Sunitha Bosecker, Jodie Jackson Jr, Brandon Knight, Steve Spellman, McKenna Stumph, Brian Toohey, Kelsey Winkeljohn
CBT ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
Shawn Barnes, Brooke Berkey, Nickie Davis, Mike Grellner, Jen Hedrick, Andrew Lovewell, Matt McCormick, Quinten Messbarger, Matt Moore, Eric Morrison, Suzanne Rothwell, Steven Spellman, Brian Toohey, Megan Walters
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Magazines are $5.95 an issue. Subscription rate is $54 for 12 issues for one year or $89 for 24 issues for two years. Subscribe at comobusinesstimes.com or by phone. COMO Business Times is published monthly by e COMO Companies.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
COMO Business Times and comobusinesstimes.com strive to be Columbia’s leading source for timely and comprehensive news coverage of the local business community. is publication is dedicated to being the most relevant and useful vehicle for the exchange of information and ideas among Columbia’s business professionals.
Copyright e COMO Companies, 2024 All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of any editorial or graphic content without the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited.
Have
How are those 2025 resolutions working out for you?
Here at The COMO Companies, we approached the new year with a different “re” word. It wasn’t “resolution,” because that’s more of a checklist mentality than a continuing reality. Our key word for 2025 plans and ongoing strategies is “reimagine.”
If you haven’t heard, there have been a few changes around here in the past few months. “Reimagine” fits the new mindset perfectly. How would you reimagine your life, your job, your home life, your relationships? How can we reimagine the content for COMO Magazine and COMO Business Times? It’s been an energizing exercise for me and our entire team.
You’ll see the fruits of that reimagination now and throughout the year.
The concept of resolutions seems so, well, last year. When I was 11, I wrote down a list of resolutions, and among the ambitious plans was this: “Read Encyclopedia ‘A’.” And so I did. During 1975, I read the entire first volume of the World Book Encyclopedia. But please don’t quiz me. The overall plan was to start at the beginning and make my way to X-Y-Z, the volume that combined our most overlooked letters which, by the way, are among the highest-scoring letters in Scrabble. (Learn your X, Y, and Zees, kids.) Based on that plan, I would have consumed the entire encyclopedia before 1999.
But I never made it past volume A.
My age 11 year followed my fifth-grade year — and the pronouncement that heralded my lifetime of occupation in the vineyard of words. I penned a short horror story, “The Fleas” (they were GIANT
fleas, so ...), and my fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Elrod, wrote, “Exciting story!” at the top of the first page. In red ink.
I went to her desk and thanked her, then I said, “I want to be a writer.” Mrs. Elrod stood, put her hands on my shoulders and squared me up as she leaned down to say with the most stern, serious, don’tyou-ever-forget-it tone: “You are a writer.”
I suppose I never had a choice, did I?
With that said, I want to recognize the writers who you read in our magazines and on our websites in 2024. When I joined the staff here as digital editor and copyeditor two years ago, I was cautioned to tread lightly with our freelancers because “writers are hard to get.” What I’ve discovered, instead, is that writers who care about great storytelling and communication respond quite well to high standards.
We have a rich, deep roster of writers. Here’s who told you the stories of Columbia in 2024: Rachael Abney, Candice Ball, Alicia Belmore, Sunitha Bosecker, Scott Cristal, Caroline Dohack, Lauren Sable Freiman, Mary Kate Hafner, Lori Galaske, Jules Graebner, Lydia Graves, Sarah Joplin, Amanda Long, Roger McKinney, Natasha Myrick, Karen Pasley, Rhonda Stone Proctor, Ryan Sheehan, McKenna Stumph, Michelle Terhune, Emmi Weiner, and Marcus Wilkins. These talented scribes joined Associate Editor Kelsey Winkeljohn and me to provide a wide range of stories covering a plethora of people, businesses, events, and topics that make up the tapestry that is Columbia, Missouri.
Rebecca Roesslet was recently sworn in as the director of the Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services. She took over the role after Stephanie Browning’s retirement in October. Photo by Anthony Jinson
Recognition and “thank you” is also in order for our community Voices columnists: Beth Bramstedt, Barbara Buffaloe, Adonica Coleman, Khesha Duncan, Andrew Grabau, Gabe Huffington, Hoss Koetting, Matt McCormick, DeCarlon Seewood, Steve Spellman, Janine Stichter, Brian Toohey, and Brian Yearwood. You will also see an expansion of the Voices lineup in 2025.
Finally, the biggest “thank you!” goes to our readers. (And if you know how much I detest using exclamation points, you’ll understand the depth of my thanks.) You hold us to high standards of reporting and writing. You also say “great job” and even “you probably could have done better,” and we expect that level of authentic feedback to continue.
Rebecca Roesslet
Closer Look
STUDIO SAN
Studio San, a curated lifestyle store showcasing both emerging and established designers from around the world, launched its rst collection on October 11 with a pop-up event at Orr Street Studios. e boutique specializes in high-quality products, including women’s fashion, accessories, and home décor.
Founder and owner Shreya Bhola was born and raised in New Delhi, India, but moved to the U.S. in 2012 to pursue a Master’s in Corporate Communications and Public Relations. She originally planned to return to India, but when her husband decided to pursue a career in Columbia, she embraced her passion for entrepreneurship.
“Entrepreneurship is in my blood,” explains Bhola. “I come from a family with three generations in the jewelry retail and export business in India, and I grew up around entrepreneurs. Even as a child, I loved visiting the family jewelry store, witnessing the joy people found in choosing pieces for their loved ones or rewarding themselves.”
e name “Studio San” re ects her family’s signi cance, with the “S” representing Shreya, the “A” standing for her daughter Amyra, and the “N” symbolizing her husband, Nikhil.
Bhola’s goal for the end of 2024 was to launch her e-commerce site; she hopes to settle into a physical studio space by spring 2025. Curious customers can send a DM on social media or email to schedule an in-person shopping experience.
@__studiosan__ | Facebook: Studio San | studiosan.co | shreya@studiosan.co
SOLE BROS
Opened in October 2024, Sole Bros is an upcycled shoe and fashion store in downtown Columbia. Cousins and co-owners Ian Morgan and Benjamin Sapp, who share a love and expertise of the products they sell, opened the store in hopes of bringing like-minded individuals together within the community. e owners pride themselves on their high-end fashion and shoes while remaining obtainable to the public.
“We hope to bring a wider knowledge to the area towards the sneaker community and fashion while bringing [everyone] together,” Sapp says. “We opened this business to provide a place for all ages to buy, trade, and sell shoes.”
Sole Bros sells a wide variety of merchandise in addition to rare sneakers, including backpacks, jerseys, hats, and more for men, women, and children.
It also o ers fun ways to get sneakers, including a Key Master arcade game, a $1 per play prize-based machine where players aim to align a key-shaped pusher with a speci c keyhole to win a pair of sneakers, and rst-come, rst-served deals that are announced randomly throughout the day. In the past, Sole Bros even had a coin toss o er with a signi cant discount to winners.
“We would like to thank Columbia and mid-Missouri for having us and growing with us,” Sapp adds.
