NOMINATE YOUR FAVORITE:
Volunteer Executive Director Philanthropic Company Board Member Staff Member Fundraiser/Event NOMINATIONS OPEN JUNE 28
Letter from the Publisher
CELEBRATING COLUMBIA WOMEN
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ne of the best parts of my job is that I get the great honor of celebrating people and companies doing amazing things in our community. Women of Excellence, 20 Under 40, and our Impact COMO awards are among my favorite events. Although, they are much more than just an event; they are a representation of the giving spirit of our community. The women that we are honoring have shown great leadership and a spirit of giving back to not only our community, but their industry, as well women as a whole. When you see the women honored in this year’s Women of Excellence, know that they represent hundreds, even thousands, of women doing great work (those nominated and those not nominated). But these were selected as the best of the best. The selection process for Women of Excellence includes many steps. COMO Magazine puts a call for nominations out to the community in the magazine, newsletters, and on social media. Those nominations are then reviewed by both staff and our advisory board consisting of 15 people that represent many different industries and population groups in Columbia. Everyone votes on their top three finalists based on the nominations. The final three finalists for each category are then selected based on a compilation of these votes. It is a challenging and yet very rewarding process. Thank you for your support of Women of Excellence and COMO Magazine. That support enables us to continue our mission of telling stories of people doing inspiring work. May you see these great things. May you tell us of these great things. May you do these great things. Maybe you will be among our next Women of Excellence.
ERICA PEFFERMAN PUBLISHER
to our advisory board members for their valuable insight and contributions to this publication.
Kelly Hill Heart of Missouri CASA
Angie Olsen Iron Gate Real Estate
Mike Ireland Bank of Missouri
Alex George Skylark Bookshop
Barbra Horrell Retired.
Board member of Blind Boone Foundation, Sharp End African American Heritage Trail, CoMo 200
Chris Horn Shelter Insurance Nick Allen Manor Roofing & Restoration Services Heather Brown Harry S. Truman VA Hospital Ernie Ueligger Jones & Ueligger Law
Jason Ramsey Callaway Bank Denise Nelson Accounting Plus Inc. Tina Workman Shelter Insurance Beth Bramstedt Christian Fellowship Kris Husted KBIA Megan Steen Burrell Behavioral Health
CLASS of 2021
The Women of Excellence awards celebrate exceptional women around Columbia. Meet this year’s recipients.
BY HANNAH KUECK PHOTOS BY ANTHONY JINSON
PROFESS AWA RD RECIPIENT
Kerry Goyette Founder and President, Aperio Consulting Group
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erry Goyette is a certified professional behavior analyst and certified forensic interviewer with postgraduate studies in psychometrics. And if you think that sounds impressive, wait until you see what else she’s accomplished. As the president and founder of Aperio Consulting Group, Kerry has dedicated her work to studying and researching human behavior in the workplace. Most recently, the company has been working in the research lab to blend computational intelligence with behavioral science to uncover patterns that the human brain can’t. “I’m proud that two years ago I made a decision to jump into computational intelligence and dedicated significant resources to innovation,” Kerry says. “My driving force is a quest for better. Better AI. Better behavioral science. Our firm sees these two fields as deeply connected — we do not believe it will be possible to advance either field independently.” This new endeavor for the firm has brought in a lot of attention — so much that, in May, Aperio will be filmed for a documentary that will highlight the work they’ve been doing to develop this new algorithm. By the end of this year, Kerry hopes that this algorithm will have stirred up enough attention to generate at least six interviews, articles, and press mentions, adding that “[Aperio] has something that can change the consulting space.” And that’s not all. Kerry is also an author. Her book, “The Non-Obvious Guide to Emotional Intelligence,” has been featured as one of the “Best Business Books for Summer 2019” and “Top 20 Books You Need To Read To Crush 2020” by Forbes. And her work has been published in Harvard Business Review.
On top of all of these roles, Kerry’s also a mentor. From women entrepreneurs to lawyers, she’s found many angles to her mentorship. Whether it’s simply giving feedback, sharing a network, or even swapping expertise, Kerry is always inspired by watching her mentee’s journey unfold and helping them become the successful individuals they aspire to be. To Kerry, being a woman of excellence means having a positive impact on society. “I want my legacy to be that our firm made a positive difference,” she says. “I want us to be a role model not just for other women, but for everyone.”
