Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce
2017 ANNUAL REPORT 220 SE MAIN STREET ● LEE'S SUMMIT, MO 64063 ● 816.524.2424 ● LSCHAMBER.COM
Chamber
Annual Report We’ve officially wrapped up 2017 and it’s hard to believe all that was accomplished this year. The Chamber continues to work towards its goals to lead the growing Lee’s Summit business community and support our membership. We celebrated a record number of ribbon cuttings this year, which is proof of the investment businesses are making in the form of new ventures, as well as revitalizing and maintaining what we currently have.
The Chamber finished the year strong with over 1,000 members. We’ve worked hard to continue improving our programs, and adapting new technologies to deliver the best possible benefits to our members. The Chamber’s new website launched this year with additional capabilities for responsiveness, video and blogging. We hosted several successful events to build new relationships among members, even with Mother Nature throwing some curveballs our way with an ice storm and a rained-out golf tournament. Our partnerships with the City, school district and others have made groundbreaking projects possible. The Missouri Innovation Campus opened last summer, gaining national attention and
putting Lee’s Summit at the forefront of the evolving educational ecosystem. In August, St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School also opened its doors, welcoming students to the first Catholic high school the Diocese of Kansas City has opened in 50 years. In addition, development projects continue to emerge and unfold new phases. The Grove at Lee’s Summit, Village at View High and Paragon Star, among many others, are bringing millions of dollars’ worth of business, retail and housing investments to Lee’s Summit. Downtown Lee’s Summit’s small businesses and retailers have seen additional traffic and growth, and have earned the rights to host the National Main Street Big Bash in March of 2018, which is a huge honor for our community. Great things are happening in Lee’s Summit and I can tell you it’s not a coincidence. Our members, community partners, volunteers, board of directors and staff are working together every day to make the most of our resources and seek out new opportunities to propel our community forward. To all of those involved, I want to say a huge thank you for your efforts. It’s been an incredible year, and I’m honored to have been a part of it all.
Yours Truly,
Tyler Morehead, 2017 Chair of the Board Morehead Agency, LLC
2017 Executive Committee
Rosalie Newkirk Chair-Elect HSMC Orizon LLC
Jon Garlow
Vic Cundiff
Treasurer Wells Fargo Advisors
Chair Emeritus Weed Man
Trisha Goodale
Vice Chair of Membership Development MB Mortgage
Kelly Spencer
Vice Chair of Community Development Security Bank
Clint Haynes
Vice Chair of Economic Development NextGen Wealth
Board Members LaTonya Burgette Great Southern Bank
Melissa Clogston Reinhart Foodservice
Susan Coffman
Lee's Summit CARES
Tim Denker
Carson Graff
Andrew Felker
Kim Klockenga
Marla Franklin
Mike Maksin
Denker Law Firm Chinnery Evans & Nail, PC Saint Luke's East Hospital
Bank Midwest
John Knox Village N2 Publishing
Lesley McKeone
Spilker McKeone & Nelson PC
Amy Robertson
Colleen Sliffe
Cushman & Wakefield
Matt Sogard
Cameron's Home Furnishings
Lee's Summit Medical Center
Ben Seidel
Jeremy Wood
Igniting Business LLC
Cinematic Visions
Ex-Officio Members Steve Arbo
City of Lee's Summit
Carl Chinnery
Chinnery Evans & Nail, PC
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Dr. Dennis Carpenter R-7 School District
Dr. Kirk Nooks MCC-Longview
Mayor Randy Rhoads City of Lee's Summit
2017 COMMITTEES & TASK FORCES The Chamber multiplies the effectiveness of businesses within the community by providing structure, volunteer leadership, professional staff and full-time office operation to implement an effective business organization that meets the needs of our growing community. Committee volunteers have the opportunity to share and create new ideas, while also learning more about the business community to which they belong. The following committees, councils and task forces carried out the work of the Chamber:
Ambassador Committee
Health & Human Services Committee
Young Professionals Committee
Chair: Jan Sumner Objective: lead efforts to increase membership by recruiting new members; foster participation by mentoring the new members.
Chair: Robin McCain Objective: create opportunities to support health care services, assist in planning the annual Health Fair, and distribute an annual Health Care Directory to area residents.
Chair: Will Gibson Objective: plan events and activities for Chamber members ages 21 to 35 focusing on professional development, networking, and community involvement.
Membership Committee Chair: Brian King Objective: lead retention efforts and increase member involvement; make contact calls to existing members.
