Business Journal March 2013 by NPG Newspapers

Winter 2013 a publication of the St. Joseph Metro Chamber

St. Joseph Has Sites

Land For Development Is Key For Future Growth

Patt Lilly Returns To Chamber CEO Post Leaders To Advocate In D.C.

St. Joseph Business journal

Winter 2013

Patt Lilly Will Return To Chamber President/CEO Post DOES YOUR BUSINESS INSURANCE WORK WITH YOU TO BUILD YOUR DREAM?

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A familiar face will return to lead to hit the ground running. The 15th the St. Joseph Metro Chamber. R. Patt annual Washington, D.C. Fly-In is Lilly has accepted the position of March 12 and 13, during his first week President and CEO, effective March back at the Chamber. This trip allows 11, 2013. Mr. Lilly previously served as Chamber and community leaders the Chamber President and CEO from to advocate for St. Joseph interests 1996 to 2006. with federal legislators and their staff “Patt Lilly brings a members. unique combination of skills “Providing the leaderand qualifications to the ship and resources necesposition as President and sary to create jobs in the CEO of the St. Joseph Metro community will continue to Chamber,” said Vern Middlebe the Chamber’s primary ton, Chairman of the Board. role,” Mr. Lilly said. “Not only does Patt bring Steve Hamilton, Senior prior experience serving as Vice President of Economic the CEO of the Chamber Development, served as Patt Lilly for 10 years, which included Interim President and CEO, successful economic development since Ted Allison resigned from the initiatives, he brings six years of position in August 2012. Mr. Allison experience serving as City Manager had served in the position for six of the City of St. Joseph and six years years. Mr. Hamilton plans to retire of experience as Chief Administrative in 2013 and didn’t interview for the Officer of Triumph Foods, a major position. employer in St. Joseph.” “It has been my pleasure to serve Under Mr. Lilly’s leadership duras the Interim President of the St. ing his prior tenure at the Chamber, Joseph Metro Chamber,” Mr. Hamilton an economic development fundraising said. “I was blessed to have a strong initiative was put in place securing $3 and competent staff and I want to million in funding from 200 investors. express my appreciation for their The Chamber was directly involved in hard work and support. I couldn’t economic development projects that have done it without them. I look created 4,500 new jobs and resulted forward to the return of Patt Lilly. He in more than $500 million in new is a highly-qualified and experienced investment from the private sector in leader for our Chamber and our coma five-year period during his tenure. munity. Additionally, Mr. Lilly oversaw the The Executive Committee of the initial development of Eastowne Busi- Chamber Board of Directors served ness Park and helped lead the effort as the Search Committee and was to recognize St. Joseph as a leader in assisted by OMNI Employment Manthe animal health industry. This effort agement Services, LLC, of Overland led to the creation of the Institute for Park, Kan. Industrial and Applied Life Sciences. “The Search Committee was “My desire to return to the Cham- pleased with the number of excellent ber was based on my interest in being candidates from St. Joseph and the part of an organization that makes a surrounding region who submitted difference in the community,” Mr. Lilly their resumes,” Mr. Middleton said. said. “We are fortunate in St. Joseph to “After careful and thoughtful considhave a strong public/private partnereration, the Search Committee and the ship to support economic developChamber Board of Directors determent. Maintaining and strengthening mined Patt’s outstanding qualifications this important partnership will be my were the right combination at the right initial focus as I join the Chamber. ” time for the St. Joseph Metro Chamber Mr. Lilly will use his expertise and the St. Joseph metro area.”

St. Joseph Business journal

Winter 2013

BUSINESS JOURNAL INDEX Economic Update................................................................................4 St. Joseph Named In Best Performing Cities List...............................5 Community Leaders Advocate For Issues in Jefferson City...............6 Member Profile: Fairview Golf Course...............................................7 Government In Brief............................................................................8 Chamber Unveils Newly Redesigned Website....................................9 St. Joseph Has Sites............................................................................10

Leaders Plan To Advocate In D.C.................................................11 St. Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Persistence Pays Off, Mayor Says..............................12 Technology Start-Up Co. Opens in NWMSU Incubator...............13 Top Employer Profile: Triumph Foods, LLC.................................14 Downtown Digest..........................................................................15 Hillyard Employee Selected For Degree Completion Program...17 Small Business Matters...................................................................18 Danford Becomes A Registered Financial Advisor For NFL........19

A publication of the St. Joseph Metro Chamber. Published March 2, 2013. Administration

Steve Hamilton

Interim President & CEO, Senior Vice President, Economic Development hamilton@saintjoseph.com 816.364.4106

Shannon Jobes

Vice President, Administration jobes@saintjoseph.com 816.364.4111

Brad Lau

Director of Communications bailey@saintjoseph.com 816.364.4108

Maryann Skiles

Receptionist, Administrative Assistant

3003 Frederick Ave. 816.232.4461 or 800.748.7856

Community Alliance of Saint Joseph

Membership

Mary Brown

Project Manager, Administrative Assistant brown@saintjoseph.com 816.364.4102

Natalie Redmond

Vice President, Member Relations redmond@saintjoseph.com 816.364.4107

816.364.4873 (fax) www.saintjoseph.com

skiles@saintjoseph.com 816.232.4461

Economic Development

Director of Business Development blau@saintjoseph.com 816.364.4110

Kristi Bailey

Lee Robertson

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

Keisha Holtman

Steve Johnston

Administrative Assistant, Membership holtman@saintjoseph.com 816.364.4101

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

2013 St. Joseph Metro Chamber BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman Chair-Elect

Vern Middleton Midwest Federal

Secretary/Treasurer

James Carolus Hillyard Companies

Dr. Mark Laney Heartland Health

Directors John Bosman, American Family Insurance Brian Bradley, St. Joseph News-Press Barbara Burns, B.J. Office Products Inc. Mike Decker, Apple Market Bernd Eichenmueller, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. Bill Falkner, City of St. Joseph Tim Knapp, Tim Knapp Construction Co. Corky Marquart, Commerce Bank Todd Meierhoffer, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory Byron Myers, Sr., City of St. Joseph Col. Mike Pankau, 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard

Matt Robertson, CliftonLarsonAllen Stet Schanze, Gray Manufacturing Co., Inc. 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, Past Chair, Hy-Vee Food Stores Janice Keith, Diplomats Club Representative, Holiday Inn Conference Center Jennifer Pellersels, LEAD Representative, Altec Industries, Inc.

