L•O PROFILE’s 7th Annual Ambassadors of Hope honors 12 Lake-area individuals and couples whose compassion and service are strengthening their communities. From veteran advocacy and cancer support to youth programs and philanthropy, their stories reveal how everyday acts of kindness can create lasting change.
Miss Missouri 2026 Tabitha Crain is using her platform to advance survivor advocacy while preparing for a career in family law. A 2024 University of Missouri graduate and current law student, Crain founded S.P.U.R., a community initiative that supports survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
For Diane and Jerry Schierding, their new Osage Beach residence celebrates lake living and family. Built by The Eisen Group, the 2024 custom home combines mountain-inspired architecture with panoramic views, expansive glass and gathering spaces that connect seamlessly to the waterfront.
As America marks its 250th birthday this year, the spotlight falls on the places where the nation was born — the cobblestones of Philadelphia, the harbor at Boston, the fields of Yorktown. But the Revolution had a western edge that history has nearly forgotten, and it ran right through the river valleys now lying beneath Lake of the Ozarks. The Osage Nation’s trading network was the economic spine of Spanish Louisiana when Spain joined the colonists against Britain — and it was Osage country being fought over at the westernmost battle of the Revolutionary War, won on the Missouri frontier in 1780.
Two hundred fifty years of American independence didn’t happen in Washington, D.C. alone — it happened in communities like ours. Across Camden, Miller, and Morgan counties, men and women in uniform fought for those freedoms, and today their legacy lives on in the posts, auxiliaries, and patriotic societies that call the Lake of the Ozarks home. In this special America 250 issue, L•O PROFILE is proud to spotlight the organizations that serve our veterans, honor our history, and celebrate what it means to be American. Whether you’re a year-round resident or a Lake-lover who comes back every summer, these groups are your community — and they’d love to have you.
Situated on its own private peninsula at the 43-mile marker of the Osage Arm, Steve and Sandra’s Lakefront retreat was designed with one clear purpose: to bring people together. Built by Thomas Construction, the home is expansive, thoughtful and filled with personal touches that reflect the couple’s love for family, comfort and life at the Lake.
Dees first laid eyes on the truck in 2015 — and he knew he had to have it. He made an offer on the spot, but the owner wasn’t ready to let it go. Dees waited. Five years later, in 2020, his patience finally paid off when he was able to track down the same owner and seal the deal.
Set above the shimmering waters of the Lake of the Ozarks, this Elite Home by Tom Roof with TXR Architects + Constructors blends modern design with organic warmth. Created for homeowners Tina and Darren Rogers, the residence was thoughtfully designed to embrace its panoramic waterfront setting while maintaining a grounded, inviting aesthetic.
Bill Maas can still command a room. He can still tell a football story with the easy authority of a man who lived it. He can still make Chiefs fans smile with a few words about Arrowhead Stadium, and still sound every bit like the rugged defensive lineman Kansas City remembers. But these days, the former Chiefs standout is just as comfortable talking about charity golf, community service and the Lake of the Ozarks.
Phil and Kristen Riggs never expected a temporary escape from the city to turn into a thriving business at the Lake of the Ozarks. Both originally hail from small Illinois towns—Phil from Morrisonville and Kristen from Winnebago. Their move to the lake happened suddenly in March 2020. Phil was a construction trade show in Las Vegas when pandemic shutdowns began.