23 minute read
BOOKSHELF
The Collective Experience.
UNBOUND RETURNS IN-PERSON AND DOWNTOWN.
BY SOFIA PEREZ · SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Seven years ago, Alex George founded the Unbound Book Festival with the mission of bringing together readers and writers to create diverse communities, exposing participants to new ideas and authors. Since then, it has grown to become a nationally recognized literary festival, right in the heart of Missouri.
Unbound brings together authors of world-class renown to talk about their books, work and lives. The event takes place over a weekend in Columbia, but in 2020, the festival was canceled about six weeks before it was scheduled. The cancellation was particularly hard on Unbound’s team of volunteer staff because they work year-round, tirelessly planning the event. In 2021, the decision was made to go completely virtual and, “the content was unbelievably good,” George says. “Doing it that way brought
home to all of us that technology is wonderful, but it doesn’t replicate being there in person — being part of the crowd, the collective experience. There’s nothing like being there in the moment. These are unique events that can’t be repeated.”
This year, the Unbound Book Festival is making a fully in-person (and perhaps emotional) return with a new location in downtown Columbia from April 2124. (Previous festivals were held on the Stephens College campus.) “The quality of this year’s panels is fabulous,” George says. “We have at least two Pulitzer Prize winners and authors who were on (former President Barack) Obama's reading list this year.”
The festival will feature programming for writers and readers of all ages. For more information on panels, visit insidecolumbia.com.
- Alex George
Viet Thanh Nguyen
Viet Thanh Nguyen is a Vietnamese-American novelist and professor at the University of Southern California whose novel, The Sympathizer, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, among other awards. He has published nonfiction and short stories, as well as a children’s book written in collaboration with his 6-year-old son, Ellison. Nguyen joins Unbound as the festival’s keynote author.
Jenny Lawson
Jenny Lawson is a bestselling author and humorist who is also known online or her personal blog, The Bloggess, which features dark humor and honest insight on mental illness. Her blog has won many awards.
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah is the bestselling author of Friday Black, a collection of short stories exploring themes surrounding black identity. In 2018, he was selected by novelist Colson Whitehead as one of the National Book Foundation's “5 Under 35” honorees.
Marcia Chatelain
Marcia Chatelain is a Mizzou alumna and professor at Georgetown University who received the Pulitzer Prize in History in 2021 for her book Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America, which examines the relationship among black politicians, civil rights organizations, communities and the fastfood industry.
Patrick Rosal
Patrick Rosal is an interdisciplinary artist and the author of five books of poetry who has earned fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Fulbright Senior Research Program. Rosal also is the inaugural co-director of the Institute for the Study of Global Racial Justice at Rutgers University-Camden in New Jersey.
Sequoia Nagamatsu
Sequoia Nagamatsu is a Japanese-American writer and author of the award-winning short story collection Where We Go When All We Were Is Gone. He teaches creative writing at St. Olaf College and the Rainier Writing Workshop Low-Residency MFA program. His recently published novel, How High We Go in the Dark, was an immediate national bestseller.
The Columbia business community is filled with successful CEOs and entrepreneurs in all sizes of companies — from large corporations to small startups. Many of these executives are thought leaders in their respective industries who have solid industry knowledge, a good grasp of current trends and events and deep insight into a problem or challenge. They are critical thinkers who are not afraid to challenge others, inspiring the employees to work harder and smarter. On the following pages, we’ll hear from some of Columbia’s foremost thought leaders in the business world. We hope you enjoy their insights and vision.
Residential Real Estate and Auctions
The mid-Missouri real estate market has exploded in recent years, and it’s not just an issue of price. There are fewer properties becoming available, resulting in a very tight market. “The real estate market is very hot right now and looks to stay that way for the foreseeable future,” says Tim Elliott, owner of Atterberry Auction and Realty Company. Elliott says the tight real estate market in Boone County and the surrounding areas is creating great opportunities for those looking or having to sell. But, he cautions, “if you’re a buyer right now, don’t expect to find any real steals. You can get more for your home, but probably can't replace the same size home for anywhere close to what you sell yours for.”
Elliott has been in the field for almost three years, purchasing Atterberry Auction with his wife, Crystal, in 2019. The company itself was started by Larry Atterberry Sr. and his wife, Judy, in 1970. Elliott says he and his wife chose to purchase the business and work in the industry because they love working with others one-on-one. “It is very rewarding to help our clients get top dollar for their real estate and personal property,” Elliott says. It’s especially rewarding to work with seniors as they downsize, or children who have lost their parents and need to liquidate assets, he says.
