St Joseph Business Journal by NPG Newspapers

Summer 2012

Changing the Definition of Health Care BIVI Expands to Eastowne Business Park St. Joseph Named To â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Best Cities For Small Businessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; List

St. Joseph BUSINESS JOURNAL

Summer 2012

GovernmentInBrief Dates of Interest

DOES YOUR BUSINESS INSURANCE WORK WITH YOU TO BUILD YOUR DREAM?

Listed below are several key dates which may be of interest to those interested in governmental affairs:

July 1, 2012 First day of the State of Missouri’s new fiscal year July 14, 2012 Last day for Gov. Nixon to sign or veto legislation Aug. 28, 2012 Legislation enacted during the 2012 legislative session becomes effective unless the legislation carried a specific date or emergency clause

Sept. 12, 2012 Annual veto session in Jefferson City Dec. 1, 2012 First day to pre-file legislation for the 2013 legislative session Jan. 9, 2013 First day of the 2013 legislative session

Rep. Delus Johnson, Sen. Rob Schaaf, and Rep. Pat Conway spoke at the June St. Joe Rising event to give Chamber members an update on legislative issues in Jefferson City.

BusinessBrief Heartland CEO Earns Distinction Becker’s Hospital Review announced on June 1, 2012, that Heartland Health President and CEO Dr. Mark Laney is included in its 2012 list of “100 Physician Leaders of Hospitals and Health Systems.” This list features some of the top physician leaders in healthcare. Physician leaders were selected for inclusion on this list based on

their healthcare experience, awards they’ve received and their commitment to quality care. Many of the leaders were nominated by their peers, and the list was Dr. Mark Laney vetted by industry experts. Hospital and health system leaders do not pay and cannot pay to be included in this list.

St. Joseph BUSINESS JOURNAL

Summer 2012

INDEX Economic Update................................................................................4 St. Joseph Named To Best Cities List..................................................4 Residents Respond About Needs In Community Survey...................5 Top Employer Profile: St. Joseph Plastics...........................................6 MWSU Receives $1 Million Innovation Campus Grant......................7 Heartland Becomes Mayo Clinic Care Network Member..................8 BIVI Expands To Eastowne Business Park..........................................9

Changing The Definition Of Health Care....................................10 $600,000 Grant Will Improve St. Joseph Avenue........................11 In Our Opinion..............................................................................12 Member Profile: Albrecht-Kemper Museum Of Art.....................13 Downtown Digest.........................................................................15 Community Goes 3 For 3 In Important Elections.......................16 In Its 20th Year, Trails West! Benefits The Economy...................17 Small Business Matters..................................................................19

2012 St. Joseph Metro Chamber BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman

Vern Middleton Midwest Federal

President/CEO

Ted Allison, CEcD St. Joseph Metro Chamber

Chair-Elect

Dr. Mark Laney Heartland Health

Secretary/Treasurer

James Carolus Hillyard Companies

Ted Allison, CEcD

President & CEO allison@saintjoseph.com 816.232.4461

Shannon Jobes

Vice President, Administration jobes@saintjoseph.com 816.364.4111

Directors Brian Bradley, St. Joseph News-Press Barbara Burns, B.J. Office Products Inc. Dr. Gary Clapp, Institute for Industrial & Applied Life Sciences Bill Falkner, City of St. Joseph Tim Knapp, Tim Knapp Construction Co. Corky Marquart, Commerce Bank, N.A. Todd Meierhoffer, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory Byron Myers, Sr., City of St. Joseph Dan Nowalk, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. Col. Mike Pankau, 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard Matt Robertson, CliftonLarsonAllen

Kristi Rasmussen

Director of Communications rasmussen@saintjoseph.com 816.364.4108

Maryann Skiles

Receptionist, Administrative Assistant

skiles@saintjoseph.com

Stet Schanze, Gray Manufacturing Co., Inc. Dr. Melody Smith, School District of St. Joseph Larry Stobbs, South St. Joseph Progressive Association Kylee Strough, United Way of Greater St. Joseph R.T. Turner, Buchanan County Bob Wollenman, Deluxe Truck Stop LLC Mark Woodbury, General Counsel, Polsinelli Shughart P.C. Brad McAnally, Immediate Past Chair, Hy-Vee Food Stores Mike Decker, Diplomats Club Representative, Apple Market Rebecca Evans, Young Executives Network Representative, Small Business & Technology Development Center

3003 Frederick Ave. 816.232.4461 or 800.748.7856

816.364.4873 (fax) www.saintjoseph.com

816.232.4461

Economic Development

Steve Hamilton

Senior Vice President, Economic Development hamilton@saintjoseph.com 816.364.4106 816.244-9533 (cell)

Membership

Brad Lau

Director of Business Attraction and Development blau@saintjoseph.com 816.364.4110 816.244.6221 (cell)

Mary Brown

Project Manager, Administrative Assistant brown@saintjoseph.com 816.364.4102

Natalie Redmond

Vice President, Member Relations redmond@saintjoseph.com 816.364.4107

Community Alliance

Lee Robertson

Director of Membership Sales and Retention robertson@saintjoseph.com 816.364.4113

Keisha Holtman

Administrative Assistant, Membership holtman@saintjoseph.com 816.364.4101

Steve Johnston

Director of Community Alliance of Saint Joseph johnston@saintjoseph.com 816.364.4109

St. Joseph BUSINESS JOURNAL

Summer 2012

EconomicUpdate

Top 10 Employers Heartland Health Triumph Foods, LLC School District of St. Joseph Altec Industries Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. American Family Insurance Wal-Mart System & Services Technologies, Inc. Sara Lee Foods Johnson Controls

Health Services Meat Products Education Utility Industry Equipment Animal Pharmaceuticals

3,451 2,240 1,882 880 838

Insurance Department Store Financial Services

820 780 745

Meat Products Manufacturing

700 697

Demographics

St.J oseph

business... by the good better life ! umbers

Unemployment

( June)

Population Housing units

76,780 32,495

St. Joseph Missouri

5.7 percent 7.1 percent

Average family size

United States

8.2 percent

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St. Joseph Named To Forbes ‘Best Cities For Small Business’ List St. Joseph ranked 89th overall in Forbes’ 14th annual “Best Small Places for Business” report. The rankings are based on 12 metrics related to job growth, business/living costs, income growth, educational attainment and projected economic growth. St. Joseph made the list because of its low business costs, number of educated workers and the potential for job growth. “The rankings show that Missouri cities, both large and small, are poised to support businesses and grow the state’s economy,” said Christopher Chung, CEO of the Missouri Partnership. “In addition to helping businesses thrive, these reports indicate that Missouri is not

only a great place to work, but also a high-quality place to live.” St. Joseph appearing on this list says a lot about the community’s efforts in collaboration, said Steve Hamilton, Senior Vice President of Economic Development. “St. Joseph enjoys a strong collaborative effort with its city and county governments, the school district, universities and the business sector,” Mr. Hamilton said. “This allows us to foster a positive environment for growth of large and small businesses alike.” To see St. Joseph’s profile on the list, go to http://www.forbes.com/ places/mo/st-joseph/.

