Jaimie Trussell is beginning her journey as CEO of the Council of Churches of the Ozarks after many years working in the Springfield non-profit world. A graduate of Leadership Springfield’s Signature Class 26, Jaimie works tirelessly as a fundraising and communication professional to help others in the community. Her work has earned her national fundraising accreditation and a spot on Springfield Business Journal’s list of Most Influential Women.
Jaimie remembers her favorite class experience was painting a room at Harmony House. She recalls the day was filled with powerful conversations that led to a personal, fun, and rewarding memory. Jaimie’s main takeaway was that there are people like her who love the community and the idea of serving. She looks back on her time with Signature Class 26 fondly saying, “I felt like I had found my people.”
Jaimie is a natural helper which she believes correlates directly with her continued work in the non-profit space. She worked at Convoy of Hope and Adult & Teen Challenge USA which taught her about working in a faith circle and the professional world, respectively. When the position at the Council of Churches opened up, Jaimie realized she should pursue it after many peers told her this seemed to be the next step in her career. She has received a lot of support and feels honored to succeed Mark Struckhoff as CEO. Jaimie loves what the Council does and knows there is a lot of work to be done. When asked what she is looking forward to she says, “If more people knew what they did, they would want to get involved. I can’t wait to tell the story.”
Jaimie recently began her term as President of the Springfield-Branson Regional Airport Board. She says it has been an exciting first couple months with COVID-19 and is extremely proud of the airport for how they have stayed proactive while navigating the pandemic.
A Springfield native, Jaimie beams with pride as she watches growth happen in the community. Jaimie and her husband love everything about the area, both for their personal and professional lives. Jaimie is thankful for her rich career in Springfield as she has always had her dream jobs here. The biggest changes she has seen have been the redevelopment of downtown and revitalization of Commercial Street. Jaimie recognizes that Springfield is making efforts to bring everyone to the table, putting social demographics aside. Jaimie stays connected with the community through the Rotary Club of Springfield, Chamber of Commerce events, church, and local car shows. She is passionate about volunteerism and the “limitless opportunities” to get plugged in. Her family also spends lots of time kayaking, backpacking, and spending time with their animals. They really appreciate the natural treasures in and around Springfield.
Jaimie gives this advice to aspiring female leaders, “Fight for your spot at the table.” She empowers women to be proactive in pursuing job opportunities by saying, “Be intentional about what you want and chase it.” When asked what insights she would give to up-and-coming Springfield leaders, Jaimie first says, “You don’t know what you don’t know, so ask more questions than you think you need to.” She encourages people to be grounded in themselves, no matter what others think. Lastly, Jaimie reminds young leaders to be open to receiving help stating, “A good measure of humility is helpful.”
