Columbia Business Times July 2019

A BUSINESS TIMES COMPANY PUBLICATION JULY 2019 EMPLOYMENT & CULTURE

IN FOCUS: EDUCATIONAL UNIONS PG. 81

AUCKY EL -TAYASH Owner, The Grind Coffee House

COLUMBIA'S TOP EMERGING PROFESSIONAL 2019

INITIAL ATTRACTION, LASTING AFFECTION PG. 63

O F T H E TOWN

2 JULY 2019

Copiers & Printers - Managed Print - Managed Network - Advanced Technology 3236 West Edgewood Road Ste A Jefferson City, MO 65109

4210 Philips Farm Road Suite 101 Columbia, MO 65201

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 3

4 JULY 2019

Meet

When it comes to your largest “investment”, why wouldn’t you trust Berkshire Hathaway?

BRENT GARDNER

The kind of person you want to work with

Since launching in 2012, we’ve become the fastest growing real estate company in the nation. It’s no surprise to us – we hear time and time again that the transition to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices was not only easy, but easily the best decision both brokerages and agents have made for their organization and personal brands.

• A Respected Name

Add instant credibility to your own name or brokerage when you join the Berkshire Hathaway family.

• Strong National Marketing

Not only does the strong national marketing keep our brand top-of-mind, you’ll have marketing tools at your fingertips on the local level.

• A Growing Brand

After being in business for just one year, consumers named Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Real Estate Agency Brand of the Year.

• Tools and Resources

With access to the best tools, resources and training in the marketplace, you’ll always be one step ahead of the competition.

Our Mission Is Succinct. We help people achieve their goals faster than they would in our absence.

• Chair of Columbia’s bicentennial task force • 2005 Realtor of the Year • BXR original DJ/music director • Blue Note manager • $3 million plus in sales • Over 1000 houses sold • Historic Preservation commissioner for 9 years • Created brick street policy • Negotiated to keep the Neidermeyer building from demolition • Chair of the Downtown Leadership Council

• Winning Leadership Team

Unlike any other real estate company, our entire leadership team comes from a real estate background.

• KFRU’s The Real Estate Show for 15 years

#ForeverBrand

#ForeverAgent

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices | Vision Real Estate 22 N. 8th Street Columbia, Missouri 65201 Phone Number: 573-449-6200 Fax Number: 573-442-0265

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has been awarded “Highest Overall Satisfaction For Repeat Home Buyers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms” on J.D. Power 2018

brentgardnerhomes.com 573-489-1900

© 2016 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.‰ Equal Housing Opportunity.

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 5

6 JULY 2019

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 7

Don’t wait for your home to sell.

MOVE UP with

HEATH HIGGINS ABR, GRI, E-PRO, RDCPRO BEST SELLING AUTHOR | BROKER | OWNER 573-619-6308 | heath@heathhiggins.com

PriceForMyHome.com 8 JULY 2019

“

Last summer Ron and

Svetlana made the decision they’d been dreaming about for years.

Once Svetlana sold her business in Columbia, and Ron retired, they decided to sell their home and relocate to one of their favorite vacation spots – the Canary Islands in Spain.

Curious about Heath’s “Move Up” program, Ron called and made an appointment with Carrie Spicer. She explained that if Ron listed his home with us, and we found a potential buyer who had their own home to sell, then Heath would purchase the future buyer’s home. Turns out that is exactly what happened.

Carrie had an open house and told the potential buyers about Heath’s Move UP program. Heath looked at their home and made a cash offer with a quick close, so that they could purchase Ron and Svetlana’s home with no contingencies. It was awesome!

Ron was able to focus on getting their belongings sold or ready for international shipping, while Carrie took care of the rest. The process started around May 1 and Ron and Svetlana closed on their home on September 14.

Ron considers Carrie a dear friend and trusted advisor, and is enjoying his new home near the beach. He promises to use the Heath Higgins team again if he were ever to move back to Missouri!

—Heath Higgins

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 9

Restore Health.

Find Balance.

Renew Vitality.

When life leaves you exhausted at the end of each day, it can often feel difficult to find a solution that makes you strong and energetic again.

Frequently Asked Questions...

What is Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy? Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) with pellets is a natural alternative to synthetic hormone replacement therapies. With BHRT, the structure of the hormone — testosterone, estrogen, or both — is matched to the individual patient’s needs.

Bio-identical hormones are natural, plant-based substances that metabolize in our bodies the way nature intended.

How are the pellets given to a patient? During a sterile procedure, the practitioner applies a local anesthetic, makes a small incision, then inserts the pellets into fatty tissue under the skin — typically in the flank or upper buttocks.

The incision is then closed without any need for stitches.

How do pellets work? The pellets release a constant stream of testosterone or estrogen into the bloodstream based on cardiac output, 24/7/365. In other words, due to increased physical activity or emotional stress (good or bad), this constant stream of hormones helps keep symptoms such as mood and energy fluctuations at bay. Subcutaneous (under the skin) pellets have been used to treat hormone imbalance since the 1930’s, and research consistently shows BHRT with pellet implants is the superior method to deliver hormones in both men and women, as it mimics the way the body naturally releases hormones.

I don’t have symptoms, or at least I don’t think I do. Why should I consider looking in to this? It’s important to note that many patients with low testosterone or estrogen don’t experience the common symptoms related to hormone imbalance. This assumption can be quite dangerous. While BHRT via pellets effectively treats symptoms related to low testosterone and estrogen levels, hormone optimization also plays a key role in preventing diseases such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, certain cancers, and more. We start each patient off with proper bloodwork and then help create a roadmap from there.

What should I expect with BHRT with pellet implants? On average, pellet implants last 4-6 months in men (two to three visits per year) and 3-5 months in women (three to four visits a year). Since patients receive a topical anesthetic during the procedure, most can expect to experience little to no discomfort during or after the procedure. Although most experience substantial benefits after the first round of therapy, many patients experience a more pronounced benefit after the second round of pellets. Remember, people don’t get out of balance overnight, so it often takes a few months to get back on track.

Learn more, take the symptom quiz, and schedule your consult at www.EVEXIASmedical.com today.

Find out how EVEXIAS Medical can help you.

Experience Wellness with EVEXIAS To set up appointment, contact your local EVEXIAS Clinic.

2900 Trimble Road, Suite 107 | 573.818.3067 | EVEXIASMedical.com

red we Po

olumbia Region al A

by C irp or t

TOP

CBT’s

THANK YOU, COLUMBIA, FOR VOTING US TOP VIDEOGRAPHER. READY TO TELL YOUR STORY? CONTACT US AT 573-289-5540 OR INFO@CHIMAERIC.COM.

OF THE

TOWN 2019

IMAGINE WHAT WE CAN CREATE TOGETHER.

Columbia Marketing Group is proud to announce our newest service:

CMGPROMOITEMS.COM A one stop shop for all your promotional item needs.

USE CODE CMG1 TO GET 20% OFF YOUR FIRST PURCHASE. E X P I R E S J U LY 3 1 , 2 0 1 9

columbiamarketinggroup.com 573-499-1830

How can we help you tell your story?

Introducing Columbia Marketing Group, a full-service agency with a rich history in story telling right here at home

GRAPHIC DESIGN • EMAIL MARKETING • WRITING SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS • SEO/PAID SEARCH DIGITAL MARKETING CAMPAIGNS • WEB DESIGN CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS • BRANDING PRINTING • VIDEOGRAPHY • PHOTOGRAPHY

Let’s get coffee. erica@columbiamarketinggroup.com • 573-499-1830

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 15

See you at the top!

red we Po

olumbia Region al A

by C irp or t

TOP

CBT’s

Thank you, Columbia, for voting us Top Event Location!

To plan your next private, corporate, or public event, contact us.

16 JULY 2019

OF THE

TOWN 2019

anotherround@pressedcomo.com | (573) 424-6660 | 803 E. Walnut St. Suite 601 | Columbia, MO 65201

Member SIPC

What’s most important to you?

I use an established process to build personalized strategies to help you reach your goals.

Setting goals is always the first step to any successful strategy. If you believe yours deserve more attention, we should talk. Call today for your consultation.

Mark Richardson ,CFP® 2415 Carter Ln Suite #104 Columbia, MO 65201 573.442.1276 mark.richardson@edwardjones.com

18 JULY 2019

Mark Richardson, CFP® Financial Advisor

I

t’s a month of milestones and celebrations here at CBT. For the fifth year in a row, we are recognizing amazing businesses and professionals in Columbia through our Top of the Town awards. You can get to know the first and second place winners and our cover model, Aucky El-Tayash, on page 49.

This month also marks my one-year anniversary of being CBT's editor. I started with the July issue of the magazine last year, and it has truly been a joy working on this magazine. I have had the privilege of not only meeting exceptional people who are truly passionate about making Columbia the best it can OF THE TOWN be through their service and leadership, but I’ve also been honored to share their stories with the rest of ON THE COVER the community. And there’s more to come!

This month’s cover model is Moving forward, CBT will look a little different.

Aucky El-Tayash, owner of The Grind Coffee House and I can’t give you all the details just yet, but keep an our first-place winner for Top eye on our social media channels this month for an Emerging Professional for Top exciting announcement. We have something in the of the Town 2019. Photography

by Anthony Jinson works that will show off the very best of Columbia.

But before we get to that, there is this month’s Employment & Culture Issue that highlights the changes Columbia’s workforce is going through. For example, with the employment numbers remaining quite low over the past few months, companies who use creative measures to attract and retain their employees stand out to those looking for jobs. Read about how a few local companies differentiate themselves through the perks they offer on page 63.

We also look into educational unions for teachers and graduate students: their reason for existing and how they’re supporting their members (page 81). Are they accomplishing their intended goal?

And we looked at what isn’t changing in Columbia’s workforce — specifically, why more women are not reaching for political positions within the city and county government systems. Currently, there is only one female city council member, and even before her, there have only been a few women in that role. We wanted to know what may have led to that being the case. Karen Miller, retired Boone County commissioner of over 20 years, lends her voice to this story (page 75).

What employment and culture issues do you wish we would have covered? What questions do you have that are not answered? Send me an email! I’d like to hear your thoughts.

A BUSINESS TIMES COMPANY PUBLICATION JULY 2019

EMPLOYMENT & CULTURE

EDITOR ' S FAVOR I TE S

IN FOCUS: EDUCATIONAL UNIONS

PG. 81

AUCKY EL -TAYASH

INITIAL ATTRACTION, LASTING AFFECTION

owner, The Grind Coffee House

COLUMBIA'S TOP EMERGING PROFESSIONAL 2019

BURGER BONANZA

PG. 63

Whether you like them rare, medium, or well-done, we can all agree that there’s nothing like biting into a well-cooked burger loaded with your favorite toppings. Here are my three favorite burgers in town:

Billiard's on Broadway Easy on the wallet, the famous Billiard’s burger is great for a quick bite when you want something that isn’t fancy but will satisfy your meat craving.

And don’t forget to order a side of fries! A classic combo.

44 Stone The 44 Stone burger will make you think every burger should be served on a pretzel bun.

You will appreciate the perfect char on the outside of the patty cooked to your desired perfection on the inside.

Ingredient True Eatery Arugula, mushrooms, and swiss

Cheers,

cheese. I’m convinced that those are the perfect toppings for any burger, especially my favorite burger from Ingredient.

Emma Bentley, Editor Emma@businesstimescompany.com

You won’t need to or want to eat anything for the rest of the week after eating this.

CONNECT WITH US:

ColumbiaBusinessTimes.com

/ColumbiaBusinessTimes

@ColumbiaBiz

@ColumbiaBiz

• Top 50 Private Practice Facilities in America since 2012 • Sparkling pool and fitness center • Tennis courts • Pickleball courses

SPRING PROMOTION FOR GOLF AND SPORTS MEMBERSHIPS AVAILABLE NOW

• Full service tennis shop • Event spaces available • World-class dining and meeting facilities • Very affordable monthly dues • No minimums & no assessments

To request more information or to schedule a tour, contact Chad McMinn at 573-442-5280 x5000 or chad@oldHawthorne.com The Club at Old Hawthorne | 6221 E. Broadway, Columbia, MO | 573-442-5280

20 JULY 2019

EDITORIAL Emma Bentley, Editor Emma@BusinessTimesCompany.com Mary Kate Hafner, Associate Editor DESIGN/CREATIVE SERVICES Jordan Watts, Senior Designer Jordan@BusinessTimesCompany.com Cassidy Shearrer, Graphic Designer Cassidy@BusinessTimesCompany.com Sadie Thibodeaux, Graphic Designer Sadie@BusinessTimesCompany.com MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES Deb Valvo, Marketing Consultant Deb@BusinessTimesCompany.com Bonnie Hudson, Marketing Consultant Bonnie@BusinessTimesCompany.com MANAGEMENT Erica Pefferman, President Erica@BusinessTimesCompany.com Renea Sapp, Vice President ReneaS@BusinessTimesCompany.com Amy Ferrari, Operations Manager Amy@BusinessTimesCompany.com Beth Bramstedt, Editorial Director Beth@BusinessTimesCompany.com CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Keith Borgmeyer, Anthony Jinson, Sadie Thibodeaux CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mason Aid, Katie Perry Harris, Kermit Miller, Jordan Milne, David Morrison, Jennifer Truesdale INTERNS Kristin Blake, Therasia Brautigam, Megan Lueckenotto, Rae Willis SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscription rate is $19.95 for 12 issues for 1 year or $34.95 for 24 issues for 2 years.

Subscribe at columbiabusinesstimes.com or by phone.

The Columbia Business Times is published every month by The Business Times Co., Copyright The Business Times Co., 2008.

All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of any editorial or graphic content without the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT The Columbia Business Times and columbiabusinesstimes.com strive to be Columbia’s leading source for timely and comprehensive news coverage of the local business community. This publication is dedicated to being the most relevant and useful vehicle for the exchange of information and ideas among Columbia’s business professionals.

CONTACT The Business Times Co., 2001 Corporate Place, Suite 100 Columbia, MO, 65202 (573-499-1830) • columbiabusinesstimes.com

Inside the Issue Facebook Love Columbia Independent School @cislions A huge “thank you” to Columbia Business Times for being a tee sponsor at the Lions on the Links Golf Tournament!

We appreciate their generous support.

Boone County Lumber @BooneCountyLumber Thank you to Columbia Business Times for featuring Boone County Lumber and the rest of the nominees for Columbia Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year!

TIG Advisors @TIGadvisors Thank you CoMo for voting us #2 in the Top Business Insurance category. We the city we’ve served for over 120 years!

Midwest Computech @Midwestcomputech Giving a BIG SHOUT OUT to our team at Midwest Computech today! We landed the Top IT Company in Columbia this week.

Thanks to Greg Miller and David Nivens for building a strong company that encourages our team to be innovative and to always put customer service first! Great job team!

Contributors

Kermit Miller, KRCG 13

David Morrison

Jordan Milne

Mason Aid

Jennifer Truesdale

Write to CBT editor Emma Bentley at Emma@BusinessTimesCompany.com

JOE MACHENS DEALERSHIP is giving back to students in mid-Missouri by awarding one $1,000 scholarship each month!

Who’s eligible? Any senior in the mid-Missouri area is eligible. If the student is a junior now, but will be a senior starting in the fall, they are eligible.

Who can nominate? School officials, community leaders, or employers may nominate a deserving student at MachensDrivesEducation.com How can it be applied? This scholarship can be applied to trade schools, two and four year universities, and even non-traditional post-secondary education programs. We support all types of educational opportunities.

