June 2023 Chamber Connection

THE CHAMBER

CONNECTION JUNE 2023

38th Annual

Golf

Tournament Photos by Anthem Photography

HAPPY CHAMBERVERSARY! A-Okay Inspections LLC AniMed Animal Hospital Anissa Nelson CPA PC Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center City of Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport Columbia College-Kansas City Crossroads Hospice & Palliative Care Greco Insurance & Financial Services Home Effects Remodeling Joey Zarrillo, Z Team at RE/MAX Heritage Lakeview Crossing PennTech, Inc. PowerPlus Cleaning Systems

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! SL-USA (Sound & Led) Blue Springs, MO 64015 (816) 405-7088 marcelm@sl-ledusa.com Scooter’s Coffee 1310 NW 7 Hwy 1116 SW 7 Hwy 1230 NW Woods Chapel Rd scooterscoffee.com Brown Fox Industries L.L.C. Blue Springs, MO 64014 (321) 525-2462 mrichardson19_19@outlook.com Doculock Independence, MO 64057 (816) 824-0072 doculockllc.com Wylson Lamb - Northwestern Mutual Independence, MO 64057 (816) 824-0072 wylson.lamb@nm.com Mack Commercial powered by The Real Estate House Blue Springs, MO 64014 816) 616-8735 TheREHouse.com Children’s Mercy 2401 Gilham Road Kansas City, MO 64108 (816) 701-4097 www.cmh.edu Community America Credit Union 3000 SE 7 Hwy Blue Springs, MO 64014 (913) 905-7000 communityamerica.com

2 Chamber Connection

UPCOMING EVENTS JUNE 1

JUNE 9

Ribbon Cutting 1:00 pm @ Miracle Ear REGISTER HERE

Legislative Affairs Task Force 7:30 am @ Sandy’s Restaurant REGISTER HERE

Sponsored by BV Contracting Solutions

JUNE 21 Ribbon Cutting 4:00 pm @ Paramount Health Chiropractic REGISTER HERE

JUNE 2 Legislative Breakfast 7:30 am @ The Emerald REGISTER HERE

JUNE 6 Financial Oversight 8:00 am @ Chamber Office Ribbon Cutting 2:00 pm @ Neighborhood LTC Pharmacy REGISTER HERE

JUNE 7 Executive Committee 8:15 am @ Chamber Office

JUNE 8 DEI Task Force 10:00 am @ Chamber Office

JUNE 13

JUNE 23

Board Meeting 8:15 am @ Chamber Office

Ribbon Cutting 9:00 am @ Wal-Mart REGISTER HERE

JUNE 15 Monthly Luncheon + New Member Showcase Summer Learning Series 11:30 am @ CJCFPD Training Facility REGISTER HERE Sponsored by Kansas City Cannabis

JUNE 29 After Hours Networking 4:30 pm @ Blue Springs Historical Society REGISTER HERE

JUNE 16 Meet Me For Custard 11:30 am @ Custard’s Last Stand REGISTER HERE

JUNE 19

Fest Committee Meeting 12:00 pm @ Chamber Office

Juneteenth Chamber Office Closed

Ribbon Cutting 2:00 pm @ Fit Learning KC REGISTER HERE

JUNE 20 Business Before Hours 7:30 am @ Tropical Smoothie Cafe REGISTER HERE Chamber Connection 3

LEADership Blue Springs Enrollment Open for 2023-2024 Did you know that the Chamber has a leadership program? It’s called LEADership Blue Springs and is aimed at developing a leadership pool for the present and future of our community. Leadership participants develop skills and knowledge of the community through nine full day sessions concerning such topics as government, youth, economic development, law enforcement and quality of life.

LEADership Blue Springs is a nine-month program beginning in August, with one day-long session per month.

The class also completes a class service project benefiting a local non-profit organization. Registration for the 2023-2024 class is now open and you can apply online at bluespringschamber.com/leadership-blue-springs. The deadline to apply is July 21, 2023.

LEAD SERVICE PROJECT Class of 2023 Each year the Blue Springs Chamber LEADership class participates in a service project to give back to a local non-profit organization. The class of 2023 chose to support FosterAdpot Connect by assisting with their Sock and Undie Drive by picking up donation bins and sorting donations on Saturday, May 20.

FosterAdopt Connect’s mission is to provide foster and adoptive children a stable, loving and nurturing family environment by support and advocacy for abused and neglected children and the families caring for them.

