Advertising – Publication – Show Me The Ozarks Magazine – Joplin MO

Serving Advertisers & Readers – 4 State Areas

Since 2001, Show Me The Ozarks Magazine has boldly and uniquely showcased the people, places and events that make the 4-States such a fantastic place to live, work, play and visit.

We continue to celebrate with you, our loyal readers and advertisers, all that makes our region so exceptional. The sights and the sounds. The parks and the trails. The dining. The shopping. The sports and the theatre. The nightlife and the day trips. The rich heritage and the promising future.

ShowMe The Ozarks Magazine promises to provide you with the highest possible level of quality, integrity and professionalism possible. If you have a story that you’d like to share with our readers, or if you have comments, questions or suggestions, we would like to hear from you!

Editor’s Letter

Our 18-Year Journey….

Over 18 years ago, I was working in marketing for a locally owned company. I loved what I was doing and who I was doing it with. I was working with local retailers and service providers, helping them get the word out on their products or services. I felt I was doing a small part in helping their business succeed, their dream come true. Then the locally owned company, where I spent 15 years of my career, sold. It became a corporation, and things changed.

Change became constant over the next several months and years. I learned what I really enjoyed doing. I found my passion. Then I decided to follow in the footsteps of all the locally owned business owners I once served. I decided to make my dream come true. I made the decision to start Show Me The Ozarks Magazine.

Show Me The Ozarks Magazine became the extension of everything I loved about the world of advertising. To advertise means to promote a product, service or event. In SMTO, I am promoting the culture and the lifestyle of our region. I am sharing with our readers the best products, services, people, events and why our region is the best place to call home.

Just as before, I love building relationships with locally owned businesses and sharing their products and services within our pages. I enjoy sharing their stories and being a small part in their success. I have also made many great friends over the years. We have something in common. We both know the trials and tribulations of chasing our dreams and being self-employed.

I believe in shopping local because I believe in our community. If you have read my letters, I talk endlessly about the importance of shopping local. Think about this: Shopping local helps keep our resources right here at home. Say you spend $100 at a shop. If it is a local business, 70 percent of that dollar goes to the local economy. If you shop at a chain store, only 30 percent goes toward it. SMTO strives to help keep those dollars local.

When I look back upon the last 18 years, there are so many feature stories that hold a special place in my heart. I could not possibly narrow it down to a few favorites. We have featured men and women who served our country, have highlighted loves that stood the test of time and shared stories of local volunteers giving of their time and energy to make the life of another just a little brighter. We have great community leaders, medical professionals and residents. Our people make our region, and I love shining the light where the light deserves to shine!

We also know how to have a good time! No matter the time of year, our pages are always filled with great activities for everyone to enjoy. We are surrounded by beautiful lakes and streams, and the scenery of rolling hills makes the perfect landscape. Our communities host the greatest parades, festivals and fairs. Our local artists produce the most inspiring shows, and we attract great national talent at our theaters and event centers. It is never hard to find something exciting to do right here at home!

The best part of this 18-year journey is I have loved every minute of it. I do not go to work a day in my life; I get to go do what I love. What started as a job has grown to be a way of life. SMTO has been my baby, and my baby just turned 18 years old! Where has the time gone?

I can’t wait to continue to feature our people, our communities and our way of life in year 19! Thank you for going on this journey with me!

Lee Radcliff