Since 1999, Springfield’s Computer Banc has served as a depository for donated computers which are refurbished and distributed to nonprofits, schools and the underserved at a reduced cost. The organization is also an authorized nonprofit Microsoft refurbisher, meaning it is officially licensed to repurpose computers with up-to-date Windows software and is the largest nonprofit Microsoft-registered […]
Newsletter – This Month SBJ
Posted inArticles
Q&A With Bruce Sommer
Where were you born and raised, and what was your first job? I was born and raised in Springfield, and technically my first job was when I was 9 years old, emptying garbage cans at the family business. My first job after college was as an accountant at Boulder Medical Center in Boulder, Colo. How […]
Posted inArticles
Del’s Popcorn Shop still popping after 90 years
Del’s Popcorn Shop is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year by taking its trademark popcorn and sweet concoctions to an ever-expanding global fan base, and the Springfield Del’s location is expanding to handle the additional demand. “Last December we became one of the top-selling products on Amazon in the popcorn category,” said Del’s chief operating […]
Posted inArticles
Your website has less than a second to make a first impression
Your company’s website is making first impressions with potential customers 24/7. Forbes Advisor published its top website statistics for 2024 and reported that users form an opinion about a website in 0.05 seconds, and 61% leave a site if they don’t find what they’re looking for in about five seconds. Karen Carlson, web content and […]
Posted inColumns
Solid Rock Youth Transitional Services
Marscia Anderson believes God put it in her heart to start Solid Rock Youth Transitional Services after she learned that 40% of youth who age out of foster care end up homeless. “That was a devastating statistic,” she said, “and it broke my heart to learn so many young people are homeless and trying to […]
Posted inArticles
Q&A With Christina Shutt
Christina Shutt, 37, has served as the executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum since June 2021. Previously, Shutt was executive director for the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, the African American museum of history and culture for the state of Arkansas. Under her guidance, the center was awarded first-time national museum accreditation. […]
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Three sisters join forces to open a day care center
With 128 enrolled children, ages six months to six years old, Independent Childcare Preschool and Nursery is a lively and successful business just 18 months after opening. The founders and owners are three sisters: Cynthia Daniels, 55; Tearetha (also known as “T”) Plair, 54, and Christie Carter, 49. They opened the day care in December […]
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Learning together in the family business
Steve Shelton, founder and president of Solution Printing, started learned about printing during his time in the U.S. Army, where he was tasked with printing reports and various projects. After his time in the military, Shelton was living in Indiana and working in sales but wanted to get closer to his hometown of Pittsfield, where […]
Posted inColumns
Conquer the crowd: Mastering the art of public speaking
Just the mention of the words –public speaking – can send shivers down the spines of even the most seasoned professionals. Whether it’s a presentation in front of colleagues, a pitch to potential clients or a keynote address at a conference, the ability to communicate effectively in front of an audience is a skill that […]
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Is a living trust better than a will?
Have you attended an estate planning seminar or read promotional materials that claim you must have a living trust to avoid estate taxes and probate? Has a salesperson come to your home with frightening information about probate? While a living trust is appropriate for some people, the cost of creating, funding and administering a living […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
2024 class of Forty Under 40
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
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StandardAero flies under radar in local economy
Perhaps StandardAero flies under the radar in the local Springfield economy, pardon the pun, because not many locals own their jets. But StandardAero and its predecessors, Garrett Aviation and Landmark Aviation, have been a mainstay at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport for decades, servicing planes and jets. “It’s actually woven into the fabric of Springfield because […]