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20 Under 30 2007

GO Magazine is proud to present the 20 Under 30 class of 2007.

By Matt Lemmon

(page 2 of 14)

The ICU Point Man

Kurt Abbey, 27

Director of Nursing, St. John’s neurotrauma-ICU

If Grey’s Anatomy were set at St. John’s, Kurt Abbey would be the quiet head nurse who keeps pulling more melodramatic medical types out of sticky situations. As director of nursing for the hospital’s neurotrauma intensive care unit, Kurt is responsible for everything from the department’s nursing budget to making sure the (often extremely upset) families of patients are taken care of properly. Such a position is quite an accomplishment at 27—most nurses in similar positions are typically in their “late 30s or 40s,” according to Kurt. But he says time as the assistant to the former neuro-ICU nursing director—as well as time in the ER—prepared him well. The hours, which are 8–5 on paper but commonly stretch to 55 hours a week, make family time with wife, Holly, daughter Zoe, 2, and step-daughters Alexa and Taylor, both 12, precious—as are his regular canoeing trips with friends. Eventually, Kurt wants to climb in the ranks of health care administration.

Biggest phobia: Ladders
When I’m 40 I hope _____________? “I have completed my Master’s degree.”
If you could eat one meal in Springfield, and budget isn’t an obstacle, where would you eat? Argentina Steakhouse. “I love steak.”
You have an iPod and can only download one album. What is it? Anything by Def Leppard.
In an honest moment, what would you tell someone about your job? “There are a lot of ups and downs, but long-term there are a lot of rewards.”
If you could be on a reality show, what would it be? Survivor
First website you hit every morning: soonerssports.com (Kurt’s a big OU fan)
Biggest phobia: Ladders

Favorites:

Movie: any action flick
Adult beverage: “Bud Light…I can say that. That’s the good thing about working at a Cathlolic institution.”
TV show: “In my house, it’s Dora the Explorer.”
Fast food indulgence: “I guess Taco Bell.”
Bar: “Harpo’s, just for a hangout place.”

Take your pick:

Time machine or omniscience? Time machine
Black tie or comfy sweats? Comfy sweats
John or Paul? Not a Beatles fan.
MySpace or Facebook? Facebook
Deal or No Deal? No Deal

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The Music Career Kick-Starter

Lizzy Bilyeu, 29

The Bilingual Broadcaster

Carlos Correa, 29

Reporter/producer/anchor, KOLR/KSFX

Only three months from the big three-oh, Carlos is the eldest of this year’s 20 Under 30 crop. He’s also traveled the farthest to get here. Born in Cali, Colombia, Carlos moved with his family to Chicago at the age of two. After graduating from Chicago’s Columbia College in 2002, he began his reporting career in Ottumwa, Iowa. Early last year he came to Springfield to report for sister-stations KOLR and KSFX. Raised in a bilingual household, Carlos is native Spanish-speaker; news director Polly van Doren-Orr saw in Carlos a chance to reach the Ozarks’ growing Hispanic population. In April 2006, KSFX launched “Enfoque Latino,” a three-minute, Saturday-night Spanish-language broadcast that Carlos anchors and produces. Carlos hopes the broadcasts can soon grow in frequency and length, but mostly hopes to help non-English-speaking Latinos feel like a part of the community. “Most of the time they’re pretty disconnected,” he says. Carlos works in the community further by advising college students in broadcasting, and he was the host for ArtsFiesta in early May.

You have an iPod. You can only download one album. What is it? “Shakira…anything.”
Who would play you in a movie of your life? Robert DeNiro
When I’m 40 I hope _____________? “I am reporting news on a national level and have a family of my own and my own house.”
In an honest moment, what would you tell someone about your job? “It’s rewarding.”
If you could be on a reality show, what would it be? Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. “I would be the host!”
First website you hit every morning: MySpace
Biggest phobia: “Insects…all of them, in general.”
One night, no complications, whom do you seduce? Shakira

Favorites:

