Joselyn Baldner, 41
Lives in: Springfield, MO
Chief Retail Officer Executive Vice President Central Bank of the Ozarks
Charity: Harmony House
Photo by Brandon Alms
Purchase Photo
The woman who receives the most online votes and brings the biggest crowd to Indulge will donate a portion of the event proceeds to her local charity of choice. The winner will be announced at Indulge on October 3.
What is your local 417-land charity of choice, and why is it important to you?
Harmony House. They work tirelessly to ensure some of the most vulnerable in our community are protected, educated and sheltered providing resources to assist them in moving forward with a full and productive life.
Do you volunteer, or are you involved in any philanthropic or community organizations? If so, what are they, and what do you do?
- Harmony House purple party committee member and member of their speaker bureau
- Springfield Chamber of Commerce board member; p20 Council member with the Chamber Community partnership of the Ozarks Board member Eden Village home team member
What do you think makes a woman beautiful?
Grace changes everything for yourself and for others. To give grace you have to have a keen awareness that mistakes don’t define you or others. Being who you were made to be as defined by you and not an unrealistic standard that someone else created. Living your values so that others can see what you believe in. Empowerment. Quiet strength. Don’t take yourself too seriously and laugh!
What has been your proudest moment? Or, what are you most proud of?
Launching our central Connect leadership group for our current and emerging leaders at Central Bank of the Ozarks.
What was one particularly defining or life-changing moment in your life?
Meeting my mentor who literally changed my dreams of what I would set out to achieve. He believed I could before I believed I could.
When you were a child, who did you think was the most beautiful woman? Why?
My mom. She has a quiet strength, patience and grace that she doesn’t even recognize in herself.
What advice would you give to a young girl about being beautiful?
Get caught up in what you can do, not what you can’t. Kindness is beautiful, and it doesn’t make you weak.
What’s something that might surprise us about you, or a story you love to tell?
If it wasn't for Ashely every four weeks, you would see what my true hair color is. I have a head full of gray hair!
[Another is] my husband of 21 years hired me! I was in college when I went to interview for a part-time job at Circuit City. He was the manager interviewing (the interview took 45 minutes when it should have taken 15). After the interview, he turned to all the other managers and said, “I just met the woman I am going to marry.” Of course, they were like, “yeah, right!” Seven months after that we were engaged, and I no longer had a job at Circuit City!
What is your biggest source of inspiration?
Music! It fires me up, fills my soul when I need it and brings me peace.
Where do you find beauty in 417-land?
Anywhere there is water.
What do you think is the biggest issue or challenge 417-land is facing right now, and how would you tackle it?
Workforce development is a significant issue for our community. Keeping students here to work and developing new skills for the workforce we have here is critical to Springfield’s economic growth. There are currently several initiatives being developed and undertaken that are working on this issue.
Fill in the blank: Friends would describe you as “The _____ One.”
Nice