Who We Are

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.

Ben was raised in Springfield, Missouri, where he attended Greenwood Laboratory School before pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at the University of Arkansas. He is currently a Commercial Loan Officer at Great Southern Bank, leveraging his financial expertise to support local businesses. Ben's passion for sports has been a lifelong influence, having played soccer, tennis, and golf throughout his youth. His dedication to sports continues today through his involvement on the Springfield Sports Commission Board, Lake Country Soccer's Board, and Ducks Unlimited's Springfield Chapter. Outside of work, Ben enjoys spending time with his wife, Claire, and their two children, William and Annie. His hobbies include hunting, fishing, and spending time at Table Rock Lake.

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.

Brent Parker, a veteran of the hospitality industry with over 35 years of experience, grew up in Southwest Missouri and graduated from Missouri State University in 1992. He spent 25 years at Marriott International, honing his expertise in hotel management and operations. After his tenure with Marriott, he moved into a leadership role with John Q. Hammons Hotels/Atrium Hospitality, where he has been contributing for the past 10 years.

A native of Indianapolis, Ind., Byron Shive is the current CEO & Executive Director of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Prior to coming to the Hall of Fame, Byron was a solo practitioner attorney for over ten years with his own law firm in Bolivar, Mo., where he has lived since 2004. A lifelong sports fan, Byron came to the Hall of Fame in Feb. 2021 and stepped into the role of CEO on Aug. 1, 2022. Byron and his talented Hall of Fame staff are seeking to broaden the statewide footprint of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame by hosting multiple enshrinement ceremonies across the state. In addition, under Byron’s leadership, the Hall of Fame is working toward renovating and revitalizing the Hall of Fame’s 30,000-square foot museum space. The future “Sports Fan’s Playground” concept—complete with interactives, simulators, touch screens and modern technology—will serve as a tourist draw for sports fans visiting Springfield in the future. When he is not working, Byron enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf, watching sports and having fun. Byron is married to Jeralen, and together they have two children, Bryton and Turner.

Thomas Dale Replogle Age 47

Springfield, MO

CEO Elliott Lodging 24 years working for Gordon Elliott

Drury University 99 BA Accounting and Business Administration

Missouri State University MBA Finance 2004

Melanie Earl-Replogle – Wife

Sons Drew (Freshman Baylor University), Dane (Glendale High School), Luke( Pershing Middle School)

Daughter Lillian (Wilder Elementary)

Hobbies – Hunting and Fishing and Traveling with Family and Friends

Favorite sports team KC Chiefs, St Louis Cardinals and Glendale Baseball

A lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan, Dan got his start with Cardinals Baseball by winning the Fox Sports TV contest, "Payin' Your Dues" in May of 2004.

Since joining the Springfield Cardinals prior to the inaugural season in 2005, Dan has gone from the last Account Executive hired all the way to Vice President/General Manager, with various sales and marketing positions along the way. As the second General Manager in Team History, Dan hopes to lead the team with a renewed commitment to increase the club’s civic involvement as well as increasing the Fun levels in the stadium.

Dan has always and will continue to put a focus on being active in the community, both through new community relations programs with the Cardinals and serving on a variety of Board positions in the community. Currently he is serving on the Boards for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, the Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Springfield Area Sports Commission.

A graduate of Springfield Catholic High School, Dan attended the University of Missouri-Columbia. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Minor in Psychology while also co-founding the student operated designated driver program STRIPES.

Dan was married in September of 2011 to the lovely Heather Anderson. After a series of adventures together the two have embarked on the crazy journey of parenthood, welcoming Andy (or DR3 as Dan calls him) to the world in July of 2015. In October of 2018 they welcome their second son Tyson (Heather refused to sign a birth certificate with the name Bruce Wayne). Life, as well as the carpets, have never been the same.

Fans are always welcome to contact Dan with comments, ideas or concerns.

David Holtmann is the Director of Finance for the City of Springfield. David also serves as the Board Treasurer for the Springfield Sports Commission

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!

Erin Boster is the President and Owner of Collegiate Awards.

PREVIOUS POSITIONS & YEARS OF SERVICE:
Director of Operations / Owner, Carrollton Specialty Products 2001 – 2012
Casualty Claims Specialist, State Farm Insurance 1999 – 2001
Property Claims Representative, State Farm Insurance 1998 – 1999
Inside Sales Representative, Positronic Industries 1996 – 1997

EDUCATION:
Drury University – Springfield, MO
Bachelor of Arts, Major Business Administration & Spanish / Minor Economics

ORGANIZATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS
Springfield Sports Commission Board of Directors 2020 – present
SSC EAR Committee Chair 2021 - 2023
Drury University Breech School of Business Advisory Board 2016 – 2019
Christian Fellowship School Parent Advisory Board 2012 - 2015
LLS Team in Training Member 2005 - 2006

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.

As Chief Operating Officer at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, I leverage over 20 years of experience to drive organizational success and community growth. I oversee financial integrity, human resources, and facility management, while leading initiatives like the Chamber’s Reach Campaign to enhance member engagement. I hold a Bachelor’s in Agricultural Business and an MBA in Finance from Missouri State University, and I’m a graduate of Leadership Springfield, honored as a Springfield Business Journal '40 Under 40' recipient. Beyond my professional role, I am active in the community as a Sustainer Director with the Junior League of Springfield and serve on various boards, including the Greenwood Parents Association.