SIONAL EXCELLENCE HONORABLE MENTIONS
Adonica Coleman
Barbara Ramsey
Owner, A2D Events
Executive Director, Masonic Home of Missouri
WHEN Adonica Coleman was growing A2D Events early on, few people knew what it was. Today, it’s a thriving business that coordinates events for The District, Black History Month, and much, much more. Adonica’s work as an event planner is never easy, but with the unprecedented times the COVID-19 pandemic brought, she has shifted her services with grace. By pivoting her business to offer new services, Adonica has almost tripled the business’s income throughout the pandemic. “My job is to simply take care of the event details so that my clients can enjoy being the host,” she says. Adonica’s accomplishments don’t stop with her business, however. She’s also a mentor through Granny’s House and the BOLD Academy — two organizations she works to raise awareness and funding for — and she’s a leader in her relationships and the community. She continues to mentor former event planning students from Stephens College. “Mentoring to me is a form of giving back what you have been given — advice, experiences, talents, and resources,” Adonica says. “If we never pour out into others, then we have no room to receive.” Being a woman of excellence comes with many meanings and responsibilities, but to Adonica, it means striving to do things at a higher level and being a woman that the people in her life can count on. Adonica’s children, Jazmyn, Camryn, Paityn, and Jordyn, are her motivators. They motivate her to be a successful businesswoman, mentor, and above all, a woman of excellence.
AS executive director for Masonic Home of Missouri, Barbara Ramsey is used to multitasking. From carrying out Masonic Home’s mission of making a difference to being a mentor for other women, Barbara always breaks barriers. In addition to her work as executive director, Barbara also serves on the national board of the Masonic Communities and Services Association, a role she took on in 2015. When Barbara first joined the board, she was the only woman — a statistic that has since changed. Now, six years later, she serves as the chair of the board with a woman as her vice-chair. It’s the first time two women have held these positions simultaneously. “For me, [becoming the chair of the board] was not just about the leadership opportunities to provide to the organization, but it was also about breaking barriers,” Barbara says. Barbara has a long list of achievements, but she’s most proud of the Children’s Outreach Program and Creating-A-Partnership Program that she began. These programs brought a way of helping children back to Masonic Home, Barbara explains. In the past fiscal year, the programs provided over $290,000 in assistance and helped to pay off school lunch balances in Columbia and fund playground equipment at Rainbow House. “One of the reasons I love the program is because Masonic lodges and chapters help identify the needs in their community, and not all communities have the same needs, so our assistance can be tailored to the local need,” Barbara says.
EXCELLE AWA RD RECIPIENT
Kelley Frink CFO, Veterans United Home Loans
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elley Frink never planned on being chief financial officer when she began her career at Veterans United Home Loans. But eight years after joining the team, she’s serving as the CFO and is responsible for the financial operations and strategies of the organization. Kelley explains that her mentor in life, who has supported her professionally and personally, is Amanda Andrade, a fellow Veterans United C-suite member. She’s always listened and helped to guide Kelley in the right direction of life — traits that Kelley now embodies as she mentors others. “I am really passionate about creating a space for people to become better versions of themselves,” she says. “I try to open doors and give others the opportunity to be exposed to new concepts, skills, and ideas, and hopefully, in the process, something clicks and helps that individual grow either professionally or personally.” As the year goes on, Kelley is most looking forward to getting her team back together after being apart for so long. She’s planning on creating intentional opportunities to connect through small groups, lunch and learns, and team events. Kelley also loves getting involved with any organization that supports youth in the community. “Whether that be making dinner at the Ronald McDonald House, wrapping Christmas gifts for Coyote Hill, volunteering at The Food Bank — if it has to do with [helping] children, I’m all in,” Kelley says. To say that Kelley is a busy woman is an understatement. When she’s not volunteering or leading
her accounting team, Kelley can be found spending time on nature trails with her husband and their three small children. Kelley defines success as the feeling of fulfillment you get after a long, busy day. She proves this to be true through all of her roles and responsibilities she holds in both her professional and personal life. Every day, with all of the activities Kelley has a hand in, she proves to be a woman of excellence. She says, “Lead with humility, strive to be better today than yesterday, be a life-long learner, and never assume you have all the answers.”