How often will a recipient be chosen? One recipient will be chosen each month.

Do I need to re-apply each month? If you nominated a student to receive this scholarship and they weren’t chosen this time--no need to reapply. Applications will roll over into future months and be considered again each month.

Apply now at MachensDrivesEducation.com

22 JULY 2019

JULY 2019 VOL. 2 6 / ISSUE 1

TA B LE OF CON T EN TS

The Employment & Culture Issue 19 FROM THE EDITOR

49

21 INSIDE THE ISSUE 25 CLOSER LOOK 26 BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS 29 BUSINESS UPDATE Blind Boone Home

32 NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT American Legion Post 202

34 CELEBRATIONS Baumgartner’s Furniture

37 MOVERS & SHAKERS 39 P.Y.S.K. Janet Moss, Socket

43 11 QUESTIONS Peter Callan, University of Missouri Health Care

45 A CAPITOL CONVERSATION GM Expands in Wentzville

47 LOCAL PERSPECTIVE: Mason Aid

85 NEW BUSINESS LICENSES 86 DEEDS OF TRUST

The Best of the Best

87 ECONOMIC INDEX

For the fifth year in a row, we’re recognizing successful Columbia businesses and the people that run them.

Celebrate with us by getting to know the first and second place winners of Top of the Town!

89 BY THE NUMBERS 90 THIS OR THAT Lili Vianello, Visionworks Marketing Group

63

75

81

Initial Attraction, Lasting Affection

Women Who Run

In Focus: Bargaining Power

What perks do companies offer to entice new employees and retain current ones?

What are the hinderances that keep women from running for political office?

A look into how education unions are supporting teachers and students.

24 JULY 2019

BUSINE SS • P EOP L E • VOIC ES • F YI

C LOSER LOOK

Closer Look

Secure Data Technologies

Bubble Cup Tea Zone

Versatile Innovations

After observing the successes and blunders of other tech companies, Dana Steffey decided to open his own. He founded Secure Data Technologies to provide tailor-made managed services and IT solutions to local, long-term customers. The St. Louis-based business will open their Columbia office next month and have already started hiring skilled IT workers.

“We think the way to truly ingrain ourselves in the community is to hire and build locally,” Steffey says. “A lot of the regional competition has been bought by larger players that have no focus on Mid-Missouri.”

He says the new office will allow Secure Data to better put their Columbia customers first.

“Profit is a by-product of doing the right things,” he says. “When you have a problem at 2 a.m. in the morning, it's good to pick up the phone and have a company that will stand behind you and fix your problems.

That's who we are.”

From oolong milk tea to taro balls with grass jelly, Bubble Cup Tea Zone has all kinds of Taiwanese and Taiwan-inspired goodies, and in March, they added a second location on the south side of town.

Tzuyang Chao is the owner of both stores and says the original downtown location was crowded and too small, and if it’s too small, he can’t provide the best service.

The south side location has a café feel and a larger food menu than the downtown location. Chao says most bubble tea stores in the United States are similar to the downtown location, with its in-and-out vibe, but authentic Taiwanese bubble tea stores are more like its new location. “With the south store, you can sit down and eat your food and just get some drinks and hang out with friends,” he says. “I think we’re the most authentic bubble tea store in Missouri.”

It started out as a graphic design project to make a business name and logo at Columbia College, but team leader Chris Bass wanted something he could continue after college. In 2016, he started Versatile Innovations, a photography, video, and graphic design business. Bass believes everyone has a story to tell and says his business is unique for its flexibility toward clients. “We can film, photograph, and create art at a wedding one day and design a website the next,” he says.

Bass enjoys being creative and has always wanted to work for himself. “After graduating from Columbia College, I started taking on clients as a freelancer and decided it was time to take it to the next level,” Bass says.

Website: securedatatech.com Contact: 618-726-4000

Location: 1101 Grindstone Pkwy., Ste. 107 Website: bubblecuptea.com Contact: 573-777-4252

Email: info@versatileinnovations.com Website: versatileinnovations.com Contact: 573-303-2372

Are you starting a new business? Reach out to our team at Editor@BusinessTimesCompany.com COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 25

BUSINE SS • P EOP L E • VOIC ES • F YI

Briefly in the News JULY 2019

BUSINESS

GRAND OPENING CELEBRATIONS ThermAvant Technologies recently hosted a grand opening celebration for its new 33,000-square-foot manufacturing facility off of Paris Road. ThermAvant’s move, which more than quadrupled its space, stemmed from a growing demand for the company’s thermal management hardware and services. The co-founders of ThermAvant, Joe Boswell and Dr. Bill Ma, cut the ribbon to the new facility.

BUS INES S

COLUMBIA SAFETY & SUPPLY NAMED BEST WORKPLACE IN 2019 Columbia Safety & Supply has been named one of Inc. magazine's Best Workplaces for 2019 in the fourth annual ranking of the private company sector. The facility has a full kitchen, a gym, multiple breakrooms, and a production studio. Not only are the employees engaged at work, but they also donate their time and money back into the community through charitable causes.

BUSINESS

WATLOW MOVES TO MEXICO Watlow is a global technology and manufacturing leader that provides world-class engineering expertise and innovative thermal products and systems. They will begin moving production of their gas delivery and line heating products from their Columbia facility to a plant in Queretaro, Mexico, which has been an important regional location for Watlow for more than 20 years and serves as the company’s global customer base.

26 JULY 2019

“We put a lot of effort into hiring the right people, and that ensures each employee is surrounded by a highly motivated and engaged group of team members.”

— Andrea Seely, HR manager at Columbia Safety & Supply

BR I EFLY I N T H E N EWS

BUS INES S C OM M U N I T Y

NO. 1 UNITED WAY SUPPORTER Veterans United Home Loans and its philanthropic arm, the Veterans United Foundation, were the No. 1 supporter of the Heart of Missouri United Way in annual gifts in 2018. Since their first campaign in 2008, Veterans United’s donations have surpassed more than $4.2 million. The locally based nationwide lender and its foundation have pledged an additional $450,000 in 2019. During their first campaign, Veterans United employees raised $100,000 for Heart of Missouri United Way.

C OM M U N I T Y

H EALT H

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS

INNOVATIONS IN QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AWARD

Central Missouri Subcontracting Enterprises hosted a ribbon cutting in April to celebrate the organization’s 50th anniversary. CMSE and CMSE Giving Gardens is a nonprofit agency that has provided work opportunities to adults with developmental disabilities since 1969. The agency currently employs more than 130 Boone County residents.

CSA Surgical Center, an ambulatory surgical center, was awarded the Bernard A. Kershner Innovations in Quality Improvement Award for finding a way to help with post-operation pain. CSA Surgical Center performs general and vascular surgery procedures. The facility was established by a dedicated group of area physicians seeking a better way to serve their patients.

NEW BOONE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE Boone County Bar Association President Jill Jackson announced the creation of the Black Lawyers Committee. This committee is chaired by Robin Winn. In April, the Black Lawyers Committee hosted an inaugural meet and greet event at the Boone County History and Culture Center.

The event was well attended by many local attorneys, judges, and honored guests.

“The Boone County Bar Association needs a strong and vibrant membership to improve our profession, eliminate bias, and advance the rule of law.”

— Jill Jackson, president of the Boone County Bar Association

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 27

Thanks

for voting us Top of the Town!

Mark Timberlake in front of the site of the new Columbia Public Schools middle school in southwest Columbia

Celebrating 20 Years of Providing Practical Designs MECHANICAL - ELECTRICAL - PLUMBING - COMMISSIONING 912 Old 63 South | Columbia, MO 65201 | (573) 875-4365 | Timberlakeengineering.com

Moving or Renovating?

Starting at $75 a month! Container Sizes | 10’ 20’ 40’

Convenient, cost effective, and secure storage solutions - delivered right to you!

High-Quality Steel, Weather-Proof Containers • Commercial/Residential Use • Fast Delivery • Long-Term or Short-Term Rental

2116 Vandiver Dr., Columbia 65202 | 573.268.6533 | i70containerrentalandsales.com 28 JULY 2019

BUSINE SS • P EOP L E • VOIC ES • F YI

BU SI N ESS U PDAT E

Bringing a Home to Life Blind Boone’s restored home now serves as a gathering place for the community.

BY KATIE P ERRY HA R R I S | P HOTOG R A P HY BY SA D I E TH I B O D E AUX

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 29

B USINE SS • P EOP L E • VOIC ES • F YI

JOHN WILLIAM “BLIND” BOONE was known for bringing people together — and now, nearly a century after the great ragtime pianist’s death, his home is doing just that.

Around the turn of the century, a group of community members, along with then-mayor Darwin Hindman, had a vision for the Blind Boone Home. The vision came true in 2016 when, after 16 years of fundraising and renovations, the Blind Boone Home officially opened to the public. The two-story Victorian home is the only Victorian-era house downtown and was the home of Blind Boone for most of his adult life. Today, the home is a testament to Boone’s legacy.

A LABOR OF LOVE First Ward Councilman Clyde Ruffin has been involved with the house since the beginning of the restoration process, and he now serves as chair of the Blind Boone Heritage Foundation Board.

“At first, my purpose and my mission was to be an advocate for the restoration of the home,” Ruffin says.

Restoring the home was quite a task. There was only one exterior photo of the house in existence. Ruffin and others worked with historic preservationist Deb Sheals to ensure that the interior was historically accurate and furnished to fit the Victorian era. Craftsmen and artisans used their time and talents to work on the home’s interior details, from the ornate wallpaper to the refinished mantle and surrounding tiles.

Today, the house tells the story of the famous pianist and his family. Photographs of Boone and his wife, Eugenia Lange, hang on the walls in the living room, which is furnished with a player piano, complete with the piano rolls Boone himself once listened to in order to learn how to play. An antique cabinet holds a silver water pitcher, the only known artifact in existence that was once owned by the Lange family, a symbol of their wealth and status.

“From a historical standpoint, the house is something that everyone should see,” says Amy Schneider, director of the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau and an advisor to the Blind Boone board. “If people in the community have not had a chance to come in and take a look at it, it’s absolutely beautiful.

They’ve done a great job of making sure all the pieces in the house are from the time period of Blind Boone.”

30 JULY 2019

BU SI N ESS U PDAT E

Even during the restoration process, there were naysayers who said it would be easier to tear it down. Ruffin says the house serves “to document the life story of a man who was not only an extraordinary musician but someone who was able to transcend the issues of race and disability during a very volatile time in our city’s and our country’s history.”

A LIVING MUSEUM “Now my purpose is to ensure the foundation is on solid ground financially so we can sponsor our own programming, and to continue to promote the house as part of our African American heritage,” Ruffin says.

The City of Columbia owns the house, and the city’s parks and recreation department provides any needed exterior maintenance, similar to the support it provides for the Maplewood Home. The foundation runs and manages the house, and they’re responsible for all interior maintenance. There is no paid staff, and the foundation’s volunteer board is responsible for giving tours and running the house.

Donations go to the upkeep of the house as well as programming efforts, making sure that the house is available for those groups who otherwise might not be able to afford to use it.

Now that the restoration is complete, the challenge is to promote the house and the use of its space as a true historical treasure that is accessible to the community. The vision today is for a community space and a gathering place. It’s important to Ruffin and to others that the house is used. “It was never intended to be a museum,” Ruffin says. “It was always intended to be a gathering place that would sponsor classes, workshops, events –—a place that’s alive.”

That’s why the foundation is promoting the home as a place to hold events, whether that’s a piano recital, a holiday party, a corporate event, or a school tour. Currently, a social justice group sponsored by retired MU professor David Webber meets at the house monthly.

This is just the type of outreach that the home should provide, says Greg Olson, who serves as secretary of the board and has been involved with the home since the beginning of its restoration. “What we really want people to know is that it’s not a building that we want to be a static museum to Blind Boone,” he says. “We designed it with the idea that it would be a living place in the community. We want to make it a place where people can come together for events and discussions and learn more about African American history and Blind Boone.”

Ruffin mentions a photography class for children that was held at the house as a perfect example of how they envision the house being used — a place for children doing something creative. “Boone loved children,” he says. “There were always children in the house. He didn’t have children of his own, but they’d come play and slide down the handrail. We always envisioned the house being full of children.”

In mid-May, the house was indeed alive with Boone’s spirit as the community came together to celebrate Boone’s 155th birthday, complete with food and Boone’s ragtime music played by local pianist Sutu Forte. Guests spilled out into the garden, a tribute in memory of Wynna Faye Elbert, a local historian, teacher, and advocate. Blind Boone himself would have been happy to know that the crowd enjoyed celebrating at his birthday party, even if no one slid down the handrail.

“We’re working to make it a living, breathing place in the community, commemorating Boone and his legacy,” says Olson. “Boone was very generous with the community, so we want to make it a place where the community can gather and keep doing things.” CBT

Blind Boone Home 10 N. Fourth St. 573-499-0039 blindboonehome.com COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 31

BUSINE SS • P EOP L E • VOIC ES • F YI

American Legion Celebrates Centennial The years have passed, but the fellowship of wartime veterans has stood the test of time.

BY JORDA N MILNE

THIS YEAR, the American Legion celebrates 100 years of camaraderie. Posts all over the country, including those in Columbia, are each celebrating uniquely.

“The American Legion is the nation’s largest wartime veterans’ service organization, committed to mentoring youth, providing sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continuing devotion to our fellow service members and veterans,” says Ron McMillan, commander of Herbert Williams American Legion Post 202 in Columbia. “Our ‘family’ of organizations within the organization is open to a huge population of the United States. As in our military, we are a colorblind organization, and we repre32 JULY 2019

sent God and the country in all of our endeavors, which is ingrained in all of our principles.”

Aside from Post 202, there are two additional American Legion Posts in Columbia: Post 1111, a women-only post, and Post 238, a historically African American post made up of primarily World War II and Korean War veteran members.

HOW IT ALL STARTED The very first meeting of the group that became the American Legion was held in Paris, France, in 1918.

“The St. Louis, Missouri, caucus soon followed, and the rest is what we would call ‘history,’” says McMillan. “Post 202 began among other groups of World War I veterans from

all across the country returning from war and seeking the comradeship of fellow veterans.”

To become a member, one must have served in the military during wartime. It is not a requirement to have been deployed overseas, only to have served during a period of conflict.

“All veterans seek the company of others who have shared experiences,” says McMillan. “We may not speak of our experiences with family or non-military friends, but we will share with other veterans, even if they weren’t involved in the same conflict.”

The largest of the posts in Columbia, Post 202 has a large building that can be rented to outside organizations or individuals. This gives them a revenue stream, which is then used to support veterans.

N ON PR OFI T

American Legion Post 202 CHARTERED August 20, 1922

OFFICERS • Ron McMillan Commander & Finance Officer

• Doug Garrett 1st Vice Commander

• Ryan Asbridge 2nd Vice Commander

• Joseph Toepke Adjutant

• Jackie Rogers Judge Advocate

• John Whitte Service Officer

• John Hendrickson Sergeant at Arms

• Dr. Edwin Hall Chaplain

• Melvin Bradley Historian

BOARD MEMBERS • Paul Hobbs Chairman

• Alan Wolfe Vice Chairman

• Terry McDonald Secretary

• Harold Brake Member

• John Jones Member

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS To honor the organization’s centennial, Post 202 has upgraded and added to their memorial room displays, which involved going through hundreds of pages of meeting notes from years past.

“In the early days, we met in the downtown offices of our members,” says McMillan. “Attendance was pretty low in those days.”

