2017 Women in Business Awards

Celebrating Above & Beyond Meet the 2017 award recipients and finalists.

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2017 Columbia Daily Tribune Women in Business Awards

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2017 Award Recipients Business Woman of the Year

Professional Excellence Award

Emerging Business Woman of the Year

JANE ELIZABETH “BETH” STUBBS Pharmacist/Partner, Kilgore’s Pharmacy

LINDSAY YOUNG LOPEZ Executive Director Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri

ANDREA TAPIA Director of Housing Programs, Columbia Housing Authority

Beth Stubbs earned two degrees in pre-pharmacy sciences and political science from Westminster College and a Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Mississippi before earning her B.S. from St. Louis College of Pharmacy.

Wanting to work in a locally-owned, small-business setting instead of a large corporation, she was able to secure a part-time job with Kilgore’s. She eventually earned her way to a position as junior partner.

Stubbs’ goal is to make life better for her patients. Her specialization in compounding medicine – which means she is licensed to make certain medicines from scratch – has helped Kilgore’s to grow significantly, and is the aspect of her work Stubbs says she finds most rewarding. She also works closely with families who have babies coming out of neonatal intensive care units and advises caregivers on the best medicines for end-of-life care for hospice patients.

Although she has been recruited by larger companies, Stubbs remains committed to her “Kilgore’s Family,” and the personalized customer service she is able to provide to her patients there.

Community service is important to Stubbs, as evidenced by her involvement with programs like Kilgore’s Community Garden, and organizations such as Boys and Girls Club of Columbia, the Westminster College Board of Directors, the American Heart Association Go Red for Women and the Crossing Church.

“Beth is the epitome of the ideal working mom. She has worked her way to the top, while never losing sight of community involvement,” her nominator wrote. “She continuously educates herself in her ever-changing industry, all to better her company, which in turn, makes life better for the patients she vowed to serve from the very moment she stepped out of pharmacy school.”

According to her nominator, Lindsay Young Lopez has spent two decades serving in the non-profit sector, “giving tirelessly of her time and talent on behalf of others.”

A graduate of the University of Missouri, Lopez started her career working in advancement at her alma mater before moving on to serve as senior director of development at Columbia College.

In 2014 she was named executive director of the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri.

Under her leadership, the food bank has strengthened partnerships with 140 pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other partner agencies and has grown the Buddy Pack program to serve 157 schools. She has overseen back-to-back, record-breaking Score Against Hunger fundraising campaigns, which raised more than $1 million in 2015 and 2016. She has also worked to improve the quality of food being distributed, working to acquire more fresh produce, protein and dairy products.

Last year, Lopez secured the food bank’s spot as the first official charitable partner of Mizzou Athletics. Other “first” accomplishments include building a financial reserve of three months’ operating expenses, creating an endowment, creation of a program to help clients navigate the SNAP food stamp system and development of new programs like the VIP Veteran Pack, which provides extra nutrition to Boone County veterans.

Outside of the food bank, she also serves on the board of directors for the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and the Feeding Missouri Board of Directors. In 2010 she was selected to the Leadership Columbia class, and was named co-chair of the program in 2011. In 2012 she was selected to the Greater Missouri Leadership Challenge. She received the 2013 Athena Young Professional Award, and was named Citizen of the Year by Columbia Elks Lodge 594 in 2016.

“The community and the 32 counties served by the food bank benefit daily from Lindsay’s leadership,” her nominator wrote.

“She is finding new and better ways to provide nutritious food to people in need, and that leads to more productive and healthier citizens and children who are more prepared to learn. She is compassionate, professional and dedicated to the work of the food bank.”

With degrees in sociology and psychology, Andrea Tapia has always worked to serve the needs of others.

Her resume includes stints with the United States Department of Treasury, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the 13th Judicial Circuit Court, the Missouri Attorney General’s Office and Compass Health before joining the Columbia Housing Authority in 2013.

Tapia started at the Housing Authority as director of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, where she organized in-house training and set up a system of checks and balances to ensure her staff managing their caseloads, oversaw the conversion to a paperless documentation system and worked to improve relationships with landlords. She has achieved high performer status on the annual Section 8 Management and Assessment Program, averaging a perfect score of 100 percent on all indicators.

In 2015 she was promoted to director of housing programs, overseeing 719 units of public housing, as well as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. In this position she has implemented the Healthy Homes Connection program and supervises the family self-sufficiency coordinators, who work to help families move up and out of poverty. She also oversees the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program, and participates in the Boone County Basic Needs Coalition and the Balance of State Continuum of Care Coalition to end homelessness. She has also played a significant role in the renovation of CHA’s Public Housing properties.

