SPRINGFIELD SPORTS COMMISSION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- General Manager of the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds and Event Center in
Aaron Owen is the General Manager of the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds and Event Center in Springfield, MO since June of 2012. The Fairgrounds produce or co-produced fifteen events and have one hundred and four event rentals and catering plus several off-site food events. The Ozark Empire Fairgrounds has a conventions department for pipe and drape, tables, chairs etc. as well as on-site camping.
Aaron spent thirty-three years working for Paul Mueller Company serving as President of Mueller Transport, Inc. for twelve years and seven years as President of Mueller field Operations, Inc. and four years as divisional President of Mueller Services with gross revenue responsibility of twenty five million to one hundred and forty million per year.
Aaron owns and operates a large purebred Simmental and Angus cow calf beef cattle operation with his family. Aaron was on the American Simmental National Board, one year as their publication Chairmen and One year as their Chairmen. Aaron Is currently serving on the American Simmental Foundation Board, Sports Commission Board, Cattle Baron Executive Board and Missouri Simmental Board.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator of Sports Strategies & Events
Alexandra Finnan was named Coordinator of Sports Strategies & Events for the Springfield Sports Commission in July 2024. Alexandra holds both a Master of Business Administration in Sports Business and a Master of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management from the University of South Florida Vinik Sport and Entertainment Management Program, alongside a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the same institution. Finnan was actively involved with the school's athletic program, where she played a key role in leading marketing initiatives and event management across various sports. Her most recent experience was with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, where she contributed to the success of major events, including the record-breaking NCAA Women's Division I Volleyball Championship.
Job Titles:
- Shooting Range and Outdoor Education Center
Job Titles:
- Vice President and Director of Retail Banking at OMB Bank in Springfield, Mo.
Brandon Ayers is vice president and director of retail banking at OMB Bank in Springfield, Mo. and has nearly 15 years of experience in the banking industry. His notable career has been marked by a succession of pivotal roles, showcasing his commitment to customer service and expertise in retail banking.
His banking career began at Sun Security Bank, where he started as a teller. Following the acquisition of Sun Security by Great Southern Bank, Brandon transitioned to the latter, taking on increasingly challenging roles such as personal banker, assistant branch manager and eventually branch manager. His most recent role as retail banking regional manager for Great Southern helped solidify his reputation as a skilled and accomplished leader in the field. As the director of retail banking at OMB, Brandon continues to uphold a standard of excellence and professionalism, driving innovation and success for the $1.4 billion community bank.
Earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and a Master of Business Administration degree from Southwest Baptist University, Brandon has honed a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of financial services and the importance of making banking accessible to customers of all means.
In addition to his service with the Springfield Sports Commission, Brandon actively contributes to the community as the current board treasurer for the North Springfield Betterment Association. His dedication to the community reflects his commitment to fostering positive change and growth in the local area.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Springfield Esports Coalition Committee
- CEO / Founder Contender Esports
Job Titles:
- CEO & Executive Director of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame
Coryell Field was built and completed in September 2016 and is the state-of-the-art surface used for men and women's soccer home games and practice, football practice, and for the marching band rehearsals.The new turf field is part of the first phase of development for Evangel's new athletic facilities.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Director of Finance for the City
David Holtmann is the Director of Finance for the City of Springfield. David also serves as the Board Treasurer for the Springfield Sports Commission
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations for Mercy Springfield Orthopedics
Devin Buehler is the Director of Operations for Mercy Springfield Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. Devin grew up on a dairy farm in Mt. Vernon, MO. She played volleyball in undergrad at Drury University; and graduated with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from SBU in 2014. Devin is married; and enjoys being active and outdoors!
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Member of the Evangel
Dr. Jon Spence serves as the Vice President for Academic Affairs and interim Athletic Director at Evangel
Spence has been a member of the Evangel faculty since 1998 and has served in a variety of campus
Job Titles:
- President and Owner of Collegiate Awards
Hammons Field is a 6,750-seat baseball stadium and home to the Springfield Cardinals. The Cardinals are the Double A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Athletic Trainer
Jason Pyrah is a Licensed Athletic Trainer and the Sports Medicine Manager at CoxHealth. Jason is an Olympic athlete, running the 1500 meter in both the 1996 and 2000 Olympics. Jason is now active as a MSHSAA track and field official, officiating both Cross Country and Track and Field.
