February 2016 Business Outlook by Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce

FEB

Business outlook 2016

February 2016

Business Outlook

monitoring the financial pulse of your business

Page 15

our members announce

PRESIDENTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MESSAGE Do. Or Do Not. There is No Try

p. 3

INSIDE

nominate a small business of the year Page 13

PRESENTED BY

February 2016

Business Outlook

Board of Directors 2015-2016 Executive Committee David Glenn

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Karen Plott

CHAIRMAN ELECT OF THE BOARD

Randy Moore

PAST CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

James Richards

TREASURER

Louise Secker VICE CHAIRMAN MEMBERSHIP/ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES Kim Woodard CO-VICE CHAIRMAN MEMBERSHIP/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES Clive Veri VICE CHAIRMAN ECONOMIC/WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES Lori Scott Dreiling CO-VICE CHAIRMAN ECONOMIC/WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES Directors Ex-Officio Directors Gina Atteberry Sam Anselm Michael Beatty John Bartosh Brad Beecher Mike Gray Brandon Davis Lindsey Hayes Donovan Edwards Dr. Alan Marble Jacqueline Hackett Dr. Jennifer Methvin Holly Hukill Matt Proctor Charles Keeter Dr. Norm Ridder Kelli Perigo Marilyn Ruestman Gary Pulsipher Michael Seibert Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Staff Executive Rob O’Brian, CEcD PRESIDENT Tonya Sprenkle VICE PRESIDENT Lisa Kelly EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Member Services Ginger LaMar, IOM Stephanie McGrew Martha Getz Cynthia Marlow

DIRECTOR OF MEMBER SERVICES & DEVELOPMENT MEMBER EVENTS PRODUCER MEMBER EXPERIENCE COORDINATOR MEMBER SUCCESS STRATEGIST

Sponsors Platinum Level

City of Joplin Downstream Casino Resort The Empire District Electric Company KOAM-TV/FOX 14 – KFJX Stronghold Data LLC

Chairman Level

AMI Radio Group Commerce Bank EaglePicher Technologies, LLC Freeman Health System General Mills Joplin Floor Designs Joplin Globe Publishing Company Joplin Regional Business Journal Joplin Supply Company KODE-TV/KSNF-TV Lamar Outdoor Advertising Lancaster Signs Mercy Hospital Joplin Missouri Southern State University Southwest Missouri Bank US Bank, N.A.

President Level

Arvest Bank BKD, LLP Community Bank & Trust (CBT) Roper Honda Show Me The Ozarks Magazine

Director Level

Choice Marketing Connell Insurance, Inc. Innovative Objects Lakeland Office Systems, Inc. Motive Matters Weed Whackers, Inc.

Communications & Finance Kirstie Smith COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Wendy Brunner-Lewis COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR Samantha Doubledee FINANCE DIRECTOR Economic & Workforce Development Steve Russell NEWMAN INNOVATION CENTER DIRECTOR Kevin Welch DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS ATTRACTION Cary Beasley, IOM WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Mark Turnbull DIRECTOR OF REGIONAL STRATEGIES Administrative Support Lea Schroer NEWMAN INNOVATION CENTER ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Melissa Winslow ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT 2

Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce 320 East 4th Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Phone: 417.624.4150 Fax: 417.624.4303 www.joplincc.com /joplinchamber /joplinchamber

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

February 2016

Business Outlook

Do. Or Do Not. The holiday return of Star Wars reminded me of the very first Star Wars movie long ago. There is a scene in that first Star Wars where Luke Skywalker is being tutored by Yoda, the master Jedi. Yoda tells Luke to do certain things to get in touch with his powers, to which Luke says he will “try.” Yoda’s response: “Do. Or do not. There is no try.” That statement, followed immediately by Milton Friedman’s summary of economics—“There is no such thing as a free lunch"—came back to me a few days ago at the Missouri Chamber’s transportation conference. At that conference, the new director of MoDOT, Patrick McKenna, clearly outlined what has happened over the past few years. In essence, he said, MoDOT has sold assets, closed facilities (including Joplin’s district office), realigned staff and pushed more work to outside contractors on an “as needed” basis in order to keep as many Rob O’Brian, President dollars as possible going into maintaining the transportation system. While keeping things generally in good order, the efforts have also hidden the fact that revenues and their real buying power have been falling and MoDOT has been, for several years, in the position of only maintaining what it has. In fact, MoDOT came close this year to losing even enough matching state revenue to receive all its share of federal funding. We dodged that bullet for now, but not for much longer. McKenna also pointed out the reality of the State’s situation: •