ENCE in FINANCE HONORABLE MENTIONS
Rebecca Knipp
Stacye Smith
Owner, Optimized CFO and Controller Services
VP of Human Resources, Shelter Insurance
REBECCA Knipp is the owner and certified public accountant of Optimized CFO and Controller Services. She’s helped business owners, nonprofits, and other individuals with all of their accounting and tax needs. But she’s bringing a unique approach to accounting. With her services, Rebecca offers customized solutions that help bridge the client’s financial needs with their existing resources. “I focus not only on providing financial statements to my clients, but communicating it in a way that’s understandable and emphasizes what’s most important to their business,” she says. She focuses first on the financial operations and monthly statements of a business, and the tax return becomes the second consideration. Rebecca is passionate about helping others become financially literate. A mentor to many, Rebecca explains that mentoring “doesn’t always involve having the answer. Many times, it’s working through issues together, as a team.” And oftentimes, she adds, the mentor learns just as much as the mentee. For 2021, Rebecca’s goal is to spend more time working on her business, formalizing processes and procedures to add more personnel, and of course, grow the business even more. Being a woman of excellence to Rebecca means using her abilities to help others. She says, “Being a woman of excellence means striving to truly help other women advance, both professionally and personally.”
STACYE Smith is a woman of many responsibilities and hidden talents. As vice president of human resources for Shelter Insurance Companies, Stacye directs the activities of Shelter Benefits Management Inc. and the human resources department. She implements corporate personnel policies, programs, and procedures. She advises management and leadership on all aspects of human resources. And, on top of all that, she can moonwalk (usually when no one’s looking). This position, with its myriad of responsibilities, is an accomplishment Stacye is most proud of. She says that it’s not just a big accomplishment for herself, but for people of color and, more specifically, women of color. “Being the ‘first’ and hearing others talk about their sense of pride has been humbling,” she says. “I better understand the experiences of people who came before me and the importance of little girls growing up now and thinking about their future possibilities.” Stacye also has a passion for community. She served on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Columbia until December of 2020, and she still continues to support the organization today. She’s also a community member of the new Boone Health. “I plan to enhance my knowledge of the health care industry to better understand the opportunities of being a community hospital, and to pair that with my community knowledge and professional background,” she says.
EXCELLE AWA RD RECIPIENT
Jane Williams Executive Director, Love Columbia
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ane Williams, executive director and co-founder of Love Columbia, measures success by love. “Am I loving others well through my work? Is my work making a positive difference in the community? Are more people experiencing love and affirmation through my work?” she asks. Love is a driving force, especially when it comes to her work with Love Columbia. “We connect our neighbors who are struggling to create the life they want for themselves with others who have time, expertise, and resources to help them,” she explains. This love has been keeping the organization strong for 13 years. Recently, Jane completed a $3 million capital campaign to help purchase and relocate the organization to a larger and more accessible building, and in February, the organization made the move. With this new space comes new goals. Jane’s next goal for 2021 is to double the amount of engaged volunteers Love Columbia has. And the volunteer experience is going to be even better. The organization hired a staff member that focuses on matching volunteers with opportunities that fit their interests and skills better, and that will help “add [more] meaning to their lives.” Through Love Columbia, Jane has had the opportunity to mentor dozens of staff members, volunteers, and interns. She’s also established a mentoring program with her daughter at their church where they matched older and younger women — a concept that Love Columbia specializes in. In Love Columbia’s program, the organization matches volunteers with people who want help achieving financial, ca-
reer, housing, or personal goals, and it’s been popular among the neighbors the organization supports. “In 2020, we made over 500 matches,” Jane says. Jane is motivated by her faith in God and her belief that she has found his purpose for her life. This motivation, she explains, causes her to want to give everything she can to do her work well and support the community. To gauge Jane’s excellence, she asks herself a series of questions. These include “Am I kind, generous, and willing to sacrifice for the sake of others?” and “Have I contributed to the peace and well-being of my community today?” She says, “For me, excellence is more about depth of character than accomplishing something the world applauds.”
ENCE in PUBLIC SERVICE HONORABLE MENTIONS
Stephanie Browning
Kari Utterback
Director, Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services
Senior Administrative Supervisor, Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services
AS THE director of public health and human services for the City of Columbia and Boone County, Stephanie Browning has worked at the forefront of the pandemic, making several difficult decisions for the safety of the public. Even after the unpredictable year COVID-19 brought, Stephanie still loves her job. “I lead an organization focused on promoting and protecting the health, safety, and well-being of residents and visitors to our community,” she says. “I am fortunate to get to work in a field where every day brings new challenges and opportunities, and even after this stressful year, I love what I do, the people I do it with, and the community we serve.” Stephanie’s ongoing professional goal is to continue to educate herself on diversity, equity, and inclusion issues, specifically those in relation to health disparities. By doing this, and improving her own ability on a personal and organizational level, she hopes to affect change that will lead to health equity. “I recognize that this goal is not one that is checked off by attending a class or by reading a book. It takes work and intention,” she says. A woman of excellence, to Stephanie, means being passionate about what you’re doing and always looking for ways to improve. “It’s a journey — not a destination,” she says. For 2021, Stephanie hopes to spend more time with her grandkids. After all, she has an entire year she has to make up for. She’s fully vaccinated, as is most of her family, which is a good starting place for them, she says.
