August 2023 Chamber Connection

CONNECTION

TOURISM FUNDING

City Council Approves Additional Funds for Tourism Strategic Plan

On Monday, July 17 Chamber President Lara Vermillion and Steve Powell of Destination Services, LLC presented information to the Mayor and City Council about creating a research-supported strategic plan designed to increase visitor spending in Blue Springs. The Chamber’s Board of Directors reviewed this plan at their July meeting and several Board members attended the City Council meeting in support of the effort (pictured left).

Customized Employment for

Calling all entrepreneurs and advocates alike! What does it take to create an inclusive and diverse entrepreneurial community?

Join us at our Monthly Luncheon on Thursday, August 17 to hear from Anna Burgen, Senior Employment Specialist, Job One. Anna will teach us why Customized Employment is the way forward for people with disabilities to discover their personal genius and find economic success in a marketplace with zero exclusions. Tap into this unique and underutilized talent pool and leave with customized ways to expand your business. REGISTER NOW.

Luncheon Sponsored by America’s Community Bank.

The research component of this effort will focus on visitor metrics, economic impact, lodging capacities/ needs, infrastructure requirements, and the delivery of tourism services. It will culminate in a strategic plan with the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a primary demand generator and launching pad for Blue Springs to gain more prominence within the tourism industry. There was a positive discussion about the project at the City Council meeting and the City agreed to partner with the Chamber and Destination Services in the effort.

The World Cup is coming to Kansas City in 2026 and will host 48 teams across 16 cities between June and July. It is anticipated to generate a one-time impact of more than $600 million for the Kansas City area. We are committed to making sure Blue Springs is primed and ready to not only receive the influx of visitors but to capitalize on the opportunity. The Chamber has agreed to serve as the convening agency for Blue Springs and pull partners together for planning purposes. If your business is interested in serving on this soon to be established task force, please reach out to Trish Totta @ ttotta@bluespringschamber.

HAPPY CHAMBERVERSARY!

AFS Insurance

Blue Springs R-IV School District

Blue Springs Rotary Club

BR Carpet Company

Centerline Beach Volleyball and Pavillion

Central Bank of the Midwest

Central Bank of the Midwest - South

Chad Smith Insurance Agency, Inc

Community Blood Center

Durvet, Inc

Kennedy’s Custom Jewelers

Mitchell & Associates

Molle Chevrolet

Oswald Rew LLC

Parts Un-Ltd

Realty Professionals Heartland - Thompson

Santa Fe Outside Storage

StorTropolis Self Storage

Truman Heartland Community Foundation

Zuvers Real Estate

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

CEI Electrical & Mechanical | Swift Construction

2900 E 13th Street

Kansas City, MO 64127 (816) 304-7101

EPIC KC

19310 E 50th Ter S. Independence, MO 64055 (816) 795-7171

epickc.com

Healing Grace Chiropractic LLC

1040 SW Luttrell Rd, Suite B Blue Springs, MO 64015 (816) 598-2519

hgchiro.com

UPCOMING EVENTS

AUGUST 1

Financial Oversight

8:00 am @ Chamber Office

AUGUST 2

Executive Committee

8:15 am @ Chamber Office

AUGUST 3

Chamber Champions Meeting

8:30 am @ Chamber Office

Fall Fun Festival Committee Meeting

12:00pm @ Chamber Office

AUGUST 4

BLOOD DRIVE

1:00 - 5:00 pm

@ Blue Springs Christian Church SIGN UP TO DONATE

AUGUST 10

DEI Task Force Meeting

10:00 am @ Chamber Office

REGISTER HERE

AUGUST 11

Legislative Affairs Task Force

7:30 am @ Sandy’s Restaurant

REGISTER HERE

Sponsored by BV Contracting Solutions

AUGUST 17

Business Before Hours

7:30 am @ CJ Real Estate

REGISTER HERE

AUGUST 14

Ribbon Cutting

4:00 pm @ EZ Dancing REGISTER HERE

AUGUST 8

Leadership Reception

4:30 pm @ Anthem Photography

AUGUST 9

Board Meeting

8:15 am @ Chamber Office

After Hours Networking

4:00 pm @ Miller 8 Theatre

Monthly Luncheon: Summer Series

“Customized Employment for People with Disabilities: How Entrepreneurship Can Move Us Forward”

11:30 am @ CJCFPD Training Facility

REGISTER HERE

Sponsored by America’s Community Bank

AUGUST 25

Leadership Retreat

8:00 am @ Anthem Photography

AUGUST 29

Meet Me For Lunch

8:30 am @ Indian Mix Grill

REGISTER HERE

AUGUST 30

Executive Committee Meeting

8:15 am @ Chamber Office

MEET A MEMBER

Spencer Engelman & Ariana Napier, DocuLock Blue Springs

Spencer Engelman and Ariana Napier are a two-member team originally from the Blue Springs area that makes up the DocuLock Blue Springs franchise. They’re responsible for document scanning, archiving, management, retention, and shredding. Their mission is to protect you and your business from loss or liability and to give you access to your documents anywhere at any time.

