2025 Chamber Board Nominees

The Washington Area Chamber of Commerce has three Board of Directors position to fill for 2025.  
The following six nominees were selected from a highly qualified field of candidates:  Bill Hellebusch, Jeff Holtmeier, Becky Huddleston, Phillip James, Tim Tobben, and Steve Underwood

Ballots will be mailed to members by November 15 and are due back to the Chamber Office by December 1.
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Bill Hellebusch
As a long-time resident of Washington, MO I have experienced so many of the things that make the Washington Community special.  This community started shaping me at a young age.  Attending local schools (Borgia Grade School and High School) I learned the importance of discipline, hard work, and what it means to be a contributor to society.  At Borgia High School I excelled in course work, was captain of the football team, and met my wife, Ali. 
 After graduating high school in 2004, both Ali and I attended the University of Missouri – Columbia where we pursued careers in healthcare, she as a nurse and me, a physical therapist.  Coming back to our hometown hospital was not only natural, but it was also a no-brainer.  I knew early on that I wanted to live in the great community that helped raise me and I wanted to give back…with my skillset I have found no better place to do that than our local hospital, Mercy which I joined in 2010.  I can happily say that the important lessons I learned in Catholic education were reinforced and expanded upon in Catholic Healthcare.  
In 2013, I was promoted to leadership at Mercy and for the past 11 years have held various leadership roles including my current role as the Executive Director of Operations.  In this role I not only serve as the operations director for Mercy Hospital Washington (MHW) but I also serve as the Chief Executive Officer for Hermann Area District Hospital (HADH) located in Hermann, Missouri.  I have truly found my passion as a leader of rural healthcare hospitals which is an intimate relationship with the community through service and compassion.  In addition, like many hospitals, both MHW and HADH are the largest employer in their respective communities.  As the leader of such organizations, one must learn to be a strategic partner with the community to help develop the workforce of tomorrow, plan for and fulfill community needs, and help shape the future – these are my favorite aspects of my role(s) as I see it as a great way to give back to these communities.  
When not at work I like to be a part of the community and currently serve on the Borgia Advancement Committee, Borgia High School Strategic Planning Committee, the Regional Economic Development Initiative of Hermann, the Hermann Area Chamber of Commerce, and several regional Heath Care Coalitions and Boards.  Prior volunteer work includes the Washington Rotary and the Franklin County Area United Way and I would very much like to help contribute to the Washington Chamber of Commerce Board. 
Ali and I have four Children: Lula (13), James “Jimmy” (12), Naomi (8), and Gabriel (3).  We are members of the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish where our kids attend school.  In my spare time I like to take my kids hunting and when Ali and I are not at work we focus on our family and try to keep up with our kids who are involved in sports and 4H projects.  Ali and I live on a small 10-acre market farm nestled in the heart of Washington (right next to Our Lady of Lourdes) and our kids are 6th generation in the house we live in.  Life is good.  😊

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Jeff Holtmeier
I was born and raised in Washington. I attended St. Francis Borgia Grade School and High School and then graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.
 After college I moved to St. Louis and into the finance industry starting at Edward Jones. I moved back to Washington with my wife Jamie in 2013. I’ve been in the finance industry for over a decade, helping people and businesses reach their financial goals.
 In 2022 my partners and I moved our practice to the independent channel and opened our own firm. I am proud to be a Partner at Finteris Wealth Management, a local wealth management firm, located on 5th Street next to the Elks. The move from W-2 employee to small business owner has had its challenges but has also been very rewarding.
 I’ve sat on several boards including Franklin County Area United Way, Elijah’s Limited, Downtown Washington, Washington Public Library, and Washington Senior Citizen Housing Development Corporation, among others.  I have been a member of the Elks, St. Francis Borgia Athletic Association, the Knights of Columbus, Jaycees, and St. Francis Borgia Parish. I spend my free time with my family. My daughters Penny (8) and Violet (5) are very active and keep me busy. I enjoy sports, golfing, boating, and various outdoor activities.
 I have always been a fan of the Chamber of Commerce and the work they do in the business community.  I believe our town has a unique sense of comradery.  I think that is, in no small part, due to the feeling of pride local businesses and groups, like the Chamber, instill in our community. I would be proud to be a member of the Chamber Board.  