Elliott sees the real estate industry becoming more innovative with new and exciting ways to buy a home, including more virtual reality tours and internet transactions instead of the traditional in-person showings. “Through digital marketing, online advertising and targeting, sellers are able to list their homes with us and market them to people around the world,” he says. It’s all part of how Atterberry Auction works to be an innovative and growing company that can help anyone market and sell their home and assets for top dollar. Atterberry Auction & Realty Company 7912 I-70 Drive SE 573.874.9295 atterberrysells.com
INSURANCE 100% Employee Owned Jack Watson, Allison Madrid, Steve Nicholson, Stacie Coke-Lisby, Steve Tade WINTER-DENT & COMPANY
With over a century of experience, Winter-Dent & Company is uniquely positioned to deal with one of the top issues facing the industry: perpetuation and leadership continuity. Steve Nicholson, CEO, says the industry and competitors are getting rolled up or purchased, but that issue has been solved at Winter-Dent with the transition to a 100% employee-owned company, which happened in 2018. That transition has helped position the company locally, regionally and, now, nationally for the long term.
Winter-Dent currently has a presence in Columbia, Jefferson City, Kansas City, St. Louis and Dallas, and Nicholson says they are continuing to expand, both geographically and across industries. This ensures the company has the capabilities to consult and work with everyone, from startups all the way to multinational or international companies. “Business in general is changing fast and in order to stay ahead of our client’s risk, we not only have to address the traditional risks we’ve all faced most of our lives, but we now face them in a more mobile and digital world,” Nicholson says.
As a 100% employee-owned company, everyone is involved in growing the business and creating stock value in a transparent and empowered environment. As the company continues to expand geographically and into a multitude of industries, staff is focused on ways to give their clients more control over their cash flow and risk. With a corporate rallying cry of "Humans Helping Humans," WinterDent is committed not only to its clients, but also to its employee owners, working to provide as flexible a work environment as possible. “With our ownership mindset, we really do believe that we are all going to make a huge impact on each other and the communities we all serve,” Nicholson says.
Winter-Dent & Company 3610 Buttonwood Dr., Ste. 310 573.449.8100 winter-dent.com
ENGINEERING KAYLEE CANNON & JEFF KENNEY | TERRACON CONSULTANTS INC.
For any project to have a strong finish, it must start with a firm foundation. When it comes to construction, aspects like geotechnical engineering, materials testing and environmental services are sometimes overlooked, says Kaylee Cannon, a Columbia-based geotechnical engineer with Terracon Consultants Inc., but can play major roles in a project. “It is crucial to have proper investigations and testing to ensure the safety and welfare of the public,” Cannon says. “The early stages of a project can affect a structure’s performance years later.”
Terracon was founded in 1965 and now has a presence in all 50 states with more than 175 locations. Throughout their history, Terracon has collected subsurface information across the country dating back to the early 1900s. They have digitized that information and made it available to clients via an online portal to help owners make educated decisions early in the construction process.
Jeff Kenney, P.E. materials department manager in Columbia, says the services Terracon provides impact the entire community, as engineering and construction play significant roles in everyone’s daily lives, from the roads we drive on to the power system we depend upon. “Columbia leads the way in mid-Missouri for promoting engineering involvement from the design phase, into construction, and through the service life of the structure, which greatly improves the quality of our community,” Kenney says.
Technology has only increased its role in the construction industry, and Cannon says she sees that continuing. “It helps us give more accurate data and allows us to deliver better quality reports,” Cannon says. Terracon uses this technology to provide real-time engineering results for its projects.
Kenney agrees, saying “Terracon is on the leading edge of innovative technology to continuously progress our industry standards and client experience.” Internally developed programs can now assemble, utilize and share information in amounts and ways that were not possible just a few years ago, Kenney says. “We use our experience and expertise as engineers and scientists to ensure that projects are completed in a safe, efficient, and quality manner through every step of the construction process.”
Terracon Consultants Inc. 6700 Stephens Station Road 573.214.2677 terracon.com
PHARMACY
ANTHONY DESHA | FLOW'S PHARMACY
While he was in high school in Jefferson City, Anthony DeSha started working with Randy Flow at a pharmacy there. In 1974, Flow opened Flow's Pharmacy here in Columbia and DeSha came to work with him. Desha says, "The rest is history." He has been with Flow's for 13 years.