Spencer graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in May of 2023 with a degree in Business Management. He was awarded the franchise shortly after graduating by completing an extensive interview process with several other student candidates. DocuLock has been around for 6 years and has worked with a wide range of clients including governmental and residential clients.

Spencer and Ariana have been together for almost six years and are happily planning their wedding. Outside of work hours they enjoy 3-D printing, sewing, and spending time with their friends and family. Learn more about DocuLock at doculockllc.com

Fall Fun Festival Updates

Car Show, Parade and Vendor Booth Placement

Vendor placement is underway and we’re down to our last 12 spots on Main Street! If you haven’t already done so, submit your booth application as soon as possible!

We are accepting Youth Market vendor applications and will be working on booth placement for our youth vendors very soon! Visit the Fest website for more information and a Youth Market application.

We are now accepting Parade and Car Show applications. The 2023 theme is “Walk on the Wild Side” and we encourage our parade participants to decorate and dress up for the jungle theme!

There are several Fest sponsorship and advertising opportunities available. To learn more and explore how your business can get involved, contact the Chamber at (816) 229-8558. With over 75,000 festival attendees, this is a great way to showcase your business!

We are excited to welcome Evans Midland Empire Shows, Inc as our 2023 carnival company! The carnival will be located in the First Baptist parking lot at 14th & Main street.

If you are interested in volunteering during Fall Fun Festival, please contact Trish Totta at ttotta@ bluespringschamber.com.

“Success isn’t about how much money you make; it’s about the difference you make in other people’s lives.”

MEMBER NEWS

The Kansas City Zoo has some exciting news! To reflect the newest aquatic addition opening on September 1, we have changed our name to the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. Their new logo includes elements from both the Zoo and Aquarium as the new 650,000-gallon addition will increase the number of animals at the Zoo from 1,700 to nearly 10,000. The new logo retains the familiar font from the old one, a nod to the Zoo’s history with “& Aquarium” added to it. You’ll also see additional animals and colors to reflect the diversity of the many species that reside here as ambassadors of their native habitats.

When the Sobela Ocean Aquarium opens on September 1, it will be included with admission to the Zoo but will require timed reservations to facilitate as many guests as possible.

Assisting Hands Home Care’s Karvel Kofoed and his family were identified by franchise research firm, Franchise Business Review, as being one of 2023’s Franchise Rock Stars! The Kofoed Family was selected from over 36,000 franchisees, representing more than 360 brands that participated in Franchise Business Review’s research.

The Franchise Rock Stars were nominated by their franchise brand’s leadership in one of eight categories as franchisees who set admirable examples when it comes to leadership, business acumen, financial and professional success, and contributing to their community.

Children’s Mercy Kansas City is hosting their annual Dream Big Family Fest + Walk on Saturday, September 30. Children’s Mercy Dream Big Day is a family-friendly celebration and 1-mile walk to rally our community around Children’s Mercy and raise funds to provide answers, hope and care to patients and their families! With your support, any dream—big or small—can become a reality. Learn more at Childrensmercy.org

The Examiner invites you to attend the 8th Annual Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on Thursday, September 28, at Stoney Creek Hotel in Independence. Twenty women will become members of this year’s class and one will be announced as the Woman of the Year! We are also bringing back Barbara Koirtyohann, class of 2020, to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Barbara will be interviewed by Brad Speaks of Speaks Chapels, our Founding Sponsor. Emily Pegues will join Brad on stage to represent St. Mary’s Medical Center, our Presenting Sponsor. We are still looking for VIP and Corporate Sponsors, a dessert sponsor and more. Tickets are available now. Please visit www.womenofdistinctionejc.com for more details. Questions? Email us at womenofdistinctionejc@gmail.com.

