THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
INNOVATION HEATS UP New leadership, opening of Missouri Innovation Campus put LSR-7 in Spotlight • page 18 1 | CATALYST - THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
3RD QTR 2017
SUMMER SIGHTS, SOUNDS & ATTRACTIONS ABOUND Things to do this summer in Lee’s Summit
POWER OF INSTAGRAM
Tools and tips to help your business gain competitive advantage
Speed up the planning process, cut the red tape and jump-start your business with the help of the Lee’s Summit Development Center. Our environment defies the concept of “business as usual” with a first-of-its-kind concierge service to guide and assist you through the development process from start to finish. Let’s put our heads together and see how our team can put our resources to work for you. Whether you’re looking to relocate, expand or tap into your entrepreneurial spirit, our collaborative community approach will help your business take root and prosper.
Building Permits Inspections Engineering Review Special Use & Events Contractor Licensing Sign Permits Planning & Zoning Development Incentives Business Licensing
LSmeansbusiness.net | 816.969.1200 2 | CATALYST - THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Business Transition
Do you have questions about transitioning your business? We will help you obtain an appropriate valuation, update or put in place a properly funded buy-sell agreement as needed, and create a customized plan for your financial future.
Contact us today to start the discussion.
Chuck S. Cooper III, CFP® Senior Vice President – Investments Chuck.cooper@wfadvisors.com
Jon G. Garlow, CPWA®
Associate Vice President – Investments Jon.garlow@wfadvisors.com
3171 NE Carnegie Dr, Suite B Lee’s Summit, MO 64064 816-554-5470
www.cooperwealthmanagementgroup.com Wells Fargo Advisors is not a tax or legal advisor. Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC CAR 0617-00057
Business is Hot Summer vacation is in full swing and I hope you’re able to enjoy some time soaking up the sun and taking a break from work. The Lee’s Summit business community, however, is not taking a break and is moving full speed ahead. Our historic downtown district was recently named one of the top ten in the nation, igniting a wave of community pride for all of our hardworking residents and volunteers.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
3RD QTR 2017
PUBLISHER Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce CHAMBER PRESIDENT Tim Arbeiter, CEcD ADVERTISING MANAGER Heather Thompson CREATIVE COORDINATOR Taylor Roehr
With new investments flowing into our economy, businesses are seeing the benefits of new expansions and developments. Lee’s Summit Medical Center’s new hospital floor will add 40,000 square feet to the facility, while Control Service Company and B&B Theatres’ recent groundbreakings represent millions of dollars in new construction to the area.
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The opening of the Missouri Innovation Campus (MIC) shines a spotlight on workforce development and the steps being taken to help businesses find work-ready talent. This topic remains a priority for the Chamber, our community partners and many local businesses. Read more about the progress on page 18.
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The Chamber recently wrapped up a membership drive, adding 28 new members to our growing business organization. I remind you to utilize the programs and resources at your disposal through the Chamber and remember, you have over 1,000 businesses ready to help whether it’s business advice, a product or service, mentorship or some other opportunity. Reach out to your network of neighbors and don’t be afraid to take the next step in your business venture. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to me personally to become connected and involved with the Chamber; my door is always open.
Yours Truly,
TYLER MOREHEAD, MOREHEAD AGENCY, LLC 2017 Chamber Chair of the Board CHAMBER STAFF Tim Arbeiter, CEcD, President Matt Baird, Director of Business & Governmental Relations Stephanie Kusek, Director of Communications Stacy Needels, Director of Special Events Cathy Young, IOM, Director of Member Services Heather Thompson, Advertising Manager Taylor Roehr, Creative Coordinator Anne Aubuchon, Administrative Assistant Vanessa King, Bookkeeper Marilyn Pemberton, Part-time Assistant 4 | CATALYST - THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Stephanie Kusek
EDITORIAL STAFF Heather Thompson Taylor Roehr
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS John Beaudoin, Pete Dulin, Rick McDowell, Jim McKenna, Kevin Oldham, Janice Phelan _______________________________ ADVERTISING For advertising information, contact Heather Thompson at hthompson@lschamber.com or 816.524.2424 _______________________________ PRESS RELEASES Send to troehr@lschamber.com _______________________________
220 SE MAIN STREET LEE’S SUMMIT, MO 64063 816.524.2424 • LSCHAMBER.COM
LEE’S SUMMIT:
Now Hiring...
With nearly 4,000 businesses calling Lee’s Summit home, the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council aims to connect skilled job seekers to potential employers with open positions in the business community. That’s why we’ve launched a brand new job portal at no cost, linking workers to employment and internship opportunities. The portal also will feature upcoming hiring events and local job fairs. Fill your empty seats with qualified workers by checking out the new job portal at leessummit.org or contact us for more information.
Yours Truly,
LEESSUMMIT.ORG | 816.525.6617
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ENTREPRENEURS CORNER • pg. 28 The Auto Clinic Goes Solar
ECONOMIC UPDATE • pg. 32 LSEDC signals move into the fast lane for 2017
FEATURE STORY - SUMMER IN LEE’S SUMMIT R-7 • pg. 18 New leadership, opening of Missouri Innovation Campus
COMMUNITY FOCUSED Reaching Potential with Community Support TRULY THE BEST Chamber’s Top Businesses for 2017 STAYING RELEVANT Community Co-op Marketing a Win-Win SOCIAL BUZZ Power of Instagram MANUFACTURING INSIDER Stemlock Taps Unique Market MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Summer Sights, Sounds & Attractions Abound POWER OF ONE Meet Heather Balbi LEADERSHIP LESSONS Struggle + Determination = Success NEW TO TOWN Lee’s Summit’s Newest Tenants CHAMBER UPDATE 2017 Brings Success to Lee’s Summit SURVEY SAYS Home Improvements to Increase ROI
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8 10 12 14 16 24 30 34 36 38 40
YOUR BUSINESS, YOUR LIFE, YOUR LEGACY • Business Sales • Mergers & Acquisitions • Exit Strategy Consulting • Business Valuations
Business Valuation
• Equipment Appraisals • Buyer & Seller Advisory • Franchise Sales • Marketing Plans
816.892.0055 Missouri 913.257.3885 Kansas scott.swim@legacymergers.com
CommunityFocused
Reaching Potential with Community Support Developing Potential, Inc. Developing Potential, Inc. (DPI) provides a high-demand service in Lee’s Summit, Independence and Kansas City. While there are school-age programs for people with a variety of disability types, there are limited options to help continue their life progression post graduation. Developing Potential provides multi-level support services for adults ages 19-65 with disabilities, including asperger’s syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome and congenital quadriplegia. Currently, DPI is able to support 150 individuals, but there is a growing wait list that requires continued funding for facility and employment growth. DPI provides three program types to help fulfill its mission of supporting adults with developmental disabilities to reach their potential and achieve a dignified, adult lifestyle: On-site day services, off-site day services, and supported community employment. On-site day services provide a combination of health support and life skills training. DPI is excited about offering off-site community services and supported community employment through community partnerships. These programs allow for the most community interaction, interpersonal development and extended independence. We sat down with Amy Cox, development director for DPI, to learn more about these special programs and how our community can get involved. 8 | CATALYST - THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
How does DPI help prepare people for active workforce? Discussing work potential with an individual begins with a basic assessment of interests and capabilities, getting to know their personality and talking with others who know them to gauge possibilities. We may consider volunteer work for initial skill development, as well as take them to new environments in order to observe comfort level, social engagement and to explore new opportunities. Then we work on resume development, skills evaluation and career planning. How can DPI assist the employee/ employer connection if a business has not worked with an individual with a disability before? There are really three main ways that we help bring together individuals and employers. First, support the technical aspects of performing the job and learning new skills in a different environment. Second, assist relationships with all employees. Once we make a connection with a great employer, we can work alongside individuals to support communication, help set expectations and teach employees the best way to support the individual and address employee questions. Finally, we provide the administration and management of the individuals working with a new employer.
