Catalyst - The Business Magazine Q4 2016

t h e b u s i ne s s m a g a z i ne

RETAIL BOOM

4th qtr 2016

New Expansion Lifts Business

Lee’s Summit Retail Scene Gains Momentum

NETWORKING TIPS Formula for Gaining Useful Connections

Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport Undergoes Runway Expansion

Visit LSmeansbusiness.net for info

At Your Service...

Subscribing to the belief that tomorrow’s economic growth demands smarter forward thinking (and doing) today, the City of Lee’s Summit introduced the Business and Development Center. A first-of-its-kind, the “concierge service” makes the business and development process a whole lot easier from start to finish.

Maybe that’s why Lee’s Summit’s rating as a “place to conduct business” is now 12.9 times higher than the national average by both entrepreneurs and CEOs. But don’t just take our word for it, come see what we can do for you and your business.

Holidays at Cosentino’s

COSENTINO’S CATERING - Custom Gift Packages, Holiday Parties, Office Party Appetizer Packages, Achievement Celebrations, Corporate Events.

LAKEWOOD WINE AND SPIRITS - Selection, variety and price is what’s so outstanding at our Lakewood Price Chopper wine and spirits! One of Missouri’s largest, and have you checked out our prices? Wow! Let us help you entertain this holiday season.

FLORAL - If custom fresh floral is on your list, we can beautify any décor with color and design. Don’t forget our great deals on Poinsettia’s this season. A colorful way to decorate in the holiday spirit.

BAKERY - Sweets and Treats. There is a fix for any sweet tooth this season from candy trays, killer brownies, our

famous cookies to our pies. Everything for the front desk, break room treats, bakery gifts to custom dessert options for caterings we will deliver everything on your list.

816-744-2146

816-537-0700 Raintree 816-347-8888 Lakewood

Changing Tides I’m not sure how we’ve already made it to fall, but here we are! Time is flying, so enjoy that Pumpkin Spice Latte you’re sipping on, because December is just 50 days away (I repeat, 50 days).

First of all, I want to say thank you to all of the volunteers who worked so hard at this year’s Oktoberfest. I am so incredibly proud of the spirit of volunteerism in our community and I’m thankful to be a part of it. As we move forward, I urge everyone to give back to the community, whether it’s through a local nonprofit, church, school or even just a neighbor in need.

As you know, the Chamber provides legislative advocacy year-round, but now is the time to do your part. The November presidential election is just around the corner and I cannot emphasize enough the importance of making an educated vote. The tides are changing, and it takes all of us to steer the boat….GO VOTE! On another note, the holidays are closing in on us and festivities will be in full swing. Between family visits and traveling, preparing meals, holiday shopping and amped up hours at the office, things can get hectic. Just remember to use the Chamber as a resource in all of your holiday endeavors. Shop at Chamber member stores, use member caterers for meals and knock some to-dos off your list at a Chamber workshop. Shoot, even your crazy aunt who never appreciates anything will enjoy the gift of Chamber Gift Checks.

Anyway, as my time as chair winds down, I want to thank you for choosing to be a part of the Lee’s Summit Chamber. It’s been an incredible year, and I look forward to celebrating our successes together in the coming months. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy being a part of this organization and I wish each and every one of you God’s Blessings for a wonderful finish to 2016.

Yours Truly,

Vicky cundiff, weed man 2016 Chamber Chair of the Board _______________________________________________________

Chamber Staff Tim Arbeiter, CEcD, IOM, 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 Darla Hall, Advertising Manager Anne Aubuchon, Administrative Assistant Vanessa King, Bookkeeper Marilyn Pemberton, Part-time Assistant 4 | CATALYST–THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

t h e b u s i ne s s m a g a z i ne

4th qtr 2016

publisher Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce CHAMBER PRESIDENT Tim Arbeiter ADVERTISING MANAGER Darla Hall DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Stephanie Kusek _______________________________ EDITORIAL STAFF Darla Hall Stephanie Kusek _______________________________ CONTRIBUTING WRITERS John Beaudoin, Lynn Hinkle, Kendra Mathewson, Rick McDowell, Jim McKenna, Denise Mills John Ohrazda, Rob Rance _______________________________ ADVERTISING For advertising information, contact Darla Hall dhall@lschamber.com 816.524.2424 _______________________________ PRESS RELEASES Send to skusek@lschamber.com _______________________________

220 SE Main Street Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 816.524.2424 • LSchamber.com

You work hard for what you get.

We’re for working hard to protect it.

If you’re in Jackson county, I’m for you.

Wayne Burch – Insurance Specialist (816) 805-7591

We’ve got Missouri covered.

AUTO

HOME

LIFE

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LEE’S SUMMIT SOCIAL SERVICES pg. 24 Caring for Lee’s Summit families

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HOLIDAY HOTSPOTS pg. 38 Lee’s Summit’s holiday traditions

AIRPORT EXPANSION • pg. 20 Extended runways mean enhanced revenue

DOWNTOWN SCOOP Local Brew Shop Gets New Home Manufacturing insider Father-Son Team Mixes it Up money matters Make Money on Credit Cards local destination History & Elegance in a Corporate Venue get to know a ceo Health Care Leaders in Lee’s Summit pro tips Formula for Networking Success social buzz Increasing Your Local SEO new to town The Dotted Chair person to person Meet Mike Maksin economic update Retail Boom in Lee’s Summit power of one Full Voice Celebrates 25 Years chamber update Looking Ahead to 2017 SURVEY SAYS Tips for Your Next Car Purchase 6 | CATALYST–THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Smart...

The Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council takes pride in being known as one of the most responsive, resourceful, innovative and collaborative business environments in the Kansas City metro area. Our entire business community shares an enthusiastic and forward-thinking spirit.

It is our pleasure to serve all those with a sincere interest in investing, relocating and expanding their business in Lee’s Summit. We invite you to visit us online to see what we can do for you and your business.

Yours Truly, LEESSUMMIT.ORG | 816.525.6617

Scoop

Downtown

Grains & Taps Downtown craft beer pub and home brew supply store pours out passion, taps into community Two born-and-bred Lee’s Summit lads are leading the home brew and craft beer community from behind the bar (and sliding barn door) they created downtown. Co-owners Brad Boehm and Brian Bixby are pouring out their passion for what began as a hobby, and they’ve tapped into an unexpected enthusiasm and shared interest in craft beer. The result is a place called “Grains & Taps” that’s becoming the “Cheers” of our hometown, where everybody knows everybody’s name.

this could work,’” says Brad. He knew he was tired of driving 45 minutes to get supplies and equipment himself. They were right.

With the explosion of interest in craft beer and home brewing, people immediately found them. And still do. To accommodate interest and meet demand, they recently moved to a cool new location doubling their size on 3rd Street, where Mariam’s Memories used to be. (Mariam herself was one of the first customers to enjoy a toast to Brad and Brian’s new venture.)

Named for the grains kept in the home brew supply store in the back half of the facility used for making beer at home, and the 24 taps of craft beer available at the bar in the front half of the building, Grains & Taps has become the go-to place for purchasing home brew equipment and supplies, as well as meeting others who share an interest.

The relationship between craft beer and home brewing is almost inseparable. “It’s definitely a hobby more and more people are being drawn to,” explains Brad. “People taste a craft beer and get interested in how it’s made, and that often leads to trying it at home.” And for home brewers, craft beer offers inspiration for trying new recipes.

Friends since childhood, both men graduated in 2004 from Lee’s Summit North. A mechanical engineer by trade, Brad got started brewing beer for fun several years ago with some colleagues at a brew party. He enjoyed learning and creating something that was enjoyed together. While visiting Lee’s Summit from Nashville, where he was working in the music business, Brian tasted some of Brad’s creations and was hooked, too. By June 2013, the pair had concocted a viable business plan to make their hobby something more. Brian moved back home to run it full time.

The craft beer/home brewer culture is a welcoming one, especially at Grains & Taps. “It’s not your typical bar. It’s a pretty amazing, cozy place where people come in and talk to everybody,” says Brad. “We know more of our customers by name than we don’t.” Talk centers around the shared interest in experiencing and exploring the variety of tastes available from the taps. And, customers bring in their creations to share, including a local home brew club (ZZHopps) that meets there on third Mondays.

“We thought, ‘There have to be enough people in Lee’s Summit interested in making their own beer and wine that a store like

Brian shares his insight about why it’s become so popular.

“Craft beer is complex. When you compare craft beer to other

8 | CATALYST–THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

beverages, there is more to talk about, more flavors, variety of styles.

All the products we sell here invite conversation, and conversation builds community,” he explains.

The store offers equipment, kits and ingredients for making beer, as well as wine. The friendships forming around the grains and taps here enrich the whole experience of discovering the world of craft and home brewing. And encourage beginners to try it, without being intimidated.

“Recently a customer came in who wanted to get started brewing. He went out to the bar, had a beer, talked to some of the people in the bar and they invited him to brew with them,” says Brad. Start up costs average about $200 for equipment and an ingredient kit to make five gallons. Kits alone start at $35 and up. A variety of grains are available for advanced brewers with their own recipes.

