About The Center

The Edward Jones Center for Entrepreneurship was made possible by the generous contribution of John and Crystal Beuerlein and Edward Jones, Inc. All parties feel passionately about entrepreneurship and believe in the idea of helping people create new businesses. They are also eager to provide employees of existing corporations with tools to continually refresh and reinvent their organizations as markets and business environments change. Their vision for the center is to arm entrepreneurs from many sectors with the acumen to create new, innovative ventures.

There were a number of other individuals who graciously served on the Blue Ribbon Task Force, guiding the center in its infancy. Those individuals were Tom Cray, Tom Dapp, Tom McAlear, Larry O'Reilly, Patti Penny, Robert Plaster, Earl Pool, Lyle Reed, Jack Shewmaker, Jack Stack, Tom Slaight, Tom Stout and Tom Warren.

The Edward Jones Center for Entrepreneurship was officially launched in January 2007. Todd Parnell was named the inaugural Executive Director for the center and momentum has been building ever since its establishment. The EJC will continue to serve as a training ground for entrepreneurs by fostering innovative ideas and providing the resources needed to translate those ideas into results.

Follow us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter   Read the EJC Blog


Contact Us

The Edward Jones Center for Entrepreneurship is located on the third floor of Lay Hall on the campus of Drury University in Springfield, MO. (417) 873-6357
Dr. Kelley Still   Tammy Rogers
Executive Director   Administrative and Special Projects Coordinator
     
Sara Cochran, M.A.   Steve Nurnberg, B.A.
Assistant Director Executive in Residence, Teaching and Mentoring
     
    Jim Conley, M.B.A.
    Executive in Residence, Springfield Angel Network

Dr. Kelley Still

Executive Director, Edward Jones Center for Entrepreneurship

Office: Lay Hall 302
Phone: 417-873-7458
Email: kstill@drury.edu

Dr. Kelley Still took over as Executive Director of the Edward Jones Center in April 2010 after teaching for 15 years in the Breech School of Business Administration.  A graduate of Drury's Master of Business Administration program, Kelley went on to earn her Ph.D. in accounting from the University of Oklahoma.  Her teaching areas were primarily in tax, financial statement analysis and management decision analysis.  She annually directed the free income tax service for low-income and senior citizen taxpayers provided by Drury accounting majors. 

Kelley has a long history in entrepreneurship both in her academic research and in the private sector.  She also has considerable experience in social entrepreneurship, both with new programming inside of Drury and with other non-profit agencies in Springfield.  Kelley frequently provides mediation services to the legal community through her partnership with retired judge J. Miles Sweeney and the Judicial ADR Group.

Outside of EJC responsibilities, Kelley serves Drury through her participation in the Leadership Team, the MBA advisory committee for Breech, the Steve Good Memorial Scholarship selection committee, Commercial Street Exploratory task force and the School of Education task force for the Ed.D. in Entrepreneurial Leadership in Education.  Currently, Kelley serves on the Board of Directors of Springfield Little Theatre and the Summit Preparatory School, the advisory board of the Springfield Regional Opera, the scholarship fundraising committee of American Society of Women Accountants, Bell Choir at Schweitzer United Methodist and routinely volunteers with the Friends of the Library.

Education:
Ph.D., Accounting, University of Oklahoma
M.B.A, Drury University
B.S., Accounting, Missouri State University

Sara Cochran, M.A.

Assistant Director, Edward Jones Center for Entrepreneurship

Office: Lay Hall 304
Phone: 417.873.3014
E-mail: scochran@drury.edu

Sara Cochran, Assistant Director of the Edward Jones Center of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (EJC), holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in accounting and arts administration as well as a Master of Arts degree in communications with emphasis in integrated marketing, all from Drury University. Sara's position includes coordinating conferences for the EJC as well as marketing and community relations, working with entrepreneurs, advising students and programming for the Edward Jones Scholars.

Sara is also the staff advisor for the Student Advocates in the Arts group and teaches a class each semester. Her experience includes marketing, special events, media and non-profit. On campus, Sara is involved in the Panhellenic Alumnae Board and outside of Drury, she is very active in the community serving on the advisory committee for the Springfield Chamber of Commerce's The Network for Young Professionals. Sara is also involved in Rotaract, Public Relations Society of America and the Springfield Regional Arts Council.

Education:
M.A., Communications, Drury University, 2006
B.A., Arts Administration, Drury University, 2005
B.A., Accounting, Drury University, 2004

Tammy Rogers

Administrative and Special Projects Coordinator

Office: Lay Hall 303
Phone: 417.873.6357
E-mail: tammy@drury.edu

Steve Nurnberg, B.A.

Executive in Residence, Teaching and Mentoring

E-mail: snurnberg@drury.edu

Steve Nurnberg is an Executive in Residence for the Edward Jones Center, focusing on teaching and mentoring.  Steve is a management executive with 20+ years experience leading successful start-up and turnaround companies.  His previous experience includes several department head positions with Verizon Wireless, including International and NC Operations; Chief Operations Officer of Hudson Valley Data Net, Executive Vice President of Operations for Americom, Inc; and President of Superconducting Core Technologies.

Steve earned his degree in business administration from Drury University.  He is currently a member of the Breech School of Business Advisory Board.  Steve is also a current member of the Developmental Center of the Ozarks and Springfield Public Schools Foundation Boards.  Steve owns and operates Bevinco of Southwest Missouri with his son, Cliff.  Steve and Cliff are Senior Partners with Bevinco for Missouri and Kansas.   

Education:
B.A., Business Administration, Drury University

Jim Conley, M.B.A.

Executive in Residence, Springfield Angel Network

E-mail: jimconley@drury.edu  

Jim Conley is an Executive in Residence for the Edward Jones Center, focusing mostly on the Springfield Angel Network.  Jim holds an M.B.A. in Finance from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.  Jim was employed by John Henry Foster Co in St Louis before moving to Springfield to pursue entrepreneurial aspirations.  Together with financial partners, Jim then purchased Foster Mfg. Co. and implemented best business practices helping Foster to develop a reputation as a highly respected, successful and profitable company.  Jim later acquired and sold Welhener & Saville Inc. and Amcraft Ornamental Iron Co.

Today, Jim is a member owner of Rangeline Marketplace, LLC that owns commercial property in Joplin, MO and is an associate of the Kingsley Group.  His areas of expertise include operational performance improvement consulting, executive level coaching, exit strategy planning and merger and acquisition activities.  Jim is a member of the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA), Southwest Area Manufacturers Association (SAMA), Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast and the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Education:
M.B.A., Finance, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 1986 
B.S.B.A, Marketing, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 1981