If transportation or other soft job skills need to be supported, we also provide that service. In what other ways can people and companies partner or participate with DPI? We always want to encourage participation with our various fundraisers and events throughout the year. Our
biggest community event is December 1 and features a humorist, awards and recognition; but we will have many things between now and then. Additionally, we have “Servanthood Sunday” when church groups come to our facilities to help with special projects, cleaning, landscaping, or even painting. We also have on-site social events that volunteers help with such as a Prom where they help our participants with hair and makeup, serve as a DJ, cook a meal and more. Community Partners We reached out to Pam Hatcher with Integrity Group Real Estate about their newest part-time hire, who is helping in the office. Hatcher was aware of Developing Potential through a friend’s daughter who participated in
the program. Hatcher met Cox during a Chamber luncheon, and she quickly agreed to discuss how the real estate group could work with a DPI individual. After discussing the desired time and skillset that would be fitting, they matched the group with a female who was looking for such a job. DPI attended the interview with the individual, who talked about her resume and previous work experience, and DPI was able to assist on some answers to the questions regarding skillset. “She had a wonderful smile,” said Hatcher who knew she would work well with their team. She now works with them two days a week, assisting with general office work and special projects for marketing and events. Hatcher added that “she is getting to know other tenants in the building and they adore her. I hope
other businesses will see how rewarding it is for both sides to have such a great individual working with us.” Weed Man is another business fortunate to have a strong employee from DPI. Office manager, Patti LeMaster, says the connection has been a blessing all around. The DPI individual took on a technical role right as their peak season was starting and really relieved other employees from having to spend time on specific details. He started working five days a week looking at topography and survey maps to figure yard-area square footage for bids and services. Working amongst the sales team for the last few months, LeMaster says, “He has really come out of his shell and our employees have opened their eyes to a happy situation all around.”
Summit Christian Academy Ranked a Top 5 Private School in the Kansas City Area
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Call 816.525.1480 for more information or to set up a personal tour.
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Truly theBest
Four local businesses were recipients of the Truly the Best Business of the Year awards at the Chamber’s monthly membership luncheon on May 19. The four award winners are: Lee’s Summit CARES, Budget Blinds of Lee’s Summit, Neighborhood Cafe and Lee’s Summit Medical Center.
Dana Arth, Awards Task Force Chair
Past Winners
Lee’s Summit Social Services
Pro Deo Youth Center
MetroCARE
Cinematic Visions
Julia Hampton, CPA
A Thyme for Everything
Lee’s Summit Journal
Douglas Tire & Auto
MCC-Longview
Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic School
Lakewood Animal Health Center Hollis + Miller Architects
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Rachel House Pregnancy Resource Center Dana Arth CPA, LLC Bodies Health & Fitness City of Lee’s Summit
LEE’S SUMMIT CARES Best in Class Not for Profit Lee’s Summit CARES remains committed to preventing and reducing substance abuse and violence among Lee’s Summit’s youth. The organization assists parents with focusing on core principles and healthy parenting techniques, and provides leadership involvement opportunities for the community, schools, city government and more.
BUDGET BLINDS OF LEE’S SUMMIT Best in Class 5 or Less Employees Budget Blinds of Lee’s Summit is a three generation family-owned business specializing in window coverings of all kinds. The business, which began 15 years ago, focuses on customer service and utilizing technology to provide total home automation, which can be seen in their showroom in downtown Lee’s Summit. The business also participates in many local charities.
NEIGHBORHOOD CAFE Best in Class 6-20 Employees Neighborhood Cafe has been carrying the torch as a community meeting place for six years. Cafe owners have made a significant investment in the building with several updates to the facility, including the kitchen. The family-owned business hires employees who believe in the concept of creating a family culture and creating a “home.” Employees also give back through fundraisers for many local causes. LEE’S SUMMIT MEDICAL CENTER Best in Class 20+ Employees Lee’s Summit Medical Center is a hospital and ER ready to meet the community’s health care needs. The hospital conducts peer interviews for open positions, ensuring a successful cultural fit to maintain a positive working environment. Senior management staff also make patient rounds each and every day and donates all gift shop proceeds to support local charities. 3RD QUARTER - 2017 | 11
StayingRelevant
A Win-Win for
Everyone For the past three years, as part of our city’s centralized marketing efforts, we’ve been able to increase our media buying power through negotiated “city media rates,” which are significantly lower than the rates paid by individual businesses or city departments who choose to go it alone. In addition, we are in a stronger position to leverage our budget to gain demonstrable savings. Since we launched our co-op marketing initiative, the city and its private sector partners have seen the power of working together. We’ve consistently delivered valueadded media in the form of bonus spots, no-charge extra inclusions and preferred placement positions within broadcast programming and print publications on a consistent basis. Partner Benefits Partnering with community marketing represents a 50 percent cost-sharing arrangement above and beyond the negotiated “city media rates.” In essence, you can get your name out in front of your target audience at half the cost of flying solo. That translates into either (a) reducing the cost of your advertising or (b) the ability to stretch out your current marketing budget. A Royal Example To begin, the City of Lee’s Summit negotiated a sponsorship package with Kansas City Royals’ flagship station 610 Sports Radio. The city negotiated a rate of $22,500 for a package which is selling for over $44,000. Our rate translates into just $290 per game, and includes a 30-second commercial in the pre-game show, as well as
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a 30-second commercial in the Royals post-game show. As part of our cost-sharing arrangement, our co-op marketing partners pay just $145 for both spots, as well as creative execution. This collaborative approach to marketing has created the optimal environment for both the public and private sector to focus available budget dollars on the most efficient and effective types of media. In addition to Royals Baseball, we create opportunities within radio, newspaper, magazine, television and outdoor, as well as new and emerging social and digital media opportunities. Another example is special community events such as our heroes campaign which celebrates all those who make life a little better for their community. Validating the words of Henry Ford, “Coming together is a beginning; staying together is progress; and working together is success.” For more information about community marketing, contact Jim McKenna at jmckenna@lschamber.com.
JIM MCKENNA Community Marketing Director Lee’s Summit
Fun Fact
Jim had the opportunity to travel with the Oakland Raiders on their team jet for a two game road trip.
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SocialBuzz
Power of This is why we embrace movies, plays, books and music. Stories have inspired and connected tribes of people since the beginning of time. What if you had the power to tell your company or organization’s story in a way that was easy and fun to an audience that actually wanted to hear from you? Welcome to the world of Instagram – the social platform that allows you to share what is going on in your business and life via picture, short videos and stories. Before we get into the tactical growth methods you can use on Instagram, it’s important to become familiar with the overall strategy you should consider when using any social platform to drive growth in business. Document and share. Sell lightly. Never spam. This is going to sound odd, but most people don’t buy products and services. They buy the stories they tell themselves about how their lives will be easier or better by hiring a product to solve a problem or create an opportunity for them.
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Deep psychological stuff, right? There’s so much psychology associated with sales and marketing and the one universal truth is that your customers and prospects typically don’t care about you. They care about themselves and how you make their lives better. Combine this truth with a platform like Instagram that allows you to participate in their story and you can use this trust to build a strong relationship with your audience. How can your story be found? It seems like everyone is on Instagram. This is awesome news for business owners but it also comes with challenges. These tips should help you connect with those who support your business growth: 1) Use relevant hashtags to be discovered. Before you start posting, it’s worth the time investment to create a master list of hashtags you will use on most of your posts. Aim to create 15-20 of them based on three categories: your product/service, your brand and your location.
Instagram A useful tool to discover hashtag volume is https://web.stagram.com. It can help you discover new hashtags relevant to your offering.
People like to do business with other people, not companies. Tell compelling stories and you will have a leg up on your competition.
4) Engage with others
Once you have a master list of hashtags built, drop it into Evernote or a Google Doc for easy access when you are posting. Copy and paste them into your post and add/modify based on what you are posting.