Job Titles:
- Owner of Proximal Strength
Jeremy Mhire is Owner of Proximal Strength | CrossFit Springfield, a gym and brand dedicated to empowering lives through the platforms of fitness and community. Mhire is also Founder/Director of The Heart of America Team Competition, the 2nd longest-running CrossFit competition in the world after the CrossFit Games. Jeremy qualified and competed 5X as an individual at the CrossFit Games Regionals and was at one point ranked amongst the Top 100 men in the world, leading to sponsorships with 1st Phorm and Lululemon. Mhire grew up in Springfield where he attended Kickapoo High School and then earned his bachelor's degree in Sports Medicine & Athletic Training at Missouri State University. He has worked in the field of fitness, sports performance, and strength & conditioning for 20 years. In that time, he's trained, developed, and poured into competitive athletes of all ages, levels, and sports. Collectively, his athletes have received full-ride athletic scholarships to Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Northern lowa, Southern Illinois, Southeast Missouri State, Drury, Iona, Pitt State, Missouri Southern, Evangel, Lipscomb, and Central Methodist. Paramount to any accomplishments is Jeremy's faith in God, followed by his desire to love, cherish, and honor Jenny, his wife of 20 years, his son, Vincent, and his daughter, Emille
Job Titles:
- Member of the Springfield Esports Coalition Committee
- Director for Springfield Public Schools
Joshua Scott is the District Athletic Director for Springfield Public Schools. He is currently serving his 11th year in Athletic Administration and 18th overall in public education. Josh has been active in both the Missouri Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and earned his Certified Master Athletic Administration in 2014. 2019 marked the end of his term as President for the MIAAA and he currently serves as Secretary for the Board of Directors for the NIAAA. Josh was the MIAAA AD of the Year in 2017, NFHS Citation Winner in 2018 and NIAAA State Award of Merit recipient in 2019. Josh is married to Keely, a Glendale Falcon high school teacher and father to Gabriel.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director
- Member of the Springfield Esports Coalition Committee
Job Titles:
- Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at Great Southern Bank
Kelly Polonus is Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at Great Southern Bank, based in Springfield. Polonus oversees internal and external communications, marketing, community relations, and investor relations for Great Southern, including a significant investment in sports marketing. A native of Springfield, she is a graduate of Glendale High School and received her bachelor's degree from Missouri State University. She is married to Eric and they have three grown children.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Springfield Esports Coalition Committee
Kyle McClure is the Director Governmental Affairs/Public Policy for City Utilities of Springfield. He's been a part of the CU team for twelve years working with federal and state policymakers. Prior to joining the utility, Kyle's professional experience includes working ten years for Senator "Kit" Bond and Congressman Roy Blunt. He is a graduate of Drury University.
Job Titles:
- Director of Athletics at Missouri State University
Kyle Moats has been the Director of Athletics at Missouri State University since 2009. Prior to his arrival in Springfield, Moats spent four years as associate athletics director for national marketing at Louisville. Moats also worked in the athletics department at both Marquette University and the University of Kentucky. A native of Dixon, Ill., Moats is a 1988 graduate of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a bachelor's degree in physical education. While at SIUE, Moats was a three-year letter winner in golf and was a student assistant basketball coach for the Cougars from 1985-1988. He earned a master's degree in sports management from the University of Kentucky in 2001.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Member of the Springfield Esports Coalition Committee
Lance Kettering was named the Executive Director of the Springfield Sports Commission and Sports Sales Manager for the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau in March 2010. Kettering and the Sports Commission team position Springfield as a quality destination for sports events by soliciting new and repeat events for the city. Kettering is responsible for the management, marketing, and operation of the Sports Commission as well as advocating for the improvement of athletics facilities in the Greater Springfield area that serves as tourism drivers for the community. Since 2010, Kettering and the team have signed the National Christian HomeSchool Basketball Championships to multi-year commitments, keeping the event in Springfield through at least 2025. This event alone generates 4.2 million in economic spending and generates 8,000 room nights annually for the community The Sports Commission team has also been instrumental in attracting numerous Missouri State High School Activities Association State Championships to Springfield, including the State Basketball Championships, which had been in Columbia for 40 of the previous 43 years. The event is slated to be in Springfield through 2023 In 2022, Springfield hosted 13 different State Championships. Other highlights for Kettering include serving as host of NCAA Division II Women's Golf Super Regional, USA BMX Gold Cups and USA BMX National series events, the NAIA Softball World Series, and bringing numerous other rights holders to Springfield for events. Kettering and staff also formed the Springfield Sports Commission Awards which recognizes and honors the outstanding athletics achievements of area high school athletes. This event brings 1,000 people together in a night to celebrate sports in the region. Prior to his appointment at the Sports Commission, Kettering most recently served as Director of Corporate Relations and Marketing for Missouri State Athletics from 2007-2010 and Assistant Director of Athletics Development from 1999-2007. Kettering also served as a Logistics Coordinator at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. Kettering has his Sports Tourism Strategist designation from SportsETA and currently serves on the Lake Country Soccer Board of Directors, was a past Board member of the Springfield Youth Hockey Association and the Missouri Amateur Ice Hockey Association, and is active with the Midwest Mavericks Baseball club in Springfield. Kettering is a member of the Show-Me Missouri Sports Group and serves on the Sports Legacy committee for SportsETA.