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Becky Huddleston
Becky is the owner of Office Supplies & Equipment, a business that has been a downtown staple since 1954. She has owned the business for 4 years and loves the one-on-one interaction with customers in a setting that you simply don't see anymore. She says that Washington has a true dedication to shopping locally as she gets to see it on a daily basis. Becky lives "on the other side of the river" near the Concord Hill area. She is married to Gary and enjoys spending time with her 3 children, ages 24, 22 & 20. She will be happy to welcome in her first grandchild in February.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time at Mark Twain Lake, snow skiing and any other outdoor activities.
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Phillip James
Phillip James is the Vice President of WEG Transformers USA in Washington.  He has P&L responsibility for all three WEG factories including Operations, Finance, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Strategic Planning and Information Systems.  Phillip has worked at WEG since March 2016 and he has spent his entire 35-year business career in manufacturing with four different companies, in three different states.
Phillip joined WEG Transformers in 2016, one year before the acquisition of the business by WEG and has been instrumental in planning and executing the purchase of the old Melton factory and starting up WEG’s Distribution Transformer business on Bluff Road in that building.  Phillip has also led the WEG team in their recent major expansion of WEG’s Power Transformers business on Avantha Drive, over the past two years.
Phillip and his wife Melissa have been married for 35 years, moved to Washington in 2021 and live in the downtown area.  They have two adult children and one granddaughter.
Phillip and Melissa own Vintage Trader, a vintage and antique business, located in Downtown Washington.  They are active members of Downtown Washington Inc.  Phillip and Melissa are members of First Christian Church (FCC) in Washington.  Phillip is also an active leader at WEG with their annual United Way campaign where WEG has been the 2nd largest contributor to the Franklin County United Way for the past two years.

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Tim Tobben
I grew up in Washington, MO and graduated from St. Francis Borgia Regional High School in 2001. I went on to attend St. Louis University and graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business management with an emphasis in entrepreneurship. Upon graduation, I worked as a commercial credit analyst with Enterprise Bank & Trust in St. Louis, MO for 3 years. In March 2009, I joined the Bank of Washington as a credit review officer. In late 2012, I became a commercial loan officer and currently hold the title of Vice President of Commercial Lending.
 Since January 2020,  I have been a Foundation Board member with Mercy Hospital Washington. I am also currently a board member of the Franklin County Missouri Planning & Zoning Board of Zoning Adjustment. I am also involved currently with the St. Francis Borgia High School Athletic Association as a member of the golf committee. I served on the Franklin County Area United Way Board from 2013-2017 and was the Treasurer from 2013-2016. In the past, I have also served on the Alzheimer's Association committee for the annual walk.
 My wife Jenna and I have been married since October 2012 and have two kids, Megan (9) and Benjamin (6). We are parishioners at Our Lady of Lourdes in Washington.

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Steve Underwood
Steve Underwood graduated with a Finance Degree at Missouri State University, formerly Southwest Missouri State University, in Springfield, MO. 
Upon moving to Washington, MO in 1997, Steve began working at what is now United Mutual Insurance Company, formerly St. Johns Mutual Insurance. 
Steve has served in many trade and professional organizations including several terms on the Missouri Association of Mutual Insurance Company board and currently serves on the Grinnell Mutual Board of Directors, a regional property and casualty insurance provider.  Steve is the incoming President of the Rotary Club of Washington.  Steve holds professional designations including CPCU, ARe and PFMM.  
Steve is married to his wife, Kathy, of 35 yrs.  Steve & Kathy have two children, Amanda & Matthew.  Steve says that raising his family here in the Washington community is one of the best decisions he has made.  The opportunities and friendships this community offers has been a tremendous blessing.

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