3) Be consistent.
Don’t be afraid to:
2) Create a daily documentary. Do you think your business is boring and no one will care to view your photos or videos? Think of your Instagram account as a “behind-the-scenes” documentary, giving your customers a peek into the operations of your company. This is where you can make even the most mundane journey a fun one. In fact, I believe that the less visually appealing your business is, the more opportunity you have to grab customers from your competition. By documenting what is going on in your business, the fun times and the not-so-fun times, you can let people conduct a virtual ride along with you. Make your company human and make real connections.
The key to success in any marketing strategy is consistency. If you can’t commit the time to executing your strategy, then it is better to not do it or outsource it. For the record, Instagram is one of the few social channels you shouldn’t outsource because of its personal nature. If you can’t commit to consistently interacting with your Instagram followers, this might not be your best platform. The content shared on Instagram should not be exactly the same as your other social platforms, but should stay consistent with the look and feel of your brand.
Your content strategy is just one component of smart adoption of Instagram.
Engage with others via commenting and liking Follow back relevant followers Follow companies/people who make sense for your company As with any huge social platform, there are hundreds of tools and tips to help you gain a competitive advantage. If you adopt a storytelling mindset and can back it up with the correct hashtags and engagement strategies, you will have covered 80 percent of what will help you move the needle.
KEVIN OLDHAM Chief Executive Officer Diffactory
Fun Fact
Kevin has a serious cookie addiction.
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ManufacturingInsider
FAMILY-ORIENTED STEMLOCK, A VALUED UNKNOWN IN LEE’S SUMMIT by John Beaudoin
Everyone remembers making the volcano in grade school or junior high, correct? A little vinegar here, a little baking soda there…and voila! Instant volcano. OK, well, there is a little more to it than that. But those basic ingredients – vinegar and baking soda – are the central elements that go into the patented Stemlock Gas Bag, a product made right here in Lee’s Summit. Stemlock, located at 4200 NE Port Dr. in the Lakewood Business Park, has been in business since 1988. And the one and only product made right there is the Gas Bag, a self-inflating bore hole plug used to block or seal a hole at any depth. It is used during the blasting phase of a development, as President and owner Tom Jenkins describes it, to control your shot and be more efficient in that process.
Stemlock was founded by Tom’s father, Bud Jenkins, who formerly worked in the explosives division at Dupont. Tom came in to the business in 1990, a salesperson at the time, before eventually taking over. He is passing his knowledge on to a third generation as son, Adam, also works at the family business.
Jenkins said the demand for his Gas Bag is ever on the rise, selling north of 600,000 units in 2016 alone. His 6,800-square-foot manufacturing and office space houses 15 employees – including son Adam and his sister, Jenny Beck – and was originally found on Jib Court nearby before moving to Port Drive in 2007.
A quick walk through the Stemlock assembly line reveals Jenkins’ team measuring vinegar and baking soda and assembling the Gas Bags for distribution all over the world. Like those school-day volcanoes, the vinegar and baking soda combine to inflate the bag inside a mining hole, creating air in the column instead of explosives in the column.
His worldwide reach is made possible by a sister company in Australia and another joint venture out of Santiago, Chile. Stemlock also has a distribution arm in the United Kingdom.
Users simply pop the vinegar into the baking soda, lower the bag into the hole and in 30 seconds or so you have a hardplastic filler that could seemingly stop a car from driving through it.
Jenkins, as the eyes, ears and research and development brain of Stemlock, said he is constantly keeping up with new mining operations in the United States and looking for potential customers. “We’ve got gold and silver mining in Nevada, they’re mining copper in Arizona and New Mexico, there’s even a new gold mine in North Carolina,” Jenkins noted. Jenkins drives to each new location on the east coast to mine for new clients; he also employs a sales rep in Utah for that part of the country. That personal touch may seem unique in today’s business world, but Jenkins said he doesn’t know any other way. “We continually keep up with customers to make sure things are right,” he said.
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Stemlock also sells a plethora of products that go along with the process, from depth gauges and erosion control products to collar plugs and the Stemlock Stemliner and Stemlock Stemstand. “I love what I am doing because this is my hobby,” Jenkins said, adding that he would be thrilled to see more emphasis put on manufacturing jobs in Lee’s Summit. “For every manufacturing job, five to seven peripheral jobs are created.” With his sister and office administrator close by, and son Adam, a recent University of Missouri Kansas City graduate, learning the family business, Jenkins said he is pretty proud of the company that continues to be built.
For every manufacturing job, five to seven peripheral jobs are created. – Tom Jenkins “It’s pretty specialized what we do, but it’s not rocket science,” Jenkins said.
Baird Hatcher Team
Making a difference with INTEGRITY
816.524.1923 Find us on Facebook!
@BairdHatcherTeam
Find out more about Stemlock’s story at stemlock.com.
Lee’s Summit CARES Character Business Sector strives to build businesses of character that make life better for employees, customers and the community. Learn more by visiting LSCares.org/character.
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FeatureStory
Summer in Lee’s Summit R-7 New leadership and opening of Missouri Innovation Campus put Lee’s Summit R–7 School District in spotlight by Janice Phelan
This has been an exciting summer for Lee’s Summit R-7 schools as the local district welcomes new leadership and opens the doors of a new school facility already capturing national attention.
Roundtable, Citizens’ Advisory Committee and Chamber Governmental Relations Committee. He also met one-on-one with a number of civic and school leaders earlier this spring.
Dr. Dennis L. Carpenter, the district’s new superintendent, was selected after approximately a five-month search process that included close to 750 community members providing feedback. Although his first day on the job was officially July 3, he is already a familiar face in our community. Soon after being named superintendent in January, Dr. Carpenter began introducing himself to groups such as the district’s Business
Dr. Carpenter served as the superintendent of the Hickman Mills School District for the past four years and previously served as deputy superintendent of operations and associate superintendent for human resources for Newton County Schools in Covington, Ga. He is a recognized leader in education with experience in both the nearby urban district and the fast-growing Georgia suburb, located near Atlanta.
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In all, Dr. Carpenter has 21 years of experience in public education with extensive experience in instruction and operations – an unusual and valuable combination for a school administrator. He also has served as an elementary principal, middle school assistant principal and teacher. He holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, a master’s degree in educational leadership, an education specialist degree and a doctorate in educational leadership and administration. As a superintendent, he helped Hickman Mills make significant improvements in areas such as student attendance,
graduation rates, ACT scores and state achievement testing. Other accomplishments under his leadership include implementation of full-day pre-kindergarten, numerous school renovation projects, a successful community-wide strategic planning endeavor, passage of a multi-million dollar bond issue, and a meaningful increase in the Hickman Mills foundation’s fundraising efforts. Dr. Carpenter and his wife, Dr. LaQuanda Carpenter, along with their two young children made the move to Lee’s Summit in April.
“We are excited about being here and getting our family involved in the community,” Dr. Carpenter said. “I have been enormously impressed by the citizens and staff members I have met so far and am enthusiastic about joining the Lee’s Summit R-7 team.”
Missouri Innovation Campus opens in August Next month, our school district will celebrate the opening of a groundbreaking new school — the Missouri Innovation Campus (MIC), which also will house the district’s Summit Technology Academy and
University of Central Missouri (UCM) programs currently located at UCM-Lee’s Summit. The MIC program has been recognized at the state and national level for accelerating the time it takes students to complete a four-year degree while significantly reducing college debt and providing students with job-ready
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FeatureStory
skills that are highly sought after by various businesses.
creative sciences. The academy serves students from 12 area school districts.
