January 2021 Newsletter

JANUARY 2021

THE CHAMBER CONNECTION

2021 ip sh r e D LEA ss Cla

Cheers to the New Year!

Learn

Community

Connect

Promote

January The Blue Springs Chamber is proud to offer several ways for you to learn & grow your business.

Each year, the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce awards four $500 academic scholarships

to

college

bound

graduating seniors in each of the three Blue Springs high schools and one from another area school district.

The scholarship for Valley View High School will be named after Pat Larkin.

Applicants for all scholarships must be employed by a member of the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce or have at least one parent or guardian who is employed by a Blue Springs Chamber of

Commerce

member

business.

These are one-time scholarships to be paid upon receipt of required documentation.

For more information and to apply, contact Katie Woolf KWoolf@BSSD.NET Applications must be received in the high school counseling office by Friday, February 26.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 12 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM CHAMBER OFFICE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM CHAMBER OFFICE

REGISTER HERE

REGISTER HERE

“The State of HR” With the impact of COVID in 2020, as we start the new year, businesses need to get back to the basics to ensure the standard workplace is still compliant with employment regulations. This session will include a recap of employment requirements in place, updates for 2021, and employment poster requirements.

Join us for an opportunity to learn how your Chamber of Commerce can help you and your business or organization. All members are welcome to attend, especially new and renewed members.

Presented by Laura Sipes, Help!HR and Cody Raithel, Central Bank of the Midwest.

SCAN FOR THE 2021 MEMBER DIRECTORY!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! A Note from Lara Vermillion, President 2020 has been a challenge. Missouri announced its first COVID-19 case on Saturday, March 7 and we were just beginning to understand. Global pandemic, coronavirus, social distancing, quarantine – these were all words that were new to us then. And certainly none of us understood what was about to happen to our economy.

On March 17, the first and second case of corona virus in Jackson County were announced. By June 30, it was reported that 2,600 people had been infected and 62 people had died from COVID-19 in Jackson County.

This virus has wreaked havoc on our economy and in our community. In Blue Springs alone I know of 21 businesses that have closed at the time of this writing.

I also know that many more of you are struggling and that breaks my heart. We’ve made it this far and we can’t give up now.

Like every other American, I long for things to return to normal, even if it is a new normal. I look forward to a time when your businesses are again crowded with customers.

Over the last nine months I have seen you showing up, doing your job, sometimes getting knocked down but always getting back up. I’ve seen you planning and then replanning and sometimes re-planning again.

We can’t lose sight of the fact that 12.4 million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been distributed. Also, although not perfect, another round of business relief has finally been passed by Congress. There is a light at the end of this very long tunnel.

I know that this isn’t over by a longshot. There will still be challenges ahead. I expect us to still be wearing masks in 2021. We’ll still be social distancing and doing what we can to keep each other safe. We’ll learn as we go. We’ll adapt. As we move forward, please feel confident that the Blue Springs Chamber is always here, working on your behalf. We are only a phone call away and are here to help, even if only to listen.

As we end this year, I wanted to give pause and make sure that each of you know how important you are and how thankful we are to have you in our community. Thank you for allowing us to serve you this year.

I truly hope that we can meet more in person in 2021. I’m looking forward to celebrating our recovery and reopening all businesses at 100% capacity in 2021.

Saying Goodbye

Saying Hello

Jeri Willingham

Morgan Loggins

After almost 5 years with the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce, staff member Jeri Willingham will retire in mid January, 2021. Jeri has significantly enhanced many of the events of the Chamber and will be greatly missed.

“Originally from Iowa, I came to Kansas City for college and earned a degree in journalism and mass communications.

In college, I worked with 610 Sports Radio Kansas City and interned at KMBC Channel 9 News. My last job was working for a CBS/NBC affiliate as a television news reporter and anchor in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I recently got married in October of 2020 and we have two dogs. In my free time I enjoy playing just about any sport, cooking, reading and attempting to garden... I’m hoping this spring I’ll get the hang of it! At the heart of my previous job in the news industry, my main focus was always working for the betterment of the community and the people. I’m looking forward to meeting this community and working with the incredible team at the Chamber to keep building an even stronger and more prosperous Blue Springs!”