Abigail Beeler has been promoted from program manager to operations administrator at Missouri Women’s Business Center. Beeler will manage the day-to-day operations of the WBC programs, ensuring that all outcomes are met, while continuing to collaborate with clients and provide business coaching.
CARRIE GARTNER
Carrie Gartner, executive director of the Loop Community Improvement District, is among ten women nationwide recognized on the inaugural SPARK 10 list of women who are sparking change through smallscale manufacturing in communities across the U.S. The list was issued by Recast City, a consulting firm. Gartner’s recognition is based in large part by her role in creating the CoMo Cooks Shared Kitchen, which was home to fiftytwo startups in 2024.
REINHARDT CONSTRUCTION
Reinhardt Construction announces the promotion of Susan Hart and Mike Murray. Hart has been promoted to company president. She has held numerous roles in the commercial construction industry and is a key figure in Central Missouri through involvement with several civic organizations. Murray has been promoted to vice president following a thirty-year career in the industry. A mentor to young professionals, his skills were especially valuable for Boone Hospital and MU Health construction projects.
VERA ELWOOD
The Center Project has hired Vera Elwood to fill the role of youth program coordinator. Elwood becomes the organization’s first staff member after a twenty-year history of being an all-volunteer nonprofit. The Center Project is a community
center focused on serving the needs of LGBTQIA+ people and communities throughout Boone County.
AARON RIETH
Columbia Insurance Group (CIG) has announced that Aaron Rieth joined the leadership team as vice president of excess and surplus in November. Rieth joins CIG after serving most recently as the product director at a U.S.-0based property and casualty insurance carrier.
DR. JEAN GOODMAN
Dr. Jean Goodman, a maternal fetal medicine physician at MU Health Care and the William T. and Roberta Ann Griffin Endowed Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the MU School of Medicine, has been named president of the Central Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (CAOG). In that role, Goodman will lead nearly 500 physicians across 43 states. CBT
Are you or your employees moving up in the Columbia business community? Send us your news at jodie@comocompanies.com
GARTNER
BEELER
ELWOOD
RIETH GOODMAN
DIRECTOR, COLUMBIA/ BOONE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (PHHS)
JOB DESCRIPTION: I lead an incredible team of professionals who promote and protect the health, safety, and well-being of the community.
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND/ EXPERIENCE WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH? I started at the department in 2003 as a social services specialist. Before that, I worked for the state in social services (child and adult protective services). I have held several di erent roles at PHHS, all of which have given me new insights into the needs of our community and how public health has a role in meeting those needs. Along the way, I went back to school for a Master of Public Health. I have been in the Director role since October.
HOMETOWN: Boonville, MO
YEARS LIVED IN COLUMBIA: 33. I came to Columbia to attend MU and never left.
FAVORITE QUOTE OR MOTTO: “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.” - James Keller
FAVORITE VOLUNTEER/ COMMUNITY ACTIVITY: I am a big animal lover, and I enjoy volunteering at Unchained Melodies Dog Rescue. I started volunteering in the puppy nursery with my daughter during the pandemic. It is a great way to serve, plus you get to play with puppies.
FAVORITE RECENT PROJECT: Our department was recently reaccredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). at was a big project for our team, and they did an amazing job. e accreditation process is all about meeting high national standards for public health. It’s a way of showing that we’re providing top-notch services, continuously improving, and making a real di erence in our community.
A COLUMBIA HEALTH LEADER OR BUSINESSPERSON YOU ADMIRE AND WHY: Susan Hart with Reinhardt Construction. I admire her ability to build relationships, and she has a passion for service to this community.
WHY YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR JOB: I love public health but the people that I get to work with are what drives my passion. e city, the county, our health care and social service partners, and our community members are all key to improving the health of our community.
IF YOU WEREN’T DOING THIS FOR A LIVING, YOU WOULD BE DOING … School librarian
TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT THE CITY/COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT MOST PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND: I am not sure everyone understands how much public health a ects their day-to-day life. e truth is, if you eat in a restaurant, shop in a grocery store, or have a child in school, our sta has impacted your life by ensuring the food there is safely prepared and handled. If you swim in a public pool, public health was there to test the water. If you need a copy
of your Missouri birth certi cate so you can get your driver’s license, you can visit our o ce and get a copy in minutes. If you are a new parent and qualify for the WIC program, our sta can help with advice and support for breastfeeding your child. If you have an animal that needs spay or neutering services, we can help with vouchers to cover the cost for those who meet eligibility requirements. ese are just a few examples of the services we provide to the community. e breadth of services available continues to expand to meet the needs of our growing community.
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PUT YOUR DEPARTMENT FRONT AND CENTER OF SOME HEATED PUBLIC DEBATES. WHAT WAS THAT TIME LIKE FOR YOUR STAFF – AND WHAT LESSONS DID YOU LEARN? We were struggling with the same things as many partners in health care, public safety, and businesses, which were long hours and uncertainty. e guidance was changing so quickly that we had to be very agile. Unlike some of our peers in public health, we did not lose sta . I credit that to the leadership of my predecessor, Stephanie Browning. We partner with other entities in our work, and we learned how key those relationships are in a public health emergency. Our partners helped us by keeping the public informed, hosting vaccine clinics, and planning for recovery.
PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW
BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED IN YOUR WORKING LIFE: Mistakes will happen. It is how we respond to mistakes that matter. Take ownership and work to nd a solution.
GREATEST STRENGTH: I am very organized and like to check o a to-do list.
GREATEST WEAKNESS: Salty foods and animals in need.
WHAT YOU DO FOR FUN: I like any live entertainment (concerts, plays, musicals). We have a lot of options in Columbia for entertainment.
WHO MAKES UP YOUR FAMILY: My husband, Bryan, our two kids, Owen (20) and Nora (16), two dogs, and a cat.
MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT YOU: I nished dead last in a 10K run. I was running it with a close friend, so technically we tied for last place. It was a great experience actually. e volunteers cheered us on, and my parents were still waiting at the nish line. We took so long that they thought we were lost. CBT
Photo by Anthony Jinson
What’s In Store for the Housing Market in 2025?
BY BRIAN TOOHEY
THE HOUSING MARKET has been atypical over the past few years, with yearly sales declines and increasing prices. is seems contrary to economic theory, and one would assume that declining sales would lead to the same for home prices. Even more unusual is that this has been the state of our local housing market for the past several years, as sales of home sales in 2022 and 2023 posted steep declines. Now that the pandemic is further behind us and the election is over, what does the housing market look like going forward?
Many economists predicted home sales for 2024 would rebound after two years of sales declines. ey also prognosticated that mortgage rates would be lower during the year based on the Federal Reserve’s hint to lower the Federal Funds Rate to ght in ation. When the Federal Funds rate is lowered or increased, it can a ect mortgage rates similarly.