At 34,000 highway and interstate miles, Missouri has the seventh-largest road system in the country.

•

There are more than 10,000 bridges on that system; more than 600 are in very critical condition.

•

We are 47th in the amount of dollars spent per mile to building and maintain the system.

•

Missouri’s fuel tax is 17.3 cents per gallon; fourth lowest in the country.

•

Among Missouri’s eight surrounding states, only Oklahoma is lower at 17 cents, and Oklahoma supports much of its system by tolling.

•

Missouri has not raised the fuel tax since 1996, and inflation has cut the “buying power” in half.

Now, there were a number of speakers at the conference who talked about various ways to fund transportation projects around the state. One of the most creative comes from the Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association (MPCA), which represents hundreds of gas stations and convenience stores around the state. This group has successfully fought off at least three attempts to raise the tobacco tax since 2002. However, the group’s executive director, Ron Leone, said they know that since Missouri’s tobacco tax is the lowest in the country there will be a point where an increase will happen. So, the MPCA is pursuing its own initiative petition process to have the public vote on raising the tax from 17 cents to 40 cents per pack of cigarettes with all funding going into transportation. That will generate more than $100 million annually. In addition, Leone says his group supports a four cents per gallon increase in fuel tax. Together the two increases will add an estimated $250 million a year to transportation funding. That is still short of the $600 million decline in direct funding MoDOT has seen in the past few years, but a good start on having enough funds to, for example, address the nearly billion dollars it will take just to address bridge repair and replacement. There are other ideas and even current bills to increase funding for transportation. However, regardless of any proposal to better fund transportation, it still comes back to our elected officials to make it happen. At the conference, a few members of the House leadership talked about how they were trying to get more funding into transportation. One person from the audience asked if the House would approve any Senate bills to increase funding. The response was, “It depends on how it is written.” Of course, the House and Senate members always want to see what is written in the bills they send back and forth, so the answer is okay at this stage in the session. But it was followed up by the additional statement that “our constituents tell us what they want.” I agree in theory, but we all want different things. It is up to the people we elect as leaders to be….leaders. That means melding all of the interests together into a solution that can at least meet the needs of the majority of the state’s citizens, explain why it will meet the needs and pass it. If we want a safe, effective transportation system, which is needed to create and sustain good jobs, we have to pay for it somehow. The cost of doing nothing gets higher every day. We are losing good-paying construction jobs, we are endangering our state’s position for economic growth and we are literally increasing the risks to ourselves and our loved ones by letting our highways and bridges fall apart. I am encouraged that fixing transportation funding in our state is getting serious attention in the legislature. It can happen this session. But to happen, it’s time for residents of this state to recognize there is no free lunch. And it is time for our elected officials to stop trying, and do. 3

February 2016

Business Outlook

LA ST CH AN CE !

2015-2016 Executive Committee Presented by

Message to the Network from Chairman Nicole Brown Have you accepted the challenge? YPN recently issued a challenge for community members to organize professional clothing drives in their place of business or civic groups. Many clothing drive campaigns are currently under way, and it is not too late to organize your own. Donations can be dropped off at the Chamber between February 19 and March 15. Your donation will be put to good use at the second-annual Dress for Success event. Designed to prepare Missouri Southern State University students for the job market, student participants receive free professional clothing for career fairs and interviews. All clothing sizes and accessories are needed and appreciated. Volunteers are needed to help with the clothing distribution March 31 on the MSSU campus. Personal shoppers and dressing room attendants will help students learn to assemble interview outfits, how to tie ties and fit suits. Sign up to volunteer at www.signupgenius.com/ go/30e0b4eafa92da7fa7-ypnmssu. For additional

