Richard Ollis, a fourth-generation business leader, has been named 2024 Springfieldian.
A clear vision for Springfield's future and success in executing that vision made Ollis a great fit for one of the Queen City's most coveted awards, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce's 2024 Springfieldian.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned along the way, it’s to surround yourself with great people and be supportive of them, and if we [can] be supportive of one another, we can make our community great,” Ollis said.
“Richard has three qualities which I think make him a very deserving recipient,” Springfield Mayor Ken McClure wrote in a press release. “The first I found is a vision, whether that relates to the business in which he works, or other community activities. The second is the ability to articulate that vision. And finally, the ability to figure out what steps need to be taken to carry out the vision.”
The Springfieldian is the highest honor that the chamber grants. It is awarded each year to an “individual who exemplifies outstanding community service, excellence in his or her field and dedication to improving the quality of life for Springfield and its citizens.”
Lifelong Springfield resident
Ollis, who leads a team of more than 50 people as the CEO of Ollis/Akers/Arney Insurance and Business Advisors, received the award Jan. 26, at the chamber's 2024 Annual Meeting at the Oasis Hotel and Convention Center.
“Our Springfieldian is not a status quo person, he is a change agent,” said Jim Anderson, former president of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. “He’s innovative, he’s creative. He leads by example and does the right thing.”
Ollis graduated from Missouri State University with a bachelor's degree in finance. Springfield is where his romance budded with his now-wife, Teresa. The couple has two daughters, Kelsey and Sabrina.
Ollis serves on MSU's College of Business Advisory Board and regularly shares his expertise through print and radio platforms. Ollis is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served two terms on Springfield City Council.
“I was 17 years old. When I was out on the John F. Kennedy washing dishes and cleaning bathrooms, I couldn’t have imagined being here tonight,” Ollis said.
Strong presence in community initiatives
Besides his professional accomplishments, Ollis has been a vital part of community initiatives like Restore SGF, an effort to encourage reinvestment in Springfield's historic neighborhoods, according to the release. He has served as board chairman of the chamber and has been on boards for Commerce Bank, Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, Springfield-Branson National Airport, Hickory Hills Country Club and Safety Council of the Ozarks.
Since 1957, the Springfield Chamber of Commerce has honored an individual for improving the quality of life of Springfield. Past Springfieldian recipients include: Lester E. Cox (1960), Dr. L.E. Meador (1972), John Q. Hammons (1980), Charlie O’Reilly (1997), Jan Horton (1998), Jack Stack (2000), Johnny Morris (2001), Thomas Finnie (2002), Roseann Bentley (2003), James Anderson (2005), Brian Fogle (2010), Mary Beth O’Reilly (2012), Thomas J. Carlson (2014), Patti Penny (2017), Sam Hamra (2018), Gordon Kinne (2019), Louis Griesemer (2020), Warren Davis (2021), Joe Turner (2022) and Joe Carmichael (2023).