In Boone County, 2024 started out promising, with a big jump in sales during the rst quarter of the year. However, as the year continued and mortgage rates climbed, while the Fed delayed rate cuts, sales declined through late spring and into summer as mortgage rates topped 7.5 percent for a 30-year xed-rate mortgage (FRM), according to Mortgage News Daily. e election also potentially slowed sales towards the end of summer and the fall, even though mortgage rates were at their lowest point of the year, near 6.15 percent. Looking forward to 2025, national predictions are that home sales will rebound during the next two years, with sales up 9 percent in 2025 and another 13 percent the following year. e prediction comes as market home inventory levels have increased in recent months. e increased market inventory provides buyers with more choices of available homes. e rising inventory has resulted from slower
sales and life events such as growing families and employment opportunities. ese events are starting to force “ratelocked” homeowners to sell, while others will take advantage of the equity they have built up in recent years to upgrade their homes. Interest rates are also predicted to be lower in 2025. is could also spur ratelocked homeowners to sell and provide a better entry point for rst-time homebuyers to purchase.
In Boone County, we may only see a slight increase in home sales in 2025. After the election, I hoped to see some pent-up home-buying demand unleashed, creating momentum for home sales heading into this year. Despite that, with mortgage rates around 7 percent, homebuyers don’t seem very eager to come o the sidelines just quite yet.
Boone County has also not seen the same market inventory increase that has been created nationally. e inventory is slightly above 2023, but not much, which could frustrate home buyers. I’m also not as con dent in mortgage rates going much lower than 7 percent for a 30 year FRM. Before the Fed announced rate cuts, mortgage rates did dip a bit, but quickly after, they shot back up by over 7 percent.
I may seem pessimistic about the 2025 housing market, but I think our local market is behind the national market. ere will be a slight increase in sales next year, and prices will continue to rise at a more moderate rate of 4 to 6 percent. Also, with all the local talk of creating more a ordable housing, I hope Columbia and Boone County will take action to create more development opportunities and help our low inventory numbers later in 2025 and into 2026. CBT
Brian Toohey is the Chief Executive Officer for the Columbia Board of REALTORS®.
Will the State Legislative Session Bring Chaos or Compromise?
BY STEVE SPELLMAN
THANK GOODNESS that the November election is behind us. My teenage daughter calls political news “brain rot” — a description that’s not terrible.
While otherworldly Washington, D.C., shifts to a di erent avor of surreal, what might a local businessperson expect or hope from this year’s state legislative session?
OUR NEW CREW
Well, rst, Boone County has an updated legislative contingent we’re sending to Je City. While three House incumbents remain unchanged, progressive nurse Gregg Bush and social conservative business owner John Martin will be new faces in the Capitol. Absent will be term-limited conservative rebrand Rep. Cheri Toalson-Reisch and most notably Sen. Caleb Rowden, who capped out as the prestigious leader of the State Senate. Many, if not most, locals still have not comprehended how important his role there was for COMO — and Mizzou.
Replacing him will be Stephen Webber, a known quantity from his service in the House. But pragmatically, whether one likes it or not, he will caucus with a party in the super-minority, so “ ghting” for us locals, or teaming up with MU’s president, Dr. Choi, will be a relative uphill battle.
Nonetheless, the recent pattern of disfunction in the Senate should subside as some of the former thorns in Caleb’s side from the radical Conservative Caucus have now departed. But the question remains about what leadership style our legislators will employ: the combative, bomb-throwing customary these days, or the cordial bridge-building approach? e latter is best for everyone.
CHILL ON HOT-BUTTON ISSUES
Still, we can likely expect rhetoric about the eternal lurch toward zero taxation. And even though Amendment 3 passed in November, abortion will still be hotly debated in the legislature, the courts, and around the water cooler at your workplace. Stressed employees, worried about (even rumors of) what politicians might do on hot-button issues, are not good for business.
MODERNIZE FOR A MODERN ECONOMY
What state government should provide is reasoned clarity in multiple industries, providing a reasonably regulated and taxed business environment.
Years ago, when ride sharing services like Uber came to COMO, City Hall was left scrambling to make its own rules from scratch. Likewise, dealing with short term housing rentals, like Airbnb, has brought our fair city years of consternation.
Instead, state government should get ahead of these new(er) industries, to integrate them into the legal, regulatory, and tax system. Provide a basic structure statewide, then allow municipalities some range of discretion on local policy preferences. Like, um, every other economic activity.
FIX URGENT LEARNING LOSS
Columbia is now set to allow Charter schools, after a new law passed last year. For public education funding or policy, instead of the stereotypical brinksmanship from both sides of the aisle, hopefully we can heed the words of outgoing Sen. Rowden, to get to a place where EVERYBODY wins in education.
Yes, everyone may win but especially focus on kids with very signi cant pandemic-era learning loss, which is an urgent problem. Remember, student learning is the reason public schools exist in the rst place. erefore, every dollar, every idea should laser focus on that.
Should we primarily focus on raising chronically substandard teacher pay and steadying bus funding, or instead too-opulent athletics facilities and district o ces lled with six- gure salaried administrative sta ? e public discussion needs to get real. We can no longer a ord to fritter away with the future of civilization.
Ideally, our State Capitol will be full of cordial adults the next few months, working toward constructive and relatively centrist lawmaking overall. It’s what Boone Countians at large deserve. We can hope. CBT
Steve Spellman is a lifelong Columbia-area resident and political observer.
Making Friends as an Adult
BY SUNITHA BOSECKER, LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR, LPC
are very much possible and can be deeply rewarding, at any season or stage of life.
DIFFERENT LEVELS OF FRIENDSHIPS
AS A THERAPIST PRACTICING person-centered therapy, I work to create a space where clients feel safe, valued, and empowered. One of the things I frequently encourage is the importance of relationships and social support, not just in navigating tough times but in enhancing our overall well-being. Time and time again, clients of all ages and stages — those fresh out of college, starting new jobs, or exploring life in their 50s — bring up one common question: How do I meet new people and build meaningful friendships?
is question led me to explore the topic more deeply, realizing that, for many, creating friendships has become more challenging in adulthood. In fact, this topic often surfaces more in therapy sessions than issues like family struggles, sleep di culties, or even anxiety.
In discussing friendships, I often begin by asking two foundational questions: What does your social support look like and who are the signi cant people in your life today? e answers reveal much about our emotional landscape, highlighting who we rely on and who brings depth to our lives.
WHY FRIENDSHIPS MATTER
Studies, like Harvard’s long-term study on happiness, emphasize that social con-
nections contribute to resilience, reduce stress, and even make us more openminded. In fact, close relationships are often cited as a key factor in reducing depression and anxiety. Beyond the scienti c backing, there’s a universal truth: at the end of life, many people regret not spending more quality time with friends and family. Essentially, the people they love the most. Friendships, whether new or old, are powerful antidotes to isolation and can deeply enhance our sense of ful llment.
THE CHALLENGES OF MAKING FRIENDS AS AN ADULT
When we leave structured settings like school, making new connections isn’t as organic. No longer are we surrounded by peers in similar life stages, sharing common schedules and settings. For adults, with packed schedules and responsibilities, spontaneous interactions are rare, and that sense of shared vulnerability often fades. Technology, too, despite connecting us online, can sometimes leave us feeling more isolated.
