Carrie Brown

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Andrea Bishop introduced Carrie on April 18.  Her cosponsor is Bonnie Keller.

Carrie is a certified public accountant and a partner at Elliott, Robinson and Companies, where she’s worked since 2012.  Her work includes income tax planning, and preparation of tax returns for individuals, companies, trusts, estates and gifts.

Carrie’s professional affiliations include Greene County Estate Planning Council, Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance, Missouri Society of CPAs, and the American Institute of CPAs.  Springfield Business Journal named her one of its Most Influential Women in 2023.  The Missouri Society of CPAs named her one of its Women to Watch in 2016.  She was honored by SBJ in its 40 Under 40 list in 2015 and by 417 Magazine in its 20 Under 30 list in 2010.  She’s a graduate of Leadership Springfield Class 31.

Carrie is a lifelong Springfieldian.  She earned Bachelor’s and MBA degrees at Drury University.  Her community service includes the boards of directors of Ronald McDonald House, Junior League of Springfield, Foundation for Springfield Public Schools, and Big Brothers Big Sisters; the Drury University Alumni Council; the CoxHealth Young Professionals Council; the Young Ambassadors at Ozarks Counseling Center; The Network; and Springfield Rotaract Club.   

Carrie and her husband, Jared, live in east Springfield.

Algerian Hart

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Brent Baldwin introduced Algerian on April 18.  His cosponsor is John Horton.

Algerian is Assistant to the President and Vice President for Inclusive Engagement at Missouri State University.  He’s been in Springfield since 2018, and served as a professor and associate dean of the MSU Graduate College before taking his present position in 2022.

Algerian previously worked at Western Illinois University, University of Nevada – Las Vegas, Seattle Pacific University and the Game Time Foundation in Seattle.
Algerian’s contributions extend beyond the university setting.  He’s served as the President and Chair of the Diversity and Conference Climate Committee for the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport.  He also is the author of "The Student Athlete’s Guide to College Success" and co-author of "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Sport."

Algerian was a Sears All-American High School Track & Field athlete, ran competitively at Long Beach State, and later coached several track national champions and All Americans.   He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Long Beach State, and Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from Washington State University.

Algerian and his wife of 20 years, Michelle, are parents of two sons, Ahmias and Rowen.   They live in east Springfield.

Justin Herrell

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Tammy Mast introduced Justin on April 18.  His cosponsor is Ray Meyer.

For the past year, Justin has been executive director of the Pat Jones YMCA on Republic Road.  He retired after serving 31 years as an educator, including 26 years in the Springfield School District in positions such as director of before- and after-school programming, principal of Westport Middle School, a teacher at Central High School, leadership roles at Parkview and Hillcrest high schools, and in the district’s administrative office.

Justin's community service includes the boards of Ozarks Fighting Back, Ozarks Food Harvest, One Door, TriCounty Collaboration, and Community Partnership of the Ozarks.  He’s a past member of the National Association of School Administrators, Missouri Association of School Administrators, and the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals.

Justin earned Bachelor’s, Master’s and Specialist degrees at Southwest Missouri State University (now MSU), and a doctorate at Mizzou. 

Justin lives in east Springfield and has two children.

Nathan Zoromski

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Travis Comfort introduced Nathan on April 11.  His cosponsor is Dave Bosso.

Nathan is a financial advisor in the Edward Jones office on East Republic Road.  He’s worked for that financial planning company for 17 years.  Nathan earned a bachelor’s degree at Iowa State University and a master’s degree at Missouri State University. 

Nathan was a member of the Springfield Rotaract Club from 2010 – 2014. His community service includes the board of Down Syndrome Group of the Ozarks, SWMO BBB board, Children’s Miracle Network, James River Church and Northpoint Church.

Nathan and his wife, Heather, live in Nixa and have three children.

Jordan Russell

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Brandon Welch introduced Jordan on April 11.  His cosponsor is Adam Reichert.

