THE CHAMBER
CONNECTION DECEMBER 2023
2023 Business of the Year Nominees
Anthem Photography
Bank 21
Blue Ridge Bank & Trust
BV Contracting Solutions
East Forty Brewing
Kansas City Cannabis
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Smedley Plumbing
2023 Not for Profit of the Year Nominees
Center for Developmentally Disabled
Citizens Police Academy
Hillcrest Transitional Housing
Purple Peace Foundation
Hero Fund USA
HAPPY CHAMBERVERSARY! A Plus Janitorial Services America’s Community Bank Blue Springs City Theatre Bob Watson - State Farm Insurance Brookwood Condo Village Homes Association
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! Corporate Copy Print (816)252-0400 corporatecopyprint.com
Manly Mane (816) 678-5136 Kelsey.rae.hair@icloud.com
BV Contracting Solutions Christian Brothers Automotive Cosentino’s Price Chopper South Davis Auto Wrecking & Sales Kansas City Cannabis MVP Awards & Engraving Ryan Fry Senior Care Authority Spectrum Station St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church The Parkway Senior Living
2 Chamber Connection
Queen Bee Boutiques (816) 988-8023 facebook.com/queenbeeboutiqueskc School of Economics (816) 224-8171 schoolofecon.org
CAR WON'T GO?
UPCOMING EVENTS DECEMBER 5
DECEMBER 13
Financial Oversight 8:00 am @ Chamber Office
Ribbon Cutting FROM 2:00 pm @ Queen Bee Boutiques ANY REGISTER HERE MOBILE
DECEMBER 6
DEVICE
Executive Committee Meeting 8:15 am @ Chamber Office
DECEMBER 7 Chamber Champions Meeting 8:30 am @ Chamber Office Holiday Social 4:00 pm @ Adams Pointe Golf Club REGISTER HERE
DECEMBER 8
DECEMBER 14
** TOW or 816.524.9688 SANTAFETOWSERVICE.COM
Monthly Luncheon Business + Not For Profit of the Year Nominee Recognition 11:30 am @ Adams Pointe Conference Center REGISTER HERE Sponsored by Focus + Films
CAR WON'T GO?
Legislative Affairs Task Force 7:30 am @ Sandy’s Restaurant REGISTER HERE Sponsored by BV Contracting Solutions
DECEMBER 15 DEI Task Force 12:00 pm @ Chamber Office Chamber 101 12:00 pm @ Chamber Office
DECEMBER 12
DECEMBER 22 - 25
FROM ANY MOBILE DEVICE
Chamber Office Closed
Meet Me For Lunch 11:30 am @ THE Pizza Place REGISTER HERE
** TOW or 816.524.9688 SANTAFETOWSERVICE.COM
Chamber Connection 3
4 Chamber Connection
MEET A MEMBER Mitch Smedley, Smedley Plumbing I’m Mitch Smedley, President of Smedley Plumbing. Founded in August of 2020, our Mission is: “To service our community so well that we may be able to serve our community in return.” We do this through our #FamilyFirst Program where we identify people within the community with necessary plumbing repairs but simply no way to afford them. We put them on our schedules on the first business day of each month and we take care of those plumbing repairs free of charge. I grew up living in Lee’s Summit and going to the Blue Springs School District. I married my amazing wife Danielle in 2007. We’ve lived in Blue Springs for 12 years now and our two boys, Mason and Grant go to Blue Springs schools as well.
mitch@callsmedley.com (816) 763-3539
My hobbies include date night every Wednesday night and finding other ways to give back to the industry. We do that through a trades-based podcast called “The Void” where we talk about starting your own trades-based business. We also have a mentorship program called Trade Wins where we help them grow their business to a healthy and stable level.
“If a man is called to be a street sweeper.....he should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Did You Know? It’s Always a Chamber Thing Did you know that one of the best Chamber resources that you have access to as a member is your Chamber staff members? We are often an underutilized resource. If you have a question and you don’t know where or how to find the answer, call the Chamber. Chamber staff is always happy to: •
Help you tackle challenges
•
Brainstorm ideas or solutions
•
Be a sounding board
•
Share your social media posts
•
Promote job openings and business news
No matter the question or problem, it’s always a Chamber thing!
Schedule a meeting with a Chamber staff member: •
Lara Vermillion, President - Click here
•
Trish Totta, Membership Director - Click here
•
Becca Blake, Communications - Click here
•
Rose Hall, Events Coordinator - Click here
•
Mikayla Lavelle, Administrative Assistant - Click here
Chamber Connection 5
MEMBER NEWS Christian Brothers Automotive served 40 single mothers by providing them with free oil changes and minor repairs on October 21, 2023 as a part of their National Service Day. Blue Springs Masonic Lodge #337 held a free Child ID event at the Ararat Shrine Circus and provided over 200 families with peace of mind through MOCHIP, a child recovery, identification and abduction awareness education program. Worlds of Fun’s, Zambezi Zinger has been nominated for Best New Theme Park Attraction in USA Today’s prestigious 10 Best poll. Voting ends Monday, December 25th and the winner will be announced Friday, January 5. You are allowed to vote once every twelve hours. VOTE HERE Central Jackson County Fire Protection District opened Station 6 in Grain Valley on November 10, 2023. The station is manned 24/7 with a minimum of five personnel running a fire engine and ambulance. Congratulations to Blue Springs High School’s Golden Regiment on a record-setting season! The National Champion Golden Regiment Marching Band finished first place at the Grand National Bands of America Championships in the AAA division and fourth overall. Print Graphics was acquired by Corporate Copy Print, a locally owned printer on Independence Square, on November 1, 2023. Corporate Copy Print has become a new member of the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce and looks forward to providing Blue Springs full-service printing including digital printing, large format, signage, blueprints, delivery service and more. Corporate Copy Print shares Print Graphics’ work ethic, creativity, quality-focus, customer satisfaction and timely service. Contact them at (816) 228-1053. Congratulations to BV Contracting Solutions on being awarded the Silver Safety Award at the Associated Builders and Contractors Excellence in Construction Awards Banquet. This is the second year in a row to receive the award.
