For 23 years, Springfield Business Journal has partnered with Security Bank for the annual Women of Influence program, which honors local women for their contributions to the Springfield area community. Selected by their peers through submitted nominations, all have made important contributions to the community at large. We hope you enjoy reading the profiles of […]
Special Issues
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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 inBest Places To Work
Best Places to Work 2026
Springfield Business Journal holds a variety of awards programs throughout the year, but Best Places to Work is unique because it requires employees to nominate their own company for recognition. Instead of simply trading their time for a paycheck, these employees realize that their work is serving a larger purpose and they feel valued and appreciated […]
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,” […]
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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 […]
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Rettberg’s on the Square
Rettberg’s on the Square, located on the Divernon square, was founded in 1948 by Ernie Rettberg and was originally a small radio and electronics store. Today, the business has expanded to provide plumbing, electrical work, heating and air conditioning and whole-house stand-by generators, as well as the sale and maintenance of appliances. Ernie’s son, Jake, […]
Posted in15 Under Fifteen
Pendulum PR
Chris McCloud and Chris Herbert started Pendulum PR in 2017 as a public relations-forward agency geared toward small to medium-sized businesses with modest budgets. “As former journalists who migrated to the public relations side in state government, we knew there weren’t many affordable options for these size businesses with great stories to tell,” McCloud said. […]