Tapia serves on several other boards as well, including the Governor’s Committee to End Homelessness, Boone County Offender Transition Network and the Functional Zero Task Force to end chronic and veteran homelessness.

“Our community has greatly benefited from Ms. Tapia’s commitment to service,” her nominator wrote. “She has demonstrated her ability to solve complex community problems, work collaboratively with other community partners, and think creatively when addressing community issues.”

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2017 Columbia Daily Tribune Women in Business Awards

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Ninth Annual Women in Business Awards Celebrates Excellence In a community consistently ranked as a top place for women in the workforce, the 18 women in these pages stand out as some of the best in Columbia. Whether they have led the charge to help others achieve success of their own, or worked tirelessly to ensure their neighbors have enough to eat or a place to lay down their head at night, their contributions to the community are no less impressive than their long lists of professional achievements.

Representing work fields from health care to public service, these 18 women were honored for those contributions Tuesday during the ninth annual Columbia Daily Tribune Women in Business

Awards luncheon. This year’s candidates included small business owners, educators, marketing and management specialists, Realtors and health care providers, all of whom serve as leaders within the business community and work to make Columbia a better place to live.

At the awards luncheon, each of the finalists was presented to the audience with a short biography highlighting some of her achievements before Columbia Daily Tribune Publisher Rustan Burton presented the three top awards. Twenty-four local women have been awarded the honor since the awards’ inception.

MU Deputy Athletic Director Sarah Reesman Presented Keynote Sarah Reesman graduated from the University of Missouri with departmental honors in 1986 before going on to attend law school at the University of Minnesota, where she earned her J.D. degree in 1989.

She spent a year as clerk for former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri Ann K. Covington before joining the firm of Slagle, Bernard and Gorman in Kansas City.

The Boonville native joined the Mizzou staff in 1993. Her career with the university includes eight years as the associate athletics director for student services/SWA, three years as senior associate director of athletics and eight years as executive associate athletics director before being promoted to senior deputy athletics director in 2017.

In her current position, Reesman is the administrative liaison for the Tigers’ women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country and men’s and women’s track and field programs.

She also oversees the student-athlete services units, including the Mizzou Made areas of academic support, student-athlete development, athletic performance, mental performance and integrated health care. She is also in charge of the department’s human resources services staff and the university’s gender equity, diversity and inclusion efforts and employee contracts. She also represents the University of Missouri as the Senior Woman Administrator in dealings with the Southeastern Conference and the NCAA. Honors and recognition include the 2001 Barbara S. Uehling Award, the 2009 MU Tribute to Women and the Columbia Business Times’ Top 40 business leaders under the age of 40.

Reesman is a founding member and two-time past president of the Women’s Intersport Network. Her speech Tuesday was entitled “Fair Play.”

Columbia Housing Authority

CONGRATULATES

ANDREA TAPIA for being a inalist for the Women in Business Awards!

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2017 Columbia Daily Tribune Women in Business Awards

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Business Woman of the Year FINALISTS Gigi Quinlan McAreavy, Owner/founder, MAC Appraisal Company For Gigi Quinlan McAreavy, real estate is the family business – her father has been the owner of the Quinlan Agency since 1961, and her brother Bruce is an agent as well. She became a licensed Realtor at the age of 18 while also attending State Fair Community College on a basketball scholarship.

She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in home economics-merchandising from the University of Missouri. She helped open a new Dillard’s Department in Ft. Smith, Ark. before returning to real estate, working as a broker with Gundaker Realtors Better Homes and Gardens in St. Louis. She returned to Mid-Missouri in 1991 and began an 11-year stint as an appraiser with Cannon, Blaylock and Wise before opening MAC Appraisal Company in 2003.

McAreavy is actively involved in the community, coaching basketball and soccer through the YMCA, assisting with the YMCA “Dancing with the Stars” fundraiser and supporting Saints Peter and Paul School and Boonville High School.

Arminta Phelps, Owner/chiropractor/wellness expert, Achieve Balance Chiropractic Arminta Phelps knew at the age of 10 that she wanted to be a doctor. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Missouri and her doctorate of chiropractic at Palmer College in Iowa before returning to Columbia to open Achieve Balance Chiropractic in 2008. Starting with two employees, she now has two locations and employs a team of six. She has spoken internationally for the League of Chiropractic Women, serves on the board of the Missouri Academy of Chiropractors, speaks at Logan Chiropractic College in St. Louis and is recognized as a Champion at Life West Chiropractic College in Santa Rosa, Calif. Phelps is involved with several community organizations, including Rainbow House, Primrose Hill, LOVE Inc., the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri and True North.