And many assume that by a certain age, friendships should be established, leading some to feel that seeking new friends makes them seem “incomplete” or “lonely.” Yet, adulthood friendships
Friendships come in various forms, from acquaintances to close, intimate connections. A casual friend—someone you see at gatherings or share common interests with—takes about 50 hours of interaction to form. But a close, deeply connected friend may take 200 hours or establish this depth of closeness. Building such bonds requires time, mutual trust, and shared experiences, but these relationships become foundational to our lives. For those lacking this kind of friendship, I encourage identifying someone you could nurture into this role. is close friend category doesn’t happen overnight but is well worth the investment.
PRACTICAL WAYS TO MAKE FRIENDS
Building friendships starts with a mindset shift. Instead of wondering, do they want to be friends with me? Try reframing the question to this, who wouldn’t want to be part of my life?
Here are a few steps and options for expanding your social and support circles: Attend social events, host gatherings, connect with a hobby or passion that you have, volunteer in the community, and be inclusive across generations, cultures, and backgrounds.
FRIENDSHIP: A LIFELONG JOURNEY
Ask yourself these questions: What does your social support look like, and who are the people that matter most today? Remember, friendships are not only achievable at any age but also essential for a life welllived. Invest in these relationships—they’re some of the most beautiful and meaningful parts of our journey. So, I’ll leave you with a thought: Which is more important, the journey or the destination? Maybe it’s about the company you keep. CBT
Sunitha Bosecker is the owner of Sunitha Lea, LLC, as well as a licensed mental health professional.
WHAT THE PROS KNOW BUSINESS
10 STEPS AN OWNER
TAKES TO HAVE A NEW FACILITY CONSTRUCTED
By Vaughn Prost info@prostbuilders.com
Building a new commercial property is a big and exciting task that requires careful planning and coordination. Whether you’re a business owner or investor, understanding the steps involved in the construction process is key to ensuring your project runs smoothly.
Here are the basic steps required to turn your vision into reality:
1. Define your needs and budget Define your needs and budget to be sure of the size, purpose, function, construction costs, utilities, unforeseen expenses, and the building appearance you want.
2. Consult with a Design Builder, like Prost Builders, who works with an experienced Architect/Engineer. Design-Build is a single point of responsibility contract used to minimize cost, scheduling, and risks for the project owner and reduce the delivery schedule by overlapping the design phase and construction phase of a project. It’s also known as the ‘master builder’ concept—one of the oldest forms of construction contracting. Design-Build is centuries old, and this approach involves a team of consultants working with the contractor. By consulting and contracting with Prost Builders early on, you ensure your vision is realistic for your budget and schedule.
3. Find a suitable location that has visibility, foot traffic, correct zoning, and proximity to suppliers and clients. Prost Builders, working with a commercial realtor, can help you find a site that fits your budget and needs.
4. Secure financing with your bank with the best financing options. You’ll need
VAUGHN PROST Owner & President
Vaughn Prost is the owner and president of Prost Builders lnc., a design/build and construction services firm located in Columbia. Vaughn has over forty years of domestic and international design and construction experience as a cost and scheduling engineer, structural engineer, owner’s construction representative, and general contractor.
(573) 635-0211 | prostbuilders.com
3305 Crawford Street Columbia, MO 65203
to show the architectural renderings, your detailed business plans, and financial projections to banks or investors for this step. Prost helps you through this preliminary financial step.
5. Hire the right team of professionals! If you choose a Design-Build with Prost Builders, you’ll already have a top-quality builder with a highly skilled team of architects, engineers, subcontractors, and project managers to oversee the process. If not, you’ll need to acquire these experienced professionals by looking at their previous projects, years in business, whether they are a local company that knows all the best skilled subcontractors, and if they’re invested in their community’s future.
6. Obtain necessary permits and approvals with assistance from Prost Builders and their design consultants, where you learn about the requirements from your local government officials.
7. Finalize the design with the designbuilder. Once permits are in place, you can begin the construction with your design-builder, which includes breaking ground, preparing the site, and constructing the building’s foundation
and structural components, finishes, and mechanical/electrical systems.
8. Monitor progress and manage costs by checking in with your project manager to keep track of timelines and quality. Be prepared to make decisions on any unexpected issues that may arise.
9. Final inspections and approvals are required for your building before the grand opening of your company. These inspections ensure the safety codes, accessibility standards, and other regulations are met before you open for business. The Design Builder leads the inspections to help expedite governmental approvals.
10. Move in and begin operations!
In conclusion, building a commercial property involves careful planning, skilled professionals, and close attention to detail. If you’re ready to start your new commercial construction project, or unsure where to begin, reach out to Prost Builders to guide you through each step. After 75 years in Missouri as one of the largest General Contractors/ Design-Build Contractors, we are known for our commitment to total client satisfaction. Contacting Prost Builders is the FIRST step for your successful building project.
THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF A VITAL ORGANIZATIONAL ASSET – YOUR IT INFRASTRUCTURE
By Andrew Gilstrap agilstrap@gfidigital.com
In today’s fast-paced business environment, your organization’s IT infrastructure is more than just a set of servers and networks – it’s the backbone of your digital health. Just like our own physical well-being, IT systems require regular check-ups, a balanced diet of updates, and a solid exercise routine to remain strong, secure, and adaptable.
Consider this: your IT infrastructure is like the heart of your business, pumping data and enabling communication, collaboration, and customer service. But like any vital system, neglect can lead to serious consequences. System failures, security breaches, and inefficiencies can feel like the IT equivalent of heart disease or burnout. That’s why maintaining the health of your IT infrastructure is not just a matter of convenience – it’s a matter of business survival.
Much like how we nourish our bodies with good food, IT infrastructure needs to be consistently updated and optimized. This means regular software patches, hardware upgrades, and security enhancements. A balanced digital diet will keep your network performing at its peak, while reducing vulnerabilities and the risk of downtime.
Think of your IT security as the immune system. Firewalls, encryption, and multi-factor authentication are your body’s antibodies, protecting your system from cyber threats and external intrusions. And just as regular exercise is
essential to maintain physical health, routine monitoring and testing of your IT systems are vital to ensure they remain agile and responsive.
Incorporating these best practices into your organization’s IT health regimen will foster productivity, enhance security, and improve overall operational efficiency.
Three Critical Tips for Maintaining IT Health and Wellness
1. Regular Check-ups: Perform routine system diagnostics and updates to identify potential weaknesses and ensure your IT systems are running smoothly.
ANDREW GILSTRAP Vice President
Andrew graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. Prior to joining the GFI Digital team, Andrew was Director of Operations for Sangita Capital Partners. Andrew came to GFI Digital in the summer of 2016 with over eight years of sales and management experience. He spent three years as a sales manager in St. Louis, 5 years as Managing Director in Kansas City, and and now serves as Vice President.
2. Nourish with Security: Invest in cutting-edge security tools and implement strict access controls to protect your data from potential threats.
3. Stay Agile: Keep your IT infrastructure flexible and scalable to meet the growing demands of the business environment, just as we stay physically active to adapt to life’s challenges.
By prioritizing the health of your IT infrastructure, you’re not just preventing problems – you’re fostering a robust, thriving ecosystem that will keep your business running efficiently for years to come.
