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Vital Farms "Egg Central Station" egg-washing facility shines in sustainability report

Vital Farms recently published its 2024 Impact Update, which highlights the company’s annual Impact Goals. It also showcases progress toward achieving the Impact Goals outlined in last year’s report. A key achievement, according to a press release, was the successful attainment of the zero-waste-to-landfill goal at Egg Central Station, Vital Farms’ Springfield egg-washing facility.

The 2024 Impact Update shares tangible progress Vital Farms has made addressing its short and medium-term impact goals and other accomplishments over the past year. This year, Vital Farms:

• Achieved its goal of “zero-waste-to-landfill” at Egg Central Station in Springfield (defined by TRUE certification with just 2% of waste generated going to landfills);

• Engaged 15% of its farmer network in additional regenerative agriculture principles beyond the existing principles that Vital Farms farmers already practice;

• Began implementation across its operations to reduce greenhouse gas intensity by 25% by the end of 2027;

• Identified no significant pay discrepancies in a pay equity analysis with an independent third-party auditor to ensure fair pay for all crew members;

• Hosted a farmer recruiting event with the Kansas Black Farmers Association and fostered relationships with the Farmer Veteran Coalition and National Young Farmers Coalition to help expand and diversify its growing farmer network;

• Continued to be one of 29% of Russell 3000 companies with a gender-balanced board of directors;

• Amplified its partnership with Ozark Technical Community College to support student curriculum in robotics and manufacturing systems and to give ECS crewmembers access to educational opportunities.

LaQuinta Inn & Suites Springfield Airport Plaza to hold ribbon-cutting

The La Quinta Inn & Suites Springfield Airport Plaza has undergone major renovations to its guest rooms, public areas, and lobby. The newly renovated hotel will host a ribbon-cutting with the Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, April 4, at 4 p.m.

“We’ve offered tours up until six o’clock if they want to take tours and different things,” said Bill Caraway, area director of sales for Driftwood Hospitality Management. “I’m sure a lot of people will. They’ll want to see some of the finished guestrooms and the public space.”

Caraway added that going forward, the hotel will be working on its outreach to the business and university communities. He said he received a “yes” RSVP from Missouri State as well as members of the Chamber. Light food and beverages will be served at the ribbon-cutting.

OTC student named Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar

Robert-Thomas Gumersell, an Ozarks Technical Community College student, has been named a 2024 Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar and will receive a $1000 scholarship. Gumersell graduated from homeschool in 2022. He plans to graduate from OTC in May 2024 with an Associate of Arts degree and a Certificate of Specialization in Honors Studies.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by annually recognizing 50 Gold, 50 Silver, and 50 Bronze Scholars with nearly $200,000 in scholarships. Scholars also receive a commemorative medallion.

Students are nominated for the academic team by college administrators. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, engagement in college, and community service. Coca-Cola Academic Team members will be recognized in both local and statewide ceremonies, as well as during Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst, in Florida in April.

Apply to speak at Missouri S&T’s TEDx talk

Speaker applications are now open for the TEDx event on the Missouri S&T campus on Wednesday, Oct. 30. The event, located in Leach Theatre, is looking for presenters with a topic relating to the theme “Unveiling Resilience.” The application deadline is Sunday, April 28.

“We are seeking speakers who will share how they’ve been able to recover and spring back from challenges in their lives or how they have observed resiliency in their communities, science or the world,” said Melanie Keeney, TEDx executive producer and director of engagement and outreach at S&T.

Applications can be submitted online at tedx.mst.edu. Applicants must summarize their topic, explain why it is worth sharing, how it connects to the overall theme of the event, and why they want to be a TEDx speaker.

TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together for a TED-like experience. TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading” that shares media and supports educational initiatives. TED stands for “technology,” “entertainment,” and “design.”

OMB hires Taylor and Strong for dedicated "Banking as a Service" department

OMB Bank announced in a press release the formation of a new dedicated “Banking as a Service” department to facilitate its expanding financial technology partnerships. BaaS, as it is known in the banking industry, enables financial technologies to market bank products under their own brand names with the help of the partner bank’s financial services and FDIC membership.

Mindy Taylor will lead OMB’s newest division as BaaS operations manager. She joined OMB in October 2023 as an organizational development specialist, and she has nearly 24 years of banking experience. Thirteen of those years were spent at Jack Henry and Associates.

Faith Strong was also promoted to BaaS Operations Specialist. Strong joined OMB in 2022 as a float teller before promotions to personal banker and assistant branch manager of the bank’s Mt. Vernon location.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Glamography Magazine celebrates Ozarks women; events explore lore