Chair: Debbie Stoddard Objective: organizes the evening’s entertainment and solicits donations for the auction held each year at the Annual Gala held in January.
Oktoberfest Committee
Holiday Reception Task Force
Business Development Council Chair: Jeff Driskill Objective: identify and deliver educational and training opportunities for Chamber businesses.
Education Committee Chair: Seth Moses Objective: promote business partnerships with the education community; selects five annual scholarship recipients, host a welcome breakfast for new R-7 teachers and select the recipient for the R-7 Teacher of the Year award.
Governmental Relations Committee Chair: Mike Allen Objective: study legislative issues of state and local interest to business and prepare legislative priorities annually.
Chair: Kirby Asplund Objective: plan the annual festival, scheduled for the last full weekend in September.
Annual Gala Task Force
Chairs: Dana Arth & Dee Steffee Objective: plan and organize the Holiday Reception held on the first Wednesday in December.
Visitors Council Chair: Eric Tschanz Objective: identify and develop Lee’s Summit’s unique features for tourism development and marketing.
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Chamber
Annual Report
CHAMBER MEMBER AWARD RECIPIENTS
ALYSSA SHARP Steve Gouldsmith New Member of the Year
VICKY CUNDIFF Volunteer of the Year
Alyssa Sharp, a CPA with Mize Houser & Co., joined the Chamber and jumped right in to taking advantage of her membership. Sharp spends time attending Membership Committee meetings and working to retain members, as well as serving as a mentor to new members. She attends many Chamber events, including Chamber Young Professionals, monthly networking events and ribbon cuttings where she has also served as emcee.
Vicky Cundiff, Weed Man CFO, is an extremely involved member who can be found at nearly every Chamber event, big or small. She serves on the Oktoberfest and Governmental Relations committees, Annual Gala & Golf Task Forces and also served on the Executive Committee for several years, including as Chair of the Board in 2016. More than that, she’s behind the scenes helping with the dirty work and heavy lifting at events, and with a smile on her face. She is a huge advocate of the Chamber, and our community as a whole.
Julia Hampton has been a member since 2002 through her accounting firm Julia E. Hampton, CPA which resides in downtown Lee’s Summit. Her firm earned the 2014 Business of the Year award in the five or less employees category. Hampton recruited 7.5 new members in 2017, gaining her a spot in the 2017 JULIA HAMPTON Chairman’s Club. She participates on Bob Glaser Ambassador multiple Chamber committees, including of the Year the Ambassadors and Truly the Best Task Force. Hampton also is a member of the Leadership Lee’s Summit Class of 2018.
2017 RIBBON CUTTING CELEBRATIONS Advanced Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Aldi, Inc. Best Western Plus Lee’s Summit Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar BPM Dance Complex Brain Balance of Lee’s Summit Capital Investment Management City Electric Supply Claudia’s Closet CommunityAmerica Credit Union-Blue Pkwy CommunityAmerica Credit Union-Rice Rd Cremation Society of Kansas and Missouri Cuddle Up Pup Dana Arth CPA, LLC DSB Services, LLC Edward Jones–Mark & Brian Sandy Evexia Family Chiropractic, LLC Farmers Insurance–Jennifer McGehee Agency Fringe Beerworks Goin’ Postal Lee’s Summit Healthcare Solutions Team 40 | CATALYST - THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Hearing and Balance Specialists of Kansas City LLC Hillcrest Transitional Housing Holiday Inn Express & Suites Kansas City– Lee's Summit HyVee-East Igniting Business LLC KC Dumpster Company Kansas City Dance Company Kiddos clothing and more LLC Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport Libations & Company Liddle Sports & Apparel Llywelyn’s Pub Massage Envy Midwest Tinting MISH Hospital and Clinics Missouri Innovation Campus Northcraft Flooring & Design LLC Pinspire, LLC Premier Dental, LLC
RE/Max Heritage Saint Luke’s Convenient Care Clinic Schlotzsky’s / Cinnabon Sears Hometown and Kitchen Tune Up Sky Zone Smoke Brewing Company Spartan Athletics St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School Summit Family Care Summit Pediatric Dentistry Sylvan Learning Center The Bicycle Shack, LLC The Browning Bed and Breakfast The Goddard School The Meadows Commons at JKV Unity Hotel & Conference Center Wally’s Grill & Drafthouse Walmart South WI Summit LLC (Summit Crossing) Xtreme Gymnastics & Trampoline
JEFFREY WILLIAMS Mentor of the Year
ROBY LITTLE Lifetime Member
His outgoing personality is part of what makes Jeffrey Williams, Heritage Companies, a great mentor. He’s always willing to take on new members and go the extra mile to make them feel welcome in the Chamber. Williams has been an active member for several years, participating in the Business Development Council, Health & Human Services Committee, Board of Directors and last, but certainly not least, as a caddy at Cocktails & Caddies. Roby Little is the retired director of Lee’s Summit CARES, a local nonprofit serving Lee’s Summit youth. Under Little’s leadership, Lee’s Summit CARES proved to be a great partner of the Chamber by donating not only time and energy, but also by sponsoring events and playing a key role in a number of community initiatives. She served on the Chamber’s Visitors Council for years and also chaired the 2018 Gala Task Force alongside her trusty sidekick Pippin.
