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Welcome new member Ryan Phillips

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Rusty Worley introduced Ryan on Nov. 5.  His cosponsor is Brett Baldwin.

Ryan is a partner and principal architect at Hood-Rich Architecture, where he’s worked since December 2022 after previously working at H Design Group for nearly nine years.  He has contributed to many recognizable local spaces, including corporate headquarters for both Russell Cellular and Multipli Credit Union, as well as recent additions to Hickory Hills and Twin Oaks country clubs, Big Cedar Lodge, Bass Pro Shops, and City Utilities of Springfield’s Downtown Bus Station.  Ryan is working closely with the Springfield-Greene County Park Board on an important five-park master plan and the new Meador Park Pickleball Facility.  He’s a member of the American Institute of Architects, National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and the Urban Land Institute.

Ryan is originally from Louisiana.  He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture at Louisiana Tech University in 2001.  He and his wife of almost 27 years, Milah, moved to Springfield in 2006 following Hurricane Rita.  They left for Arkansas in 2010 to live and work in the Fayetteville and Rogers area, then returned to Springfield in 2014.  He’s lived in several cities across the South but says Springfield has been his favorite place to call home and raise a family.

Ryan serves as a deacon and Youth Missions Minister at Boulevard Baptist Church, where he organizes and leads an annual mission trip for 40 to 50 students.  He also plans volunteer community service events for his colleagues.  He says Rotary’s motto of "Service Above Self" deeply resonates with his own philosophy: when you are busy serving others, you naturally find a deeper sense of purpose and discover the true joy of making a positive impact.

Ryan and Milah live in east Springfield and have three children, Elizabeth, Katherine, and Lincoln.   He says his family is his favorite group of people. Together, they love taking advantage of the Ozarks outdoors through backpacking and kayaking.

Hands-on Service at Springfield Victory Mission

Club members helped at Victory Mission's kitchen on Boonville Avenue on Nov. 3 by preparing ready-to-eat meals -- specifically, burritos and sandwiches -- for our neighbors who are in need of food and comfort during the holidays.  These neighbors face cycles of homelessness, food insecurity, poverty, and hopeless situations.
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Hands-on Service: Springfield Dream Center's block party

Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast volunteered to support the Springfield Dream Center’s community block party on Friday, Oct. 9.  They ran kid-friendly activity stations, served meals, and helped with general hospitality needs throughout the event.  At the conclusion of the block party, the volunteers helped with clean-up and take-down activities.

A special thanks goes to volunteers from Rotary Community Corps (Bianca Barriga Fujihara, Madeleine Mickle, Mohammed Alakwaa, Wail Moussa, Salim Bamehriz, Nour Amri, Shuja Bhatti, Bilal Overton, Annie Aggarwal,  Afia Kyebi Bruce-Appiah, and Yomna Awad) who joined our club to support this event.

The Springfield Dream Center block parties create a safe, welcoming, and memorable evening for local children and families.   They help build community connection by  providing positive experiences for kids, and ensuring families feel valued and supported in a fun, safe environment.

(Text and photos by Dan Emrie)

Welcome new member Keith Mills

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Michael Wehrenberg introduced Keith on Sept. 3.  His cosponsor is John Horton.

Keith is the chief financial officer and general manager for 60-year-old Mills Foundations, based in Nixa, and other of his third-generation family-owned businesses that specialize in concrete construction throughout southwest Missouri.  The companies concentrate on residential basements, stem walls and retaining walls instead of commercial buildings.

Keith is a native of Southwest Missouri whose career has taken him through business, architecture, design, construction, and ultimately back to the family’s businesses.  After graduating from Rogersville High School in 2011, Keith attended Drury University, initially studying business before leaving school to join Mills Foundations.  In 2017, he returned to Drury to pursue architecture, ultimately earning his Bachelor of Architecture in 2023.

Keith joined Buxton Kubik Dodd Design Collective in 2021.  Even while attending school and working at BKD, he remained actively involved in his family’s businesses, spending weekends managing payrolls and accounts payable.  In 2024, Keith returned to the family businesses full time.  He calls himself “just a hillbilly who enjoys working hard.”

Keith is actively involved with the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield, serving on both the Codes Committee and Parade of Homes Committee.  He also remains heavily involved with the alumni council of Sigma Nu, his fraternity at Drury.  He also volunteers for Breakthrough T1D, which works to cure, prevent and better treat Type 1 Diabetes.  Keith has lived with Type 1 diabetes since he was 4 years old, which is why his companion dog, Faux -- pronounced “Fox” -- is rarely far from his side.

Outside of work and community involvement, Keith enjoys kayaking local rivers and playing tennis.  He lives in central Springfield.

Welcome new member Justin Lockhart

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Brian McDonough introduced Justin on Aug. 20.  His cosponsor is Barbara Lucks.

Justin is vice president of Community and Neighborhood Development at Community Partnership of the Ozarks.  He has been with CPO since 2017 and currently oversees its student mentoring initiatives, financial stability services, neighborhood supports, and community collaboratives.

Justin is a lifelong Ozarks native.  He grew up in Bolivar and has lived in Springfield for the past 20 years.  He worked as a deputy juvenile officer for the Greene County Juvenile Court from 2013 to 2017.  He earned both his undergraduate degree and a Master of Public Administration at Missouri State University.  He is also a graduate of Leadership Springfield Class 46.

Throughout his career, Justin has worked closely with a variety of community collaboratives and local groups dedicated to making our community a better place for everyone, including CASA and the Job Center of the Ozarks Youth Committee.

Justin lives in southeast Springfield with his wife, Whitney, and their two daughters, Madison and Layla.  He enjoys spending time with family, fly fishing, cooking, and enjoying the outdoors.

Welcome new member Jim Blaine

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Sam Blaine introduced his father on Aug. 20.  His cosponsor is Brian McDonough.

Jim is a semi-retired physician who’s served in private and public medical practices in Springfield since 1977.  He currently serves as chair of the Greene County Medical Society’s Community Action Committee and as co-editor of the GCMS Journal.

Jim grew up, played football and graduated from high school in Grove, Okla.  He earned a Bachelor of Science in Physiology at Oklahoma State University, and earned his medical degree at the University of Oklahoma.  He practiced Family Medicine in Norman, Okla., and Siloam Springs, Ark., where he developed an interest in Emergency Medicine, leading to his move to Springfield, where he worked for 12 years as an emergency and trauma center physician.  He then worked at Smith Glynn Calloway Clinic as a primary care physician for 11 years.  Jim started on-site primary care offices at the Paul Mueller Company, City Utilities of Springfield, Ozarks Technical Community College, and Digital Manufacturing Products before retiring from a full-time practice in 2022.

Jim has been active in the Greene County Medical Society since 1980 and served as president in 1996.  He has been active with the Child Advocacy Center for more than 30 years and was medical director for most of that time.  He also served in the U.S. Navy’s Public Health Service and is a former member of the Bolivar Rotary Club.

Jim lives in east Springfield with his wife of more than 40 years, Barbara.  They have four children (Sam, Sara, Mark and Jamie), five grandchildren (Drew, Pete, Emily, Lewis and Suleiman) and one great grandson (Scottie).