Every May their Sock and Undie Drive collects new socks and underwear, the biggest needs for their clothing closet. Rose Hall, Chamber Event Coordinator, says “I think it was a very worthy cause, and it was eye-opening to see the different areas of need that I had never considered before.”

4 Chamber Connection

Photos by Anthem Photography

Chamber Connection 5

MEMBER NEWS Community Services League’s Doug Cowan received one of the highest honors in scouting, the National Eagle Scout Association’s Oustanding Eagle Scout Award. This award goes to former Eagle Scouts for distinguished service to their profession and the community. Congratulations Doug!

Equity Bank has announced their move to the NYSE. Their common stock was listed on The New York Stock Exchange on May 23, 2023. “We’re pleased to be a community bank focused on our regions, our team members, our stockholders, and our customers, and are eager to join a prestigious group of publicly-traded companies and continue offering value in all we do. Thank you to all of you for your support of Equity Bank!”

Doug Cowan

The Benton House of Blue Springs was recently awarded “Best Memory Care” by US News and World Report. The award was achieved based on recent resident and family surveys. This is their second consecutive year to win a US News Best of Award. “When you combine this award with our Great Place to Work status it tells us we have a very special community, for both residents and our team.”

Saint Luke’s Health System announced that they have signed a letter of intent with BJC HealthCare to form an integrated, academic, Missouri-based health system. Upon completion, the integrated health system will continue to serve Saint Luke’s and BJC’s distinct markets, maintain their existing brands and operate from dual headquarters under regional leadership teams— one in Kansas City serving western Missouri and portions of Kansas, and one in St. Louis serving eastern Missouri and southern Illinois. All hospitals, clinics and facilities will continue their day-to-day operations as usual, and we do not anticipate any reduction in workforce. There will also be no interruption to patient care or access to resources as a result of this agreement.

MAY RIBBON CUTTINGS

Indoor Par Fore 1326 NW Highway 7 Blue Springs, MO 64015 6 Chamber Connection

May 10, 2023 (816) 988-7088

Hillcrest Transitional Housing 209 E 3rd Drive South Independence, MO 64050

May 24, 2023 (816) 994-6934

SUMMER LEARNING SERIES June, July & August Luncheons Join us for our Summer Learning Series! These monthly luncheons will feature experts in social media, marketing, branding, library resources and customized employment. All sessions will be held at the CJCFPD Training Facility and lunch will be catered by Sandy’s Restaurant.

Thursday, June 15 @ 11:30 am CJCFPD Training Facility REGISTER NOW

Thursday, July 20 @ 11:30 am CJCFPD Training Facility REGISTER NOW

Thursday, Aug. 17 @ 11:30 am CJCFPD Training Facility REGISTER NOW

Join us for an informative panel discussion with Dennis Baughman from MidTown Signs, Whitney Bobbit from Northern Pine Design, and Zach O’Keefe from Click It Social. These business leaders will share their perspectives and experiences as they have navigated and grown their business.

Learn how to use the free Square One Small Business Services that Mid-Continent Public Library offers to find information on your industry, customers, and even your competition, plus other helpful tools.

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.

Moderated by Becca Blake, Blue Springs Chamber Communications Specialist.

Sponsored by Kansas City Cannabis

This session will be presented by a representative of Mid-Continent Public Library.

Sponsored by CPros Inc.

Presented by Anna Burgen, Senior Employment Specialist, Job One. Sponsored by America’s Community Bank

Chamber Connection 7

MEET A MEMBER Jabari Mack, Mack Commercial powered by The Real Estate Jabari Mack is the proprietor of Mack Commercial powered by The Real Estate House. Their mission is to create an outstanding customer service culture helping local businesses to sell, buy, lease, and/or develop commercial real estate by using outside-of-the-box thinking, catered strategies, and connection so that our communities grow and succeed.

Jabari is a self-proclaimed innovator for entrepreneurship, a Broker/Salesperson licensed in Missouri and Kansas, and he has recently graduated from the UMKC 2022-2023 REALTOR® Leadership Academy. He serves on the KCRAR (Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors) MO Advocacy Committee, Professional Development Committee; and for KCNAREB (Greater Kansas City Association of Real Estate Brokers, Inc) he serves on the Education and Marketing/Fundraising Committees. He has over 20 years of direct marketing experience with strengths in sales, negotiations, and communications. He volunteers time as a 7/8th grade boys basketball coach.

