2007 Most Influential Women Honoree: Joyce Buxton

Joyce Buxton continues to influence her clients years after her work for them is finished.

Buxton, an interior designer, has designed spaces for several clients, including Heard, Heard & Vogel DDS, Diesel Exchange, Landers Theatre, The Marlin Agency, Environmental Works Inc. and the Glen Campbell Theatre.

“There is a famous quote that says, ‘We shape our buildings, and then our buildings shape us,’” Buxton said. “I am convinced that a well-designed space enhances the quality of life of those who inhabit it.”

Buxton has been an interior designer for 26 years, and she is now a partner in architecture and design firm Buxton-Kubik-Dodd Inc., which was established in 2003. She and architect Brian Kubik had worked together at design firm Pellham-Phillips, and architect Jon Dodd had worked with Kubik at Sapp Design Associates.

Buxton, a 1981 graduate of Iowa State University, previously worked as director of design for Grooms Office Systems. Her influence, however, isn’t only felt locally.

Professionally, she’s traveled more than once to China on behalf of Buxton-Kubik-Dodd, which has done design work for 24 projects there, including a 20-story residential building in Dongguan, China, a city of nearly 2 million people.

Children and faith also are important to Buxton. She’s devoted time to K-Life, an interdenominational Christian ministry for youth, Schweitzer United Methodist Church, Children’s Choir of Southwest Missouri and parent-teacher associations at Sequiota Elementary School and New Covenant Academy.

Buxton’s compassionate spirit helped business partner Kubik deal with personal trauma in 2005. Buxton and Dodd supported their colleague as he took time off to care for his then-2-year-old son, Cross, who had developed cancer. After a year spent battling the disease, Cross is doing fine, said Kubik, who nominated Buxton as one of the Most Influential Women.

“(Buxton’s) career is important, but her family and her beliefs are more important,” Kubik wrote. “She has her priorities of life in order and (that makes) her that much more of a quality human being.”

One-on-one with Joyce Buxton

What advice do you have for young women preparing to enter the work force?

Choose a field for which you have a passion. Pay less attention to trends, pay scales, and demographics, and more attention to what is inspiring to you. … Once committed to your decision, find a respected mentor and have a teachable attitude. Be willing to work harder and longer than they are.

Beyond the Golden Rule, what philosophy guides you?

Musician Bobby McFerrin says, “Don’t worry. Be happy.” I prefer the philosophy, “Do worry, but be happy.” I am a mother, small-business partner and a designer – need I say more?

When you were young, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I wanted to be a house cat – I’ve always had a pretty good imagination.

What’s something about you that most people don’t know?

I was an all-conference basketball player in high school.

Please tell us about your family.

My husband of 24 years, Phil Buxton, is a Springfield native and is the general manager at Springfield Pump and Supply. We have one child, our sweet daughter Audrey, who is 16. I am also blessed with a wonderful extended family who live in Iowa and Branson.

Information accurate at the time of the honor.