Elizabeth Mendenhall, CEO and Realtor, RE/MAX Boone Realty Elizabeth Mendenhall grew up in real estate and started her career at 22, working as an administrative assistant at RE/MAX Boone Realty – which has been owned by her family for six generations – while earning her degree from Columbia College. For 21 years she has served as a broker and CEO, overseeing more than 35,000 transactions. RE/MAX named her the Mid-States Missouri Broker-Owner of the Year in 2009 and the International Broker Manager of the Year in 2006. Mendenhall has taken her leadership to the state and national level with organization such as the Missouri Women’s Council of Realtors and the Missouri Association of Realtors, most recently serving as the 2017 president-elect for the National Association of Realtors. She has also served on the board of directors for the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the United Way, American Cancer Society and the American Diabetes association and founded the Mid-Missouri Affiliate Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation.

Catherine Rhodes, Owner, Catherine Rhodes Photography Catherine Rhodes graduated from the Hallmark Institute of Photography in 2007, returning to Columbia to start her business at the age of 19. She also worked as a digital tech at Columbia Daily Tribune for two years before focusing on her business full time. Her work has been featured in publications such as Elle China and The Knot. Having photographed more than 200 weddings, she teaches a wedding photography workshop and also created the Happily Ever After Hour, which features wedding vendors and brings businesses together.

Rhodes also lends her talents to startup businesses and charities, such as the Day Dreams Foundation, Meals on Wheels and Walk to end Alzheimer’s as well as the Chamber of Commerce.

Celebrating Women since 1971

OLDE UN D E S I R E . FA N TASY. F U N.

Here’s to Strong Women!

May we know them.

May we raise them.

May we be them.

Debbie Simon, Owner

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2017 Columbia Daily Tribune Women in Business Awards

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Emerging Business Women of the Year FINALISTS Katie Wagner, Real estate agent, 573 Home Team, Columbia Real Estate A graduate of the University of Missouri, Katie Wagner worked in sales for two Fortune 500 companies before deciding to stay home with her children. After her children started school full time three years ago, she decided to pursue a lifelong dream of working in real estate. She sold more than $8 million in her first two years, earning Rookie of the Quarter and earning entry into the 100 percent Club at RE/MAX Boone Realty. In January 2017, she started the 573 Home Team with Erin Hendershott and is now has joined forces with Columbia Real Estate. The team had exceeded $6.5 million in sales by mid-August. Giving back is important to Wagner, too. A percentage of every commission check gets donated to a local charity of her client’s choice. She also volunteers at The Crossing Church, Rock Bridge Elementary and the Columbia Magic youth girls’ and boys’ basketball teams.

Kelly Gilion, Owner, Plume Since opening the doors of Plume in 2013, Kelly Gilion has provided retail space to more than 65 local makers and vintage enthusiasts. She has helped those fellow entrepreneurs create their brands, build a retail strategy, test the marketplace and build their businesses. Although Plume is only open Thursday through Saturday, it has become a destination shopping experience that has grown each year. Gilion earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Louisville. Outside of work, she started GracefulWait, an infertility support group, in September 2010.

The only support group of its kind in Mid-Missouri, GracefulWait draws women from as far away as Moberly and Kirksville.

Teresa Crews, Co-owner/member, Maid EZ Cleaning Service, LLC Teresa Crews earned her associate’s degree in small business management from Platt College before going on to a 26-year career in the cleaning business. She has done residential, commercial, hotel and construction cleaning, including a stint as a supervisor for Sunshine Cleaning Services. In 2014, she started Maid EZ Cleaning Services. In July 2017, Maid EZ Cleaning Service became debt free, and the company continues to grow, with clients ranging from Columbia and Rolla to Kansas City.

She has employed more than 20 people since going into business for herself. Crews serves as a volunteer vendor at MU football games to raise funds for Boys and Girls Club and donates cleaning services to help raise funds for the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri. She is known for her generosity, including providing jobs and support for young people.

MacKenzie Knierim, Owner, The Southern Rose MacKenzie Knierim began working in retail in 2010 while still in high school. After graduating from William Woods University with a degree in business management, she worked at Veterans United Home Loans as a funding documents coordinator, shipping coordinator and eventually shipping team lead. After earning her master’s in business administration from William Woods in 2015, Knierim opened Wild Rose online. In August 2016 she expanded the business and changed the name to Southern Rose. She was selected to Hawthorn Bank’s Young Business Leaders Council and helped form the Como South business organization to help bring shoppers to the area. She spends her free time coaching softball and serving on panels and supporting events with Hawthorn Bank.