“[BEING a woman of excellence] is being passionate about what you do and doing that work with grit and grace,” Kari Utterback, senior administrative supervisor for public health and human services for the City of Columbia and Boone County, says. Kari also looks up to a great group of women as mentors in her own life. She looks to Stephanie Browning for bravery in public health, Verna LaBoy for her expertise in targeted planning and community organizing, and Nikki Smith-McGruder for community-wide diversity and equity work. This list goes on, and Kari is also a mentor herself — and to her, a mentor wears many hats. A mentor listens, believes, and lifts people up. A mentor is a cheerleader and a connector. “I love hearing someone’s goals and then connecting them with resources,” she says. By urging her team to reach for their goals, being behind them if they stumble, and assisting in helping them realize their full capabilities, Kari is a mentor to many. Kari’s next goal for 2021 is to read more fiction, and with the help of the Daniel Boone Regional Library, she’s already on her way to success in this, too.
EXCELLE AWA RD RECIPIENT
Angela Drake Veterans Clinic Director, MU School of Law
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ngela Drake’s veteran clients — those who served the country and were willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice — make her day at the office a “piece of cake.” Angela, as the director of the veterans clinic at the MU School of Law, now teaches future lawyers to support and help with legal services for veterans, a job she refers to as the best in the world. “I learn about military history from the people who served in the actual battles, I observe family members rise to the occasion when help is needed to care for a loved one, and I watch future lawyers learn and grow into zealous advocates,” she says of her position as director of the clinic. While she’s the teacher now, she’s still learning from plenty of other women of all ages. Her most recent mentor is Lyrissa Lidsky, the dean of the law school. When Lyrissa arrived in Columbia four years ago, Angela explains that Lyrissa navigated her way through “choppy waters” with grace. She’s dealt with an array of problems, from COVID-19 to budget issues, all while defeating breast cancer, and she’s remained focused on doing what’s best for the students. Angela is a mentor to young women working to be lawyers, too. “When I talk to younger women, I want to provide encouragement more than [just] advice,” she says. “Strength comes from navigating in a changing world, and mentoring involves more than just explaining how the world worked for me.” Angela’s last professional goal she accomplished was serving as the president of the National Law
School Veterans Clinic Consortium, as it’s important to her to see that other law schools have strong clinics that address the need for legal services for veterans. For 2021, Angela wants to focus more on finding the right balance in life, and to accept that it’s okay to dabble in a few things here and there in order for her to enjoy life to its fullest. To Angela, being a woman of excellence is a lot of gratitude. She says: “I looked at the past finalists and I am of course humbled and flattered and surprised after seeing them. . . . I am genuinely grateful for this very kind acknowledgment. Thank you.”
ENCE in EDUCATION HONORABLE MENTIONS
Shaashawn Dial
Michelle Baumstark
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Stephens College
Community Relations Director, Columbia Public Schools
SHAASHAWN Dial is a history maker — or HERstory maker, as she says. Currently, she’s making history as she serves as the inaugural director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at her alma mater, Stephens College, which she says is a humbling, surreal, amazing, and a purpose-filled journey. “I work with the most talented senior leadership team of my career, and I am part of an ecosystem that gets women and knows how to center women in all we do,” she says. In this role, Shaashawn embeds diversity, equity, and inclusion into everything the college does. Since she began at Stephens, she has created and taught a class during the fall 2020 and spring 2021 term, and she serves as the advisor to three student-led organizations: Rainbow Alliance, Black Women Enlightened, and KWWC (an online radio station). Shaashawn’s next big goal for 2021 is to defend her dissertation proposal. She wakes up between 5:30 to 6 a.m. to work on the dissertation proposal for an hour before she heads to Stephens College to start checking emails or consulting any business. Picking up her dissertation before she pours herself into helping others, reviewing protocols and procedures, and whatever else the day brings has been revolutionary for her, she explains. For Shaashawn, being a woman of excellence means gratitude: “Gratitude for someone(s) that took the time to nominate me, publicly acknowledging my skill sets and contributions . . . [and] that the U.S. structures designed to oppress my multiple identities have scarred me but not broken me.”