This Missouri Innovation Campus program is a progressive collaboration between the R-7 School District, Metropolitan Community College and the University of Central Missouri. By engaging business partners and community organizations, the MIC is reshaping the way students experience education. Housed within the
The new school, located near Ward and Tudor roads, will open its doors to students in August with a community grand opening ceremony scheduled for early September. Thanks to a unique partnership with UCM, Lee’s Summit R-7 and UCM joined forces to construct and operate this state-of-the-art, cost-
Through this agreement, the R-7 School District is the sole owner of the facility with UCM paying its portion of costs through lease payments. The shared facility reduces operating expenses for both organizations and allows the school district to move both the MIC and Summit Technology Academy programs from leased space into a building owned by the school
“I have been enormously impressed by the citizens and staff members I have met so far and am enthusiastic about joining the Lee’s Summit R-7 team.” — Dr. Carpenter MIC complex is the R-7 School District’s Summit Technology Academy, a high school program that prepares students for careers in areas such as engineering, computer science, health care and
saving facility. Under a plan developed by the two educational institutions, Lee’s Summit R-7 is paying approximately 40 percent of the new school with UCM paying the remaining 60 percent.
district. The R-7 School District’s portion of the facility’s cost is funded through a no-tax-increase bond issue, approved by approximately 80 percent of voters in 2015. This $40 million bond issue also is
funding renovation and maintenance projects that are positively impacting each R-7 school. The majority of these projects are complete and have included improvements such as classroom renovations at Lee’s Summit High School, entry security upgrades at Lee’s Summit North High School, a concession/restroom building at Lee’s Summit West High School’s softball complex, a gym addition and classroom renovations at Mason Elementary, and playground safety upgrades at all elementary schools. For more information about the bond issue projects, visit lsr7.net.
SAVE THE DATE
Meet Dr. Carpenter and hear more about his vision for the district at the Chamber Membership Luncheon on August 18.
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3RD QUARTER - 2017 | 21
NetworkingPhotos
NetworkingPhotos
MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON Rosalie Newkirk, Kathy Hughey and Robin Todd coordinated perfectly in polka dots at the June Monthly Membership Luncheon at Paradise Park. The luncheon featured updates on the MCI Airport terminal project.
LEADERSHIP LEE’S SUMMIT Bridget Herrick and Frank White, III with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority posed for a photo at the 2017 Leadership Lee’s Summit graduation ceremony.
GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY Control Service Company, Inc. celebrated a groundbreaking at the future site of its manufacturing facility at 3621 NE Akin Drive. 22 | CATALYST - THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
CHAMBER YOUNG PROFESSIONALS Shannon Collins, Carson Graff and Joel Wilson chatted over a cup of coffee at the May Chamber Young Professionals networking event held at Capital Investment Management.
KAUFFMAN FIELD TRIP Alumni of the Leadership Lee’s Summit program had the opportunity to go behind the scenes of the Kauffman Performing Arts Center, courtesy of Hawthorn Bank.
816.525.4555 VISIT KC STREETCAR INVASION Chamber staff and volunteers set up a booth representing Lee’s Summit during the Visit KC Streetcar Invasion. The pop-up event along the streetcar line was a huge hit. 3RD QUARTER - 2017 | 23
MemberSpotlight
Summer Sights, Sounds
& Attractions Abound by Pete Dulin
Summer is in full swing. Lee’s Summit offers no shortage of activity for kids, families and adults to have fun and make the most of summer days and nights. 24 | CATALYST - THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
1 Legacy Park 2 Custard’s Last Stand 3 The Browning Bed & Breakfast 4 Faulkner’s Ranch 5 Summit Waves 6 Summit Lanes 7 A Thyme for Everything 8 TrappedKC 9 Powell Gardens 10 Smoke Brewing Company 11 Hawthorn, A Bed & Breakfast
Educate and Eat
Established in October 2006 by owner Jet Green, A Thyme For Everything hosts numerous cooking classes each month in its kitchen studio. Learn how to prepare French cuisine, cook Italian-inspired dishes with fresh produce, or add a twist to grilling. Cake Artist Carey Iennacarro teaches how to creatively decorate cakes and pastries. Chefs and authors Karen Adler and Judith Fertig share lessons on healthy grilling.
In June, Chef Mike Chrostowski led a culinary camp for kids. Youngsters diced, mixed, stirred and cooked bread pudding, cornbread, jambalaya and chocolate churros. On July 29, Chef Sophia Chatfield teaches kids how to make homemade snacks. A Thyme For Everything also stocks cooking tools and supplies, gourmet foods, and gifts. In 2015, the business was chosen as Lee's Summit Chamber's Small Business of the Year. Isn’t it “thyme” for a visit? athymeforeverything.com 3RD QUARTER - 2017 | 25
MemberSpotlight Relax, Stay, Play
Pamper yourself with a staycation at a local bed and breakfast. The Browning Bed and Breakfast, located in a historic house built in 1889, is within walking distance of downtown Lee’s Summit and the Amtrak Station. Owners Liesl and Harlen Hays have created an urban sanctuary. The Browning stocks local goods from Whistle Stop Coffee, Natural Farm Soap Company and Freshly Scrubbed. Designed in the Farmhouse style, the house features stylish decor by local stores Cameron’s Home Furnishings and Very Violet Boutique. Liesl said, “When you walk in, the decor honors the roots of the home but it is updated and modern.” Relax in a lush queen room or opt for the expansive king suite. The home also has a Bridal Room for guests to pamper and prepare themselves for the big day. “We prepare a made-from-scratch breakfast and provide snacks in each room,” said Liesl. Morning meals range from buffet to breakfast in bed, or grab a light bite to go. After noshing on homespun fare, visit local retail shops in downtown. thebrowningls.com Hawthorn, A Bed and Breakfast that opened fall 2000 in nearby Independence, occupies a two-and-ahalf-story stone country house built in
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1900. The restored structure features six guestrooms and suites on the second and third floors. In addition, the residence includes a sunporch, veranda and spacious dining room. Enjoy an outing at a Kansas City Royals game or downtown Lee’s Summit and then retreat to this cozy oasis. hawthornbb.com
Take a Stand
Since 1989, Custard's Last Stand has brought smiles to guests with a sweet tooth. Exhibiting the look and feel of a 1950s diner and soda fountain, the interior has pastel pink and blue accents with chrome, classic car images, and memorabilia. Doo-wop and wah-wah harmonies of the Beach Boys and other yesteryear acts provide a feel-good soundtrack. Frozen custard is the main attraction. Concretes, a thick, creamy frozen custard blended with flavorings of your choice, are a crowd favorite. The shop also makes sundaes, cones and cups, and shakes. Nosh on burgers and dogs, and gourmet popcorn. A giant chessboard with playing pieces on the patio provides amusement while savoring sugary treats. custardslaststand.com
Great Escape
Like to solve mysteries and puzzles? TrappedKC creates escape rooms, where a group has 60 minutes to find clues that will lead them out of confinement. Each room varies in scenario and level
of difficulty. Success depends on wits, observation, teamwork and the ability to perform under pressure. Scenarios include The Neighbor, Bomb Squad and Treasure Island. trappedkc.com
Brews and BBQ
Smoke Brewing Company brings brewpub culture and barbeque to Main Street. Established by father and son Jeff and Josh Edwards, the brewery and restaurant is a family-run operation that debuted earlier this year. The Edwards borrowed inspiration from their Building Smoke BBQ competition barbecue team. Young chefs have elevated smoky meat dishes, savory sides and desserts above standard barbeque joint grub. For example, Pork 3.0 features pork ribs, pork belly, pulled pork, a crock of barbecue beans, house pickles, cornchili risotto and Farm to Market toast. Brewer Bert Lightle runs the 10-barrel brewhouse. Beer styles rotate on tap. Staples include Black Udder Milk Stout, Keltic Kross Irish Red Ale and Juice American IPA. The bar also serves craft cocktails developed by Mike Strohm of The W. facebook.com/Smokebrewing
Let’s Ride
Kids need a break from mobile devices and screens? Take them to Faulkner’s Ranch, which offers week-long pony camps and parties as private events. Kids learn how to take care of a pony at Pony Camp, gaining basic skills such as grooming and tack. An advanced camp teaches barrel racing, trick riding, jumping, show grooming and other skills. At pony parties, kids explore a petting farm, ride ponies and play games. The Pony Place offers a themed setting for birthday parties and kids’ events. faulknersranch.com
