Most Influential Women

Each year, 20 women are honored for improving the southwest Missouri business, civic and philanthropic communities.

Event Details
Event Date: October 17, 2025
Location:  Oasis Convention Center
Time & Agenda:
 - 11:30 a.m. Arrival and Social Time
 - 12:00 p.m.  Served  Plated Lunch and Awards Program 
 - Celebration Event Ends around 1:30 p.m.
Attire: Business Casual with a Sparkle - Smart, stylish, and celebration-ready. Think blazers, dresses, or chic separates — with a little glam to match the moment. A pop of shimmer, a standout accessory, or a bold shoe? Yes, please.

Menu:
 - Oasis Signature Salad:  -with Dried Fruit and Nut Blend, Goat Cheese, Cherry Tomato and     Charred Pineapple Vinaigrette
 - Served Plated Lunch: Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Crusted Chicken with a garlic cream sauce served with Fresh Grean Beans and Mashed Potatoes
 - Desserts: Tiger Cake (chocolate & vanilla layered cake) & Strawberry Layer Cake

(If you are attending the event and have dietary restrictions, please email them by Oct. 10 to Jessica Gilmore at jgilmore@sbj.net so we can have a different meal option for you.)

Ticket sales have been closed for this event. 

2025 Honorees:

• Andrea Battaglia, chief excellence officer at Abacus
• Judy Brunner, chief education officer at Edu-Safe LLC and Instructional Solutions Group, clinical faculty at Missouri State University and president of the Springfield Public Schools Board of Education
• Ashley Casad, senior vice president and president of Springfield hospitals for CoxHealth
• Callie Carroll-Swafford, vice president of business development and shareholder relations at OMB Bank and member of Springfield City Council
• Sarah Everett, assistant vice president and residential lender at Guaranty Bank
• Leslie Forrester, executive director of Springfield Regional Arts Council Inc.
• Rachel Fortenberry, founder and attorney at Fortified Elder Law LLC
• Brigette Golmen, executive director of curriculum, instruction and assessment for Nixa Public Schools
• Jana Greig, executive vice president of administration at Brightli
• Stephanie Hurt, director of Forvis Mazars Private Client
• Camber Jones, of counsel at Spencer Fane LLP
• Winter Kinne, president/CEO of Community Foundation of the Ozarks Inc.
• Natalie McNish, director of internal audit and risk management at Missouri State University and mayor of Marshfield
• Racheal Dami Odunewu, founder and CEO of Purpose Connect
• Lori Robertson, founder of Lori Robertson Consulting LLC and coach at SpeakHer
• Alison Roffers, director of counseling services at Springfield Public Schools
• Stacy Schneider, marketing director at Volt Credit Union
• Meleah Spencer, CEO at The Kitchen Inc.
• Stephanie Wan, assistant United States attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office - Western District to Missouri
• Regina Waters, director of the Drury Leadership Collaborative and professor emerita at Drury University

If you have questions about this event, please email: support@sbj.net or call 417-831-3238.

Click here to view past honorees.