Established: 2016 Owners: Chris and Allie Roberts Employees: 4 Services: small engine repair Chris and Allie Roberts opened Up and Running Services in 2016. Growing up, Chris always enjoyed working on small equipment, and he eventually decided to make a living out of it. Up and Running Services repairs and services lawn equipment and […]
15 Under Fifteen
15 Under Fifteen is an awards program recognizing locally owned small businesses. To be eligible for recognition, the business must employ 15 or fewer employees and have been in business for more than two years. The selection process allows for 15 businesses to be named annually.
Celebrating the success of local businesses plays an important role in sending a message regionally and statewide that the Springfield metropolitan area is a great place to do business.
To Nominate a small businss, please use our submissions form »
Posted inSpecial Issues
Ben Ladage Auctions
Established: 2010 Owners: Ben and Kim Ladage Employees: 12 Services: auctions Ben and Kim Ladage started Ben Ladage Auctions in 2010 after Ben attended the Missouri Auction School. “Over the next few years, I conducted a handful of live auctions while working for other local auctioneers,” he said. Ladage became a full-time auctioneer in 2016 […]
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Bramley Funeral Home
Established: 1924 Owners: Tim Bramley, Sarah Bramley Jones, Tyler Bramley Employees: 3 Services: funeral home Chester and Pearl Bramley opened the doors of Bramley Funeral Home in Divernon in June of 1924. Eventually their son, Charles, joined the family business and worked beside his father as they served the growing needs of their community. […]
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Café Moxo
Established: 2007 Owners: Mark and Shawna Forinash Employees: 10 Services: restaurant Mark and Shawna Forinash opened Café Moxo in early 2007, a quick-service restaurant with owners passionate about food, service, employees and the community. “In theory, Café Moxo started when I was a young boy standing beside my mom in the kitchen on countless occasions,” […]
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Chatham Seamless Gutters
Established: 2007 Owners: Craig and Jessica Davis Employees: 5 Services: gutters Craig Davis and his wife, Jessica, began Chatham Seamless Gutters in 2007. Craig learned the business from a high school friend, and years later, the two went to work for another business. “That company shut down its gutter division, so I decided to buy […]
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Compass for Kids
Established: 2011 Director: Molly Berendt Employees: 14 Services: nonprofit Founder and CEO Molly Berendt began Compass for Kids in 2011. Compass for Kids is a nonprofit created to provide support to youth who were not being served by existing programs and services in the Springfield area. “The mission of Compass for Kids is to […]
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Phoenix Collision
Established: 2006 Owners: Matthew Milkint and Tressa Hartman Employees: 12 Services: automotive, storage units Siblings Matthew Milkint and Tressa Hartman began Phoenix Collision in 2006 following the tornadoes that hit Springfield. “Matthew was working for Bill Mathew Auto Body when the tornado came through Springfield,” Hartman said. “Upon learning they would take a year […]
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15 Under Fifteen
This is the 21st year that Springfield Business Journal has partnered with United Community Bank to recognize 15 outstanding small businesses in the local area. To qualify, a business must be located in Sangamon or Morgan county, have been open for at least two years and have 15 or fewer full-time employees. A business is […]
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Tom Day Business Machines
Established: 1981 Owners: Dale and Debbie Smith Employees: 9 Services: Business equipment Tom Day began his business in 1981 and kept it running in Springfield for three decades. In 2011, Dale and Debbie Smith purchased Tom Day Business Machines and still operate it today. “Tom Day Business Machines is a premier provider of a complete […]
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Village Tea Room & Gift Shoppes
Established: 2016 Owners: Jennifer and Wayne Friday Employees: 6 Services: Restaurant and gift shop “We would visit tea rooms and my husband, who is my biggest supporter, encouraged me and helped me to open the business,” said Jennifer. The tea room is a fun place to have lunch or host a party. Each room is […]
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Wooden It Be Lovely
Established: 2016 Executive director: Rev. Margaret Ann Jessup Employees: 5 Services: Nonprofit Wooden It Be Lovely was founded in 2016 to help meet a need in the community. “There are women who want to heal from hard lives but faced numerous barriers to success, which included finding employers that would or could hire them,” said […]
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Ace Mechanical
Established: 2017 Owners: John and Lisa Mikuleza Employees: 6 Services: HVAC John and Lisa Mikuleza opened Ace Mechanical in October 2017. “I decided to open the business because I came from an entrepreneurial family and always saw myself owning my own business,” John said. “I also wanted to create an HVAC business that was honest […]