St. Joseph BUSINESS JOURNAL

Summer 2012

Residents Respond About Needs in Recent Community Survey The residents have spoken… again. The Community Alliance of Saint Joseph recently released the results of its 2012 community survey. The survey is distributed every other year. This is the second time the survey has been completed. More than 1,800 surveys were mailed to residents from north, east, west, south and midtown parts of St. Joseph and throughout Buchanan County. The survey has a 95 percent level of confidence because of its random and wide distribution. The Community Alliance first surveyed residents in the spring of 2010. That survey had a 36 percent response rate from citizens. ETC Institute in Olathe, Kan., administers the survey and tabulates the results. It works with more than 500 cities across America. This year 40 percent of the seven-page surveys were returned. The surveys took about 15-20 minutes to complete and asked questions regarding residents’ opinions on a wide range of topics, from public safety to education and health to job creation. “It’s very daring for a community to put themselves out there like this,” said Steve Johnston, Director of the Community Alliance of Saint Joseph. But, the good news is that citizens had an overall positive perception of the city. Seventy percent of those surveyed said they were satisfied with the city and county as places to live and 69 percent said they were satisfied with the community as a place to raise children. Sixty-three percent said they were satisfied with feeling safe in St. Joseph.

However, crime prevention is still a concern. Even though a total of 92 percent of residents said they generally felt safe in shopping areas, 90 percent felt safe at work, and 87 percent had a general feeling of safety in their neighborhoods, crime and fire prevention still came up as a priority for residents. The top two take-aways from the survey – what city and county leaders will emphasize during the next two years – is maintenance of city streets and crime/fire prevention. Respondents were asked what their top three priorities were for the coming years. Water and sewer utilities came up in the third spot. One of the advantages of using ETC Institute is that it conducts similar surveys for other communities across the nation, so St. Joseph and Buchanan County are able to compare 2012’s findings to other cities’ results. Overall satisfaction with various city services did come in below Missouri/ Kansas and national levels. But as the community survey results continue to be considered in the city and county’s strategic planning processes, Mr. Johnston expects those numbers to rise to be closer to other communities’ satisfaction levels. Mr. Johnston said he will be available to speak to civic organizations about the findings for the next two to three months. He encouraged members to include the survey in their planning processes. He said the results will be posted on the city’s website, www.stjoemo. info, and on the Northwest Missouri information data resources website, www.nwmoinfo.org.

St. Joseph BUSINESS JOURNAL

Summer 2012

TopEmployerProfile Each quarter in the Business Journal, we will profile one or more of St. Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top employers. A top employer may be based on number of employees, or because the business operates in a St. Joseph-focused industry. Often, residents may recognize a company name, but may not know exactly what the company does. In this question and answer piece, learn a little bit more about:

St. Joseph Plastics Manufacturers-Buy/Sell Plastic Scrap Robert Starr, President 1102 Fifth Ave. St. Joseph, MO 64505 (816) 279-1415 In a nutshell, what does St. Joseph Plastics do? SJP buys scrap plastic from manufacturers, mostly in the fourstate area. Manufacturers of plastic products make mistakes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; sometimes printing errors, sometimes molding errors. Most of these are a normal part of the process, starting and stopping machines, changing colors, parts, etc. Sometimes products are obsoleted because of labeling changes, or a new and improved product taking its place, etc. We either grind or pelletize these materials and sell the resulting product to plastic molders, who make other products such as house and garden products, plastic pipe, combs, totes, pallets, etc. How does your company take industrial plastic scrap and turn it into something usable by the same company or another company? Many companies can actually reuse some or all of their scrap plastic. Sometimes, though, they do not have the equipment or time to convert this scrap into the form that makes it usable for them. In these cases, we bring the materials into our plant and sort and process back into a material that they can feed back into their process of making a plastic part.

Can you give any examples of products residents may see in their everyday lives that St. Joseph Plastics may have been a part of? Pallets, corrugated drain tile (the kind that is buried around your house to drain water run off), roof vents, air conditioner platforms, combs, hangers. These are a few of the items made from our resins. How does recycling with your company benefit manufacturers? SJP has been in business for about 24 years. We have a reputation for having great customer service and integrity in the way we deal with people. Manufacturers are looking for someone dependable who pays their bills on time, and who are always ready to buy their scrap, in the good markets and in the slow markets. SJP takes great pride in keeping our resins clean and free from contamination. How many people do you employ? Sixty-five full-time employees. Why did you locate in St. Joseph and what keeps you here?

A resident of Northwest Missouri started SJP in St. Joseph because of the relationship he had with Sherwood Medical and Mead Corporation. The company continues to be located here (three facilities total 260,000 square feet) because of the centralized location and our proximity to many plastic manufacturers. Our employees have proven that there are many skilled workers in the St Joseph area.

St. Joseph BUSINESS JOURNAL

Summer 2012

MWSU Receives $1 Million Innovation Campus Grant Grant will help workers return to college to complete an undergraduate degree Gov. Jay Nixon announced on Aug. 1 that Missouri Western State University, the St. Joseph Metro Chamber and several other education and business partners have been awarded a grant of $1 million to establish an Innovation Campus. This will help employees and potential employees in high demand business and industries complete post-secondary degrees and better contribute to the region’s economy. The Missouri Western project is one of nine Innovation Campuses funded throughout the state. “Innovation Campuses create a direct connection for Missouri citizens between the skills they learn in the classroom and the skills that are in demand today,” Mr. Nixon said. “This program will cut the time it takes for students to earn a degree, train students for solid careers in growing industries, and help to lower student debt.” Beginning this fall, the MWSU Innovation Campus program will enroll adults and high school students in relevant educational tracks, with financial aid of up to $7,500 to pursue college degrees. Partners include Missouri Western, the St. Joseph Metro Chamber, the Community Alliance of Saint Joseph, Metropolitan Community College, the St. Joseph School District, the Northwest Workforce Investment Board and eight business partners: Heartland Health, Hillyard Industries, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Gray Manufacturing, Lifeline Foods, Altec Industries, Blue Sun Biodiesel and Albaugh. As their in-kind donation to the initiative, the partnering businesses will provide substantial and targeted on-site training and mentoring for participants beyond what would otherwise occur within the company. Participants may