St. Joseph Business journal

Winter 2013

EconomicUpdate

Top 10 Employers Heartland Health Triumph Foods, LLC School District of St. Joseph Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. American Family Insurance Wal-Mart Missouri Western State University System & Services Technologies, Inc. The Hillshire Brands Company Johnson Controls

Health Services Meat Products Education Animal Pharmaceuticals

3,866 2,838 1,882 838

Insurance Department Store Education Financial Services

820 785 720 720

Meat Products Manufacturing

700 697

Demographics

St.Joseph

business... by the good better life ! umbers

Unemployment

(Dec.)

Population Housing units

76,780 32,495

St. Joseph Missouri

5.1 percent 6.7 percent

Average family size

United States

7.8 percent

Economic History Discussed

To go forward, we must also look back in regard to economic development. Bob Slater, who was the chairman of the St. Joseph Metro Chamber’s Economic Development Committee for 10 years, gave a presentation on the history of St. Joseph’s economic development at the Fall Chairman’s Breakfast on Nov. 29. He said private citizens used to be much more involved. They’d see

plant closings in the future and make calls to attract business to St. Joseph themselves. One St. Joseph Light & Power employee turned a chance meeting on an airplane with a businessman on his way to tour Lincoln, Neb., into a tour of St. Joseph. Peachtree Door Co. was open in St. Joseph for 20 years, Mr. Slater said. “Volunteer involvement is critical,” Mr. Slater said. “I believe staff should do the detail work, but volunteers need to close the deal.” Vern Middleton, Chairman of the Board, chose the topic of the program. “Let’s not forget those personal acquaintances and how important they are,” Mr. Middleton said. The Chamber is about to kick off its 21st Century Economic Development Partnership campaign, “Grow St. Joe.” If your business would like to become involved, contact Steve Hamilton at (816) 364-4106 or hamilton@saintjoseph.com.

Winter 2013

St. Joseph Named In Best Performing Cities List

The Milken Institute recently reported that St. Joseph, Mo., ranked 29th among the country’s best performing small cities in 2012. St. Joseph ranked 51st on the list in 2011. The 2012 Milken Institute BestPerforming Cities Index ranks U.S. metropolitan areas by how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth. The components include job, wage and salary, and technology growth. In most years, these give a good indication of the underlying structural performance of regional economics. “In 2012, we saw expansions in many of our local companies, so 2012 was a very strong year for us,” said Steve Hamilton, Interim President and CEO of the St. Joseph Metro Chamber. “We’re pleased to see that the Milken Institute recognizes these accomplishments on the economic development front.” The St. Joseph Metro Chamber Economic Development staff worked on about 40 attraction and expansion projects in 2012, all with the purpose of adding quality jobs and capital investment to the St. Joseph business community. Some of these projects

are still underway, but several were announced throughout the year. Some of those include expansions at: St. Joseph Plastics, Al J. Mueller Construction, I&M Machine & Fabrication Corp., Triumph Foods, LLC, Ag Processing, Inc., DuPont Nutrition and Health and Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. According to the Milken index, St. Joseph ranks ninth on a list of 179 cities for its five-year growth rate in employment. “Because of St. Joseph’s diversified employment base, we didn’t suffer any major corporate closings during the recession,” Mr. Hamilton said. “St. Joseph’s unemployment rate remained far below state and national averages during the recession and remain that way today. Much of St. Joseph’s success can be attributed to the collaboration between public and private contributors.” St. Joseph is one of only two towns in the state of Missouri to make the top 30. Columbia, Mo., came in at the number 10 spot.

Tips From the E-Report Members of the St. Joseph Metro Chamber get tips like the following each month in the Business Intelligence e-Report. If you’re interested in joining the Chamber and receiving the e-Report, go to www.saintjoseph.com.

complimenting an individual makes them feel more positively about the person bestowing the favorable comments, even when they think it’s insincere. Source: www.neurosciencemarketing.com.

Flattery will get you everywhere. When Japanese researchers gave subjects a task to learn involving motor skills, praising them for their performance afterwards resulted in their remembering the task better than control groups who received no praise. It’s possible this discovery could be applied in other situations. For example, educators, trainers and coaches may be able to use strategic compliments to make their lessons more memorable. Could a salesperson help a customer remember the key elements of her sales pitch better by closing with favorable comments? Even if the strategy doesn’t pan out, it’s still worth it to flatter someone. Previous studies have shown that

Eager to get to the bottom of that pile of resumes? Not so fast. A common job-screening mistake, according to recruiting expert Carolyn Thompson, is sifting through resumes and looking for reasons not to interview people as opposed to reasons to interview them. It’s tempting to pick resumes apart without getting a feel for people’s stories. But passing judgment too early, based only on paper presentation, can let potentially good matches fall through the cracks. It doesn’t take that much effort to get someone on a webcam or on the phone and ask them a couple of quick questions to determine if you may want to bring them in for an interview. Source: www.tedmag.com

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St. Joseph Business journal

Go St. Joe Mobile App Have you downloaded the new Go St. Joe app yet? It’s free and available for Android and iPhone. Easily find Chamber members’ phone numbers, addresses, websites and more. Plus, find great deals from members and learn about community and Chamber events. Sales are going on now to advertise on the app. Contact Lee Robertson at (816) 364-4113 or robertson@saintjoseph.com.

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St. Joseph Business journal

Winter 2013

Community Leaders Advocate For Issues In Jefferson City By Jessica Jackson, St. Joseph Metro Chamber Intern In an effort to shed light on a few important issues of Northwest Missouri, 70 members of the St. Joseph Metro Chamber traveled to the Missouri Capitol on Feb. 5 and 6 for the 11th annual 2013 Great Northwest Day at the Capitol. The St. Joseph delegation was joined by more than 300 other Northwest Missouri business and community leaders. The event combined the needs and priorities of residents from 18 Northwest Missouri counties. Natalie Redmond, Vice President of Member Relations at the St. Joseph Metro Chamber, has attended and helped coordinate the event for eight years. She said that she has seen continued growth and community participation. “The event just keeps getting bigger and stronger,” she said. Officials Sarah Parker-Pauley, David Nichols and Christopher

Chung spoke in regard to the Great Northwest Day group’s defined legislative topics of drought mitigation and response, transportation infrastructure and funding, and economic development. Steve Hamilton, Interim President and CEO of the St. Joseph Metro Chamber, felt the discussion of transportation infrastructure and funding was most valuable to the city of St. Joseph right now. Drought mitigation and response also was an important topic because last year was the second-driest year on record, according to www. weather.com. Three communities have received $360,000 in grant funding that has helped with the issue somewhat, but members of the group still made rounds in the Capitol to inform legislators from around the state about the severity of the issue. “The collaboration of