Danielle Harrison, Assistant vice president, commercial lending, Landmark Bank Danielle Harrison earned her bachelor’s degree from Westminster College, where she majored in economics and business before earning her MBA at the University of Missouri. After graduation she spent four years as a business banking relationship manager at Commerce Bank. She then moved to Landmark Bank as a commercial loan officer, and has since been promoted to assistant vice president of commercial lending. She was named one of Columbia Business Times’ 20 under 40, earned the Commerce Bank Efficiency Award twice and was selected as a member of the 2015 Leadership Columbia class. Outside of work, Harrison has helped grow and lead the local Rotaract chapter and is involved with the United Way. Other service includes serving on the boards of Mobility Worldwide and the Greater Missouri Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association as well as serving as co-chair of the Women’s Network Leadership Development Roundtable.

Christian Neuenswander, Owner, Gather and Co. Events Christian Neuenswander graduated from the University of Missouri in 2014 with a degree in parks and recreation and minors in business and music. After working for several years in sales and marketing with the Networks of Mid-Missouri, she launched Gather and Co. Events in February 2017.

She was fully booked by May, with 12 events for the year, and already has bookings into the next two years. Neuenswander is involved with many local organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Network, Coyote Hill, The Crossing Music Team and leading a college women’s small group with Veritas Ministry.

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2017 Columbia Daily Tribune Women in Business Awards

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Professional Excellence FINALISTS Terri Trickel, Business manager, Simon Oswald Architecture Terri Trickel has been working in accounting and finance for 30 years. She earned her associate’s degree in accounting from the Herberger Business School at St. Cloud State University and has used her degree working for companies ranging from manufacturing and retail to professional services companies, including MFA Oil Company and OCCI-MoFAb. She joined Simon Oswald Architecture (SOA) in May 2011 as business manager, a position in which she creates, analyzes and presents financial statements and coordinates with the accounting firm for tax filing. She considers her biggest accomplishment to be the implementation of ERP systems at several of the companies she was a part of. Trickel is SOA’s employee campaign coordinator for the United Way and heads up the Day of Caring event. She also was part of the committee that came up with the SOA 30 Acts of Kindness project to celebrate Simon Oswald Architecture’s 30th anniversary.

Mitzi St. John, Public relations manager, Daniel Boone Regional Library Mitzi St. John has worked in PR and marketing for 27 years, with stints at BHN Advertising, the Columbia Daily Tribune and as co-owner and vice president of Hanna Stanley St. John Advertising before joining the library in 2010. At the library, she manages all media contacts, social media and promotional materials needed to ensure the library is viewed as a valued community resource. She redesigned the quarterly newsletter, co-directed the development and implementation of DBRL’s new digital branch and helped coordinate and promote a series of more than 50 Community Conversations to give the library feedback to develop a new Strategic Plan. St. John also volunteers with many local organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce and Women’s Network, the Boone County Historical Society, Central Missouri Humane Society and the P.A.C.E. children’s theater group.

Jaime Freidrichs, Director, Missouri Women’s Business Center As the first director of the Missouri Women’s Business Center at Central Missouri Community Action, Jaime Freidrichs coaches clients in business development, teaches grant writing and provides a support system for business women. A 1999 graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in English, she spent 13 years at Woodhaven – a non-profit helping adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities – starting as a receptionist and eventually becoming director of development. She still serves at Woodhaven as a volunteer. She is also a small business owner herself. In 2004, Freidrichs and her husband started a documentary production company, Unicorn Stencil, where she develops business plans, secures grants and assists with story development. She is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce, serving as an ambassador and as a member of the Women’s Network. She is also a member of the 2017 class of the Greater Missouri Leadership Challenge.

Cyndi Frisby, Professor of strategic communication, University of Missouri Cyndi Frisby was recently promoted to full professor at the University of Missouri after more than 19 years as an associate professor in the School of Journalism. She is a nationally recognized authority on media portrayals of minorities, athletes, women and teens. She is also an in-demand speaker, having appeared at conferences for organizations such as the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication and the International Communication Association, as well as presenting diversity training workshops for agencies such as the State of Missouri and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. She earned her master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications.

Frisby has won numerous awards for excellence in teaching, including receiving the University of Missouri-Columbia’s William T. Kemper Fellowship in 2002 — one of the university’s highest teaching honors — and being named one of the four Most Inspiring Professors on the MU campus in 2007.

Victoria Brees, Small Business and Business Services, Landmark Bank Victoria Brees has been with the Columbia Chamber of Commerce since graduating from the University of Missouri with a degree in communications in 1999. She is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management and serves as the chair for the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Missouri Board. In her position as VP of chamber operations, she provided institutional knowledge to her coworkers and emphasizes the importance of the volunteers who make the organization thrive. Brees is involved with several community organizations, including the Metro Rotary Club and Beta Sigma Phi, a professional service organization. Brees recently accepted a position with Landmark Bank, where she will be a specialist on the products and services the bank offers to small businesses.

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