GFI Digital is a full-service provider of office technology, including multi-function copiers, printers, and information technology services. From a humble beginning in 1999, GFI Digital has grown into an industry leader in office technology, copiers, printers, data centers, networking, security, and system administration. Having earned a reputation for customer service, GFI Digital makes technology simple for your organization.
THE POWER OF COMBINING DIGITAL & PRINT ADVERTISING
By Charles Bruce III charles@comocompanies.com
In the dynamic marketing landscape, businesses often struggle with the choice between digital and print advertising. Each medium has its advantages, but integrating both can produce impressive results. Here’s why adopting a dual-channel approach is a successful strategy for your brand.
Reaching a Broader Audience
Digital advertising is highly effective at targeting specific demographics by using data to connect with potential customers online. Through social media, search engines, and email campaigns, digital ads offer both precision and immediacy.
CHARLES BRUCE III Director of Client Relations
Charles Bruce is the Director of Client Relations for COMO Companies which owns COMO Marketing, COMO Magazine, and COMO Business Times. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and his MBA from the University of Dubuque. When Charles isn’t being the life of the party, he can be found climbing a large mountain. In December 2023 he climbed the Imja Tse mountain in Nepal.
On the other hand, print advertising offers something digital cannot replicate — physical presence. Magazines, newspapers, and brochures put your message directly in people’s hands, often reaching audiences who value tangible experiences. This is especially effective for local businesses, as print ads in community publications connect with readers invested in their area. By using both, you cover all bases — capturing online audiences while reinforcing your message with those who trust and enjoy print media.
Building Trust and Credibility
Being featured in print lends a sense of credibility. Readers often perceive printed materials as more trustworthy and permanent than fleeting digital ads. For instance, a beautifully designed ad in a reputable publication suggests quality and professionalism.
Meanwhile, digital advertising’s strength lies in its ability to build trust through interaction. Clickable links, customer reviews, and retargeting campaigns help nurture relationships with prospective customers. Together, print builds the foundation of credibility, while digital reinforces it through engagement.
Enhancing Brand Recall
Research shows that people are more likely to remember an ad they’ve seen in print compared to one they’ve scrolled past online. Print’s tactile nature engages multiple senses, making your message more memorable. However, digital advertising offers repeated exposure and instant calls to action, keeping your brand at the top of a potential customer’s mind. Pairing the two creates a cooperative effect: your print ad leaves a lasting impression, while your digital ad provides ongoing visibility and opportunities for immediate interaction.
Tangible Meets Trackable
Digital advertising’s most significant advantage is its trackability. Platforms like Google Ads and social media provide detailed analytics, from click-through rates to conversion metrics. This data allows businesses to adjust their strategies in realtime for maximum ROI.
573.499.1830 | comomarketing.co
Though print lacks the same immediate feedback, it offers a unique tangibility. Readers can clip out a coupon, mark a page, or simply hold your ad in their hands — a physical reminder of your business. Incorporating elements like QR codes or custom URLs in print ads bridges the gap, driving traffic to your digital platforms while tracking the effectiveness of your print efforts.
Why Choose When You Can Combine?
The debate between digital and print advertising shouldn’t be about choosing one over the other but rather finding ways to leverage both to amplify your impact. A well-rounded marketing strategy ensures your message resonates across multiple platforms, engaging audiences wherever they are.
At COMO Marketing, we’re here to help you make the most of both print and digital advertising. Whether you want to boost your brand with eye-catching print ads or drive results with focused digital campaigns, we’ve got your back.
Let us guide you on your marketing journey. Together, we can develop a strategy that brings your brand to life — both on paper and on screen.
HOW TO KEEP BUSINESS AND PERSONAL EXPENSES SEPARATE
By Brad Roling broling@midambk.com
You have probably heard people tell you to keep your business and personal expenses separate but if you’re a small business you may not see a need. Structuring your business separately can provide liability protection and help maintain a layer between your personal assets and business assets. Keeping things separate can also aid in accounting and record keeping as you will be able to differentiate truly between what your business has gained or lost. It can also help in building your business credit, which helps in securing funding for future projects. Now that we know the “why” of keeping your business and personal expenses separate, let’s talk about how you can accomplish this.
1. Applying for an EIN: Applying for an EIN is one of the best and most simple ways to maintain separation between your business and personal. Having this identification number keeps finances from running through your personal Social Security number and helps maintain a level of identity theft protection.
2. Setting up a business bank account: Having a business checking account separate from your personal finances can help easily distinguish between transactions and simplify the accounting process at year-end. It also makes it easier to monitor account activity on the day-to-day basis. When you take advantage of business services, there are generally specialized products and services at your disposal to help make your business more efficient. If your business is ready for a checking account or curious about what other services might be available, reach out!
3. Consider a business credit card: Another simple way to separate spending is by opening a credit card solely for your business. Credit cards are helpful when you have employees that may need to make everyday purchases but don’t need
BRAD ROLING
Market President – Columbia
Brad Roling is the Columbia Market President for Mid America Bank. Brad has more than 10 years of banking experience that he uses to help businesses in and around Columbia thrive. When he is not helping your business with its financial needs, Brad is serving the community in a variety of capacities. He is proud to serve on the Ronald McDonald House Mid-Missouri Board of Directors as Treasurer, the Columbia Chamber Foundation Board as Treasurer, Heart of Missouri United Way Board of Directors and Beta Theta Pi Advisory Board. Brad is a proud Mizzou grad and loves cheering on the Tigers!
573-615-2343 | midambk.com
access to the actual business bank account. Some business credit card programs offer ways to limit spending to a certain amount or certain merchants. This can aid in fraud prevention and help you to keep an eye on expenses being charged to the account.
4. Partner with a financial institution: A relationship with a local financial institution and their business banking professionals can provide access to products and services that you won’t have access to on the personal financial services side. This can include Treasury Management services such as Remote Deposit Capture, wire transfers, and Positive Pay.
If you still have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I would love to partner with you in 2025 to make your business the best it can be.
Bridging THE GAP
Paytient improves health care access and affordability.
BY JODIE JACKSON JR
Ask Paytient co-founder and CEO Brian Whorley about his year and he'll use superlatives like "explosive growth" and "watershed moments" to describe both the Columbia-based company he founded, Paytient, and the state of healthcare access and a ordability in the U.S.
“It’s a weighty responsibility,” he said. “ e mission of our company is to improve how people access and a ord care. It’s incredibly motivating.”
Most Americans have health insurance today, but increasingly high deductibles mean far too many Americans face the painful choice between physical and nancial health if they get sick or injured.
Paytient is now o ered alongside ACA marketplace plans and as an employee bene t through its partnerships with payers like Anthem, local employers like EquipmentShare, Boone Health, and Commerce Bank as well as its collaboration with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce that makes a Paytient card available to employees of
over 4,000 small businesses with Chamber Bene t Plan coverage.
IN A NUTSHELL
How Paytient works for:
Paytient is also now partnering with Medicare and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce — with more than 4,000 small businesses across the state — and is now an added bene t of multiple commercial health insurance plans and Health Savings Account (HSA) plans.
