District 6080

Past President Rusty Worley introduced Halston on Nov. 4.  His co-sponsor is Past President Bill Squires.

Originally from central Florida, Halston followed his passion for working with kids and their families and moved to Springfield to attend Baptist Bible College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Intercultural Studies.  While attending BBC, he got an opportunity to turn that passion into a career.

It was 18 years ago at an after-school program offered by the YMCA in partnership with Springfield Public Schools that Halston’s journey for serving families in the Ozarks began.  He first served as president of the Missouri Afterschool Coalition, an organization that advocated for kids and their families in Jefferson City while working closely with DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education), helping to provide training to professionals who work with children in afterschool programs across the state.

Halston then became executive director of the Ozark Mountain Family YMCA in Hollister, where he helped provide programming and resources to children in both the Branson and Hollister school districts.  He also worked with organizations such as Jesus was Homeless and Faith Community Health to help provide health opportunity and programs for those struggling financially in the Taney County area.

Working closely with city administrators and the Taney County Health Department, Halston strived to help address the various challenges in the community such as the opioid crisis, childhood obesity, and access to healthy lifestyle initiatives.  He also was a member of a Rotary club in the Branson/Hollister area from 2013 – 2018.

Halston returned to Springfield several years later to become executive director of the Pat Jones YMCA on East Republic Road.  He’s responsible for day-to-day operations of that facility.

In his spare time, Halston volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks and other organizations.
 

Nancy Riggs introduced Connie on Sept. 30.  Her co-sponsor is John Horton.

Connie is the team manager for the Bug Zero office in downtown Springfield.  She manages the office and day-to-day operations, including customer service, routing, technicians, and billing.

Connie was born in Houston, Mo., and raised on a dairy farm.  After high school and moving to Springfield, in 1991 she became the first full time employee of Bug Zero, founded in 1990 by Ivan Eftink and Terri Eftink, a former Springfield Southeast member.  She's held a variety of positions in the company, which now has 32 employees and two offices.  She is a member of the National Pest Management Association and Missouri Pest Management Association.

Connie attended Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar.  She is a member of the Queen City Eagles Lodge and volunteers for the Nova Center of the Ozarks, where she helps organize its annual Shoot Out for Autism.

Connie and her Italian husband, Dale, have been married for 15 years.  They live south of Ozark.  They have two grown children, Alicia and Warren, and two grandsons.

In her spare time, she enjoys fishing, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.   

Anne Brown introduced Steve on Sept. 9.  His co-sponsor is Ray Meyer.

Steve has worked for Lumen Technologies, which used to be known as Century Link, for 13 years.  He now is a senior manager of fiber strategy for its subsidiary, Quantum Fiber, where he develops fiber expansion strategies for Midwest markets, including City Utilities of Springfield’s project to provide internet service.

Steve is a native of Clinton, Mo.  After high school, he served in the U.S. Navy for several years as a nuclear power specialist.   After leaving the Navy 29 years ago, he moved to Springfield, which is where he met his wife, Tammy, who is Anne Brown’s daughter.  They’ve been married for 25 years.

Steve has worked in computers and technology all his career, including leading sales teams.  He used to travel extensively throughout the Midwest for his job but now works exclusively in Springfield.

Steve volunteers with Ozark Public Television, and formerly served on the city’s Cable Advisory Board.  He is a graduate of Leadership Springfield.   He and Tammy are the caretakers of three incredibly spoiled cats.