Marisa DeClue, executive director of the Developmental Center of the Ozarks, faced a significant safety concern. For years, insufficient drainage caused ice to collect on the north side of the property during winter, creating a serious fall hazard. “We had constant concerns for the people we serve,” she says. “We’d been told that we just needed to keep putting ice melt down and be cautious.”
DeClue knew there had to be a better solution—and she knew exactly where to turn. She called GR Stovall, president of DeWitt & Associates Inc. and a fellow member of the Springfield Executive Breakfast Club (SEBC). The general contractor immediately assessed the situation. Recognizing that his company was not the best fit for the work, he connected DeClue with another trusted business. “An issue that was decades old was addressed within weeks,” she says. What might sound like a dream scenario is simply how business leaders within the Springfield Executive Breakfast Club operate.
Since 1992, the club has helped shape Springfield’s business culture through a close-knit group of executives—each a decision-maker representing a single industry category. Together, members educate, inspire, refer, and support one another with a shared sense of unity. In doing so, they foster an atmosphere of trust and respect that extends to customers across approximately 70 businesses and into the broader community. SEBC’s roots are intentionally modest. The organization was launched in 1992 by John Piatchek, founder of Piatchek & Associates, who envisioned something more enduring than a traditional networking group. Early meetings took place in his conference room, shaped by shared values and a desire for deeper connection among business leaders.
George Schwandt, one of SEBC’s founding members and a residential real estate broker with RE/MAX House of Brokers, says the culture took shape early. “Very early on, the culture was established. We had business referrals, but we also had social activities, growing friendships, and a shared expectation that we show up for one another. Looking back over more than 30 years, what stands out most is the persistence of those relationships and the genuine desire to see each member succeed.” As interest grew, the group expanded beyond its original meeting space.
Today, the group meets at Highland Springs Country Club, continuing a tradition that spans more than three decades. Member categories range from blue-collar trades to professional services, from more mainstream businesses such as accounting, family medicine, and automotive repair to niche professions including data destruction, recycling services, and in-home tutoring. The club also includes two nonprofit organizations: Developmental Center of the Ozarks and Convoy of Hope. “There’s one category for each member, so there is no competition,” Piatchek explains.
Each Tuesday, members gather for breakfast and meaningful connection. Members take turns sharing insight into who they are and how they serve the community. Jill Phillips, founder of Strategic Soulutions and 2025 SEBC president, says, “It’s about cultivating trusted relationships and making citywide connections, because
Springfield is still kind of a small town.” SEBC operates with the structure of a large organization, complete with a board of directors, committee chairs, and annually elected presidents. One Tuesday each month is devoted to club business. In addition, SEBC hosts monthly social events, two annual educational events, and
seasonal celebrations. “The consistent routine that SEBC provides allows me to interact weekly with other C-level business leaders, creating an ‘iron-sharpening-iron’ environment,” Stovall says. “SEBC gives members a place to reflect on strengths and weaknesses, find encouragement, and identify opportunities to serve.”
At its core, SEBC is built on reciprocity. Members refer one another, help solve problems, and hold each other accountable. “You have your reputation on the line with people who are movers and shakers in their field,” Piatchek says. “If you don’t do a good job, the next Tuesday you’re sitting across the table from the person who referred you—and they’ll let the group know.” Members adhere to five Standards of Excellence, Do what’s right, Growth Minded, Step Up, Relationships First, Have Fun.
“We lead with integrity,” says Greg Horton, co-owner and director of Integrity Home Care and Hospice and 2026 SEBC president. “We value relationships over transactions. It’s about trust, collaboration, and connection.” Angela Smith, founder of ADsmith Marketing & Advertising and 2014 president, calls joining SEBC in 2008 “the best decision I made in the 25 years I owned my business.” She counts more
than 100 interactions with current and former members, whether assisting clients, sharing resources, or providing marketing services. “I grew as a business owner because of the knowledge in that room,” she says.
“If I’m struggling with something, I know someone in the group can help by the time I leave on Tuesday,” Phillips adds. Ursula James, owner of Beautyrest Sleep Gallery, says SEBC raises the standard for how local businesses serve the community. “When you work with an SEBC member, you’re working with someone accountable to a trusted network,” she says. “That means better communication, follow-through, and customer service. And when a client needs a service we don’t provide, they
gain access to reliable, vetted referrals.”
Padgett Smith, owner of The Permit Shop and a member since 2025, already sees the broader impact. “When members work together and share knowledge, it creates a ripple effect that supports the entire business community,” she says. Because members hold one another accountable, the community can rely on SEBC businesses to operate with integrity. “It’s a great advantage to have nearly 70 business owners meeting regularly to talk about how to make our community better,” Angela Smith says. “And with media members like Springfield City Lifestyle, KY3 TV, Springfield Daily Citizen, Mid-West Family Radio, and Springfield Business Journal, we can help get good information out.” Each week, members look forward to this golden hour. “Being in a room with people from so many backgrounds supporting one another is refreshing to my soul,” DeClue says. “We show up for one another. We act with integrity. And we cheer each other on to excellence.” While business may be the entry point, it is the people who give the group its staying power—relationships built on trust, camaraderie, and shared purpose. Membership is by invitation and requires sponsorship by a current member. For more
information, visit www.springfieldexecutivebreakfastclub.com.
About the Springfield Executive Breakfast Club
Founded in 1992, the Springfield Executive Breakfast Club brings together nearly 70 decision-makers, each representing a single industry. Members meet weekly to build trusted relationships, share insight, and hold one another accountable—strengthening both individual businesses and Springfield’s broader business community.
When members work together and share knowledge, it creates a ripple effect that
supports the entire business community. Padgett Smith, Owner, The Permit Shop