Commercial & Residential Services

community and business leaders is beneficial because we go in with one voice and with the main issues from our region. The legislators know where to focus their attention,” Mr. Hamilton said. The afternoon featured community roundtable discussions with the departments of mental health, social services and conservation. A roundtable discussion was also held on education with the Heartland Foundation. Education funding for kindergarten-12th grade and higher education was the group’s remaining legislative priority. Many felt the discussion of higher education was especially important because Northwest Missouri houses two fouryear public universities. During the annual Great Northwest Celebration that evening, all of the participating community officials had booths set up in the Capitol Plaza Ballroom highlighting positive aspects of the cities or

counties they represented. All legislators and staff were invited to attend and learn more about Northwest Missouri. “It is always good to share communication between different parts of the state. Learning about our neighbors is the best way to work together for the betterment of our state,” Rep. Mike Spreng, of District 76, which includes the St. Louis County, told Great Northwest Day planners. The event concluded Wednesday, Feb. 6, after attendees heard from James R. Moody. Mr. Moody expressed concern for the legislators having limited funds to work with and the inability to increase revenues. All attendees were encouraged to meet with local legislators State Sen. Rob Schaaf and Reps. Galen Higdon, Delus Johnson and Pat Conway throughout the event.

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From left to right, Rep. Pat Conway, St. Joseph Mayor Bill Falkner and Rep. Delus Johnson speak at the annual Great Northwest Celebration held during the Great Northwest Day at the Capitol event in Jefferson City. The men were among hundreds of people from Northwest Missouri who talked with other state leaders and staff members about Northwest Missouri’s legislative priorities.

St. Joseph Business journal

Winter 2013

MemberProfile

Fairview Golf Course 33rd and Pacific Streets St. Joseph, MO 64507

(816) 271-5350 www.stjoemo.info/parks/fairview.cfm

7 MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY

Buchanan County Degree Attainment Initiative

Help your employees earn college degrees And in turn contribute to the success of your business and the growth of your industry.

Fairview Golf Course, a St. Joseph Metro Chamber member since 1989, is one of the oldest public courses in Northwest Missouri. With rolling fairways, large mature trees and several water hazards, the 18-hole course, established in 1925, offers great golfing at affordable prices. Fairview also offers a driving range, practice putting green, short game and bunker practice, a snack bar, pro shop and clubhouse. The course is a challenge to players of all skill levels. The game of golf as a whole took a major hit in the last 10 years. Many new golf courses were built in the area, which flooded the market in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Extreme weather conditions, poor course conditions and a sluggish economy affected the number of rounds played nationwide, said Penny Wingard, Fairview Golf Course Coordinator. She said Fairview saw a peak of rounds in 2002, with 34,492 played. The course’s lowest year was 2011, with 22,614 played. Extreme weather, including cold, wet weather until June and then extreme heat and drought through the fall, played a role in the declining number of rounds played. Fewer rounds played, combined with

economic factors like minimum wage increases, a jump in fuel prices and rising health care costs eventually took a toll on the course. However, under new management by the City of St. Joseph, the course has recently improved. The Clubhouse was renovated and new ways of adding revenue have been created. A new corporate membership has been added. This is open at a discounted rate to companies that bring in 10-25 employees, with limited playing time to the course. “This has been a great draw so far and has raised our membership,” Ms. Wingard said. Fairview offers many opportunities, whether a member or daily fee player. The Men’s Club sponsors between 13-15 tournaments a year including two 18-hole men/ women tourneys directly from the course. Not only does Fairview host more than 50 charity and group outings, it strives to provide entertainment and a challenge all course users. The Club also has two women’s leagues, a summer junior program, a Wednesday night Men’s league, and couples’ nine-hole events, so there is something for everyone.

Up to $7,500 in federal funds DYDLODEOH WR TXDOL¿ HG VWXGHQWV

Businesses in area high-growth industries are invited to participate in this program. Employees, apprentices and interns whom you identify as having great potential to positively impact your business are ideal candidates for this program. Learn about who can qualify and how to participate on our website or call 816-271-4100.

Western is an equal opportunity institution.

wi.missouriwestern.edu/bcdai

St. Joseph Business journal

In early January, government opened for business both in Washington, D.C. and Jefferson City, Mo. A new session brings familiar faces and new faces, familiar legislation and new legislation, and familiar political strategies and new political strategies. Perhaps one constant is that the stakes are always high and what happens in the following months will have a significant impact in Missouri and the country at large. The St. Joseph Metro Chamber’s hope is that we inform you of the legislation that matters. Below, please find some legislation and issues that we are following this legislative session. The issues we follow are often related to the legislative priorities set annually; however, not all items tracked are necessarily endorsed by the Chamber or its members. State of Missouri: Transportation Tax: Senate Joint

Winter 2013

Resolution 16, Sen. Kehoe -- Imposes a temporary one cent sales and use tax for transportation purposes. (This measure could be used to help pay for the deferred maintenance of I-70) Higher Education Facilities: House Joint Resolution 14, Rep. Jones -- Proposes a constitutional amendment authorizing the General Assembly to issue bonds to fund higher education improvements, construction, landscaping, land or building purchases, and transportation infrastructure. (This bond issue would help with facility improvements for public colleges and universities) Higher Education Funding Formula: House Bill 283, Rep. Thomson -- Modifies provisions relating to school funding calculations. (This is a proposed Higher Education Funding Formula to create equitable funding for public colleges and universities) Economic Development: Senate Bill 238, Sen. Emery -- Bars employers from requiring employees to engage

GovernmentInBrief

By Jacob Scott, St. Joseph Metro Chamber Intern in or cease engaging in certain labor practices. (Would make Missouri a “Right to Work” state) United States: Debt Ceiling: H.R. 325: Rep. Camp -- To ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the U.S. government until May 19, 2013, and for other purposes. (No Budget, No Pay Act) Sequestration -- Automatic, Across-the-Board Cuts to Federal Spending: In August 2011, bipartisan majorities in both the House and Senate passed the Budget Control Act, which established “sequestration” -- automatic, across-the-board cuts to federal spending to take effect on March 1, 2013, if Congress does not act on further deficit reduction. Sequestration requires $109 billion annually in federal spending cuts, resulting in a 7 percent reduction in defense discretionary funding and a

5 percent reduction in nondefense discretionary funding. Senate Bipartisan Framework for Comprehensive Immigration Reform: A bipartisan group of senators has proposed a comprehensive set of immigration reform principles, which include giving immigrants a path to citizenship, strengthening border security, and reforming our legal immigration system to reunite families and create economic development. The St. Joseph Metro Chamber is proud to be an advocate to local, state, and national government for its members. Every week our governmental relations team writes a legislative summary of important issues that occur in state and national government. If you would like to view our reports, as well as find out more about governmental relations, visit www.saintjoseph.com/ government-relations.