Visit lstourism.com for more fun things to do this summer. Garden Getaway
Bowling is a Blast
Summit Lanes provides cool respite from summer heat for kids of all ages. The bowling alley has birthday bash packages. With Pizza, Pins and Pop, a group of six can enjoy two hours of bowling shoe rental, one lane, a 32-oz. drink per person and a large cheese pizza. Open play provides affordable entertainment seven days a week. summitlanes.com
Scenic Powell Gardens includes a Visitor Education Center, nature trails and multiple themed botanical gardens. For the Missouri Barn Dinner Series, top area chefs create a memorable meal in an outdoor dining experience. Through October 22, encounter mythical creatures on display, such as unicorns and dragons, in the Gardens of Myth exhibit. The Festival of Butterflies runs August 4-20. powellgardens.org
Great Outdoors
Legacy Park, a 692-acre community park, is home to three shelters, Legacy Park Community Center, a 22-acre lake, disc golf course, amphitheater, playground, and 4.7 mile trail for biking and walking. Free bikes, canoes and paddleboards are available for use at the park. The
lake has a fishing dock for anglers and an Instagram-worthy scenic shoreline. At the climate-controlled Community Center, use free weights, running lanes, basketball courts and an aquatic center. Pool party packages are available for guests. Catch live music at the amphitheater this summer. lsparks.net
Catch a Wave
Sun and fun are in abundance at Summit Waves Aquatic Park. Use season passes to cool off at pools, body and tube slides and a 904-foot action river. Visit on family nights and Bahama Bash teen nights for evening diversion. Tommi Turtle huts may be rented for privacy and shade. Summit Waves offers birthday party packages and private party rentals as well as a concession stand to appease hungry appetites. summitwaves.net
3RD QUARTER - 2017 | 27
EntrepreneursCorner
The Auto Clinic has become more energy efficient with solar power. This is the final phase of a complete, multifaceted conversion The Auto Clinic has undergone to save energy while thinking of the future. Lee’s Summit residents since 1989, Gene and Beth Fellows purchased The Auto Clinic in 2003 with the intention of providing trustworthy service to friends, family and neighbors. The Fellows also are very invested in the community; actively involved with the Lee’s Summit Chamber, their church, Lee’s Summit school district, Lee’s Summit Soccer Association and teen driving clinics twice a year. The Auto Clinic began its complete energy conversion last July by
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switching out all 26 shop lights from 400W to 200W LED lamp assemblies. This decision was encouraged by a KCP&L rebate, which ultimately saved them $305 per lamp. A big project that would have cost $12,900 was reduced to $4,970 after the rebates. The next switch was the front sign (which you can see from Hwy 50 on Oldham Pkwy), upgraded from 20 9-foot fluorescent bulbs to a series of LED strips. They have seen an energy savings of over 2,000 kWh per month by these changes alone.
home, which intrigued him to know more about all the effects. After speaking with multiple companies, they chose to work with MC Power last summer for both the project planning overview and cost. Hours of planning with the city, KCP&L, engineers and MC Power led to the actual install in April. The overall project to install 120 solar panels, at 315 kWh each, on the shop roof and integrate those into the power was about a 9-month project, but will offer years of return.
And finally, the biggest undertaking has been the solar panel project with MC Power Companies. It all started with Fellows talking with a customer who was installing solar panels at his
In order to fully monitor the energy savings, MC Power has set up a computer monitoring program that can show to-the-minute energy production, reporting daily, weekly
or monthly for full understanding of the ongoing benefits. Any extra energy produced is sold back to KCP&L for 2 cents per kWh. Coupled with the two light conversion projects, the solar project should cover 70 percent to 80 percent of their electrical usage annually. All the above is not the only way The Auto Clinic is green. The company has been using waste oil to heat a water boiler, which then goes into radiant floor heating for the shop.
Updated 26 shop lamps and sign conversion
Average Use: 6,533 kWh
Average Use: 3,711 kWh
2,822 kWh per month
1 Outdoor sign
Average Use: 65,000 kWh
Average Use: 4,000 kWh
61,000 kWh
120 solar panels
Alternating current
Direct current
61% offset in utilities with predictable power production
SERVING THE LEE’S SUMMIT COMMUNITY Do you wish coming to work was the highlight of all your employees’ day? DPI’s Employment Connections program offers customized employment in the community for individuals with disabilities, helping them contribute to the community in positive ways. S U P P O R T I N G E M P L O Y M E N T F O R I N D I V I D UA L S W I T H D I S A B I L I T I E S, B EC A U S E I T M A K E S G O O D B U S I N E S S S E N S E
251 Executive Way, Ste. 200 Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 816.525.6000 | developingpotential.org
Power of
One
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED? After 40+ Walt Disney World trips (starting at 6 months old), this was inevitable! DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN ONE WORD. Organized. WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO DO THIS FOR A LIVING? I’ve always had a passion for Disney and a love of travel. My undergraduate degree is in business administration, and I have been interested in hospitality my whole life. Once we started moving regularly for my fiancé’s military job, I knew I would need to find a career that could move with me, and that I absolutely loved to do. This career was a perfect match. WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU MOST ABOUT THIS INDUSTRY? There’s an amazing amount of information sharing that goes on every day amongst our agents. We are always sharing restaurant recommendations, photos of new attractions and experiences our clients have had so that 30 | CATALYST --THE THEBUSINESS BUSINESSMAGAZINE MAGAZINE
we stay current and knowledgeable. It’s a great way to keep our client experience top-notch and our brand strong.
Disney destinations – Disney Cruise Line, Aulani in Hawaii and especially Adventures by Disney!
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FACING YOUR BUSINESS TODAY? Social media – which is an amazing resource for information and marketing, but also tends to increase the pressure clients feel about experiencing EVERYTHING on their vacation. I try to help them balance their trip so that they get the most “bang for their buck” but still take time to enjoy the experience, disconnect, and really focus on enjoying the moment and making memories.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISNEY EXPERIENCE? Last year, we perfectly timed our dinner at the California Grill so that we watched the fireworks over Magic Kingdom. They dimmed the lights and piped in the music and we had a table right next to the window. It was pure magic!
WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU WISH PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT EARS OF EXPERIENCE? Our planning services are completely free to clients who book their trips through us. There’s no “catch” and that always seems to surprise first-time clients. WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR THE BUSINESS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? I would love to work more with the other
WHAT’S YOUR BUSIEST TIME OF YEAR? The fall. After a few weeks back in school, everyone is ready to start thinking about their winter and spring breaks. ANY FUN STATISTICS ABOUT DISNEY OR THE INDUSTRY? Starting in 2006, Disney has randomly selected families for one-night stays in the deluxe suite that occupies the top of Cinderella’s Castle in Walt Disney World. This is surely an amazing experience and the suite is extremely luxurious – however, you are not allowed to leave the suite at any point during the night.
JUST FOR FUN TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY. My fiancé is in the Air Force, and Missouri is the third state I’ve lived in with him. We have two Shetland sheepdogs that are twelve years old, and we are getting married in September. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? I started working as a babysitter at age 13. A brave woman left me in charge of her 2-year old and 2-month old.
•
Disney Transportation System is the third largest bus system in Florida with over 290 buses.
•
Disney has grown over 500 oak trees from acorns of the Liberty Oak found in Liberty Square.
•
More than 1.6 million turkey legs are consumed at the parks every year. They are such a fan favorite that you can buy turkey leg hats, t-shirts and other souvenirs.
•
An imagineer named George was killed during the building of Pirates of the Caribbean. It is said his ghost haunts the ride to this day. Workers say “goodnight George” before they shut down the ride each night as a superstition to prevent attraction break downs the next day.
•
Mickey is more of a fashionista than Minnie. He has over 290 different outfits in his closet compared to her 200.