Jordan is a co-owner of Pillar Insurance in southeast Springfield, which he founded in 2016 with his brother, John.  Their brother, Jason, joined them in 2017 to open a second branch in Lebanon.  They specialize in commercial, property and casualty insurance, and high net worth personal lines.

Jordan grew up in Lebanon.  He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2014 at University of Missouri, and a master’s degree at Missouri State University in 2016.   He’s lived in Springfield for 10 years.

Jordan was a member of Springfield Rotaract Club from 2016 – 2019.  His community service also includes Have A Heart dog rescue and the Child Advocacy Center.

Jordan is an avid Mizzou football and basketball fan.  He’s a member of Hickory Hills Country Club, where he golfs, and Hill City Church.  He and his wife, Gabby, live in northeast Springfield with their 3-year-old daughter, Quinn, and enjoy traveling.

Susan Herron

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Kimberlee Nevins introduced Susan on March 28.  Brent Baldwin is her cosponsor.

Susan has been in the real estate business since 2004.  She owns and manages Red Door Associates at Keller Williams in southeast Springfield.  It was known as Stowe Realty Group until three years ago, when she rebranded after she remarried.  In addition to being a broker, she stages homes to help them sell better.  She serves on the Keller Williams Agents Leadership Council.

Susan spent her childhood in South America.  She moved back to the states when she was 17 years old.  She attended Samford University and Southwest Missouri State University (now MSU).  She’s lived in the Ozarks for 24 years and is a member of the Nixa and Springfield chambers of commerce, Hill City Church, and Women’s Outreach.

Susan and her husband, Waylon, live in Nixa and have seven children, four sons-in-law, and two grandbabies.  Holidays are chaotic, loud and fun at her house.
 
As a former bakery owner, Susan puts her experience to work by taking goodies to teachers and first responders to thank them for loving our community, families, and children.  When she’s not working or baking, she powerlifts at a gym.

Vanessa Howe

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Joe Daues introduced Vanessa on March 21.  Her cosponsor is David Yancey.

Vanessa has owned Below Zero Cryospa, 1374 E. Republic Road, since it opened in November 2022.  She also has been a real estate agent for 25 years for Murney Associates and Carol Jones Realtors.  She formerly owned Athletic Performance Center in Ozark and was an independent sales representative for Silpada Jewelry.

Vanessa has a bachelor's degree in Textile and Clothing from Colorado State University in Fort Collins.  While in college, she did a summer internship at Paris Fashion Institute in France.

Vanessa has lived in the Ozarks for 33 years.  She and her husband, Todd Strickland, live in east Springfield and have three children.

Vanessa volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Women in Need Of the Ozarks, and Gathering Friends of the Ozarks.
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Zora Mulligan

Brad Bodenhausen introduced Zora on Jan. 11.  Her cosponsor is Michael Wehrenberg.

Zora has been Missouri State University’s executive vice president, the second highest ranking administrative position, since July 2022.   Her job includes leading enrollment management, state and federal government relations, and the Alliance for Healthcare Education.  Ingram’s Magazine last year named her one of the “50 Missourians You Should Know.”  Likewise, the Springfield Business Journal listed her as one of the “12 People You Need to Know” in 2023.

Zora’s previous jobs were Missouri commissioner of Higher Education (‘16 – ‘22), chief of staff of the University of Missouri System (’14 – ’16), executive director of the Missouri Community College Association (’10 – ’14), assistant commissioner and general counsel of the Missouri Department of Higher Education (’07 – ’10), and assistant attorney general, deputy chief counsel, and manager of the Missouri Attorney General’s Consumer Complaint Unit (’03 – ’07).

Zora serves and has served on numerous boards and committees of many organizations, including United Way of the Ozarks’ Women United, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, and Jobs for America’s Graduates Board of Directors.  She’s also been a school volunteer.

Zora is a native of West Plains.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and psychology at Drury University and a master’s degree in education and a law degree at University of Kansas.  At Drury, she was a member with Michael Wehrenberg of the Drury Singers.