“I LOVE my job. It’s challenging, it’s chaotic, it’s different every day. It allows me to blend the only two things I ever wanted to be when I was little — a teacher and a reporter,” says Michelle Baumstark, community relations director of Columbia Public Schools. For Michelle, it’s the best of both worlds to work in both public relations and education. And when Michelle says she loves her job, she means it. She’s motivated by what she sees every day in Columbia schools. She’s motivated by the support and belief the community has in Columbia schools, and she’s motivated to maintain that trust. And for the past year, with the constant changes brought on by COVID-19, getting through it while maintaining the standard she’s set for herself has been one of her recent professional goals. Michelle’s next goals for 2021 are to welcome the new superintendent to Columbia and to return to a traditional school year. After the craziness of tackling the curveballs of 2020, Michelle is also hoping to regain her work-life balance again. For Michelle, a woman of excellence is someone who’s ready to break the glass ceiling. “A woman of excellence is someone who strives to innovate, break through ceilings, and who is a leader that isn’t afraid to be heard, navigates others through a crisis with poise, and inspires others to accomplish [their] goals, work smarter, and never give up. It’s a woman on the rise and who inspires others to rise with her,” she says.
EXCELLE AWA RD RECIPIENT
Dr. Laine Young-Walker Department of Psychiatry Chair, MU School of Medicine
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r. Laine Young-Walker is constantly motivated by making a difference and creating new programs that can impact people’s lives. Through her positions as the chair of the department of psychiatry and associate dean for student programs for the medical school at MU, she’s been able to do this and more. The programs she’s led the creation of make her most proud. These programs focus on areas of early childhood prevention of social-emotional challenges, child trauma, and access to child psychiatry programs. “These programs have been created using a variety of federal funding, foundation funding, and the Boone County Children’s Services board,” she says. So far, she’s led the creation of seven different programs. These programs include the Children’s Trauma Initiative, a program that provides three evidence-based trauma therapies to children around Missouri and trains the workforce to provide them, as well. There’s also the Missouri Child Psychiatry Access Project, a program that provides support to primary care physicians in the state of Missouri so they can care for children to age 21 with mild to moderate mental illness. Creating these programs is also how Laine defines success, and as she looks ahead to her goals for the rest of 2021, she says that she hopes to achieve permanent funding for the Missouri Child Psychiatry Access Project. Laine is making an impact with these programs and in other areas as a Black woman in education.
As the chair of the department of psychiatry, she is the first Black female chair ever at the MU School of Medicine. In this role, she leads the Department of Psychiatry in its clinical, education, research, and service missions, and she works with the faculty and staff to ensure that the department is a leader in Missouri. Laine also finds joy in community projects, which she gets involved in through engaging the community to increase awareness of the importance of mental health in the Black community. Laine strives to change people’s lives for the better, and to her, that’s what a woman of excellence is. She says: “To me, a woman of excellence is focused on making a change for others that improves the lives of those they interact with. This change or impact can be different for each woman.”
ENCE in HEALTHCARE HONORABLE MENTIONS
Megan Steen
Dr. Lana Zerrer
Director of Outpatient Services, Burrell Behavioral Health
Chief of Staff, Truman Veterans’ Hospital
“I THINK being a woman of excellence means that you strive every day to model kindness, hard work, and passion in everything you do and that you support other women in doing the same,” Megan Steen, director of outpatient services for Burrell Behavioral Health, says. Megan models this kindness, hard work, and passion every day in the many roles she has. As the director of outpatient services, Megan leads a team of licensed clinical providers in direct care roles who provide individual, group, and family outpatient therapy services. She’s also a licensed clinical social worker, and she recently passed her PMH-C certification exam, earning the title of certified perinatal mental health professional. In addition to these many certifications, Megan serves on the board of directors for Heart of Missouri CASA, a nonprofit that provides volunteer advocates for youth in the Boone and Callaway county foster care system. Megan describes her experience with CASA as a full circle. While she was completing her undergraduate degree in social work, she was a volunteer for the organization. This experience led her to working as a foster care case manager early in her career, and now, years later, she’s on the board, supporting decisions that will help carry out the organization’s mission. Setting an example for her daughter, Sadie, is what keeps Megan motivated every day. “In everything I do, I try to model advocacy, passion, kindness, and hard work so that Sadie will apply those same principles to her life as she grows up,” she says.
