THE CHAMBER
CONNECTION JANUARY 2022
ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET The Chamber’s annual awards banquet will be held January 21, 2022 at Adams Pointe Conference Center. Register to attend today!
CELEBRATING 60 YEARS! The Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce represents a partnership of over 500 member businesses and professionals commited to making a difference in the Blue Springs community.
HOLIDAY SOCIAL
The Blue Springs Chamber was incorporated on October 29, 1962 and has been growing stronger every day. In 2022 we will be celebrating our members and community throughout the year, beginning with the Annual Awards Banquet. Dress to impress in your denim and diamonds and enjoy cocktails, dinner and awards presentations for the 2021 Business of the Year, Not for Profit of the Year, and Outstanding Citizen of the Year.
LEADERSHIP CLASS
The Blue Springs LEADership class Small Business Day on December 9 included tours and discussions with several local small businesses
including Colonial Gardens, Bike Stop, Genevieve’s Home & Handmade, America’s Community Bank, Scout Coffee, Hughes Defense and East Forty Brewing. The class will visit local schools & colleges on January 13 for Education Day.
The Chamber’s annual Holiday Social got a surprise visit from the Grinch (aka Councilman Kent Edmonson, District 2)! Clearly, he won the contest for the most festive outfit!
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! Parker Swearngin, LLP (816) 434-6770 982 SW 37th Street Blue Springs, MO 64015 www.parkerswearngin.com Gallagher Benefit Services (816) 462-8526 4933 S Brittney Dr Blue Springs, MO 64015 www.ajg.com Casey’s (816) 220-9052 COMING SOON! www.caseys.com Worlds of Fun (816) 220-9052 4545 Worlds of Fun Ave, #213B Kansas City, MO 64161 www.worldsoffun.com Comfort Pros Heating and Cooling (816) 377-1400 3004 SW US Highway 40, Suite C Blue Springs, MO 64015 www.comfortproskc.com
MEMBER RENEWALS Senator Mike Cierpiot Zuvers Real Estate State Farm Insurance - Bob Watson Gail Yancik, P.C. Realtor America’s Community Bank Equity Bank Hope House St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church Bledsoe Rentals Evergy Rela-Table Russ Clark Blue Springs First Church of the Nazarene Graceland University CJCFPD Kansas City Zoo Hero Fund USA Schlotzsky’s Town Home Improvements KC Managed IT Blue Springs Christian Church
RIBBON CUTTING
Hawaiian Bros Island Grill (816) 797-3996 COMING SOON! www.hawaiianbros.com Caring Hands, Inc (816) 229-5553 1418 SW US Hwy 40, Suite B Blue Springs, MO 64015 ServPro East Independence/Blue Springs 1601 S Broadway December 15, 2021 Oak Grove, MO 64075 (816) 224-5300 2 Chamber Connection
MEET A BOARD MEMBER Chad Smith, Chairman of the Board I am the owner of Chad Smith Insurance Agency, Inc. This year marks my 20th anniversary with State Farm and is State Farm’s 100th anniversary! As the owner of a small business I obviously wear many hats, but the most important roles I have are hiring, training, and mentoring my team members and my role on the team is helping customers save and invest money for their future. This is my sixth year on the Chamber board and I’m proud to serve as the 2022 Chairman of the Board. I got my start with the Chamber in 2005 when Dena Duhon introduced me to a networking group and helped me get plugged in to the community. The people that I met early on, and the relationships that have branched out from there, have been an integral part of our success. What I love most about the Chamber is the people. Lara, the staff, the businesses, our government and school partners. Wow! What a good group to be around. Being a Chamber member has helped me grow as a leader and has made me a better business owner. It’s also been beneficial by introducing me to so many people that have led to clients, business contacts, and growth for many of my employees as well. In my down time I love watching and playing sports and playing games with my family. I teach 4th & 5th grade Sunday school at my church and enjoy all teaching and coaching. I have been married to Carla for 25 years. We have a daughter, Liberty, who is attending law school in Chicago, a son, Chason, who attends Missouri S&T in Rolla, and a daughter, Chloe, who is a sophmore at South this year. We moved to Blue Springs in 2005 when I opened my business and have absolutely loved this community ever since! Contact Chad at chad.smith.qpwi@statefarm.com
Need an agent who gets your small business?
John Hardy, Agent 1201A NW Jefferson St Blue Springs, MO 64015 Bus: 816-224-6560 Fax: 816-224-8169 john@insurekc.net
I understand the unique needs of small business owners, because I run a small business too. Contact me today for your small business insurance. Let’s talk today.
