Great Southern CEO honored with Springfieldian Award

Joe Turner, president and CEO of Great Southern Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq: GSBC), received the 2022 Springfieldian Award tonight.

The veteran banker was honored at the culmination of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting at Oasis Hotel & Convention Center, according to a news release.

"He has quietly and humbly built an incredible organization here in our community,” said Brian Fogle, a friend of Turner who is president of Community Foundation of the Ozarks Inc., in the release.

Great Southern Bank's CEO since 1999, Turner's tenure has been marked by growth at the Springfield-based company. The company now has roughly $5.4 billion in assets with a 12-state reach, compared with $965 million in assets and a mostly southwest Missouri footprint when he started. The company has 93 branches and over 1,100 employees.

In 2021, Great Southern produced net income of $74.6 million, a 26% increase from $59.3 million in 2020, according to past reporting.

Beyond his duties at the bank, Turner has held board roles with CoxHealth, the Springfield chamber, Missouri State University and United Way of the Ozarks, according to the release.

“Joe Turner is a low-profile, quiet, homegrown CEO who has made a major impact on our community – and on thousands of people in our community," said friend and former Springfield City Manager Tom Finnie, in the release.

Last year, real estate developer Warren Davis received the Springfieldian Award. Other past recipients include Springfield Underground leader Louis Griesemer and Hamra Enterprises founder Sam Hamra.