The American Legion now has approximately 4,000,000 members nationally and about 320 locally in Post 202 alone.

In addition to sprucing up the place (McMillan was in the middle of ripping off and replacing a large front portion of Post 202’s building when we spoke), the American Legion posts in Boone County celebrated their 100th birthday “party” in April.

“The event was very well attended,” McMillan says proudly.

THE FAMILY OF SUBORGANIZATIONS The Sons of the American Legion was founded by American Legion members in the 1930s to keep the organization going after the first generation passed away.

“This group, still today, is only open to males who have a father or grandfather who served during a time that makes them eligible for legion membership. Our sons organization, or SAL, is still active and is a means for many to join our organization,” explains McMillan.

For the more daring-at-heart veterans, there’s the American Legion Riders.

“This group of motorcycle enthusiasts is a great part of the American Legion family nationwide,” says McMillan. “The biggest ongoing accomplishment of the riders is the establishment of the Legacy Fund. This fund was started to ensure that every child of a service member post-9/11 who was killed or injured with a service connection rating of those injuries of 80% or greater has the means to go to college.”

Nationally, the riders have raised in the vicinity of $62 million thus far, and the state of Missouri contributed over $1 million last year alone.

The last, but not least, subgroup of the American Legion family is the American Legion Auxiliary. According to McMillan, these women support all of the legion

activities, including the popular poppy distribution. The little paper poppies that are so often distributed outside of post offices, libraries, and grocery stores are a symbol of the fields of France, where so many “doughboys” lost their lives in World War I.

CARRYING ON A LEGACY The namesake of Post 202 is Herbert Williams, who was from the Hartsburg area.

He was killed in 1918 while serving under General “Black Jack” Pershing.

“We have some outstanding pictures and memorabilia from Williams,” says McMillan. “Our Funeral Honors Guard also paid a visit to the gravesite of Williams and performed military honors to honor our hero namesake.”

In addition to supporting each other, legion members also support the community through youth organizations such as Diamond Council of Columbia and KidsFirst Optimist.

“Many of our members volunteer at the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, and we partner with many of the VA programs in other ways,” says McMillan.

“We also have relationships with scouting groups and constantly seek Eagle Scouts looking for their Eagle project.”

McMillan has “proudly served as commander of Post 202 for about three and a half years,” conducting the monthly meetings, helping veterans who are seeking assistance, maintaining relationships with other service organizations with common goals and projects, and handling the building rentals and outside usage. He will be stepping down in August.

McMillan’s vision in passing the torch to the next commander is that legion members will do the same for current and future generations of wartime veterans.

“Our membership is aging, and we must find ways to engage younger veterans,” says McMillan. “After they join, most find that being a veteran is not of age, but rather of experience.” CBT

American Legion Post 202 3669 Legion Ln. 573-442-2950 americanlegionpost202.org COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 33

Alan and Jake Baumgartner

1949

1977

1999

George Baumgartner opens the first store in Auxvasse, Missouri.

The store moves to a new location in Auxvasse to expand.

Baumgartner’s opens a new location in Columbia.

34 JULY 2019

BUSINE SS • P EO P L E • VOIC ES • F YI

C ELEBRAT I ON S

Taking Chances Baumgartner’s Furniture celebrates 70 years of family business.

BY KRISTIN BLA KE | P HOTOG R A P HY BY A NTH O N Y J I N S O N

GEORGE BAUMGARTNER WAS A JACKOF-ALL-TRADES in the truest sense: He opened a gas station with his father, Emmett, added towing and taxi services, started a restaurant next to the gas station, and sold the first television sets in the area. But after an 18-wheeler drove into the front of their restaurant, George Baumgartner chose a new business venture. In 1949, he opened Baumgartner’s Furniture in Auxvasse, Missouri.

THEN AND NOW The first store in Auxvasse sat on the corner at a four-way stop near Highway 54. The store had three levels, and if customers wanted bedroom or dining room furniture, they’d have to head upstairs, which didn’t have heat or air conditioning. They outgrew the space and bought three different buildings nearby, so if customers came in looking for something like end tables, a staff member would walk them over to the correct building.

George’s son, Alan, says his dad was down to earth and wasn’t afraid to take a chance. “He went for the big lines,” he says. “They thought, ‘You’re too small of a town,’ but he showed that no, it wasn’t.”

Those chances he took have been paying off.

Decades later, they would add their Columbia location, and this year, they’re celebrating 70 years in business.

Alan is the owner, but he isn’t the hands-off type. Growing up, he saw firsthand the work of his dad, George; his uncle, Bob; and his grandpa, Emmett. Alan has been working fulltime at the store for 45 years. Now he’s working with his son, Jake, and still does just about everything, from supporting his sales staff to

unloading trucks. “You get right in there with your employees,” Alan says. “That’s the way we were brought up.”

FATHER AND SON Jake, who serves as president, has been at the store as long as he can remember, but he started full-time in 2004. He played hide-andseek in the store as a child and now his two young sons do the same. Though he and his dad, Alan, do mostly the same type of things, Jake says they complement each other. It’s a small business, so they do what needs to be done, Jake says. Alan says he’s more of the support person while Jake handles technology, bookkeeping, and ordering.

Most of Alan’s and Jake’s lives are within about a one-mile radius of the business.

They’re next door neighbors and live about a mile from the store. Alan lives with his wife, two daughters, and grandson, and Jake is a door away with his family. His sister delivers the mail for the store every day.

Although the business has been around for decades, it’s still small, with around a dozen employees between both stores. Jake says the store has a “homey” feel, and Alan says big stores look different than Baumgartner’s. “If a customer wants to talk to me or my son, we’re always available,” he says. “There are very few times that a customer leaves without me thanking them.”

A woman who’d worked for the store for more than three decades recently retired, and Alan says she dropped by the store because she missed it and wanted to see how things were going. “People would come in just for her,” he says. “She became just like a sister.”

CONTINUED LEGACY Customer service is the best advertisement, Jake says. Last year, a customer came in and shared that she had cancer and recently underwent a double mastectomy. As a result of her treatment, she needed a lift chair for her home. Jake says it was nice to know what she was going through and to be able to deliver the chair to her that same day.

Chris Boelter has worked for 20 years at the Columbia location as store manager. She had previously worked at a local newspaper in Mexico, Missouri, where she got to know the Baumgartners as an advertising client, and she says her relationship with the company blossomed from there. “I don’t think we’d be around for 70 years if we didn’t treat our customers right,” she says.

The business is family-focused and generational, and so is the store’s reputation. Boelter says they’re not about selling customers items and never talking again; they’re here after the sale, too. “At big box stores, you don’t get that,” she says. “They say they will, but then they’ll give you an 800 number to call.”

Alan says children see the good quality of the Baumgartner’s furniture that their parents bought and want to do the same when they need to furnish their homes. “I think our name has been out there enough that if something’s not right, people know the Baumgartners will make it right,” Alan says. CBT Baumgartner’s Furniture of Columbia 1905 Bernadette Dr., Ste. 102 573-256-6288 baumgartners.com

2009

2015

2019

The family expands the Columbia store to sell mattresses and La-Z-Boy galleries.

Baumgartner’s moves to its current location in Columbia.

The store celebrates their 70-year anniversary.

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 35

WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT Save time and take back your day with

Timekeeping Simplified

Your financial plan should reflect this and we believe it all starts with developing a deep understanding of your needs.

Reduce overtime expenses Manage employee schedules Stay compliant with the Department of Labor

COLUMBIA

E DP

EXPERT. DEPENDABLE. PROFESSIONAL.

Your financial goals, aspirations and investment needs are just that — yours.

Call now to schedule your personalized demo

573.474.8431

We strive to offer the personalized attention and the highest level of service based on your goals, your time frame and your tolerance for risk.

Because building portfolios isn’t the most important thing we do. Building relationships is.

Call today for your confidential consultation.

573-442-6146 We are so honored to be the recipient of CBT’s 2019

Women of Excellence

for Excellence in Retail!

Business Planning Education Planning Investment Solutions Portfolio Management Retirement Planning Cash Management and Borrowing Estate, Trust, and Charitable Giving

MY SISTER’S CIRCUS We believe we should all shop local for the experience and for the greater good of our community whenever possible.

573-443-5618 • 1110 E. Broadway, Columbia Independent Distributor of LipSense

36 JULY 2019

302 Campusview Drive, Suite 212 Columbia, MO

(573) 442-6146

Greg Brockmeier Financial Advisor

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/ SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services. Advisors, Inc. Brockmeier Financial Services, LLC is not a registered broker/ dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.

B U SINESS • PEOP LE • VOIC ES • F YI

M OVER S & SH AKER S

Movers & Shakers JULY 2019

Tina Woods Tina Woods will be recommended to the Columbia Board of Education to become the director of the Center of Responsive Education for the 2019-2020 school year. Woods has an undergraduate degree in multidisciplinary studies and a master’s degree in teaching.

She is completing a doctorate in educational administrative leadership.

Travis Cook Travis Cook, owner of Convergence Financial, recently received his certified financial planner designation. The education and training required for the certification generally takes a year or two to complete, but Cook finished the process in just four months.

Wilson Law Firm. He is one of 20 members from Missouri to ever be inducted. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from MU.

John Anguiano U.S. Cellular has promoted John Anguiano to retail area sales manager for the Missouri market. He is responsible for leading his team of wireless technology specialists. Anguiano has more than 10 years of wireless experience, and he has spent five of those years with U.S. Cellular.

Jon Logan

James Arnold has been named Columbia College’s director of athletics. He will oversee 17 different collegiate sports at the school. Arnold brings more than 18 years of experience at nearly every level of collegiate athletics as both an administrator and coach.

The 2019 Dr. Edward H. Robb Public Servant Award went to Detective Jon Logan of the Columbia Police Department.

“Detective Jon Logan has served the City of Columbia for over 20 years not only as a dedicated police officer, but as a good Samaritan who believes community policing does not stop at the end of a shift,” says Mike Zweifel, chairman of the Boone County Republican Central Committee, which presents the award annually.

Scott Wilson

Stephanie Johnson

The College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers, an honorary group for lawyers in the workers’ compensation field, inducted Scott Wilson, attorney and partner of The Hines &

Stephanie Johnson, the associate vice president for recruiting and admissions at Columbia College, was recently named to the board of directors for the Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation.

James Arnold

This organization focuses on supporting, educating, and inspiring women to make differences in their communities throughout the state of Missouri.

Johnson has been with Columbia College for more than 15 years.

WOODS

Jon Ihler MFA Oil has named Jon Ihler as interim chief executive director.

Ihler will be overlooking the day-to-day operations for MFA’s refined fuel, propane, Petro-Card 24, Break Time, Big O Tires, and Jiffy Lube businesses across an eight-state region. He attended MU, where he got his degree in agricultural economics.

Ron Hall Coil Construction recently hired Ron Hall as a project manager.

He will work with clients, manage budgets, and handle schedules throughout different projects.

Hall received his bachelor’s in criminal justice from Columbia College. He was a Columbia Police Officer for 26 years and also owned a security business that installed security systems.

ARNOLD

ANGUIANO

JOHNSON

Central Bank of Boone County Central Bank of Boone County has announced three employee promotions. Brianne Blythe and Amanda Baker have been promoted to financial associates, and Amber Letbetter was promoted to Teller II. CBT

HALL

Are you or your employees moving up in the Columbia business community? Send us your news at Editor@BusinessTimesCompany.com COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 37

I don’t just see a customer.

I see you.

While other insurance companies just see a customer, I see a neighbor in my community. I’m here to get to know who you really are so I can help life go right. LET’S TALK TODAY. 573-443-8727 phyllis.nichols.g15k@statefarm.com 1006 West Boulevard North | Columbia

Phyllis Nichols, Agent

1706814 State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company State Farm Fire and Casualty Company Bloomington, IL

“Inside The Lines thoroughly analyzed our work behaviors to gain knowledge of our processes. They were then able to offer the best solutions!

We never felt any pressure to “settle” on a design and knew they really heard and valued our input. When working through alternative options, we had total confidence in their expertise.

ITL has always provided a good value for their services and the products we receive. They are totally engaged in our projects, regardless of the size.

They are Landmark Bank’s one stop shop … from the design to

flooring, paint choices, furniture and fabrics! ”

Susan Gowin Sr. Vice President Landmark Bank

Monica Thurston Purchasing Manager Landmark Bank

Visit our showroom or contact us to learn more about our services.

100 East Texas Avenue, Columbia - 573-234-0778 - InsideTheLines.net

38 JULY 2019

B U SINESS • PEOP LE • VOIC ES • F YI

P E R S ON YO U SH OU LD KN OW

JANET MOSS

H U M A N R E S OU RC E S M A NAG E R

SOCKET

Years lived in Columbia: A total of 30 years.

Original hometown: I was born in Chicago. My dad’s employer relocated our family every two to three years to a different city until we landed in Columbia.

Education: Bachelor of Science in business management from Columbia College.

Professional background: I have worked for Socket in human resources for 15 years. Prior to working at Socket, I sold components for hygienic process systems for a company in Springfield, Missouri.

Favorite volunteer/community activity: I did not grow up with grandparents, and as far back as I can remember, I’ve always gravitated toward older generations, so you can often find me caring for the needs of the elderly or simply spending quality time with them.

I’m also a supporter of Granny’s House, a local nonprofit organization that has been instrumental in giving hope and encouragement to youth in our community.

Granny’s House sends a group of at least 40 kids to Kids Across America every year, where they empower urban youth to become leaders. I love it!

A Columbia businessperson I admire and why: My husband, Waldon Moss, who is a local attorney. I admire his commitment, enthusiasm, and compassion for the people he serves. I have learned a lot about employment law from him. Also, I admired George Pfenenger, owner and CEO of Socket Telecom. He demonstrates strength in leadership by providing needed resources and support while still allowing appropriate autonomy. He is also very

Photography by Keith Borgmeyer

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 39

B U SINESS • PEOPLE • VOIC ES • F YI

P E R S ON YOU SH OU LD KN OW

generous to the employees of Socket and his community.

Why I’m passionate about my job: People spend a significant portion of their lives at work. I have the opportunity to contribute to creating a healthy, happy, and efficient working environment for our employees each day.

Why I’m passionate about my company: I’m fortunate enough to work for a company where the owners and executives care about the people who work for them and value their teamwork.

If I weren’t doing this for a living, I would: Establish an organization that provides care and support for senior citizens and their families with an emphasis on families acting as caregivers for elderly parents.

What people should know about the human resources industry: The human resources function plays a pivotal role in an organization. Not only does the human resources team recruit, onboard, and partner with other departments in managing the people who enable the organization to function, but human resources also helps establish the organizational culture and climate, which largely determines employee engagement and satisfaction.

The next challenge facing the human resources industry: There are several ongoing challenges. Among the most pressing are navigating the ever-changing landscape of regulatory compliance; finding, retaining, and rewarding talent; and developing an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace culture.

city. I want to connect with college students pre-graduation to encourage them to invest their knowledge and development back into Columbia, where much of it was garnered.

Greatest strength: I know what I don’t know, and I try to embrace the wisdom of inviting people with that knowledge or ability to partner with me in accomplishing our collective goals or tasks.

Biggest lesson learned in business: Failure is a part of the journey. If you’re afraid to fail, it will prevent you from taking the necessary risks to be successful.

Greatest weakness: I don’t like to tell people no; therefore, I don’t say it nearly enough.

How I want to impact the Columbia community: Several people move to Columbia temporarily for their education.