NOVEMBER RIBBON CUTTINGS
Meyer Music 1512 SW US Highway 40 Blue Springs, MO 64015 6 Chamber Connection
November 14, 2023 (816) 228-5656
Lighthouse Legal 1007 SW Walnut Street Blue Springs, MO 64015
November 21, 2023 (816) 228-4383
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Tourism Development Survey
Stakeholder Survey
The Chamber is working with Destination Services to create a strategic plan for tourism in Blue Springs. As a valued stakeholder in our community, your input is crucial in shaping the future of tourism development in Blue Springs. We invite you to participate in a brief survey that will help us understand your thoughts and preferences regarding a tourism plan that benefits our visitors, residents, local businesses and overall community. Click here to take the survey, or scan the QR code to the right. If you are a business that welcomes and serves visitors to Blue Springs, please consider sharing our Visitor Survey with your email list. The more feedback we can collect the better!
Chamber Connection 7
Congrats! Saint Luke’s East Hospital New Day Massage Mr. Electric of Blue Springs Guier Fencing BR Carpet 1st Alliance Garage Door Christian Brothers Automotive
Moxie Pest Control
The Chocolate Spa
Corporate Copy Print
KM & Co. Beauty Lounge
Bill West Roofing Inc
East Forty Brewing
Metropolitan Community College
Lunar Bowl
Pawportunities
Miller Theatres - Blue Springs 8
Anthem Photography
Burr Oak Woods
Abundant Life
T&T Tax and Accounting
Vest Professional Placement
Stewardship Capital Ltd
Fort Osage Career and Tech Center
Legend of Asia
Genevieve’s
Zarda Bar-B-Q
Hy-Vee
THE Pizza Place
All A’ Bloom
Scout Coffee
Truman Heritage Habitat for Humanity
LaMar’s Donuts & Coffee
Colonial Gardens
Rolling in the Dough
Kennedy’s Custom Jewelers
Andy’s Frozen Custard
Smoothie King
Johnny’s Tavern
Wild Souls Wildlife Rescue Rehab.
Core Medical Center
Blue Springs Travel
McDaniel Family Dental
Meyers Funeral Chapel
8 Chamber Connection
BLOG ROUNDUP Catch up on November’s Blog Posts Why Social Time with Co-Workers is the Ultimate Office Perk Regardless of whether your workplace is completely remote, fully in-office, or somewhere in between, there is an undeniable magic that occurs when employees come together in person. Read more.
Unlocking Reciprocity: How Gratitude Transforms Workplace Culture Rather than a ‘sense of obligation or indebtedness,’ reciprocity is a ‘mutual recognition that promotes a continuous cycle of goodwill. Learn more about the benefits of reciprocity Read more.
3 Powerful Marketing Strategies for Small Businesses To develop an effective marketing plan, it’s essential to understand your target audience. Market research tools can provide valuable insights into customer behaviors and preferences, enabling you to tailor your messaging and offerings accordingly. Read more.
The Power of ‘I Don’t Know’: Embracing Uncertainty as a Leader In any organization, there will always be times when the leaders don’t have the answers. Pretending to know everything can quickly undermine your credibility as a leader when your lack of knowledge surfaces. Read more.
November Small Business News You Can Use This month’s articles include need-to-know information for small businesses, including information about year-end growth, leveraging nostalgia and funding options for disabled entrepreneurs. Read more.
Chamber Connection 9
2023 BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
The mission of the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce is to be the leading resource for business and an effective influential community partner.
Cody Raithel- Chairman of the Board Central Bank of the Midwest
2022 Business of the Year: Kennedy’s Custom Jewelers 2022 Not For Profit of the Year: Job One
Michael Scott - Chair Elect The Table Erika Lucas - Secretary/Treasurer Sandy’s Restaurant 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. Suzanne Gochis MCC - Blue River Travis Hunt New York Life Insurance Vanessa Starke Starke Law Offices, LLC Warren Goessling Kohl’s Distribution Center
2022 Citizen of the Year: Debbi Riess-Roam
2023 PARTNERS
CHAMBER STAFF
TIER ONE Jackson County Tow Service Saint Luke’s East Hospital St. Mary’s Medical Center
Lara Vermillion President lvermillion@bluespringschamber.com Trish Totta Vice President ttotta@bluespringschamber.com
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
Rose Hall Events Coordinator rhall@bluespringschamber.com Becca Blake Communications Specialist bblake@bluespringschamber.com Mikayla Lavelle Administrative Assistant mlavelle@bluespringschamber.com
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
2024 Sponsorships are now available. Contact Rose @ rhall@bluespringschamber.com for more information.
Building Business. Growing Community. Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce 1000 W Main Street Blue Springs, MO 64015
Phone : 816.229.8558 Fax : 816.229.1244 www.bluespringschamber.com