YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
Then: Vice president and general manager, Springfield Cardinals
Now: Vice president of stadium operations, St. Louis Cardinals
Matt Gifford has worked for the Cardinals for 23 years, but he feels as if he’s never gone to work a day in his life.
“It’s the tradition and the history, the passion from our fans, win or lose,” he says.
Gifford began as a season ticket sales representative in 1996. Today, he’s about a year in to his position as vice president of stadium operations for the St. Louis Cardinals, after 13 years running the Springfield Cardinals.
“The No. 1 thing that’s changed is my location,” Gifford says. “All of the things I was able to learn in Springfield, and the people who influenced me, were probably the best part of about the last 10 years.”
Gifford says he owes the successes in his career to his many mentors.
“I’m a product of the people around me,” he says.
Plaza Shopping Center gained an arcade with the March 1 opening of The Flying Lap LLC; the repurposing of space operated by Burrell Behavioral Health resulted in the March 18 opening of the company’s second autism center; and a group of downtown business owners teamed up to reopen J.O.B. Public House.