FOR 11 years, Dr. Lana Zerrer has been the chief of staff at Harry S. Truman VA Hospital. In this role, she leads clinical operations for the organization, which cares for 39,500 veterans across 43 counties in Missouri and 1 county in Illinois. And she still finds time to be a mentor and volunteer throughout the community. In 2017, Lana volunteered for hurricane relief through the VA Disaster Emergency Management Program, which works in collaboration with FEMA. During this time, she traveled to Puerto Rico to help support the community that had just been devastated by Hurricane Maria. “I’ve never worked with such motivated people before, nor have I provided care to more grateful individuals,” Lana says. “Even the smallest of kind gestures went a long way to help.” Difficult challenges are what keep Lana motivated, especially if it requires her to find new solutions. One of those difficult challenges has been navigating the organization through a pandemic. Of course, that wasn’t a professional goal she saw coming, but her colleagues explain that she managed to handle “employee fear, patient concerns, and equipment shortages with aplomb.” Lana explains that 2020 made many of us reprioritize what’s really important in our lives. And 2021 is going to require another look at her priorities. Regardless, it’s evident that one of Lana’s goals is improving the lives of others. “A woman of excellence is someone who works hard to constantly excel and improve while also working to improve the lives of those around her,” she says.
EXCELLE AWA RD RECIPIENT
Bev Curtis Owner, House of Brokers Realty, Bev and Co.
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ev Curtis has been in the real estate industry for 28 years, and in that time, her team has helped approximately 2,000 clients with all of their real estate needs. Between being the sole owner of House of Brokers Realty Inc. and the owner and team lead of Bev and Co., Bev’s passion for real estate is evident in everything she does. From selling and buying to renovating and investing, Bev enjoys all aspects of the real estate industry. “There is nothing more rewarding than to see a smile on the client’s face and give them a warm hug after a closing and know that you made a real difference in their life by helping them through a stressful situation,” Bev says. “This always makes my heart smile, and most of my clients I become good friends with.” On top of helping clients buy and sell their homes and leading her teams to success, Bev also strives to mentor and give back to others in her profession. She meets one-on-one with her agents at House of Brokers to check in on how they’re doing and how she can help them. To Bev, being a good mentor means listening and being supportive in their journey through life and the industry. “I feel a real responsibility to give back to others in my profession, as so many real estate agents helped me early on when I was starting my real estate career,” Bev says. Her mentor, Jackie Bulgin, has taught her more than she will ever know. She says, “Whenever I’m not sure how to handle something, the first thing I ask myself is ‘How would Jackie handle this situation?’”
Bev strives to be the best she can be every day. At a young age, her parents instilled in her a strong work ethic, respect for others, and of course, the Golden Rule — to treat others the way you want to be treated. “My dad always said, ‘If you live by the Golden Rule, you will always sleep good at night.’ I have come to learn throughout the years that my dad was spot on with that statement,” Bev says. “I strive to give back every day, as I have been so blessed through the years.”
ENCE in REAL ESTATE HONORABLE MENTIONS
Jessica Kempf
Amanda Jacobs
Sales Manager, Weichert, Realtors — First Tier
Owner and Asset Manager, Jacobs Property Management
AS THE sales manager for Weichert, Realtors — First Tier, one of the largest real estate firms in Mid-Missouri, Jessica Kempf focuses on fulfilling the firm’s needs in advising, education, and risk management. She advises and assists over 80 agents, and she helps when problems and “sticky situations” arise during real estate transactions. She also developed and currently teaches a nineweek training course for the firm’s new agents to ensure they’re equipped to begin their journey in real estate, and she conducts trainings with all of the agents to continue enhancing their knowledge. “I strive to provide the most supportive office environment so our agents can be successful with their buyer and seller clients,” she says. “I work on a daily basis to ensure agents are compliant with rules, statutes, and the Realtor Code of Ethics.” Jessica is motivated by watching others succeed, which she gets to experience often in her position. Assisting a new agent on their first transaction or watching an agent work their way through those situations and then come out successful at the end is what makes her job so rewarding every day. To Jessica, being a woman of excellence means standing out from the crowd and helping others do the same. She says: “There are so many excellent women in our industry, in my life, and in our community. But what makes them truly excellent is having the knowledge and dedication to make the lives of those around them better.”
AMANDA Jacobs is the owner and asset manager for Jacobs Property Management, and she’s the only certified property manager in Columbia — a certification she received in 2010. With these roles, every day brings something new. Her team manages a portfolio of 450 residential rental properties for 53 different private property owners. It’s Amanda’s job to ensure that the company is vetting residents thoroughly and maintaining those properties at a high standard. Amanda also serves on the board of directors for The Center Project, a nonprofit focused on the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community. The Center Project is the only center in Mid-Missouri focused on this support, and it’s her favorite volunteer opportunity. Being involved with this nonprofit helps to educate Amanda on the community and provide support to her family. The most important role Amanda has is being the proud mother to a non-binary teenager. “The Center Project not only provides me with education and support for myself and my family, but it also allows me to advocate for a segment of our community that is very near and dear to my heart,” she says. For Amanda, being a woman of excellence means doing the best she can for herself and for others while still giving herself some grace and remembering she will never be perfect. She says: “It means leading by example and cheering on those around me. Being a woman of excellence means that I have to continually fill my own cup so that there is always extra to overflow out to others.”