“I love sharing something I make and am proud of with other people,” says Brian. “It’s not the drinking or even the making…it’s sharing with people who enjoy it.”

Grains & Taps 10 SW 3rd St. Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 816.866.5827 grainsandtaps.com Closed Mondays (except during football season, opens at 4 p.m.)

Tuesdays: noon to 10 p.m.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: noon to midnight Saturday: 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday: noon to 8 p.m.

Home Brew Store closes at 8 p.m. every day

The new space includes something for everyone. “We added cocktails and appetizers so people who aren’t into craft beer can enjoy an evening at a bar,” says Brad, “But not just any bar. We’ve got that community feel.”

Want some good old-fashioned sales training?

Don’t call us.

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.

4TH QUARTER - 2016 | 9

Insider

Manufacturing

CK Enterprises Mixing it Up Worldwide The next time you wash your car, clean your windows or pick up your dry cleaning, think about Lee’s Summitbased CK Enterprises (CKE).

Because, just maybe, the liquids and powders used in your day-to-day lives might be transformed into products made down the street from where you live.

In an inconspicuous facility off Jefferson and south M-291 Hwy. sits a decades-old business that is mixing, making and shipping more than 3,000 products all over the world on a daily basis.

Recently celebrating its 35th anniversary, CKE owner and founder Charlie Kunkel is still as enthusiastic about chemistry and chemicals as he was the day he started in his own garage.

“Sure, I’m still having fun with it,” Charlie said as one of his dogs, Hazel, or as they refer to her, ‘Peanut,’ races through the conference room and leaps up to his lap as the other, Dharma, walks under the conference table. “I’m not bored. Besides, what would I do?”

Indeed, selling cleaning supplies and chemicals has been in his blood for so long, it’s no wonder he’s built up a company with thousands of customers that employs more than 170, with 65 of them right here in Lee’s Summit.

Charlie Kunkel made the leap from selling for a national chemical company to entrepreneurship out of his garage in 1981. Since then, CKE has grown and expanded four more times, including

10 | CATALYST–THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

its current address at 1204 SW Jefferson Street. The last three, including a warehouse, are within a block of the existing space.

And both Charlie and son, Charles, say they are looking for more room. “We are totally out of space,” Charlie said, adding that it’s a good problem to have.

As his empire has grown, Kunkel’s goal has been to do as much as he can in-house in Lee’s Summit, including employing graphic artists to make the labels for every product (including printing them in varying languages), actually “making the juice,” as Charles puts it, and bottling the products for distribution.

Neither father nor son can remotely estimate how many plastic bottles, jugs and drums they order and fill each year. Surely it is enough to span the Jefferson corridor a few times over.

Those 3,000-plus products fall into three categories: food plant cleaners, private label and car wash, which is the fastest growing line CKE has in production right now.

On top of its popular Signature Series premium car wash detergent line, CKE also sells just about everything one would need to open a car wash – including wands, touchless and tunnel equipment and pet wash equipment. They also sell pressure washers and food plant sanitation equipment.

CKE products clean the insides of food plants all over the country that provide food for Americans on a daily basis. And that vital fact isn’t lost on either father or son. “The importance there is no one gets sick. That’s what they depend on us for,” Charlie said.

In the beginning, though, Charlie didn’t want to sell anything but his own label of products. Then a persistent contact at Fuji Film changed his mind. “This one guy drove me insane,” Charlie recalls.

“So I decided to sell his label here, too.”

Thus a whole new era of production came to life some 20 years ago as CKE began to manufacture and label cleaning supplies and chemicals for large and international companies. “I can make it for somebody, and then they have to sell it,” Charlie said. Charles noted that his family’s company also provides a valuable service to those other labels, fine-tuning their current recipes so that the mixtures become even more effective.

Both dad and son noted the work of the in-house head chemist, Steve Kimball, in helping to foster that type of innovation at CKE. “He understands how things react and work together,” Charlie said. “And that’s key in the development process.”

Every week, CKE receives untold amounts of raw materials that form the base for every liquid and chemical mixture they produce. And every batch is tested in an on-site lab to make sure it is precise.

It’s that commitment to accuracy, along with an eye to new products and innovation, that have skyrocketed CK Enterprises to world-renowned in its field.

Charles notes another key factor to the company’s success: his father’s salesmanship. Charles joined the team 20 years ago when there were just a handful of employees and 100 or so products.

“He’s the salesman, through and through,” Charles said. “The manufacturing we do supports that side. If he wasn’t as good a salesman as he is, the company wouldn’t be where it’s at today.”

Where is it? Worldwide. Coast to coast. Which makes Charlie chuckle a bit when he discusses his client base.

“It’s not here, really. Most people don’t even know what we do here,” he said. “I sell more in Germany than I do in Missouri.”

From relatively small bottles of animal care products going out to a major pet care distributor to enormous plastic tubs filled with soaps and chemicals shipping off to all corners of the United States, CK Enterprises seemingly can mix and bottle just about anything a company may need.

And, at the end of the day, that’s what keeps Charlie coming back.

“We’re not making Coca-Cola here,” Charlie said. “New customers, new products. It’s something fun and different every day.”

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 a personal tour.

summit-christian-academy.org 4TH QUARTER - 2016 | 11

Matters

Money

THE MONEY GAME Cashing in on your credit card rewards Do you have a hobby that makes you money without having to sell or make something? It can be done while you’re working, running errands, enjoying family time and even paying bills.

It’s a hobby I have been doing for about 20 years, and what a rewarding hobby it’s been: using credit card rewards.

I have only been tracking my credit card rewards for the last 1112 years. It isn’t for everybody, but for my family it has been so worth it. It took a lot of convincing my husband in the beginning, but when he saw how disciplined I was, and yes, I had to be disciplined to make it work, he was on board. Those who know me know that I love credit cards and all the rewards they have bestowed upon me over the years.

I am not a Dave Ramsey follower, but I do believe in paying things off, as in every dollar that I charge, when the bill comes. In all the years I have been playing this rewards game, we have only paid interest twice on a credit card, and that was only because it was a large purchase we knew wouldn’t be paid off in just one month. Discipline yourself not to spend anything you can’t pay for when the bill comes and you won’t pay interest. If you are a debit card user and don’t overdraw your account, then you can be a disciplined credit card user and pay off your bill monthly.

So how do you choose the right cards? I started with just a couple of credit cards with the best rewards for us. Back then, it was a Discover Card and a Toys R Us MasterCard. Over the years, I’ve signed up for so many cards I couldn’t even begin to tell you how many (don’t judge!). The only one card I have ever paid an annual fee for is Chase’s Southwest Airlines card, but it has paid for itself over and over because we fly Southwest 90 percent

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of the time. Plus, you earn a free flight just for signing up and spending $2,000 in the first three months.

Currently, I have seven cards I use on a regular basis. Besides my Southwest and Discover cards, my favorites are Chase Freedom, Chase Amazon, Citi Card Thank You and Citi Card Premier. I also am a Kohl’s girl, so that is a card I always have with me for extra deals and discounts.

Any time you have a hobby, it takes time and energy and for me, it’s credit cards. I look for cards with the highest reward for each dollar spent, and for quarterly category bonuses. I plan my spending around the category bonus to earn more points. For example, category bonuses can include an extra five percent cash back on home improvement, gas, restaurants and travel, just to name a few. I have been known to sign up for credit cards when making a purchase just to get the instant 25-30 percent off the purchase and then never use the card again. I look for cards offering a sign-up bonus and sometimes earn at least $100 right away. When I find those, I will get one in both my name and one in my husband’s name, netting me $200 in rewards.

To get the rewards I do, I pay everything I can with credit cards.

Everyday purchases, car and homeowners insurance, utility bills, phone and cable bills, etc. It’s important to note that I use a check register to keep track of my checkbook and always know how much money we have, because what we have is what the checkbook says, not what the bank says we have…old school!

The bank balance shows all the money that’s been charged on the credit cards while earning really good interest, too.

The ease of getting the rewards is important to me. I like to get free flights and gift cards, and who doesn’t? One of the great things about the Discover Card is their Cash Back program. When you build $20 in rewards, you can cash in for a $25 gift card.

I prefer cards that allow me to save my points without losing them if not used within a certain amount of time.

So how much does this little hobby of mine reward me? In the past 11 years, I have accumulated more than $12,000 in credit card rewards. So, with holiday shopping on the horizon, take a peek at what cards offer the best incentives for you and start reaping the rewards!

12 | CATALYST–THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

1051 SE Century Drive | Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 816.886.2747 • M, W-F 9-5 • Tues. 9-7 • Sat. 9-2 SummitFlooringAndTurf.com Up to $1,000 Back – Special Financing Available

SmartStrand® Forever Clean™ is the only carpet with permanent built-in stain and soil protection that never washes or wears off. With exceptional durability and luxurious softness, you can live beautifully without worry!