“Jeri has poured many, many hours into this organization to make it better,” said Lara Vermillion, Chamber President. “She has a passion for making sure the events of the Chamber are fun for members and well planned. I always know that if Jeri is involved, everything will run smoothly. She always has a plan, and at least one back up plan,” said Vermillion.

In retirement Jeri plans to throw away her alarm clock, cook, bake, make quilts, garden, travel and do whatever she wants, whenever she wants!

LEARN

2021 CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS We’re excited to welcome our new and returning Chamber Board members for 2021!

David Sutphin Chairman of Board Evergy

Chad Smith Chair Elect Chad Smith Insurance Agency

Cody Raithel Secretary/Treasurer Central Bank of the Midwest

Eric Sporing Past Chairman ECS Capital Investments

Clarissa Murray Business Support & Promo.

Fike Corporation

Zachary Goff Membership Events & Services Oswald Roam & Rew LLC

Michael Scott Leadership & Comm. Dev. Woods Chapel ChurchBlue Springs

Dr. Annette Seago Blue Springs R-IV School District

Brandon Keller City of Blue Springs

Cindy Miller Columbia College - Kansas City

Dr. Thomas Meyer MCC Blue River

Erika Lucas Sandy’s Restaurant

Jaime Russell Anthem Photography

Kirk Lair CJCFPD

Kyle Caswell Print Graphics

Jeff Carpenter Job One

Laura Sipes Help!HR

Tami Courtney Republic Services of Kansas City

CALENDAR January 5 @ 12-5 PM Missouri Chamber Federation Virtual Capital Insight Event January 6 @ 8:00 AM Executive Committee January 7 @ 8:00 AM LEADership Blue Springs

Congratulations to the 2020 Business of the Year Nominees!

East Forty Brewery Funtastic Balloon Creations Hampton Inn Kansas City/Blue Springs Impact Medical Indigo Med Spa Los Cabos Mexican Grill and Cantina George McCorkendale Auto Service, Inc. New Day Massage LLC Plowboy’s BBQ Sandy’s Restaurant St. Mary’s Medical Center Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center Wild Souls Wildlife Rescue Rehabilitation Join us at the January Luncheon where we will recognize and celebrate each of the 2020 Business of the Year

January 8 @ 7:30 AM Legislative Affairs Virtual Zoom Meeting January 12 @ 8:30 AM Power Hour Chamber Office January 13 @ 8:00 AM Board of Directors Meeting January 14 @ 8:30 AM Chamber 101 Chamber Office January 18 - Chamber CLOSED Martin Luther King, Jr Day Chamber Closed January 21 @ 11:30 AM Monthly Luncheon Adams Pointe Conference Center January 22 @ 11:00 AM Meet Me For Lunch Zarda Bar-B-Q January 27 @ 8:3 0 AM Financial Oversight January 27 @ 9:00AM Missouri Chamber Federation Legislation Impact Webinar

LOOKING AHEAD Thursday, January 21 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Adams Pointe Conference Center

Thursday, February 18 Mayor’s State of the City Luncheon Adams Pointe Conference Center

Networking starts at 11:30 am Lunch served at 11:45 am Program starts at Noon

Thursday, March 18 First Responders Award Luncheon Adams Pointe Conference Center Friday, April 9 (Date change from 2/5) Annual Banquet Adams Pointe Conference Center

NEW MEMBERS

MEMBER NEWS

Advanced Sports and Family Chiropractic and Acupuncture 622 SW 40 HWY Blue Springs, MO 64014 (816) 726-7166 www.asfca.com

Congratulations to Benton House Senior Living on being named One of the 2020 Best Workplaces for Aging Services™ by Great Place to Work® and FORTUNE! It’s their 3rd consecutive year certified as A Great Place to Work and their first national win.

BV Contracting Solutions 605 SW HWY 40 Suite 423 Blue Springs, MO 64014 (816) 988-7202 bvcontractingsolutions.com Frisk Brother’s Moving 506 N Ponca Drive Independence, MO 64056 (816) 508-5952 Sponsored by Tina Wyatt, Hometown News Rela-Table Blue Springs, MO 64015 (816) 775-0312 www.rela-table.org Sponsored by Jaime Russell, Anthem Photography

Spire is offering a new financial assistance option of up to $500 for active, Missouri small businesses struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic. To apply or learn more visit SpireEnergy.com/relief.

