Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast

Michael Craft

Michael joined our club on Aug. 23. His sponsors are Marc Mayer and Brent Baldwin.

Michael has worked for Wil Fischer Distributing for 13 years. He is an Off Premise Key Account Manager. He also served 14 years in the Missouri National Guard.

Michael grew up in St. James, where he attended John F. Hodge High School. He then attended Southwest Missouri State University (now MSU).

Michael's wife, Kathryn, works for City Utilities of Springfield. They live in Rogersville and have two sons: Al, a high school junior, and Eli, a sixth grader.

Michael's hobbies are golf, hunting, fishing and watching his boys play ball.

Charles Maurer

Dr. Charles Maurer rejoined our club on Aug. 16. His sponsor is Troy Kennedy and his co-sponsor is Gary Leonard.

Charles has been a chiropractor in Springfield for 26 years. He started with Family Back and Neck Care Centre in August 1992 as an associate doctor and bought the practice three years later.

Charlie is a past board member at The Victim Center, visiting doctor at The Kitchen, and fundraiser for many organizations in Springfield through offering free care in his office for donations to different charities. He appreciates the opportunity to give back to those who live in and cherish Springfield.

Charles and Cindi celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in 2018. Cindi is a registered nurse and has worked for the last 30 years to help put Charlie through college and support the family.

Charlie and Cindi started their family while he was still in college. Their oldest, Stephanie, is an account executive for VML and lives in Kansas City with her husband, Mike. Their son, Matthew, is a chiropractor who joined Charlie in practice in 2016; he and his wife, Alex, have two children. Charlie’s youngest, Jessica, is in her third year at the Mizzou medical school and her husband, John, is studying for his PhD in psychology.

Elizabeth Brooks

Elizabeth was introduced on August 9. She is sponsored by Barbara Lucks and Steve Benton.

Elizabeth is the founder, owner and operator of Springfield Riding Club. She is a Springfield native, a Drury and MSU alum, a 4th generation farmer, and now is a 2nd generation Rotarian.

Elizabeth has worked for and trained with Olympic equestrians in six different countries abroad and across the US. On the rare occasion that she finds herself with a little free time, Elizabeth enjoys good conversation with friends and new adventures.

Tammy Mast

Tammy was introduced on June 21. She is sponsored by Barbara Lucks and Ray Meyer.

Tammy was formerly a member of Springfield Southeast Rotary Club for about 15 years before going to the Rotary Club of Nixa, where she served as president.

Tammy is the VP of Resource Development for United Way of the Ozarks. She has a Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Leisure Studies from Missouri State University. Tammy brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in community outreach and involvement.

In her spare time, Tammy enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. Her husband is Tom Mast.

Abby Akin

Abby was introduced by Angela Smith on June 14. Her co-sponsor is Lori Barnes Miller.

Abby works at ADsmith Marketing and Advertising doing Media Analysis and Operations Management. Her focus has also been on community outreach, with experience working with many local non-profit organizations.

Abby graduated from Drury University with a major in both Advertising and Public Relations. She grew up in Springfield.

Outside work, Abby enjoys spending time with her family. Her husband, Trevor, and their daughter, Gwen, enjoy volunteering at local non-profit events together.

Amy Blansit

Amy was introduced by Linda Ramey-Greiwe on May 24. Her co-sponsor is Lori Barnes Miller.

Amy has a PhD in Health Services and teaches at Missouri State University. She is also the founder and president of the Drew Lewis Foundation, which partners with MSU and Drury University to lead the Northwest Project.

Springfield Southeast Rotary Club once a month helps prepare and serve meals for participants in the Northwest Project and has worked with Amy and her nonprofit organization for the past two years.

Amy also founded Soley Jolie, a company that produces a water-free solution to keep make-up brushes clean and clear.

In her spare time, Amy likes to run and do home improvement projects.

Jon Taylor

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David Sims introduced him on May 3. His co-sponsor is Bob Newell.