Destination

Local

Offering Extraordinary History in a Corporate Venue

Nestled behind the bustling New Longview business center lies the stunning historical treasure, the Longview Mansion. Completed in 1914, the Mansion was the focal point of “The World’s Most Beautiful Farm,” the dream of Robert A. Long, a Kansas City lumber magnate and philanthropist. Though he grew up pushing a plow on his father’s Kentucky farm, the beauty of the sprawling Kentucky gentleman’s horse farms always impressed him. When he made his fortune, his goal was to use his money to enrich the lives of others. He wanted to create a beautiful farm, not just for his own pleasure or that of his family, but as a model for all farmers. The rolling hills, wildflower-dotted grass and woods around the

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farm resembled his Kentucky homeland. The hill running southwest from the Mansion gave Longview its name: “you could see a long way.”

Longview Farm was an agricultural utopia, self-sustaining and state-of-the-art. Everything was immaculate, beautiful and award-winning: dairy barns and champion cows, prize Duroc-Jersey hogs, blue ribbon roses, a profitable greenhouse, and the largest horse operation west of the Mississippi.

For nearly a century, the Longview Mansion served as an elegant backdrop to guests from society, politics, industry, business, entertainment and many other

areas. The Mansion became the primary residence of Long’s horseloving daughter, Loula, after she married Pryor Combs in 1918. Loula’s loving and generous heart, spirited sense of humor, and her loud voice and laughter set the tone for life there. She entertained many famous visitors, including Calvin Coolidge, Admiral Beatty, actress Mary Pickford and Dwight D. Eisenhower.

One of Kansas City’s premier event facilities, Longview Mansion is a secluded, off-site getaway, both private and secure. Its history and beauty are part of its uniqueness, setting it apart as a corporate venue. The historical home has grace, character and charm, with glassed sun porches, six fireplaces, columns and a beautiful staircase.

The Mansion’s multiple rooms are ideal for breakout sessions. One room was converted to an elegant board room designed for intimate meetings and luncheons. An all-weather pavilion complete with a dance floor, carpeting and giant chandeliers is a perfect meeting space for a large group and ideal for company parties. The full-service operation includes exclusive catering, bar and WiFi. Suited for many types and sizes of meetings, the Mansion can accommodate small groups or up to 300 people.

To create a memorable event, the Mansion is the perfect choice.

It isn’t a hotel, country club or restaurant, and owner Jeanne Marshall explains why the privacy, ample parking and charm make the difference significant. “The entire house and grounds are yours, complemented with personalized service, excellent cuisine and full bar service,” she explains. “The grounds lend themselves to team building sports activities, the house rooms are perfect for breakout sessions and workshops. Our event coordinators have the experience to detail all of the logistics and will meet with you as many times as necessary to ensure your comfort index with the quality of your event.”

Fundraisers are a frequent type of event held at the Mansion. Edward Jones, Google, the Lee’s Summit Chamber and Ladies Sip and Shop also host regular events. Jackson County Links staged a fun Derby Day complete with multiple TVs throughout to enjoy the race. Guests arrived dressed in Derby attire to find a mint julep bar in the pavilion, where guests could also bid on silent auction items.

Holidays at the Mansion

Loula Long Combs

1200 SW Longview Park Dr. Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 816.761.6669 longviewmansion.com

“Our job is to wrap our client’s wants and needs into the perfect package,” says Marshall. “We are the architects responsible for crafting all of the details necessary for truly memorable events. The Mansion and its grounds speak for themselves. Our full service offerings complement the setting for events that won’t be forgotten. We can guarantee a totally enjoyable experience!”

As one of Lee’s Summit’s architectural and historical treasures, Longview Mansion is ideal for events. Larger events typically book a year or so in advance and holiday parties book up quickly also.

Reception Tent Photos courtesy of Freeland Photography and Kansas City Museum

4TH QUARTER - 2016 | 15

CEO

Get to Know a

Ron Baker Saint Luke’s East Hospital How did you get started in health care? I have over 20 years health care management with Saint Luke’s Health System. I became CEO of Saint Luke’s East Hospital in May 2012.

Prior to that, I was CEO of Cushing Memorial Hospital. I was active in the development and operational plans for both Saint Luke’s East and Saint Luke’s South hospitals and have served as director of operations for the Saint Luke’s Medical Group and as director of Saint Luke’s Care, a physician-led organization.

Meet the leaders of

health care in Lee’s Summit

Looking back over your years as a leader in health care, what has changed the most in the industry? The incredible growth in Eastern Jackson County. Saint Luke’s East Hospital started out as a 2-story, 52-bed facility and has grown to five stories and 201 beds. Ever since that first day, it feels like we have been in a constant state of expansion and our growth has truly exceeded expectations. Not only has the need for care increased, but also the quality of care being delivered continues to advance.

What’s on the horizon for health care in the Lee’s Summit region? It’s safe to say we will continue to see growth in our area, with more and more patients choosing Lee’s Summit for care.

Health care is also becoming more of a retail-oriented business; patients demand care when and where it is convenient for them.

The methods and locations to deliver care are shifting. For Saint Luke’s this means off-campus primary care offices, clinics in Hy-Vee grocery stores and even virtual doctor visits 24/7.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job? The people. At Saint Luke’s we like to say it is “the best place to get care and the best place to give care.” I really believe that to be true. We strive to create a culture that not only serves our patients but allows our employees to thrive. It’s easy to work in an environment with talented people who support service to others.

Describe the culture of your hospital in one word. Quality.

What advice would you give to someone seeking their next leadership role? Great leaders listen more than they talk and influence more than they dictate.

Tell us something that many people wouldn’t know about you.

I have a twin brother named Don.

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Lynette Wheeler

Matt Sogard

Truman Medical Center Lakewood

Lee’s Summit Medical Center

How did you get started in health care? I knew I wanted to be a nurse since I was five years old.

When I was five years old I was hospitalized, and that experience left an everlasting impression on me to become a nurse. I attended nursing school at Clarkson College in Omaha, Neb. immediately out of high school. After graduation I went to work at Clarkson Hospital taking care of open heart patients in the Intensive Care Unit.

How did you get started in health care? I volunteered in high school in different health care settings and was immediately hooked. I loved the idea of helping people and doing work I felt really mattered.

Looking back over your years as a leader in health care, what has changed the most in the industry? As a clinician, all of the new and different treatments available for various diseases and conditions that simply didn’t exist back in the 70s and early 80s.

As an administrator, the reimbursement practices have changed dramatically for hospitals and clinics, from fee for service to Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) to All Patients Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (APRDRG).

What’s on the horizon for health care in the Lee’s Summit region? As Lee’s Summit continues to grow, a variety of services and providers will need to be available to meet the needs of the citizens.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job? Working with staff and our patients.

Describe the culture of your hospital in one word.

Companionate.

What advice would you give to someone seeking their next leadership role? It takes a team to lead, whether it’s an organization or department. Utilizing all the teams’ strengths will help to achieve the their goals.

Tell us something that many people wouldn’t know about you. I have just celebrated my 40th year as a nurse. My passion for patient care has never faded no matter what position I’m in.

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Looking back over your years as a leader in health care, what has changed the most in the industry? The demand for accountability and transparency in health care, which I believe is a very good thing. Gone are the days of “just trust us, we’re brand x,” and now as health care providers, we need to show outcomes and feedback that we’re doing a good job. It’s a very positive change and has pushed the industry to provide better quality and service.

What’s on the horizon for health care in the Lee’s Summit region? We’re blessed to have some great health care capabilities in Lee’s Summit and the greater KC metro. I think we’ll continue to see significant growth in Lee’s Summit. At Lee’s Summit Medical Center, we will soon be starting on a couple of major capital expansions to help us better meet the growing demands of our community.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job? Hearing the great feedback we so often get from our patients. We thrive on being at our best when people are having some of their worst days and come to us for help. There’s nothing better than hearing from a patient after they’ve gone through tough times and are on the other side, and they can’t stop saying enough good things about our team. And with our patient satisfaction scores among the best in the country, we get to hear those comments frequently.

Describe the culture of your hospital in one word. Family.

What advice would you give to someone seeking their next leadership role? Be observant of great leaders around you.

There’s so much to learn if we just watch, listen and think.

Tell us something that many people wouldn’t know about you. I’m passionate about my family – my wife of 15 years and my four kids I simply adore, even on days when they’re not that adorable! There’s not much better than a lazy weekend afternoon with family.

Tips

Pro

Formula for Networking Success Most people acknowledge that networking is an essential competency for business success. And yet many cringe at the very thought of a room full of strangers engaging in small talk, glad-handing with feigned interest. But that image, and that mindset, is a very limited perspective of only one stereotypical networking activity.

Networking is about connecting to information, resources, and to other people through relationships. Simply defined, networking is friends helping friends. So what’s the formula for networking success? It starts with a healthy mindset, a few facts and some simple networking tips.