State Farm Fire and Casualty Company State Farm General Insurance Company Bloomington, IL State Farm Florida Insurance Company Winter Haven, FL State Farm Lloyds Richardson, TX 2101257
Chamber Connection 3
MEMBER NEWS Jessica Washburn, owner of Bliss Chocolatier, and her sister Stephanie Jarstad earned the title of “Best in Dough” and won the first place prize in the first season of “Baking It” streamed on Peacock. Kansas City Cannabis (KCC), one of the few 100% Missouri owned & operated medical marijuana dispensaries, has announced the Grand Opening of their Lake Lotawana, MO location on Saturday, January 8th 2022 from 11am-7pm. The dispensary is located near the intersection of Hwy 7 and Colbern Rd at 9324 MO 7 Hwy, Lees Summit, MO 64064. As of January 3, 2022, Insurance & Benefits Group, Phillips Agency, and Billups Snyder & Associates Insurance Agency will adopt a new name and brand identity of AssuredPartners. This effort is to begin showcasing their strong and important relationship with their parent company, AssuredPartners, which each of their different agencies joined in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City is currently hiring for a Special Events Assistant. Learn more about this position and apply here: https://www.bbbskc.org/careers
Do you have news you want to share? Let us know about your anniversary, event, sale, or other good news and we’ll help you spread the word through our Member News column and on social media. Contact Becca at bblake@bluespringschamber.com.
! w e N
CHAMBER CHAMPIONS
You’re invited to join the Chamber’s team of all-stars! The purpose of the Chamber Champions is to promote general membership services and be a resource to current members while representing the Chamber in the Blue Springs community. Members of the Chamber Champions are active and visible within the
4 Chamber Connection
Chamber and business community and play a vital role in fulfilling the Chamber’s mission! Attend our first monthly meeting on January 25 at 11:30 am to learn more about how being a Champion can help you promote your business and serve as an important link between the Chamber and the Blue Springs community. Register Now
UPCOMING EVENTS JANUARY 10 Financial Oversight Meeting 9:00 am @ Chamber Office
JANUARY 21 Annual Awards Banquet
JANUARY 24 Joint Chamber Luncheon with Governor Mike Parson
JANUARY 10 Ribbon Cutting 1:00 pm @ Elevate Life Chiropractic REGISTER HERE 1741 NW Burdett Crossing Blue Springs, MO 64015
JANUARY 12 Board Meeting 8:15 am @ Chamber Office
JANUARY 13 LEADership Education Day 8:30 am @ Chamber Office
JANUARY 14 Legislative Affairs Task Force 7:30 am @ Sandy’s Restaurant REGISTER HERE BSSD’s legislative priorities/perspectives presented by Dr. Charlie Belt.
JANUARY 17 Martin Luther King Jr Day Chamber Closed
Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce. Awards presentation for Business of the Year, Not for Profit of the Year and Outstanding Citizen of the Year. Featuring Dueling pianos by Big Time Entertainment.
Governor Parson will speak to members of the Blue Springs, Grandview, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, and South Kansas City Chambers of Commerce.
REGISTER HERE 5:30 - 10:00 pm Adams Pointe Conference Center
REGISTER HERE 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Adams Pointe Conference Center
Thank You Sponsors
JANUARY 25 Chamber Champions Meeting 11:30 am @ Chamber office REGISTER HERE Join us for our first Chamber Champions meeting to learn more about how being a Champion can benefit you & the Chamber! Lunch provided by Sandy’s Restaurant. Registration required.
JANUARY 26 Chamber 101 12:00 pm @ Chamber Office Join us to to learn how the Chamber of Commerce can help you and your business/organization. All members welcome to attend.
Chamber Connection 5
6 Chamber Connection
Chamber Connection 7
2022 BOARD
OF DIRECTORS Chad Smith- Chairman of the Board Chad Smith Insurance Agency Cody Raithel - Chair Elect Central Bank of the Midwest Cindy Miller- Secretary/Treasurer Columbia College Kansas City David Sutphin - Past Chairman Evergy Erika Lucas- Business Support and Promotion Sandy’s Restaurant Zach Goff - Membership Events & Services Oswald & Rew, LLC Michael Scott - Leadership & Community Development Woods Chapel Church Blue Springs Ashish Patel Hampton Inn Blue Springs/Kansas City Bobby Olm-Shipman Saint Luke’s East Hospital Carman Booker Bank 21 Dr. Thomas Meyer MCC - Blue River
The mission of the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce is to be the leading resource for business and an effective influential community partner. 2020 Business of the Year: Sandy’s Restaurant 2020 Citizen of the Year: Chuck Zuvers, Zuvers Real Estate 2020 Connector of the Year: Carman Booker, Bank 21
2022 PARTNERS
CHAMBER STAFF
Lara Vermillion President lvermillion@bluespringschamber.com
TIER ONE Saint Luke’s East Hospital Santa Fe Tow TIER TWO
TIER THREE Community America Credit Union Oswald Roam & Rew LLC Los Cabos Mexican Grill & Cantina Kohl’s Distribution Center CPro’s Central Bank of the Midwest TIER FOUR Miller Theatre MCC - Blue River Print Graphics Blue Ridge Bank & Trust
Trish Totta Vice President ttotta@bluespringschamber.com Becca Blake Communications Specialist bblake@bluespringschamber.com Rose Hall Administrative Assistant rhall@bluespringschamber.com Theresa Duren Events Coordinator tduren@bluespringschamber.com
TIER FIVE Cosentino’s Price Chopper Kansas City Cannabis
Jeff Carpenter Job One Jenny Callaghan Mantra Katie Woolf Blue Springs R-IV School District Kirk Lair Central Jackson County Fire Protection District Lisa LaCombe NextGen Realty Trailhead Group Melodie Chrisman Community Services League Blue Springs
2022 Sponsorships are now available. Contact Becca at bblake@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