Testimonials & Accolades

We initially considered Springfield based on its proximity to our farms and infrastructure, but we’ve come to appreciate and embrace the community’s talented workforce, diligent coordination and authentic partnership. The people of Springfield are truly exceptional.

For a business like ours that ships coffee to a lot of places, it is important to be centrally located. There are many places we can get to quickly from Missouri.

What I like about Missouri is the people. I like the work ethic that comes with the people. I like the honesty you encounter.

We would find it difficult to replace the work force, many of whom are very technically skilled people. Missouri is good for Leggett & Platt, because of people, resources, economic incentives, and low tax burden.

We have some untapped, unrealized potential here. If there’s anyplace that’s going to take the lead in the global marketplace, it’s going to be St. Louis. St. Louis is visionary, open-minded.

There are cost advantages to working out of Missouri. Corporate taxes, fuel taxes and property taxes are very low in the state. Utility costs among the lowest in the country.

People here have an excellent work ethic. And there’s a sense of extended family in the area. It’s feels like a wholesome, down home country atmosphere with the amenities that you would expect in a metropolitan area.

The work ethic here is really good. People come in and work hard. They’re used to working hard before we hire them.

For manufacturing, overall costs of labor, utilities, cost of land and buildings and the skilled labor pool, Missouri is one of the best values in the country.

Central location has been key to Bodine’s success...you can get anywhere from Missouri, pretty much in any direction.

We export to Japan, China, France, Spain, Hungary, and Scotland. I have also shipped to South Africa, and I’ll be looking to start some work in New Zealand before too long.

Today there are more financial services firms headquartered in St. Louis than in any other city in the U.S. besides New York. That’s okay. Good competitors make you better.

I’m not sure what my expectations were, but I’ve been surprised by the talent of the pool we’ve got to work with in the local area, and by ‘the local area’ I mean not only Columbia, but St. Louis, Kansas City, and Rolla.

One of our top executives was working for us out in Los Altos, California. And he came to us and said,’Please let me move there.’ He’s been in Kansas City 3 or 4 years now, and he loves it. I don’t think you could get him to leave.

The “animal health corridor” aims to encourage more businesses to come to Missouri and to help local universities and high schools build up a pool of competent graduates.

Springfield is so diversified and so entrepreneurial. There’s opportunity here, even in a down time. That tells you something about the resiliency of the people and the local economy.

From a strategic standpoint, we figured Missouri was the right place to be, because most of our competition was out on the west coast.

I've lived in a lot of places, and there is a difference here in how people conduct themselves. There is a strong work ethic and friendliness that I haven't found elsewhere.

This workforce at our Lebanon, Missouri facility is as resilient as any I’ve seen, and this community works very closely with us. The city officials and economic development people call on us personally, and that is important to us as a corporate and community partner.

Our staff understands glass science and technology. This is a company that grew out of the research and talent being incubated at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla.

We train displaced workers in rural Missouri for today's IT jobs to keep those jobs in the country. Missouri incentives got us started. The work ethic of our employees keeps us going.