receive college credit for these applied learning experiences. Partnering businesses will identify participants among their employees or potential employees. A committee with representatives from all the partners will select participants for the program and track their progress. “The Gov. Jay Nixon addresses a crowd of Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph Metro Chamber Innovation and community leaders at a press conference to announce an Innovation Campus on Aug. 1. Photo Campus project courtesy of MWSU. reflects Missouri Western’s commitment to increasing Catered or Drop-Off the number of college graduates Corporate Lunches in the region and to providing Private Corporate and students with real-world applied Pharmaceutical Dinners learning opportunities,” said Dr. Personalized Menus for Robert Vartabedian, Missouri all Occasions Western’s president. “We will work closely with our partners to help participants obtain college degrees in disciplines that align with job openings and career opportunities On-site Seating for up to 50 people in high-demand fields, including the in the elegant atmosphere of our beautiful historic restaurant. human health and animal health industries.” The initiative will also direct high school students toward courses Wedding Receptions and programs specifically designed Rehearsal Dinners to prepare them for careers in Birthday Parties science and technology. Dual-credit courses in these areas will cut the Reunions time students need to earn their post-secondary degree. Mr. Nixon announced nearly $9 million in grants to establish Innovation Campuses throughout Missouri during the visit to Western.

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St. Joseph BUSINESS JOURNAL

Summer 2012

Heartland Becomes Mayo Clinic Care Network Member

“MY COMMUNITY IS MY BUSINESS.” We love bringing fresh, quality food to the community where we live, play and serve. We support numerous service organizations and schools. Are you ready to support local business? We are ready to support you.

Mike Decker and Todd Euler - co-owners

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903 N. 36th Street • 816-236-2000 3734 Pear Street • 816-236-2060 2300 Mitchell • 816-236-2030

For more information on Local Works and a complete listing of supporters, please go to www.newspressnow.com/LocalWorks

Mayo Clinic officials on May 23 announced Heartland Health as a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, which extends Mayo Clinic’s knowledge and expertise to physicians and providers interested in working together in the best interest of their patients. Heartland Health’s physicians will have Mayo Clinic expertise at their fingertips, including the ability to connect with Mayo Clinic physicians, who can help them care for their patients and improve their system and the health of their communities. “We’re pleased to formalize our collaborative relationship with Heartland Health,” says David Hayes, M.D., medical director of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. “Mayo Clinic has long enjoyed close working relationships with hospitals, group practices, and providers around the world. By developing formal connections with high-quality, culturally aligned practices, such as Heartland Health, the Mayo Clinic Care Network takes these natural collaborations even further.” “Heartland’s relationship with Mayo Clinic is based on cooperation and collaboration to improve the health of the people in our region,” says Mark Laney, M.D., president and CEO of Heartland Health. “We have been collaborating with Mayo for the past few years using telestroke (remote assistance by Mayo Clinic neurologists in managing stroke victims using telemedicine) in our emergency department. This is an exciting next step in our relationship with Mayo Clinic. We are proud to

ensure our patients have access to the highest-level knowledge and expertise.” Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic Care Network members share a common philosophy, commitment and mission to improve the delivery of health care. While some patients will still need to travel to a specialty care facility, the primary goal of Mayo Clinic Care Network is to help people gain the benefits of Mayo Clinic expertise close to home. The Mayo Clinic Care Network represents non-ownership relationships. Members are likeminded organizations that share a goal of improving the delivery of health care in their communities through high-quality, collaborative medical care. Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit worldwide leader in medical care, research and education for people from all walks of life. Heartland Health is an integrated health delivery system, which includes Heartland Regional Medical Center, Heartland Clinic, Heartland Foundation and Community Health Improvement Solutions. Founded in St. Joseph in 1984, Heartland seeks to improve the health of area individuals and communities and to provide the right care, at the right time, in the right place, at the right cost with outcomes second to none. Commitment to this mission has enabled Heartland Health to become the leader in health care in a 21-county area of Northwest Missouri, Northeast Kansas and Southeast Nebraska.

St. Joseph BUSINESS JOURNAL

Summer 2012

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Expands to Eastowne Business Park 60 jobs saved, 25 added with the promise of an additional 80+ by 2015 Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) has again chosen to expand its operation in St. Joseph – this time becoming the first business to operate a facility in Eastowne Business Park. BIVI, the U.S. subsidiary of one of the leading animal health companies in the world, plans to occupy a 260,000-square-foot building in Eastowne Business Park for its Consolidated Packaging and Distribution Center. This new facility will create more than 25 new logistic jobs, while retaining 60 jobs in St. Joseph. An additional planned expansion will add more than 80 jobs in the future. “This announcement is welcome news, as it represents the ongoing commitment of quality growth from Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., as well as the community’s efforts to support their growth wherever possible,” said Ted Allison, President and CEO of the St. Joseph Metro Chamber. “We were fortunate to have a suitable site to accommodate this project. We look at this as both an expansion and attraction project because the site in St. Joseph was in direct competition with a site in another state.” “Locating this new warehouse operation in St. Joseph will help increase our supply chain efficiency,” said Dr. Albrecht Kissel, President and CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. “We are thankful that the St. Joseph Metro Chamber, City of St. Joseph, Buchanan County and the State of Missouri are supportive partners in our growth.” The new facility will be on the currently undeveloped portion of Eastowne Business Park on the east side of Riverside Road. Prudential Summers, REALTORS, is the developer of the facility, and E.L. Crawford Construction is the contractor. BIVI will enter a long-term lease on the building. “A 10-month collaborative effort was led by the Chamber’s Economic Development Division,