•
Over 200 pairs of sunglasses are turned into lost and found each day at Disney World.
•
Underneath Disney World are miles of underground tunnels called utilidors that house the massive costume departments, cast member break rooms, garbage chutes and more.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING IN YOUR DOWNTIME? I love being active, so I run or go to Cross Fit five or six days a week. I also love doing projects around our home, gardening and especially traveling! WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF MONEY WERE NO OBJECT? Traveling the world! I’d particularly love to do some of the “Adventures by Disney” trips since they are able to provide access to some really exclusive experiences (like a private tour of the Sistine Chapel). FAVORITE MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney MORNING OR EVENING PERSON? Mornings! I’m up at 6 a.m., even on the weekends. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT LEE’S SUMMIT? The community events. I’ve never lived in a place that had things like Oktoberfest or Downtown Days and I get a huge kick out of helping out with those and meeting my neighbors. I’m also a huge fan of the farmer’s market. COFFEE OR COCKTAILS? Both, but not coffee-flavored cocktails.
3RD 3RD QUARTER QUARTER -- 2017 2017 || 31 31
EconomicUpdate
LSEDC Signals Move into the Fast Lane for 2017 The Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council just kicked off its new fiscal year and is eager to work with our new 2017-18 leadership team led by Chairman Keith Asel, regional president for Hawthorn Bank. Much like the past two years of record-breaking investment, we expect activity to continue to be in overdrive in the upcoming year. But before we kick it into high gear, I want to take a moment to reflect on the past year and to thank 2016-17 LSEDC Chair Christine Bushyhead for her leadership and accomplishments. In economic development circles, we spend a lot of time talking about the importance of infrastructure as a fundamental building block to future growth and investment. Similarly, organizational infrastructure is equally foundational to the future performance and success of LSEDC, and that is where Christine focused her attention and effort during her tenure.
mmunity ector of Co ir D , n o ilt m Jessica Ha Investor Relations and
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At LSEDC’s recent annual meeting in July, we announced significant internal process improvements in 2016-17, a year in which the organization reached full staffing levels, hired Jessica Hamilton to lead
and implement business retention and investor relations programs, streamlined its programming and organizational structure, clearly defined the LSEDC mission and vision, launched an HR Roundtable and rolled out a Speaker Series program that has drawn high-level executive attention to our community. These internal process improvements over the past year have shown immediate benefits, particularly on the business retention and expansion (BRE) front. During the first five months of the year, Hamilton conducted 20 on-site BRE visits, 38 face-to-face investor visits and provided 59 “company assists,” connecting a local company to a potential partner or project or troubleshooting any number of issues. On the workforce front, LSEDC launched a job portal connecting potential employees to employers
During the first five months of the year, Hamilton conducted 20 on-site BRE visits, 38 face-to-face investor visits and provided 59 “company assists.”
with job openings and will continue to share these opportunities on social media channels. Over the coming year, workforce will continue to be a top LSEDC priority as the long-awaited opening of the Missouri Innovation Campus gets rolling and creates a huge hometown advantage for Lee’s Summit companies as they compete for top talent. LSEDC will work to leverage this community’s strong educational ecosystem — which is built on key partnerships among the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District, MCC-Longview and the University of Central Missouri — to attract new investment and retain existing businesses.
Clearly, the secret is out about the high quality of Lee’s Summit schools, neighborhoods and amenities, as well as our development-friendly business climate. We had much to celebrate in the past year with over $1 billion in public and private investment announced, and by all indications the next 18 months are going to be just as much of a blockbuster. At LSEDC, we’ve put on our seatbelts and are ready to jump back into the fast lane. We hope you’ll join us for the next leg of what we expect to be a very exciting ride.
On the project front, LSEDC expects several key industrial, mixed-use and office announcements in the next year, thanks to commercial land opening for development in the Summit Corridor as well as the south side of town near U.S. Highway 50 and Missouri 291 Highway. As of June 1, LSEDC was working 16 active projects after submitting seven RFPs in the first quarter.
RICK MCDOWELL President & CEO Lee’s Summit Economic Dev. Council
Fun Fact Rick has been a part of projects in 47
states. He is just missing Idaho, Alaska and Hawaii.
When it comes to your to-do list, put your future first. To find out how to get your financial goals on track, contact your Edward Jones financial advisor today.
www.edwardjones.com
FAP-1966C-A
816-272-5650 Mark A. Sandy, AAMS® Financial Advisor
Brian R. Sandy
Financial Advisor
33 | CATALYST - THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Me m b e r S IP C
200 SE Douglas St, Ste 105 Lee’s Summit, MO 64063
3RD QUARTER - 2017 | 33
LeadershipLessons
Advice from Jane 1. Be aware of the bad employee and the affect they have on your business or organization. 2. Growth is painful, let people be helpful to you. 3. Don’t be afraid to have your character challenged. If you have good character you’ll always come out on top. 4. Become a strategic driver of your company, not a technical do-er. 5. Sleep is medicine.
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Community leader, Jane Monroe, shared her successes and struggles creating Embrace the Grape Beverage Catering with participants at the Lee’s Summit Chamber’s Lunch with Leaders. Monroe grew up on Lake Lotawana and describes her childhood as a “fairy-tale upbringing.” After graduating college, she met her husband, got married and started a family. Shortly after, she moved back to Lee’s Summit to raise her children as a stay at home mother. Monroe recalls a conversation with her grandmother where she received the advice, “women need their own money,” and decided it was time to enter the workforce again. She treated her husband to a wine tasting class and found she enjoyed helping him discover his favorite flavors, which led her to
apply for a position at Gomer’s Fine Wine and Spirits in Lee’s Summit. After Monroe began working at Gomer’s, she learned that the owners were looking for another partner to help manage the business. Passionate about the industry, she took a leap of faith, bought into the partnership and began what was the start of a successful career. After working in the industry awhile, a bride asked Monroe to provide alcohol at her upcoming wedding to be held at the Gamber Community Center. Gomer’s didn’t have the licensing and Monroe had to do something she hated to do, tell a client no. This event led her to acknowledge a void in their business. “We had an opportunity to expand our services at Gomer’s so I presented the idea of beverage catering to my
partners,” said Monroe. With a little hesitation, her partners finally agreed and she began catering beverages for events, such as weddings. “I had my first beverage catering event in May 2009. It was a wedding at the Emaline Ballroom,” recalls Monroe. Knowing that she could do more with beverage catering, she obtained her own license, split from Gomer’s and Embrace the Grape Beverage Catering was born. For its first five years, ETG was located on the bottom level of the Emaline Ballroom, and after great expansion the business finally outgrew that location and moved to the current location at 301 NW Central Street, Suite J. Monroe had many challenges and defining moments along the way and remembers a 5K Color Run. “I was
serving beverages to the runners after completing the course and remember thinking what a waste of time this is,” she said after only serving a few drinks. “Later that day, I met a colleague that eventually became one of my best connections and realized it’s the little things that make a huge difference.” She also provided the Lunch with Leaders attendees advice on “rock solid” pricing and encouraged them to stand firm on their pricing. “If people ask for a discount, increase your services rather that reducing the price so you don’t devalue the work you do or services you provide.” Monroe has grown Embrace the Grape into a regional favorite and continues to receive accolades to prove it. From Wedding Wire to The Knot, clients
provide ETG with great reviews because of Monroe’s experience, dedication and service, not to mention her bubbly personality. Monroe doesn’t know what’s in store for her business, but knows she will continue to provide the best possible service for her clients and ensure no body goes thirsty.
Jane’s Hippie Juice 750 ml New Amsterdam Berry Vodka 8 oz Triple Sec 8 oz Malibu Rum 8 oz Finest Call Strawberry Puree 3 Liters Pink Lemonade Serve over ice and garnish with a lime
3RD QUARTER - 2017 | 35
MovingIn
NEW TO TOWN Businesses open their doors and settle down in Lee’s Summit
Libations & Company
Summit on March 18. Owner Amy Hodapp said, “Opening in downtown Lee’s Summit was the perfect fit for Pinspire. The charming atmosphere of downtown fits the welcoming, creative vibe of our studio.”