Once they complete their education, they take the knowledge, experience, and overall personal development they gained to another

What I do for fun: I enjoy early morning or evening walks and weekend getaways with my husband. I also enjoy spending quality time with family and friends. No matter the activity, as long as I’m among great company with good conversation,

40 JULY 2019

I’m gratified. I love listening to music and singing until my heart is content (or until people beg me to stop).

Family: I have been married for 20 years to my best friend, Waldon. It is a blessing and joy to share life with him. I grew up with both of my parents and three sisters.

My family is all about joy! We show up for one another, cheer for one another, cry with one another, pray with one another, and challenge one another.

Favorite place in Columbia: Shelter Gardens; it’s so beautiful this time of year.

Most people don’t know that: I’m a twin. My twin sister, Janel, lives in Texas and is one of my biggest cheerleaders. We are technically fraternal twins; however, we relate to each other like identical twins in many ways! CBT

Congratulations, Columbia, for being at the top of your state!

Highest commercial real estate occupancy rates of any major metro area in Missouri.

olumbia Region al A

by C irp red or we t Po

573.445.1020

TOP

CBT’s

OF THE

TOWN

First Place Top Commercial Realtor

2019

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 41

MORE THAN THE BEST VIEW IN TOWN...

Early Friday Happy Hour Starting at 2pm • Live, Local Music Thursdays • Amazing Brunch Saturdays & Sundays

1111 E. Broadway, Columbia, MO | (573) 875-7000 | The BroadwayColumbia.com

Liberty, justice, &

steak for all!

Whether it’s for a holiday or just a perfect summer evening, there are no better meats to put on your grill.

From steaks and chops to brats and ribs, we provide a great selection and outstanding service.

Visit our store and discover why a locally owned butcher is the best for selection, service and excellent prices.

Providing “travel worthy” meat since 1954!

125 E. Broadway, New Franklin, MO • Mon-Fri: 7am-5pm & Sat: 8am-5pm • 660-848-2229 • JenningsPremiumMeats.com

42 JULY 2019

B U SINESS • PEOP LE • VOIC ES • F YI

1 1 QU EST I ON S

By 6 p.m. every evening, I can be found at the gym or on a local trail.

4. What drew you to your position?

Our mission at MU Health Care is to save and improve lives. You can’t get better than that. Another thing that attracted me to this organization was the strength of our leadership and their ability to keep patients at the center of everything we do.

Q&A PETER CALLAN

Senior Director of Talent, University of Missouri Health Care

1. What’s your background?

I’ve spent almost 40 years in health care in the United Kingdom, United States, Ireland, and Papua New Guinea. I’ve served in hospitals, home health, mergers and acquisitions, and consulting.

2. Tell us about your job: At MU Health Care, I serve as the leader for talent acquisition, occupational health, our Career Institute, and diversity and inclusion. My team finds and hires the best people, and we create an environment where they’re welcomed and provided with opportunities to thrive and develop.

3. What does your typical day look like? I’m a morning person. Before 8 a.m., I work on emails and planning. After that, it’s meetings with my team, other MU Health Care leaders, community partners, and our colleagues at the University of Missouri School of Medicine, Sinclair School of Nursing, and School of Health Professions.

5. What don’t people know about the recruitment industry that they should? Two things come to mind: First, there are now more vacant jobs in the United States than there are job seekers. Here in Boone county, the unemployment rate has been hovering at historic lows — about 2.6%. Second, despite the critical shortage of workers, most high-performing companies place more emphasis on the attitude, commitment, and the drive of candidates rather than only technical abilities.

6. What would people be surprised to know about your job? One thing that surprised me is that I’m very well-known and recognized by our employees. This is partly because I personally welcome every new employee to the organization when they come for orientation; they remember the guy who welcomed them with an Irish accent and will recognize me at the grocery store, gas station, or if I’m having dinner at my favorite place — Tellers.

7. Did you start your career in recruitment? I’ve been involved with talent acquisition since the ’80s, when I was a branch manager for a national home health and staffing company in Arkansas. At that time, the only means of advertising jobs was the Sunday newspaper — and all applications were paper.

8. What are some challenges you face in your job? It takes courage to hold out for the person who shows compassion, drive, and commitment in addition to just the necessary technical skills. Fortunately, we have a reputation for being a place where our

“If I could live permanently outdoors, I would. I spend a lot of time hiking, backpacking, and mountain climbing.” staff are highly engaged, so we always have a good pipeline of top-quality job seekers.

9. Describe a success you’re most proud of: I work with an exceptional team. They are hard-working, loyal, and a lot of fun. But I have to mention the Career Institute, which we founded in 2015 to provide paid career advancement, education, and training to our entrylevel staff and high school graduates. The program helps them gain a foothold on professional health care careers.

10. What inspires you to get up each day and make a difference?

That’s easy! My team, our leadership, and a workforce of 6,500 people focused on fulfilling our mission of saving and improving lives.

11. Tell us something about you that we wouldn’t learn from your resume: If I could live permanently outdoors, I would. I spend a lot of time hiking, backpacking, and mountain climbing.

Kilimanjaro to Ben Nevis, Everest to Mount Wilhelm and Mount Whitney. I love to learn about other cultures and languages and have traveled to about 40 countries. CBT

Check out more questions and answers from other Columbia professionals online at ColumbiaBusinessTimes.com.

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 43

If USA Mortgage doesn’t match or beat your APR, they will make your If USA Mortgage doesn’t match or beat APR, they payment will make your mortgage payment up to $1,000. firstyour mortgage up first to $1,000.

YOU SHOP IT

PROCEDURE:

GUARANTEED LOWEST % APR RATE & FEES

33 East Broadway, Suite 290 Columbia, MO 65203

WE

B E AT I T

Consumer presents USA with a locked loan estimate from another lender

USA issues loan estimate to consumer

If consumer decides to use the competing lender with the lower APR, they must present competitor’s closing disclosure within 20 days of the loan closing

USA will issue a check to borrower in the full amount of the principle + interest of the 1st mortgage payment up to $1,000*

It’s more than just about rate; many fees and charges go into

It’s more than just about rate; many fees and charges go into home loan. of Theyour APRrate is a and the a home loan.

The APR is aacalculation calculation of your rate and the amount you’re paying to buy thethe raterate down and/or closeclose the the amount you’re paying to buy down and/or loan. guaranteeAPR, to match or beat loan. We guarantee to match or beat theWe competitor’s or we’ll makethe thecompetitor’s 1st month’s APR, missourimortgagesource.com payment for you up to $1,000. or we’ll make the 1st month’s payment for you up to $1,000. missourimortgagesource.com Additional terms and conditions apply. See reverse for details.

Not a commitment to lend. Terms and conditions apply. Promotion begins January 24, 2019. Consumer must present DAS Acquisition Company, LLC d/b/a USA Mortgage (USA Mortgage) a genuine Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure prepared and issued by another lender in order to qualify. The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure issued by another Lender must be lower than the APR listed on USA Mortgage’s Loan Estimate. The Closing Disclosure issued by another lender must be presented within 20 days of the Closing Date listed on same. Promotion is only applicable if the following information on the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure prepared and issued by another lender is identical to the information relied upon by USA Mortgage in completing its Loan Estimate: Property, Sales Price (if applicable), Loan Term, Purpose, Product and Loan Type. The applicants listed on the Loan Estimates and Borrowers listed on all Closing Disclosures must be identical. Any Loan Estimate or Closing prepared another lender presented Not a commitment to Disclosure lend. Terms and conditionsby apply.

Promotion beginsand January 24, 2019. to USA Mortgage in connection with this promotion must have a Date Issued on or after January 24, 2019. Promotion shall not be Consumerifmust presentlender DAS Acquisition LLC d/b/a Mortgageto (USA Mortgage) a applicable another makes Company, a counteroffer inUSA response USA Mortgage’s Loan Estimate. Payment to the customer shall not exceed $1,000. *Promotion ends 12/31/19. genuine Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure prepared and issued by another lender in order to qualify. The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure issued by another Lender must be lower than the APR listed on USA Mortgage’s Loan Estimate. The Closing Disclosure issued by another lender must be presented within 20 days of the Closing Date listed on same. Promotion is only applicable if the following information on the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure prepared and issued by another lender is identical to the information relied upon by USA Mortgage in completing its Loan Estimate: Property, Sales Price (if applicable), Loan Term, Purpose, Product and Loan Type. The applicants listed on the Loan Estimates and Borrowers listed on all Closing Disclosures must be identical. Any Loan Estimate or Closing Disclosure prepared by another lender and presented to USA Mortgage in connection with this promotion must have a Date Issued on or after January 24, 2019. Promotion shall not be applicable if another lender makes a counteroffer in response to USA Mortgage’s Loan Estimate. Payment to the customer shall not

44 JULY 2019

BU SI N ESS • PEO P LE • VOIC ES • F YI

A CA P I TO L CON VER SAT I ON

GM Expands in Wentzville

BY KRCG 13’ S K ER M I T M IL L ER

AS OFTEN AS NOT, something significant, with the potential to push everything else aside, will stay off the radar at the beginning of the legislative session and emerge at the end of the session.

Such is the case with an incentives plan to entice General Motors to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in a truck and van assembly plant in Wentzville, about 40 miles west of St. Louis. It’s a debate no one knew they were going to have until the final two weeks. It’s a debate that tied up work on the state budget and threatened the passage of other key bills.

On May 2, Governor Mike Parson met behind closed doors with House and Senate leaders, local government and business leaders from Wentzville, and representatives from GM. Then he spoke publicly for the first time about what was going on with the automaker.

GM was poised, apparently with the right incentives, to invest as much as a billion dollars in a plant that employs upwards of 3,500 people at average salaries north of $80,000. It’s a plant that generates work for an additional 12,000 people in Missouri who have jobs at businesses that supply the automotive industry here.

Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, of Sullivan, called it “the kind of economic development opportunity that Missouri can’t afford to ignore.” Freshman Senate Republican Justin Brown, of Rolla, said the incentives plan was “good policy that will benefit the entire state of Missouri.”

At the time, neither GM nor the governor’s office offered specifics. A major question left unanswered is whether this was an all-or-nothing situation. If GM would decide not to expand at Wentzville, would the pendulum swing in the opposite direction and the plant be closed? While that did not seem likely, everyone was painfully aware of the company’s decision last fall to close five manufacturing

centers in North America and to lay off more than 14,000 workers.

Within a couple of days, the administration hammered out a plan to offer General Motors $50 million dollars in tax incentives — $5 million annually over 10 years — if the automaker would invest at least $750 million dollars in the Wentzville plant. With no time to draft new legislation, nor run it through the committee hearing process (one of several sore points for critics), the incentives plan got tacked on as an amendment to a senate workforce development bill already before the house.

The final package gave Parson his “Fast Track” job training scholarship program for qualified adults (although the state budget submitted by lawmakers includes $10 million for the program, not the $22 million Parson had requested). It also created the Missouri One Start program, a revamping of the current worker recruitment and training assistance provided by the state. The plan set up what economic development people call a “closing fund,” essentially money controlled by the Department of Economic Development as a negotiating tool to close time-critical development deals. Critics would label that a slush fund and decry the plan as corporate welfare.

Parson fanned the flames of urgency for lawmakers, and not only because of the looming May 17 adjournment deadline, but because Missouri was in a competitive situation with other states for the expansion money and GM had indicated it intended to make a decision before June.

Nearly a decade earlier, then-Governor Jay Nixon brought lawmakers back into a summertime special session to approve incentives for the Ford assembly plant in Claycomo.

And state officials say incentives provided since then have resulted in better-than-promised growth at the Ford plant. But those

incentives were tied to a defined number of additional jobs. What bothered lawmakers about the GM plan was the decision to tie the money to investment, but not to jobs. Critics say GM simply could decide to put all the money into robotics without adding to the payroll at the Wentzville plant. And the company never committed to a specific retention percentage for the current jobs in Wentzville.

Following three and a half hours of debate, the Missouri House approved the GM package by a vote of 92-51, sending the legislation back to the Senate, where conservatives had already drawn a line in the sand. A group of six, led by St. Charles County Republicans Bill Eigel and Bob Onder, held the floor for almost 28 unbroken hours, reading from books and newspaper articles and, at one point, even reciting Ronald Reagan’s 1980 Republican National Convention acceptance speech.

Just after 6 p.m. on May 14 — 72 hours before the session adjourned — the Senate filibuster ended with the conservatives deciding there was something they needed more than they needed to kill the GM deal.

After the GM bill was on its way to his desk, Governor Parson issued a statement calling the vote “a complete victory for Missourians and jobs in every corner of the state.” Time will tell, but clearly it was a victory for a man who inherited the governor’s office under difficult circumstances and who immediately defined infrastructure and workforce development as the priorities in a Parson administration. The governor concluded, “We are now on track to be one of the most pro-growth, pro-jobs administrations in Missouri history.” CBT Kermit is an award-winning 45-year veteran journalist and one of the longest serving members of the Missouri Statehouse press corps.

Kermit Miller anchors the 6 and 10 p.m. news for KRCG 13. You can reach Kermit at kmiller@krcg.com COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 45

YOUR COMMUNITY CONNECTED REALTOR, Samuel Trapp, doesn’t shy away from challenges and knows how to secure the best for his clients.

2635 S PROVIDENCE RD | COLUMBIA, MO | 573.777.5002 | IGREALESTATE.COM

SAMUEL TRAPP, JD Proudly donating a portion of all commissions to help the f ight against breast cancer.

46 JULY 2019

573-397-8739 • Mobile | 573-777-5002 • Off ice samueltrapp@igrealestate.com

B U SINESS • P EOP L E • VO ICE S • F YI

LOCA L P E R S P ECT I VE: M ASON AI D

when meeting someone who is gender-expansive. People who are gender-expansive express or identify themselves in ways that broaden traditional culturally defined behavior or expression associated with one gender.

While there is a chance someone will be confused or possibly even offended when you include your pronouns in your introduction, the likelihood of this is low. Any negative reaction would also be outweighed by the benefit it has for transgender and non-binary people.

As a non-binary person myself, I know it is a weight off my shoulders every time I’m given space to state my pronouns without having to begin the conversation.

If you’re unsure of someone’s preferred pronouns and were not able to or were uncomfortable with asking for them when referring to the person, err on the side of using their name as opposed to using pronouns. While it can be awkward to repeat someone’s name, it’s the best way to avoid harming someone.

Networking Best Practices

BY MASON A ID

NETWORKING IS INTEGRAL to every business. You use networking, in part, to find new clients, which is imperative to sustaining cash flow. But how do we as business professionals encourage inclusive practices as we network and connect with people in our community who identify under the rainbow of LGBTQ identities?

The LGBTQ community is becoming a larger visible proportion of the population as levels of acceptance increase. Columbia is especially known as being a community that values inclusion and diversity. As a business owner in the Columbia area, the chances of working with at least one person who identifies as LGBTQ is high. Being knowledgeable in how to network in a way that promotes diversity helps us all to

avoid those awkward moments where we accidentally offend someone. Here are some tips to help you avoid those instances!

INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOUR PREFERRED PRONOUNS One of the best and simplest inclusive practices anyone can follow is to introduce themselves with their preferred pronouns. Simply say, “Hi, my name is _____ and I use she/her pronouns.” This goes a long way in making people feel comfortable around you because it opens up the door for the other person to state their pronouns.

If doing this in every encounter is too intimidating, try practicing it a little bit at a time or keep it in your back pocket as a tool to use

USE GENDER-NEUTRAL LANGUAGE Another practice is to be sure you’re using gender-neutral language when inquiring about a person’s personal life. Instead of asking about a husband or wife, for example, ask about a spouse or a partner. This gives room for someone to talk about their significant other without assumption of gender.