February 2016

Business Outlook

Nicole Brown, Chairman Brent Baker, Co-Chairman Lindsey Hayes, Past Chairman Shawn Daniel Jake Heisten Jennifer Little Ryan Melton Stephanie Onstot Greg Sutton Megan Tyler Christina Williams

YPN New Members Anthony Giarratano, Standard Transportation Services, Inc. Grant McConnaughey, Sidecars, Inc. Tiffanie Roberts, Arvest Bank Ashley Stephene, The J.M. Smucker Company information, please contact Nicole Brown at brown-n@mssu.edu or 417.625.3137 or Martha Getz at martha@joplincc.com.

February 2016

Business Outlook

THANK YOU FOR RENEWING AFLAC................................................................................ 2014

Fresenius Medical Care................................................ 2008

Bank of Little Rock Mortgage.................................... 2012

Jackson Brothers of the South.................................. 1987

Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks.............. 2011

Joplin Area Catholic Schools..................................... 2007

CB Title.............................................................................. 2013

Joplin Dental Care......................................................... 1984

Cell Phone Medics......................................................... 2009

Lancaster Signs............................................................... 2000

College Heights Christian School............................ 1992

The Lettershop............................................................... 2009

Cott Beverages................................................................ 1994

Mallory Canvas Products............................................ 1998

Counseling Associates of the Four States, LLC... 2009

Missouri Eagle, LLC....................................................... 1955

Creative Car Audio........................................................ 2004

Overhead Door Company of Joplin........................ 2011

Culligan of Joplin.......................................................... 2001

Southwest Missouri Lodging Association............. 2010

E Market Solutions......................................................... 2011

Stouffer Communications.......................................... 2001

Edward Jones.................................................................. 1970

Styles Hair Salon............................................................ 2012

Small Business & Technology Development Center Missouri Southern State University The Robert W. Plaster School of Business 3950 Newman Road, Joplin, MO 64801-1512 Phone: 417.625.3128 Fax: 417.625.9782

UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Feb. 4 (Thursday), 1:30-4:30 pm Location: Plaster Hall, Room 108, MSSU Cost: $49/person

STARTING A SMALL BUSINESS: THE FIRST STEPS Feb. 19 (Friday), 1:30-4:30 pm Location: Plaster Hall, Room 108, MSSU Cost: $29/person

MICROSOFT EXCEL LEVEL 1 (2-DAY TRAINING) Feb. 9 (Tuesday), 1:30-4:30 pm Feb. 11 (Thursday), 1:30-4:30 pm Location: Plaster Hall, Room 320, MSSU Cost: $124/person

HOW TO WRITE A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS PLAN Feb. 26 (Friday), 11 am-2 pm Location: Barton County Extension Office, 801 E. 12th, Lamar. Register at macomberk@missouri.edu Cost: $35/person, includes lunch

ANALYZING & MANAGING CASH FLOW Feb. 18 (Thursday), 1:30-4 pm Location: Plaster Hall, Room 108, MSSU Cost: $59/person

Find the full schedule of workshops at www.mssutraining.com.

STATE OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY: A REPORT FROM YOUR CHAMBER

MSA is comprised of Jasper and Newton counties. Information is drawn from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Business EXPO 2016: champions of business

February 2016

Business Outlook

People's Choice Winner: Missouri Southern State University: a basketball experience

Winner of the Early Set-up: rib crib

Winner of the wow factor award: koam/fox 14 tv with super bowl 50

Winner of the Best Use of Theme Award: joplin metro credit union: "knocking out the competition since 1950"

winner of the tchotchke (swag) award: Missouri Southern state university with business jenga

