Robert “Bob” Stephens has over 35 years of experience in Human Resource Management, Corporate and Not-for-Profit Training, General Management, and Human Resource and Communications consulting. He has worked for small, growing organizations and served in a Human Resource management position for over 16 years in a Fortune 500 corporation. In addition, he has owned his own successful small business, CascadeM3 LLC, and has served as a part-time consultant for organizations in higher education, the not-for-profit sector, and manufacturing, as well as for the legal and medical professions.
Bob also has almost ten years of experience with the public sector as an elected official. He was elected in April 2009 to General Seat A of Springfield City Council and served on the Plans and Policies and Community Involvement Committees. He was unanimously elected Mayor Pro Tem by his peers in 2011 and was sworn in as Mayor following the resignation of the seated Mayor in May 2012. Stephens was elected Mayor in 2013 and 2015, serving until he stepped down in 2017.
Bob has taught Communications courses for Drury University and has coordinated the Greater Ozarks Leadership Program (GOLD) for Missouri State University for seven years.
Stephens holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Missouri State University, a Master of Arts in Communications from Drury University in Springfield, and a Specialist in Technical Communications from California State University.