June 2024 Chamber Connection

T H E CHA M B E R

CONNECTION June 2024

Photos by Anthem Photography

Welcome!

New Members Retail Bins (816) 564-1124 retailbins@gmail.com retailbins.com

Happy Chamberversary!

643KC Anissa Nelson CPA PC Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center Comcast

Denture Crafters (816) 224-2322 info@denturecrafters.net denturecrafters.net

Community Services League Datasource Background Screening Services Dog Training Elite Kansas City

Wolfs Landscapes LLC

Dynamic Chiropractic LLC

(816) 716-1308 andrew@wolfslandscapes.com wolfslandscapes.com

Entertainment Systems Inc

Fibrenew East KC (816) 500-9588 eastkc@fibrenew.com fibrenew.com/eastkc

GFM Recording Studios Hillcrest Transitional Housing Hotworx Incite International, Inc. Kansas City Curling Club Lamar’s Donuts Store #22 Meinershagen and Co. Parker Swearngin, LLP

“Chamber membership helps us to build brand recognition and because we serve many Chamber members our participation also helps to promote the quality and credibility of our brand and services.” - Jim Allin, Fish Window Cleaning

PennTech, Inc. Petland PowerPlus Cleaning Systems Royal Investment Group, Inc. Steven P. Thurmon, CPA, A Professional Corporation Timothy Lutheran Church Truman Heritage Habitat for Humanity Wild Souls Wildlife Rescue Rehabilitation

June Events 06

Chamber Champions 8:30 am @ Chamber Office

06

Fest Planning Committee Meeting 12:00 pm @ Chamber Office

D

id you know that the Chamber has

a leadership program?

It’s called LEADership Blue Springs. It’s a nine month

long

program,

with one day-long session per month. The class exposes participants to different aspects of the community and leadership principles. The group completes a class project to graduate. Class members learn about the City of Blue

07

Legislative Breakfast 7:30 am @ Adams Pointe Conference Center Register here

Springs, area businesses, Central Jackson County Fire Protection District, Jackson County and State Government to name a few. The class starts in late August and runs through May. To learn more about the LEADership Blue

11

Ribbon Cutting - Blue Springs City Lifestyle 10:30 am @ Chamber Office Register Here

12

Retail Crime Free Task Force 2:00 pm via Zoom

14

19

Legislative Affairs Task Force 7:30 am @ Sandy’s Restaurant Register here Sponsored by BV Contracting Solutions Juneteenth Chamber Office Closed

Springs program click here.

Congratulations

to the 2024 Graduating LEADership Class! *Tarynlee Palaamo - Aleuro Bakery

20

Monthly Luncheon + New Member Showcase 11:30 am @ Adams Pointe Conference Center Register here Sponsored by CPros, Inc

Amanda Plachte - Blue Ridge Bank Brett Anwander - Blue Springs School District Fae Knudsen - BSHS Senior Eva Bennett - BSSHS Senior Tammy Engen - City of Blue Springs

21

DEI Task Force Meeting 12:00 pm @ Chamber Office Register here

Jennifer Kennedy - City of Blue Springs Dustin Fiscus - CJC Fire Protection District Jason Chamberlain - CJC Fire Protection District Karen Bosarge - Equity Bank

28

Meet Me For Lunch 11:30 am @ Johnny’s Tavern Register here

Stacy Gorham - First American Title Jarvis Sackman - Hillcrest Transitional Housing Dusty Alexander - Kansas City Cannabis Tiffany Obermeyer - Lighthouse Legal, LLC Becca Cook - MCC Blue River Hannah Kukal Curtiss - Mid-Continent Public Library Ali Collins - Meyers Funeral Chapel

@bluesprings_chamber

Marcel Maddocks - SL-USA (Sound & LED) *Participant Sponsored by Central Bank of the Midwest

Member News St. Mary’s Medical Center featured as Top 100 Community Hospital St. Mary’s Medical Center is honored to be featured as a Top 100 Community Hospital, focused on bringing clinical and academic excellence, personalized and holistic care, and overall improved health to the community. St. Mary’s received this honor based on nominations and rankings from organizations to include U.S. News & World Report, Healthgrades, CMS, The Leapfrog Group, the National Rural Health Association, and The Chartis Center for Rural Health. At St. Mary’s Medical Center, we welcome the opportunity to be Your Community Hospital.