Winner of the galaxsea cruises & Tours water sports trip: Mr. Kim Shira, show me birds hunting resort

you k n Tha her t o n for a astic fant O! EXP 7

February 2016

Business Outlook

Our Members Announce presented by Doris Carlin, president of The Doris Carlin Team Inc., and one of the broker/owners of Keller Williams Realty of Southwest Missouri, was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Ozark Gateway Association of Realtors for her 30+ years of outstanding service to the real estate industry. For more information, call 417.659.7513.

an uncommon answer to that problem, and that’s their Retainer Replacement Program. For a moderate fee, your retainer will be repaired or replaced, no matter the reason, with a low co-payment. This is just one of the UNCOMMON services they provide their patients. Call 417.625.1114 or visit their website for more information.

The City of Joplin is accepting applications to attend the Citizens Academy March 1-May 10. Apply at http:// joplinmo.org/citizenapp or pick up a form at the Information Desk in the main lobby of City Hall, 602 South Main Street. Applicants must be 18 years old or older. A maximum of 25 people will be selected on a first-come, first served basis. Once the class is full, applicants will be put on a waiting list. Applications are due by February 5. For more information, call 417.624.0820, ext. 203.

Unwind from a long week at Uncorked at Club 1201 every Friday and Saturday from 3-10 pm. Happy hour starts at 3 pm, followed by dinner. And enjoy Sunday brunch from 9 am-2 pm, featuring Joplin’s original and only Bloody Mary Bar. For more information, email thewilliamscenter@ club1201.com.

The Joplin Blasters start their second season in the South Doug Hunt, former Joplin City Council member, business division of the American Association of Professional Baseball in May. They will play 50 of their 100 games owner and owner of Doug Hunt Consulting, has been at Joe Becker Stadium. For 2016 season tickets, call named president of True Energy Group, a division of Farrell Construction. His appointment began December 1, 417.622.4838 or visit the Blasters’ offices Monday2015. For more information, call 417.825.4058. Thursday from 11 am-4 pm, located at 131 South High Avenue. The City of Joplin WIC office was presented the Loving The San Francisco Giants have signed former Support Award of Excellence Gold Award from United Joplin Blasters pitcher Nestor Molina for the 2016 States Department of Agriculture for their exemplary season. Molina will report to minor league camp in breastfeeding programs and support services. It also received the distinction of being a Breastfeeding Friendly Scottsdale, Arizona, this February with a possible Major League invite to spring training. For more information, WIC Clinic for a fifth year. For more information, go to call 417.622.4838. www.joplinmo.org.

Joplin Family Y is the official training partner of the 2016 Joplin Memorial Marathon, which was created to honor the 161 people who lost their lives in the May 22, 2011 tornado in Joplin. This year’s event is May 20-21. Visit http://joplinmemorialmarathon.com/ for more information, to register to run or to volunteer. Effective January 1, YMCAs in Missouri have adopted a reciprocal membership policy. Your Joplin Family Y membership will provide you with basic facility access to over 20 YMCA associations across the state. Check with each YMCA before your visit to see if restrictions apply. For more information, go to www.joplinfamilyy.org. Retainers are an essential part of keeping your smile looking good after your braces come off. At Uncommon Orthodontics, all retainers received as part of your 8 treatment plan are warranted against defect; however, retainers can be easily lost or damaged. They have

All of Liberty Tax Service’s locations in Joplin, Carthage and Neosho are under new ownership. They offer year round support, satisfaction, accuracy guarantees and free consultations. They offer audit and correspondence assistance to all of their customers free of charge. Make an appointment or use their convenient drop-off service. Walk-ins are welcome anytime! They have experts available if you own a business, have a complicated return or need to file corporate taxes. Earn $50 for each friend you send! For more information, call 417.208.9777. Liberty Tax Service in Joplin, Carthage and Neosho is offering great promotions this tax season. They will give you $50 Cash-In-A-Flash for filing with them through February 13. Their Send-A-Friend program will pay you $50 for each referral you send through April 18. Choose Liberty this year! For more information, call 417.208.9777. Hotel Joplin recently began a $6 million, full-scale renovation process to convert the property to DoubleTree by Hilton - Joplin. Conor Acquisitions Group,