with tremendous support from the City of St. Joseph, Buchanan County, and State of Missouri to put together a package of incentives that made this project desirable in St. Joseph,” Mr. Allison said. Steve Hamilton, Senior Vice President of Economic Development, gives special thanks to the Missouri Department of Economic Development. “We want to thank them for providing a $2 million Build Bond for this project,” he said. “This bond will assure St. Joseph not only receives the 27 new jobs for the Distribution Center, but that between now and 2015, Boehringer will create more than 80 jobs in St. Joseph.” Besides the state bond, the project will have Chapter 100 personal tax abatements for the warehouse project and the future enhancement of the company’s Gene Field Road location on an estimated $11 million of capital assets, such as machinery and equipment. The Gene Field facility enhancements will occur over a three-year period beginning in 2013. The Packaging and Distribution Center will also have real property tax abatement through the Local Enhanced Enterprise Zone on an estimated $28.7 million. Both abatements are for a period of 10 years. BIVI’s Gene Field Road facility will expand its manufacturing capabilities with the creation of more than 80 new jobs in St. Joseph by the end of 2015. “Incentives were important for this project because we were competing with a state in which BIVI already owned property,” said R.T. Turner, Buchanan County Presiding Commissioner. “These incentives not only saved jobs, but created many new ones with the expansion of the Gene Field site.” Mr. Allison said this is a positive sign for the future. “This, along with the shell building under construction, is a signal to our industrial community

that Eastowne Business Park is moving strongly forward,” Mr. Allison said. The Packaging and Distribution Center site will require a large amount of grading, which will be performed with in-kind services by the City and County. KCP&L also provided a utility rider that discounts electricity over a five-year period. “What a great example of how the Chamber, County, and the City

work together to help an existing business expand and bring in additional well-paying jobs to our community,” said Mayor Bill Falkner. “BIVI is a great company, one that plays an important part in the animal life science technology. We are happy to support BIVI with their expansion.”

Reason to Celebrate! Two ceremonies will be held to celebrate the expansion of BIVI in St. Joseph. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at the location of the new Consolidated Packaging and Distribution Center and a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at the new Vetmedica Administrative Building.

Groundbreaking Ceremony 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28 Eastowne Business Park Riverside and Pickett roads

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28 Vetmedica Administrative Building Gene Field and Woodbine roads

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St. Joseph BUSINESS JOURNAL

Changing the Definition of Health Care

Summer 2012

Photos provided by Heartland Health. Heartland Health has changed to St. Joseph,” said Teresa Watkins, the name of its Northland Kansas Team Leader of Marketing and City clinics to Mosaic Life Care and Communications at Heartland Health. expanded its mission there from “The goal is to operate under one health care to life care. This is a brand and the life care model.” change that could make its way to St. Life care is much more than Joseph. health care. Instead of focusing Another company owns the on diagnosis and treatment alone, federal trademark on the name Mosaic employees will work with Heartland, so in a new market the consumers to create a life plan. health system had to change the The life plan will consist of the name, Tama Wagner, chief brand consumer’s goals and aspirations officer for Heartland Health, told the for health and for life. Goals may St. Joseph News-Press. be tied to health, lifestyle, career, Mosaic Life Care is a physicianfinances, creativity, relationships or led life care company that is spirituality. By creating a life plan, introducing a new kind of health Mosaic helps people reach their goals care. Employees are connected to the by connecting them with community hearts, minds and spirits of consumers resources and being there for support and want to help them become the and to celebrate milestones. healthiest version of themselves. “We are very pleased to be Mosaic Life Care doesn’t just able to serve these communities,” treat diseases and conditions, it said Mosaic Life Care Regional also improves lives, according to Administrator David Jones. “We are promotional material. It has changed bringing a new kind of health care to health care into life care. Providers the Northland based on our life care work with consumers to discover model, which goes far beyond health their dreams and aspirations, and care to enrich the quality of life for help them achieve their aspirations those we serve.” to enrich their lives and open up Each location will have tools possibilities. and resources focused on health “It’s our goal to move this model improvement.

Mosaic Life Care has the following locations: Parkville Commons

6185 Jefferson Avenue Parkville, MO 64152 Primary Care: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Urgent Care: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Chef’s Station: healthy cooking demonstrations and fresh, nutritious meal ideas

Burlington Creek 6301 N. Lucerne

Kansas City, MO 64151 Specialty Care: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Imaging Center: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Outpatient Surgery Center: (opening September 2012) Outpatient Therapy: (opening September 2012)

“In everything we do, we do it with this in mind — we are not just opening clinics, we will be a true community partner by providing limitless avenues to live a healthy and fulfilled life,” Mr. Jones said. A chef’s station with healthy

Gladstone

6420 N. Prospect Ave. Gladstone, MO 64119 Primary Care: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Urgent Care: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Smithville

1103 S. US Highway 169 Smithville, MO 64089 Primary Care: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Excelsior Springs

2370 Vintage Ct. Excelsior Springs, MO 64024 Primary Care: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

recipes prepared by Chef Brian Matthews can be found in the Parkville location. Also in Parkville, the Aspire fountain spans two floors and a nine-panel TV story wall has videos that visually communicate Mosaic’s theme of “live life well.”

St. Joseph BUSINESS JOURNAL

Summer 2012

$600,000 Grant Will Improve St. Joseph Avenue in Northside Community Alliance of Saint Joseph, City of St. Joseph helped secure the livability grant St. Joseph Avenue will receive much needed improvements thanks to a Federal Highway Administration grant. The Community Alliance of Saint Joseph, with the help of the City of St. Joseph and others, secured $600,000 in FHWA’s Discretionary Grant Program funds. The Transportation, Community and System Preservation Program funds will be used to create dedicated bike lanes, widen sidewalks and calm traffic on a 1.5 mile section of St. Joseph Avenue (U.S. Highway 59). “Making improvements to take back our street from being focused solely upon the automobile, at the expense of the homes along the street, our children and business community, to a facility that adds value to the neighborhood is an attractive alternative,” said City Manager Bruce Woody in a letter

in support of the grant application. “St. Joseph Avenue is the collective community space and should enhance the unique history and culture of the Northside.” The Northside Livability Initiative will improve the infrastructure from roughly Robidoux Middle School on the north, to Highland Avenue on the south. The street is traveled on by about 14,000 cars a day. The Community Alliance of Saint Joseph and the City of St. Joseph wrote the grant proposal with the guidance of the Ferguson Group in Washington, D.C. With earmarks being taken out of federal budgets, more emphasis is being put on grants for federal spending in local communities. “We zeroed in on a transportation grant that fit very specific conditions,” said Steve Johnston, Director of the Community Alliance of Saint Joseph. “We started

the process in October of 2012 and filed the grant in early January.” The grant is an 80/20 match, meaning that the City will have to contribute $150,000. The goal of the Community Alliance of Saint Joseph is to promote a shared vision for the community through collective input from citizens. A recent survey of St. Joseph and Buchanan County residents showed streets as a number one priority for the future. “This is another great example of the value of collaborative partnerships,” Mr. Johnston said. “Multiple organizations, including the St. Joseph School District and the Missouri Department of Transportation, assisted with letters of support, as did our Congressional leaders in Washington. I also greatly credit Assistant Public Works Director Andy Clements for his work in

Northside Livability Initiative area of improvement along St. Joseph Avenue. helping secure this grant.” Community Alliance of Saint Joseph funding partners are: the St. Joseph Metro Chamber, the City of St. Joseph, Buchanan County, the School District of St. Joseph, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Heartland Health and Missouri Western State University.