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St. Joseph Business journal

Winter 2013

Chamber Unveils Newly Redesigned Website

The St. Joseph Metro Chamber recently redesigned its website, www. saintjoseph.com, to be more userfriendly for Chamber members, potential members and community residents. The newly-redesigned site is more eye-catching, with dominant photos of St. Joseph and its businesses on the homepage. Information important to site visitors is much easier to find. Potential members can now apply online, as may volunteers who want to be a part of the Chamber Diplomats Club or LEAD (formerly named the Young Executive Network). The Member Log-In feature is much easier to navigate, making paying bills and updating information simple. A Video Center has been added to the site. It currently has the 2012 Year In Review video and videos from 2011. As 2013 progresses, educational videos from Chamber Lunch and Learn events or other seminars will be added. “It’s important for the Chamber to keep up with technological trends, and get ahead of them if at all possible, so we’re a leader for

the business community,” said Steve Hamilton, Interim President and CEO. The redesign of the Chamber’s main website is the capstone of recent online endeavors. In 2011, the Chamber launched the economic development site, www. choosesaintjoseph.com, which is aimed for the site selector and potential resident audience. The Chamber site is geared more for current and potential Chamber members. In early 2012, the Chamber launched Go St. Joe, its smart phone app, to make finding Chamber members, events and news info easily when you’re on the go. “We’ll continue to improve all of these avenues, as well as expand our social media presence in 2013,” Mr. Hamilton said. The Chamber worked with member St.Joe Web in the redesign project. “I believe the newly-redesigned website will help the Chamber connect with our members, as well as serve as a community resource for residents and visitors,” said Kristi Bailey, Director of Communications.

SBTDC Sets Higher Goal for 2013 In the past year, the assistance provided by the Northwest Small Business and Technology Development Center has made a favorable impact on small businesses – and the economy – in Northwest Missouri, including the creation of 21 new businesses. In addition to the creation of new businesses, Larry Lee, Director of the Northwest SBTDC, reported that, in fiscal year 2012 (October 2011 to September 2012), the businesses the center assisted: • created or retained 357 jobs in Northwest Missouri; • experienced an increase in sales of $15.8 million; and • received loans and investments totaling $14.1 million. “The goal of the SBTDC is to help business owners and potential entrepreneurs meet today’s competitive challenges,” Mr. Lee said. “While these numbers are favorable, we have set our sights on an 8 percent increase for FY13, and we

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are committed to reaching – or even surpassing – that goal.” The region’s SBTDC is operated by Northwest Missouri State University with offices in Maryville, St. Joseph and Chillicothe, serving an 18-county area. Mr. Lee is located at the regional office, on the Northwest campus in Maryville. Steve Holt oversees an office in Chillicothe that serves the eastern portion of the region, while Rebecca Evans operates an office in St. Joseph to serve the southern section. Like other SBTDC centers located throughout the United States at institutions of higher learning, the center is focused on economic development assistance for businesses with fewer than 500 employees. More specifically, the Northwest SBTDC provides individual business counseling to small business owners and individuals throughout Northwest Missouri. For more information see page 18.

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St. Joseph Business journal

Winter 2013

St. Joseph Has Sites Land For Development Is Key For Future Growth Imagine walking into a store to buy a product, only to find there is nothing on the shelves. The salesperson greets you and you discuss the product you are interested in. The salesperson replies, “no problem, we should have that ready for you in about two years.” Chances are, you will leave looking for another location that has the product ready for immediate delivery. This scenario is true to the economic development world as well. Communities must have the products companies require or they will choose to expand or locate in another community that does. Necessary products that companies need are land, buildings, and a qualified workforce. An adequate site that is ready for development must be available for the company and there must be an

available workforce that can achieve the mission of the company. St. Joseph often struggles as a community that has bare shelves when it comes to modern manufacturing and distribution facilities, class A office space, and large tracts of fully-developed industrial land, especially adequate industrial land with rail access, that can be offered to businesses on “immediate delivery” basis. Beginning with the recession in 2007, St. Joseph faced the doubleedge sword of having a very limited number of modern buildings available for companies to consider. It was a double-edge sword in the context that we were very fortunate that the community did not experience a number of company closings, leaving vacate modern buildings. But, on the other hand, we were unable to

The exterior of the Eastowne Business Park shell building.

compete in an arena where communities had an abundance of vacant space that was selling or leasing for cents on the dollar. Land that is ready for development is generally referred to in the economic development arena as “developable sites.” Developable sites are contiguous parcels of land that are of an adequate size to support manufacturing and industrial uses and possess the necessary infrastructure such as streets, sewers, and other utilities. Simply, the land is ready for the company to immediately start

construction -- like a house builder buying a lot in a housing subdivision. In the early to mid-90s, a publicprivate partnership developed Mitchell Woods Business Park. This business park was completed in time for the nationwide economic boom of the late 1990s. Mitchell Woods Business

The interior of the Eastowne Business Park shell building.

St. Joseph Business journal Park allowed the community to take advantage of this economic boom and diversify St. Joseph’s economic base in the process. Mitchell Woods attracted nearly $250 million in new investment in facilities from companies such as Custom Fermentation, Essex Wire, Filtration Group, and Valley Foods Services. The 336 acres of developed land created more than 1.7 million square feet of new light manufacturing and distribution space and created 1,716 new jobs. Mitchell Woods also saved existing jobs that would have been lost if companies like Hillshire Brands (formerly Seitz or Sara Lee) and Phoenix Scientific (now Bayer) had been forced to relocate to another community for expansion projects due to a lack of developable sites in St. Joseph. Most recently, St. Joseph was fortunate to have Eastowne Business Park for the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica expansion of its packaging and distribution needs. St. Joseph was competing with a site in Fort Dodge, Ia. As a community, we must be able to provide expanding and new companies with the essential products of affordable, developable sites and shell buildings. Providing these economic development tools requires financial commitments on the part of the community. The Capital Improvement Tax (CIP) was a major

Winter 2013 funding source for streets, sewers, and other public infrastructure at Mitchell Woods Business Park and Eastowne Business Park. Public investment will continue to be a key ingredient to acquire, develop, and hold sites so St. Joseph has a sufficient inventory of sites to compete with other aggressive communities, many of whom are now offering free land in an effort to attract companies. Without developable sites and buildings, we have no chance at winning the businesses. As a community, we must ensure that are “shelves” are always full of a suitable and reasonably priced product that is ready for immediate delivery when the customer walks through the door. That exists now with Eastowne Business Park, where a shell building is ready for a tenant. The St. Joseph Metro Chamber’s Economic Development Division has submitted land in Eastowne and the shell building to many companies for possible projects. As noted earlier, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., is the first to begin building in Eastowne. Boehringer is currently constructing a 260,000-square-foot Consolidated Packaging and Physical Distribution Center. This new facility will create more than 25 new logistic jobs, while retaining 60 jobs in St. Joseph. New capital investment from BIVI into the building is $30 million.