Pro Musica presents Chanticleer Friday, February 26, at 7 pm at Central Christian Center, 5th & Virginia. Called “the world’s reigning male chorus” by The New Yorker magazine, the San Francisco-based GRAMMY® award-winning ensemble celebrates its 38th season in 2015-16. A pre-concert will be presented at 6:30 pm by the Missouri Southern State University Chamber singers. Open to the public at no charge, but donations are appreciated. For more information, go to www. promusicajoplin.org. Phoenix Fired Art hosted a check presentation in January following a successful Empty Bowls event last November. The event, while raising awareness of hunger in our community, raised over $21,000 for local non-profits that serve the elderly, the impoverished and those in crisis. The beneficiaries of the funds were Joplin’s Area Agency on Aging, Crosslines Ministries, Salvation Army and Watered Gardens Gospel Rescue Mission. For more information, call 417.629.4914. Pulp Icons: Cast Paper & Prints by Stewart Nachmias is an exhibit at George A. Spiva Center for the Arts featuring cast paper woodcuts that celebrate the energy of urban life in expressionist images drawn from Nachmias’ own experiences as a musician, performer and artist. Also at Spiva is St. Avips Invitational, which features artists who participated in the St. Avips Ball last May and gave over 75 percent of the proceeds of their art sales to support Spiva. Both exhibits run through February 21. For more information, call 417.623.0183. The United Way of Southwest Missouri & Southeast Kansas recently received a donation check from Arvest Bank for $14,722.60, raised through fundraisers throughout 2015 and during the annual pledge drive. Contributions help the United Way fund 49 programs at the 36 local partner agencies. Last year, more than 50,352 people received services from those programs. For more information, call 417.624.0153. Joplin Demize 2016 season passes are now on sale. Call 417.782.3790 or email info@joplindemize.net for purchase information. The Demize would also like to congratulate two of their 2015 players, Mario Pinto and Thalles Silva, for their nominations for the NPSL Combine

Business Outlook

2016. For more information, go to www.joplindemize. com. Only about 10 percent of the nation’s physicians work in rural areas, despite 25 percent of the American population living there. To meet that growing need, Freeman Health System continues its pledge to offer quality care to neighboring communities. Freeman Clinic of Anderson offers the services of Dr. Zheng, a nurse practitioner, two registered medical assistants, a physical therapist, a physical therapy assistant, an office coordinator and a receptionist. Hours are 8 am-5 pm Monday-Thursday and 8 am-12 pm Friday. Appointments can be made by calling 417.845.0545.

February 2016

owner of the hotel, plans to reconfigure the guest rooms, meeting space and public areas of the five-story iconic hotel building on East Hammons Boulevard. They anticipate a grand opening celebration in summer 2016. For more information, call 417.627.7807.

Protect your business, employees and customers – plan ahead. National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors - Southwest Missouri (NAIFA-SW) invites small/ mid-size business owners to a FREE education session provided by St. Bernard Project: “Pre-Disaster Resilience Training: A Smart Business Investment.” Join them at their regular meeting on Tuesday, February 16, from 11:30 to 1 pm at Mythos, 1306 South Range Line Road. Lunch is $10 for non-members. Please RSVP by February 12 to Karen Rutledge at Karen@KarenRutledge.com. On January 19, the Joplin Convention & Visitors Bureau unveiled a photonovel tourism marketing project, entitled The Joplin Undercurrent, with a storyline that combines historical accuracies as well as fiction, otherwise known as faction. Composed in the same vein as films "The Da Vinci Code" and "National Treasure," The Joplin Undercurrent photonovel depicts some of what Joplin is best known for, while intertwining real-life citizens and fictionalized characters. For more information, call 417.625.4789. Angie Saporito was named administrator of Mercy Hospital Columbus recently and will begin her new role in February. Previously, she was the media relations specialist for Mercy Hospital Joplin. For more information, go to www.mercy.net.