Dan Cornell became a partner in 1994, and a second Flow's location on Keene Street was added six years ago. DeSha says, "The most important part of my job is forming relationships and building bonds with our customers."
His industry changes daily, DeSha says. With COVID-19, they have had to shift the way they do business and the ways in which they can better serve our community.
DeSha sees independent pharmacies as the future: "We have the ability to help people one-on-one and give them what I feel is a different level of care. There aren't many places where you can call and get someone with the education that our pharmacists have. The entire pandemic has shown us that pharmacies play an integral part, along with other health care providers, to give patients more direct care — from immunizations to overall well-being and health." DeSha realizes that the healthier our citizens are, the healthier Columbia is — not only in terms of our economy, but also the incredible quality of life we have here. Good health is often the result of good health care, and both help ensure we're able to enjoy all the resources Columbia has to offer. Flow's has always been involved in the community, from sponsoring local sports teams to helping with community events and festivals. DeSha feels that in order to continue to be successful, "we have to show that we are invested in our community because we're all in this together. Throughout the pandemic, we have formed close relationships with other pharmacies and businesses here in town that will help in the future of health care in Columbia." Flow's Pharmacy 1506 E. Broadway 573.449.5366 flowspharmacy.com
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
GREG DELINE | DELINE HOLDINGS LLC
Over the past four decades, Greg DeLine has built more than a dozen successful companies under the umbrella of DeLine Holdings LLC. After starting his career at what is now Central Bank of Boone County, DeLine says he decided to strike out on his own as he was ready to start something new. At first, he says, it was about finding a way to create some immediate income to support his family. After an initial venture, things began to snowball. “It’s like a lot of these situations you just kind of stumble into where you’re at,” DeLine says.
Though the entrepreneur spirit was always in his DNA, he says, the key for anyone to succeed is simply hard work. “I believe that if you work hard and are honest with yourself, you won’t fail,” DeLine says.
While DeLine’s companies span a variety of industries, their success is all dependent on the ability to constantly be adapting and changing. The principles and models used in business are universal, DeLine says, regardless of the size of the business. “If you’re not changing, you’re dying,” he says. “You have to stay relevant and be aware of the current landscape.”
As a successful entrepreneur, DeLine says he has learned the value of the right work-life balance, something with which many entrepreneurs struggle. That focus on balance allows DeLine the time to give back to the local community. He says he sees himself as a steward who loves to share and mentor.
DeLine serves as the president of the board for Phoenix Programs, is a current board member and past president of Love Columbia and is a Leadership Circle-level sponsor of the Heart of Missouri United Way. “I love to bless other people and share what’s been so freely given to me,” DeLine says. “We need one another. We gain strength from one another; we learn from one another.” DeLine Holdings LLC 111 Eastside Drive Ashland GregDeLine.com
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
JACK MAHER III | MAHER COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
Growing up in Columbia gave Jack Maher III a good feel for our town and the small businesses in the area. An MU grad, he left his job with a commercial brokerage to partner with his grandad, Jack Maher Sr., forming Maher Commercial Real Estate in 2014. Their fullservice commercial brokerage firm focuses on retail, office and industrial properties within an hour of Boone county.
Maher’s job allows him to shape the business landscape of our community, which is very rewarding and makes him feel he’s accomplished something with a long-lasting impact. In that same spirit, he’s also on the board of Lutheran Family & Children's Services (LFCS). According to Maher, the commercial real estate industry’s always evolving. The recent challenge of supply chain issues has led to rising building costs — limiting new construction supply. The inventory of existing industrial buildings has diminished over the past few years in particular, leading to high demand for new construction industrial buildings.
Columbia’s a retail hub for midMissouri, Maher says. The success of the commercial real estate industry in Boone County and the surrounding area is dependent on the major employers that drive Columbia’s economy and draw in population growth. As our population steadily increases, Maher says we will see more opportunities for outside employers to develop brick-and-mortars here. He feels evolving our local government to become more business-friendly about zoning and building regulations will go a long way toward consistent and efficient growth. Maher Commercial is involved with several exciting projects in 2022:
>>> It’s seeking buyers for lots in a new commercial development on the southeast corner of Vawter School Road and Scott Boulevard.