EXCELLE AWA RD RECIPIENT
Michele Batye Owner and President, Dave Griggs’ Flooring America
“I
s it really even a job when you’re passionate about what you do?” Michele Batye says of her job as owner and president of Dave Griggs’ Flooring America, a position she’s held since 2016. With a degree in textiles and apparel merchandising from MU, Michele puts her degree to use an independent flooring retailer. She says: “I get the diversity of both the retail and construction industries. Ultimately the challenge of bringing form and function together is what has led me to loving this business where fashion meets architecture.” Michele worked her way up from employee to owner at Dave Griggs’ Flooring America — the accomplishment that she’s most proud of (apart from navigating through the highs and lows of the pandemic). “As business owners, I think it’s typical to minimize this accomplishment, as you’re living through the highs and lows, but it does take a commitment and dedication that only a percentage are willing to risk,” she says. Michele is more than just the owner and president of a flooring retailer, however. She’s also an active mentor. She mentors the others on her team and she volunteers for Women’s Network. For her, being a mentor means paying it forward to help others find their passions, define their goals, connect with others, and overcome obstacles. “The reward of mentoring is you meet some pretty talented people and gain lots of knowledge along the way,” she says. Women’s Network is just one of the organizations Michele is involved in. The Ronald McDonald House, the American Heart Association, and Welcome Home are a few nonprofits that hold a special place
in Michele’s heart. And while this list continues to grow, she’s also enjoyed celebrating the accomplishments of her friends at Mobility Worldwide as the organization has grown from having just a few carts in a garage to recently opening its new facility. She says, “We’ve been proud to be a supporter and supplier to this organization since and celebrate their accomplishments of giving the gift of independence.” To Michele, being a woman of excellence means more than just setting a goal and completing it — it means creating a path of opportunities and connections for others to succeed. It means celebrating those around you when they’ve reached great accomplishments, or lifting them up with authenticity. Being a woman of excellence, to Michele, means leading the way for justice and equality, together.
ENCE in RETAIL HONORABLE MENTIONS
Michele Benjamin
Rebecca Miller
Sales and Leasing Professional, Columbia Honda
Co-owner and CEO, Peggy Jean’s Pies
WITH her signature smile and red lipstick, Michele Benjamin has proven that women can be successful in the world of car sales. “I’ve learned the art of strategic influence and persuasion, which, like any skill, takes practice and dedication,” Michele says. “I’m constantly trying to not only retain existing customers but acquire new ones.” For 16 years, she has been working as a sales professional at Columbia Honda, but her love for retail and sales began in college. During her college years, Michele worked under Celeste Hardnock at My Sister’s Circus. This boutique experience led her to Beverly Hills, where she worked on Rodeo Drive selling high-end shoes. Michele credits her success to the many Council of Sales Leadership awards. These awards are granted by Honda and recognize sales consultants in their sales, customer satisfaction, and professional development roles. Michele hopes to be a role model and mentor for future leaders while continuing to address complex business challenges. Her own mentor, Danny Hammack, general manager and partner at Columbia Honda, has taught her the philosophy of being the best — from the initial contact with the customer clear through the end of the sale and beyond. “To be a woman of excellence, [to me, means] making friends and lifelong bonds with the many people I sell cars to,” Michele says. “A woman of excellence greets every person with a smile and goes above and beyond to make sure they leave happy.”
WORLD Pie Domination isn’t an easy feat, but Rebecca Miller, CEO of Peggy Jean’s Pies, has navigated her way to success. And she shares all about the successes and struggles of her journey on her blog called, you guessed it, World Pie Domination. Rebecca owns Peggy Jean’s Pies with her mother, Jeanne Plumley. Every day, they wake up and start making pies from scratch using their family recipes. “Our goal is to sell out each day, and then the next day, we turn it around and do it all again,” Rebecca says. With every pie, the family is closer to World Pie Domination. By the fall of 2021, Peggy Jean’s Pies will be a two-store company in Columbia. While opening the second storefront is quite the achievement for Rebecca, her proudest accomplishment actually comes from her blog. “I think I’m most proud to have journaled our entrepreneurial experience and shared it with thousands of readers at worldpiedomination.com,” she says. She writes on the blog regularly, keeping all of her stories completely authentic and raw. “I write regularly on my blog about the successes — and struggles — of growing a successful business. It is a disservice to tell other women that they can do it all and never struggle or second guess themselves or have moments that feel so low,” she says. And to her, that’s what being a woman of excellence is all about — keeping it real, showing your authentic self, and continuing to learn and grow.