Whorley added, “ ey are bundling Paytient into their plans.”
Whorley noted that in 2025, Columbia-based Paytient will be part of nearly twenty- ve million Americans’ health plans. e Paytient team also recently celebrated the launch of the rst-ever Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, a new program that will expand access and improve a ordability for Medicare Part D bene ciaries, including older adults and those living with disabilities.
at also means a signi cant increase in Paytient’s employment total and payroll, which are not publicly disclosed because Paytient is a private company.
“We have committed to hiring a whole bunch of folks,” Whorley noted. Paytient positions itself as a company with local roots and global growth, though Whorley said he is “always championing Columbia as an amazing place to live, work, and play.” e company’s headquarters is located o Endeavor Avenue, near Father Tolton Catholic High School in south Columbia.
Bridging
EMPLOYERS
Employees receive a Paytient card they can use to pay out-of-pocket expenses for medical, dental, vision, pharmacy, behavioral health, and veterinary care.
Cardholders swipe their card at the point of care and split their balance into easy-to-manage payments automatically deducted from future paychecks or another linked payment method.
INSURERS
Once approved, members receive a Paytient card with their health plan that empowers them to pay out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.
In a crowded market, Paytient helps insurers differentiate their offering to attract and retain more members.
HEALTH SYSTEMS
Health systems can subsidize the cost of the Paytient card for local employers who want to offer it to their teams. Employees can use the card to get care with the health system's facilities and physician groups, which helps attract more commercially-insured patients.
And that means, Whorley said, more Americans will be getting health care because Paytient has created a way to ease the a ordability burden that often dissuades individuals from seeking care, even if they are insured.
“ ere is a relationship between clinical care and income — the ability to pay or a person’s nancial capacity — and outcomes,” he explained.
e connection between health and wealth is just one indicator of the social determinants of health, a metric that is often used to determine why people in one ZIP code are healthier
than people in another or even adjoining ZIP code. And when “out of pocket” costs are simply out of reach, studies show that many people will either delay or not seek care.
“If my doctor tells me to take this prescription and I don’t take this prescription — I don’t pick it up or I’m not adherent to the dosage — there’s a much higher chance I’m going to end up back in the hospital. And that costs all of us even more.”
e new partnership with Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, which is now a legal requirement for every
Part D plan, will further smooth out the cost by allowing payment over time.
“ e insurer is essentially going to oat your out-of-pocket payment,” Whorley added. “It is the designed intent of this program to make health care more accessible, equitable, and a ordable. People still pay their share, but they have the ability to pay that over time.”
e JAMANetwork reports that as many as 20 percent of Medicare bene ciaries are skipping doses or not lling prescriptions because they cannot a ord the out-of-pocket cost. e
We’re not in the position to change the price people will pay, but the ability of people to pay the price. We’re helping to create a healthier health system.
same dynamic happens in the commercial market where 40 percent of workplace insured Americans report deferring care due to cost.
at report is featured on Paytient’s website, with the following conclusion: Here’s the incredible thing: when patients have the power to redesign the timeline of their out-of-pocket payments with no interest or fees, healthier care seeking patterns emerge.
“In other words, time to pay demolishes the psychological and practical cost barriers that keep people from seeking care. Today, this shift in behavior will be made possible for the rst time in Medicare.
Founded in 2018, Paytient now has the data to back up that analysis. In a January 2024 survey of Paytient cardholders, 54 percent reported getting care they would have delayed or skipped without Paytient’s payment solution.
Accessing care when it is needed rather than delaying treatment also
means less chronic conditions that drive up the cost of care — and shorten lifespans. When affordability is not out of reach, people use their health insurance more often, they stay with the plan, and the health insurer retains more clients.
“ at’s a good thing for the insurers,” Whorley said. “We’re not in the position to change the price people will pay, but the ability of people to pay the price. We’re helping to create a healthier health system.”
Paytient cardholders choose their own payment plans over twelve months with no interest or fee. Paytient assumes the risk if payments are not made.
“Every time you swipe the card, you pick your own payment plan,” Whorley said. Cardholders also choose their own payment source, whether connecting an HSA with pre-tax dollars, a bank account, or a debit card. “We’re essentially giving you con dence in that moment of uncertainty, and a sense of a ordability.”
e cost is built into premiums paid by the employers.
Whorley said Paytient is in “rare air” among the some 4,800 venture-backed
companies that were formed in 2018 and 2019.
“ ere might be fty where we are at this level — the top 1 percent,” he added. “Rare air, so to speak.” at “explosive growth” is also conrmation that Whorley’s vision for Paytient hit the mark.
“ e world is changing in the way that we thought it would,” he said. “I would like to think we are an in uencer of that.”
Whorley previously worked for Boone Health as director of business development and strategic planning when the hospital and health system were managed by BJC Healthcare.
“Paytient wouldn’t exist if I hadn’t worked at Boone Hospital Center,” he said. “It’s an incredible place – mission driven. Every single day we woke up thinking about how we could improve the health of the people in the community we serve.’
at same thinking has forged Whorley’s path with Paytient.
“ ere’s been lots of innovation around new treatments — the expanding of the curative and therapeutic envelope,” he said. “ ere hasn’t been enough innovation around the pricing and payment in health care. at’s what we’re doing to create a healthier health system.” CBT
Have an Invention, N d a Pa nt?
Mizzou Technology Advancement team assists local inventors with complex process.
BY MCKENNA STUMPH
The Missouri Innovation Center (MIC) at the University of Missouri generated $18.6 million in licensing income last year. With the help of the Mizzou Technology Advancement* team, sixteen U.S. patents were led, as well as 113 new inventions disclosed by the end of 2023.
A few of the U.S. patents — for inventions with technical explanations beyond the average understanding — issued in 2023 include:
• A drinking container with different temperature zones, invented by Bill Ma. The drinking container uses phase-change materials to rapidly cool and maintain liquids at drinkable temperatures.
• Compositions for the treatment of drug-resistant tumors and methods of use, invented by Raghuraman Kannan, Dhananjay Suresh, Soumavo Mukherjee, Ajit Prakash Zambre, and Anandhi Upendran. The methods detect and treat tumors resistant to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) using gelatin nanoparticles loaded with siRNAs (small interfering RNAs) and TKIs.
• Ayurvedic encapsulated gold nanoparticles, fabrication methods and cancer therapeutic methods, invented by Kattesh V. Katti, Menka Khoobchandani, Kavita K. Katti, and Aslam Khan.
Plant extracts conjugated to gold nanoparticles using green nanotechnology create cancer therapies consistent with the principles of Ayrvedic-holistic medicine.
• Inhibitor-functionalized ultrasmall nanoparticles and methods, invented by Thomas P. Quinn. The nanoparticles with conjugated antibody fragments are joined to a chemotherapeutic drug for improved targeting of cancer.
• Engineered comestible meat, invented by Gabor Forgacs, Francoise Marga, and Karoly Robert Jakab. This method of forming animal muscle either with a bioprinter or other assembly process, produces a food product rich in animal protein.