While there are considerations to make about networking in regards to the LGBTQ community, the fundamental truth is that we’re just like anybody else. We have families and communities and simply desire to have our lives seen and recognized by those we come in contact with. These simple steps will help prevent awkward encounters and generate more inclusive environments for people regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. CBT Mason Aid loves drinking coffee and talking about LGBTQ issues. They are passionate about creating a safer world for the community they love. Through their work with PRISM, an LGBTQ teen group in Columbia, they realized there was work to be done to educate others about the LGBTQ community.

More information about Mason Aid can be found at www.themasonaid.com.

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 47

red we Po

olumbia Region al A

by C irp or t

TOP

CBT’s

OF THE

TOWN 2 019

TOP

IT COMPANY

Thank you, to all our clients and the community for voting for us!

573.499.6928 | midwestcomputech.com

48 JULY 2019

OF THE

TOWN When reflecting on the winners of this year’s Top of the Town awards, one thing is for certain: Columbia’s business community is thriving! New business ventures, expansion of popular coffee shops, and growth in companies building their legacies here all tell that story. And the professionals who run these businesses are making just as much of an impact on the community through their leadership both in the workplace and in their volunteer efforts.

Learn a little bit more about these amazing people and businesses by getting to know our first and second place winners of our fifth Top of the Town awards.

Congratulations, everyone!

BY ME G AN LUE CKE NOT TO P H OTO GR AP H Y BY KE IT H B O RG ME YE R AND ANT H O NY J INS O N

TOP OF T H E TOWN

TOP PLACE TO WORK 1-25 EMPLOYEES First Place: Camacho Coffee 124 E. Nifong, 660-537-1983 Jesse and Megan Walters opened Camacho Coffee, a coffee roastery, in September 2017. They sell their single-origin coffee beans, which are air roasted, to local eateries like B&B Bagel, and you can also find it on local grocery shelves. Camacho Coffee donates 10% of their sales to three charities in the area.

Second Place: The Grind Coffee House 2601 Rangeline St., Ste. 101, 573-447-6666 The Grind Coffee House, owned by Ahmed “Aucky” El-Tayash, opened their second location last year on the north side of town and included a drive-thru service. The first location, on the south side of town, is near Rock Bridge High School and opened in 2016. If you aren’t sure what to order, try the Aucky, named after the owner.

50 JULY 2019

2019

TOP PLACE TO WORK 26-50 EMPLOYEES First Place: Las Margaritas 10 Southampton Dr., 573-442-7500 The first Las Margaritas Mexican restaurant opened up in 2012 with a patio overlooking a lake where customers can enjoy the signature lime margarita.

They now have three locations, and all are owned by Francisco Esquivel.

The newest location opened downtown earlier this year. They offer a range of Tex-Mex and authentic Mexican foods.

Second Place: Manor Roofing & Restoration Services 7125 W. Henderson Rd., 573-445-4770 Manor Roofing & Restoration was founded in 2006 by owner Nick Allen.

They work on commercial and residential exterior remodels and new construction. They provide products and services for roofs, siding, windows, doors, and decks. Team members go through extensive training to meet industry standards. Manor Roofing & Restoration supports and sponsors many local charities.

TOP PLACE TO WORK 51+ EMPLOYEES First Place: Veterans United Home Loans 1400 Veterans United Dr., 800-884-5560 Family-owned, Veterans United focuses on helping military veterans and current service members become homeowners. This full-service lender has a team of leaders with a variety of experience to help create the best loan experiences for their customers.

Second Place: Iron Gate Real Estate 2635 S. Providence Rd., 573-777-5001 Iron Gate Real Estate is a new company in Columbia that’s already making quite the impression with their customized service and technology.

Their agents are constantly trained and mentored in order to provide the best service possible to their clients. It is a fundamental goal of theirs to enhance and impact the local economy and culture.

TOP SALESPERSON First Place: Megan Meier-Walters, House of Brokers 1515 Chapel Hill Rd., 573-808-6457 Megan Meier-Walters is an agent with House of Brokers Realty. House of Brokers is a real estate partnership that provides professional and personal service. Meier-Walters also co-owns Camacho Coffee with her husband, Jesse Walters, and has volunteered at Big Brothers Big Sisters of America since 2014.

Second Place: Laurie Kempker, Iron Gate Real Estate 2635 S. Providence Rd., 573-881-3400 Laurie Kempker has been a real estate agent for five years and currently works with Iron Gate Real Estate. She specializes in helping first-time home buyers, those looking for rental properties, and those selling land or houses. Her service area includes everything from Columbia all the way to the Kingdom City area.

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 51

TOP OF T H E TOWN

TOP OFFICE DIGS First Place: Veterans United Home Loans 1400 Veterans United Dr., 800-884-5560 For more information, see Top Place to Work, 51+ employees, page 51.

Second Place: Iron Gate Real Estate 2635 S. Providence Rd., 573-777-5001 For more information, see Top Place to Work, 51+ employees, page 51.

TOP CEO First Place: Steve Erdel, Central Bank of Boone County 720 E. Broadway, 573-874-8100 Steve Erdel is the CEO of Central Bank of Boone County. Since becoming CEO in 2006, he has led the Columbia-based bank to great success. One of the larger projects he’s worked on while CEO is overseeing the bank’s name change, in 2015, from Boone County National Bank. Central Bank of Boone County is a well-known company with more than 140 locations across the Midwest.

Second Place: Adam Kinser, ServiceMaster of Columbia 10620 N. Highway VV, 573-443-8383 Adam Kinser owns ServiceMaster of Columbia with his wife, Aniceta. Since 2002, they have specialized in removal of water, mold, soot, odors, and sewage.

He treats his employees like a family. Kinser also cares for his clients by keeping them in the loop with the process and by helping them prevent a disaster

TOP COMMERCIAL REALTOR First Place: Paul Land, Plaza Commercial Realty 2501 Bernadette Dr., 573-445-1020 Paul Land is the owner of Plaza Commercial Realty.

He has 32 years of service in the Columbia and Boone County area devoted to commercial real estate brokerage. Land is an active member in the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors. He is known as the

from happening.

market leader in commercial property and transac-

TOP STAFFING COMPANY

Second Place: Gina Rende, Maly Commercial Realty

First Place: JobFinders 1729 W. Broadway, Ste. 4, 573-446-4250

tion volume in leasing and sales.

213 N. Stadium Blvd., Ste. 203,

JobFinders is an employment service that helps peo-

573-443-3200

ple find the right job for them. They provide tempo-

Gina Rende is a commercial real estate salesperson

rary staffing, training, career counseling, and more.

with Maly Commercial Realty. She has been with

The company was founded in 1986 by Anne Williams.

the company since 2014. Her skills in customer ser-

They believe in integrity, communication, and com-

vice and sales help her excel at her job. Rende helps

mitment. JobFinders is a Missouri Certified Wom-

find companies the right spot to locate their busi-

en’s Business Enterprise.

ness to succeed.

Second Place: Kelly Services 1000 W. Nifong Blvd., Bldg. 8,

TOP COMMERCIAL LENDER

Kelly Services is a staffing agency that was founded

First Place: Eric Morrison, Providence Bank

in October 1946 by William Russell Kelly. They pro-

3855 Forum Blvd., 573-447-8707

vide for job seekers in education, science, engineer-

Eric Morrison is the senior vice president and

ing, and more. Kelly Services help connect people

the Columbia market president of Providence

with companies.

Bank. Morrison has been with Providence Bank

573-875-0605

52 JULY 2019

since 2010. He has great leadership skills, as well as customer service, business development, and marketing skills. He is a part of the Emerging Professionals in Columbia group through the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

Second Place: Drew Smith, First State Community Bank 15 S. Fifth St., 573-441-1500 Drew Smith is a senior vice president, executive market manager, at First State Community Bank. He has held this position since 2017, and his responsibilities are in Columbia, Marshall, and Boonville.

TOP COMMERCIAL BUILDER First Place: Coil Construction 209 E. Broadway, 573-874-1444 Coil Construction was founded in 1975 by Randy Coil.

They started out as a small remodeling company, but today they’re a full-service construction management firm. They built the Sam’s Club in Columbia back in 1990. David Coil, Randy’s son, keeps up the tradition of commitment to service and excellence.

Second Place: Little Dixie Construction 3316 Lemone Industrial Blvd., 573-449-7200 Little Dixie Construction was created in 1964. Their expertise is in general contracting, design–build projects, and green or LEED projects. They work in commercial, residential, land development, health-

2019

TOP EMERGING PROFESSIONAL First Place: Aucky El-Tayash, The Grind Coffee House 2601 Rangeline St., Ste. 101 573-447-6666

Aucky El-Tayash owns The Grind Coffee House, which now has three locations.

The first location opened in 2016, the second opened last year, and the third opened this year. He excels in leadership and team building and strives to make The Grind Coffee House shops feel like a home away from home. El-Tayash also supports local businesses and carries products from local bakeries and baked goods shops.

Second Place: Brad Roling, Central Bank of Boone County 720 E. Broadway, 573-874-8100 Brad Roling is an assistant vice president at Central Bank of Boone County. He started with the bank in 2014 as a commercial loan officer.

Roling gives back to the community by being a part of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mid-Missouri’s Red Shoe Crew. The crew helps spread awareness about the Ronald McDonald House to the community, raise resources, and volunteer their time.

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 53

TOP OF T H E TOWN

care, and industrial management projects. They will

Providence Bank in 2007 and opened a location in

ness. They offer free cleaning estimates with no

soon be moving into a new office space that they’re

Columbia. Their values include being respectful,

appointment needed. Their service includes resi-

building for themselves.

responsive, reliable, and resourceful. The bank is

dential and commercial cleaning, and Tiger Maids

deeply committed to the communities that they assist.

also offers options for one-time cleaning or regular

TOP BUSINESS INSURANCE First Place: Stephanie Wilmsmeyer, State Farm Insurance

TOP JANITORIAL SERVICE

cleaning maintenance.

First Place: Atkins Inc.

TOP IT COMPANY

2609 E. Broadway, Ste. 214, 573-445-5774

1123 Wilkes Blvd., Ste. 450, 573-874-5100

First Place: Midwest Computech

Stephanie Wilmsmeyer has been the owner and

Atkins Inc. is a family-owned company that started

311 Bernadette Dr., 800-346-8934

primary agent of Stephanie Wilmsmeyer State Farm

in 1925. They offer commercial cleaning as one of

Midwest Computech started in 1982. They are

Agency since 2007. She provides services like home,

their services for businesses and organizations of all

committed to providing the most reliable IT service

auto, renter’s, and life insurance. She asks the tough

sizes. They’re known throughout the Columbia area

in Missouri. Midwest Computech is a complete

questions so that in the case of the unexpected,

for providing businesses with superior professional

you’re covered.

cleaning services.

technology solution. There are many reasons as

Second Place: TIG Advisors

Second Place: Tiger Maids

solutions; some include the fact that they respond

200 Southampton Dr., 573-875-4800

1206 Business Loop 70 W., 573-445-9999

within 30 minutes and they promise 100%

TIG Advisors was founded in Columbia in 1898. They

Tiger Maids is a family-owned and -operated busi-

satisfaction guaranteed.

to why organizations use them for technological

specialize in risk management, personal insurance, corporate wellness, self-funded plans, and more. TIG honors their word and treats their clients like family.

TOP ACCOUNTING SERVICE First Place: Williams-Keepers LLC 2005 W. Broadway, 573-442-6171 Williams-Keepers LLC started in 1923, and they have become one of the largest independently owned accounting firms in Missouri. They built their practice on traditional audits, tax services, and accounting. They now also provide estate planning and litigation support.

Second Place: Accounting Plus 1604 Business Loop 70 W., 573-445-3805 Accounting Plus, co-founded by Tina Marso and Denise Nelson, has been providing business solutions for more than 26 years. They work to offer you the top service for a fair price. Their services include taxes, payroll, and business advising.

TOP BANK First Place: Central Bank of Boone County 720 E. Broadway, 573-874-8100 Central Bank of Boone County has been around for the past 175 years. They now have 10 locations in Columbia. Central Bank of Boone County provides commitment to customer service and financial expertise. The bank is also involved in coordinating events and fundraisers.

Second Place: Providence Bank 3855 Forum Blvd., 573-447-8707 Providence Bank was founded in 1888 as the Bank of Lincoln County. They later changed the name to 54 JULY 2019

Photography by Tiffany Schmidt

2019 TOP RECEPTIONIST/ ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT First Place: Kayla Elder, Iron Gate Real Estate 2635 S. Providence Rd., 573-777-5001

Kayla Elder is the administrative assistant at Iron Gate Real Estate.

She has been with the company since the beginning of the year, when the company started. She has volunteered at Caring for Columbia and has had the opportunity to work on the landscape at Grant Elementary School.

Second Place: Jody Munson, Central Bank of Boone County 720 E. Broadway, 573-874-8100 Jody Munson, who joined Central Bank of Boone County in 2002, is the executive administrative manager and secretary of the board. She oversees and performs a range of diverse administrative activities for the CEO, president, senior officers, and the board of directors. She volunteers as a troop leader for her daughter’s Girl Scouts troop and is a member of Chapter KJ PEO.

TOP SALESPERSON Second Place: Laurie Kempker, Iron Gate Real Estate

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 55

TOP OF T H E TOWN Second Place: Gravity

experience. Wade’s pictures have been on "Oprah" and

task with joy to help create the best work. They can

810 E. Walnut St., 573-443-1555

"Entertainment Tonight." Miller has done more than

help express your essence with a new brand design,

Gravity is owned by Jonathan Sessions. Gravity is an

150 senior photos sessions and over 100 weddings.

write your reality with advertising, or engage your

Apple authorized service provider, and they can fix

audience with digital marketing and website design.

any Apple device made between 1980 and tomorrow.

TOP ENGINEERING FIRM

The technicians have decades of experience. Some of

First Place: Timberlake Engineering

Second Place: True Media

the services that they provide include house calls, iOS

They want to help make your brand irresistible.

912 Old 63 S., 573-875-4365

500 Business Loop 70 W., 573-443-8783

repair, data recovery, and Mac upgrades and repairs.

Timberlake Engineering was founded in 1999

Jack Miller started True Media back in 2005. They

Gravity will get your Apple device running again.

by Mark Timberlake. They provide high-quality

want to offer more than just a media buy, which is why

designs, and some of their services include HVAC,

they give you the most current knowledge on who

lighting, and plumbing. They have a draftsman

interacts with your brand. True Media uses database

to help design, develop, and maintain the

analysis and external marketing research to better

First Place: Jill Cox, Central Bank of Boone County

projects alongside a project engineer. Timberlake

comprehend consumer performance. They are always

Engineering has an experienced staff and they strive

looking for knowledge, answers, and perfection.

720 E. Broadway, 573-874-8100

to develop relationships with their clients.

Jill Cox is senior vice president, commercial lending, at Central Bank of Boone County. Cox helps clients

Second Place: Crockett Engineering Consultants

who are looking to buy or sell real estate, construct

1000 W. Nifong Blvd., 573-447-0292

a new home, or start or grow a business. She started

Started in 1985, Crockett Engineering Consul-

First Place: The Grind Coffee House

with Central Bank of Boone County in 1988 as a

tants does what it takes to understand what the cli-

2601 Rangeline St., Ste. 101, 573-447-6666

teller. She is a member of Women’s Network through

ents want, and they have the ability to deliver it.