EXCELLE AWA RD RECIPIENT
Trish Koetting Owner, Hoss’s Market and Rotisserie
A
s the owner and bus-girl of Hoss’s Market and Rotisserie, Trish Koetting is constantly motivated by two things — food and love. “Even during a pandemic, food and the love of food brings people together and lifts people’s spirits, and this motivates me to strive to get more people eating around the table,” Trish says. Her days are spent working on marketing, scheduling catering events, and managing pretty much everything except for preparing and cooking the meals — that’s a job for her husband, Hoss. The duo works hard, and it’s paid off, especially in the face of a pandemic. By pivoting their usual way of doing business to remain open every day, the Hoss’s family never lost any wages, despite business being down 40% with the lack of catering orders. These accomplishments didn’t come without a challenge, however. The past six months, Hoss’s battle with has Parkinson’s intensified, and in October, he had to undergo brain surgery. But nonetheless, Trish persevered. “I have been able to keep Hoss’s Market moving forward, and as a business, we have been able to continue to help others while our own family struggles have been going on,” she says. As the year goes on, Trish hopes to focus less on work and more on spending time with her friends and family. Trish defines success as knowing that she made someone’s life a little easier and brighter that day. And this goes beyond her work at Hoss’s. Trish also spreads this love to the rest of the community in any
way she can. Her favorite activity to get involved in, however, comes during the holiday season. Adopting families and children to shop for each Christmas has become a tradition in her house. “This year we adopted foster kids through the Giving Tree, and I cannot think of anything more important than letting children know that they are loved,” she says. As a woman of excellence, Trish credits her success, both personal and professional, to the circle of support she has surrounding her, constantly lifting her up. She adds that she hopes she can be an example to others like the ones she’s had to look up to throughout her life.
ENCE in HOSPITALITY HONORABLE MENTIONS
Kimber Dean
Heather Rapp
Chef and Co-owner, Nourish Cafe and Market
Senior Vice President and General Manager, Isle of Capri
KIMBER Dean’s achievements speak for themselves. She’s the chef and co-owner of Nourish Cafe and Market and Nourish Sedalia. She’s the author of two cookbooks — “Happy Food” and “Happy Baking & Desserts.” She’s also currently in the process of completing her third book — a cookbook for children. She’s a creative writer for Plant Based Spotlight Magazine. She’s a yoga instructor. And she’s the cooking show host of “Nourished.” For Kimber, success is being able to “feed people healthy meals one meal at a time, and being able to help people heal one breath at a time.” Her family, her recovery from drug addiction, and this desire to help people nourish their bodies and live the healthiest life they can keep Kimber motivated to keep cooking, teaching, creating, and giving back. Kimber gives back to the community in the way she knows best — food. Her favorite way to support the community is through Nourish COMO, a nonprofit organization she founded with her business partner, Kalle LeMone. Through this nonprofit, Kimber and Kalle are able to share healthy food with the community while fueling the local economy and families at the farmers’ market. Chef, author, host, and mentor. Kimber is a woman of excellence, and to her, “it means fixing another woman’s crown without telling anyone else it was crooked. Never look down on someone unless you’re helping them up,” she says. “[It means] always being true to my truth, and respecting where people are at in life.”
THROUGH her dual roles as senior vice president and general manager at Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Boonville and Midwest regional marketing vice president for Caesars Entertainment, Heather Rapp is paving the way for women in the male-dominated casino industry. Heather is one of eight women in her position across 55 properties within Caesars Entertainment, and she’s the leader of an executive team made up of predominantly women. She says: “I’m most proud of [my role as general manager] because I can say I achieved this goal while maintaining a work-life balance and showing my daughters you can have both career goals and family goals.” The next goal she’s ready to take on this year is increasing her focus on team development. And Caesars Entertainment offers a strong platform for this development, which includes building Business Impact Groups. She says: “One of the BIGs I am involved with is Savvy, which focuses on female team members and allies. I’m so excited to work with our senior leadership team to provide this opportunity to the team members at Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Boonville.” To Heather, being a woman of excellence has a variety of meanings. It means being a servant-based leader. It means treating others with respect. And it means showing up, walking the walk, and doing your work. “I strive to be a woman of action who leads by example and doesn’t shy away from doing the right thing just because it’s the hard thing. I strive to rise by lifting others,” she says.
COMING SOON!
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September 6, 2021
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