10 Most-Beautiful Finalist: Cheri Coder

Age: 28

Occupation: Marketing/IT Manager & Realtor for United Country Gary Coder Properties, Inc.

Background: Cheri lives in Springfield but calls Branson West her hometown. She has been in 417-land since 1983. She’s engaged to marry Sean Kembell on June 21 at Table Rock Lake. Also part of her family is Sean’s twin brother, Brent, and Cheri’s yorktese, Bella.

Tell us why you love 417-land.

I’ve lived in the 417 area code since I was a small child. I think that it is one of the most beautiful places to grow up. I love the fact that I live within a close proximity to my family. Many of my lifelong friends are still in the area, and it’s wonderful to be able to continue to be a part of their lives.

I love being outdoors, and there are so many places to explore, such as the lakes, parks and trails. Also, I love the fact that as a twenty-something I can enjoy a night out dining at amazing restaurants for a fraction of the price compared to a larger city. As a young professional, Springfield is a wonderful place to live and work. Also, I’m excited to be building a home with my fiancé in southeast Springfield in a beautiful community where we plan on living for many years to come.

Tell us about your community involvement and volunteering. (Please tell us what organizations you’re involved in, what you do to participate and how long you’ve been doing it.)

YMCA: I’ve been a member of the Pat Jones YMCA since 1999. I make monthly contributions to the scholarship member program.

Waddell & Reed Kansas City Marathon: Annual participant. I completed a half-marathon in 2006 and 2007 and raised money for the Leukemia &

Lymphoma Society, Mid-America Chapter and Rotary Youth Camps.

Country Music Marathon: Annual participant. I completed a half-marathon in 2006 and 2007 and raised money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Ozark Mountain Ridge Runners: Member since 2008. I participate in local races. Proceeds of a majority of the races go to support local charities like

Ozarks Greenways and the Good Samaritan Boy’s Ranch.

Recycling: I frequently visit the recycling center in Ozark to recycle hundreds of real estate magazines and publications.

Salvation Army: I make multiple donations throughout the year.

Petstock 2008: I donated to help raise money for the Stone County Humane Society.

Relay for Life at MSU: Participant.

Turkey Trot: Participant.

Springfield Park Board: Participate in group tennis lessons every spring/summer.

What makes your community involvement worthwhile?

It’s very important to me to lead a healthy lifestyle. In addition, I like to be an active participant in community events. A couple of years ago, with the help of a good friend and forever running buddy, I discovered that I have a passion for running. The rush that I get during a long run is incredible, and it keeps me craving more. Plus, running is a pretty convenient sport. You can pretty much run wherever you are. All you need is a good pair of running shoes and the desire to run! After I completed my first race, I was hooked. Most races use the proceeds to benefit a local or national charity, so I’m not only staying healthy & getting my endorphin high, but I’m also helping those charities by participating in the events.

Hobbies (Go ahead; list them all! And tell us why you love them.)

Running: I’ve completed four half-marathons and a plethora of other small races. I try to run a couple of miles a day, unless I’m in the middle of training for a race. Everything that you’ve heard about the “runner’s high” is true. I cannot live without it.

Table Rock Lake: I was fortunate enough to grow up at the lake. Our family is a boating family, and most of my summer weekends have been spent on Table Rock. The lake is by far my favorite place to be in the world. I love wakeboarding, driving the boat, swimming or just relaxing on the lake or dock.

Tennis: My fiancé is a tennis pro and coach, and he introduced me to the sport. I’ve been taking lessons through the Springfield Park Board for about two years now. I like it because it can be an individual or team sport, it’s social, and its something that I’ll be able to participate in for the rest of my life.

Wakeboarding: I’ve been wakeboarding for about seven years now. I love being out on the water behind the boat. The best is an early morning run or the last run of the day, when the sun is going down and the water is pure glass.

Yoga: I started yoga five years ago as a way to relieve stress. I had no idea how yoga would change my life, and it did. I crave yoga in the same way that I do running, although the end result is different.

Working out at the YMCA : I’m there on a daily basis. I participated in the scholarship program when I was getting my undergraduate degree from SMSU. It was a great program for me, and I’ll be a lifelong member of the YMCA because of it. I feel that the YMCA is such a wonderful community organization.

Are you involved in any professional organizations? (What are they, what’s your role, and how long have you been doing it?)

In June of 2006, I was accepted to the Missouri State Master of Science in Computer Information Systems program. This is a nationally ranked master’s program that was created for working professionals. The members of my cohort are from a variety of companies all over the country. We all meet at the MSU campus twice per year for a one-week, intensive on-campus session and the rest of the courses are completed virtually.

On May 16, 2008, our cohort will graduate from the MS CIS program. This program has consumed my personal and professional life for the past two years. It has been a great honor to have been selected. Through the completion of a very rigorous curriculum, I have made lifelong business contacts and friends. The MS CIS program truly has been the best educational experience of my life.

In October 2007, I left the world of advertising at the Marlin Network to help grow our family business, United Country Gary Coder Properties. We have two locations, one in Ozark and another in Branson West close to Table Rock Lake. Our real estate business is thriving, and I was brought on board to manage all of the marketing and information technology aspects. I am also a member of the Tri-Lakes Board of Realtors & the Greater Springfield Board of Realtors.

Prior to my current position at United Country Gary Coder Properties, I was an active member of the Springfield Ad Club.
After graduation in May, I look forward to once again being an active participant in local professional organizations.

What’s something that might surprise us about you? (Or a story you love to tell.)

I guess, at this point in my life a lot of people are surprised at everything that is going on right now with me. I’m pretty much experiencing a lot of major life events all at once. Sean and I got engaged in October, 2007. We then decided to build a custom home in Eaglesgate in Southeast Springfield. On top of working hard to grow our real estate business, planning a wedding (for June 2008) and building a house, I’m finishing up the MS CIS program at MSU. Although life is very hectic right now, it’s fun. But, I couldn’t do all of this without my amazing fiancé, family and friends supporting me.