The staff of the Springfield Daily Citizen on campus at Missouri State University on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022. Along the rail, from the bottom, are David Stoeffler, Brittany Meiling, Shannon Cay and Jackie Rehwald. Middle row, from the bottom, are: Jack McGee, Steve Pokin, Lindsey McDaniel, and Rance Burger. Back, from the bottom, are Marty Walker, Judi Kamien, Cory Matteson and Jeff Kessinger. Not pictured: Derek Dueker, who joined the staff in February 2023. (Photo by Jym Wilson)

David Stoeffler, President and Chief Executive Officer

David Stoeffler

David Stoeffler has more than 40 years experience in the news business, including four years as executive editor of the Springfield News-Leader (2010 to 2014). In Springfield, he worked collaboratively with the community to address issues, most notably through the Every Child public-service journalism project. Before returning to Springfield and buying a home in the University Heights neighborhood, David served seven years as executive director of the La Crosse (Wis.) Public Education Foundation. He has a daughter and granddaughter who live in Colorado. Read: Why local news brought me back to Springfield.

Senior Staff

Rance Burger, Managing Editor

Rance Burger

Rance Burger was named managing editor of the Daily Citizen in April 2023. Previously he was the Daily Citizen local government reporter, and he has covered a mixture of news, government, crime, business and sports along different stops in Missouri for 15 years. He also was Editor of the Christian County Headliner News. Rance grew up in Pryor, Oklahoma, and holds a bachelor of journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is inspired daily by his wife, Ashley. Read: Why I’m excited to be the next managing editor of the Springfield Daily Citizen

Judi Kamien, Chief Development Officer

Judi Kamien

Judi Kamien has been working to level the playing field for nonprofits for more than 30 years. The daughter of American expatriates, Judi grew up in Germany; relocated to the U.S. for college; and eventually moved to New York City, where she held leadership roles in a diversity of arts and culture organizations. In 2017, after consulting across North America for five years, Judi and her husband moved to Springfield, close to her mother’s family home. She spends much of her free time advising religious and cultural nonprofits on strategic advancement issues. Read: More about Judi Kamien.

Marty Walker, Operations Manager

Marty Walker

Marty Walker is a native of Springfield and Missouri State University alumnus, returning after a 30-year career in fine art in Dallas, Texas.  She owned and operated Marty Walker Gallery for 10 years as well as being a co-founder of two startups. A wearer of many hats and always up for a challenge, Marty excels at providing behind-the-scenes support for a crew of crazy-talented news people. Currently obsessed with Niwaki and Japanese garden tools. Lives with her Boston Terrier, Otis Walker. Read: More about Marty Walker.

Team Members

Jeff Kessinger, Reader Engagement Editor

Jeff Kessinger

Jeff Kessinger covered sports in southwest Missouri for the better part of 20 years, from young athletes to the pros. The Springfield native and Missouri State University alumnus is thrilled to be doing journalism in the Queen City, helping connect the community with important information. He and wife Jamie daily try to keep a tent on the circus that is a blended family of five kids and three cats. Read: Meet Jeff Kessinger, your connection to the Daily Citizen newsroom

Steve Pokin, Springfield Life Columnist

Steve Pokin

Steve Pokin has covered just about everything over the years at papers in Illinois, New York, California and Missouri. He also has penned two novels (unpublished, but not for lack of trying), short stories and plays. His play “Room at the Inn” has been staged twice, by two different organizations in the St. Louis area. He likes to run and created a summer fitness program for kids in Springfield called “Run for Fun.” He makes funny videos. He is married to Kemery Baldwin. They live in Springfield, as does their son. His lawn mower, Hadley, lives in the shed. Read: What it’s like working for Springfield’s news startup

Jackie Rehwald, Public Affairs Reporter

Jackie Rehwald

Jackie Rehwald graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia and has more than 15 years of experience as a journalist. She is from Doniphan, Missouri, and worked as a reporter for the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff. In Springfield, she reported for the News-Leader for nearly 10 years and covered social causes issues including homelessness, domestic violence and the child welfare system. She and her husband have a son in Springfield Public Schools. Read: What reporter Jackie Rehwald will tell you about Springfield

Cory Matteson, Public Affairs Reporter

Cory Matteson

Cory Matteson moved to Springfield in January 2022 to join the team of Daily Citizen journalists and staff launching a local news nonprofit. He returned to the Show-Me State nearly two decades (wow) after graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Prior to arriving in Springfield, he worked as a reporter at the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal Star and Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune. Read: Springfield’s new guy: a word from reporter Cory Matteson

Shannon Cay, Visual Journalist

Shannon Cay

Shannon Cay, a Kansas City transplant, is the Daily Citizen’s visual journalist, leading efforts around photo, graphics and video for the whole newsroom. Cay also manages the events calendar and obituaries. She joined the Citizen from Carbon Trace Productions, a nonprofit film studio in Springfield, where she served as executive director.

Cay obtained her degree in Broadcast Journalism from Missouri State University, worked as a reporter at KTTS and KSMU in Springfield, and as the news director for Earl’s Family Broadcasting in Branson. Cay adores spending time in a crowd and coming home to her partner, two dogs, and four cats.

Jack McGee, Government Affairs Reporter

Jack McGee

Jack McGee is the government affairs reporter at the Springfield Daily Citizen. He previously covered politics and business for the Daily Citizen. He’s an MSU graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism and a minor in political science. Meet our latest full-time hire, Jack McGee

Joe Hadsall, Business Reporter

Joe Hadsall

Joe Hadsall is a business reporter for the Springfield Daily Citizen. He joined the staff in May 2023. Hadsall has more than two decades of experience reporting in the Ozarks with the Joplin Globe, Christian County Headliner News and 417 Magazine. Meet Joe Hadsall and learn his philosophy on business coverage.

Timothy Gann, Customer Service/IT Support Associate

Timothy Gann

Timothy Gann, initially from the Kansas City area, joined the Daily Citizen from the Christian County Library; there, he got his start in the IT world and learned to appreciate the finer points of numerous platforms. Tim graduated from Southwest Baptist University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in History, and believes that accurate and timely information — including local news — is critical to any society. When he isn’t at work, Tim is either online, playing video games, or hanging out with his partner, their two cats, and their very adorable Shih Tzu.