Movie: The Godfather, Part II
Adult beverage: Miller Lite
TV show: Lost
Fast food indulgence: creamy sundae pie from Burger King
Book: When I was Puerto Rican, by Esmeralda Santiago
Bar: Ernie Biggs and Harpos

Take your pick:

Time machine or omniscience? Time machine
Black tie or comfy sweats? Black tie
John or Paul? Paul
MySpace or Facebook? MySpace
Deal or No Deal? Deal

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The Diminutive Dining Diva

Thuy Dam, 29

Owner, So You Boutique and Bambu

How many times have you wanted to just up and buy your favorite restaurant? That’s exactly what Thuy—known for her short stature, scooter and pet Shiztsu, Cosmo—did this spring when she and her mother, Kim Nguyen, purchased BamBu Vietnamese Cuisine, just down the Fremont Center from Thuy’s boutique, So You. Thuy came to Springfield from Vietnam by way of Southern California, so she knows a thing or two about the cuisine…and that she needed to “Americanize” BamBu’s menu. Gone are Vietnamese staples like pig’s feet; in are crowd-pleasers like boba tea. And while the restaurant is taking up most of her time right now, Thuy assures us she isn’t getting out of the fashion industry that established her as perhaps the most recognizable of Springfield’s trendsetters. “There are three things that bond people: Heath, wealth and relationships. And food and clothing fall into that mind-set,” she says. “It brings me a lot of happiness to be around those things.”

If you could eat one meal in Springfield and budget isn’t an obstacle, where would you eat? “Metropolitan Grill. I love the staff and the food.”
Who would play you in a movie of your life? “Zhang Ziyi would be awesome.”
You have an iPod and can only download one album. What is it? Regina Spektor, Fidelity
In an honest moment, what would you tell someone about your job? “I don’t know. I don’t think of my job as my job.”
If you could be on a reality show, what would it be? Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. “I just want to be on it!”
First website you hit every morning: MySpace
Biggest phobia: “It’s kinda weird, but I’m afraid of being forgotten, kind of in general. I don’t want to be mayonnaise, you know? Where you don’t add anything, you don’t subtract anything, you’re just there.”
One night, no complications, whom do you seduce? Robin Thicke

Favorites:

Movie: Kill Bill
Adult beverage: “Right now I love zipang [at Bambu!], a sparkling sake.”
TV show: Sex and the City
Fast food indulgence: Andy’s Straw-ana
Book: The Game, by Neil Strauss
Bar: Trolley’s

Take your pick:

Time machine or omniscience? Time machine
Black tie or comfy sweats? Comfy sweats
John or Paul? John
MySpace or Facebook? MySpace
Deal or No Deal? Deal

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The Diversified Drummer

Justin Gabossi, 29

Drummer, Tiffany Christopher Band; personal trainer

This is GO, so you knew we’d have to get at least one real-live musician on our list, right? Most of Justin’s nominations mentioned his drumming abilities and his good looks, which is great, but he probably has one of the most wide-ranging professional lives of anyone you’ll ever meet. Not only is Justin the longtime drummer for the Tiffany Christopher Band, he is also a personal trainer, the “quasi-house drummer” at Ernie Biggs and, on the side, runs a natural supplement website extolling the benefits of limu, a sea plant he says has enormous health-enhancing powers (go to livehealthy.originallimu.com.) It’s fitting that Gabossi loves playing with the Tiffany Christopher Band because of the gig’s—you guessed it—variety. “We play everything from Ozarks country shuffle to funk and jazz…five or six styles,” he says. In his fr ee time Gabossi works out and likes to go sailing; he despises television and, if our notes read correctly, fears nothing—except getting stuck in one job.