One Healthy (Fascination) Mindset: How you think about networking will directly affect your results. Approach networking with a mindset to be fascinated by the people you meet and the stories they tell. By asking purposeful questions, you will engage in conversations that are interesting to you and you will develop meaningful relationships along the way.

Three Basic Facts Fact #1

Fact #2

Fact #3

You already have an established network. In fact, many of them. Your family is a network; your co-workers, your college friends, and your children’s friend’s parents are all networks. Who you see at church and any event you attend on a consistent basis, are all in your network. Start by asking your closest friends for introductions to people you’re interested in meeting.

They’ll be honored you asked.

No matter how uncomfortable you feel, someone in the room is more uncomfortable than you are. Pause and look around. Notice others who are standing alone, look bored or look out of place. Engage in conversation with them starting with “What brings you to this event?” or “How do you know the host?” Be prepared with quality questions for a more meaningful conversation. (See tip #3.)

When you meet someone new, you both already know someone in common. In 2011, Facebook scientists determined that the 1967 study of six degrees of separation is now globally 4.74 degrees of separation. In the United States alone, it’s less than three degrees.

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Three Simple Tips TIP #1 Be purposeful: Know your why. Why do you feel you need to network? What are the benefits of developing new relationships at this stage of your life? What information or resource would be invaluable to you at this time? The answers to these questions will help you prioritize where to spend your networking time and energy and which Chamber events will benefit you most. And don’t forget about networking internally and developing relationships within your organization as well.

TIP #2 Be aware: Create your comfort zone. What is your networking style preference? One on one? Small groups or larger functions? Increase your comfort zone by knowing more about what you’re walking into. This can easily be accomplished by calling the event organizers to learn more about the event. Choose events that fit your style. Attend events where you’ll feel comfortable and the people who attend are the people whom you need to meet. Another option is to attend events with someone you know who is comfortable introducing you to others.

Here for YOU...

24-hours a day for your business and recreational needs!

Improvements

Underway

• 1,500 ft Runway Extension • From 30,000 to 60,000 pound Aircraft capacity • Plus More!!!!

TIP #3 Be meaningful: Engage in quality small talk. Create a short list of questions that align with what you need and what you’re interested in discussing. Ask questions such as, “What are the current trends in your industry?;” “How does technology affect the way you do business?;” “What key data points drive your business?” This will create meaningful conversations wherever you go.

Everyone’s style and comfort zone is different when it comes to networking. Adapt the tips above to fit your personal style. Developing quality relationships through networking will be invaluable throughout your career.

denise mills Chief Mindset Officer LeaderFuelNow LLC

Fun Fact

Denise grew up on a farm in Iowa; however, her network today expands across the world. Two weeks ago, she was fortunate to have dinner with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg.

Municipal Airport 2751 NE Douglas Street LSairport.net | 969.1800 4TH QUARTER - 2016 | 19

Ahead

Looking

Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport Lands Expansion Rolling out the red carpet for customers throughout the community and the region is part of what we do at Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport.

And why wouldn’t we? Our airport is just minutes from historic Downtown Lee’s Summit – the gateway into our community for aviators– and it’s a true reflection of our City’s vision, mission and core values.

For the staff at Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport, this means providing excellent customer service and professionalism, and informing aviators about Lee’s Summit’s amenities, the qualities that make our airport stand out and our community as a distinctive destination.

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Part of the airport’s uniqueness lies in our humble roots dating back nearly 39 years when the City purchased the airport in 1977. This acquisition was just seven years after the airport opened in September 1970, by Lee’s Summit resident Bill McComas.

The Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport continues its fine tradition of supporting general aviation aircraft.

The airport can accommodate aircraft ranging from a single engine, single seat to mid-size corporate jets.

Approximately 50,000 take-offs and landings occur annually, which is the equivalent of about 137 operations daily. The majority of these operations are business-related flights bringing marketing, professional, technical and

service and support staffers to the area. These individuals spend money in the community at local hotels, car rental agencies and restaurants.

The airport has grown from one runway of 2,400 feet in length to a regional airport with a runway of 4,016 feet and a crosswind runway of 3,800 feet. The two runways, which are made of five-and-a-half inches of concrete, can handle aircraft weighing as much as 30,000 pounds. Improvements will increase the pavement thickness to nine inches supporting aircraft weighing up to 60,000 pounds.

In October 2015, the city celebrated a groundbreaking to celebrate the new airport expansion, which culminated

in 19 years of planning, compromises by the City Council, and searching for funding. Improvements underway provide business and corporate aircraft users in the region better access to the southeastern Jackson County area.

With earthwork for the runway improvements now complete, the next project is paving work which is planned for 2017. Once the paving work is complete, the runway will be 5,500 feet long and 100 feet wide.

The improved runways will make the airport more attractive to corporate jets because it will make it safer for jets with full fuel tanks to take off. The operation of the airport is funded by fuel sales and hangar rentals and the expansion should increase revenue

in both areas, helping to make the airport self-sufficient.

Besides aircraft arriving daily from across the country, Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport hosts an annual Open House typically in June. The event is an opportunity for citizens to see everything the airport has to offer its customers and the community.

Admission is free to the event featuring historical aircraft displays, aviation-related vendors, helicopter rides and much more.

1981

These are just a few of the reasons to stop by 2751 NE Douglas St. and see for yourself all that Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport has to offer its customers and the community.

2010

DID YOU KNOW? The Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport: •

Includes 5.3 miles of wildlife fencing

•

Illuminates 540 airfield lights

•

Maintains more than 166,000 square yards of pavement

•

Provides over $9 million to the community through direct and indirect expenditures

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john ohrazda Manager Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport

Fun Fact

John loves his job, “Every day is an air show, and never a dull moment.”

4TH QUARTER - 2016 | 21

Networking

Photos

COCKTAILS & CADDIES • A group of gentlemen volunteered to be part of the live auction showcase at this year’s Cocktails & Caddies Ladies’ Golf tournament at Teetering Rocks Golf Course. A huge thanks to all of our generous guys!

MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON Weed Man Cam Cundiff and Tyler Morehead posed for a photo at the August Membership Luncheon which featured FBI Special Agent Joel Sealer.

NEW TEACHER BREAKFAST • Teachers new to the R-7 School District were welcomed with goodie bags and breakfast at the annual New Teacher Breakfast at UCM-Lee’s Summit.

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CHAMBER YOUNG PROFESSIONALS Samantha McIntosh and Shannon Collins enjoyed some coffee and cinnamon rolls at a Young Professionals networking event held at Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street’s new office.

BEFORE HOURS • Chamber members posed with the Kansas City Royals Moose Man and the Moose Mobile at Peace Partnership’s Chamber Before Hours.

816.525.4555 MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON • Jeff Driskill and Rosalie Newkirk greeted members at the August Monthly Membership Luncheon at Adams Pointe Conference Center.

4TH QUARTER - 2016 | 23

Good

Doing

Needs in Lee’s Summit? LSSS Is there to fill them

Back in 1992, Geneva High started a food pantry out of a garage in Lee’s Summit. Her goal then was that no one went hungry.

Fast forward nearly 25 years, and her grandson, Matt Sanning, who took the executive director title of Lee’s Summit Social Services (LSSS) in January 2015, works with an army of volunteers, board members and community givers to make sure that goal stays alive.

While many don’t realize it, there is a massive need for food, milk, clothing and other household essentials, as well as medical

24 | CATALYST–THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

supplies and assistance with paying utility bills here in Lee’s Summit. That’s where Lee’s Summit Social Services stands as a shining light of help and hope, assisting thousands of residents of Lee’s Summit, Lake Lotawana, Lone Jack and Greenwood every single year.

As LSSS outgrew that garage and leased a building in downtown Lee’s Summit, and has grown through two additions in that time, the needs of the community have grown as well. And with those increases in need have come an increase in giving, something Sanning says he can always count on from those in Lee’s Summit.

with decades of history and strong local ties, the connections between the need and the giving are met fairly quickly.

The network of charitable giving in Lee’s Summit travels through area churches, the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District via liaisons at each middle school and good, old fashioned word-of-mouth.

Sanning says LSSS has policies in place that vet clients for income for any service they provide, but that if anyone comes in hungry, they will have access to food.

Whether it is a partnership with Our Lady of the Presentation, the local VFW chapter or through thousands of pounds of food donations given each year at the Lee’s Summit Magic Tree, LSSS has been the recipient of generous donations used in the thrift store at 108 SE 4th Street, and to help with what Sanning calls the “emergency assistance account” and in lining the massive, lofty walls of the food pantry, filled with cereal, canned goods, macaroni and cheese and household items from paper towels to diapers.

“The need in Lee’s Summit is real,” Sanning said from his office inside the LSSS building, where all the latest donation numbers sit right at his fingertips. “Seniors, they are an underserved group. And not because of a lack of help but because they are a notoriously stubborn group. We have seniors living in homes that are 96 degrees because they haven’t paid the bill. We deal with that regularly.”