He is a husband, father of four, and grandfather of three. Lastly, he is a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) pilot.

Jabari’s favorite quote: “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God.”- Mathew 5:9 Contact Jabari at (816) 616-8735 or jabari.mack.realtor@gmail.com

FALL FUN FESTIVAL Important Updates The Blue Springs community looks forward to experiencing the wonderful talent of local entertainment on the Community Stage at Fall Fun Festival. As a Chamber member you have an opportunity to sign up before the general public. To secure your preferred date and time, your Community Stage application must be submitted by June 15, 2023.

Please be aware that there is an application deadline of August 15, 2023 for Vendor Booths. Vendor placement begins in July so we recommend submitting your booth application as soon as possible.

We are excited to announce that this year’s Fall Fun Festival will include a Youth Market for the first time ever! The Youth Market will be filled with young entrepreneurs ages 12-18 showcasing their businesses, products and services on Saturday, September 16, 2023. Visit the Fest website for more information and a Youth Market application.

There are several Fest sponsorship and advertising opportunities available including Main Stage, Community Stage, Hospitality tent, Lost Child booth, Car Show, Cornhole Tournament, Beer Garden, and Youth Market sponsorships.

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!

8 Chamber Connection

ALL ARE WELCOME HERE Diversity, Equity & Inclusion At the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce, our vision is a strong and prosperous economy that celebrates diversity, champions equity, and cultivates inclusion. In a step towards our commitment to building an inclusive culture, we have created Equality stickers and decals to let our community know that all are welcome here. To learn more about the design process and meaning behind the sticker, check out our latest blog post. If you would like a sticker or window cling for your business or yourself, please stop by the Chamber office and pick one up. They are free for members and it’s our hope that together we can work towards a more inclusive and welcoming Blue Springs!

JOIN THE DEI TASKFORCE

YOUR PRIVACY MATTERS

The goal of the Chamber’s DEI Task Force is to expand the Chamber’s diversity efforts by establishing a Diversity Equity & Inclusion Task Force that will:

As a friendly reminder, The Chamber does not share member email lists. We understand that no one appreciates spam or unsolicited emails (ourselves included!), and sharing our list without member consent would break our privacy policy.

•

Support the vision of the Blue Springs Chamber, i.e. a strong and prosperous economy that celebrates diversity, champions equity and cultivates inclusion

•

Evaluate the DEI needs of members and identify what resources might be provided by the Chamber or others.

•

Encourage the cultural competency of members by creating educational opportunities, raising awareness, and providing strategies and tools to cultivate the vision of the Blue Springs Chamber

•

Celebrate current DEI efforts of our members and promote a positive mindset around DEI efforts through recognition of successful efforts in our business community.

•

Develop a network for business leaders to feel safe and comfortable asking questions around DEI related topics in the workplace.

We do however offer one free set of mailing labels to all new members, with additional sets available for purchase. If you would like to request a set of labels, please contact Mikayla Lavelle at mlavelle@ bluespringschamber.com

EMAIL PREFERENCES Did you know you can customize your Chamber email preferences? Opt in to the emails you want, and opt-out of the stuff you don’t. Simply open an email sent by the Chamber, scroll to the bottom, and click Unsubscribe.

A new window will open where you can select which emails you want to continue recieving, and un-check any emails you don’t want. Have questions? Contact Becca Blake at bblake@bluespringschamber.com

The DEI Taskforce will meet next on June 8 at 10:00 am at the Chamber Office. All are welcome to attend. Contact Lara Vermillion at lvermillion@ bluespringschamber.com to RSVP.

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 Dr. Thomas Meyer MCC - Blue River 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 Travis Hunt New York Life Insurance Warren Goessling Kohl’s Distribution Center Vanessa Starke Starke Law Offices, LLC

2022 Citizen of the Year: Debbie Reiss-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

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-VeeFood & Drug Kansas City Cannabis Miller 8 Theatres Print Graphics Sandy’s Restaurant Smedley, LLC TIER FIVE Job One Lies Trash

Trish Totta Vice President ttotta@bluespringschamber.com Rose Hall Events Coordinator rhall@bluespringschamber.com Becca Blake Communications Specialist bblake@bluespringschamber.com Mikayla Lavelle Administrative Assitant mlavelle@bluespringschamber.com

2023 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