THE CHAMBER CONNECTION
December 2024
Annual Awards Banquet
Celebrate the 2024 Business and Not for Profit fo the Year!
Join us on Friday, January 24, for an evening of elegance and intrigue at the 2024 Annual Awards Banquet! This year’s black-tie masquerade is the perfect occasion to dress to impress, so we encourage guests to embrace formal attire and join in the spirit of glamour and mystery.
The celebration begins with cocktail hour at 5:30 pm, followed by a delicious dinner at 6:30 pm and the awards program at 7:00 pm, where we will reveal the 2024 Business of the Year and Not for Profit of the Year. Dessert and coffee will be served at 7:40 pm, with a raffle to follow at 8:00 pm.
RSVP here, or login to your Member Information Center to regsiter to attend.
2024 BUSINESS & NOT FOR PROFIT OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
Join us in congratulating our 2024 Business of the Year and Not for Profit of the Year Nominees! All nominees will be recognized at the December Luncheon on December 19, and the winners will be announced at the Annual Awards Banquet on January 24. This year’s theme is a Masquerade Ball. Be sure to register to attend both events as we celebrate these fantastic organizations!
New Members
Accu Plumbing LLC
(816) 229-4776
office@accuplumbingllc.com
Bean & Vine
(816) 209-7783
beanvine.toast.site/order
Better Service Inc
(816) 756-4244
betterserviceinckc.com
Cleen Machine Janitorial Service
(785) 423-1156
cleenmachinekc.com
KC Dispatch Connection LLC
(816) 719-3756
kcdispatch2023@gmail.com
Midwest Spine and Sport
(816) 944-0499
mwspineandsport.com
Savior Auto
(816) 830-8705
saviorauto.com
American Hearing and Audiology
Centerpoint Medical Center
Christian Brothers Automotive
Corporate Copy Print
Entertainment Systems, Inc
GFI Digital
Hope House
School of Economics
Summit Pizza Turner, Matthew A. D.D.S.
United Real Estate - Lisa LaCombe
Blue Springs Travel November 4, 2024 (816) 988-7100
bluespringstravel.com
December Events
Did you know that one of the best Chamber resources that you have access to as a member is your Chamber staff members? This is often an underutilized resource. First of all, if you have a question and you don’t know where or how to find the answer, call the Chamber. No matter what the question is, it’s always a Chamber thing. If we don’t know the answer, 99% of the time we know someone who does. The amount of information that flows through our office is immense. Chamber staff meets and communicates regularly to solve member issues.
As a member, it’s also important to let us know what is happening in your business. You can make an appointment to talk to us or just show up in our office when you have time. The more we know about your business, the better we can help you achieve your goals. If you are looking for a new employee, or have added a new product or service, let us know. Tag us in your social media posts; we’re happy to share them. Let us know who your ideal customers are, or if there is someone in the community you would like to meet.
Our job is to make connections for you. For example, I can’t tell you how many times we have someone come to our office and tell us they are looking for a new employee and then a person right after comes in to tell us that they are looking for a new job. The more information we have, the better we can make connections for you.
Christian Brothers Automotive
KM & Co Beauty Lounge
Rink Ratz
Lunar Bowl
Adams Pointe Golf Club
Miller Theatres
T&T Tax and Accounting
Bean Counter Cafe
Zarda Bar-B-Q
Meet A Member
Carman Booker, Bank 21
Carman Booker is the Senior Vice-President of Business Development and Retail Operations for Bank 21.
Bank 21 is a fifth-generation, family-owned community bank located in Blue Springs. We pride ourselves on providing personalized banking experiences to our community, with a focus on customer service and what we refer to as “Concierge Banking”—offering the warmth and care of a small-town bank.
Carman Booker cbooker@bank21.com
At Bank 21, we are a dedicated, community-focused team. We are proud and excited to serve the communities where we live and work. We encourage our team members to actively engage with the city, local Chamber of Commerce, schools, and other community organizations.
My husband Jason and I have been proud residents of Blue Springs for 11 years. We absolutely love this community and are thrilled to call it home. We share our home with three spoiled and adorable pups—Jackie, Griffey, and Louie—who are named after our shared passion for baseball.
I am originally from Walnut Grove, a small rural town in southwest Missouri, where I grew up on a farm and cattle operation. My mother, sister, and many other family members live in the SW MO/Springfield area. My parents were strong advocates for service, and this is where my passion for volunteerism began. Serving others is a true honor for me, and it’s one of the reasons community banking holds such a special place in my heart. At Bank 21, I am encouraged to continue serving my community.