Each year, hundreds of thousands of dollars from the thrift store help those who need car repairs, minor home repairs, gas, water, heat and electric bills paid and for other emergency assistance.

Last year alone, more than 600 homes received utility assistance and another 79 received rent assistance. In 2015, LSSS served more than 3,300 individuals at 1,192 households.

“We are not just trying to take care of the kids or adults. We are trying to take care of the entire family,” Sanning noted. “We try to take a holistic approach to each situation. If children come in and they don’t have shoes, we ask why. What changed in that family dynamic and how can we help?”

And LSSS couldn’t do it without constant giving. Neighbors helping neighbors. In 2015, more than 96,000 “units” of service went out to those in need in Lee’s Summit and the surrounding area. Those units include everything from gallons of milk to eyeglasses; fans to pet food; clothing to Christmas gifts.

You won’t see city-wide donor campaigns happening on behalf of LSSS. Instead, needs are addressed as they come in. Of course,

“We want to know everything about who we’re serving, where they are and why we’re serving them,” Sanning said. “That helps make us a better organization.”

While the food pantry is the backbone of the organization, the annual Christmas store provides joy for hundreds of kids each year as thousands of new toys and gifts are donated and displayed in the warehouse for families to come and “shop” each year.

All of which is made possible by the generosity of many in Lee’s Summit. Not to mention the colossal amount of volunteerism it takes to run LSSS day to day, which Sanning estimates at more than 200 hours a week.

Sanning remembers one day when a man came by and said he wanted to do some electrical work for free. Sanning told him the doorbell was broken. So the good Samaritan fixed it and left.

No questions asked. “There are a lot of unsung heroes in this community,” Sanning said. “Because of them and our partners, we can bridge the gap and help others.”

Sanning knows his organization cannot be everything to every person in need. But with his network of other non-profits in Lee’s Summit, he can be a connector.

“Today I got a request for a prosthetic limb. So that’s what I am going to do today. Find a prosthetic limb,” Sanning said confidently.

john Beaudoin President KC Communications & Media Matters

Fun Fact

John has been an editor and publisher at seven different newspapers, but still can’t spell “curriculum” without looking it up.

4TH QUARTER - 2016 | 25

Buzz

Social

Be Seen Online Steps to increase your business’ visibility through SEO Local online search allows customers to find businesses in their area quickly and easily. With the steady and almost exponential growth of mobile devices for internet use, local search engine optimization (SEO) continues to grow in importance for local businesses. Currently, studies show that an average of 50 percent or more of online searches are conducted on a mobile device.

An estimated 7 billion local searches are done monthly from computers and mobile devices, with many of these being completed by people looking for immediate information on businesses and services near them. If you’ve ignored utilizing local search options in favor of other marketing methods, you’re missing out. Local search SEO is not just your website; it also can benefit your physical business location.

As a local business there are steps you can take to promote your business to online searchers in your area. Even if your business is small, it’s worth the effort to establish some level of local SEO. These steps in and of themselves will not change the look of your business online, but will keep your business relevant as people search for services nearby.

Complete, verify and optimize your listing on Google My Business, Bing and Yahoo.

This should be at the top of your list as it is one of the biggest local search mistakes people make. If you want your business to be listed as “nearby products or services,” you’ll need to make sure to complete and verify the Google My Business page. This listing represents your business location in search results. Each search engine has its own business directory and these listings make you visible for local and mobile searches. Google controls around 70 percent of the U.S. search market with Bing and Yahoo sharing roughly 23 percent. By ensuring these listings are correctly set up and verified, you have taken the first step in getting found.

Ensure your business is consistently listed online.

If you don’t add the correct contact information to your business directory listings while working on your local SEO, you’re going to lose business. The search engines look for consistency in the information related to your business. You should be particularly wary of variations in your business name, address, phone number or URL. Discrepancies can weaken the perceived strength of your business data for the search engines. Think about when a person does a local search, tries to call your phone number to ask a question, and can’t find a way to reach you.

They’ll likely move on to another business that has their contact information listed. Having inconsistent contact information is highly discouraged by Google for local search. They want to remain a credible source for correct information, so consequently your business sinks in the rankings when the information is inconsistent.

Enlist Local Search Expertise.

ROB RANCE Chief Executive Officer Turn the Page Online Marketing

Fun Fact

Rob was an engineering officer on nuclear submarines in the Royal Navy before starting in the Digital world.

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Marketing agencies can provide the local SEO strategy your business needs to make an impact in your area. For more information, check out the listing of Chamber members providing marketing and SEO programming.

turnthepage-onlinemarketing.com 816.527.8371

ADVANCE YOUR CAREER. Whether it’s a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or a certificate program to help you get ahead, the University of Central Missouri – Lee’s Summit offers affordable, in-demand programs with the flexibility to fit your busy life.

Check out your options at ucmo.edu/summit.

27 | CATALYST–THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

New to

Town

Bringing the West Bottoms to Lee’s Summit

Owner Steve Collins

What’s the best kept secret in Lee’s Summit? Even though it’s only a couple of blocks away from busy Douglas Street, The Dotted Chair is tucked away in an industrial area more suited to businesses needing warehouse space. That’s on purpose. Steve Collins, former owner of Good Looks in downtown Lee’s Summit, was looking for very specific features when he decided to close Good Looks and embark on a new venture. He wanted a garage door, a warehouse and enough space to do what he wanted and carry a lot of different things. He had been to the West Bottoms and loved that look and feel, but couldn’t find it anywhere, until he found the place where his store now resides…and it even has solar energy put in by the former owners.

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The Dotted Chair celebrated its grand opening in August 2015.

It took six to seven months to get it ready even with help from local artists, friends and an intern. It is a must-stop destination store for shoppers who are looking for one-of-a-kind home décor. “I’m always looking for something different so I only buy one at a time and then I move on,” Collins said. The name, The Dotted Chair, was settled on after his initial idea, Projex, was considered too industrial and The Polka Dot Chair was already taken as the name of a popular blog.

From the minute you walk in the door, you are met with a “feast for the eyes” – home décor such as mirrors, lamps, small furnishings, vases, clocks, florals, seasonal décor, jewelry, candles, signs, etc. Every inch of the store is packed with a

delightful explosion of home décor items, in a multitude of colors, fabric, paint and materials, carefully selected at market in Dallas.

“The Fun Place to Shop with a West Bottoms Style.”

In addition to his store, Collins is an interior designer. His ideal client is someone who is “open to new ideas; has some idea of what they want; has a problem that needs solving; and works well with others.” He doesn’t have a signature style because his biggest thrill is solving someone’s problem. Collins believes that to be a good interior designer you have to do every style.

“You can have your own style,” Collins said, “but you have to be open, versatile and talented enough to do what people want, regardless of your favorite style.”

“Many times they don’t even have to buy anything from me,” Collins said. “I take what they have because I have the tools to change it so it will never look the same as it did before.”

He charges a very affordable rate for design consultation.

Collins started out as a graphic designer 20 years ago and worked in art direction at a printer, a newspaper, and a local casino. He’s also an abstract artist and sometimes creates a piece of art to finish off his vision for a home. As he evolved into an interior designer, he realized he liked the retail part of the business more than he did having an interior design firm.

He started at Traditions in downtown Lee’s Summit in 2006, where he worked for three years before selling his partnership.

He opened Good Looks in 2009 and was there for six years.

“I felt like I had done everything in that relatively small space, time and time again. I’d been to the West Bottoms and loved that look so I started looking around,” Collins said. Thus, The

Dotted Chair was born.

The catchphrase for the store is “The Fun Place to Shop with a West Bottoms Style.”

Collins’ biggest competition isn’t another store. The Internet is the biggest issue affecting his business today.

He says millennials are shopping online and not shopping in stores.

“They’re missing the tactile experience and seeing things in person,” Collins said, “but it’s definitely a trend.”

Collins lives in Lee’s Summit with his partner, Carl, who’s retired from Unity Worldwide Ministries. He’s been involved in Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street and hopes to find time to volunteer for the Lee’s Summit Chamber.

Though he loves his out-of-the way location, Collins wants people to discover his store and invites everyone to come shop. “I think they’ll be pleasantly surprised,” Collins said.

“Come experience my vision…because you must see it to appreciate it.”

1264 NE Sloan Street Lee’s Summit, MO 64080 816.554.0299 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday

4TH QUARTER - 2016 | 29

Person to

Person

Name: Mike Maksin Business: N2 Publishing. We publish neighborhood newsletters for the Winterset and Lakewood communities.

Job Title: Area Director How long have you been with the organization? 3 years

Why did you choose to do this for a living?

N2 is an awesome organization with great people, culture and processes. Having spent 30+ years in corporate America, I was ready to try something very different.

N2 was a perfect match. I have really enjoyed getting to know our local businesses and the residents who live in our communities.

Who’s your ideal client?

Our ideal clients are companies providing services or solutions to a more affluent clientele, including home services, professional services, medical services, etc.

What’s the biggest issue facing your business today?