The Chamber is interested in your business. If you won an award, opened another office or are planning an event, let us know. We want to share your accomplishments and events with your fellow members! For our next issue, submit your announcement to wendy@joplincc.com by February 10. Please include “Our Members Announce” in the email subject line. Find all our members in our online Membership Directory.

February 2016

Business Outlook

Welcome New Members Welcome Wagon Direct Mail/Marketing 5830 Coral Ridge Drive, Suite 240 Coral Springs, FL 33076 573.368.0404 www.welcomewagon.com Jill Juneau, Regional Sales Director Sponsor: Cynthia Marlow, JACC

My Dentist Complete Care Dentistry Dentists/Orthodontists 1411 South Range Line Road Joplin, MO 64801 417.553.7377 www.mydentistinc.com Rachelle Dunlap, Regional Administrator Sponsor: Cynthia Marlow, JACC Honey Pot Catering Caterers/Bakeries 144 South Highway KK Lamar, MO 64759 417.682.2690 www.thehoneypotmo.com Christi and Kent Renfro, Owners Sponsor: Cynthia Marlow, JACC Sweet Emotion - A Chocolate Boutique LLC Candy-Gourmet/Gift Shops 1520 South Main Street Joplin, MO 64804 417.691.8504 Janet Ketron, Owner Sponsor: Cynthia Marlow, JACC Owens Corning Mineral Wool LLC Manufacturing-Insulation 1983 South State Line Avenue Joplin, MO 64804 www.owenscorning.com Bart Stanphill, Plant Manager Sponsor: Cynthia Marlow, JACC

The Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Board of Directors and staff are pleased to welcome our newest Chamber members. Please keep these and all members in mind when looking for goods and services. Visit the Chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s online member directory at cca.joplincc.com/businesssearch.aspx. Invite your clients or vendors to join the Chamber. Contact Cynthia Marlow at 417.624.4150 or cynthia@ 10 joplincc.com.

The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce invites you to the

2016

Eggs & Issues Legislative Brunch

Friday, April 22 10:15-11:45 am Continental Banquet & Catering 2728 North Range Line Road Doors open at 10 am Cost: $12 RSVP to lisa@joplincc.com or 417.624.1996 by April 15.

Presented by

February 2016

Ribbon Cuttings

Business Outlook Presented by

Celebrate your business’ milestones with a ribbon cutting! Contact Stephanie McGrew at 417.624.4150 or by email at smcgrew@joplincc.com. Midwest Regional Ballet Kaye Lewis, Owner 2101 Stephens Blvd. New Location

Ribbon provided by Countryside in the City

Calendar of Events for February 2016 February 2 9 am Leads Group One Forged Waterjet Fabrications

February 15 12 pm Leadership Joplin Steering Committee Meeting Chamber Office

February 3 8 am Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Leadership Development/ Community Service Day Lafayette House 9 am Leads Group Three Chamber Office

February 16 9 am Leads Group One Chamber Office 5:30 pm Business After Hours Mercy Hospital Joplin 3rd Floor Heart Gallery

February 5 7:30 am First Friday Coffee U S Bank, N.A. February 8 12 pm Business EXPO Committee Downstream Pavilion February 10 9 am Leads Group Two Chamber Office February 11 8:30 am Leadership Joplin 2016 Community Service/Healthcare Session Location TBA

February 17 9 am Leads Group Three Chamber Office 11:30 am Cultural Affairs Committee Meeting Chamber Office February 23 9 am Chamber Connection Chamber Office February 24 9 am Leads Group Two Chamber Office February 25 8:30 am Leadership Joplin Economic Development Session Location TBA 11

February 2016

Business Outlook

Dress

for Success

2nd Annual

Are you up for a challenge?

Host a clot hing collection today!

Challenge your coworkers or civic groups to see who can donate the most professional clothing by March 10! Drop off your donations at the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce at 320 E. 4th Street. All sizes of gently used menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s professional clothing and accessories are needed.