Finish this sentence: When I’m 40 I hope _________. “I have done something to raise awareness of people in regard to the environment or health.”
One night, no complications, whom do you seduce? Angelina Jolie. “She’d tear me limb from limb, but that’s fine.”
If you could eat one meal in Springfield, and budget isn’t an obstacle, where would you eat? Gilardi’s
You have an iPod and can only download one album. What is it? Dave Matthews Band, Live at Fulsom Field
In an honest moment, what would you tell someone about your job? “People make a lot of assumptions.”
Who would play you in a movie of your life? Morgan Freeman (Editors: WTF?)
If you could be on a reality show, what would it be? “I don’t watch TV.”
First website you hit every morning: weather.com

Favorites:

Movie: Vanilla Sky
Adult beverage: Jack on the rocks
TV show: Don’t watch it
Fast food indulgence: Steak ‘n’ Shake double bacon steakburger
Book: The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
Bar: Ernie Biggs

Take your pick:

Time machine or omniscience? Omniscience
Black tie or comfy sweats? Comfy sweats
John or Paul? John
MySpace or Facebook? Neither
Deal or No Deal? No Deal

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The Legal Eagle

Jennifer Growcock, 28

Attorney, Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin, LLP

Jennifer is a lawyer, which means she throws around words like “fiduciary” and “pro se” and other stuff even an editor has to look up. But that’s okay—when you’re 28 years old and have already argued before the Missouri Western District Court of Appeals (with another case on the docket there this summer) you can use whatever words you want. Jennifer, an up-and-comer with local firm Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin, LLP., specializes in business and commercial cases (e.g. employment cases.) One current case that has this Oskaloosa, Iowa, native excited involves trust litigation...and lots of money, “Which is never bad,” Jennifer says with a grin. But Jennifer isn’t that kind of lawyer. She has a full slate outside billable hours; she’s a member of Junior League and the Missouri Bar Association, a DCO volunteer and has serious travel and shopping addictions—not to mention a baby due this fall with husband and fellow attorney Matt. Jennifer says her courtroom style can sometimes be “Ally McBeal–like,” depending on the case. Now there’s a lawyer we can wrap our minds around.

Finish this sentence: When I’m 40 I hope _________: “I have a large family and am a partner at Blackwell.”
Who would play you in a movie of your life? Reese Witherspoon
If you could eat one meal in Springfield, and budget isn’t an obstacle, where would you eat? Flame
You have an iPod and can only download one album. What is it? “Something country. Keith Urban.”
In an honest moment, what would you tell someone about your job? “It’s rewarding, but the hours are long.”
If you could be on a reality show, what would it be? The Amazing Race
First website you hit every morning: Blackwell Sanders home page

Favorites:

Movie: Love Actually
Adult beverage: Margarita “Though that’s on hold for a while.”
TV show: Grey’s Anatomy
Fast food indulgence: Steak ‘n’ Shake cheeseburger
Book: Pride and Prejudice
Bar: Kremer’s

Take your pick:

Time machine or omniscience? Time machine
Black tie or comfy sweats? Comfy sweats
John or Paul? John
MySpace or Facebook? Neither
Deal or No Deal? No Deal. “I’m a lawyer.”

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The Smooth(ie) Entrepreneur

Jay Hickman, 28

Owner, Ernie Biggs dueling piano bar, Planet Smoothie, Parlor 88

It’s understandable to, at a certain age, diversify your interests. The catch for Jay Hickman is he’s doing all of his diversifying at once. With the ever-popular Ernie Biggs Dueling Piano Bar, Jay was already one of the most successful nightlife entrepreneurs in Springfield, but in the last year he’s also seen fit to open a Planet Smoothie franchise on Wilhoit Plaza and plans to open not one but two new bars by the middle of August: A second Ernie Biggs at Branson Landing and Parlor 88, a hybrid bar-nightclub he’ll co-own on West Republic Road. Add the fact that Jay’s wife, Kristen, is expecting the couple’s first baby in August and this is not going to be a quiet summer. Jay is an outspoken member of the Hospitality Resource Panel, which helps set citywide bar and restaurant standards, as well as a mastermind for pub crawls. Still, Jay’s not afraid to turn off his phone and hit the river with Kristen or friends. See—growth doesn’t mean you have to totally grow up.