Benton House receives awards from U.S. News & World Report Five area Benton House communities were recently awarded “Best Assisted Living” and/or “Best Memory Care” by U.S. News & World Report. Based on resident and family satisfaction surveys, the U.S. News & World Report awards signify Benton House has consistently ranked within the top tier of care providers.

Two Elementaries Announced as 2024 Missouri Gold Star Schools Blue Springs School District’s Voy Spears, Jr. Elementary and William Yates Elementary were two of just eight Missouri schools recognized as 2024 Gold Star Schools. The program, which aligns with the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, recognizes schools for outstanding academic achievement or for performing at high levels while serving a significant proportion of disadvantaged students.

CO-100 America’s Top 100 Small Businesses The CO—100 is an exclusive list curated by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, highlighting the 100 best and brightest small and midsized businesses in America. These businesses are recognized for driving innovation, growth, and ingenuity in their communities and globally. This prestigious awards program celebrates not just financial success, but also the ideas, challenges, community involvement, company culture, customer relations, and overall growth of these enterprises.

Ten CO— 100 businesses will be recognized as the best in class for ten different categories of excellence and will receive $2,000. One winner will be named America’s Top Small Business and will be awarded $25,000. Click here to learn more and apply!

The Value of Membership Leveraging Chamber Benefits When You Can’t Attend While many perceive Chamber membership as merely attending events, the truth is, the benefits extend far beyond luncheons and ribbon cuttings.

But we’ve noticed something. When we speak to members that have let their membership lapse, they often make it sound like a gym membership. “I didn’t really use it.” What they’ve failed to notice is the behind-the-scenes benefits of chamber membership. Just as your investment in a savings account grows, your business investment in chamber membership is growing even when you aren’t actively participating.

Even if you never attend a single session, chamber membership (and Here’s what you’re getting that you may not even realize:

thus, the learning opportunities associated with such) extends to all your employees. If you can’t attend personally, send an employee or

Networking Beyond Events:

co-worker! The chamber is also a great host for speakers and may

While events offer fantastic networking opportunities, chamber

bring in people to share their knowledge and skills for a very afford-

membership provides access to a vast network of business-

able price, an additional asset to the community.

es and professionals beyond these gatherings. Through the Member Directory you can connect with fellow entrepreneurs,

Cost-Effective Marketing Opportunities:

potential clients, and industry leaders at any time. This ex-

Chamber memberships frequently include marketing benefits such

pansive network opens doors to collaborations, partnerships,

as directory listings, sponsorships, and promotional opportunities.

and invaluable insights. Chamber staff also often makes warm

These marketing avenues provide exposure for your business within

introductions to help members get connected with individuals

the local community. Leveraging chamber platforms and channels

and organizations.

amplifies your marketing efforts at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional advertising.

Visibility and Credibility: Chamber membership lends credibility to your business. Being

Community Engagement:

part of a respected organization signals trustworthiness and

Chambers play a vital role in fostering community engagement and

reliability to potential customers and partners. Even if you can’t

economic development. Through initiatives like business awards,

physically attend events, your membership serves as a badge of

community events, and volunteer opportunities, members can con-

honor, elevating your brand’s visibility and reputation within the

tribute to the betterment of our community. Participating in these

community.

endeavors not only strengthens community ties but also enhances your brand’s reputation as a dedicated community partner.

Advocacy and Support: Chambers advocate for their members’ interests at local, state,

While attending Chamber events is undoubtedly beneficial, the

and sometimes national levels. They monitor legislative chang-

perks of chamber membership extend far beyond physical gather-

es, provide resources on regulatory matters, and offer support

ings. Even if you don’t have the time to give to Chamber events and

in navigating bureaucratic processes. As a member, you gain a

activities, your Chamber is working on things like advocacy, econom-

powerful ally in promoting policies that benefit your business

ic development, marketing, community engagement, and tourism

environment, even if you’re unable to attend advocacy events.

initiatives to improve your quality of life and add to your business’s potential for growth.