Congratulations to Courtney Garza, Lunar Bowl, and Allen Myres on the birth of their daughter Lynlee Kay-Rosa on December 13, 2020.

St. Mary’s Medical Center was awarded an ‘A’ in the fall 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing St. Mary’s Medical Center’s achievements protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care.

RIBBON CUTTING

MEMBER RENEWALS 1st Mid America Credit Union KCWJ 1030 AM One Community Hospice WeatherTech Renovations CJCFPD Graceland University Kansas City Zoo Town Home Improvements, LLC Blue Springs Baseball Organization Bank 21 Missouri Job Center Children’s Mercy Hospital St. Mary’s Hospital Jackson County Tow American Hearing & Audiology St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church Hope House 2 Twenty 2, LLC Cable Dahmer Arena The Emerald Event Space Bob Watson State Farm Insurance United Methodist Church of Resurrection Blue Springs Christian Church Social React Raymond James Financial Services MCC - Blue River Schlappi Financial Group

Dental Depot

1500 S 7 Highway, Blue Springs, MO 64014

December 14, 2020 (816) 295-7927

CONNECT

MEET A MEMBER Renae Arnold, Spiritual Life Coaching, LLC We are Tom and Renae Arnold. We opened Spiritual Life Coaching in February 2020, but had not gotten far since that was about the same time COVID hit the world. Our mission is to reach out to our community and help guide them into, or back into, a mental balance in their lives. Especially now, it is so important that we help anyone and everyone that we can who has been negatively affected by the chaos that has ensued. We believe in holistic healing and that our spirit is the center of our being. We both have our B.S. in Religion - Christian Counseling and several Life Coaching Certifications.

We offer Coaching Sessions, Guided Meditation Sessions and Art Spiritual Life Coaching Therapy Sessions. Our programs are not devoted to any specific renae.arnold@yourspirituallifecoach.org religion or belief system. We work with the belief system, if any, that the individual is comfortable with and our goal is to help guide you in finding peace and tranquility in every day life.

Renae is originally from Northeastern Pennsylvania, along the beautiful Upstate NY border. Tom is originally from Northeastern Tennessee. We met and married in 2007, combining our families and adding 3 more children. We live in Oak Grove, MO with 7 of our 10 children. We enjoy being outside with the children and traveling to the East Coast to visit family when we can.

“Find balance within your mind, body and Spirit through counseling & therapy.�

- Renae Arnold

MEET A BOARD MEMBER Deputy Chief Kirk Lair, CJCFPD

Kirk Lair, CJCFPD klair@cjcfpd.org

My organization is Central Jackson County Fire Protection District where I oversee the Operation of the Department making sure we have everything ready to respond to any emergency that we have. We provide Fire and Emergency Services to Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Lake Tapawingo and the rural areas in between those communities. We also provide Emergency Medical classes to the community as well as to those in the Fire and EMS Service Nationwide. Our Community Risk Reduction team works hard on assisting the Community in several areas for Fire/EMS such as safety training programs, fire safety inspections, and assisting residents with care by reducing the need to go to the hospital by ambulance or potentially maybe not go at all.

I became involved in the Chamber with my promotion to Deputy Chief. I have been on the Chamber board for 1 year, and what I enjoy most about the Chamber is the interaction the Chamber has in the community. They help in any way possible and go above and beyond to help promote the businesses and events in the community. In my free time I enjoy spending time with family. I am married 20 years and have 2 daughters and 3 grandkids. I also enjoy hunting and riding ATVs with my grandkids.

CONNECT

PROMOTE

Real World Learning

New Benefit for Members

The Blue Springs School District is initiating a new program this

The Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce is a member of the

fall called Real World Learning. Sponsored by the Kauffman

Missouri Federation, a program of the Missouri Chamber of

Center, this program is designed to introduce students to real

Commerce & Industry. The Missouri Federation is a network

world job options by partnering high school seniors with local

of Missouri’s strongest chambers of commerce providing

businesses for job shadowing and internship opportunities.

grassroots support in Washington DC and Jefferson City on

Many students are heading to college or entering the work-

issues that align with local priorities. Currently, more than

force with very little knowledge about the opportunites avail-

176 chambers of commerce are a part of the Missouri Cham-

able to them. Real World Learning will open student’s eyes to

ber Federation.

various career paths that are available with or without a college

As a member of the Federation, we have partnered with the

degree, and gives them the opportunity to explore and learn

Missouri Chamber of Commerce & Industry to offer their

more about their areas of interest.

programs to our members at a special “member” rate. There

Businesses benefit from this program by raising awareness

is a unique registration link for these programs so make sure

about their industry, finding potential future employees and

to use it to qualify for the member discount.

empowering students to pursue their dreams. Before beginning an internship, students will have the opportunity to job

Capital Insight: Preparing You for the 2021 Season

shadow to ensure it’s a good fit for the company, and some-

Tuesday, January 5

thing the senior is interested in.