BusinessBriefs King City Lumber Co. Receives Linked Loans State Treasurer Clint Zweifel announced on June 5 that he awarded $1.1 million in low-interest Missouri Linked Deposit Program loans to King City Lumber Company in King City. The company, which has been a St. Joseph Metro Chamber member since 2006, operates as a construction firm and owns and operates the Do It Best Center, a local hardware store. With the low-interest loans, the company was able to refinance debt it took out to remodel its hardware store and to increase its inventory. The company has 11 full-time employees. “The Missouri Linked Deposit Program has helped small businesses throughout Missouri refinance debt, allowing them to more easily remodel and expand, just like King City Lumber Company has done,” Mr. Zweifel said. “Small businesses and farmers

need the opportunity to grow and make updates. The Missouri Linked Deposit Program provides the lowinterest capital entrepreneurs and farmers need, and local lenders you work with every day can help you begin the very easy application process. I have approved more than $1 billion in loans for Missourians, helping our economy grow when we need it more than ever.” King City Lumber Company’s loans will save it an estimated $84,000 in interest over the next five years, should it choose to take out loans for that period. King City Lumber Company has been family-owned since it opened in 1972. The construction side of the company works on commercial, agricultural and residential buildings. Commerce Bank partnered to make the loan. Since January 2009, Northwest Missouri has received more than $66 million in loans impacting more

than 1,100 jobs and farmers. Statewide, more than $1 billion in loans have been approved, impacting more than 18,300 jobs and farmers.

Allied Arts Council Launches New Website Want something to do in St. Joseph, but never know what is going on downtown? The Allied Arts Council has launched a new Missouri Theater website, www. missouritheater.org. By creating a new website for the theater, the Council hopes to connect visitors and arts patrons with events happening at the theater and presenting arts organizations. Whether you’re looking for a thought-provoking drama, a night at the symphony, or a rib-tickling comedy, the website provides visitors and arts patrons a place to find what is coming to the theater.

“We are placing an emphasis on making information available on events and all of the arts opportunities taking place at the active Missouri Theater,” said Teresa Fankhauser. The ticket page provides information about the different organizations that generally use the theater for events. It also highlights frequently asked questions on accessibility and directions. The calendar shows events coming to the theater. If you are looking for a particular type of event, comedy, music, dance, speakers, family events, or theater, the new website allows you to search for your particular interest. The about page is the perfect place to get those tidbits of information to share with your family and friends. It highlights the theater’s history, and provides information for those looking to book the theater, including technical specs.

St. Joseph BUSINESS JOURNAL

Summer 2012

City’s Promise Warrants Optimism (The recent) announcement of the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. expansion project was indeed a cause for celebration. It was the culmination of 10 months of intense negotiations with BIVI. As a result, the city of St. Joseph will be home to a consolidated international packaging and distribution center. This project positions St. Joseph well for future BIVI expansion projects because the close proximity to this distribution center will make it a natural fit for future production facilities. It also makes a clear statement about our ability to attract business to the area because we were in competition with the state of Iowa for this project. I think it also says a great deal about our model for economic development. Buchanan County and the city contract with the St. Joseph Metro Chamber for

economic development services. As stakeholders with a vested interest in the outcomes, both the city and the county are closely involved with us on major projects like this. We also have close working relationships with other entities that participate in economic development projects. In this case, KCP&L came to the table with economic incentives and the state of Missouri provided a $2 million construction bond in exchange for BIVI’s commitment of 88 more jobs and an additional capital investment at its main campus by 2015. That brings the total number of new jobs over the next three years to 115. The positions at the Gene Field campus will pay between $50,000 and $60,000 a year, plus benefits. We stood to lose 60 jobs in St. Joseph had this project gone to Iowa. The St. Joseph Metro Chamber sends a sincere thank you to

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city, county, state and KCP&L officials for their many hours of committed service to this project. We also congratulate Prudential Summers Realtors and E.L. Crawford Construction Inc. for their winning bid on this project as they will create numerous construction jobs for local workers and contractors. This project, on its own merits, is clearly a cause for celebration, but I would like to add a personal note. I moved to St. Joseph eight years ago and quickly recognized we have an incredible community with a tremendous amount of untapped potential. In those eight short years, I have seen: The Shoppes of North Village open and the Pony Express Business Plaza develop. Our college became a thriving state university. The Bond Science and Technology Incubator came to fruition and filled near capacity. Multiple new restaurants and shops have opened all around town. East Hills Shopping Center was completely remodeled. Triumph Foods invested in St. Joseph and now employs more than 2,700 people. The Kansas City Chiefs’ training camp was built and voters approved important measures to improve our schools and Downtown development. The former Payless Cashways area was revived as an attractive retail development. Many businesses have expanded, including Sunshine Electronic Display, I&M Machine Shop & Fabrication Corp., Van-Am Tool & Engineering Inc., Heartland Health, Altec Industries Inc., Johnson Controls, BIVI, Herzog Contracting Corp. and American Family Insurance, among others. Today, the economic development division of the Chamber is as busy as it has ever been with both attraction projects and expansion projects. For half the time I have lived in St. Joseph our world has been in a deep recession, but we have many reasons to be “St. Joe Proud.” Our unemployment rate has continually declined to 5.8 percent, while the state and national rates are

InOurOpinion 7.2 percent and 8.3 percent, respectively. We will continue to see healthy job growth in Steve Hamilton St. Joseph, but Senior Vice President, Economic Development workers must hamilton@saintjoseph.com develop new 816.364.4106 816.244-9533 (cell) skills to fill many of those jobs. In the months and years ahead, we’ll also attract more jobs with the new Eastowne Business Park and University Hills, a developable area along Riverside Road from Highway 36 to Frederick Boulevard. I could write much more about all the projects that are in different stages of development, but I hope the reader gets the point: We have begun to raise the bar here in St. Joseph. We are blessed with a rich history, a strong workforce, good schools of all levels, and excellent medical care facilities. We have every reason to be proud of our community and to expect even more of ourselves. I encourage everyone to embrace the vision of the Community Alliance of St. Joseph. Quality jobs, quality education, and quality of life are good here. We should be proud, but continually strive to keep improving. The collaborative efforts coming from our local governments, school district, Missouri Western State University, the St. Joseph Metro Chamber, Heartland Health and hundreds of community leaders and volunteers are truly making a difference. In my view, more optimism and celebration are warranted. Steve Hamilton is the Senior Vice President for economic development with the St. Joseph Metro Chamber. (Originally published in the St. Joseph News-Press as a guest column on Sunday, June 24, 2012.)