At N2, our mission is to turn neighborhoods into communities where people feel connected to their friends and neighbors. For a variety of reasons, people don’t seem to take the time to get to know their neighbors like we used to when we were growing up.

What’s one thing you wish people knew about your business?

We are a national company with eight communities in the KC metro and growing. N2 publishes over 900 publications each month across the country.

What is the vision of your business in five years?

My short/long term goals are to produce the best publication we can each month which makes our residents and business partners happy and allows me to grow my business. With my youngest son just starting college and my youngest daughter starting in two years, I will be working for the foreseeable future.

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Why did you choose to do business in Lee’s Summit?

We moved to Lee’s Summit four years ago. What is cool about the N2 business model is that we are very focused at the local level and in building community. I can think of no better community to live and work in.

Tell us about your family.

Happily married 32+ years to my wonderful wife, Lynda.

We have four beautiful and talented children. Leanne is our oldest who was married September 3 in Madrid, Spain where she has resided for the past five years. The whole wedding experience was incredible. Michael III (Mac) lives in Poplar Bluff, Mo. working in audiology at the VA Hospital. He’s lived there for three years and loves helping our veterans. Youngest son David is enjoying his first semester of college at Missouri State in Springfield, which is where Lynda and I met. Sarah is our millennium baby and currently is a junior at Lee’s Summit North.

What’s your involvement in civic, community or charity organizations?

I am a member of the Lee’s Summit and Independence chambers. I currently serve on the Board of Directors and the Ambassador committee for Lee’s Summit. One of my favorite gatherings each week is our Rotary lunch at Unity Village. I am active with the Business Sector of Lee’s Summit CARES as we continue to spread the word about building a Community of Character and I deliver meals for One Good Meal which is a great organization.

What was your first job?

Scooping custard at the famous Ted Drew’s Frozen Custard in St. Louis.

What do you enjoy doing in your downtime?

Relaxing with friends and family. Lynda and I have been very blessed with both in our lives.

What would you be doing if money were no object?

Cool question! Lynda and I talk about this when we play the big lottos. Once we return from traveling anywhere, we want to “share the wealth” with family and friends.

I would settle down here and help local organizations and charities provide more resources to those they serve. There are many well-deserving organizations to choose from, but money’s no object, right?

Favorite motivational quote?

Think Big, Be Big! A phrase coined by Jim Eldridge who was my life mentor while living in Chicago for 25 winters.

Favorite business book?

Too many to name.

Morning or evening person?

Definitely morning, but I won’t shy away from a late night if the occasion calls for it.

Coffee or cocktails?

Cold cocktail every time!

What’s your favorite thing about Lee’s Summit?

I would have to say the people. It is so much more fun to surround yourself with fun, caring people who have a sense of pride in their community.

EXPERT AGENT IN THE KNOW What does it mean to be IN good hands?SM It means that I know the risks in the area. I’ll use my local expertise to help you choose the right amount of protection. And I’ll be there to help you over the years. Call or stop in for a free, no-obligation Personalized Insurance Proposal today.

Proud member of the Chamber of Commerce.

Jeff Silver 816-524-5900

Subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Co., Allstate Vehicle and Property Insurance Co., Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Co., Allstate Indemnity Co. © 2016 Allstate Insurance Co.

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180439

Mike with his family at his son’s graduation

676 SE Bayberry Lane Lee’s Summit jeffsilver@allstate.com

4TH QUARTER - 2016 | 31

Update

Economic

Retail Development is Alive and Kicking in Lee’s Summit With the skyrocketing popularity of online shopping and e-commerce, there’s been a big push in economic development to land industrial projects, including big warehouse and distribution centers.

With the approval of Westcott’s planned flex business park at M-291 Hwy. and U.S. Hwy. 150, and 200,000 square feet of planned speculative industrial space, Lee’s Summit will certainly become more competitive on that front.

But one story may be getting lost in the push for more industrial space, and that is the strength of Lee’s Summit’s new traditional retail development.

In the fall of 2016, Colliers published a snapshot of Lee’s Summit’s strong retail market. According to the report, “Population growth, access to markets, award-winning schools and desirable income levels make Lee’s Summit a top Kansas City retail sub-market.”

The LSEDC would have to agree, as retail brokers throughout the Midwest are reaching out to learn more about Lee’s Summit’s strong retail corridors. One corridor specifically is drawing attention in 2016, and that is the intersection of I-470 and U.S. Hwy. 50, home to the SummitWoods power center and the

Summit Fair specialty/main-street center.

The retail centers have attracted new Sam’s Club and H&M stores, expanded Dick’s Sporting Goods and Victoria’s Secret stores, plus a variety of other smaller retailers including Marble Slab Creamery and Great American Cookies.

The growth is part of a larger story including $200 million in fresh investment along the Summit Tech Corridor, thanks to the Missouri Innovation Campus and Summit Orchards’ new mixed-use project, which includes apartments and retail space as well as a new Holiday Inn Express.

As part of the Summit Orchards project, Cabela’s announced plans to open its first Missouri store at Summit Place just north of Summit Technology Campus. The 70,000-square-foot store is expected to bring 150 new jobs to Lee’s Summit.

Rick once caddied for PGA Golfer Peter Jacobson in a tournament.

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Finally, QuikTrip has bumped up commitment to Lee’s Summit, with three new next-gen stores planned for the city. The stores, which will include new construction at M-291 Hwy. and Mulberry St., as well as renovation of existing stores at M-291 Hwy. and U.S. Hwy. 150 and at 800 NE Woods Chapel Rd., amount to $15 million in new investment.

As the majority of the commercial real estate and development community complains that the brick-and-mortar retail sector is dying a slow death, the LSEDC is grateful to be telling a much different story…retail development in Lee’s Summit is alive and well.

Another strong area for retail growth runs north and south along M-291 Hwy. The corridor has seen a high level of recent grocery, retail, restaurant and convenience store activity, including a new underconstruction Wal-Mart store at M-291 Hwy. and U.S. Hwy. 150. Sprouts Farmer’s Market, Andy’s Frozen Custard and At Home stores all opened along M-291 Hwy. in 2016, and Hy-Vee East has undergone

rick mcdowell President & CEO Lee’s Summit Economic Dev. Council

Fun Fact

a major renovation and expansion. In addition, Price Chopper opened its third Lee’s Summit store at the interchange of Todd George Road & U.S. Hwy. 50.

Summit Technology Campus Summit Place Missouri Innovation Campus Future Office/Flex Development Future Retail Development Future Multi-Family Development 90-room Hotel Future Development Sites

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Chuck S. Cooper III, CFP®  Senior Vice President – Investment Officer Jon G. Garlow, CPWA®  Associate Vice President – Investment Officer 3171 NE Carnegie Dr, Suite B  Lee’s Summit, MO 64064  816-554-5470 www.cooperwealthmanagementgroup.com Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC  Member FINRA/SIPC  CAR 0616-03988 Wells Fargo Advisors is not engaged in rendering legal or tax advice. Specific questions, as they relate to your situation, should be directed to your legal and tax advisors.

One

Power of

Meet garrett gardner Celebrating 25 Years of Full Voice

“Because I have a right to be heard. I have a voice!” You might remember this line from “The King’s Speech,” a 2010 movie depicting the time Prince Albert of England’s wife, Elizabeth, acquired services of a speech therapist because her husband stuttered so badly. As the future King George VI, he had to learn to speak with confidence and communicate effectively with the people of the United Kingdom.

You don’t have to be king to benefit from communicating effectively. There are only five or six professionals in the United States who specifically work with businesspeople on their vocal messaging and one of them has a business right here in Lee’s Summit.

Garrett Gardner, president of Full Voice, is celebrating his company’s 25th anniversary

this October. His mission is to “help people sound like they know what they’re saying.”

“The number one fear is speaking in public,” Gardner said. “Number two is meeting new people. I can help with both.

Communication is the missing ingredient in most people’s quivers and yet the most important thing in their life. Because without it, we can’t build relationships.”

His concepts derive from the Greek philosophers, Aristotle and Socrates, who needed a way for the Greek city states to communicate better with each other when they convened. The six tenets of effective speech are: pitch; tone focus; projection; emotion; phrasing and breathing. Gardner utilizes these components to help people get to their proper pitch, help them speak, and then work on proper breathing to support the whole process.

He wants everyone to know that it isn’t hard for his clients to learn these skills. “It’s easy. I have a whole process,” Gardner said.

Gardner’s ideal client is anyone working in a company who wants to better themselves for presentations, anyone from mid-level managers to CEOs. He’s now working with his 55th client in 15 years from Federal Reserve Bank.

“I can work with anyone from any walk of life. I offer a true money-back guarantee that’s never been claimed.” Besides vocal communications, he can help you craft a benefits statement for what you do. After meeting with Debbie Jackson, owner of Coffee News Metro KC and a Lee’s Summit Chamber member, the statement “Fun Reading and Serious Advertising for You” best personified her business.

