2021 40 Under 40: Alex Neville-Verdugo

From a front-of-house job at the Aviary Cafe to a current role as museum director at the Discovery Center of Springfield, Alex Neville-Verdugo has been a leader. At the Discovery Center, Neville-Verdugo, 35, has played a role in leading and supporting every member of the organization’s team. In 2017, Neville-Verdugo remained as one of only two members of the leadership team during a transitional period that also included the loss of a third of their staff.

“We picked up the pieces that needed to be picked up, relied on our excellent teams, but most importantly encouraged our entire DCS team to think as one unit,” Neville-Verdugo says.

Years later as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Neville-Verdugo provided support for the team as DCS transformed into a free day care for essential workers in Springfield.

How do you make the Ozarks better? By doing my part to keep diversity and inclusion at the forefront of our minds in the Ozarks.

Best productivity hack? Try it! Try it again. Know when to stop and revisit if you keep hitting a brick wall. Solutions will come.

Best celebrity meeting/sighting? Ongoing since we have the magnificent Crystal Methyd living in our town.

Favorite hobby or pastime? My wife and I are avid gardeners. She champions our herb and veg beds, while my newest obsession is cultivating a moss lawn.