Jon is a native of Springfield. He went to Hillcrest High School, where he participated in cross country running, golf and basketball. He also met his future wife, Hilary, there. Jon then received a degree in Business Administration at Drury University.

Jon has been a security consultant at Atlas Security for nearly five years He also owns, operates and works out at Republic Warrior Sports. He trains for and trains others for Ninja Warrior Sports. He was a competitor two years ago on season 8 of the NBC television show, "American Ninja Warrior." His motto is "Security by day, Ninja by night."

Jon's hobbies include snow skiing and golf. He and Hilary have two daughters, Ashlyln, 12, and Isabella, 10.

Jim Wilson

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Ken Schwab introduced him on April 12. His co-sponsor is Jon Baker.

Jim moved back to Springfield in January 2017 from Houston, Texas. He is a principal at Ingress Investments, a private investment company focused on B2B services and technology, commercial real estate and hospitality and dining. He also is an owner of a software platform for building services companies that is being marketed in China and Canada, with other locations under consideration.

Jim and two partners recently formed JJJ Development, which has a building under contract with plans to open a bar and restaurant if the transaction is completed.

Prior to founding Ingress, Jim was a business lawyer for more than 20 years. His practice focused on corporate finance and securities, with an emphasis on mergers, acquisitions and public offerings. His international experience included Brazil, China, Egypt, Italy, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Spain, The Netherlands and the U.K.

Jim has been recognized as a “Texas Rising Star” as well as a “Texas Super Lawyer” by Texas Monthly. He has also been listed as a leader in international mergers and acquisitions by The Legal 500.

Jim has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Southwest Missouri State University (now MSU) and a law degree from University of Houston. He's been on the Board of Trustees of the MSU Foundation since 2012 and on its executive committee since last year. He's also on the Executive Advisory Board of the MSU College of Business since 2010, was on the Funding Task Force for the MSU Visioning Project in 2014 - '15, is on the planning committee for the annual MSU Volunteer Leadership Conference since 2016, a member of the Founders Club since 2011, and a member of the President’s Leadership Circle since 2012.

Jim was in Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity at SMSU and now is chairman of this chapter's Alumni Advisory Board and a member of the Executive Committee for its Alumni Association.

Jim has twin sons, one attending Wharton School of Business and the other attending Princeton University. Both sons have won Fencing National Championships. Jim’s wife is Ginger.

Brett Sheets

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Jim Towery introduced Brett on March 29. His co-sponsor is President Lori Barnes Miller.

Brett and Jim have been business partners for 20 years as co-owners of Steelman Transportation and Group One, which they sold in July 2017 but continue to manage. Brett is president of the two companies.

Brett grew up in trucking, as his father was an independent contractor for more than 45 years. Brett began his transportation career as a truck mechanic in 1984 and was then a dump truck driver for an asphalt company. He then took an entry level mechanic’s job with a truck dealership in Kansas City and worked his way up to a Journeyman 1 Mechanic. He then became a sales representative and then a sales manager in a 12-year career with that company.

Brett in 1998 became co-owner and vice-president of Steelman Transportation, overseeing sales and the Oversize Division, among other duties.

Brett has served on an advisory board for the Missouri Department of Transportation for improving State Oversize Permit Regulations. He has also worked closely with local DOT officers and the State Highway Patrol as an advisor on key issues. He's also been involved in the Springfield Area Motor Carriers Club, Missouri Trucking Associations, Truckload Carriers Association, and Machinery Haulers Association.

Brett joined Springfield North Rotary club in 2005 and had 11 years of perfect attendance. He is a past president of that club. He has also been a board member for more than 10 years and a three-year chairman of the board for Rock'n Ribs Barbecue Festival.

For 16 months in recent years, Brett let his hair grow to more than 12 inches so he could donate it to Locks of Love for wigs for cancer patients.

Brett has been married to Lorri for 27 years. They live in Pleasant Hope with two Boston terriers. Brett is an instrument rated pilot who enjoys flying and taking trips in his RV.