12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Students interested in participating in the Real World Learning

Member Cost: $99 Register Here

program can get more information from their guidance counselor. Businesses that are interested in participating should

Hit the ground running for the 2021 Legislative Session!

contact Real World Learning Coordinator Buddy Young to

Whether you’re new to the Missouri Capitol or an experi-

schedule a business tour to identify which areas of business

enced advocacy professional, you won’t want to miss this

they can offer student experience in. Call (816) 874-3200 or

fully interactive virtual gathering of your peers, industry

email byoung2@bssd.net.

experts and government officials. Equip yourself to achieve your advocacy goals with the latest legislative intel, updates and more to maximize your impact in Jefferson City.

MEET ME FOR LUNCH Zarda Bar-B-Q FRIDAY, JANUARY 22 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Zarda Bar-B-Q

Legislative Impact Webinar Wednesday, January 27 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Member Cost: $99 Register Here This virtual event will take you inside the Capital and connect you with Missouri’s top lawmakers as they work on policy for

REGISTER HERE

the state. This event is ideal for all employers interested in

Come support our local businesses! Each month we will gather

helping ensure their local priorities are on the map.

for lunch at one of our many local restaurants - just for lunch - no agenda! This will bring revenue to our local restaurants while we network and get to know each other better.

48%

PROMOTE

gaining insight into what’s happening in Jefferson City and

2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS David Sutphin - Chairman of the Board Evergy Chad Smith - Chair Elect Chad Smith Insurance Agency Cody Raithel - Secretary/Treasurer Central Bank of the Midwest Eric Sporing - Past Chairman ECS Capital Investments Clarissa Murray - Business Support and Promotion Fike Corporation Zach Goff - Membership Events & Services Oswald Roam & Rew LLC Michael Scott - Leadership & Community Development Woods Chapel Church Blue Springs Brandon Keller City of Blue Springs Cindy Miller Columbia College - Kansas City Dr. Annette Seago Blue Springs R-IV School District Dr. Thomas Meyer MCC - Blue River Erika Lucas Sandy’s Restaurant Jaime Russell Anthem Photography

Mission Statement To promote, develop and facilitate a strong economic environment in which the business community can grow and prosper.

Business of the Year: Colonial Gardens Citizen of the Year: Lyle Shaver, Spring Oak Property Management Connector of the Year: Kelly O’Reilly, Looks of Shear Elegance

2021 PARTNERSHIPS TIER ONE Saint Luke’s East Hospital

CHAMBER STAFF Lara Vermillion President lvermillion@bluespringschamber.com

TIER TWO St. Mary’s Medical Center

Trish Totta Director of Membership ttotta@bluespringschamber.com

TIER THREE Bank 21 Jeri Willingham Central Bank of the Midwest Director of Special Events Colonial Gardens jwillingham@bluespringschamber.com Jackson County Tow Kohl’s Distribution Center Morgan Loggins Los Cabos Mexican Grill & Cantina Special Events Coordinator mloggins@bluespringschamber.com Oswald Roam & Rew LLC TIER FOUR Hy-Vee MCC - Blue River Print Graphics Wild Souls Wildlife Rescue Rehab.

Zarda Bar-B-Q

Becca Blake Communications Specialist bblake@bluespringschamber.com Michael Zarrillo Operations Administrator mzarrillo@bluespringschamber.com

TIER FIVE Greco Agency Farmers Insurance

Jeff Carpenter Job One Kirk Lair Central Jackson County Fire Protection District Kyle Caswell Print Graphics Laura Sipes Help!HR Rena Lopez Kohl’s Distribution Center Tami Courtney Republic Services of Kansas City

2021 Sponsorships are now available. Contact Morgan at mloggins@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