For more information, see Top Place to Work, 1-25

the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

They have evolved from only doing civil engineer-

employees, page 50.

Second Place: Krista Kippenberger, Focus on Health Chiropractic

ing and land surveying in 2009 to adding structural

Second Place: Lakota Coffee Company

TOP CHAMBER VOLUNTEER

4200 Merchant St., 573-777-5900 A Columbia Business Times 20 under 40 winner earlier this year, Krista Kippenberger is the director of operations and co-founder of Focus on Health Chiropractic. Kippenberger dedicates her time to volunteering

engineering as well. In 2013, they opened Crockett Geotechnical Testing Lab to help provide geotechnical engineering to clients. Crockett Engineering removes uncertainty, communicates well, and makes it easy on every project that they do.

TOP ARCHITECTURAL FIRM

pet parent and organizes drives for Focus on Health.

First Place: Simon Oswald Architecture

She is the energy behind their news, events, charity

2801 Woodard Dr., Ste. 103, 573-443-1407

drives, and social media efforts.

Simon Oswald Architecture was founded in 1987.

for the Central Missouri Humane Society as a foster

TOP COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER

They provide services for new construction, additions, renovations, and adaptive reuse. SOA creates places to enhance communities. They also encour-

TOP COFFEE MEETING LOCATION

24 S. Ninth St., 573-874-2852 For the past 27 years, Lakota Coffee Company has been a Columbia tradition. Skip DuCharme started Lakota Coffee after learning about coffee roasting.

They hand-roast small batches of their coffee beans, keeping in mind their mission to provide the finest fresh-roasted coffee and specialty coffee beverages, pastries, and sandwiches.

TOP PLACE FOR BUSINESS LUNCH First Place: Addison’s 709 Cherry St., 573-256-1995

First Place: Casey Buckman Photography

age sustainable design.

Second Place: PWArchitects, Inc.

by four friends in 1999. They are a full-service

4802 Shale Oaks Ave., 573-881-1050

2120 Forum Blvd., Ste. 101, 573-449-2683

restaurant and bar. Addison’s serves appetizers,

Casey Buckman Photography is owned by Casey

In 1978, when PWArchitects was founded, they

pizza, pasta, salads, sandwiches, steak, and seafood.

Buckman. He started the business more than 15 years

offered planning, architectural services, interior

On tap, they have 20 craft beers, with a long wine list

ago. Buckman enjoyed photography even before he

design, and sustainable design to government, edu-

and other special liquors available. They just opened

studied it at the Missouri School of Journalism. He

cation, corporate, health care, and private clients.

a second location on the south side of Columbia.

does weddings, portraits, and corporate, academic,

Assisting their clients in achieving their project goals

and personal events.

is the foundation of their services. They’re commit-

Second Place: Murry’s

Second Place: SilverBox Photographers

ted to delivering innovative designs for each project.

1023 E. Walnut St., Ste. 101, 573-449-8880

TOP ADVERTISING AGENCY

Addison’s is an American grill that was opened

3107 Green Meadows Way, 573-442-4969 Murry’s has been a Columbia establishment for more than 30 years. They offer good food and good jazz. Their concept is to keep it simple and make it

SilverBox Photographers was founded in 2005 by Kim

First Place: Hoot Design Co.

good. They have an eclectic menu and an inviting

Wade and Amy Enderle. Annika Miller joined the team

1023 E. Walnut St., 573-229-0123

atmosphere. Murry’s uses locally sourced products

in 2010. In 2011, Wade and Miller opened a studio.

Kristen Brown started Hoot Design Co. 10 years ago.

for their bar and restaurant. They offer live music

Together they have more than 30 years of photography

They are a women-led agency that approaches every

five nights a week.

56 JULY 2019

2019

TOP EVENT LOCATION First Place: Pressed.

803 E. Walnut St., 573-424-6660 Pressed. is a newly opened lounge, bar, and event space. It’s a place for drinks with friends, family, and co-workers. Pressed.’s passion is food and drink. They offer carefully selected wines, locally crafted beer, and food-inspired cocktails. You can enjoy a wonderful view of Columbia from their rooftop space.

Second Place: The Roof 1111 E. Broadway, Eighth Floor,573-875-7000 The Roof is a large bar and lounge space on top of The Broadway hotel. They have American cuisine with handcrafted cocktails, live local music, and panoramic views of the city. You can sit around a fire pit while the bartenders and chefs prepare your food and drink. On the weekends, they have a DJ to take the party to the next level.

Photography by Sadie Thibodeaux

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 57

TOP OF T H E TOWN

TOP CATERER

Second Place: Las Margaritas

First Place: Hoss’s Market & Rotisserie

10 Southampton Dr., 573-442-7500 For more information, see Top Places to Work, 26-50 employees, page 51.

1010 Club Village Dr., 573-815-9711 Hoss’s Market & Rotisserie is independently owned

by Trish and Jim “Hoss” Koetting. They founded Hoss’s Market to help people get good food as they go about their busy lives. You can dine-in or take home a home-cooked meal. Hoss’s Market highquality food is made with fresh ingredients. Their catering services include box lunches, weddings, tailgates, graduation parties, and more.

Second Place: Bleu Events 1780 Lindbergh Dr., 573-442-8220 Travis Tucker opened Bleu Restaurant & Catering in 2007. When that venue closed, he opened Bleu Events.

They offer catering for all types of events, and Bleu Events can help you plan your event with delicious food, flawless service, and creative arrangement.

TOP HAPPY HOUR LOCATION First Place: Logboat Brewing Co. 504 Fay St., 573-397-6786 Logboat Brewing Co. is co-owned by three best friends: Tyson Hunt, Andrew Sharp, and Judson Ball.

The three founded Logboat in 2014. They send beer across 37 counties in Missouri, but plan to eventually expand to selling throughout the whole state.

Logboat brews their core beers as well as seasonal, special release, barrel aged, and special series beers.

58 JULY 2019

TOP PLACE TO CLOSE A DEAL First Place: Central Bank of Boone County 720 E. Broadway, 573-874-8100 For more information, see Top Bank, page 54.

Second Place: CC’s City Broiler 1401 Forum Blvd., 573-445-7772 In 1995, owner of CC’s City Broiler Scott Cleeton had his sights set on opening a CC’s location in Columbia.

He wanted to bring in both New York- and Chicagostyle steakhouses to Mid-Missouri. CC’s City Broiler is a premier restaurant and steakhouse. They offer only the best beef and flown-in fresh seafood.

TOP TEAM-BUILDING EXPERIENCE First Place: Breakout CoMo 218 N. Eighth St., 573-340-5625 Breakout CoMo gives you 60 minutes of exciting and puzzling clues to break out of a room you’re locked in. Your team can consist of two to 10 people. Each room is different and themed around something unique. Some of the themes include Y2K, Mark Twain Museum, and The Gambler. Bring friends, family, corporate teams, or game aficionados to see if you have what it takes to break out.

2019

TOP ENTREPRENEUR First Place: Travis Tucker, Option LLC (Bleu Events, Pressed., Bleu Market & Bakery) 1780 Lindbergh Dr., 573-442-8220 Travis Tucker is the owner of Bleu Events, Pressed., and Bleu Market & Bakery. He opened Bleu Events in 2007 and has expanded the business since. He will help create an unforgettable experience for you and your family and for your company.

Second Place: Aucky El-Tayash, The Grind Coffee House 2601 Rangeline St., Ste. 101, 573-447-6666 For more information, see Top Emerging Professional, page 53.

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 59

2 01 9

TOP OF T H E TOWN Second Place: Lanier Landscaping LLC 3403 Lake Front Ct., 573-795-5820

Lanier Landscaping, founded in 2015, offers designs and plans for everything from hardscaping to fireplaces, outdoor features, patios, and more. They then also build the projects. One new technological feature that they provide is a 3D-rendered video of projects for their clients to see. Lanier Landscapes produces unique designs for each of their clients.

TOP VIDEOGRAPHER First Place: Chimaeric Motion Pictures 2301 Chapel Plaza Ct., Ste. 3, 573-289-5540 Chimaeric Motion Pictures is a commercial video and film production company. Their projects are Photo submitted by Kim Becking

for commercials, films, and video production for nonprofit organizations. Chimaeric incorporates

Second Place: Lazer Lanes 3412 Grindstone Pkwy., 573-447-6021 Lazer Lanes has a 12-lane bowling alley along with a full-service bar. You can also run around and play laser tag in their 3,500-square-foot laser tag arena.

Or, if you want to just play arcade games, they have more than 40 different games to play. They’re equipped to host birthday parties, casual play, groups, teens, adults, and corporate events. Lazer Lanes will be open at its current location through September 8, and then they’ll be opening back up in the Columbia Mall in November.

TOP BUSINESS COACH First Place: Kim Becking, Looking Forward, Living Life

TOP BUSINESS ATTORNEY

creative collaboration to work gracefully with their clients, staff, and co-creators. Their team consists

First Place: Nathan Jones, Nathan Jones Law

of owner David Anderson and team members Paul

2412 Forum Blvd., Ste. 101, 573-874-1122

Second Place: The Evoke Group

In 2016, Nathan Jones opened his own law firm,

Mossine and Jen Huemmer.

505 Fay St., Ste. 204, 573-303-5476

Nathan Jones Law. He specializes in business and

The Evoke Group started in 2014 to fill a need for

estate law. Jones works all the time, whether that

media production services like creating videos and

be for his firm or for the community. He is a board

websites. Since then, they’ve grown into a full-ser-

member for the Community Foundation of Central

vice agency. They still produce videos and design

Missouri and vice president of the board for Playing

websites, but now they also work with clients to

4 Hope in addition to his involvement with many

create marketing strategies, always adapting to an

other organizations.

ever-changing market and world.

Second Place: Daniel Beckett, Smith Lewis LLP, Attorneys at Law 111 S. Ninth St., 573-443-3141

TOP COMMERCIAL INTERIOR DESIGNER

Kim Becking is a national author, consultant, and speaker. She offers many speaking and coaching programs through her company Looking Forward, Living Life. Becking encourages people through humor, inspiration, and hope after battling breast cancer. Using personal experience, she helps other people with their lives.

practices many types of law: personal injury

First Place: Melissa Murphy, Johnston Paint & Decorating

litigation, banking and finance law, commercial

3409 Buttonwood Dr., 573-443-8755

litigation, corporate law, real estate and land use

Melissa Murphy is co-owner and design center

law, employment law, and eminent domain law.

manager at Johnston Paint & Decorating. She

Second Place: Tom Trabue, theNextStep

First Place: Rost Inc. 2450 Trails West Ave., 573-445-4465

Second Place: Anne Tuckley, Anne Tuckley Home

3530 S. Old Ridge Rd., 573-489-2091 Tom Trabue is a tailored business coach. His company, theNextStep, offers one-on-one personal coaching, business management practices, and personalized seminars. Trabue enjoys helping his clients break through barricades, whether it’s on a personal level or a professional level.

Beginning in 1985, Tim and Toby Rost founded

108 Corporate Lake Dr., 573-639-1989

Rost Inc. This landscaping company is the premier

Anne Tuckley is the owner of Anne Tuckley Home.

landscape design–build firm in central Missouri. In

She has been in the interior design business for

addition to designing and building landscapes, they

more than 20 years. Tuckley wants your home to be

offer landscape maintenance, irrigation services,

a reflection of you and your style. Her creativity and

lighting, and fencing. Rost makes every effort to

attention to detail is shown throughout her work.

offer clients excellent design services and thorough

Her experience is in new construction, remodeling,

landscape installation.

and conceptualizing out-of-the-box ideas. CBT

573-808-6315

60 JULY 2019

Daniel Beckett, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran,

TOP COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPERS

worked at the company for years before taking it over. She helps bring in new ideas to the company and considers the employees to be like family.

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 61

62 JULY 2019

INITIAL ATTRACTION, LASTING AFFECTION Companies across industries find unique ways to attract new employees and make the workplace a place they want to stay.

BY DAVID MO RRIS O N

It was much less complicated when Calibration Technologies Inc. first started 15 years ago.

Back then, the Columbia-based manufacturer of gas detection equipment for industrial facilities was very much a mom-and-pop shop with only about five employees to their name. If founder Kevin EuDaly wanted to provide lunch for the staff — and he did, every day — it meant preparing a small meal or running out to Chipotle or Panera.

CTI still provides complimentary lunch for their employees every workday at their location on Tradewinds Parkway. But now the workforce numbers about 80.

So, Sterling Food Service, which also counts Greek houses at MU among its clients, does the heavy lifting.

“We get anything from mac and cheese to steak lunch, brats and hamburgers, pasta,” says human resources manager Beau EuDaly. “About once a month, we get sushi. People love it. We put a call over the intercom to say lunch is ready, and people come in for 30 to 45 minutes and then go back to work. And you don’t have to eat lunch here. If you don’t like what we’re having, you’re welcome to bring your own, go home, go out, and get lunch anywhere else. But for the most part, people eat here.”

CTI’s lunch perk has the added benefit of fostering a work community, encouraging people from different departments to congregate in one place for a communal, mid-day break. And, along with more traditional benefits such as competitive pay, health care, paid time off, and a retirement plan, it makes for an enticing package for a growing company when it comes to attracting new employees and retaining current ones.

64 JULY 2019

Beau estimates that 60% to 70% of the company’s hires come from employee referrals.

“It’s a fun place to work,” Beau says. “If we just gave free lunch but it sucked to work here, we probably wouldn’t see the same growth.”

CTI is just one of the local businesses that prides itself on the unique ways in which it recruits and retains talent. It’s a give-and-take process involving a calculated risk of costs incurred by the company that pays off in the reward of helping build a culture that makes employees want to stick around.

CREATING A RUNWAY Job titles can be fairly fluid things at Senior Marketing Specialists. The brokerage division of McNerney Management Group, which is based near the corner of South Providence and Grindstone, doesn’t necessarily feel as if it has to hire a candidate with a specific position in mind.

The right fit comes first. Then come the details.

“Sometimes you hire the person and then figure out their job,” says Vice President Chris Kiley. “Sometimes we hire somebody and we don’t even know what position we’re going to put them in. But we know we like them for the company — their values, what they’re bringing, everything about them. Of course, we look at resumes, but that’s a piece of paper. We want to really get to know who they are, and that’s who we’re hiring.”

It helps that SMS is working with a client base drawn from a high-growth sector of the population — baby boomers — and hiring for a variety of skill sets,

from graphic design to sales to data analysis to agent recruitment and support.

The bottom line, SMS President and MMG Vice President JoAnn Wray says, is the company wants its employees to feel as if they can learn, innovate, shift job responsibilities, and advance professionally all without leaving.

“Every person who walks through this door, whether they’re 20 and a college intern or they’re coming from another profession and have some experience behind them, the runway here is theirs to create,” Wray says. “We try to foster an environment that shows them that. You tell us where you want to go.”

MMG has used this ethos to double the size of its workforce over the past three years. SMS has 53 employees itself — most of them based in Columbia — and MMG is bordering on 100 employees total.

“Because we’re constantly growing, we have several employees who have moved up to director or management roles that started with us as college interns and came up with their own position,” Kiley says.

“The biggest thing is they feel like they have that voice and that, most of the time, if they want to try something, we say ‘sure,’ or, ‘We did try that, here’s the reason it didn’t work, but maybe you can add your insight to it.’

That’s one of the big things they tell us, that they really love the ability to create their own future.”

