Downtown Springfield Association
News Stories

7 Downtown SGF Women You Should Know

March 08, 2018


In honor of International Women’s Day, we’d like to introduce you to some of the women who make downtown Springfield great. The tough part? Downtown is absolutely overflowing with powerful women, which makes it impossible for us to recognize them all. Do you know a woman making a difference in downtown Springfield? Let us know on Facebook.

Rachel Anderson, The eFactory (pictured above)

Rachel Anderson is a powerhouse in Springfield’s entrepreneurial scene. By day, she’s the entrepreneurial specialist at The eFactory and the co-founder of Alumni Spaces. By night, she’s the founder of ROSIE, a women’s networking organization, and the manager for local musical sensation Shaun Munday. She even served as Student Body President during her time at the University of Missouri.

Barb Baker, Community Improvement District

Barb Baker is a fixture in the downtown community with decades of public service under her belt. She currently serves as the manager for the Downtown Springfield Community Improvement District, where she makes sure downtown stays clean, safe and friendly.

Michelle Billionis, The Coffee Ethic

Michelle Billionis took the reins at The Coffee Ethic in 2016 after the untimely passing of her husband, Tom Billionis. Today, the shop is more vibrant than ever with a delicious menu of single origin coffee and craft beers, a growing selection of swag and a subscription service. She’s the definition of a strong woman, and we couldn’t be prouder to have her downtown.

Darby Brownfield, Physique Fitness

Darby Brownfield is a Springfield local who has revolutionized downtown’s fitness scene with Physique Fitness, her boutique gym that serves up some of the area’s most fun and challenging workout classes. Ask anyone: Darby’s smile and sense of humor are part of what makes Physique one of the area’s most popular fitness destinations.

Cricket Fries, A Cricket in the House

Since opening A Cricket in the House in 2011, Cricket Fries has been an active member of the downtown community. When she’s not stocking her store with an ever-changing selection of mid-century and vintage home furnishings and collectibles, she’s chairing the Downtown Retail Committee or cracking jokes with her dynamic staff.

Kim Hamm, BKD

You would think that Kim Hamm would be short on time with a demanding day job as a partner in BKD’s auditing department. Still, she finds time to serve as an active member of the Downtown Springfield Association Board of Directors. It’s easy to see why she was named one of the Springfield Business Journal’s Most Influential Women in 2007.

Mary Lilly Smith, City of Springfield

After 32 years in the City of Springfield’s Planning & Development department, Mary was named director of the department in 2014. Now, she’s responsible for managing the City of Springfield’s development review activities, meaning that she has a direct impact on downtown development and revitalization. She is a graduate of Leadership Springfield and a member of the Junior League of Springfield. She was also named one of the 2006 Twenty Most Influential Women in Southwest Missouri by the Springfield Business Journal.