR. It’s an exciting time for foodies in Springfield, especially in terms of new downtown eateries. And VELE is one that I’ve been particularly excited about, since Justin Richardson from New Berlin’s The Garden is in charge of the kitchen. […]

The former SSCRPC executive director reflects on a career in public administration BY SCOTT FAINGOLD When Norm Sims retired as executive director of Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission on Dec. 29, it capped off a public administration career that began in 1974 in the research program at the Kentucky Department of Education, “transferring the fruits […]

Founded in Springfield in 1954, the drug distribution company sells for $815 million BY DAVID BLANCHETTE Most area residents may not realize that H.D. Smith is America’s largest, privately held national wholesale distributor in the pharmaceutical industry. But it’s no secret how the Springfield-based health care distribution business achieved that status. “We have a focus […]