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

Here’s a polished version of your bio for readability and flow:

Jill Simmons is an experienced Service Administrator with a strong background in government administration, specializing in community recreation services. With over a decade at the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, she has developed and managed a variety of programs focused on aquatics, family centers, health and wellness, community athletics, and tennis. In her role, Jill engages in business planning and implements initiatives that enhance community involvement and recreational opportunities for residents.

Prior to her tenure at the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, Jill served as the Assistant Director of Branson Parks and Recreation and held leadership positions as the Director of Parks and Recreation in Millersville, TN, and Willard, MO.

Jill holds a Master of Science (M.S.) in Parks and Recreation from Middle Tennessee State University and is passionate about fostering healthy communities through recreational programming and dedicated service.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The architect of the Drury Lady Panthers basketball program that established itself as a
national power in NCAA-II has returned to Drury University to lead its Athletics
Department. Nyla Milleson, Drury's first women's basketball head coach, was named as
the next Vice President and Director of Athletics by the university president, Dr. Tim Cloyd
on Feb. 21, 2022.

She is the first woman to lead an athletics department at any of Springfield's collegiate
programs, including Drury, Missouri State, and Evangel.

Milleson was the first head coach for the Drury women's basketball program when the
team launched in the 2000-01 season. She built the team into a national power
immediately as Drury won 20 games in its first year and reached the NCAA-II
championship game in just their fourth season. In seven years as Drury's head coach,
Milleson posted a record of 185-36, her teams appeared in five NCAA-II tournaments,
won three conference championships, two NCAA-II Regional championships, and the
2004 team was the national runner-up. She was named Coach of the Year in the
Heartland Conference four times and won the same award in the Great Lakes Valley
Conference twice.

Now in their 22nd year, the Drury women's basketball program boasts the best all-time winning percentage in the nation with a record of
569-115 (.833); they've earned trips to 18 NCAA-II tournaments, won 10 conference
championships, and have reached the D-II title game twice in their history. Since the
opening of the O'Reilly Family Event Center in 2010, the Lady Panthers have ranked in
the top 10 in NCAA-II women's basketball attendance each year.

Following her stay at Drury, Milleson spent 14 years as a head coach at the Division I
level. She led Missouri State to three straight 20-win seasons and guided the Lady
Bears to a Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship in 2012. Milleson
became the head coach at George Mason in 2013-14 and, in five years, took a program
that won just eight games in her first year to a team-record 24 wins and the club's first
national postseason appearance in 14 years.

Milleson stepped down at the end of the 2020-21 season to return to the Ozarks and, for
the last year has served as the Director of Athletics for the Hollister R-V School District
in Hollister, Missouri.

Milleson originally arrived in southwest Missouri in 1992 when she was named as the
head coach of the girls' basketball program at Glendale High School in Springfield. In
seven years, she posted a record of 157-39 while guiding the Lady Falcons to two state
semifinal appearances and the 1996 Class 4A state championships.

In 2016, Milleson was inducted into the Drury Athletics Hall of Fame, and she was
inducted into the Springfield Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
Milleson and her husband Brent have two sons, Barrett and Caylor. A native of
Goodland, Kansas, she has degrees in Psychology and Education from Kansas State
University and a Master's in Education Administration from Kansas State.

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

Teri Cantwell is the Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Central Bank.

PREVIOUS POSITIONS &
YEARS OF SERVICE:
Director of Human Resources Lenoir Woods/Lutheran Senior Services 2 years
Human Resources Officer Central Bank of Boone County 3.5 years
Assistant Human Resources Manager OCCI 2 years
Track and Field Coach University of Missouri-Columbia Volunteer then Assistant Coach
7 years
Head Assistant Track and Field Coach Oklahoma State University 2 years
Professional Track and Field Athlete for USA and Nike 5 years
Sports Information
2000 USA Olympian-Track and Field Shot put
1999 World Indoor Bronze Medalist-Track and Field-Shot put
Bronze Medalist Pam Am Games
2 Time USA Champion
2 Time NCAA Champion
8 Time All American Shot put and Discus
Former Collegiate Record Holder NCAA Division I Shot put.
Nebraska All Class State Champion 8 times Shot put and Discus
Sponsored by Nike and Powerbar
EDUCATION Southern Methodist University

Dallas, Texas
Major History
Minor Anthropology with Secondary Education
William Woods University
Fulton, Missouri
MBA with emphasis in Human Resources

ORGANIZATIONS & AFFILIATIONS
Great Circle Regional Board President 2021/2022, Board Member 2020, 2019, 2018
Harmony House Purple Party Chair 2022, Committee Member 2020, 2019
American Heart Association Go Red Chair
Springfield Area Human Resources Association member 2016-current
Women’s Intersport Network-WIN 2010-current
Olympians Association 2000-current
American Legion Auxiliary 1975-current
Columbia Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network
Human Resources Association of Central Missouri HRACMO 2010-2016
Society of Human Resources Management-SHRM

Tim Baltes is the Senior Manager of Compliance at Bass Pro Shops, bringing over 20 years of human resources expertise across industries such as manufacturing, higher education, logistics, healthcare, and retail. A dedicated community advocate, Tim has spent the past 12 years volunteering and serving as a Board Member for various organizations and currently sits on the Leadership Springfield Board. He holds a Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and enjoys sharing his knowledge, teaching on topics like performance reviews, time management, and coaching for success at work and through the SBDC within the efactory.

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.