Leaders Plan To Advocate In D.C. For the 15th year, St. Joseph business and community leaders will travel to Washington, D.C. to make sure federal legislators and their staffs are aware of our community’s pressing issues. Twenty-six members of the St. Joseph community will make the trip on March 12 and 13 this year. This is designed as a one-night trip to minimize the cost, so every minute is scheduled to be productive.” “One of the major points we want to make this year is about the importance of the 139th Airlift Wing of the Missouri Air National Guard,” said Steve Hamilton, Interim President and CEO of the St. Joseph Metro Chamber. “We need to make sure our representatives in D.C. understand the impact the Air Guard has on this region. We need to say, in a loud and clear voice, that the Air Guard’s community engagement, economic impact and value to the community is crucial to the area’s success. We need to make sure our base isn’t cut in 2015 by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC).” In the months ahead of the trip, the Chamber’s Government Relations Committee works with the Community Alliance of Saint Joseph to develop the legislative priorities

that are discussed with legislators and their staffs. This year the committee has identified: Tax Reform -- support the extension of the ‘Bush Tax Cuts,’ including those on individuals and businesses making over $250,000 per year. Support reform and simplification of the U.S. tax code; Controlling Spending -- support efforts to reduce federal spending and reduce our nation’s $16 trillion debt; Regulation Reform -- support reform to the Regulatory Flexibility Act to expand protections for small businesses from burdensome regulations from federal agencies; Disaster Relief -- support increased funding for levee maintenance and advocate for prioritizing levee maintenance funding over the Missouri River Recovery Program; Wireless Communication -- support strengthened and expanded wireless infrastructure and ensure free-market competition in the wireless industry; Healthcare -support repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Sales Tax Fairness -- support federal legislation to ensure that items purchased online are subject to the same state and local sales taxes as all other sales.

Construction is currently underway for Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc.’s new 260,000-square-foot Consolidated Packaging and Physical Distribution Center. This new facility will create more than 25 new logistic jobs, while retaining 60 jobs in St. Joseph. New capital investment from BIVI into the building is $30 million. It is located in Eastowne Business Park, which is near the intersections of Riverside and Pickett roads. The location makes it a desirable location for businesses because of its easy access to Interstate 29 and U.S. Highway 36 in eastern St. Joseph.

St. Joseph Business journal

Winter 2013

St. Joseph’s Persistence Pays Off, Mayor Says In Annual Address By Jessica Jackson, St. Joseph Metro Chamber Intern rooms, and a 3,000-square-foot exercise room, among other amenities. Mr. Falkner thanked the voters for the approval of the Capital Improvement Project (CIP), which made the Rec Center possible. In addition to funds from the CIP tax, donations were made by George Bode Jr. Benevolent Trust and Friends of the Park for the center. One major project that St. Joseph used its persistence to achieve was bringing the Kansas City Chiefs Summer Training Camp to Missouri Western State Community leaders put together a puzzle that says “Building Our City Together” University. during a presentation by Mayor Bill Falkner at the February St. Joe Rising event. “It was expected by some soccer, football, baseball, and softball to never happen, but together we made it all possible,” Mr. Falkner said. tournaments, camps and leagues. The “We all have good reason to be facility has, and will, host many other The facility not only benefited proud of living in St. Joe,” said Steve major events in the coming years. The Hamilton, St. Joseph Metro Chamber Missouri Western State University, mayor stated that the next step is for but the community as a whole. In Interim President and CEO. the city to embrace Missouri Western. the last two years the indoor facility Mr. Falkner spoke of the When visitors come to St. Joseph they upcoming anti-litter campaign, public has hosted more than 100 youth need to know, “that they have entered safety tax, new schools, and Clean Air the Griffons’ home turf,” he said. St. Joe as issues that the city will face Missouri Western is not the in the near future. The mayor urged only thing growing in St. Joseph: The that residents need to clean up streets Shoppes at North Village continue to from litter and address vacant and expand with the addition of a new distressed properties. hotel and YMCA on the land north “With the help of the upcoming and east of the shopping center. anti-litter campaign, we could We are a Design/Build Contractor with full service capability. Buchanan County commissioners establish community pride and make Utilizing Pre-Engineered Building Systems allows us to economically provide quality buildings for commercial, retail, met with city staff in January to this a cleaner city,” he said. industrial, institutional and religious applications. discuss a plan regarding 40 acres of The voters will soon be asked to undeveloped land behind the Green approve a public safety tax. This tax Acres office building. Besides the will help place more police officers Green Acres facility, the land around on the streets, keep fire equipment the area was mostly undeveloped 10 up to date, and help the health years ago. department, as well, he said. QUALITY CONSTRUCTION SINCE 1974 He recognized the St. Joseph Next St. Joe Rising School District and, specifically, Dr. 7:30 a.m., Friday, March 8 Melody Smith for the hard work and dedication on the future construction Holiday Inn Conference of two new schools in St. Joseph. The new schools will play an important Center part as the Chamber tries to attract 102 S. Third St. new businesses and expand the existing ones. “The State of Higher Education” The mayor pointed out that Guest speakers: Presidents of the no smoking ordinance is a very Missouri Western State University and controversial issue at the moment. 621 S 5th-St. Joseph, MO 64501 • 816-232-8000 • www.systembuildersinc.com Northwest Missouri State University He applauded city staff for hosting RSVP to 232-4461 many meetings at different times of

St. Joseph is a city that doesn’t take no for an answer. Mayor Bill Falkner gave many examples of this in his annual state of the city address, on Friday, Feb. 15. Mr. Falkner delivered his speech at St. Joe Rising, a quarterly St. Joseph Metro Chamber event that is presented by Cochran Head Vick & Co., P.C. Mr. Falkner spoke of past projects that have greatly impacted the success of St. Joseph, which he believes recently led to St. Joseph being recently ranked 29th of small cities nationwide by the Milken Institute (see page 5). Some of these projects include the new Rec Center, Kansas City Chiefs Summer Training Camp, and The Shoppes at North Village. The Rec Center, located on the Southwest Parkway, is a 33,000-square-foot facility that includes three basketball courts, an elevated running track, community