>>> A new industrial/office building currently under construction at the former Superior Garden site at 3100 Old Hwy. 63 S. that will be the new home of Lanier Landscaping. >>> Trade Winds Industrial Park, southwest of the Route Z exit, offers affordable industrial lots for sale or lease, with Huebert Builders willing to build-to-suit for qualified buyers and tenants.
Maher Commercial Real Estate 7000 Madison Creek Drive. 573.228.6321
VEIN CARE
MICHAEL RYAN, M.D. | MISSOURI VEIN CARE
After graduating from Harvard College and Columbia University, Dr. Michael Ryan completed cardiac surgery training with renowned pioneer cardiac surgeon Dr. Denton Cooley in Houston. Dr. Ryan was a cardiac and vascular surgeon from 1995 to 2007, before founding his solo vein care practice in 2007.
Before that, he traveled to training centers and national meetings to train in new minimally invasive vein treatments, and saw how effective and patientfriendly these treatments were. He also experienced the personal benefit — and relief — with treatment for his own vein condition, which he had suffered for more than 20 years. "I understand firsthand what people experience with a vein condition," he says. "It’s very satisfying to treat a vein condition and see the relief people experience as their pain and discomfort resolve and their energy and stamina increase." In 2007, he switched from the hospital and focused full-time on vein care in the office. Missouri Vein Care now has locations in Columbia, Jefferson City, Rolla and Cape Girardeau.
Most people with a vein condition don’t have any visible veins on their legs. For those individuals, the only way to determine if you have a vein condition is with a leg vein ultrasound. That’s when Dr. Ryan and his team rely on the typical and unique symptom patterns of vein disease to screen for this condition. "People with restless leg syndrome, leg or foot cramps, foot numbness or tingling, or fatigue at the end of the day don't understand the connection between those symptoms and a vein condition," he says. Dr. Ryan focuses on the symptom patterns to recommend whether treatments can help a patient, rather than just whether they have abnormal veins.
With gentle treatments and an expectation of immediate results, the patient looks for a seamless experience with no downtime. Forward-thinking practices such as Missouri Vein Care are continually striving to improve their delivery of care to meet this patient expectation and to achieve high patient satisfaction. Missouri Vein Care 4004 Peach Ct., Ste E 573.449.2273 missouriveincare.com
CUSTOM HOME BUILDER Emalee Gilberg, Jeff Hemme, Brooke Neville, Orie Hemme | HEMME CONSTRUCTION
The global pandemic has had an impact on nearly every single industry, and home building is no different. “We are currently building larger homes and more custom homes than we ever have because that is what the market is currently dictating,” says Jeff Hemme, owner of Hemme Construction. He says some of those include multi-generational homes, something that’s been a trend in the industry since the spread of COVID-19.
Hemme knows the home building industry — he’s a fifth-generation home builder who established Hemme Construction in the Columbia area. The newest and sixth generation member is Orie Hemme, the current vice president of the Home Builders Association of Columbia.
For the Hemme family, the most important part of the job is making sure they have satisfied homeowners. They, of course, work hard on building quality homes, but living up to the high standards set by their buyers is equally important: They love having happy Hemme homeowners. And to do that, their team of custom home specialists work handin-hand with homeowners. “As times and trends evolve, our business evolves along with them and we walk our homeowners through that process, too,” Hemme says.
The need for affordable housing is evident, Hemme says, but with rising costs of materials, those projects are only becoming tougher. Still, he says, Hemme Construction is looking forward to finding projects that fill the need for affordable housing whenever they can.
The company works closely with the Columbia Area Career Center and Ranken Technical College, to encourage more people to join the home building workforce. There's a great opportunity to make money in the field, Hemme says, and the company supports education about home building through offering scholarships and internships.
HOME BUILDER
Hemme Construction 2301 Chapel Plaza Ct., Ste. 1 573.234.7253 HemmeConstruction.com
HIGHER EDUCATION
DR. JEFF LASHLEY | MOBERLY AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
First a student, now the president, Dr. Jeff Lashley gained far more than an education at Moberly Area Community College (MACC). After earning his degree, Dr. Lashley began working as an adjunct faculty member and soon became ful time in 1996. It became apparent to him that the programs offered by MACC were life-changing to students and that the work environment and culture made it a great place to work and build a career.
