Springfield Chamber of Commerce names winner of 2025 small business award
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce handed out its 2025 W. Curtis Strube Small Business Award to multi-media company FourOneSeven (417) at an event on Wednesday.
417 was selected among a group of five finalists. The other four finalists included Advanced Car Care Center, Kids Inn Child Care Center, Kinetic Design + Development and Maxon Fine Jewelry. 417 was previously a finalist for the 2024 award, and their Biz 417 brand also used to sponsor this event.
417 was established in 1998 as 417 Magazine before being acquired by Gary and Joan Whittaker, who went on to found Whitaker Publishing. The current owner and publisher of 417 is Logan Aguirre, who took ownership of the company in 2020.
'FourOneSeven exemplifies the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation that drives our local economy,' said Chamber President Matt Morrow in a statement. 'Their commitment to fostering connections and elevating quality of life in Springfield is truly commendable.'
Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco hosting youth football camp in Springfield
The W. Curtis Strube Small Business Award has been given out by the Chamber's Small Business Council since 1992 to recognize and celebrate its small business members. The Chamber says over 80% of its members have 50 employees or fewer.
Finalists for the award are chosen through applications consisting of essays submitted by companies regarding their business's history, philosophy, community contributions and more. They are scored by an independent panel featuring past winners, local business experts and Chamber Small Business Council volunteers.
'FourOneSeven's win is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire team, and their ongoing commitment to shining a light on the community and inspiring pride in 417-land,' said the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. 'The Chamber congratulates FourOneSeven on this well-deserved recognition and looks forward to their continued impact on the Springfield region.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
18 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Greater Stouffville Chamber Dinner Unites Business and Civic Leaders
● Thursday's 2025 Greater Stouffville Chamber Annual Dinner brought together business and civic leaders for a night of celebration and reflection. ● Chamber Executive Director Christian Buhagiar urged unity amid global volatility, highlighting the Chamber's growing successes and regional influence. ● Mayor Iain Lovatt's keynote speech spotlighted recent achievements, including Mosaic House, the Memorial Park Multi-Purpose Trail, and progress on Downtown revitalization. ● Lovatt emphasized the Town's commitment to attracting new businesses, with 1.8 million square feet of employment development currently in the Town's pipeline. ● Francis and Meyer Co. founders Amanda and Danielle Black were awarded a $50,000 grant as winners of the Stouffville Village Small Business Challenge. ● Mike Feld of Most Excellent Productions received the 2025 Business Excellence Community Award. The Greater Stouffville Chamber's 2025 Annual Dinner brought together local leaders, entrepreneurs, and officials Thursday evening at Station Creek Golf Club for a night of networking, celebration, and forward-looking insights. In his opening remarks, Chamber Executive Director Christian Buhagiar emphasized the organization's growing influence and essential role in the region's business ecosystem. 'Our Chamber continues to grow and expand, ensuring our relevance and our impact,' he said, encouraging attendees to remain active partners as the Chamber advances its work. Buhagiar underscored the need for unity amid global volatility, pointing to inflation, tariffs, and shifting political landscapes as reasons why a strong collective voice is vital. 'Together we create an engaged business community from which we can gather strength, learn, and conduct business,' he told attendees. Prior to the evening's keynote address from Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt, the 2025 Business Excellence Community Award was presented to Mike Feld of Most Excellent Productions for more than a decade of outstanding service in live event production throughout Stouffville. Lovatt delivered a wide-ranging speech highlighting key Town achievements and future priorities. He opened by praising and thanking the municipality's Senior Staff, calling it 'the strongest senior leadership team in the Town's history.' Among the accomplishments of the past year, Lovatt pointed to the opening of Mosaic House . The Housing York project introduced 97 new units to the Region's housing stock, providing stable homes for dozens of families. 'Sadly, 97 is a mere drop in the bucket compared to the 18,000 families still on the list,' Lovatt said. He reaffirmed Housing York's push for a one-third funding model among all levels of government to help move more projects forward. Another milestone was the Memorial Park Multi-Purpose Trail, now a popular all-season amenity. The trail opened last summer for walkers and wheeled users and debuted for ice skating just in time for the holiday season. Partnerships and placemaking also featured prominently in the Mayor's address. He spoke to the Town's five-year memorandum of understanding with York University, as well as the installation of new murals downtown and along the Sculpture Walk. These public art installations are part of an ongoing effort to animate the Downtown's shared spaces. Lovatt celebrated the arrival of more than 20 new businesses in town, citing continued investor confidence and economic opportunity. He also announced Francis & Meyer Candle Co. as the winner of the inaugural Stouffville Village Small Business Challenge , a joint initiative between the Chamber and the Office of the Mayor. The Challenge awarded a $50,000 grant to support the launch of their new storefront. The local business was selected from 20 applicants following a live pitch finale at 19 on the Park. 'You didn't just pitch an idea, you activated the community, and that kind of spark, it's going to grow into something really lasting,' Chamber Vice-President Indu Bains told the winners. The Mayor also praised Stouffville's ranking as No. 13 nationally on the Globe and Mail's 2024 'Canada's Most Livable Cities' list. The municipality was ranked second in Ontario and first in York Region. The Town was also named to Human Resources Director Canada's 'Best Places to Work' list for the first time. 