Officially opened on April 15, Libations and Company is sharing history and showcasing local spirits. Enter into the feel of a swanky lounge bar with inviting leather chairs, where there once was a barber shop, low lighting, and historic elements throughout. The pre-Civil War brick walls and restored original tin ceilings make a fabulous setting to display bitters, natural mixes, local distiller spirits and barware, all grouped in areas on antique furniture. Owner Seth Allen is excited to offer all five available KC distilled spirits including vodkas, gins, whiskeys and bourbons from Tom’s Town, J. Rieger, Restless Spirits and Union Horse, some of which are available to sample. Libations is working on a schedule of events for mixology classes with well-known mixologists, distillery showcase day events and special after hours events.
Pinspire, LLC Create and take at Pinspire, LLC, a local DIY (do-it-yourself) craft studio that opened in historic downtown Lee’s
At Pinspire, DIYers can choose a project to fit their style, receive instruction on how to make the project and best of all, creators never have to worry about running out of materials because Pinspire provides everything needed. “You don’t have to be ‘crafty’ at all. Come in, pick a project and we will walk you through it step by step.” Hodapp said. Private rentals are available for ladies nights, birthdays, bridal showers or any other special events. Also, keep up to date with their latest news and upcoming classes through social media.
The Bicycle Shack, LLC Family-owned since 1981, The Bicycle Shack has been helping Kansas City and the surrounding area with its cycling needs for 35 years. From bike fitting to repair, it provides a variety of services to keep all bicycles, new and classic, on the move.
Libations & Company
Pinspire, LLC
The Bicycle Shack, LLC
23 SE Third Street 816.729.1563 •givedrink.com
12 ½ SW 3rd Street 816.434.0120 • pinspirestudio.com
3365 SW Fascination Drive 816.761.3233 • bicycleshack.com
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Customers can expect a high quality of work from welltrained and knowledgeable technicians, making them never second guess their decision to bring their bike in for service. On March 1, The Bicycle Shack moved its roots to Lee’s Summit. “We chose to move The Bicycle Shack to Lee’s Summit because this is where all our customers currently ride. We felt we could better serve our customers and the community if we are right here for them,” said owner Jody Starforth. The Bicycle Shack sells a variety of accessories, clothing and helmets necessary to keep customers safe and also provide bike rentals for those who prefer an occasional ride.
our remarkable food and amazing drinks in a relaxing atmosphere where they can start their own tradition,” explains JD House. Join us during happy hour and stay for dinner.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites The Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Lee’s Summit is the newest and most modern Holiday Inn Express & Suites hotel in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Every room features high speed wireless internet, HDTV, Keurig brewer, mini fridge, work desk and more. The facility has a spacious banquet area accommodating 80 people comfortably the can be used for business meetings, conferences or other events. “Stay Smart” and book a room at the Holiday Inn Express.
Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar Big Whiskey’s is a tradition-started restaurant and bar that first opened in Springfield, Mo. in 2006. The tradition began about 30 years ago when a regular visitor during happy hour told the bartender, “I’m only going to have one, so make it a big one.” He became known as “Big Whiskey” which is what influenced the name. Big Whiskey was the kind of man who always had the right thing to say at the right time, whether it was a joke, story or toast. Everyone knew if he was sitting at the bar, it was going to be a good night. Now open in Summit Fair, Big Whiskey’s is excited to expand to the KC metro and felt that Lee’s Summit represented that “neighborhood feel” franchisee owners JD and Edward House want to share and grow. “We have family roots in Lee’s Summit and felt it was the perfect introduction of Big Whiskey’s to the KC area. We want people to experience
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School is the first high school to be built by the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph in more than 50 years. The school anticipates more than 350 students grades 9-12 to attend in August 2017. Alan Burns, director of communication and enrollment said, “St. Michael the Archangel is thrilled to see our school come to life in anticipation of all the amazing students and faculty who will soon join! We are so close to completion of our beautiful building and are counting down the days until we open.” St. Michael is currently accepting enrollment and the public is able to view the newly completed building on August 19 for their SMA 5K Walk/Run and tours.
Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School
806 NW Blue Parkway 816.347.1881 • bigwhiskeys.com
1201 NW Innovation Parkway 816.600.2405 • holidayinnexpress.com
2901 NW Lee’s Summit Road 816.763.4800 • smacatholic.org 3RD QUARTER - 2017 | 37
ChamberUpdate
The Browning B&B Ribbon Cutting
2017 Brings Success to Lee’s Summit Lee’s Summit has celebrated some exciting successes so far this year, from breaking ground on several new infrastructure projects to new investments in businesses and education. The Chamber, through the help of a small task force and staff, recently put their heads together to complete a three-year strategic plan for the organization. The plan re-worked our mission and vision statements
and outlined priorities for the coming years. Look for the Chamber and the leaders of our business community to continue pushing for more progress in these new initiatives. With the addition of two new staff members, the Chamber is running full speed ahead to continue improving and developing initiatives to keep up with the ever-changing business climate. Entrepreneurship programs hosted by the Market Center of Ideas have reached new levels, providing members with access to additional resources and mentorship to grow. The Chamber’s new mobilefriendly website provides much more opportunity for digital enhancements as we evolve into a world relying on the digital realm more than ever. Within that site also lie new legislative resources to help members stay on top of issues affecting their business. We recently wrapped up another sell out Golf Classic and we thank all the teams and sponsors for making it a wonderful day. Preparations for Oktoberfest, which is the organization’s largest fundraiser, are well underway and we’re looking forward to a fun festival September
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22-23, 2017. We’re always looking for volunteers to help with various aspects of the festival, so grab your friends or coworkers and sign up to help serve some beer and brats. We continue to work on tourism efforts, as tourism and business walk hand-in-hand. We’re bringing people to Lee’s Summit so they can experience everything we love about our community. This translates into hotel stays, dollars spent in our shops and restaurants and additional foot traffic at local events and attractions. In the third quarter of FY17, the bed tax saw a 21 percent increase over third quarter FY16. In addition, sales tax revenues have increased nearly three percent so far this year. It’s been a busy year for the Chamber and the community in general. I’m looking forward to enjoying the rest of the summer, and as we head into the second half of the year, I encourage our members to take advantage of all the Chamber has to offer. Head to one of our networking events, get involved in a committee or reach out for guidance on a business issue and see how we can help you improve and grow your business.
Kauffman Performing Arts Field Trip
TIM ARBEITER President Lee’s Summit Chamber
Fun Fact
Tim cannot do roller coasters or haunted houses, they freak him out.
The Sandler Selling System® relies heavily on the 3 Rs. Reinforcement, Reinforcement and Reinforcement. Sandler Training™ utilizes continual reinforcement through ongoing training and individual coaching sessions. The combination helps you learn more quickly and ensures your success. With a training center in Lee’s Summit to provide support, you won’t fail…we won’t let you.
Jeff Driskill Driskill Business Development Group, Inc. An Authorized Sandler Training™ Licensee 816-591-4438 / jeff.driskill@sandler.com www.driskill.sandler.com
Sandler Sales Institute and S Sandler Sales Institute (with design) are registered service marks of Sandler Systems, Inc. S Sandler Sales Institute Finding Power in Reinforcement (with design) and Finding Power in Reinforcement are service marks of Sandler System, Inc. ©2007 Sandler Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
3RD QUARTER - 2017 | 39
SurveySays
We asked Chamber members what type of home improvements provide the strongest return on investment for homeowners in today’s market. Read their answers below.
BEN MEYER STAR ENERGY CONSULTANTS
SHAYLA DEAM RE/MAX HERITAGE
ROB BINNEY REECENICHOLS
JOHN PAYNE DOOR SYSTEMS INC.