St. Joseph Business journal

Winter 2013

Technology Start-Up Company Opens in NWMSU Incubator Submitted Northwest Missouri State University The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at Northwest Missouri State University has entered into an agreement with BlurPort LLC.. The company was founded last fall by Northwest student Aakash Patel to develop the BlurPort, an innovative secure USB data storage device that operates in unison with smart phones to enhance user verification. Under the terms of the agreement, approved by the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Board of Regents, BlurPort will lease an office in the CIE. Mr. Patel said BlurPort will use the space for development and testing. The company also plans to utilize the expertise of Northwest students and faculty for assistance with marketing, business plan development and computer software development. A prototype of the BlurPort has been manufactured, and the company has entered into agreements with suppliers. Mr. Patel says the product could be ready for market as early as this spring and will be available through kickstarter.com, an online platform designed to attract buyers and funding for creative projects. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The fact that the CIE is located on the Northwest campus is a real advantage,â&#x20AC;? Mr. Patel said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the resources it offers, it was really easy to get up and running. Having an office at the CIE helps with all the aspects of starting a business, such as securing funding and intellectual property.â&#x20AC;? The CIE offers the expertise and location to help accelerate the company to the marketplace. Larry

Lee, director of the CIE, said that climate is ideal for helping BlurPort mature. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is always exciting to see a creative project come to fruition and we are excited to welcome BlurPort to the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship,â&#x20AC;? Mr. Lee said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The CIE is uniquely positioned to help entrepreneurs like Aakash access resources and establish the relationships they need to succeed in the business community.â&#x20AC;? Mr. Patel is a junior chemistry major from Clinton, Mo., and he is a 2012 graduate of the Missouri Academy of Science, Mathematics and Computing, a two-year residential, early-entrance-to-college program on the Northwest campus. Upon completing his bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree at Northwest, he hopes to pursue a graduate study in biomedical engineering and conduct prosthetics research. The CIE is a mixed-use incubator with emphasis on technology-based, start-up companies. It also provides assistance to existing small businesses and encourages development of new small businesses. The 46,679 square-foot facility includes three lab analysis research areas, a shared scientific instrument room and 9,000 square feet of tenant office space. The academic wing contains more than 16,000 square feet of highly specialized teaching and research labs and offices. For more information visit www.nwmissouri. edu/cie/.

(Continued from page 12) the day to obtain public comment and suggestions. He urges that the health concern is real and trumps how this ordinance may or may not affect business owners. Mr. Falkner stated that we are fortunate to have the community and city partnerships we enjoy today. He pointed out that we are made up of several different pieces, each of which

is just as important as another and without one we are incomplete. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have proven that the show truly goes on,â&#x20AC;? he said. Mr. Falkner wrapped up his address by saying that he is excited about the direction the city is going and that he would like to continue to be a part of it. He will run for a second term next year.

Dr. John Jasinski, Northwest Missouri State University President and Aakash Patel, founder of BlurPort LLC sign celebrate the company opening in the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship on the Northwest campus.

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St. Joseph Business journal

Winter 2013

TopEmployerProfile Each quarter in the Business Journal, we will profile one or more of St. Joseph’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:

Triumph Foods, LLC Manufacturers 5302 Stockyards Expressway, St. Joseph, MO 64504 (816)396-2700 www.triumphfoods.com

Triumph Foods, LLC, is a top exporter of premium pork products. It has been expanding a great deal by adding employees and square feet to its building. Please tell us a bit about how you are expanding. How many new jobs have you recently added and/or do you plan to add? Since its start in January 2006, Triumph Foods has continued to consider opportunities to enhance our product mix and better serve our customers. This has resulted in several capital investments in way of a new freezer and more recently our export cooler project currently under construction. In addition, the company has continued to add new jobs as we expand our product mix and develop new products for the retail market. Currently, we are pursuing a project that would add more than 100 high-skilled jobs during 2013. According to your website, the Triumph facility is the newest pork processing facility in the country. What kind of capital investments are you making? Our processing facility in St. Joseph is the newest and most advanced processing facility in the

country, if not the world. The technology we employ allows for the most efficient production of the highest quality pork products of any processor in the United States. We constantly evaluate capital investment based on investment return and continue to upgrade our facility to increase throughput, the quality of our products and the mix of products produced. Do St. Joseph residents ever see products that come from Triumph at local grocery stores? If so, what products and under what brand names? Triumph Foods products are marketed by Seaboard Foods. While the companies are separately owned, our domestic retail products share the Prairie Fresh Prime label. In St. Joseph, our product can be found in Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores. Of course, local residents may have eaten our product at the annual Apple Blossom BBQ or various civic fundraisers that Triumph Foods supports. One interesting fact is that in Japan our product is marketed under the brand of St. Joe Pork. So the St. Joseph community can claim an international presence in the pork

marketplace. A large part of Triumph’s products are exported to China. Why is this a booming business? Triumph Foods has continued to enjoy strong growth in export product demand in Asia. Part of this growth is related to our ability to meet customer demands for quality pork products unique to Asia. Another aspect of this growth is the continued economic growth of Asia that has resulted in a rising middle class and a greater demand for pork products. We believe this economic growth will continue to drive strong demand for U.S. agricultural products for years to come. How many people do you employ and what career fields are offered? Today, Triumph Foods employs more than 2,700 residents. While most of the employees are involved with production positions, we have team members pursuing careers in human resources, health services, finance, genetic research, meat quality analysis, maintenance, and

information systems, to name a few. We are proud of our team of employees and even more proud of the fact that most of our employees call St. Joseph home. Why did Triumph choose to build in St. Joseph and what keeps it here? Triumph Foods is unique in the industry in that we are owned by hog producers. It is a source of pride, but it also influenced the decision to locate in St. Joseph. When efforts were being made to identify where the hogs would come from, the St. Joseph location became a viable option. Other key factors included an available workforce, reasonable utility costs, a good transportation system and the amenities of the community that make St. Joseph a good place to do business and to live. Any location decisions are fraught with the unknown, but today there is little doubt the decision to locate in St. Joseph was the right one and certainly has contributed to the company’s overall success. For that we say “Thank You St. Joseph!”