'This recognition highlights our commitment to fostering a supportive and equitable work environment,' Lovatt said. Looking ahead, Mayor Lovatt highlighted key investments in public amenities. These include design work for a second pool at the Leisure Centre, with $1 million allocated, and upgrades to Civic Square. He also mentioned the $9.75 million investment in Fire and EMS Station 5-2 in Ballantrae. Economic development remained a central focus, with Lovatt reaffirming the Town's push to attract industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) employers. 'Attracting ICI businesses remains a top priority of mine,' he said, referencing 1.8 million square feet of employment development in Stouffville's pipeline. He also addressed the Town's ongoing advocacy to open protected Greenbelt lands along the east side of Highway 404 for future business investment, a measure intended to help rebalance the Town's tax base. 'As long as I am mayor, I will continue to advocate so that your property taxes are not bearing the brunt of financing our town,' Lovatt told the crowd. The Mayor took time to acknowledge the work of Town Staff behind the scenes, including Stouffville's Corporate Communications team, which has expanded public engagement through a new branding strategy, in-house design work, and improved communication between the Town and its residents. Lovatt closed by acknowledging global uncertainty and expressing confidence in Stouffville's resilience. 'It's not lost on me that we are living through some pretty uncertain and ever changing economic times, in great part due to the whims of a whack job in the White House,' he said. 'Whatever challenges lay ahead, we at the Town are prepared to weather the storm with you,' Lovatt told attendees. 'We've done it before, COVID comes to mind, and just as we did then, we will get through it... and come out stronger on the other side.' Wrapping up the event, Bains reflected on the energy in the room and the power of collective momentum. 'We're not just building businesses, we're building something bigger together,' she said. 'When businesses come together, the whole town moves forward.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce to hold 112th Annual Meeting
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce will hold its 112th Annual Meeting on Thursday, August 21, at the Terre Haute Convention Center from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The chamber of commerce said the event will bring together West Central Indiana businesses and community members to celebrate the past year's accomplishments and achievements. They said the annual meeting will also be a platform to highlight progress, unveil future initiatives and continue momentum across the business community. Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce honors businesses and individuals 'This year's theme, 'A Collective Vision Forward,' emphasizes the shared commitmentof the Chamber and its members to build a stronger, more vibrant regional economythrough collaboration and innovation,' said the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce. The chamber will also announce its annual awards, which include the Building Business Award, the Leading Tomorrow Award and the Building Community Award. They will also recognize the 12 Under 40 nominees. If you want to nominate someone, you can do so by going to these links: Building Business Award, Building Community Award and the Leading Tomorrow Award. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
South Knoxville losing one of its most popular restaurants amid Sevier Avenue construction
As streetscape construction ramps up, a popular restaurant at the east end of Sevier Avenue is closing after almost a decade in South Knoxville. Landing House owner Zach Land took to Instagram on May 19 to announce the restaurant's closure. June 8 will be the last day open for Landing House, which is uniquely located in a house rather than a typical restaurant space. It's part of the allure for the Chinese and Cambodian-style restaurant near the Sevier Avenue intersection of Island Home Avenue and Foggy Bottom Street, where a roundabout is being built for the streetscape project. Landing House was one of the first spots along the South Knoxville corridor that transformed the street from a desolate, seemingly uninviting stretch into a hotpot for those looking to grab a drink, enjoy a meal and spend the day outside. "Ten years ago, my wife Hao and I saw a 'For Sale' sign on a neat, creepy old house in the neighborhood we lived. Sevier Ave was a desolate place that was honestly … a little sketchy," Land wrote in the Instagram post. "Now that shabby little neighborhood we once knew is completely unrecognizable." Landing House changed that perception, with popular menu items like chicken and shrimp pho, beef filet fried rice and chili crisp noodles making the restaurant stand out as a culinary anchor on Sevier Avenue. The street is now home to a variety of restaurants, bars and breweries, from Redbud Kitchen and Angry Dumplings Tea to Alliance Brewing Company and Hi-Wire Brewing. Balter Beerworks executive chef Hux Jones said in 2023 that Landing House chef Derek Martin was his favorite in Knoxville. "I am so impressed with all the progression he has had with his culinary career," Jones wrote about Martin at the time. "He has really embraced the Asian cuisine with full force." Knox News has also recognized Landing House as one of the best restaurants around town. After A Dopo earned a spot on USA TODAY's Restaurants of the Year list in 2025, Knox News recognized Landing House as one of the restaurants we wish made the list. "We thought it would be great for people to have a place to grab some food to go along with their local craft beers and plowed head first into the insanely scary and hectic world of restaurant ownership," the Instagram post read. Land said in the post it's best to close Landing House "on our own terms than be forced to close in the future." Five months into the 18-month construction period for the $19.2 million city streetscape, Landing House is in a complicated position, with parking made more difficult by the under-construction roundabout and other street work. Streetscape construction is expected to last until summer 2026. "Our business has grown substantially every year we have been open and that is due to your loyal patronage and word of mouth and that means the world to us," Land wrote. "Once again, thank you Knoxville and especially South Knoxville for all your support." Joanna Hayes is the restaurant and retail reporter. Email: Support strong local journalism by subscribing at This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Landing House closing amid Sevier Ave. construction in Knoxville
