Staff Directory

KEITH BOAZ – Executive Director

Keith has worked at Missouri State University for over 20 years. He began his tenure as a student employee at Hammons Student Center while an undergraduate at MSU. He was the director of Great Southern Bank Arena before moving into his current position, where he oversees all athletic and entertainment facilities on campus. Under Keith’s leadership, Great Southern Bank Arena and Juanita K. Hammons Hall have hosted acts such as Elton John, Carrie Underwood, KISS, Journey, Wicked, Disney's The Lion King, and The Phantom of the Opera. Keith met his wife while they were both students working at Hammons Student Center, and their two children are both avid performers at Springfield Little Theatre. 

JACK WHEELER – Director

Jack, a native of the Springfield area, came to Hammons Hall in January of 1999. After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Missouri State University, he helped create "Senior Living", a Senior Citizen Publication and later worked at Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Marine in their creative services department. Jack enjoys the great outdoors and spending time with his daughter.

JOSH INMON – Associate Director

Josh began his work at the Hall as student house manager before joining the staff in 2013. He moved to his current position in 2021. He spent many years teaching theatre and arts administration at Drury University and holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Missouri State University. Josh also received a master's degree in Nonprofit and Civic Leadership from Drury University. A lifelong resident of Springfield, he has directed and choreographed over 40 productions for area theatres and even spent a few years as a Branson entertainer. Josh serves on the board of directors for the Ozarks Counseling Center and the Springfield Regional Arts Council. He has been named one of Springfield Business Journal's 40 Under 40 as well as a 20 Under 30 by 417 Magazine for his contribution to the area's artistic community.

PATRICK WILSON – Technical Director

Patrick Wilson grew up in Springfield, MO and attended Missouri State University. He has spent the last few years working as a Production Technician at Southwest Audio and Visual. Prior to his work there, Patrick toured the country with various Broadway companies as well as Disney's national touring productions.

ANJANETTE NOWELL – Director of Sponsorships, Educational Programs, & Group Sales

Anjie has been part of the Hammons Hall staff since September 1998, heading up the Hall's education and outreach programs. New for fall 2016, she is adding sponsorships and advertising to her repertoire! She serves on the Education Committee for Springfield Regional Arts Council, and is an active participant in Springfield's Any Given Child initiative with the Kennedy Center, and the statewide Arts Education Collaborative through the Missouri Alliance for Arts Education. Anjie holds degrees from Missouri State University in Music Education and Clarinet Performance. In her spare time, she is a freelance musician and enjoys performing in the MSU Community Band, the Ozark Festival Orchestra and pit orchestras for local theatre productions.

BONNIE KETTLER – Administrative Assistant

Bonnie and her husband, Dale, moved to Springfield in 2019.  Bonnie worked for Cabela’s, Inc., at the corporate offices in Sidney, NE for 16 years until the acquisition by Bass Pro.  While with Cabela’s she worked in Merchandising, Human Resources, and Real Estate.  Prior to Cabela’s, Bonnie was a Certified Paraoptometric Technician and has been working in the Springfield area as an Optometric Tech.  Dale is employed with Bass Pro Corporate.  Bonnie’s love and passion for the theater is what brought her to JKH.  She’s been a Broadway season ticket holder and on the volunteer list at JKH since moving to Springfield. Bonnie and Dale have three children and seven grandchildren. 

SHANNON STANTON – Box Office Manager

Shannon is a Springfield native who graduated from Missouri State with degrees in Music Education and Clarinet Performance. After working as an assistant in the Hammons Student Center Box Office and in the Bursar’s Office at Missouri State she joined the Hall in July 2007 as Assistant Box Office Manager. In her spare time she enjoys playing in the University Community Band as well as in the pit orchestra for many local theatrical productions.

DIAN MILLER – Associate Box Office Manager

Dian has been blessed to grow up in Springfield. She joined the Missouri State TIX Box Office staff as a student in 1996. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education in 2001, she continued to work for Hammons Hall as an Assistant Box Office Manager. Dian is responsible for the box office at Juanita K. Hammons Hall and assists with events at the Great Southern Bank Arena, Hammons Student Center, Plaster Stadium, Coger Theatre, and Tent Theatre. Dian resides in Fair Grove with her two children, Kelsey and Joshua. She enjoys going to flea markets / swap meets, used book stores, collecting children’s books and spending time with her nephew, Daniel, and niece, Katlyn.

CLAYTON MERRITT – Custodial Foreman

Originally from Oklahoma, Clayton moved with his mother and sister to Missouri in 2007 and moved to Springfield in 2014 to do home hospice for a friend’s parent. After working custodial and customer service jobs, Clayton started working for Missouri State’s Resident Life department in 2022 and recently became the custodial foreman here at Juanita K. Hammons Hall. 

JACOB CURLESS – Assistant Technical Director

Jacob, originally from Blue Springs, Missouri, began his work at Missouri State University as a student audio-visual technician at Great Southern Bank Arena. He received his Bachelor of Science in Theatre from Missouri State University. After graduating with his undergraduate degree, he spent the next few years as the Assistant Technical Director at Great Southern Bank Arena before accepting his current position at Hammons Hall. In his spare time, he enjoys rock climbing and the great outdoors.

LORI JOHNSON – Head House Manager/Volunteer Coordinator

Lori, originally from Sandusky, Ohio, returned to Juanita K Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts in 2018 as the Head House Manager after working for the Hall previously as a student from 2009-2016. During her time as a student house manager, she was promoted to the position of Head House Manager in 2012. At Missouri State University, she studied Theatre and Music, with a minor in Gender Studies. She married her husband, William Boyd, in 2013, and welcomed their first baby in 2015. Lori took time off to stay at home with her daughter and lived for a time in Orange City, Florida, where they welcomed their second daughter in 2017. Upon returning back to Springfield, Lori and her husband bought their first house in 2018, creating roots here for a long time. Lori loves working with the patrons of the Hall to make sure everyone is enjoying their experience, especially first time guests and children. Her daughters, Ella and Alayna, both love the performing arts, most notably, dance.