St. Joseph BUSINESS JOURNAL

Summer 2012

MemberProfile

Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art 2818 Frederick Ave. St. Joseph, MO 64506 816-233-7003 www.albrecht-kemper.org

The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art serves as a cultural arts center for Northwest Missouri. The museum will celebrate 100 years in the community next year with a history dating back to 1913 with the foundation of the St. Joseph Art League --- a group of 12 women who sought to increase public awareness and understanding of the arts. With the hope of establishing a public art museum, they acquired the William Merritt Chase painting, A Venetian Balcony. A special showing of the painting was held in a local department store, and later became recognized as the first and most beloved work in the Museum’s permanent collection. The devotion of the St. Joseph community to the cultural arts was illustrated when Mr. and Mrs. Conger Beasley gave the former home of Mrs. Beasley’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Albrecht as a permanent space for the Art League’s modest collection. Mr. Albrecht was the founder of the Western Tablet Company, which manufactured the “Big Chief” writing tablet. Funds were raised to convert the 1935 mansion into what is the current museum, and in 1966 the Albrecht Gallery was dedicated. Through the years the support was overwhelming and the collection

outgrew the original home. In 1990, the museum’s Board of Directors initiated a $2.5 million capital campaign and with more than $1 million raised and with a generous donation from Mr. R. Crosby Kemper, a 22,000 square foot addition was completed in 1993. The spacious addition complements the original home and gave the museum art classrooms, major new gallery spaces, a kitchen with dining facilities, a 144-seat theater, a library, a gift shop, and climate-controlled vault space. A work of art itself, the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art displays masterworks from the past four centuries. Annual temporary exhibition schedules allow both regional and nationally-recognized artists to display their work in an inviting, well-respected museum. A wide variety of special programs complement the museum’s exhibitions, including child and adult art classes, gallery talks, “Third Thursday” wine tastings, and weekly luncheons. Besides AKMA memberships and foundation giving, the museum relies on special events and fundraisers throughout the year. Plans are underway for the annual Sugarplum Festival, an event the community looks forward to, which is the museum’s largest fundraiser.

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St. Joseph BUSINESS JOURNAL

Dority Receives Promotion, Resigns Board In July, St. Joseph Metro Chamber Board President Matthew Dority received a promotion from his employer, KCP&L, and resigned from the Board. Mr. Dority is now the Director of Regulatory Affairs at KCP&L. In this new role, Mr. Dority will initially assume responsibility for coordination of regulatory activities in

Summer 2012 support of KCP&L’s partnership with AEP to start its jointlyowned competitive transmission company, Transource Energy LLC. Mr. Dority has been with KCP&L Matthew Dority for eight years and has held a variety of roles in economic development within Energy Solutions, government affairs within Public Affairs, and construction

& maintenance field operations within T&D. In his most recent role as District Manager, he oversaw operations and community strategy for the North District part of KCP&L’s service territory. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Furman University and an MBA from the University of Missouri Kansas City. Tom Burke, back from his service in Africa, will be returning to the North District as District Manager. “It has been an honor to serve as your Chairman of the Board the

14 last six months,” Mr. Dority wrote in an e-mail to Chamber staff. “I regret that I cannot serve out the full extent of my term, but this will be a seamless transition.” Vern Middleton, of Midwest Federal, has stepped into the chairman position. He had been serving as Vice Chair. Dr. Mark Laney, of Heartland Health, is the new vice chair. Dr. Laney had been serving as the secretary/treasurer. Jim Carolus, of Hillyard Industries, is the new secretary/treasurer.

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St. Joseph BUSINESS JOURNAL

Summer 2012

DowntownDigest Information provided by the St. Joseph Downtown Partnership

Ground Round Relocates Downtown A fixture at the corner of Belt Highway and Frederick Boulevard for numerous years, the Ground Round restaurant has re-located to the space formally occupied by EmChamas Brazilian Grill in the Eschelman’s Building at 123 S. Sixth St. Marcia Hayes, owner of the restaurant, stated “we are thrilled to be downtown and appreciate the support that the community has given us.” She said that “patrons really like the ambience of the renovated historic building and we are seeing new customers, as well as loyal customers from the old location.” The numerous downtown events affect the business in a positive way and more groups are booking the meeting spaces. The location change has given the restaurant owners the opportunity to expand their business by having room to book private meetings and special events. Reservations are accepted for lunch or dinner. To book your reservation, special event or holiday party, give them a call at 816-671-1906.

KNPN Signs On Downtown FOX 26 KNPN will kick off its new fall season of shows in September. The lineup includes many returning favorites, such as “Glee,” “Bones,” and “American Idol,” as well as new shows like, “The Mob Doctor” and “Ben and Kate.” Like KNPN’s Facebook page to keep informed on shows’ premieres. Chiefs fans will enjoy games on FOX 26 KNPN on Sept. 9 and Dec. 2. Local news and weather can be found on News-Press NOW on FOX 26 KNPN every night at 5:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. and weekday mornings from 5:30 to 8 a.m. Follow them on Twitter @newspressnow and @knpnweather; like the News-Press

NOW Facebook page or go to www. newspressnow.com. Antenna viewers can tune to FOX on 26.1, Suddenlink subscribers may view it on channel 4. It is also currently on Dish and will soon be available for DIRECTV customers.