Ready for the super challenge? Volunteer to help students select clothing on Thursday, March 31, 2016! Brought to you by: 12

brown-n@mssu.edu

martha@joplincc.com

Small Business of the Year Awards

February 2016

Business Outlook

This is your opportunity to nominate a small business or a not-for-profit for the 2016 Small Business of the Year Awards presented by BKD, LLP and the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce. The awards recognize the contributions of small business to the local economy and to the overall progress of the Joplin area. Awards will be presented to three deserving businesses serving our community: one business employing one to 10 employees, one business employing 11-50 employees, and one not-for-profit business.

Requirements for nomination

• Must be in good standing with the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce • Must have been a member of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce for two years

Finalists will be chosen based on the following criteria: • • •

• •

Contributions to the community Business or management philosophy Response to challenges Innovative products or services Employee involvement/recognition

I wish to nominate the following business for the BKD, LLP 2016 Small Business of the Year Award: Company Name___________________________________________________ Owner/CEO______________________________________________________ Please explain why your nominee is outstanding in this community. You may submit additional support material such as news articles or testimonials with your nomination. PLEASE NOTE: The application must be completed fully for nomination to be accepted. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________ Submitted by ____________________________________

Date ____________________________

Address ________________________________________

City/State/Zip _____________________

E-mail_________________________________________

Phone ___________________________

Mail or email your nomination to: Small Business of the Year Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce 320 East 4th Street Joplin, MO 64801 Email: glamar@joplincc.com Or contact Ginger LaMar at 417.624.4150 13

February 2016

Business Outlook

PRIZE DETAILS

Post an original deal on Deals Dashboard now through February 8 to be entered into a drawing to win a special Valentine's Day prize. The winner will be announced February 9. Stop by the JACC booth in the EXPO lobby for more details.

Quick-start Guide   



PRIZE INCLUDES:

$25 Gift Certificate

$50 Gift Certificate



One Dozen Long-Stemmed Roses in a Vase 

Go to Joplincc.com/deals-dashboard You have three choices—Create a Deal, Find a Deal or Request Bids Anyone can Find a Deal—choose it and browse away. Remember, the Deals are between you and the business. To Create a Deal, login with your Members Only Rep Login and a simple form will walk you through the necessary steps to create your deal. Forgot your login? Just click—we’ll send it to you. To Request a Bid just let our Members know what you need. The request form is simple and easy to understand. We will send the bid on your behalf to Members in the categories you choose. Need help? Call our office at 417.624.4150 and we will get your deals out there for other Chamber members and the public to find!

Deals Dashboard is presented by Joplin Floor Designs. 14

Monitoring the Financial Pulse of Your Business

By Karen Bradshaw, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at Missouri Southern State University