SUMMER LEARNING SERIES

August Luncheon

Thursday, Aug. 17 @ 11:30 am

CJCFPD Training Facility

REGISTER NOW

Learn why Customized Employment is the way forward for people with disabilities to discover their personal genius and find economic success in a marketplace with zero exclusions. Tap into this unique and underutilized talent pool and leave with customized ways to expand your business. Sponsored by America’s Community Bank

Presented by Anna Burgen, Senior Employment Specialist, Job One.

Did You Know?

Chamber Volunteers

Did you know that one way to take better advantage of your Chamber membership is to volunteer during one of our events? Not only does this help the Chamber earn non-dues revenue, it is also an opportunity for you to connect with other members of the Chamber. We usually have volunteer opportunities during our May Golf Tournament and Fall Fun Festival in September.

These are short networking opportunities for you. The people who work on Chamber committees and volunteer at Chamber events are business-people from our community. They are decision makers.

At the Chamber you should volunteer in an area you enjoy. It should be fun. Additionally, if you encourage other members from your business to volunteer, it can be a team building opportunity for your group. You can all wear your logoed apparel to stand out.

The Chamber staff wants to help you find your place and volunteer where you fit and where you can contribute. You can give back while promoting your business at the same time. Give us a call to sign up for an upcoming event today! (816) 229-885.

BLOG ROUNDUP

One Company’s Bold Move Increased Worker Satisfaction by 20%

Find out how one company increased worker satisfaction by 20% by replacing it’s managers with coaches. Read more.

What You Need to Know About the SBA’s New Subcontracting Rules

New SBA regulations are here for companies looking to qualify for federal contracts, and it’s important to keep up to avoid penalties. Read more.

The Power of Introverts at Work

For years, many have believed that extroverts have an edge in the workplace. However, psychologists have been looking more closely at this preconception and theorizing that the introvert’s quiet way may just be a misunderstood superpower. Read more.

Why Your Best Employees Leave

To keep your best and brightest employees, it’s important to focus on their emotional needs at work. Learn more about why great workers walk away and practical solutions to keep them. Read more.

Cody Raithel- Chairman of the Board Central Bank of the Midwest

Michael Scott - Chair Elect The Table

Erika Lucas - Secretary/Treasurer Sandy’s Restaurant

2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2023 PARTNERS CHAMBER STAFF

Chad Smith - Past Chairman Chad Smith State Farm Insurance

Ashish Patel - Business Support and Promotion Hampton Inn Kansas City/Blue Springs

Jeff Carpenter - Membership Events & Services Job One

Carman Booker - Leadership & Community Development Bank 21

Bobby Olm-Shipman Saint Luke’s East Hospital

Jason Norbury City of Blue Springs

Katie Woolf Blue Springs R-IV School District

Kirk Lair Central Jackson County Fire Protection District

Lisa LaCombe

United Real Estate

Lorne Meinershagen Meinershagen & Co.

Melodie Chrisman Meyers Funeral Chapel

Phill King

Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More of Indep.

Sue Gochis MCC - Blue River

Travis Hunt

New York Life Insurance

Warren Goessling

Kohl’s Distribution Center

Vanessa Starke

Starke Law Offices, LLC

TIER ONE

Jackson County Tow Service

Saint Luke’s East Hospital

St. Mary’s Medical Center

TIER TWO

Evergy

Santa Fe Tow Service

TIER THREE

Abundant Life

Anthem Photography Bank 21

Blue Ridge Bank & Trust Co.

Central Bank of the Midwest

Chad Smith State Farm Insurance

Cosentinos Price Chopper

Kohl’s Distribution Center

Los Cabos Mexican Grill & Cantina

McCarthy Blue Springs Hyundai

MCC - Blue River

Zarda Bar-B-Q

TIER FOUR

CPro’s, Inc.

Equity Bank

First American Title

GM Peters Agency

Greco Agency Farmers Insurance

Hy-Vee Food & Drug

Kansas City Cannabis

Miller 8 Theatres

Print Graphics

Sandy’s Restaurant

Smedley, LLC

TIER FIVE

Job One

Lies Trash

Lara Vermillion President lvermillion@bluespringschamber.com

Trish Totta Vice President ttotta@bluespringschamber.com

Rose Hall Events Coordinator rhall@bluespringschamber.com

Becca Blake Communications Specialist bblake@bluespringschamber.com

Mikayla Lavelle Administrative Assistant mlavelle@bluespringschamber.com

2023 Sponsorships are now available. Contact Becca at bblake@bluespringschamber.com for more information.