Founded in 1927 as a part of the Moberly public school system, MACC has expanded into a regional institution, serving 16 counties with campus locations in Columbia, Hannibal, Kirksville, Mexico and Moberly, as well as a robust online program. The college offers an associate of arts degree and an associate of science degree that prepare students to transfer to four-year institutions. MACC has also developed extensive career and technical education programs that prepare students to enter the workforce upon completion. These are in areas such as health sciences (nursing), advanced manufacturing, computer information and early childhood, to name a few.
Dr. Lashley says MACC has established effective and ongoing partnerships with Columbia Public Schools, all three local colleges, the city of Columbia, the Boone County commissioners and many business and industry partners who serve on advisory committees for its programs. These partnerships have led to new programs and important financial support. “I believe MACC has made a significant impact on Columbia and Boone County and that we have become an important and impactful partner to the community.”
He says that in the future, accessibility and opportunity will continue to be the focus of community colleges. “To meet the promise of opportunity,” he says, “MACC must continue to have a strong focus on what is happening in the communities we serve and quickly respond to changing needs. That’s reflected in our focus on not only preparing students to meet the present needs of our community, state and nation, but to prepare students for career paths that don't yet exist.” Moberly Area Community College 601 Business Loop 70 W, Suite 216 660.263.4100 macc.edu
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
LISA DRISKEL HAWXBY | REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INC. (REDI)
Businesses have had to evolve rapidly in the past couple of years. Global changes and economic challenges have eliminated the days of “business as usual,” and put a higher emphasis on the role of creative problem-solvers. “We have to come together to face issues with an honest desire for resolution and progress,” says Lisa Driskel Hawxby, business development specialist with Regional Economic Development Inc. (REDI).
REDI, founded in 1988, works to coordinate the region’s economic development and entrepreneurship activities. The organization has a mission of supporting upward economic mobility for the residents of Columbia and Boone County, and is funded by the city of Columbia, Boone County, the University of Missouri, and more than 100 local businesses and municipalities.
Hawxby’s role is to find ways to move the business community forward by removing barriers and finding workable solutions to problems. As a business advocate she helps businesses navigate regulatory processes. She also facilitates opportunities that enhance the vitality of local businesses, support the creation of quality jobs and address workforce challenges. “I do not have a ‘magic wand’ that will make everyone happy, but I do have the ability to facilitate discussions that are necessary for progress,” she says. “Anytime I can make a connection where ideas and/or issues can be approached with a spirit of cooperation to serve the greater good, I feel accomplished.”
With the role of business development specialist being new to mid-Missouri, Hawxby says she is acutely aware that her accomplishments may inspire other communities to develop a similar position. “Business development encompasses many areas that impact all of our daily lives, from workforce development to the strength of the local economy to qualityof-life issues and engaged citizenry,” Hawxby says. “Looking at the community from a holistic lens is critical for success, now and in the future.” Regional Economic Development Inc. 500 E. Walnut, Suite 102 573.441.7676 Columbiaredi.com
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
RYAN KRUEGER | RTK RENTALS LLC
Across the nation, the rental market is growing. And with more rental properties, comes the need for increased management, for the benefit of both the owner and the tenant. “It can be a unique challenge to make a property profitable while still keeping up with things that tenants want and that a building needs,” says Ryan Krueger, owner of RTK Rentals LLC.
Krueger was first approached about being a leasing agent about 10 years ago, quickly getting a crash course in investment property and property management. “I saw the need and the potential were there to make a successful and stable career out of it,” he says.
In April 2017, Krueger founded RTK Rentals. From that first phase, when it was just Krueger and Angela Garrett, operations manager, with four clients and about 100 units to manage, RTK has grown substantially, especially in the last two years. Krueger says they intentionally grew the business slowly to ensure clients and customers would get the best service possible.
As the cost of real estate, and maintaining that property, increases, Krueger says more people are turning to rentals, both nationally and locally. People also are opting to spend more on experiences rather than saving for a home, and renting allows people to have the convenience of a manager to care for the property. “In my experience, it seems like there are a lot of people who see the value in owning property, but either don't know how to take care of it or don't want to,” Krueger says. “That's why they hire us to take care of everything for them.”
Krueger says more calls are coming in now from out-of-state buyers who have seen the advantage of the mid-Missouri market and are looking for local property managers. “I think that the relatively low cost in central Missouri is very attractive to buyers from larger, more expensive markets,” he says. RTK Rentals LLC 2024 Cherry Hill Drive #102 573.355.6860 rtkrentals.com