Job Titles:
- Director of Human Resources
Job Titles:
- Member of the Springfield Esports Coalition Committee
- Chairman / Guaranty Bank
- Senior Vice President at Springfield First Community Bank
Marc Mayer is a Senior Vice President at Springfield First Community Bank in Springfield. Mayer graduated from Kickapoo High School in 1998 and from Drury University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in public relations with a minor in business. He received his Masters in Business Administration from Henderson State University in 2003. He is married to Kim and has one child, Trystan. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys giving back to the community.
Job Titles:
- President & CEO of the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Secretary / Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau
A native of London, England, Mark has spent the last 21 years working in the tourism industry.
Mark is the President & CEO of the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau responsible for economically enhancing Springfield and surrounding communities through tourism development, sales and marketing initiatives Prior to this position Mark led the Butler County Visitor Bureau leading a team responsible for generating over $60 million dollars in economic impact each year.
Mark currently serves on the US Travel Board of Directors. Mark holds a MS in Sports Management and a BS in Business Administration and Management from the University of Kentucky. In addition, Mark has attained the Destinations International designation of Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) and the National Association of Sports Commissions Certified Sports Event Executive.
Mark is an avid Ironman triathlete.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Springfield Esports Coalition Committee
Milleson was the first head coach for the Drury women's basketball program when the
Perry Tennis Complex has six outdoor lighted tennis courts, park benches, restrooms, and a water fountain.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Springfield Esports Coalition Committee
- Esports Coalition Chair
Stacie has been an active member of the sports community for over 25 years, with a focus on facility and operation management for the past 13 years. She has successfully managed two multi-million dollar complexes and played a key role in overseeing the construction of the most recent one. Now, Stacie prides herself on being a youth sports advocate and consultant, working with individuals and organizations to create opportunities for young people to get involved in sports and stay engaged. Stacie firmly believes that youth sports play a vital role in the social, psychological, and physical development of young individuals. Additionally, she recognizes the significance of sports tourism in the economic development of a community. Stacie understands that sports tourism creates opportunities for growth and prosperity within a community, benefiting local businesses and boosting the overall economy. You can follow her podcast, Sports Development Authority, or find more information on her website, StacieDWells.com
Job Titles:
- Director of Sports Business Development
Stan Adams was named the Director of Sports Business Development of the Springfield Sports Commission in November of 2023. Adams will help lead efforts to enhance the sports business landscape in Springfield, bringing with him a wealth of experience and an impressive track record in his 8+ years in sports tourism and sports event planning and development. Adams previously served as the executive director of sports at Visit Tuscaloosa in Alabama. Prior to that, he spent six years as the organization's director of sports. Adams has also served as the sports business representative for Wicomico County in Salisbury, Maryland. He grew up in Birmingham, AL, but graduated from the University of Alabama with a bachelor's degree of business administration specializing in marketing and a master's degree in sport management.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Central Bank
Tyler Hart is the General Manager of the beautiful, award-winning, Hilton Garden Inn Springfield - by O'Reilly Hospitality. He has spent the last 23 years in the hospitality industry, working in restaurants and hotels in Springfield, Joplin, Portland, OR, and the Netherlands- the latter of which he assisted with the planning and organization of music festivals. Prior to being a General Manager, he had spent many years as the Director of Sales at the DoubleTree by Hilton Springfield, becoming familiar with, and working alongside the CVB and Sports Commission on various sales efforts.
Tyler is a follower of Christ, a husband, and father of 3 wonderful children. He is an endurance athlete: a USAC Cat-3 road cyclist, primarily competing in criteriums, however, is now in training for marathon competition.
US Baseball Park is home to the Show Me Collegiate League as well as the Drury University Baseball Team. Showcasing astro-turf field, a 37x48 video LED scoreboard and all new concession stands.
W.E. Dowell Fieldhouse is a fieldhouse (athletics building) located at Baptist Bible College. It features one hardwood basketball court with a seat capacity of 3,500.