Despite her brief exile in Kansas, Zora is a true Missourian – she likes spending time on the rivers and lakes, cheering for the Chiefs, Cardinals and, of course, the Bears.  Her daughter, Anna Lea, is a senior at Helias High School in Jefferson City, so she continues to spend a lot of time on the road between her home in central Springfield and Jefferson City.
 
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Tim Huddleston

Richard Baker introduced Tim on Dec. 14.  His cosponsor is Ray Meyer.

Tim is director of development and communication at World Serve International, an organization based in Springfield that is “dedicated to creating positive and lasting change in Africa and Navajo Nation.” It strives “to provide clean water, sanitation, education, and economic opportunities, all with the goal of alleviating suffering and fostering empowerment.”

Tim has more than 30 years of executive experience across various sectors, including business, academia, and nonprofit organizations, including Ozark Mountain Country Cares in Branson, Williams Baptist University in Walnut Ridge, Ark., Windermere Christian Conference Center near Camdenton, Missouri Baptist Foundation in Jefferson City, Kids Across America in Branson, and College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout.

Tim was a longtime member of the Branson-Hollister Rotary Club, and his father served as governor of this Rotary district in the late 1980s.  He was first introduced to Springfield Southeast Rotary Club as a guest of then-Springfield Mayor Mac McCartney, a former club president and district governor.

Tim has actively participated in various community service organizations.

Tim earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management at College of the Ozarks and an MBA at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar.

Tim is a lifelong resident of the Ozarks.  He and his wife, Teresa, live in Clever.  They have been married for 37 years and are active in Second Baptist Church in Springfield. They have four children, all of whom are married with families of their own, and look forward to welcoming their 13th grandchild in the spring of 2024.
 
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Bryan Powers

Mike Cosgrove introduced Bryan on Dec. 14.  His cosponsor is Jeff Cumley.

Bryan is owner of a Mobility City store, a franchisee of a Boca Raton-based company that repairs, rents, sells and sanitizes mobility products.  After opening the store in Springfield in April 2023, he plans to open a second store in northwest Arkansas in May 2024. 

As an entrepreneur since 2000, Bryan has owned a recording studio, a live music venue and restaurant franchises, including Lenny’s Sub Shops and McDonald’s.  In 2013, Bryan started Family Home Solutions, a real estate investment company that included a local property management company, realty brokerage and a real estate acquisitions and dispositions company, and currently shares ownership in more than 400 rental units.  In 2018, Bryan started the Angler Aid Brand, a fishing first aid and safety company that sells online and through Bass Pro Shops.  He also started real estate investment companies in Memphis and Little Rock. 

Bryan's volunteer service includes 100 Fold Network, the board of Hope Homes of the Ozarks, and the board of Northside Recovery Community Center.  He also has served on the advisory council of two national franchise systems.

Bryan has lived in the Ozarks in two stints for 25 of the past 32 years.  He earned a bachelor’s degree in Commercial Music Business at University of Memphis.  He and his wife, Tiffany, live in Nixa.  He is a father of three and a grandfather of one.  He loves time at the lake with family, travel, and music composition.
 
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Mike Vann

David Compere introduced Mike on Nov. 2.  His co-sponsor is Brent Baldwin.

Mike is the chief investment officer for Trident Multifamily of Colleyville, Texas, which “acquires and repositions multifamily properties” for institutional and individual investors.  He’s responsible for investor relations and compliance, capital stock formation and capital raising.  He’s worked for the company for 5 years but has been a manager in the real estate business for 10 years. 

Mike was born and raised in Fort Smith, Ark., and has been a lifelong Razorbacks fan.  He’s been in the Springfield area for more than 20 years. 

Mike earned a bachelor’s degree in Business at the University of Arkansas.  He lives in east Springfield with his wife of 29 years, Aline.  They have a daughter, 22, and a son, 21.

Mike’s community service included Convoy of Hope, Veterans Coming Home Center that helps homeless people, and mission trips to Ecuador and Brazil.