The types of improvements that make the biggest splash for the least amount of money are sealing up your home and insulating well. Not only are they inexpensive investments, but KCP&L gives rebates to help pay for some of these improvements. Plus, if you get a Home Energy Audit first, you qualify for up to $2,000 in tax deductions from the state of Missouri. A Home Energy Audit is an inexpensive way to find out and prioritize your home (and your family’s) needs and provide a road-map for your home to increase efficiency, lower your utility bills and improve your home’s value.
Kitchens and baths, when upgraded correctly, provide the most return. Keep in mind the average neighborhood valuations. You don’t want to go in and do a $20,000 kitchen upgrade in a neighborhood where it will put you as the highest priced home on the block. Neighborhood consistency is important to buyers. Never hesitate to call our office for opinions on upgrades. It is a service free of charge.
Kitchens (countertops, sinks, appliances), master suites (especially the bath), and bathrooms (countertops, sinks, surrounds) continue to be the best rooms where an investment today provides a return tomorrow. Doors (entry and garage), along with paint (interior and exterior) and updated trim are smaller, but also good investments to maximize a return.
Due to an increase in the price of homes and decrease in number of days on the market, exterior home improvements have proven to give the strongest return on investment for homeowners in 2017. Garage door replacement ranked as the #1 best way to increase property value, with entry door and window replacement coming in a very close second and third.
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John’s source: A 2017 study on remodeling cost vs. value in Remodeling Magazine
custom window coverings
BB Commercial Solutions (BBCS) can show you how to match window coverings to the needs of your business by offering you the widest window covering selection from North America’s leading manufacturers. Our consultative approach, combined with our long-established relationships with many of the nation’s most well-known vendors, makes BBCS the clear choice.
239 SE Main Street Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 816.554.7779 www.BudgetBlinds.com/LeesSummit ©2017 BB Commercial Solutions, LLC. All rights reserved. BB Commercial Solutions and BBCS are trademarks of BB Commercial Solutions, LLC. All other brands are the property of their respective trademark owners.
C R E M AT I O N - T H E N E W T R A D I T I O N
816-373-9888
TIM & JANA ALLEN REALTY EXECUTIVES In this market, we see that home improvements to kitchens, master bedroom and baths, and exterior living space get the highest return on investment. If you’re looking for quick and easy improvements, a fresh coat of paint on interior and exterior, updated light fixtures, and spruced up landscaping can go a long way.
Simple Cremation starting at
1,095
$
New Location Now Open in Lee’s Summit 831 NE Lakewood Blvd. (I-470 at NE Lakewood Blvd.) Lee’s Summit, MO 64064
Additional Locations: Kansas
View the Chamber Membership Directory at LSchamber.com for a full listing of realtors and home improvement professionals.
8837 Roe Ave. Prairie Village, KS 66207 Phone:913-383-9888
Missouri
5561 NW Barry Rd. Kansas City, MO 64154 Phone: 816-822-9888
Pre-planning on our website at
www.kccremation.com 3RD QUARTER - 2017 | 41
CALENDAR OF
EVENTS RECESS FOR SUCCESS 4–5 p.m. Tuesday, July 11 John Knox Village-Manhattan Room, 1001 NW Chipman Rd. Speaker: Daren Fristoe, The Fristoe Group Topic: Hiring and Working with Millennials RIBBON CUTTING – GOIN’ POSTAL LEE’S SUMMIT 4 p.m. Wednesday, July 12 196A NW Oldham Pkwy CHAMBER AFTER HOURS 4:30–6 p.m. Thursday, July 13 Sponsor & Location: Summit Flooring & Turf, 1051 SE Century Dr. CHAMBER YOUNG PROFESSIONALS LUNCHEON 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Tuesday, July 18 Location & Sponsor: Down to Earth Services, 16010 E. 85th St. RIBBON CUTTING – DANA ARTH, CPA 4 p.m. Tuesday July 18 304 SE Third Street RIBBON CUTTING – EVEXIA FAMILY CHIROPRACTIC, LLC 4 p.m. Thursday, July 20 102 NE Green Street MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Friday, July 21 Gamber Center, 4 SE Independence Ave. Speaker: Ronnie Burt, Visit KC Sponsor: Summit Flooring & Turf Reservations required CHAMBER BEFORE HOURS 7:30–8:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 25 Sponsor & Location: Avila University 11901 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO
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RIBBON CUTTING – CREMATION SOCIETY OF KANSAS & MISSOURI 4 p.m. Thursday, July 27 831 NE Lakewood Boulevard RECESS FOR SUCCESS 4–5 p.m. Tuesday, August 1 John Knox Village-Manhattan Room, 1001 NW Chipman Rd. Speaker: Grant Gooding, Entrepreneur Topic: Positioning Your Company for Success CHAMBER AFTER HOURS 4:30–6 p.m. Thursday, August 10 Sponsor & Location: T-Bones Deli & Meat Market, 27900 E. Colbern Rd., Lake Lotawana MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON 11:30–1 p.m. Friday August 18 Missouri Innovation Campus 1101 NW Innovation Parkway Speaker: Dr. Dennis Carpenter, LSR-7 Sponsor: Weed Man Reservations required CHAMBER YOUNG PROFESSIONALS LUNCHEON 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Monday, August 21 Location & Sponsor: Powell Gardens 1609 NW U.S. 50 Hwy., Kingsville CHAMBER BEFORE HOURS 7:30–8:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 22 Location & Sponsor: Foundation Recovery Systems, 250 NW Commerce Ct. RIBBON CUTTING – KMR TRUCK PARTS & SERVICE 3 p.m. Thursday, August 24 33605 E U.S. Highway 50
CHAMBER 101: GET PLUGGED IN 3:30–5 p.m. Tuesday, August 29 Paradise Park, 1021 NE Colbern Rd. RIBBON CUTTING-IGNITING BUSINESS LLC 4 p.m. Thursday, August 31 500 SW Third Street RIBBON CUTTING – BELLAH HOMES 11:30 a.m. Friday, September 8 Location TBA RECESS FOR SUCCESS 4–5 p.m. Tuesday, September 12 John Knox Village-Manhattan Room, 1001 NW Chipman Rd. Social media panel: John Beaudoin, Krista Klaus & Anne Cull CHAMBER AFTER HOURS 4:30–6 p.m. Thursday, September 14 Sponsor & Location: Summit Rehabilitation & Wellness Center, 100 NE Tudor Road, Ste. 110 MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON 11:30–1:30 p.m. Friday, September 15 Location: Powell Gardens, 1609 NW US Highway 50, Kingsville Speaker: George Guastello, II, Union Station Sponsor: Developing Potential Reservations required RIBBON CUTTING-CAPITAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT 4 p.m. Tuesday, September 19 608 SW 3rd St. Registering for events is easy at LSchamber.com! Click the event you wish to attend and log in with your member ID. Don’t know your password or aren’t a member? Call 816.524.2424 for help.
(CARNIVAL REMAINS OPEN SEPT. 24)
German Meals & Dancing - biergarten - Carnival rides Arts & Crafts Showcase - kids street - Home Brew tasting live entertainment - Stein Hoisting Competition - SPORTZELT
AMTRAK • ARC PHYSICAL THERAPY+ • Central States Beverage Co. • Discover Vision Centers • Door Systems, Inc. First Federal Bank • GREAT SOUTHERN BANK • Kansas City Star • Longview Funeral Home & cemetery Tingle Flooring • us bank
220 SE Main Street • Lee’s Summit, MO 64063
AIRPORT Improvements!!! • 5,500 feet runway coming mid-summer! • Up to 60,000 pound aircraft capacity! • 40,000 heated hangar space now available!
Quick access to the heart of downtown Kansas City. Fly-in to Lee’s Summit and discover the many surrounding entertainment venues and events, shopping, dining and nightlife! 2751 NE Douglas Street | LSairport.net | 969.1800
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