Kiley and Wray also say they receive a good deal of positive employee feedback from the philanthropic opportunities the company offers. SMS features a “12 Months of Giving” program that encourages employees to fundraise for causes that are dear to them or participate in volunteer work the company pays for. The American Red Cross, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and Central Missouri Honor Flight are especially popular among employees.

“We need good, talented, passionate people who care about each other, who care about this job and about this industry,” Wray says. “We’re just excited about the people we do have. We love and want to keep them and keep inspiring them. And we want to find more.”

DOG DAYS Jessica Hagerty always wanted to work at a place where she could bring her two COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 65

Goldendoodles to work. As president and operations director of The Evoke Group, a Columbia-based digital marketing agency, she wants the same for her employees.

If there aren’t any important meetings on the docket, they’re free to bring their dogs into the office.

“We try to be careful about it so there’s not a ton of dogs here at all times, but basically it makes people happy to step away from their desk and pet a puppy,” Hagerty says. “I’m all for that. It also helps that we’re super close to Logboat, so dog days usually end up at Logboat.”

Hagerty says The Evoke Group, which has seven employees at its Fay Street location and three who are based in Denver, prides itself on the sort of laid-back atmosphere engendered by dog days, book clubs, and structured employee get-togethers away from work.

The spring book club selection was “So Good They Can’t Ignore You,” Cal Newport’s 2012 self-help offering about striking the perfect balance between doing what you love and doing what you’re good at in your professional life.

“We have the belief that when people are at their happiest, they’re creating better,” Hagerty says. “If we can make people’s lives easier by giving them flexibility and taking that stress away, it allows them to focus on the work and care about what they’re doing.

I think that’s good for everybody.”

Another important part of building the company’s culture, to Hagerty, is fostering cohesion outside of the office. The agency has a staffer — “bless her,” Hagerty says — who volunteers to organize monthly events that value education and team building.

A notable recent excursion to CMSE Giving Gardens gave employees the opportunity to connect with one of the agency’s clients with the added bonus of taking home some succulents.

Hagerty says she had a recent hire tell her she took the job because the agency “just seemed like a lot of fun.”

Perfect.

“People create their best work whenever they’re having a good time and are confident about what they’re doing,” Hagerty says. “With a small team, they can really make a difference. It’s not like they’re just a cog in a machine. I guess we are all cogs in the machine, but, if we were to be without 66 JULY 2019

that one cog, we’d fall apart. So we’re very important cogs.”

SCALING UP Beau says he gets a frequent question about CTI’s free lunch perk. It’s all well and good when you’re only feeding 80 employees.

What happens if you reach 500?

“The owner always says that if it’s logistically possible with 50 employees, then it should be possible with 500,” Beau says.

“Sure, there will be more money going out to the chef contractor, but proportionally, if our business is growing, it should be the same amount. The owners believe employee morale is very big.”

“We have come from a very small company to a medium-size company, and we’re still relatively small. We’ve been able to actually grow our benefits the bigger we’ve gotten.”

CTI knows that it routinely has to stack up against entities such as MU, Boone Hospital Center, and Veterans United Home Loans in a competitive Columbia employee marketplace.

Anything the company can to do stand out as it continues to grow a labor pool that has doubled since 2016 is worth the resources it puts in. The lunch perk also allows CTI to release its employees at 4:30 every day instead of 5, with no lunchtime commute factored into the work hours.

“People get to hang out instead of going home, going out,” Beau says. “Some people go back to their office and that’s how they relax and calm down in the middle of the day, not being around anyone, which is fine.

Whether you’re talking about work or your life, the added community and friendships created is great.” CBT

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 67

68 JULY 2019

SPECIAL SECTION

JOBS Columbia businesses are looking for talented, high performing prospects.

Staffing For: Administrative • Commercial • Office Services • Light Industrial • Professional

Serving Columbia and all of mid-Missouri since 1988.

(573) 443-1800 • ExpressPros.com/ColumbiaMO 1900 N. Providence Rd. Suite 200 • Columbia, MO 65202

COULD THAT BE YOU? Take a look at some of these opportunities from highly respected, forward thinking companies and start the conversation!

We’re in growth mode not only for our clients, but for our company, as well!

If you’re interested in joining us, we’re looking to add to our amazing team.

Email me for more information.

Greg.brockmeier@raymondjames.com 2801 Woodard Drive, Suite 105 • Columbia, MO

(573) 442-6146

Greg Brockmeier Financial Advisor

Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 69

70 JULY 2019

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 71

72 JULY 2019

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 73

‘‘

‘‘

As a startup business, Lara has helped tremendously. She met with us, went over the projected numbers and then went to the bank with me. I felt so much more comfortable with her there helping answer questions.

Amanda Quick, The Hatchery

Bloom Bookkeeping specializes in providing useful financial reports for quick decision-making and easy tax preparation. I do the work that helps Columbia’s businesses succeed!

www.bloombookkeeping.net

74 JULY 2019

Women Who Run Why do so few women run for office when they win as often as or more often than men?

BY J E N N I F E R TR U E S DA L E

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 75

F

ollowing 2018’s historic year for women in politics, a record-breaking number of women were sworn into U.S. Congress in January. Despite these gains, however, women still account for just a quarter of U.S. congressional seats. This trend is typically found at the state and local levels, as well.

Columbia and Boone County governments are a mixed bag when it comes to gender parity in elected positions. Only one woman has served as mayor, and city council has been predominantly male for decades. Currently, only one councilperson is female, Dr. Betsy Peters, who represents the sixth ward.

As is typical nationally, the school board is predominantly female, with four of the seven seats occupied by women. Boone County elected positions, such as commissioner, auditor, and county clerk, have been predominantly female for more than 20 years, which bucks the national trend.

To understand these trends at every level of government, women’s political ambitions have been the subject of numerous studies by major universities and nonpartisan think tanks over the past few decades. In general, the research has concluded that women can fundraise, campaign, and win elections at rates comparable to and even higher than their male counterparts. The trouble is that so few women run for office to begin with. Why is this the case, and what opportunities exist for women to get involved in politics here in Mid-Missouri?

A Woman’s Place “It used to be that when a woman said she wanted to run for office, one question she was asked was, ‘Who is going to care for your children?’, which is a question that was never asked of the male candidates,” remembers Marilyn McLeod, retired librarian, political history enthusiast, and active member of the League of Women Voters of Columbia-Boone County for more than 30 years. The LWV, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year, is a nonpartisan civic organization originally dedicated to helping women become involved in the political process after winning the vote in 1920; it now strives to help all citizens to be informed.

While female candidates are less likely to be asked the question of family care today, the pervasiveness of traditional gender norms is one of the biggest factors keeping women from seeking public office. Women tend to have a disproportionate share of household duties, child care, and caring for aging family members, making it hard to add a political career to their plates. And many women have their own professional aspirations to reconcile as well.

76 JULY 2019

"Having owned my own business gave me a leg up because it gave me flexibility.

Taking vacation leave is a big barrier for women running for office unless you have a very supportive employer who wants you to be elected.

Women tend to have jobs that don’t give them that flexibility."

- Karen Miller, retired Boone County commissioner

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 77

Though her children were grown when Peters decided to run for city council in 2014, she was still a practicing neonatologist at MU Women’s and Children’s Hospital. She recalls having to leave council meetings that ran late so she could be rested to see patients the next day. She has since retired from the hospital and ran uncontested for another three-year term on council in 2017.

“It’s nice that I’m retired because I have time to do it more. If you don’t count council meetings, it’s about 10 hours a week,” Peters says, adding that city council can be a great opportunity to get involved in the political arena if you don’t have many evening obligations with children or work. “It is volunteer, though, so to some extent you put in as much time as you have. And people are very respectful of that.”

Though not a mother, Karen Miller was the owner of 1839 Taphouse when she decided to run for Boone County Commissioner in 1992. She ran against seven male candidates in that race, which she won, and held the position until she decided to retire in 2016. Unlike city council, though, county commissioner is a full-time job; after a year in office, Miller decided that running a business and holding office was too much, and she sold the restaurant. She did find, however, that being her own boss gave her the freedom she needed to run in the first place.

“Having owned my own business gave me a leg up because it gave me flexibility,” Miller says. “Taking vacation leave is a big barrier for women running for office unless you have a very supportive employer who wants you to be elected. Women tend to have jobs that don’t give them that flexibility.”

The Challenges of Campaigning Beyond flexibility, campaigning itself is an aspect of running for office that often deters women.

Research shows that smear campaigns and the public scrutiny to which candidates and their families are subjected to when running for state and federal elections are common deterrents for women who might otherwise be interested in seeking office. But these negative factors often are absent or reduced in city and county races, and the need for campaign fundraising is greatly reduced at the local level.

Peters and Miller say they fundraised by talking to friends and professional ties but 78 JULY 2019

also agree that it was less about fundraising and more about connecting with people oneon-one.

“This is a small enough town that it’s really about the door-to-door campaigning,” Peters says. “And that doesn’t cost money. It costs time and a little bit of shoe leather and somebody to make up a flyer that you can hand people.”

Miller spent a lot of time campaigning doorto-door as well, and she invested in inexpensive campaign swag that was easy to personalize with her name and hand out to potential supporters, like water bottles and hand wipes. Having a campaign manager who can handle the details also lessened the load for both women.

Even when juggling home and work is doable and the task of running a campaign seems less daunting, women face another barrier to seeking office: They’re not asked to.

Leaning in It is well documented that women, unlike men, tend not to apply for jobs for which they don’t feel 100% qualified, and the same applies to running for office. Perhaps not surprisingly, women nationally are recruited to run for office far less than men. This means that women have to take initiative to kickstart their own political ambitions.

“I think more women have to be asked to run,” Peters says.

When Councilwoman Barbara Hoppe decided not to seek re-election, she asked Peters to run in her place. Though she had to be asked to run, Peters’ limited government experience (she was an alternate on the city’s zoning commission) did not deter her. Similarly,

Miller’s political experience was confined to working on others’ campaigns, but she had the self-confidence to believe she was better qualified for county commissioner than her seven male opponents. They agree, however, that knowledge of how local government works is essential. Peters suggests attending city council meetings and candidate forums to get a sense of procedures and what issues are on the minds of voters.

Occasionally, the LWV hosts helpful workshops like its well-attended “How to Run for Office” workshop; the event in 2017 included Hoppe, Miller, and former state representative Nancy Copenhaver speaking about all the aspects of running for office.

“It’s a lot of work [to run for office], no matter what,” McLeod says. “You’re putting yourself out there. Kudos to those folks for putting themselves out there and serving for the public good.”

If jumping into politics doesn’t seem possible right now because of work or family obligations, don’t retire your political ambitions altogether. Instead, Peters and Miller suggest finding an issue or topic that interests you, getting involved, and starting to network: Volunteer for the PTA at your child’s school, serve on a nonprofit board, join a chamber of commerce committee, get active in your neighborhood association, or apply to be on one of the city’s many boards or commissions.

Miller adds that it doesn’t hurt to reach out to former elected officials and ask them for tips on how to campaign.

“We are a community that values women and all of those who went before us,” Miller concludes. “Women shouldn’t be afraid to run for office.” CBT

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 79

Mid-Missouri’s ONLY extended reality media production company.

We can turn your physical space into a high definition, interactive experience

IMMERSIVE TOURS MEDIA INTEGRATION SHAREABLE CONTENT Immersive 3D tours are 4 times more engaging than video and have a wide range of application.

Schedule your consultation today to learn how we can create an amazing user experience for your company.

Locally owned and operated commercial XR media company

80 JULY 2019

IN FOCUS

STANDING FOR SCHOOLS

How Columbia’s educational unions are advocating for better education.

BY THERASIA BRAUTIGAM

IN FOCUS

“

T here’s not many watchdogs out there for public educators,” says Kathy Steinhoff, president of Columbia Missouri National Education Association, or CMNEA, and Hickman High School math teacher. But for Steinhoff, the National Education Association, an organization that advocates for public education by both unionizing teachers and providing professional tools, has given her support.

The national association has many state affiliates, including the Missouri National Education Association (MNEA), and local affiliates like CMNEA and the Coalition of Graduate Workers at MU.

PRIMARY GOALS OF THE COALITION OF GRADUATE WORKERS

VOICE TO BE HEARD CMNEA has been an active association for 30 years, but they only gained their bargaining rights with Columbia Public Schools seven years ago. Their main goal is to improve the education of students; improving working conditions for teachers is one way this can be done.

While CMNEA bargains for both financial and nonfinancial issues, most of their topics are nonfinancial and focus on issues that would improve teachers’ work conditions. One example is the desire to increase planning time for teachers. It is increasingly more difficult for teachers to accomplish all their tasks in the traditional 50 minutes allotted them, says Steinhoff. With technology expanding, teachers are expected to provide feedback to students, communicate with parents, and create outstanding lesson plans within small amounts of time.

When teachers leave the education profession, a majority explain that it’s because “they don’t feel heard,” says Steinhoff. Resources like CMNEA and bargaining are ways for teachers to get their needs expressed.

The organization currently has around 650 members, all teachers and educational support professionals that work anywhere from preschool up to the high school level.

“We believe teachers are experts in the classroom. They are the voice for students. In CMNEA, we fight for that voice,” says Steinhoff.

HOW IT WORKS The CMNEA bargaining season runs from February to May and they hold eight meeting sessions during that time period. At these sessions, the CMNEA executive team recruits members to be a part of their bargaining committee.

Steinhoff says that recruitment can be difficult sometimes, as it’s an extra time commitment that can be intimidating for teachers “sitting across from their bosses and having difficult, honest conversations.” To be the best bargaining committee it can be, CMNEA tries to find a mix of teachers for its representation, ranging from the elementary to high school level and from long-time teaching veterans to brand new teachers.

While CMNEA recruits its bargaining committee members, CPS’s school board appoints administration, an attorney, the district’s director of HR, and the chief finance officer to represent them. But this set-up could be changing soon: CMNEA recently filed a lawsuit against CPS for allegedly bargaining in bad faith.

GIVING BACK TO EDUCATION Since CMNEA is also a professional association, they provide members with resources like workshops and grants to support professional development. In 2019, CMNEA awarded 10 miniature grants to

82 JULY 2019

Organizing: Reaching out and encouraging other graduate workers to join.

Collective Representation and Bargaining: Working together to legally represent graduate workers on MU’s campus.

Education: Standing for better public education, especially at the higher education level.

Community and Solidarity: Building coalitions with both the Columbia community and other local unions.

Social Justice: Supporting human freedoms and rights and working to help promote those freedoms.

Ed u c at i o n a l U n i o n s members throughout CPS. Steinhoff explains that these grants are typically used to fund small classroom projects like classroom libraries, guest speakers, and transportation for field trips. They also provided five Columbia seniors with scholarships to continue their education at the post-secondary level.

When discussing the benefits of being a CMNEA member, one of Steinhoff ’s reasons is how the organization gives back to education. “I know my dues support and help public education,” she says.

The Coalition of Graduate Workers, or CGW, first formed in April 2016 after what the group calls the “MU health insurance crisis of August 2015.” That fall, due to changes made with the Affordable Care Act, MU said the school was not able to supply health insurance to its graduate workers. Graduate workers were only notified of this change 24 hours before the open enrollment period closed, causing major problems, says CGW co-chair Michael Vierling. During the health insurance crisis, the Forum on Graduate Students Rights was the organization in existence for graduate students to join. After rallies and the persistent efforts of the graduate workers, health insurance was reinstated.

In April 2016, CGW formed out of the Forum of Graduate Students Rights after an 80% approval vote from members. Currently, there are approximately 200 members, and the organization is hoping to continue expansion. “Actions together have more influence than they do separate,” says Vierling.