Educational Resources: The Blue Springs Chamber offers many valuable educational

We work tirelessly to create a more favorable business environment,

resources and workshops on topics like business management,

helping our members thrive without requiring you to take individual

marketing, and regulatory compliance.

action on many of these fronts.

Photos by Anthem Photography

R N'T O?

Ribbon Cuttings

M Y LE CE

524.9688 RVICE.COM

Read & Rooted

CAR WON'T GO?

1002 W Main Street Blue Springs, MO 64015

May 3, 2024 (816) 400-9062 readandrooted.com

Community Profile 15

Vest Professional Placement

May 21, 2024

12626 E. US Hwy 40 Independence, MO 64055

(816) 282-6288 vestpros.com

Retail Bins

May 24, 2024

1611 SW Missouri Hwy 7 Blue Springs, MO 64014

(816) 564-1124 retailbins.com

FROM ANY MOBILE DEVICE

** TOW or 816.524.9688 SANTAFETOWSERVICE.COM

Meet A Member Jarvis Sackman, Hillcrest Transitional Housing I’m Jarvis Sackman, Director of Resource Development at Hillcrest Transitional Housing. Hillcrest Transitional Housing exists to be a transitional housing program that helps move homeless families and youth from homelessness to self-sufficiency, becoming self-supporting, self-reliant contributors to society. The transitional housing aspect is paramount to our program but equally as important are the comprehensive, supportive services and resources provided to our clients such as case management, budget counseling, community living, and life skills classes. The Hillcrest staff is very dedicated to serving our residents but much of our success comes from the generosity and support of our many friends from the community who believe in our mission and who have journeyed alongside us for nearly 50 years; thank you!

Jarvis Sackman jsackman@hillcrestkc.org

I grew up in Independence and graduated from Fort Osage HS. My wife Marcy and I have been married 32 years, and have raised two children, Jordyn and Justin. I love spending time with family, anything to do with old cars, welding, and making “stuff”. I also love to read and listen to music, basically anything but Opera! (Currently, Stairway to Heaven is playing as I type!)

When my kids were in school, I would send them out the door with a hug, and the message, “Make someone’s day”. I leave that same message with anyone reading this; you never know what someone is going through and what a difference you can make. Go out today, and “Make someone’s day!”

“Make someone’s day!” - Jarvis Sackman

2024 Board of Directors Michael Scott, Chairman of the Board The Table Cody Raithel - Chair Elect Central Bank of the Midwest

2024 Partners

Jeff Carpenter - Secretary/Treasurer

TIER ONE

TIER TWO

Jackson County Tow Service

Santa Fe Tow Service

Saint Luke’s East Hospital

Santa Fe Outside Storage

St. Mary’s Medical Center

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

TIER THREE

TIER FOUR

Anthem Photography

Abundant Life

Apple Roofing

Blue Ridge Bank & Trust Co.

Bank 21

Christian Brothers Automotive

Central Bank

Community America Credit Union

Cosentino’s Price Chopper

Kansas City Cannabis

CPro’s, Inc.

Lighthouse Legal

Evergy

Meyers Funeral Chapel

David Mann East Forty Brewing

Los Cabos Mexican Grill &

TIER FIVE

Cantina

Greco Insurance

Katie Woolf Blue Springs School District

Equity Bank

Molle Chevrolet

Chamber Staff Lara Vermillion, IOM - President lvermillion@bluespringschamber.com Trish Totta, IOM - Vice President ttotta@bluespringschamber.com Rose Hall - Events Coordinator

Bobby Olm-Shipman Saint Luke’s East Hospital Christine Cates City of Blue Springs

Kirk Lair 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

rhall@bluespringschamber.com

Tara Lavelle Legacy Brokers, LLC

Becca Blake - Communications Specialist bblake@bluespringschamber.com

Tim Porter Christian Brothers Automotive

Kim McConnell - Administrative Assistant

Vanessa Starke Starke Law Offices, LLC

kmcconnell@bluespringschamber.com

Warren Goessling Kohl’s Distribution Center

Contact Us 1000 W Main Street, Blue Springs, MO 64015 816-229-8558 www.BlueSpringsChamber.com

Building Business.

Growing Community.