Biz 417

10/16/2025

Headlines don’t always tell the whole story, but they make for great content. Watch Ron Davis read a few of the mean headlines written about him over the years. 👀

10/16/2025

Ron Davis has spent more than 40 years in local media sharing stories that matter. He has interviewed presidents, explored every form of media, and witnessed the evolution of storytelling across decades. Even the stories that have stayed with him show the lasting impact journalism can have. When he’s not working, he writes, cares for his cats and listens to new music, always guided by the question his mother taught him: “What are you afraid of?”

With more than 40 years in local media, Ron Davis has worked in every form of traditional media and reflects on his career spent sharing stories. While his current business card doesn’t include a title, he is still researching and sharing useful information for Bryan Properties.

10/15/2025

10 Years of Celebrating Leadership

Join us to celebrate the 2025 Biz 100—Biz 417’s annual list honoring the top leaders shaping 417-land’s business community. These honorees are driving change, strengthening companies and making the Ozarks more connected.

Plus, we’re raising a glass to 10 years of Biz 417! 🎉

📅 November 12, 2025
📍 Reliable BMW
🎟️ Tickets: https://417mag.ticketspice.com/2025-biz-100-celebration

10/14/2025

Fall is the sweet spot for tax planning. 🍂 Individuals and business owners can review income, expenses and life changes to make strategic moves before year-end. Waiting until January can mean missed opportunities and bigger tax bills. Learn more with Cristian Rath, CPA and tax strategist at Abacus Advisers!

Get ahead of tax season with Abacus! Learn fall tax planning tips for individuals and business owners, avoid mistakes, and prepare for 2025 tax law changes.

10/07/2025

When was the last time you nailed it or totally failed it? 😅💪 We asked Gabriella Verdigo-Johnson, Jackson Cantwell, Sam Timmerman, Tom Relford and Lori Johnson Murawski to share their own stories.

10/02/2025

Year after year, these women raise the bar. Swipe through to celebrate past Women Who Mean Business honorees who continue to transform our region. 💼🌟

Know a local leader who deserves to be recognized next? Nominations are now open for the 2026 contest!💡

https://www.biz417.com/awards/women-who-mean-business/nominations/

10/01/2025

Big ideas. Big voices. Our Remarkable ladies are turning stories into impact. 💡 🎤

We’ve been diving into public speaking, clarifying messages, and crafting stories that inspire.

This is what Remarkable looks like! ✨

09/30/2025

🏆 What can a Super Bowl-winning team teach small businesses about marketing? A lot, according to Kansas City Chiefs CMO Lara Krug.

She shares how tapping into micro-influencers and meeting people where they are can help the Chiefs grow their fan base, and how those same strategies can work for small business owners, too.

Lara Krug, CMO of the Kansas City Chiefs, shares how businesses can grow by leaning into community and staying flexible.

09/25/2025

Many in 417-land know Gabriela Verdugo-Johnson as a real estate pro, a leader with the Hispanic Networking Group of the Ozarks or the co-owner of The Chicas Club, Springfield’s new all-women’s gym. But her story goes even deeper.

Growing up in Ciudad Juárez and building a life of discipline, community and empowerment in the Ozarks, Verdugo-Johnson is proof that big dreams—and hard work—can change everything. 💪✨

Gabriela Verdugo-Johnson’s discipline was born in the water as a collegiate swimmer. Today, she is a successful real estate agent, business owner and community leader, counting her blessings every day while setting new goals for the future.

09/22/2025

Seventeen-year-old Jackson Cantwell balanced AP classes, football practice and national track championships, all while becoming the nation’s No. 1 football recruit. 🏈🔥

This spring, he committed to the University of Miami, where he’ll continue his journey with the same focus and humility that have defined him so far. “I want to leave a legacy in my city, maybe even state or country,” he says. “I’m looking forward to one last year with my friends and then playing my first game in Hard Rock [Stadium]."

With Olympian parents, a top NFL agent and the entire country watching, Nixa’s Jackson Cantwell is rewriting the high school athlete playbook.

09/19/2025

Wondering how the 20 companies on the Best Place to Work list made the cut? Each one went through a detailed review by Best Companies Group, including company info and an anonymous 75-question employee survey. 📝 Employee feedback carries the most weight, so the results give an honest look at what it’s really like to work there. Every applicant gets access to their data, too—so even if they don’t earn the title, they can use the insights to build a better workplace. 🙌

Read more about the the winners at the !

09/19/2025

Wondering how the 20 companies on the Best Place to Work list made the cut? Each one went through a detailed review by Best Companies Group, including company info and an anonymous 75-question employee survey. 📝 Employee feedback carries the most weight, so the results give an honest look at what it’s really like to work there. Every applicant gets access to their data, too—so even if they don’t earn the title, they can use the insights to build a better workplace. 🙌

Biz 417 is celebrating the Best Places to Work in southwest Missouri for the fifth year. Read about the small and large companies who made the 2025 list.