Gordon Elliott, CEO of Elliott Lodging and Oak Ridge Properties, will be the recipient of the 2018 Excellence in Business award to be presented by Ozarks Technical Community College on Thursday, April 26. The award ceremony will be held from 8–9:30 a.m. at the White River Conference Center in Springfield.
The event will feature an exclusive conversation with Elliott about his success in business. Reservations are $25 and include a gourmet breakfast. Limited seating is available. Call 417-447-2651 to reserve tickets – reservations close April 22.
Recipients of the Excellence in Business Award are selected based on the following criteria: leader of an Ozarks regional business, entrepreneurial success, innovative business growth, ability to overcome challenges with integrity, supporter of educational development, customer-driven quality, and community achievement. Past recipients of the award include Rick Hughlett, Johnny Morris, Jeff Schrag, Jim Anderson, Paul Sundy, Jack and Peter Herschend, Sam Hamra, Carol Jones, Bill Turner, Jack Stack, the O’Reilly Family, and John Q. Hammons.
About Gordon Elliott
As CEO of Elliott Lodging and Oak Ridge Properties, Gordon Elliott owns and operates 22 hotels and 15 apartment communities throughout southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas. Elliott is known for his efforts to revive distressed locations within the local hotel community, particularly his work restoring the historic landmark Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven.
Elliott is also a founding partner of CPA firm Elliott, Robinson & Co. and has held several leadership positions within the community, including service on Springfield City Council. Elliott is also a past chairman of the Board of Public Utilities, a past chairman of the Missouri State University Board of Governors, a former member of the Springfield-Greene County Park Board and he was the founding member of the Springfield Apartment Association.
A 1965 graduate of then Southwest Missouri State College, Elliott began his career of civic service as president of the Springfield chapter of the Junior Chamber of Commerce or Jaycees. With the Jaycees, he established Springfield’s first soccer team at Evangel University and in 1974 helped the group become recognized as the top Jaycees chapter in the country.
From there, he went on to found Springfield’s first adult daycare facility and serve on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including Leadership Springfield and the Crisis Rape Center.
Known among his friends and family for his work ethic, Elliott served as treasurer for several political campaigns including those of U.S. Senator Roy Blunt and former Missouri Governor Matt Blunt.
In 2013, the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce named Elliott the Springfieldian, honoring his leadership and commitment to the community.
Except for two years in the 60s when he worked for an accounting firm in St. Louis, Elliott has lived in Springfield his entire life. Elliott and his wife Glenda have been married for 54 years. The couple have two children, multiple grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