2017 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE LEE’S SUMMIT MUNICIPAL AIRPORT The Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport has been a member of the Chamber since 1981. In addition to being a huge community asset, the airport has supported the Chamber in a number of ways. Airport Manager John Ohrazda is an active member and former chair John Ohrazda of the Lee’s Summit Visitors Council, Lee's Summit Municipal and can be found at Oktoberfest allAirport Manager weekend long serving as tent manager on SE Main St., as well as on the Oktoberfest committee. The Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport also has been an avid supporter of Chamber publications and the Community Marketing Program. Ohrazda’s hard work has recently paid off with the addition of new hangars and extended runways, and it seems that more growth is on the horizon for the airport in the coming years.
2017 PARTNERSHIPS Thank you to the following businesses who invested in the Chamber through the partnership program.
GOLD
KCP&L Reinhart Foodservice Saint Luke’s East Hospital Security Bank Tingle Flooring
SILVER
ARC Physical Therapy + Capital Investment Management Central Bank of the Midwest Discover Vision Centers Door Systems, Inc. ENT Associates of Greater Kansas City Great Southern Bank HSMC Orizon John Knox Village Lee’s Summit Medical Center Paradise Park RBC Wealth Management St. Mary’s Medical Center Summit Bank of Kansas City UCM Lee’s Summit Walmart
BRONZE
B Positively Promoting U, inc. Bank Midwest Chinnery Evans & Nail, P.C. Digital Marketing Inc. First Federal Bank Greater Lee’s Summit Health Care Foundation Hollis + Miller Architects Julia Hampton CPA Kansas City Star Lee’s Summit Journal Longview Funeral Home & Cemetery Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys Missouri Central Credit Union Parker Swearngin LLP Rodney Loesch CFP-Waddell & Reed Simmons Bank Spilker McKeone & Nelson PC Technology Plus University of Kansas Edwards Campus Weed Man Wise Wealth
Chamber
Annual Report
2017 Highlights Catalyst Captures Two Awards
The Lee’s Summit Chamber’s quarterly business magazine, Catalyst, was honored with two awards in 2017. The publication was awarded the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Missouri “2017 Award of Excellence” in the special publications category during the CCEM conference held in Branson, Mo. in September. The magazine was then presented with a Gold Philly Award at the Nonprofit Connect 2017 Philly Awards banquet on November 15 at Boulevard Brewing Company. The annual Nonprofit Connect event had fifteen categories to showcase the marketing and communication efforts of over 80 nonprofit businesses in the Kansas City area. The Gold award, designating the highest scoring entry, was given to Catalyst in the “Print/Electronic Magazine” category for nonprofits under $3 million in income.
Welcomed New Staff
The Chamber welcomed two new staff members to the team in 2017. Heather Thompson started at the Chamber in May, bringing 15 years of marketing experience and expertise to the Chamber as advertising account manager. She matches Chamber publications with members for promotion in Catalyst, Visitor Guides, Community Profile and more. Heather has developed integrated marketing plans for companies wanting to mix a variety of communication channels. Sami Dupuis joined the Chamber in September as creative coordinator. She is responsible for designing Chamber publications, working on Lee’s Summit’s tourism efforts to promote the city to visitors and helps with various Chamber events. Sami previously worked for a small greeting card company, Curly Girl Design, as graphic designer and online retail marketer.