In an honest moment, what would you tell someone about your job? “It’s more of a problem-solving job and a hands-on job than most people think of a bar as being.”
Reality show if you could be on one: Wheel of Fortune. “We watch that show every night.”
When I’m 40 I hope _____________? “I’m successful.”
If you could eat one meal in Springfield, and budget isn’t an obstacle, where would you eat? Flame
You have an iPod and can only download one album. What is it? Bob Seger. “Any album. I just love Bob Seger.”
In an honest moment, what would you tell someone about your job? “”It’s more of a problem-solving job and a hands-on job than most people think of owning a bar being.”
Who would play you in a movie of your life? Jack Nicholson
First website you hit every morning: espn.com
Biggest phobia: Heights
One night, no complications, whom do you seduce? “Gotta be my wife.”

Favorites:

Movie: The Godfather
Adult beverage: “Any type of wheat beer. I’ve been on a wheat kick lately.”
TV show: “Besides SportsCenter, it’s got to be The Unit.”
Fast food indulgence: Cold Stone Creamery. “That place is pretty amazing.”
Book: [Laughing] “Right now it’s What to Expect When Expecting.”

Take your pick:

The Mystery Man

Jeff Houghton, 28

Field Representative, CBCO; Skinny Improv

Jeff Houghton has a burning question. What should he do with his life: entertain or help people? We say he’s already found the perfect answer—do both.

“Mystery Jeff” is, quite simply, one of the funniest people in Springfield. So funny, in fact, that he now has his own Skinny Improv vehicle, The Mystery Hour, a talk show and sketch comedy hybrid inspired by his hero, David Letterman (Jeff interned for Letterman after graduating from the University of Iowa.) Launched in November, the monthly Mystery Hour has become one of the Skinny’s biggest successes. During the day, Jeff fills his non-profit goals organizing blood drives over a four-county zone for the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks, a job he learned about while watching Iowa Hawkeyes football games with fellow alums at Classic Sports. Jeff and his wife, Michelle, were married last year and have two dogs: Lucy, a mutt, and a stray Corgi that Jeff hopes to get rid of and refuses to name. “I just call it The Corgi,” he says. If only the two dogs work out as well as his two jobs.

Finish this sentence: When I’m 40 I hope ____________: “I have my adult braces off.”
Favorite bar or nightclub: Virgil’s Bar and Self Storage. “It’s a storage business with a bar, north of Springfield on Highway 13. I’ve only been there once. There was a band.”
If you could eat one meal in Springfield, and budget isn’t an obstacle, where would you eat? “I’d go back in time to Yen Ching, when it was on Sunshine. It’s closed now. I’d bring back the two owners and have them cook me a meal. It was a Chinese mother and son and they would laugh at everything that was said. I’d go in once a week and they’d take care of me.”
You have an iPod and can only download one album. What is it? Patty Griffin, Impossible Dream
In an honest moment, what would you tell someone about your job? “Generally, my big secret is I have no idea what I’m doing. But that kinda goes with improv.”
Who would play you in a movie of your life? “My wife would say Paul Bettany. I think it’s just because he’s blonde and pale.”
If you could be on a reality show, what would it be? America’s Next Top Model. “A lot would have to change for that to happen; I’d have to become a woman and become good looking.”
First website you hit every morning: MySpace, then ESPN, then the News-Leader
Biggest phobia: “It’s weird, but my one phobia is fuzzy things in my mouth. My dad was the tennis coach at Iowa, and I must have gotten a tennis ball in my mouth at some point…I can’t handle getting Kleenex or paper towels in there.”
One night, no complications, whom do you seduce? “I would say Evangeline Lilly…but not as Evangeline Lilly, as Kate in Lost.”

Favorites:

Movie: The War with Kevin Costner and Elijah Wood
Adult beverage: Blue Moon beer with an orange slice
TV show: Lost
Fast-food indulgence: “Uh, I don’t know, it messes up my stomach. Probably the fruit and yogurt parfait at McDonald’s.”
Book: “Probably Into the Wild or Blue Like Jazz.

Take your pick:

Time machine or omniscience? Time machine. “So I could go back to Yen Ching.”
Black tie or comfy sweats? Comfy sweats
John or Paul? John
MySpace or Facebook? MySpace
Deal or No Deal? No Deal

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