The July issue of Springfield Business Journal highlights 40 young professionals who are under the age of 40 in the Springfield and neighboring business communities. These individuals are selected based on their contributions to our local business community and the community in which they reside. Click to view winners
Special Issues
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Ava Carpenter-McPike
Ava Carpenter-McPike is a force of nature and an inspiration. She has dedicated her adult life to working with at-risk youth who often don’t have a voice for themselves and have endured traumatic events. She puts her heart and soul into advocating for them and helping them change the course of their lives for the […]
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Jennifer Bettis
Jennifer Bettis grew up in Quincy, where volunteering and giving back were staples in her family’s life. After graduating from Quincy University with a bachelor’s degree in business management, Bettis moved to Springfield to attend graduate school at University of Illinois Springfield. She was part of the Graduate Public Service Internship program and earned a […]
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Kayla Edwards
Kayla Edwards, managing partner at Express Employment Professionals, credits her parents for instilling in her the drive to succeed. “My parents had high expectations of what I did in school, sports and how I practiced. My mother emphasized academic excellence and my dad encouraged me in sports,” she said. Edwards now encourages other people to […]
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Women of Influence 2024
Related Related Related For 21 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 […]
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UIS Good as Gold Ceremony honors volunteers, businesses and organizations
The University of Illinois Springfield, Junior League of Springfield and the United Way of Central Illinois honored more than 40 Sangamon County volunteers, businesses and organizations during the 16th annual Good as Gold Ceremony on April 22 in the UIS Student Union. The Good as Gold Ceremony was started in 2008 to honor people, businesses […]
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Capitol Radio Group
For nearly 40 years, Capitol Radio Group and Saga Communications Inc. of Illinois have been a staple in the Springfield radio landscape. Former CEO Ed Christian acquired WDBR, WYMG and WTAX radio stations in the mid-1980s, and over the years the group has added 101.9 The Wolf, Pure Oldies 107.5 and 101.1 The Outlaw. In […]
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First Impressions Day Care Center
First Impressions Day Care Center has been in business since 1997. The company operates out of an updated, converted home located in a historical area near downtown Springfield. In 2016, Colleen Ikerionwu, a mother of six and former police officer, purchased the day care. The company’s mission is to provide quality care for children in […]
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Hanson Professional Services
In 1954, Walter E. Hanson, along with two of his former students from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, founded Hanson Professional Services in Springfield. The firm’s name has changed throughout the years, but Hanson’s commitment to their clients reflects an allegiance to their most-valued asset – their employees. “When Walt founded Hanson, he started what would […]
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Troxell
Troxell opened its doors in 1887 and still remains locally owned and operated today. Although there are branches all over Illinois, Troxell is based out of Springfield. The company has grown significantly over the years but has not lost the touch of a small business. “Troxell is a group of individuals who enjoy each other […]
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Watts Copy Systems
Skip and Carol Watts opened Watts Copy Systems in Springfield back in 1982. The foundation for the company was to create a premier service organization in central Illinois that would focus on customer satisfaction and customer retention. The original company motto was, “Where service is more than a promise.” Currently led by Carol Watts, the […]
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Best Places to Work 2024
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 […]