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Launched a New Website
In May, the Chamber launched a new website, an initiative recommended by the Technology Task Force in 2016. The site is now completely mobile responsive, meaning it auto-formats to any device (smartphone, tablet, etc.). The new site offers members a more user-friendly experience with updates to the member information pages to include maps, logos and links to view additional businesses. The new system also sends email reminders 24 hours in advance to those who have registered for an upcoming event. The site boasts many added features like new member feeds, volunteer opportunities, event feeds and more. One feature is a newly updated legislative advocacy page showing a live bill tracker to keep closer tabs and get updates on bills during the legislative session. Last, but not least, the new site has allowed for the development of a blog to showcase all of the articles and features from Catalyst, the Chamber’s business magazine.
Facilitated a RecordNumber of Ribbon Cuttings
A record number of Chamber member businesses celebrated ribbon cuttings this year. In total, 60 ribbon cuttings were held, recognizing newly opened businesses or those that had undergone significant renovations, changed ownership or relocated. In addition, ribbon cuttings in 2017 also saw the highest average attendance to date. The Chamber applauds the investments people are making in our community, whether through new ventures, or upgrades to current ones, and hopes to continue the trend moving forward.
2017 CHAIRMAN’S CLUB In 2013, the Chamber Board of Directors established a new reward program for members, called the “Chairman’s Club,” any Chamber member becomes eligible after recruiting a minimum of five new members each calendar year. Each of them, along with a spouse or significant other, will be invited to a special dinner at the end of each year with the Chair of the Board and the Chamber President.
Congratulations to the following members: • • • • • •
Bob Glaser, CommunityAmerica Credit Union John Beaudoin, KC Communications & Media Matters Julia Hampton, Julia Hampton, CPA Clint Haynes, NextGen Wealth Mike Maksin, N2 Publications Joey Zarrillo, Money Mailer of Eastern Jackson County
2017 FINANCIALS $128,518
$56,672
$26,905
$140,890
$87,795 $8,478
$200,880 $108,846
$30,579
INCOME $1,183,895
$48,387
EXPENSES $1,180,240 $477,011
$286,083 $481,163
Annual Gala 5% Membership 40.5%
Oktoberfest 17% Community Marketing 24%
Golf 2.5% Initiatives 11%
$281,982
Annual Gala 2% Membership 4%
Oktoberfest 7.5% Community Marketing 24%
Administrative 40.5%
Golf 1% Initiatives 12%
Operating 9%
LEADERSHIP CLASS OF 2017 The Leadership Lee’s Summit program, sponsored by the Lee’s Summit Chamber, graduated 28 students in 2017. The students completed nine months of leadership training, community service hours and a class project as part of their requirement. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
David Adamczyk, KCP&L Kirby Asplund, Rotary Club of Lee's Summit & The Asplund Group Heather Balbi, Ears of Experience by Heather Balbi Tyler Barr, Tingle Flooring David Bell, Lee's Summit Fire Department Jodi Bell, Lee's Summit Parks & Recreation Dan Boles, Commerce Bank Josh Bryant, Central Bank of the Midwest Tina Chace, Lee's Summit Economic Development Council Michael Childs, Lee's Summit Police Department Michael Dieker, Lee's Summit Medical Center Kelsie Fell, Truman Medical Center Lakewood Todd Haynes, RBC Wealth Management–Haynes Woodward Group Melisa Hendren, Summit Pediatric Therapy Corp. Bridget Herrick, Kansas City Area Transportation Authority Megan Hughes, Lead Bank Joseph Hyde, Edward Jones Susan Krug, Saint Luke's East Hospital Miranda Landstra, City of Lee's Summit–Water Utilities Mike Maskin, Rotary Club of Lee's Summit & N2 Publishing Lauren Moxley Johnson, Tingle Flooring Cynda Rader, Cynda Sells Realty Matt Sanning, Lee's Summit Social Services Rachel Segobia, Lee's Summit Sunrise Rotary Club Dan Shepard, Oak Road Wealth Management Jen Steller, Downtown Lee's Summit Main Street Ashley Walker, ReDiscover Rachael Watkins, Truman Heartland Community Foundation
2017 TRULY THE BEST BUSINESS OF THE YEAR WINNERS Four local businesses were recipients of the Lee's Summit Chamber Truly the Best Business of the Year awards at the monthly membership luncheon on May 19, 2017. • Budget Blinds of Lee's Summit Best in Class 5 or Less Employees • Lee's Summit CARES Best in Class Not for Profit • Neighborhood Cafe Best in Class 6-20 Employees • Lee's Summit Medical Center Best in Class 20+ Employees 1ST QUARTER - 2018 | 43