I am active on several boards and involved in a variety of wonderful programs here in Blue Springs, which keep me busy and fulfilled. Outside of my community work, I have a deep love for antique glass. I have an extensive collection and even run a booth at a local antique shop. There’s something truly special about handmade, delicate pieces that have withstood the test of time—some over 100 years old—that never fails to amaze me.
Additionally, I’ve recently started practicing yoga (this year) and can now proudly call myself a yogi. Yoga has been a wonderful and fulfilling way for me to build strength, both physically and spiritually.
“Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.” - Simon Sinek
Member News
Downtown Alive! Art Walk
Downtown businesses featured artwork from local Blue Springs High School students as a part of the Downtown Alive! Art Walk on Small Business Saturday. The art will be on display throughout the month of December. Take a stroll down Main Street, eat and shop local and enjoy the student artwork!
North Pole Trail of Lights
Blue Springs Parks and Recreation is presenting its first ever North Pole Trail of Lights!
Enjoy the lights nightly from 5:30 to 10 p.m. from Dec. 3 to 30. Bring your family and friends to be dazzled and delighted by the joy of holiday lights, a giant walk-through ornament, light tunnels, music and more!
And don’t miss a special visit from Santa on select Fridays and Saturdays! No need to register, it’s free! Visit bluespringsgov.com for more information.
Combatting Financial Fraud Webinar
This webinar hosted by the Missouri Chamber and Missouri Bankers Association includes information about the ever-increasing fraud that is affecting banks and their customers. Businesses of all kinds, from large employers to smaller, family-owned companies, are at heightened risk on several fronts, especially regarding check fraud. Watch the webinar at https://mochamber.com/event/webinar/ combatting-financial-fraud-webinar/
Complying with the Corporate Transparency Act
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) was enacted by Congress on January 1, 2021, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. The CTA included significant reforms to anti-money laundering laws and is intended to help prevent and combat money laundering, terrorist financing, corruption, and tax fraud.
Under the act, small businesses in the United States need to file beneficial ownership information reports (BOIR) with the Department of the Treasury by January 1, 2025.
Failure to submit the new paperwork by the deadline puts small business owners at risk of criminal penalties, imprisonment, and fines up to $10,000.
Download the US Chamber’s step-by-step guide to completing the BOI reports at www.uschamber.com/ small-business/guide-complying-with-the-corporate-transparency-act
L A W A R D S B A N Q U E T
24 an 2025
2024 Partners
TIER ONE
Jackson County Tow Service
Saint Luke’s East Hospital
St. Mary’s Medical Center
TIER THREE
Anthem Photography
Apple Roofing Bank 21
Central Bank
Cosentino’s Price Chopper CPro’s, Inc.
Evergy Equity Bank
Los Cabos Mexican Grill & Cantina
Molle Chevrolet
Chamber Staff
TIER TWO
Santa Fe Tow Service
Santa Fe Outside Storage
TIER FOUR
Abundant Life
Blue Ridge Bank & Trust Co.
Christian Brothers Automotive
Community America Credit Union
Kansas City Cannabis
Lighthouse Legal
Meyers Funeral Chapel
TIER FIVE
Greco Insurance
Mr. Electric of Blue Springs
Lara Vermillion, IOM - President lvermillion@bluespringschamber.com
Trish Totta, IOM - Vice President ttotta@bluespringschamber.com
Rose Hall - Events Coordinator rhall@bluespringschamber.com
Becca Blake - Communications Specialist bblake@bluespringschamber.com
Tiffany Obermeyer - Membership Support Specialist tobermeyer@bluespringschamber.com
2024 Board of Directors
Michael Scott, Chairman of the Board The Table
Cody Raithel - Chair Elect Central Bank of the Midwest
Ashish Patel - Business Support & Promotion
Hampton Inn Kansas City/Blue Springs
Travis Hunt - Membership Events & Services New York Life Insurance
Carman Booker - Leadership & Community Development , Bank 21
Bobby Olm-Shipman Saint Luke’s East Hospital
Joshua Alexander City of Blue Springs
David Mann East Forty Brewing
Katie Woolf Blue Springs School District
Nathan Manley Central Jackson County Fire Protection District
Lisa LaCombe United Real Estate
Lorne Meinershagen Meinershagen & Co.
Phill King Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More of Independence
Suzanne Gochis Metropolitan Community College Blue River
Tara Lavelle Vaughan Fire Solutions
Tim Porter Christian Brothers Automotive
Vanessa Starke Starke Law Offices, LLC
Warren Goessling Kohl’s Distribution Center
Contact Us
www.BlueSpringsChamber.com