Quinten Messbarger, president and CEO of MIC, is eager to shine a light on the innovation center’s work, and he’s equally passionate about describing the process.
“ e patent process begins with the inventor having the idea. You patent something that’s new and novel and has been reduced to practice,” Messbarger added. “You just can’t patent an idea. You have to demonstrate that it has use, and that it’s novel. ere are a lot of hoops you have to think about and you’re always going to be engaging a patent attorney."
e complexity requires the expertise of an attorney for both practical and legal reasons.
“It’s a big legal kind of thing and if you don’t do it right, you think you have protection, but you don’t,” he said.
A patent gives an inventor the right to prevent others from making, using, selling, or importing their invention for a set period of time. Fundamentally, a patent is all about its tradeo . e government is willing to give the inventor a twenty-year monopoly per patent. If an inventor divulges what they have and how it works with the trade-o , they can obtain a twenty-year monopoly to make their money and get their return, Messbarger explained. en after twenty years, society bene ts because it is o -patent and anyone can do it.
“It’s supposed to be a win-win and one of the few ways that an inventor can protect what they’re attempting to achieve,” he added. “ e challenge with our world here, with high growth life science companies, it can take millions, if not tens of millions of dollars to develop a product. No one will invest that kind of money if they don’t have a way to get their money back. If you don’t have a patent and a way to keep other people from copying what you’re doing, you spend ve, ten years developing something tens or twenties of millions of developing something, and then someone for ten bucks copies it.” e bottom line is this: It’s about the bottom line.
“ e reason people are willing to invest in these kinds of things, like new drugs, or medical devices or whatever, is because you can get that protection,” he said. “Investors have a reason to believe they can get a return on their investment.”
“ e re on op are w ling inve in t se kin thin , like w dru , medic d i s wha ver, cause y can t that pro ction. Inve s have a re on li e t y can t a return on t ir inve ment.”
— QUINTEN MESSBARGER
ere are two di erent “ avors” of patents — a provisional patent and a nonprovisional patent. e provisional patent is the most common, which is essentially a timestamp for the next year, allowing the inventor that allotted time to put together a sound nonprovisional patent. e provisional patent buys the inventor a one-year period.
Messbarger noted that for ve to six thousand dollars, the inventor gets that one year, and hopefully, in that year, they can work on improving the product. ey can work on their market research, test the market, and create some prototypes. If they decide to move forward within that year, it is time for the nonprovisional patent to be led, which gives the inventor twenty years to make a pro t and for investors to get their returns.
“You can go directly to a non-provisional, but patents are expensive,” he said. “With the provisional patent, you’re going to spend at least ve thousand dollars, maybe as much as ten and a nonprovisional full patent could be twenty to fty thousand. So, especially if you’re a startup, the notion of coming up with fty thousand dollars early on, before you’ve maybe even got everything gured out, just isn’t workable, which is why you have the provisional patent.”
Some of the patents that have become successful with the help of the MIC include:
DynaMed
Dr. Brian Alper
As a medical student at MU, Alper created a database as a hobby. He understood, as a learning physician, there was no way he was going to be able to remember everything. He created a functioning database, similar to what AI would be now. It is a resource physicians can always go to for looking up evidence-based medicine research to give the best answer when treating patients. He took his invention to MIC when he wanted to move it from a hobby to a business. MIC helped him grow and develop until it was acquired by EBSCO, the world’s
largest medical publisher. Physicians all around the world use this tool now.
Equinosis
Dr. Kevin Keegan
As a professor of equine surgery at MU, Keegan, along with engineers led by professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, Dr. Frank Pai, developed algorithms for the specific purpose of determining a horse’s lameness using a highspeed camera and a treadmillbased system. A trained veterinarian can only accurately diagnose a horse’s lameness 50 percent of the time. This system has now become the standard.
Elemental Enzymes
Dr. Brian Thompson, Dr. Katie Thompson, and Dr. Ashley Siegel
Two postdoctoral research students — husband and wife — came to MIC with a platform technology that can create enzymes that are much more robust. Their first commercial project was a coating that goes on seeds and allows plants to produce 5 to 7 percent more. The enzyme is now on billions of seeds, creating higher crop yields. And it is not considered toxic or a pollutant.
Recently, Elemental Enzymes attained approval for a citrus greening
solution. In the south U.S., where most of the citrus trees are grown, there is a disease called citrus greening.
“They are fundamentally, in my opinion, saving the citrus industry,” Messbarger said. Elemental Enzymes has an office at MIC and is headquartered in St. Louis, with offices in Florida and Australia.
MIC operates and manages the 33,000 square foot MU Life Science Business Incubator at 1601 S. Providence on the MU campus. e facility features wet laboratories, shared lab equipment and facilities, private and shared ofces, conference room spaces, and other resources designed to support start-up and early-stage life science ventures.
“Entrepreneurs need to understand that here in Columbia, there is a lot of help. We have an amazing community of entrepreneurial support organizations that can help almost anyone,” Messbarger noted. “If someone’s got a great idea, don’t be afraid to explore it.”
MIC is a 501c3 nonpro t and is now in its fortieth year.
“I’ve been doing it thirty years,” he said, “because it’s gratifying to help all these super smart folks solve these problems.” CBT
New Business Licenses
Issued November 2024
Your Key Guy
705 E. High Point Lane, Columbia
The Tokyo Club LLC
709 Fay Street, Columbia
Fresh Karma Dispensaries
Jennifer Campbell and Josh Campbell
1407 Cinnamon Hill Lane, Columbia
STARTVAPES.INC
Retail trade
1915 Paris Road, Columbia
Elegance Nails Spa
1729 W. Broadway, Columbia
Sycamore Home Company LLC
General contractor
5510 Pergola Drive, Columbia
Solskin Esthetics
3601 Endeavor Avenue, Columbia
Aura Nails, LLC
Starlight Valet LLC
Josiah Williams
22 N. Tenth St., Columbia
Rinck Holdings, LLC
Professional, scienti c, and technical services
2111 Live Oak Lane, Columbia
Polvorosas LLC
Food service
14 E. Business Loop 70, Columbia
Brandow
Electric LLC
Electrical trade contractor
Jason Brandow
3041 Highway BB, Huntsville, MO
Lesa’s Hair
Lesa Gibbons
1729 W. Broadway, Columbia
Wolf Metal Carports LLC
General contractor
4506 State Route A, Higbee, MO
Premier Climate Control
Mechanical trade contractor
Amy Stil eld
5550 S. Limit Ave., Sedalia, MO
All Season
Roofing LLC
General contractor
Alex ornton
6002 NW Highway 9, Parkville, MO
Salon Z
Zoee Schuster
3700 I-70 Drive SE, Columbia
Columbia Glass & Mirror
General contractor
5775 E. Highway 163 CBT
Issued by the city of Columbia’s Finance department.
What’s Going Up?
Massive apartment complex and Beacon of Light Center begin construction.