St. Joseph Business journal

Winter 2013

DowntownDigest Information provided by the St. Joseph Downtown Partnership

Paint the Town: Downtown Mural Project The St. Joseph Downtown Partnership and the River City Development Committee have partnered to create a significant mural depicting the city’s role in western migration. The mural will be painted on the walls on the south side of the buildings between Fifth and Sixth streets (facing Edmond Street). The St. Joseph Downtown Partnership has engaged mural artist Sam Welty to paint the mural. Mr. Welty, of Virginia Beach, Va., is well known for his large murals in numerous cities. He has gone to great lengths to capture the spirit and adventure of our community’s unique historic past in his artwork. In recent years, a new synergy has emerged downtown. Millions of dollars have been invested by property owners to renovate properties back to their historic beauty. The city has invested in improving the infrastructure and adding streetscape improvements.

Thousands have flocked downtown for the outdoor summer concerts, parades, events at Missouri Theater, Civic Arena, The Landing and other numerous events. The face of downtown is certainly changing for the better! The goal of the Downtown Mural Project is to aid in the revitalization of the city’s downtown business district. The addition of this mural along six of the buildings’ exteriors located on one of downtown’s major thoroughfares will brighten the area and provide a focal point for visitors. By portraying a part of our community’s historic past, a sense of pride will be felt, much like our ancestors held when they helped settle the town in 1843. The total cost of the project is $125,000 and fundraising is now underway. Donations for this project

are being accepted by the city’s Friends of the Park organization a (501c3) non-profit corporation. Donations may be mailed or dropped off to the Friends of the Park, 1920 Grand Ave., St. Joseph, MO 64505.

As soon as the funds are raised, the project will commence. Upon completion, this mural will shine forth our proud heritage and lend a modern vibrant appearance to the area.

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St. Joseph Business journal

Winter 2013

BusinessBriefs Laney Elected Missouri Hospital Association Chair

Mark Laney, M.D., president and CEO of Heartland Health in St. Joseph, will serve as the 2013 chair of the Missouri Hospital Dr. Mark Laney Association Board of Trustees. His one-year term as chair began Jan. 1. As chair, Dr. Laney’s duties include overseeing and directing activities of the MHA Board of Trustees, acting as a day-to-day adviser to MHA and testifying before committees of the Missouri General Assembly and Congress. He also will lead a Missouri delegation to

Washington, D.C. twice during the year and will act as a state and national spokesman for Missouri’s hospitals. Mr. Laney has served as president and CEO of Heartland Health – comprised of Heartland Regional Medical Center, Heartland Clinic, Heartland Foundation and Community Health Improvement Solutions – since 2009. He also has been a member of MHA’s board since 2009. The Missouri Hospital Association is a not-for-profit association in Jefferson City that represents 153 Missouri hospitals. In addition to representation and advocacy on behalf of its membership, the association offers continuing education programs on current health care topics and seeks to educate the public about health care issues. Dr. Laney is the chair-elect for

the St. Joseph Metro Chamber Board of Directors. He will be the chairman in 2014.

Chamber Group Rebrands

The Young Executives Network, a group of young professionals in the St Joseph metro, recently announced the rebranding of its group to LEAD (Leaders Engaging and Developing). The name change reflects the evolving occupations of its members. With a growing membership, the group roster is expanding beyond the young executive. Membership to the group is now open to anyone in their 20s, 30s and 40s who would like to

represent the future of St. Joseph. “Our new name better positions our group to serve all young professionals. We provide a wide range of content to our members so they can grow personally and professionally,” explained Bill Grimwood, LEAD Chairman. “We are excited about the new name and the upcoming year of events planned for the group. Our goal is to help develop our future community and business leaders.” LEAD’s mission is to provide professional and leadership development opportunities through social and educational programs to create leaders that are an asset to our community. For more information about joining LEAD, please contact Natalie Redmond, Vice President, Member Relations St Joseph Metro Chamber (816) 364-4107 or redmond@ saintjoseph.com.

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St. Joseph Business journal

Winter 2013

Hillyard Employee Selected For Degree Completion Program Submitted Missouri Western State University A lab technician at Hillyard Industries in St. Joseph is the first participant in the Buchanan County Degree Attainment Initiative (BCDAI). Sarah Brown is taking a course at Missouri Western State University this semester, and hopes to finish her bachelor’s degree in chemistry. She will receive up to $7,500 to help pay for her education. “Completing my bachelor’s degree will expand my career opportunities,” said Ms. Brown, who attended Northwest Missouri State University in 2008 and Missouri Western in 2009 and 2010 but didn’t graduate. “I am very appreciative for everyone involved in this grant and plan to succeed because of it.” Ms. Brown has been working at Hillyard as a full-time employee for about two years, and is currently a quality control lab technician. When she completes her degree, she hopes to become a chemist or apply for a management position. The BCDAI is a collaborative effort between the St. Joseph Metro Chamber, Missouri Western State University, the St. Joseph School District, seven regional businesses and other local and regional entities. Supported by $1 million in federal funds and allocated by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the goals of the BCDAI are to increase the number of jobs in high-demand businesses and industries, enable participants to complete bachelor’s degrees aligned with these jobs, reduce the costs of this education, increase the use of high-impact apprenticeships, and improve the preparation of participants for employment in highgrowth business and industries. Using apprenticeships and mentoring programs, regional highdemand businesses and industries like Hillyard will train employees

and potential employees with the goal of enhancing their ability to contribute to the business and the economy. For this initiative, high-demand businesses include advanced manufacturing, energy solutions, bioscience, health sciences and services, information technology, financial and professional services, transportation and logistics. “We hope that additional high-demand businesses will join our efforts,” said Dr. Gordon Mapley, dean of Missouri Western’s Gov. Jay Nixon came to Missouri Western in August 2012 to announce the $1 million Western Institute and co-chair grant funding the Buchanan County Degree Attainment Initiative. of the board that will select participants for the program. The BCDAI will provide tuition selection committee. “It’s a great way to enhance the support of up to $7,500 for For more information, contact value of their employees to their participants pursuing relevant degrees. the Western Institute, Missouri business. Missouri Western will Most participants will, like Ms. Brown, Western State University, 4525 Downs develop a customized curriculum for have previously earned a significant Drive, St. Joseph, MO, Spratt Hall 105. these employees that will provide number of college credits. Call (816) 271-4100 or toll free: (866) focused education in areas critical In addition to Dr. Mapley, Steve 894-6465 or visit wi@missouriwestern. to the advancement of the targeted Hamilton, Interim President and CEO edu. industries.” of the Chamber, will co-chair the