February 2016

Business Outlook

date); the income statement (which reports the revenue, Benjamin Franklin once said, “Your net worth to the expenses and profit/loss your business has realized over world is usually determined by what remains after your bad a set period of time); and the cash flow statement (which habits are subtracted from your good ones.” If you really shows the sources, uses and balance of cash in your want to grow your net worth, you may want to develop business on a monthly or quarterly basis). the “good habit” of increasing your knowledge of financial Regular analysis and review of your current and management strategies. The success of your business will depend upon your familiarity of your past, present and future historical income statements, balance sheets and cash flow statements can be a great tool for you to use in making financial situation. You need to monitor your company’s intelligent management, financial and investment decisions. financial health on a continual basis. These documents need to be reviewed together in order to Every business owner, manager and employee needs get a clear picture of your company’s financial situation, and to be able to read the key financial statements of their to see whether your company is growing and will be able business in order to have insight into the operation of the to continue to expand. By utilizing industry standard data business and to effectively plan for growth. from organizations like RMA Annual Statement Studies, Each firm needs the advice of a trusted accountant, ProfitCents or BizMiner, you can compare the financial attorney, banker and financial planner. Even though you situation of your company to other firms in your industry. You may receive thoughtful guidance from these individuals, it will be able to see how financially is important that you and your staff stable and competitive your firm is personally be able to read financial FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING, in your industry. statements. How can you be MSSU, PLASTER HALL ROOM 108 According to Benjamin Franklin, profitable if you don’t know where “An investment in knowledge your firm’s money comes from, and Understanding Financial Statements always pays the best interest.” where it is spent? Thursday, Feb. 4, 1:30-4:30 pm As a young entrepreneur, he built Some business owners look $49 a prosperous printing business. at their checking account balance During his life, he worked hard occasionally, keep their receipts Analyzing & Managing Cash Flow to become an avid scientist, in a shoebox until it’s time to do Thursday, Feb. 18, 1:30-4:30 pm inventor, author and statesman. their taxes and hope they stay in $59 His diligence and persistence business for another year. This in educating himself made him type of financial strategy is not Predicting Cash Needs successful in all these efforts. very advantageous in developing Thursday, March 3, 1:30-4:30 pm If you are looking for financial a prosperous organization. Others $69 management training, the MSSU rely solely on their accountant to SBTDC is hosting a series of make their company’s financial financial management educational opportunities you won’t decisions. They pay to have monthly financial statements want to miss. These include: “Understanding Financial completed, yet they lack the knowledge of how to use them Statements,” which will be held Thursday, February 4, from in making good management decisions. 1:30-4:30 pm, $49; “Analyzing & Managing Cash Flow,” Analyzing financial statements enables you to see if which will be held Thursday, February 18, from 1:30-4:30 you are operating at a profit or at a loss and why this is pm, $59; and “Predicting Cash Needs,” which will be held happening. You may be selling your products or services Thursday, March 3, from 1:30-4:30 pm, $69. The workshops successfully, but if you aren’t collecting your accounts receivables in a timely matter, you may not have the positive will be taught in Plaster Hall 108, on the campus of MSSU. You may register at www.mssutraining.com. cash flow to pay your bills and stay in business. Your sales Remember, your company’s financial health and may be increasing, but if your expenses are out of control profitability depends upon your ability to diligently use your and higher than your revenue, you may be on the road to bankruptcy. As Benjamin Franklin also said, “Beware of little financial information to make good business decisions. Benjamin Franklin provided great wisdom and advice for expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.” future Americans. As he once said, “Diligence is the mother The three primary financial statements that all business of good luck.” If you want to be “lucky” in business, you owners, managers and employees need to be able to read should learn how to monitor your company’s financial health. and understand are the balance sheet (which lists your company’s assets, liabilities and net worth at a specific

February 2016

Business Outlook Insurance you can design to meet your ever-changing needs. • Business or Commercial • Call for a Farmers Friendly Review® • Evening Appointments

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Call 417-781-4820 today for Auto, Home, Life and Business.

Audio / Video Systems Pro Audio Equipment Camera Systems Healthcare Communications

Elite Commercial Audio/Video Sales & Service Toll Free: 800-621-5256 Local: 417-869-0770 aaius.com proaudiosuperstore.com 2120 S. Roosevelt Suite 3 Joplin, MO 64804

LABOR LAW POSTERS

FREE to Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Members Labor Law Postings are a mandatory requirement for businesses. Avoid hefty fines by obtaining your Free All-In-One State and Federal Labor Law Poster from the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.

To order your Free Labor Law Poster, please call or email to schedule a time to deliver: Wendy Mashburn

(417) 623-0941 Email: wendy.mashburn@payrollvault.com

Attorney-Approved All-In-One State and Federal Labor Law Poster meeting labor law postings requirements (at time of purchase) Fully Laminated and Attorney-Approved

First Friday Coffee

Friday, February 5 7:30-8:30 a.m.

Good Morning Joplin Wednesday, March 9 7:15-9 a.m. Presented by

Sponsored by and located at US Bank, N.A. 402 South Main Street

RSVP by February 3 at www.joplincc.com or 417.624.1996.

February 2016

Business Outlook