The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame has rewarded one of its most inspiring front-office members, promoting Kari Norris to Executive Vice President. She becomes the first woman to hold the title since the Hall of Fame opened in Springfield in 1994.
CEO & Executive Director Byron Shive announced the move Thursday, emphasizing Norris’ significant role in fueling the Hall of Fame’s success since her arrival 17 years ago.
“Kari Norris is more than deserving of this promotion to Executive Vice President,” Shive said. “She has been with the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for nearly two decades and has played an integral role in not only building the Hall of Fame in her time here, but also in helping me with the transition into my role as CEO and Executive Director.”
“Kari has proven herself to be an invaluable team member with unmatched institutional knowledge who is dedicated to putting in the time and effort to take the Hall of Fame to a whole new level,” Shive added. “I know that she will excel in her new role and will continue to provide first-class service, passion and effort in all that we do here at the Hall of Fame. I am happy to call Kari a friend and colleague, and she has more than earned my respect and the respect of her fellow team members. I am excited to see her grow even more in her new role as Executive Vice President.”
Norris previously held the role of Vice President of Marketing for the Hall of Fame, as well as for the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper.
She arrived in 2007 in a part-time role and, two years later, stepped into a full-time position as the Administration and Marketing Assistant. In 2011, she was recognized as the Marketing Director, and then promoted to Vice President of Marketing in 2019.
“I’m humbled and honored to be promoted to Executive Vice President and excited to serve both the Hall of Fame and PCCC in a new way,” Norris said. “I love what we do and am very excited for our future.”
Norris has been honored with the Springfield Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award and was nominated for SBJ’s Economic Impact Awards in the Community Involvement Champion category in 2021, 2022 and 2023. She received the Habitat for Humanity Springfield Helping Hands Award in 2014.
She has also been recognized by numerous universities, including Missouri State University and the University of Missouri, for her role as an Internship Supervisor. Through her partnership, the Hall of Fame was recognized in 2020 as the Industry Partner of the Year by the Missouri State University Entertainment Management Association, and also received the Linda McHaney Everyday Hero’s Award from Champion Athletes of the Ozarks and Business Partner of the Year by NAMI of Southwest Missouri.
Prior to joining the Hall of Fame, Norris worked for the State of Missouri and helped manage her family’s home improvement company, All-Dry of Missouri, Inc. Norris graduated from Jefferson City High School and attended both Lincoln University in Jefferson City and Missouri State University in Springfield. She and her husband, Derek, reside in Nixa and are parents to a daughter, Evie.
