For 21 years, Springfield Business Journal has honored women for their professional and civic accomplishments and contributions. An independent panel of judges has selected the 2020 Most Influential Women.
They are, in alphabetical order: Andrea Bishop, Betty and Bobby Allison Ozarks Counseling Center; Linda Brown, The Gathering Tree; Jeanna Callahan, Century 21 Integrity Group; Jennifer Charleston, Springfield Police Department; Sarah Collins, Estes Stancer Commercial Group LLC; Rev. Saehee Duran, Life360 Church; Lisa Farmer, Harmony House; Dr. Tamara Fusco, Burrell Behavioral Health; Amanda Hedgpeth, CoxHealth; Breanna Jain, Eustasis Psychiatric and Addiction Health; Bobbilynne Koepke, Environmental Works Inc.; Mary Kromrey, Ozark Greenways Inc.; Nichole Lemmon, Springfield Public Schools; Adrienne McCoy, Abacus CPAs LLC; Ann McDowell, McDowell Consulting; Christa Moss, U.S. Attorney’s Office; Joey Powell, Dickerson Park Zoo; Catherine Reade, Haden, Cowherd & Bullock LLC; Krista Shurtz, City Utilities of Springfield; and Kathryn Wall, Springfield-Greene County Health Department.
The 20 honorees, chosen by an independent panel of judges, will be recognized at an October event.
Ann is a 35-year veteran of the travel and tourism industry, specializing in product development, strategic marketing and communication solutions for a diverse variety of clients, primarily in the Springfield/Branson, Missouri area.
Immediately after graduation, Ann began her professional travel and tourism career with Great Southern Travel Agency in Springfield, Missouri. Soon she joined Silver Dollar City’s sales and marketing division and advanced to a variety of leadership positions with Herschend Family Entertainment that included the opening of new attractions (The Grand Palace theater and Showboat Branson Belle) as well as product development for their properties nationwide. Ann joined her husband’s business after the birth of their first child, and together they expanded Ride The Ducks, a popular amphibious sightseeing operation, to Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle, Baltimore and Memphis.
Currently Ann enjoys utilizing her experience and expertise to launch, lead, grow or improve results for several organizations involved in travel, tourism, economic development and other private business and philanthropic causes.
Ann has a Bachelor of Science degree with a Marketing Major from Missouri State University where she was a charter member of Alpha Kappa Psi, Lambda Rho Chapter and was Business Manager of The Standard student newspaper. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Central Bank of Branson and Ollis, Akers, Arney insurance company. Volunteer roles include committee work with United Way of the Ozarks, Skaggs Foundation and the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB, among others.
Ann is married to Robert McDowell, and they reside on 90 acres in Walnut Shade, Missouri, just north of Branson, with two dogs and five miniature donkeys. They have three grown children. Her hobbies include tennis, hiking, writing and of course travel.
To congratulate Ann, you can reach her at @AnnMcDowell@centurytel.net.