CGW is set up as a democratic collective body consisting of a general membership assembly, a representative assembly, and a coordinating committee. Each department within the general membership assembly appoints a head of the department that acts on the representative assembly. The representative assembly, along with the local officers within the coordinating committee, sets policies for the union.

CGW does not have bargaining rights with MU. The university appealed a 2018 ruling in the Boone County Circuit Court that graduate workers qualify as employees and have rights to unionize. A court date is set for June 2019, in the Western District Court of Appeals to determine whether CGW will be granted bargaining power.

“We believe teachers are experts in the classroom.

They are the voice for students. In CMNEA, we fight for that voice.”

— Kathy Steinhoff, president of Columbia Missouri National Education Association

Despite not having legal bargaining rights, CGW and MU have been able to work together to improve working conditions for graduate workers, including increasing the minimum stipend for workers in order to accommodate the rise of living expenses in Columbia.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING Though education-based unions are now an important part of Columbia’s public education system, public employees in the state of Missouri did not have the right to bargain collectively until 2007. In the case of Independence National Education Association v. Independence School District, the Missouri Supreme Court declared that all public employees can unionize. It was the Independence NEA’s actions that opened doors for all Missouri public school employees to collectively bargain.

When asked about how a teacher union could have enough influence on the court decision, Dale Roberts, executive director of the Columbia Police Officer’s Association and a retired attorney, says that the number of teachers in the education profession is large compared to other professions. Since educator numbers are so strong, they have a more impactful influence and have more money in dues they can spend on attorneys.

As Roberts explains, teachers also have support from parents, too. “If you have kids, you deal with teachers. And you want your kids to have good teachers,” he says. “So anyone who has kids is sort of automatically a lobbyist on behalf of the teachers.”

As Steinhoff, Vierling, and Roberts all indicate, the primary focus within education associations, especially CMNEA and CGW, is improving education for both educators and students. CBT

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 83

There is nothing I want more in this life than to help people understand their full, beautiful potential!

- Dr. Arminta Phelps, DC, CCWP When asked how I’ve contributed to the lives of those in my life, professionally or personally, these are a few of the amazing responses I received‌ You have this ability to project your positivity, caring and love OUTWARD so that those near you feel it.

You brought strength, positivity, and life back into myself. Your words, hugs, and ability to put the body back together saved me!

You’ve always showed love, honesty and selflessness throughout the years.

You infuse positivity and love into everything!

Your encouragement to be present, envision the future that we want to have and manifest it in to reality, and above all else, to approach everything with love, sticks with me daily!

We are all made for such great things and I am humbled and honored to be part of helping anyone bring that out in themselves.

573-442-5520 | AchieveBalanceChiropractic.com Blvd. | Building 8, Suite 100 | Columbia, MO

84 JULYW. 2019 1000 Nifong

BUSINESS • P EOPL E • VOIC ES • FY I

N E W BUS I N E SS L I C E N S E S

New Business Licenses JULY 2019

Sugarwitch Ice

Pedego Columbia

Cream Sandwiches

19 S. Fourth St., Ste. 115

1023 E. Walnut St., Ste. 7

573-355-3248

650-380-3967

Service and repair of bikes

Ice cream retail

2 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS BY 2 OF COLUMBIA’S FAVORITE ENTREPRENEURS! red we Po

olumbia Region al A

by C irp or t

TOP

CBT’s

OF THE

Key Light By Nancy Quick Shift Auto LLC

106 Orr Studio, Studio 1-N

2203 Rangeline St., Bldg. 4

520-240-9886

573-355-8780

Art sales and photography

TOWN 2 019

Used motor vehicle sales King’s Educational Consultants African Market

5609 Lantermans Mill Dr.

1004 Old Highway 63 N.

404-488-7071

319-777-3590

Professional development

Groceries, dairy products,

for schools and organizations

and retail from Africa Dakine.com Corri Flaker LMT

504 Big Bear Blvd., Ste. C

2800 Forum Blvd., Ste. 2

573-260-3883

573-673-8087

E-commerce retail clothes

Massage therapy

and accessories

Forge Development LLC

Burger King #10351

510 E. Green Meadows, Ste. 201

3400 Clark Ln.

573-268-4765

573-474-7987

Commercial development company

Fast food service

Jan Stock Counseling

Amax Maintenance

2800 Forum Blvd., Ste. 4A

5455 E. St. Charles Rd., Ste. 2

573-340-5145

573-673-6899

Mental health counseling

Maintenance of rental units,

with teens and adults

general contractor

Lanier Landscaping LLC

Hair By Miss Victoria

3403 Lake Front Ct.

2001 Corona Rd., Ste. 100

573-795-5820

573-445-9099

Hardscaping

Cosmetologist CBT

TOP SALESPERSON

MEGAN MEIER-WALTERS

HOMESBY-MEGAN.COM HOUSE OF BROKERS CELL 573-808-6457 OFFICE 573-446-6767

TOP PLACE TO WORK (1-25 EMPLOYEES) CAMACHO COFFEE

OWNERS JESSE & MEGAN WALTERS CAMACHOCOFFEE.COM 660-537-1983

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 85

B U S I N E SS • P E O P L E • VO I C E S • F Y I

YES, SUNDAY TOO! No matter what day you visit us, you’ll find the same fully outfitted show room, same great selection, and the same SERTA mattresses. And last, and anything but least, the same terrific service ---start to finish.

Deeds of Trust WORTH AT LEAST $752,000

$10,500,000

$850,000

M H I Columbia L.P.

Rabkin Contracting LLC

First National Bank of Omaha

Landmark Bank

Keene Estates Plat #6

LT 7 PT FF Samuel’s First ADD

$6,510,000

$828,000

McManus, Timothy J

Moore, Don Kim

U.S. Bank National Association

& Sabine Rajan

LT 28A-1 Concorde Office & Industrial

Landmark Bank

Plaza Plat 14-C

LT 105 Heatherhill Estates Plat 1

$3,490,395

$800,000

J Q B Construction Inc. Central Bank of Boone County LT 189 Mill Creek Manor Plat No. 3 $3,490,395

Bellmer, J Quinn Central Bank of Boone County

Downtown Appliance Home Center and The Sleep Shop... two great stores in one!

DEEDS

LT 119 Old Hawthorne Plat No. 2 $1,509,749

Bucky C LLC The Central Trust Bank LT 1 Crossroads North Sub Pl 1 $1,509,749

Bucky C LLC The Central Trust Bank LT 2 Crossroads North Sub Pl 1 $1,000,000

The Miles Family Trust Central Bank of Boone County LT 21A Paradise Hills Estates Block 4

The Schneider Family Trust Central Bank of Boone County STR 17-47-12 /E/SE SUR BK/PG: 5004/196 AC 20.54 FF Tract A $790,711

Triple L Mini Storage LLC First State Community Bank LT 3 Little Bear Industrial Park $780,000

OTA Properties LLC First State Community Bank LT 2 Middle Market Sub $758,000

Ludwig, Mark A & Vicky L Hawthorn Bank STR 16-46-12 //NW SUR BK/PG: 4982/137 AC 10.01 $752,000

OTA Properties LLC First State Community Bank

$950,000

LT 3A PT Concorde Office & Industrial

Timber Ridge Builders Inc.

Plaza Pl 1

Mid America Bank

1104 E. Broadway 573-874-3333 DowntownAppliance.com 86 JULY 2019

LT 328 Willow Falls Plat No. 3 $926,000

Corrado, Matthew J & Danielle K

824 deeds of trust

Hawthorn Bank

were issued between

LT 79 Woodrail South Plat 3

4/15 and 5/17 CBT

BUSINESS • P EOPL E • VOIC ES • FY I

Economic Index LABOR

HOUSING

APRIL 2019

APRIL 2019

UNITED STATES

Total single-family home

Labor force: 162,097,000

sales: 232

Employment: 156,710,000

Existing single-family home

Unemployment: 5,387,000 Rate: 3.3% MISSOURI Labor force: 3,037,557 Employment: 2,948,993 Unemployment: 88,564 Rate: 2.9%

sales: 197 New construction singlefamily home sales: 36 Single-family homes average listing sold price: $223,849 Single-family homes median sold price: $200,000 Single-family homes active listings on the market: 656 Single-family homes average

BOONE COUNTY

days on market: 57

Labor force: 96,937

Single-family homes pending

Employment: 94,924

listings on the market: 311

Unemployment: 2,013

UTILITIES

Labor force: 66,259 Employment: 64,844

WATER

Unemployment: 1,415

May 2019: 49,653

Rate: 2.1%

May 2018: 49,308 Change #: 345 Change %: 0.700 Number of customers

CONSTRUCTION APRIL 2019 Commercial building permits: 1

olumbia Region al A

by C irp or t

TOP

CBT’s

OF THE

TOWN 2 01 9

Rate: 2.1% COLUMBIA

red we Po

receiving service on June 1, 2019: 49,718 ELECTRIC May 2019: 50,711

Value of commercial building

May 2018: 50,282

permits: $11,603,517

Change #: 429

Commercial additions/

Change %: 0.853

alterations: 1

Number of customers

Value of commercial additions/

receiving service on June 1,

alterations: $27,175.68

2019: 50,700 CBT

Voted Top Business Attorney 2019!

Whether you are starting a business, are a serial entrepreneur, or you have an established company, Nathan Jones can help you. With a background in finance and teacher of tax law as an adjunct professor, he can give you advice on the valuation of your business, help with financial projections and give you suggestions to optimize your tax situation.

We take pride in protecting our business clients and helping them thrive.

Contact our office today to see what we can do for you.

2412 Forum Blvd, Suite 101 | Columbia 573-874-1122 | NathanJonesLaw.com The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 87

ADVERTISER INDEX ACCOUNTING PLUS..................................................................................................... 91 ACHIEVE BALANCE.................................................................................................... 84 AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION........................................................................ 79 ANTHONY JINSON PHOTOGRAPHY.................................................................... 68 BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOME SERVICES........................................................... 5 BLOOM BOOKKEEPING..............................................................................................74 BMW OF COLUMBIA.....................................................................................................15 BROCKMEIER FINANCIAL SERVICES........................................................36 & 69 CAMACHO COFFEE..................................................................................................... 85 CAPTVR3D...................................................................................................................... 80 CARSON & COIL............................................................................................................ 80 CENTRAL BANK OF BOONE COUNTY................................................................. 61 CHIMAERIC.........................................................................................................................11 CITY OF COLUMBIA WATER & LIGHT.................................................................. 44 COIL CONSTRUCTION................................................................................................ 46 COLUMBIA EDP............................................................................................................. 36 COLUMBIA MARKETING GROUP................................................................... 12 & 13 COLUMBIA REGIONAL AIRPORT............................................................................ 18 COLUMBIA SAFETY.......................................................................................................71 COMMERCE BANK..............................................................................................41 & 70 CONVERGENCE FINANCIAL....................................................................................... 2 DOWNTOWN APPLIANCE........................................................................................ 86 EDWARD JONES............................................................................................................ 18 EVEXIAS............................................................................................................................ 10 EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS...................................................... 69 FIRST STATE COMMUNITY BANK.......................................................................... 80 GFI DIGITAL....................................................................................................................... 3 HAWTHORN BANK...................................................................................................... 92 I-70 CONTAINER........................................................................................................... 28 INSIDE THE LINES........................................................................................................ 38 IRON GATE REAL ESTATE.........................................................................................72 JENNING'S PREMIUM MEATS.................................................................................. 42

88 JULY 2019

JOBFINDERS.................................................................................................................. 62 JOE MACHENS DEALERSHIPS.................................................................................22 LANDMARK BANK....................................................................................................... 48 MEDIACOM.........................................................................................................................6 MERCEDES OF COLUMBIA..........................................................................................4 MIDWEST COMPUTECH............................................................................................. 48 MY SISTER'S CIRCUS.................................................................................................. 36 NATHAN JONES LAW..................................................................................................87 NAUGHT NAUGHT INSURANCE AGENCY...........................................................74 PLAZA REAL ESTATE.................................................................................................. 41 PRESSED........................................................................................................................... 16 PROVIDENCE BANK....................................................................................................... 7 PWARCHITECTS, INC.................................................................................................. 62 REALTY EXECUTIVES - HEATH HIGGINS..............................................................8 SAMUEL TRAPP - IRON GATE REAL ESTATE................................................... 46 SENIOR MARKETING SPECIALISTS...................................................................... 70 SHELTER INSURANCE COMPANIES.......................................................................73 SIMON OSWALD ASSOCIATES (SOA)....................................................................9 SOCKET.................................................................................................................. 24 & 73 STANGE LAW FIRM...................................................................................................... 88 STATE FARM - PHYLLIS NICHOLS......................................................................... 38 STATE FARM INSURANCE - STEPHANIE WILMSMEYER...............................74 SUPERIOR GARDEN CENTER/ROST LANDSCAPE.........................................22 THE BANK OF MISSOURI........................................................................................... 14 THE BROADWAY HOTEL........................................................................................... 42 THE CLUB AT OLD HAWTHORNE......................................................................... 20 TIMBERLAKE ENGINEERING................................................................................... 28 UNITEDHEALTHCARE...................................................................................................17 USA MORTGAGE........................................................................................................... 44 VETERANS UNITED HOME LOANS........................................................................67 WILLIAMS & ASSOCIATES EYECARE.................................................................. 20

B U SINESS • P EOP L E • VOIC ES • FY I

BY T H E N U M BER S

TOP OF THE TOWN 2 01 9 - BY T H E NU M BER S

5

Years since the first party.

35

CATEGORIES

160

6

FINALISTS

Most category wins.

This recognition goes to Central Bank of Boone County.

5

3

Most first place wins.

This recognition also goes to Central Bank of Boone County.

Most second place wins. This recognition goes to Iron Gate Real Estate.

6,000+ VOTES

B U SINESS • P EOP L E • VOIC ES • FY I

Photography by Sadie Thibodeaux

T H I S OR T H AT

LILI VIANELLO Top Dog, Visionworks Marketing Group

Mac

Big Picture

Cursive

Print

Early Bird Cinema Michael Jackson Firefox 9-5 Learn At Your Desk

The Beatles Chrome Flexibility Teach In a Meeting

Pie

Cake

Skeptical City

Planner Traditional Certain Country

Save

Spend

Summer

Winter

Cat Passenger Car Ocean Optimistic Business

Dog Driver Plane Mountains Realistic Casual

Solo

Team

For Here

To-go

DISC

90 JULY 2019

Netflix

Beer

Modern

1. I’ve worked on learning to see both.

2. All the fun stuff happens at night!

3. Got to have me some Michael, but grew up on the Beatles.

4. Absolute favorite: cold cherry pie 5. I like to spend as long as I’m getting a great deal.

6. I’m a dog at heart. But I love cats, too!

7. Magazines every day. Books are a real treat.

8. Don’t tell my J-school profs.

9. Both are a necessity for my job.

10. There is order to my madness!

11. But I can’t ever find anyone to play with me.

Night Owl

Wine Improviser

A M E N DME N TS A N D CONDI TI ONS

PC

Details

Books

StrengthsFinders Magazines

Reading

Writing

Creative

Analytical

Introvert

Extrovert

Podcast Cluttered Card Game Concept Fiction Text Soup

Playlist Minimalist Board Game Execute Nonfiction Call Sandwich

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 91

COLUMBIA BUSINESS TIMES \ 2001 CORPORATE PLACE, STE. 100 \ COLUMBIA, MO 65202

92 JULY 2019