Josephine Expo To Be Held At The Civic Arena Limited booth space is still available for the 2012 Josephine magazine’s Women’s Expo, to be held at the St. Joseph Civic Arena on Saturday, Oct. 6. The event, in its eighth year, is billed as a day of fun and attracts thousands of area women, bringing them face-to-face with participating businesses and home-based merchants. This year’s theme is, “Hats off to her.” To reserve booth space for the Expo, please contact Tami Clymer as soon as possible at (816) 271-8563 or e-mail josephineexpo@newspressnow. com. Josephine magazine is published on the last Tuesday of every month in the St. Joseph News-Press.

The Lucky Tiger Offers Classic Clothing The Lucky Tiger is a boutique owned by Brian Myers and Amy Heath that specializes in classic, one-of-a-kind vintage attire for men, women, and children of all sizes and styles. With clothing ranging from the Victorian era up to the mid-1990s, one is sure to find a special piece to mix into a current wardrobe or the perfect costume for theme parties. The clothes are handpicked by Ms. Heath, a recent transplant from New York City, along with clothing, vintage accessories including shoes, hats, handbags, ties and a beautiful array of jewelry. If vintage clothing is not

your thing, there is also a wide range of curiosities and antique knick knacks such as suitcases, smoking and drinking accessories, ball jars, and toys. There are many items to get nostalgic about. The Lucky Amy Heath accepts The Lucky Tiger’s First Dollar of Profit Tiger owners Award on June 21 from Matthew Dority, who was the St. are also huge music and vinyl Joseph Metro Chamber Board Chairman at the time. For more on Mr. Dority, see page 14. fanatics and offer an ever The Lucky Tiger is located growing selection of music for the at 718 Francis St. Business hours vinyl junkies out there. There is also are Tuesday through Saturday from a local music shelf where local music 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. For more and merchandise are available. information call (816) 284-3104.

St. Joseph BUSINESS JOURNAL

Summer 2012

Community Goes 3 For 3 In Important Elections This Year CIP passes with resounding margin in six-year extension St. Joseph voters continued to pave the way for future community enhancement with approval of another tax measure in August. Voters approved the Capital Improvements Program one-half cent sales tax on Aug. 7. Seventythree percent of voters approved the extension of the tax for six years. The final vote tally was 8,044 yes votes to 3,015 no votes. This victory for community leaders follows the passing of two other measures this year, the Buchanan County Capital Improvement Program and the St. Joseph School District bond initiative. In February, voters approved the continuance of a quartercent sales tax for county capital improvements and economic development efforts. The issue

passed with 64 percent of voters in approval. The positivity continued in April, when more than 65 percent of voters approved the school district bond issue to build two new schools and air condition all of the elementary schools. As for the City of St. Joseph’s CIP, it will fund more than $18 million in streets and infrastructure projects, $8 million in public safety improvements and $3 million in parks and recreation projects. Some of these improvements will improve the airport, build new fire stations and improve ballparks. “All of these improvements are vital to continuing to improve our safety and quality of life,” said Ted Allison, President and CEO of the St. Joseph Metro Chamber.

City voters have supported the CIP for 20 years. Past projects that are a result of the CIP include: a new fire station, enhanced 911 system, fire trucks, Frederick Avenue and King Hill Avenue widening, Faraon Street improvements, 18th Street bridge replacement, the Remington Nature Center, the Aquatic Park, Heritage Park and the new REC center. Funds have also gone to economic development in Mitchell Woods Business Park. “We’re on a roll in this town,” said Brad McAnally, CIP Committee Co-Chairman. “We got the County CIP to go through, we got the school bond through...it shows the St. Joseph community is trying to move forward and is being progressive.” “I think it just says wonders

throughout the entire community and the entire region what St. Joseph has come to,” he said. Forty-two percent of all sales tax collections in St. Joseph are paid by persons who live outside the city – tourists, out-of-town shoppers, convention attendees – who do not pay property taxes, but who use the city streets, city facilities, and can call on public safety personnel if necessary, according to information in favor of the measure.

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St. Joseph BUSINESS JOURNAL

Summer 2012

In its 20th Year, Trails West! Benefits the Economy Bill Clinton was president, the first Beanie Baby was released and “Jurassic Park” was a hit at theatres. The year was 1993 and in St. Joseph, residents attended their first Trails West! festival. This year, the Allied Arts Council is proud to present, “Trails West! Celebrating 20 Years of Arts and Entertainment” on Aug. 17-19 in Civic Center Park. “When I moved here 21 years ago, I was surprised that there wasn’t an annual arts festival,” said Trails West! founder Karen Graves. When she discovered that 1993 was the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph’s incorporation, she brought the arts festival idea forward as a way to celebrate the sesquicentennial. “They liked the idea, so I said, ‘let’s do this,’” Mrs. Graves said. “Time was short and fundraising was huge.” The Missouri Arts Council gave Ms. Graves, who had experience starting an arts festival in Salina, Kan., approval for a $25,000 grant, which paid for about 20 percent of the festival’s cost during the first year. With the support of volunteers and sponsors, Trails West! was on its way. But, the Great Flood of 1993 almost caused the festival to be canceled before it even began. “We thought, ‘maybe we shouldn’t be planning a party?’” she said. But the committee pushed

onward with an August date, which turned out perfectly with the receding of floodwaters. “Everyone was so ready to celebrate,” Ms. Graves said. And, for the 19 years that have followed, St. Joseph has continued to celebrate artistry and the city’s unique cultural heritage with Trails West! in August. The unique blend of performing and visual arts has grown since 1993, creating more than a $1 million economic impact in 2011. Main stage acts like Taylor Swift, The Band Perry, Lee Ann Womack, Grand Funk Railroad and Blood, Sweat & Tears have helped make the festival a must-see for area residents. Planners spread talent throughout the weekend and feature up and coming performers, as well as bands that play songs everyone can hum along to, Ms. Graves said. This year’s main stage offers Uncle Kracker, Hunter Hayes, Tower of Power, Head East, and Brian Howe of Bad Company. The visual arts are a vital part of the event. Painter Evelyn JordanIsaacs has participated in every Trails West! festival so far. “I think Trails West! has been great for the community because it has brought arts to the people,” said the 83-year-old St. Joseph resident. “I can remember the first festival. It was a happy time.” She said she has built a good clientele that comes to see her every

Festival and Main Stage Hours Friday, Aug.17 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19 Noon until the end of mainstage concert

Tower of Power Friday, Aug.17, 8:30 p.m. Hunter Hayes, Uncle Kracker Saturday, Aug. 18, 8 p.m. Head East, Brian Howe of Bad Company Sunday, Aug. 19, 6 p.m.