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” –Wayne Dwyer

No one has a better background than Gardner to show people how to put their best voice forward. An only child, he was born in Washington, D.C. and exposed to music at an early age since his father had a band. Gardner has been on stage in some capacity since he was ten years old and even appeared on the Jimmy Dean radio and television shows with Patsy Cline and Roy Clark for two years.

“They showed me how to work an audience,” Gardner said. As a teenager, he started his own groups, playing everything from rockabilly to folk music.

became the director of sales at the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Kansas City.

One night after he moved to Kansas City, he was performing at Carl DiCapo’s restaurant, Italian Gardens, when Tony DiPardo walked in. After asking him to sing, “It Had to Be You,” DiPardo asked Gardner if he wanted to sing in the DiPardo band, a gig which lasted for 25 years. They provided entertainment at every major party, wedding and prominent social event of that era.

Later, he joined the military and was stationed in Italy. After the service, he went to Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was in a bar one day and told the guy sitting next to him that he wanted to put together a vocal communications dynamics course and it turns out the man sitting next to him was the dean of the Psychology Department. Gardner believes strongly in “right place, right time, right people” and has benefited from it often.

After 20 years in Kansas City, Gardner moved his business to Lee’s Summit. He lives in Greenwood with his wife, Joan, and enjoys a seven minute commute to/from work and seven grandchildren within a 20-minute radius. He has been an active member of the Lee’s Summit Chamber for the last five years and is on the board of the Inventors Center of Kansas City. He spends his spare time singing and playing his guitar in senior living care centers throughout the area where he plays the music of their lives…the 30s, 40s and 50s.

Gardner received his degree in psychology and the aforementioned vocal communications dynamics and started working in food sales at Proctor and Gamble. After a short stint in banking, he was hired as the director of sales at the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Indianapolis. In 1978, he relocated and

Gardner believes he is in the right place for his business; it’s the right time for him to do what he does best as a “solopreneur;” and the right people can benefit from the services of Full Voice.

What’s his favorite thing about Lee’s Summit? “The people. You can count on the people to be who they are.”

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danke!

First of all, I’d like to say a huge thank you to the Oktoberfest Committee, event sponsors, hundreds of volunteers and the Chamber team for pulling off another successful Oktoberfest festival. So much happens behinds the scenes both leading up to and during the event, and it’s a monumental effort that wouldn’t be possible without the hands and hearts of our volunteers.

Oktoberfest is a great source of revenue for the Chamber, and the resources gained from this event assist our efforts in providing the most relevant and timely programming for our members.

If your business or organization hasn’t participated in a Chamber activity recently, you should consider doing so. Chamber activities these past many months have been very well attended. The staff at the Lee’s Summit Chamber works diligently to provide an abundance of opportunities including the monthly networking events, luncheons, business seminars, trainings and let’s not forget our hardworking committees. Did you know on a monthly basis more than 110 Chamber members attend committee meetings regularly? Not only do we thank all of our volunteers for giving their time, but we also commend them for their passion in seeing the Lee’s Summit Chamber and community continue to grow.

TIM ARBEITER President Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce

Fun Fact

Tim was involved in helping with “Gone Girl” logistics when it was filmed in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

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If attending events is not your thing, that’s ok. A distinct membership advantage we have in Lee’s Summit is the Chamber team. We are here to assist our members with their business or organizational needs. Our team works hard with you to capitalize on opportunities, overcome challenges and guide you through future growth plans for your business or organization. Just reach out, we’re happy to help.

Are you currently not a member or know someone who isn’t?

October is a great month to join, as it’s our fall membership drive!

The Chamber is offering special incentives for new members who join in October. For more information or to learn more about the membership benefits, please contact Cathy Young, director of member services.

Other significant updates include Leadership Lee’s Summit, which is already underway with 29 business and community leaders.

The class is looking forward to learning more about Lee’s Summit and advancing their leadership skills. The Chamber’s advocacy efforts are in full swing with the first major task of setting and approving the Chamber’s 2017 legislative agenda. A group of business leaders from Lee’s Summit were part of a larger Missouri delegation who traveled to Washington, D.C. September 20-23 to visit with our federal congressional delegation, meet with federal agencies and receive briefings from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber is proud to be the champion of the Lee’s Summit business community. Over the next couple of months, the Chamber Board and staff will be working to finalize the 2017 annual plan of work and begin a new strategic planning process.

If you have thoughts or suggestions on how the Lee’s Summit Chamber can be an even bigger champion, please let me know.

What are the characteristics to become an entrepreneur? How can you harness your passion to determine the future of your idea or new business venture? These core questions will be answered when entrepreneurship takes center stage next month in Lee’s Summit. Lee’s Summit will be one of 114 regionwide activities planned to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) November 14-18. GEW’s goal is to connect entrepreneurs from across the globe, and is one of many initiatives founded by the Kauffman Foundation, whose mission is to promote individual economic independence through educational achievement and entrepreneurial success.

The Lee’s Summit Chamber’s Breakfast for Champions event on Tuesday, Nov. 15 features a dynamic program including a panel discussion with area entrepreneurs and keynote speaker Jeff Shackelford, CEO of Digital Sandbox. Digital Sandbox is a relatively new and creative organization designed to connect innovation to industry with the goal of producing breakthrough products and services that have significant impact on the IT landscape. Over the last three years, Digital Sandbox has funded development projects for 70 local start-ups, assisted in securing over $28 million in equity investment for 41 Sandbox companies and helped create 34 new companies for the Kansas City metropolitan area. The event is designed to provide advice, insight and, of course, some storytelling on lessons learned from past entrepreneurial efforts.

HOP ON BOARD! Join the Chamber in October and move full-steam ahead with special perks: •

$25 enrollment fee waived

•

Free monthly membership luncheon–$20 value

•

Free set of current member mailing labels–$100 value

•

Immediate inclusion in online directory, as well as the Chamber’s mobile app

•

Entered into $100 drawing

Typically, the biggest hurdles most entrepreneurs face are validation of their business concept and finding mentors who can assist them along the way. Lee’s Summit is fortunate to have a network of business professionals available to assist in the idea formation process or the creation of new business development strategies. Don’t know where to start? Call the Chamber office at 816.524.2424 to see where your entrepreneurial path begins.

To learn more about Global Entrepreneurship Week and the other activities taking place in Kansas City, visit kscourcelink. com/gew and join the conversation at #GEWKC.

Breakfast for Champions 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15 The Historic Space at The Stanley Register at LSchamber.com

View the online application and rates at LSchamber.com or contact Cathy Young at 816.524.2424 with any questions.

220 SE Main St. | 816.524.2424 | LSchamber.com 4TH QUARTER - 2016 | 37

HolidayHotspots

Holiday Hotspots The holiday season is upon us and it’s time to experience the magic in Lee’s Summit.

Check out some of our favorite holiday traditions to help get you in the spirit.

Annual Holly Festival Nov. 12 & 13 at Bernard Campbell Middle School Take advantage of this early holiday shopping event and stock up on gifts for your family and friends – even those that are hard to shop for! Shop more than 100 craft and vendor booths showcasing handmade and one-of-a-kind crafts, jewelry, clothing, home décor and more. LScares.org – 816.347.3298

Mayor’s Tree Lighting

Mayor’s Tree Lighting November 18 in Howard Station Park Join Lee’s Summit’s Mayor Randy Rhoads as he lights up downtown for the holidays. Free hot drinks and cookies, choir performances, a visit from Santa and much more will get you in the holiday spirit. Many local shops and restaurants are open late for your holiday shopping and dining convenience. downtownLS.org – 816.246.6598 Lee’s Summit Magic Tree Nov. 25–Dec. 25 at I-470 and View High Dr. The Magic Tree is a mesmerizing landmark for residents, visitors and neighbors to enjoy throughout the holiday season. The tree, wrapped in thousands of magical lights, offers hope, goodness, peace and love. It provides the perfect opportunity for photos and gives back to the community in the process.

LSmagictree.com

The Magic Tree

Christmas in the Park Nov. 23–Dec. 31 at Longview Lake Campground Often referred to as one of Kansas City’s best lighting displays, Jackson County’s free drive-through display at Longview Lake features more than 300,000 lights and 175 animated holiday scenes. While there is no charge to view the display, donations for local charities are accepted on-site. makeyourdayhere.com – 816.503.4800 PHOTOS WITH SANTA Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 10, 17 in downtown Lee’s Summit Santa’s taken some time off from the North Pole to share candy canes and holiday cheer. Bring your kiddos to get their photos taken with Santa while you knock a few items off your holiday shopping list in downtown Lee’s Summit. downtownLS.org – 816.246.6598

Christmas in the Park

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Ginormous Gingerbread House Party Dec. 1–Jan. 1 at Paradise Park It’s a gingerbread dream come true. Enjoy this bigger-than-life creation and warm your spirits while having a blast. Its laser light show, festive holiday music and indoor snow make this the best interactive gingerbread house. It’s an enchanting, fairytale memory the whole family will love! paradise-park.com – 816.246.5224 Gardens by Candlelight: A Luminary Walk Dec. 10 at Powell Gardens Enjoy the Gardens’ Christmas Couture display, live music, homemade cookies and cocoa and a stroll along garden paths aglow with the light of hundreds of luminaries. While you’re there, visit the Marjorie Powell Allen Chapel and enjoy a concert. Tickets available online. powellgardens.org – 816.697.2600

Historic Downtown District

A Christmas Celebration Dec. 10 at Missouri Town 1855 Spend a day experiencing a mid-19th century Christmas. Interpreters share the customs of French, English and German settlers. Christmas carolers provide a musical backdrop, and piping hot tea warms you as you stroll through the decorated antebellum structures. Children will be delighted by a visit from “Belsnickel.” makeyourdayhere.com – 816.229.8980 Lee’s Summit Symphony Holiday Magic CONCERT Dec. 3 at Lee’s Summit High School Performing Arts Center Experience the sounds of the holidays with the Symphony’s orchestra and entertainment. It’s a heartwarming tradition your ears will thank you for. lssymphony.org – 816.401.5251

TM

You bring the group, and we’ll provide the fun!