Scholarship Details -- Do You Qualify? Scholarships of up to $7,500 will be

provided to selected participants,

with some participants pursuing relevant associate degrees, and the majority completing bachelor’s degrees. For each partnering business, at least 51 percent of scholarship recipients must be low or moderate income (LMI) citizens, using the federal government criteria for their county of residence. Selection process: The BCDAI Board will determine the number of candidates to be accepted for each semester, the number who must meet LMI guidelines, and the proportion of participants

from each company. Scholarship recipients will be selected by the BCDAI board based upon: • the recommendation of the company/sponsor • the potential to achieve the 51 percent LMI requirement • the student’s ability to meet expenses • the chosen degree plan’s rationality, including the time it takes to graduate, hours carried per semester, GPA, etc... Maintenance of scholarships: Each employer will recommend the continuation or termination of scholarships for its students on a semester-by-semester basis. Con-

tinuation will be based upon: • a minimum GPA of 2.0 • criteria established by the employer • recommendation of the employer Application of scholarship funds: BCDAI scholarship funds are only to be applied to tuition and approved fees for courses that meet requirements for approved majors (i.e., scholarship dollars may not be used for electives or general education courses). (Approved fees are designated by the Missouri Department of Economic Development.) Scholarship funds cannot be applied to the cost of books.

St. Joseph Business journal

Winter 2013

Free Resources for Your Business Thankfully, there is an abundance of free business resources available that are designed to both lessen the burden on your wallet, as well as make your business more successful. Below is a list of some of those resources, catalogued for you by your local Small Business & Technology Development Center… which is also a free resource! Shortstack University offers free, short videos on how to improve your business Facebook page management. The topics covered in the videos include creating a page, social plugins, status content creation, Facebook ads, promotion guidelines, edgerank, and more. Facebook is also free, of course. After logging into Facebook, find Shortstack University by entering its name in the search bar.

Pear Analytics will analyze your website for free. There’s no sign-up required. Just enter your website address and voila! You’ll see what’s good about your website, and where you can make improvements. Once you’ve figured out what you need to improve, you can make the updates yourself, or pass the information along to whoever manages your website. analyzer.pearanalytics.com/ Stock.Xchng allows you to access nearly 400,000 free photos/images for your next brochure, flyer, Facebook posting, etc. No need to pay for a picture or even to take one yourself. This website probably already has what you need at the professional grade level. www.sxc.hu HootSuite allows you to schedule and post your social media messages

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SmallBusinessMatters all at once so that you never have to re-type and re-post the same message two or three times. HootSuite allows you to link your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts, type one message and then schedule when you want the content to post. You can schedule your entire week or month of postings in one sitting, if you Image courtesy of Stock.Xchng (free of charge!) like. This is a great time-saver. All for free! hootsuite.com. Log Me In offers free remote access to your desktop so you can open Survey Monkey allows you to create files, check your e-mail, run programs a survey to send to your employees, and stay productive from your mobile vendors, customers, etc. It’s easy device or any computer over the to use, offers templates, as well as Internet. Access your files from home customization, and, best of all, Survey or the coffee shop. Plus, it’s secure! Monkey tallies all the responses for For more details check out their you. You can even view your survey website at secure.logmein.com. results in written or graphic format. Find it at www.surveymonkey.com. If you didn’t see a resource that meets your specific needs in the SBA Learning Center is a free above listing, please contact your online resource that has videos and local SBTDC for assistance with training presentations on everything finding one that’s right for you. from accounting and crowdsourcing, to how to write a business plan, taxes, marketing strategies and more. See if a topic interests you at www.sba.gov/sba-learning-center.

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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.

St. Joseph Business journal

Winter 2013

Danford Becomes A Registered Financial Advisor For NFL Players In an industry where professional athletes can reach wealth quickly, stories also circulate of career-ending injury or even fraudulent investments that bring an abrupt loss of that wealth. In the past 24 months, a new solution has been gathering momentum: the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) Registered Financial Advisor Program. The goal of the NFLPA Registered Financial Advisor Program is simple – to give players access to a diverse group of qualified, preselected financial advisors. Family Investment Center of St. Joseph, Mo., recently announced that Dan Danford, Principal/CEO, has been registered as a financial advisor and has met a series of criteria prepared by the NFLPA. “I’m really excited by this opportunity,” he said. “Regional college programs have produced NFL players, and our area has connections with several pro teams. Plus, I’m a big football fan. What could be more rewarding than sharing my financial expertise where it is really needed?” The idea for the Financial Advisor Registration Program came from the NFL players themselves, and the principal intent of the program is to benefit the players. It was created to provide NFL players with an additional layer of protection -- not just from poor financial advice, but also from financial fraud. Although he is accustomed to contributing his expertise to sources like the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and “ABC News,” Mr. Danford doesn’t take the new registration lightly. It’s part of his philosophy of doing things differently in the financial investment world. His company, Family Investment Center, operates as a fee-only financial planner, rather than working toward commission. Each member of the investment team works like a buyer for the client, managing wealth on a strictly fee-only platform.

“Sudden wealth is always an issue, but sudden wealth among young people can present real challenges. Combine that with short careers, NFL players’ salaries that can fluctuate and tremendous social pressures, and it has created some heartbreaking scenarios,” said Mr. Danford. “Being part of the big picture toward legitimate financial expertise is very exciting. The NFL Players Association is on the right track here, and I’m glad to be a part.” Mr. Danford’s recent registration as an NFLPA financial advisor means he joins a list of names available only with a secure log-in to the official NFL players’ website. A directory of NFLPA Registered Player Financial Advisors allows players and agents to search Dan Danford and Chiefs Owner Clark Hunt at the 2012 Kansas City Chiefs for financial experts who have met Training Camp in St. Joseph, Mo. The annual camp is held at Missouri Western the select criteria. State University each July. Photo and story courtesy of Family Investment Center. While members of the program aren’t officially endorsed nor recommended by the NFLPA, players and agents are provided information as a about the directory at various levels of their training. Registered advisors CORNERSTONE are screened, must have no pending of our Community complaints or litigation by clients, and must be clear of civil, criminal or regulatory history related to fraud. They need, at a minimum, eight years of licensed experience (qualifying licenses include FINRA series licenses, Attorney, CPA or an insurance license). They must also carry a minimum of $4 million of insurance coverage, through professional liability, errors and omissions, or a fidelity bond. “Athletes can earn a great deal of wealth early in their lives, and it’s important to make it last,” Mr. Danford said. “That’s a long-term investment approach, but less-experienced advisors often focus on short-term this Code to View our investing. I think it’s an excellent time Commercial Properties to shift that focus.” Read more at athletesfuture.com.

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St. Joseph Business journal

Winter 2013

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