year in her booth. “I look forward to it every year, it just gets better and better,” she said. Ms. Jordan-Isaacs also complimented the fine musicians, craftsmen and culinary artists that make the event such a success. One of the most notable changes that occurred throughout the 20-year run is the addition of paid admission in 2007. As the cost to produce the festival rose throughout the years, planners knew that they had to start charging for admission. “Trails West! has great sponsors, but the people were going to have to help out,” Ms. Graves said. Admission to the festival is by souvenir button or 2012 Trails West! T-shirt. The buttons, good for admission to all three days of the festival, are on sale now for $7. They will be $10 at the festival gates. All guests 12 and older need a button for admission. Those younger than 12, and accompanied by an adult, aren’t charged a fee. Trails West! T-shirts must be purchased in advance and can be worn to the festival as an alternative option to purchasing an admission button. Purchase your festival buttons at the Allied Arts Council office, the St. Joseph Metro Chamber, your local bank, or at one of the many local businesses listed on the Trails West!® website, www.trailswest.org. “I’m proud to serve as the Trails West! chairperson in its 20th

Trails West! Founder Karen Graves talks in an art booth at the 2008 event. anniversary year,” said Natalie Redmond, who also is the Vice President of Member Relations at the St. Joseph Metro Chamber. “It’s very important for the business community to be involved in expanding the arts in our city. I’ve been involved with Trails West! since 2008, and I think it provides not only culture, but a nice, inexpensive entertainment option for our residents.”

Below: Uncle Kracker will perform.

St. Joseph BUSINESS JOURNAL

Summer 2012

BusinessBriefs Griffon Athletics Receives Honor For the second time in three years, Griffon Athletics was recognized for excellence in community engagement as the department was awarded the MIAA Community Engagement Activity of the Year Award as selected by the NCAA. Each MIAA institution is eligible to submit its best community engagement endeavor, which had to take place during calendar year 2011. The “Kid Fan Program,” which was centered around the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship held at Civic Arena in March 2011, involved more than 800 area middle school students from eight schools, each of which adopted a region of the championship. The program, which had been used at three previous women’s basketball championships in St. Joseph, was

created not only to engage area youth in the championship, but to also help create atmosphere and guarantee at least 100 fans for each team during all games at Civic Arena. Some teams have to travel long distances to get to the championship and their fans may not be able to follow. Students studied all aspects of their region including historical features within the geography of that region, institutions within that region and the progress of the teams that potentially would come to St. Joseph for the championship. Students created welcoming signs, posters and banners and met their teams upon arrival in St. Joseph to make them feel at home. On Monday of championship week, each of the eight teams made a visit to their school and took part in a 90-minute assembly

where team members talked to the students about the importance of a healthy lifestyle and what it takes to be a championship student-athlete. Once the games began at Civic Arena, the middle schools got to root their team on all the way through the championship. Griffon Director of Athletics Kurt McGuffin accepted the award Thursday, June 7, at the MIAA Awards Banquet at the Downtown Marriott Hotel in Kansas City.

Chamber Plans Kickballapalooza The St. Joseph Metro Chamber is planning its first Kickballapalooza event. Members of the Chamber can captain a team of co-workers, friends, or family members (they do not all have to be Chamber members) to play in the one-day tournament at Heritage Park on Saturday, Sept. 15.

All players must be 16 or older. Teams must consist of eight to 10 players, with at least four men and four women. Individuals can be placed on a team. The cost per individual is $20 or $160 per team. Prizes will be awarded for first and second place finishers and special guest judges will referee the championship. Prizes also will be awarded for most creative name and uniform. Register by Sept. 7. For more information, call Natalie Redmond at (816) 364-4107 or email redmond@ saintjoseph.com. The event is presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City.

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St. Joseph BUSINESS JOURNAL

Summer 2012

The Formula For A Successful Business Entrepreneurs are, by definition, individuals who start a business despite the risks. They are, essentially, risk takers. This one characteristic is common among successful business owners around the world. Many other characteristics are also shared with some of the most successful entrepreneurs, including:

• Willingness to work beyond the 40-hour workweek. This involves initiative, discipline and persistence • Know your customers – If you invented the best widget on the planet, but no one wants it, what good is it? You must know what your customers want and what benefits they will receive.

• Education – 90 percent of entrepreneurs ranked education as either important or very important to the success of their business (Kauffman Foundation) • Professional networking – 73 percent of entrepreneurs ranked this as important (Kauffman Foundation) • Passion for and enjoyment of your business – Do what you love!

Because education is ranked so highly among entrepreneurs for business success, it’s important to acknowledge that there are two types of education. One type is a general business knowledge that is learned at the university level through a business management or entrepreneur degree, or an MBA. Then there is ongoing education for

Rebecca Evans is the Regional Director of the SBTDC. You may contact her at: 816-364-4105 or evans@saintjoseph.com The Small Business & Technology Development Center (SBTDC) is located inside the St. Joseph Metro Chamber. You do not need to be a member of the Chamber to receive services. The SBTDC can complete a walk-through of your business to determine if there are any wastes that are causing your operation to run inefficiently and what can be done to correct those situations. All services performed by the SBTDC are pre-paid by the Small Business Administration, so there is never a charge to the business.

Quality Hearing Aid Centers Changes Locations Quality Hearing Aid Centers has a new location, effective Aug. 20. The new address is 2227 N. Belt Highway in the Woodlawn Shopping Center. A grand opening celebration will be held the week of Aug. 27, with

BusinessBrief refreshments, door prizes and special discounts. Quality Hearing Aid Centers is a full-service hearing aid center, providing comprehensive hearing evaluations, hearing instrument fitting and hearing protection. It specializes in the newest, most discreet technologies, which are also wireless Bluetooth.

SmallBusinessMatters

any business owner in his industry so that he can stay at the top of his field. Life-long learning is as much a part of any successful business model as product innovation and marketing is. If you fall behind in your chosen field, your competition will take your customers for you. Many will always point a finger to a Mark Zuckerberg or a Bill Gates as examples of successful entrepreneurs who did not complete their degree programs. And while that is true, those entrepreneurs are the exception, not the rule. By far, the top executives of self-built businesses have used education as one of the building blocks to help them propel their businesses into successful empires. These days,

entrepreneurship is so common that universities in most states even offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs in it. So, if you’re a risk taker and the entrepreneur bug has bitten, learn as much as you can about your industry, your customers and your professional networks. Then plan, plan, plan and work, work, work. Voila! The formula for success.

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