Former Breast Cancer Foundation Director Now Competes for License Office Contracts
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For years, a company headed by the former executive director of the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks has been fiercely competing with the Springfield charity she once led for contracts for driver’s license offices.
The charity – which has lost two contracts in recent years, but gained a new one this week – uses funds from its license offices to help support those with breast cancer.
crystal Webster left the charity in 2019 after heading it for 11 years. During her tenure, the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks was operating several driver’s license offices, including one at 1002 S. Glenstone Ave.
Webster declined comment for this story.
In September of 2019,she joined Morelock Builders in Springfield and later became its chief executive officer. She runs the driver’s license office operation through an entity called CGB Holdings.
In 2023,the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks’ subsidiary that operates its license offices – called BCFO Titleworks Inc. – lost its contract to offices at 1002 S. Glenstone Ave., as well as its contract to operate a driver’s license office in joplin.
In both instances, when the contract came up for a rebidding by the state, the state awarded both contracts to CGB Holdings, operated by Webster.
Those losses impact funding for the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks, says Joe Daues, CEO of the charity.
“I will tell you our revenue has been reduced significantly since we lost the Joplin and the Glenstone offices,” said Daues, who replaced Webster in 2019.
The charity’s 2023 Form 990 tax return shows revenue from contributions and grants dipped to $1,821,865, a decrease of 11.8%. The organization had assets of $26.1 million; 22 employees, 100 volunteers; and Daues’ annual salary was $189,106.
A 2019 story in the Springfield Business Journal stated the charity received 30% to 40% of its annual revenue from driver’s license offices.
Webster declined to provide information about CGB Holdings. Online records indicate she created CGB Holdings in 2014, while she was executive director of the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks.
The address she provided the missouri Secretary of State in 2014 was 722 W. Olive St., Springfield – the address of Morelock Builders.
Local Company Protests State Contract Award for License Office
A Springfield-based company, CGB Holdings, has filed a protest regarding the Missouri Department of Revenue’s decision to award a contract for a driver’s license office on Battlefield Road to BCFO Titleworks. The protest, filed on august 6th, alleges that BCFO Titleworks “failed to provide mandatory documentation, which renders its proposal non-responsive.”
The contested contract concerns the operation of a state-run license office previously located on East Battlefield Road. A sign remains on the door of the former location, appearing tattered and indicating its closure.
BCFO Titleworks currently operates driver’s license offices in republic, Ozark, and Nixa. The outcome of CGB Holdings’ protest remains to be seen,and the Department of revenue has not yet issued a response.
License Office Conflict of interest
A recent interaction with Georgia Department of Revenue official, Margo Webster, highlighted a potential conflict of interest regarding the operation of state license offices. Attempts to discuss Webster’s transition from leading a nonprofit organization to running license offices in direct competition with that same nonprofit were deflected, with all inquiries directed to the Department of Revenue’s media relations team.
The Initial Inquiry
The core of the inquiry centered around Webster’s current role and its relationship to the nonprofit she previously led. The intention was to explore whether any tensions existed between Webster and the charity following her departure and subsequent entry into a competing business venture.
Deflection of Questions
Despite explaining that questions regarding the personal dynamics and potential conflicts of interest were unlikely to be addressed by the Department of Revenue’s spokesperson,Webster firmly maintained that all communication should be channeled through the official media channels. This response effectively prevented a direct discussion about the circumstances surrounding her career shift.
The Core Issue: Competition with a Former Nonprofit
The central concern revolves around the ethical implications of a former leader of a nonprofit organization now operating license offices that directly compete with the services previously offered by that nonprofit. This situation raises questions about potential unfair advantages, conflicts of loyalty, and the overall impact on the nonprofit sector.
Why This Matters
- Transparency: The public deserves clarity regarding potential conflicts of interest involving state officials.
- Fair Competition: Ensuring a level playing field for all organizations providing similar services is crucial.
- Nonprofit integrity: Protecting the integrity and mission of nonprofit organizations is paramount.
Attempts to Pursue the Story
Despite the initial resistance, the attempt to understand the situation and its implications remains critically important. Further investigation may be necessary to uncover the full scope of the relationship between Webster, the Department of Revenue, and the former nonprofit organization.
Key Takeaways
- Attempts to directly question a state official about a potential conflict of interest were unsuccessful.
- The department of Revenue prefers to handle all media inquiries related to this matter.
- The situation raises ethical concerns about competition between a former nonprofit leader and the organization she once headed.