District 6080

Scott Rose introduced Jeff on Oct. 6.  His co-sponsor is Jason Hynson.

Jeff has lived in Springfield for 35 years after moving here as a teenager.  He is the Community Development Manager for The Salvation Army in Springfield.   He oversees fundraising, donor cultivation, online giving, social media and website, grant applications, networking, and news media interviews.

Jeff has worked at The Salvation Army since 1998.  He started as a housing/follow-up specialist, served as program director for 10 years, social services director for almost nine years, community relations director for three years, and was promoted to his current position last July.  Along the way, he’s worked with or overseen The Salvation Army’s Family Enrichment Center (shelter/transitional housing for homeless families), Harbor House (home for single men), New Start Housing Program, Front-Line Feeding Program, Emergency Social Services Program, and seasonal programs.

Jeff graduated from Parkview High School in Springfield and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Child and Family Development at Southwest Missouri State University in 1997.  While taking classes for seven years part-time at SMSU, he worked as a commercial photographer at Sothern Studio, sold cameras at Ozark Camera, developed pictures at Bass Pro’s photo lab, and served as a substitute teacher in several districts.

He’s been married to Regina for 18 years, and they have a 14-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter.   He is a youth group leader at his church, River Bluff Fellowship.  He’s also volunteered with Community Organizations Active in Disaster, Continuum of Care (now called Ozarks Alliance to End Homelessness), and a local affiliate of the National Emergency Food and Shelter Program.

Scott Meier introduced Mike on Sept. 23.  His co-sponsor is Gary Whitaker.

Mike is a manager of Client Services for Mercy Health System, where he's worked for six years.  He serves as a liaison between Mercy Springfield Communities and employers in the area.  He's been in the health care field for 12 years but has also worked in a variety of fields, including restaurants, residential construction and remodeling, window sales, medical device sales, and car sales.

Mike is a native of New Jersey but lived in St. Louis for 17 years before moving to the Ozarks about 10 years ago.

During a recent visit to the Rotary Club of Springfield (Downtown), he learned about the friendly rivalry between clubs.  He had the opportunity to introduce a Mercy  cardiologist who made a presentation that day. Seeking to build some rapport with the audience, he mentioned he was in the process of joining Springfield Southeast.  Instead of applause, he heard a collective groan and quite a few “boos.”

"What I said may have been true, but it definitely did not seem to build goodwill and better friendships. Hopefully, I learn to score better on The Four-Way Test going forward," he said.

Mike has a bachelor's degree from University of Missouri - St. Louis.  He lives in Nixa with his wife, Jane.  They have two daughters, ages 14 and 16.  He loves to run, hike, bike and build.  They're members of Southland Christian Church.

Bill McNeill introduced Jason on Sept. 9.  His co-sponsor is John Horton.

Jason joined Central Trust last spring as a senior vice president and senior portfolio manager. He helps clients with investment decisions, financial planning and estate administration.

Jason was born in southern California.  His father was an immigrant from Mexico and a Vietnam War veteran.  His mother was from Arkansas, and his family moved there when he was 7 years old.  He grew up in a small town, and spent most of his days and nights fishing and playing sports.

Jason joined the Army the day after his high school graduation and served a four-year stint.  After a successful tour as a tank mechanic in the Mojave Desert in California, he says he knew he was prepared to take on the world, reasoning that if he could fix a tank in the middle of a desert with four tools, he could handle almost anything.

Jason moved back to Arkansas and became a Razorback, managing to graduate after just 10 years in college.  More importantly, he says, he met the love of his life, Stephanie, who is now his wife.

After a few jobs in sales and management, Jason moved into investing.  He completed courses to become a Chartered Financial Analyst and a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst, and to earn an MBA, all while he and Stephanie added three children to their family:  Jason, Addison, and Carson.

Lisa Blumenstock introduced Andrea on Aug. 19.  Her co-sponsor is Lori Johnson Murawski.

Andrea is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has been the executive director of the Betty and Bobby Allison Ozarks Counseling Center for 10 years.  The center is a nonprofit United Way affiliate that provides mental health services to everyone ages 3 and up, regardless of ability to pay. The clinic's 25-member staff provides more than 12,000 hours of service to 2,300 people each year, including more than 500 children and adolescents.

Andrea also teaches graduate-level classes in Missouri State University’s Counseling and Clinical Psychology programs.  She also has served on several education advisory boards, and has been involved in numerous volunteer organizations including the Springfield-Greene County League of Women Voters and the Junior League of Springfield.  She previously taught economics for many years in Drury University’s Evening College.

Andrea earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Southwest Missouri State University, then returned to Missouri State University in 2009 to earn a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology.

Andrea’s daughter, Olivia, is a senior at Clemson University in South Carolina, and her son, Ian, is a freshman at William Jewell College in Liberty.

Andrea asked Randy Stout to a sorority dance at Drury in 1985.  He belatedly asked for a second date in 2016, and they got engaged in August 2021.  In her free time, she likes to sail, play board games, and travel.