BY JODIE JACKSON JR
Commercial and multi-family apartment construction continues to transform south Columbia, with SPRINGBROOK PARK APARTMENTS now beginning to build a 352-unit complex just north of the Veterans United headquarters o State Farm Parkway
Seven, four-story apartment buildings, each with a valuation of $7.32 million and each comprising 47,450-squarefeet, are among the building permits issued in November by the Columbia Building and Site Development o ce. e builder is Intrinsic Development LLC. e apartment buildings are o State Farm Parkway and Ledger Drive. e project also includes seven parking buildings, each with a valuation of $515,369.
Springbrook Park highlights a busy building permit report for the city and Boone County. e city issued ninety-nine building permits with a combined valuation of $84,699,170 and the Boone County Resource Management o ce issued sixty-six building permits with an aggregate valuation of $10,936,890. Together, the total valuation of the combined 165 building permits is $95.6 million.
• Single family detached: 22 permits, $10.61 million.
• Townhouse: 6 permits, $2.15 million.
Other permit highlights include:
A $6 million community center in north Columbia — the BEACON OF LIGHT CENTER — will be located at 1801 Towne Drive. e center will be operated by United Community Builders and will have a multipurpose room to be used as a gymnasium and for religious gatherings, as well as a two-story education wing. Coil Construction Inc. is the builder.
e city of Columbia’s building permit breakdown includes: If you see a building popping up and wonder, “What’s going up?”, email jodie@comocompanies.com and let us know!
Another phase of improvements to the CITY’S WATER TREATMENT PLANT at 6851 W. Route K near McBaine. Bowen Engineering is the contractor for the $253,746 project.
Construction of A GOOD START PRESCHOOL and related site improvements got the green light at 10 Grace Lane. e permit lists a valuation of $913,651 for the 4,711 square foot project. Professional Contractors and Engineers is the builder. e permit lists Joanne Williams as the property owner. Reinhardt Construction LLC is the contractor for INTERIOR RENOVATIONS of Suite 101 and 103 at 2801 Woodard Drive. e renovations will make the space ready for o ce occupancy. e building permit lists of project valuation of $450,000.
Reinhardt Construction LLC of Columbia is the general contractor for a $15 million expansion of the Columbia Area Career Center at 4203 S. Providence, located next to Rock Bridge High School. The new wing will be open to students in August 2025. Crockett Engineering of Columbia is the project engineer. The project was among construction items approved by voters in 2022.The electrical contractor is Kaiser Electric of Central Missouri, which is based in Jefferson City. CACC provides Columbia Public Schools students and students from other districts with career and technical education programs.
Photo by Jodie Jackson Jr
Interior renovation of the northeast portion of the second oor of the ORIGINAL SHELTER INSURANCE BUILDING at 1817
W. Broadway will provide new enclosed o ces and open o ce cubicles. e 10,682 square foot project has a valuation of $400,000. Don Prose is the general contractor.
e EVANS AND DIXON LLC
LAW FIRM is listed as the tenant for a commercial in ll project at 3621 Discovery Parkway Suite 107. Discovery Development LLC is the builder. e $400,000 project is for in ll of an existing non-occupied space.
FOUR TOWNHOUSES will be built by Linkside at Old Hawthorne o Murano Way and two townhouses built by Beacon Street Homes will be built o Napa Court at Vintage Falls.
A $2.8 million project encompassing 18,900 square feet will create a threestory, twenty-four-unit APARTMENT BUILDING at 2100 Corona Road, at e Lofts at Cherry Hill. THM Construction LLC is the builder.
e Boone County November building permit report includes:
• Single family residential: 12 permits, $5.96 million.
• Industrial building: 1 permit, $2 million.
• Stores/mercantile building: 1 permit, $650,000.
• Other nonresidential: 9 permits, $515,755.
• Other structures: 12 permits, $658,718.
• Residential additions and alterations: 9 permits, $498,815.
• Nonresidential additions and alterations: 1 permit, $27,648.
• Residential garages: 6 permits, $577,380.
• Miscellaneous: 15 permits, $23,574.
e county building permit highlights include:
A MIXED STORAGE FACILITY at 5051 S. Providence. MBK Investments LLC is the manager for the $650,000 project.
Questec is the owner and contractor for a $2 million FABRICATION SHOP o E. Boone Industrial Dr. in north Columbia.
e top-dollar single family home is a $2 MILLION structure o S. Adelaide Court. Block Construction is the builder. CBT
988
The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available via call, chat, text, and videophone.
20 Deaths per hour due to alcoholrelated causes nationwide from 2020 to 2021. (Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which reported 178,000 such deaths for that period.)
25 New business licenses issued by the city of Columbia finance department in November.
133,000
The volume of calls and contacts to the 988 MidMissouri DeafLine, which is based in Columbia, according to the most recent 12-month report.
$95.31 million
The total valuation of building permits — 121 in all — issued by the county and city in November.
$18.6 million
Licensing revenue generated by patents via the Missouri Innovation Center in 2023.
12 & 22
The number of single family home building permits issued by the Boone County Office of Resource Management and the city of Columbia Building and Site Development office, respectively, in November.
Columbia Chamber Lists 2025 Local Priorities
Workforce development, I-70 project, and public safety lead the way.
The Columbia Chamber of Commerce announced its 2025 Local Priorities at the annual State of the Community event on December 11. e gathering at the Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center brought together public o cials, community leaders, and business professionals to recognize Columbia’s elected o cials and public servants, while also highlighting upcoming opportunities in local government.
Chamber President Matt McCormick said the State of the Community, formerly known as the Civic Appreciation Breakfast, re ects the Chamber’s mission to lead the community, drive commerce in the region, and advance community and regional collaborations, “thereby enhancing the quality of where we live, learn, work and play.” e event emphasized the collaborative e orts of the city of Columbia, Boone County government, and the Chamber in addressing key challenges and opportunities for the region. e local Chamber of Commerce has outlined an ambitious agenda for 2025, focused on fostering a thriving business environment and community.
e priorities include:
• Champion workforce development, housing a ordability and transportation policies that make living and working in Columbia achievable for people at all income levels.
• Ensure successful implementation and full utilization of available funds from federal programs, including but not limited to ARPA programs, and encourage allocation of funds to support business development, infrastructure and workforce development.
• Facilitate transparent communication and engagement between local elected o cials and the business community regarding policies.
• Invest in sustainable aesthetic improvements to Interstate 70, in a coordinated e ort to create attractive and welcoming entrances for residents and visitors to Columbia.
• Align the city’s budget, policies, council-led initiatives, and use of resources with citizen-endorsed priorities, including long-term reliable and a ordable public utilities.
• Advocate to strengthen crime prevention, fortify public safety and foster community collaboration to create a secure environment where businesses and citizens can thrive.
• Work with public and private partners on sustainable solutions for the voluntarily and involuntarily unsheltered.
• Sponsors for the State of the Community event were Joe Machens Dealerships, AT&T, Elevato, the University of Missouri, Shelter Insurance Companies, Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center, e Missouri Symphony, and Columbia Printing & Sign.
e event also featured awarding $500 donations to Missouri River Relief (on behalf of the Boone County Commission) and and the Columbia Public Schools Foundation (on behalf of the mayor). e funds were provided by Shelter Insurance Companies. CBT
This story originally appeared online on December 19, 2024 at comobusinesstimes.com
