415 W. Madison St., Auburn 217-705-4578 Established: 2019 Owner: Jessice Lance Employees: 5 Services: bath, body and home products Jessica Lance founded Bewitching Botanicals in October 2019, starting with handmade products assembled on a folding table in her home. Today, the company has grown into a brick-and-mortar retail store, production space and online business. “I […]
Eric Woods
Posted inSpecial Issues
Better With Bubbli Boutique
3852 Wabash Ave, Springfield 217-679-1776 Established: 2020 Owner: Randi Pecka Employees: 4 Services: Women’s clothing boutique Established in July 2020, Better With Bubbli Boutique is a women’s clothing boutique curated for the girl-on-the-go. Owner Randi Pecka launched the company initially as an online boutique geared toward young, contemporary women. “I’d recently left my position […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
AlignLife Chiropractic & Natural Health Center
2931 Montvale Dr, Springfield217-860-0360 Established: 2013 Owners: Dr. Bryne Willey Employees: 8 Services: Chiropractic care Dr. Bryne Willey had a vision to help build a stronger, healthier community – naturally. So, in 2013, he began AlignLife Chiropractic & Natural Health Center. “We are mission driven, and we lead with heart,” said Staci Serena, chief operating […]
Posted inArticles
Garret Moffett
Originally from Macomb, Illinois, Garret Moffett was an international tour guide for more than 20 years, having not only given tours throughout the Midwest but also Britain and Western Europe. With a never-ending love of history and a wealth of historical knowledge, Moffett used his storytelling skills and his experience as a tour guide to […]
Posted inBest Places To Work
Springfield Clinic (alumni)
Founded in 1939, Springfield Clinic is one of the largest physician-led multi-specialty medical practices in Illinois. With more than 650 physicians and advanced-practice practitioners, Springfield Clinic delivers care across more than 80 specialties and subspecialties in approximately 70 locations. The clinic serves patients in more than 20 counties across central Illinois, and its mission is […]
Posted inBest Places To Work
Springfield Urban League
For nearly 100 years, the Springfield Urban League has stood as a pillar of advocacy, opportunity and empowerment for central Illinois. From the earliest days in the fall of 1926, the Springfield Urban League has been a steadfast companion to families navigating the tides of history. “We’ve stood strong through the civil rights movement and […]
Posted inBest Places To Work
Sacred Heart Convent of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois
Sacred Heart Convent of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield has a history dating back more than 150 years. “In 1873, six sisters were sent from Springfield, Kentucky, to Jacksonville, Illinois,” SHC administrator Becky Woiwode said. “They carried with them the itinerant spirit of St. Dominic De Guzman of France, who lived and preached about God […]
Posted inBest Places To Work
Xcessories Squared
Xcessories Squared, based in Auburn, has been a leader in the traffic and sign-support industry for nearly four decades. The company’s origins date back to 1977 when founder Larry Leahy identified an opportunity to advance telescoping perforated square steel tube technology while working in highway safety. In 1982, after confirming there was not an existing […]
Posted inBest Places To Work
Modern Countertops
T.J. Henderson started Modern Countertops in a single-car garage in 2012. The early years focused on learning the craft and building strong systems. Over time, the company has grown into a 25-person team that completes nearly 100 projects per month across Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and Indiana. “We’ve always believed that investing in equipment and systems […]
Posted in15 Under Fifteen
Whimsy Tea Company
Gordon and Laura Davis founded Whimsy Tea Company in 2019 by setting up shop at the Old Capitol Farmers Market. In October 2020, the couple opened a brick-and-mortar store on Adams Street, and less than a year later moved to a larger location just down the block. “My family loves tea. And we loved Teavana,” […]
Posted in15 Under Fifteen
Wellthy Juice Co.
Heidi Clark co-founded Wellthy Juice Co. with her daughter, Paige, in August 2023. She is currently the sole owner and only full-time employee, but she does employ 12 part-time staff. “When our daughter, Paige, headed off to St. Ambrose University (in Davenport, Iowa) to pursue her nursing degree, she was surrounded by great food options,” […]
Posted in15 Under Fifteen
Sangamon Tree Service
Chad Fowler started Sangamon Tree Service on his birthday, May 18, in 2020. He previously worked in corporate marketing and created the company because of a passion for the industry.“I saw a big vulnerability in the tree industry when it came to quality and great customer service,” he said. “We strive every day to make […]