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Our extraordinary setting can accommodate any size crowd and offers a memorable opportunity to celebrate, entertain, educate, or focus on whatever unique objective that pertains to your group.

1021 NE Colbern Rd. • Lee’s Summit, MO 64086 816-246-5224 Ext. 105 • www.Paradise-Park.com 39 | CATALYST–THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Photos with Santa

SAVE $100 when you book a holiday party by November, 2016!

Book your holiday group event by November 15, 2016 to receive $100 in credit toward room rentals or entertainment packages with an event booked at Paradise Park. Good for any event taking place before January 31, 2017.

Not valid with special or discounted offers. Valid with a minimum of $500 in nonfood purchases. Coupon must be entered at the time of booking.

4TH QUARTER - 2016 | 39

Relevant

Staying

Listen to the Research: Staying Relevant in a Time of Information Overload Let’s face it, the rhythm of life all around us is changing in leaps and bounds. We now live in a hectic, always on-call electronic world. A world filled with infinite noise as we experience quality of life deprivation on a grand scale. Consumers are drowning in an overabundance of information. At last count, the average consumer is exposed to somewhere between 2,500 and 3,500 advertising messages each and every day. As the message bombardment has increased, the audience’s attention span has decreased.

First and foremost, we need to recognize the reality of what is happening. Today, life is all about multi-tasking, and products and services make it easier to do so without thinking twice about it. The average consumer is sitting in front of the television, cell phone in hand and iPad in her lap checking her email. Most likely, she’s also talking to someone in the room next to her at the same time. So unless your message is relevant to her needs, wants or aspirations the very best you can hope for is secondary attention.

If you haven’t done your homework and crafted a communication strategy that gives you a sustainable competitive advantage, you’re wasting your time and money. Here are three suggestions on how best to take advantage of a changing environment in this frenzied world we live in: •

Anticipate Change: Listen to research and trends and what they’re telling us about tomorrow’s opportunities to begin evolving your attitudes.

•

Understand Change: Take time to interpret and understand the research data.

•

Shape Change: Have a command of best practices, including a marketing skill set, instincts and a passion to craft a results-driven communication strategy.

Change is inevitable, but by watching changes in the consumer behavior over time, we can anticipate and forecast the change.

Throughout the years, history has taught us that those who are most adaptable to change are always among the survivors.

“The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”

– Socrates

40 | CATALYST–THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Survey

Says

car clues Buying a car can sometimes be a daunting decision. Read up on these tips from Chamber members to make sure you’re getting the most bang for your buck when making car purchases.

All manufacturers are now building fuel efficient and safe vehicles these days. To stretch your dollar on a new vehicle purchase, always compare the price of the same new vehicle to the preowned one. Go back three, five and ten model years, regardless of how long you think you’re going to keep your vehicle, and check the resale value. Just because you are attracted to an incentive to purchase that new car now, such as rebates or free warranties, doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve found the best deal.

Example: New Car 1 MSRP: $30,000 Rebates: $3,000 Model 3 Years Old: $15,000

New Car 2 MSRP: $30,000 Rebates: $0 Model 3 Years Old: $23,000

Jason Brink Lee’s Summit Subaru 2101 NE Independence Ave leessummitsubaru.com

As we approach the upcoming Presidential election, Americans have a major decision to make. Is this really a good time to make that automobile purchase I’ve been putting off? While we’ve been basking in the land of low interest, it’s reasonable to assume that nothing lasts forever. Historically, for a couple of months before and after the Presidential election, the auto industry slows while we make our collective decision about the next leader of the free world. During this time, inventories are strong and if you’re a savvy consumer, there are some very appealing reasons to go ahead and purchase during this time.

Dave Raming Dave Cross Buick/GMC 1101 NW Blue Pkwy davecrossmotors.com

I believe the best strategy for saving money on late-model, low-mileage transportation is in the used car market. Used car prices are higher than normal due to high demand and low inventory but they’re still a great value. New vehicles lose substantial value during the first 20,000 miles, so let the first owner suffer the depreciation.

Always have a pre-purchase inspection done no matter what the Carfax, Auto Check or the selling party says about the vehicle. The pre-purchase inspection should have about 135 inspection points, cost around $80-$100, and normally takes about two hours to perform. Ask for an itemized list, including repair prices, of items that do not need attention, items that will need attention in the near future (within 10,000 miles or so), and items that need attention today.

Gene Fellows The Auto Clinic 957 SE Oldham Pkwy theautoclinic.com

When buying a new car, compare apples to apples. The MSRP is a great place to start because you can compare cars with the same equipment, regardless of the buying price. Make sure you drive the car before you negotiate price because if you don’t like the way the car runs, price doesn’t matter.

When buying a used car, look for the Carfax and, if possible, talk to the previous owner to see if they maintained the car. Oil changes mean a lot!

Check out the dealership. Price isn’t everything; service after the sale is very important. Buy where you get a “good feeling” from all the departments. Anybody can sell you one car. With a good dealership, hopefully you’ll become a lifetime customer.

Tom Sight Bob Sight Ford 610 NW Blue Pkwy bobsight.com

calendar of

EVENTS RECESS FOR SUCCESS 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4 at John Knox Village -Manhattan Room Topic: Useful Apps for Businesses Speaker: Clint Haynes, NextGen Wealth Sponsor: Igniting Business LLC RIBBON CUTTING/OPEN HOUSE– BUDGET BLINDS OF LEE’S SUMMIT 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6 CHAMBER AFTER HOURS 4:30–6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13 Location and Sponsor: Alissa’s Flowers and Interiors, Independence RIBBON CUTTING–SCOTT E. THOMAS & DAUGHTER PHOTOGRAPHY 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17 RIBBON CUTTING–KANSAS CITY HOME MEDICAL SUPPLY 8 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18 CHAMBER YOUNG PROFESSIONALS DEVELOPMENT LUNCHEON 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18 at TBD Speaker: Steve Arbo, City of Lee’s Summit Sponsor: Rotary Lee’s Summit RIBBON CUTTING–JAZZY B’S DINER 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 20 MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21 at Gamber Community Center Speaker: Chris Kuehl, Armada Corporate Intelligence Sponsor: University of Kansas Cancer Center-Lee’s Summit RSVP required

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CHAMBER BEFORE HOURS 7:30–8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25 Location and Sponsor: Minsky’s Pizza RIBBON CUTTING–TWO RIVERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25 MEGA CHAMBER OFFICE PARTY 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27 at Extreme Grand Prix Family Fun Center, Raytown Sponsor: KCP&L RSVP required RECESS FOR SUCCESS 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1 at John Knox Village-Manhattan Room Topic: Interactive Interview with Julie Kliegl Speaker: Todd Long, Leadership Innovations Sponsor: Lee’s Summit CARES CHAMBER 101: GET PLUGGED IN 3:30–5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3 at Paradise Park RSVP required CHAMBER AFTER HOURS 4:30–6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10 Location and Sponsor: Henry’s Antiques, Collectibles & Tea Room BREAKFAST FOR CHAMPIONS 7:30–9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15 at The Historic Space at The Stanley Speaker: Jeff Shackelford, Digital Soundbox RSVP required

MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 at Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center, Independence Speaker: Kendall Gammon, Kansas City Chiefs Sponsor: KC Communications & Media Matters RSVP required CHAMBER BEFORE HOURS 7:30–8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22 Location and Sponsor: T-Bones Deli & Meat Market, Lake Lotawana ANNUAL HOLIDAY RECEPTION 5–7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7 at Historic Longview Mansion RSVPs required CHAMBER AFTER HOURS 4:30–6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8 Location and Sponsor: Baird Group Real Estate MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16 Location: MCC–Longview Sponsor: Lee’s Summit CARES Honoring outgoing committee chairs followed by holiday trivia RSVP required CHAMBER ANNUAL GALA 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14 at The Pavilion at John Knox Village RSVP required

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.

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