COMO | October 2020

OCTOBER 2020 | T HE FI NA NC E ISSU E | A PU B L ICATION OF TH E B U SIN E SS TIM E S COM PAN Y

PYS K

Mindy McCubbin PG 87

A MONEY GUIDE FO R K I D S PG 56

PPP LOA N S & THEIR I M PAC T O N CO LU M B I A P G 91

THE

ISSUE

F I N D C A L M A M I D ST T H E C H AO S .

Discover your sanctuary.

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OCTOBER 2020

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Letter from the Publisher

I

DESIGNERS’ PICKS

True Grit

’m not sure if there was some weird moon or planet thing, but this issue was an absolute grind to the end. If you’re a business owner or manager, you know what I’m talking about. Sometimes things just don’t always go according to plan behind the scenes. (My staff made me edit out the good examples! A glass of wine gets you the truth.) But, we do what we always do. We pulled together an issue that we are very proud of even if it came down to the wire. It’s not easy to write about money and finances, much less make it as fun as we did with the story about kids and money on page 56 or the side hustle cookies on 31. But, these stories all made us happy and hungry! (Job perks: cookie tasting) I think the theme of this year so far has been “Grit it out.” Unexpected things will come our way, and it’s all in how you’re prepared to deal with change that informs if you are likely to be successful in dealing with them. Our friends in “Caring for Aging Parents” on page 49 know exactly what that unexpected call can be like. My fellow business owners that navigated the PPP loans with me know what it’s like to have to make a big decision with many unknowns hanging over our heads. We asked local SBA experts to weigh in on that experience on page 91.

So, here’s my pep talk for you. Keep anticipating change. Keep gritting it out.

Keep overcoming. Keep helping each other.

The team members at COMO are big readers. Books have become a way of life for me in the past few months as my friend group chat has quieted down and my favorite bar has mostly remained closed. It is so lovely to tune out the ever-intensifying news cycle and visit another reality. Here are some of our favorite reads from the past few months.

Unexpected things will come our way, and it’s all in how you’re prepared to deal with change that informs if you are likely to be successful in dealing with them.

There will be a better day (or year). We at COMO know that without our friends and our community, the challenges of 2020 would have been overwhelming. But, here we are . . . planning for the holidays, drinking pumpkin spice lattes and feeling happy and hopeful about the future of our community. Speaking of which, when you see our November issue focused on nonprofit and service work, you’ll know we are all in good hands.

"A Good Neighborhood"

by Therese Anne Fowler A roller-coaster of a story that taps into complexities of race and class while looping in a heartbreaking love story. ­ "City of Girls" by Elizabeth Gilbert For those who love the nitty-gritty underbelly melancholy of the New York theater scene in the 1940s, Gilbert does not disappoint.

"Paper Girls"

by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang This time-traveling graphic novel series bleeds girl power with a 1980s/futuristic vibe. Cliff Chiang's art is inspired.

"The Great Alone" by Kristin Hannah I could not put this book down. This beautifully written story is about a young girl growing up in Alaska with an abusive father. Unexpectedly, it will bring you hope.

ON THE COVER Mindy McCubbin, owner and founder of Truman Wealth Advisors, works to empower clients. Page 87.

Photo by Anthony Jinson

O CTO B E R 2020 | T H E FI N A N C E I S S U E | A PU B L I CAT I O N O F T H E B U S I N E S S T I M E S CO M PA N Y

PYS K

Mindy McCubbin PG 87

A MONEY GUIDE FO R K I D S PG 56

PPP LOA N S & TH E I R I M PAC T O N CO LU M B I A P G 91

THE

ISSUE ERICA PEFFERMAN PUBLISHER

COMOMAG.COM

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12

OCTOBER 2020

President Erica Pefferman

Erica@comomag.com

Senior Vice President Fran Patrick Fran@comomag.com

EDITORIAL Publisher Erica Pefferman Erica@comomag.com

Editor Fran Patrick

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Managing Editor Kim Ambra

Kim@comomag.com

Department Editor Hannah Kueck

Hannah@comomag.com

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MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES Director of Sales Bonnie Hudson Bonnie@comomag.com

Marketing Consultant Charles Bruce Charles@comomag.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Keith Borgmeyer, Anthony Jinson, Megan Casady. Illustrations by Adrian Bittner

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Nicole Flood, Kermit Miller, McKenna Neville, Alyssa Shikles, Jennifer Truesdale, Jessica Jainchill, Aurola Wedman Alfaro, Hannah Kueck, Brenna McDermott, Michelle Terhune, Lauren Sable Freiman

Operations Manager Amy Ferrari Amy@comomag.com

INTERNS Christine Pham

OUR MISSION

To inspire, educate, and entertain the citizens of Columbia with quality, relevant content that reflects Columbia’s business environment, lifestyle, and community spirit.

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ON T H EM E

What is the best financial advice you’ve ever received?

Photo by Carly Buntin Photography

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Bonnie Hudson Director of Sales

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I like Ramit Sethi’s quote from “I Will Teach You To Be Rich” — “The best part about setting up a strategic budget is that it guides your decisions, letting you say no much more easily — ʻSorry, it’s not in my plan this month’— and freeing you up to enjoy what you do spend on. This is guilt-free spending at its best.”

Growing up, my parents were big believers in Dave Ramsey and his financial coaching.

One of the greatest lessons I was taught growing up, as well as one I learned going through some Dave Ramsey training myself, was to have an emergency fund for all of life’s curveballs!

"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination.”

— Oscar Wilde.

So many things we want to buy now, we want to throw away later, but investing in your future is something you treasure for the rest of your life.

Also, “A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.”

— Dave Ramsey

It's only money.

You'll make more tomorrow.

Never be afraid to splurge on creativity!

Dr. Ashley Emel

DC, CACCP, Webster Certified

Dr. Jennifer Sutherland DC, FASA

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IN THIS ISSUE

31 GOURMET Turning tasty treats into a humble side hustle.

O C TOBER 2020 | The Finance Issue

11

43

75

Publisher’s

STYLE

Letter

Styled Investments

LOCAL GOVERNMENT Testing the Castle Doctrine

LIVING 19 ART & CULTURE A Game of Chance and Experience

21

49 FRIENDS & FAMILY Caring For Aging Parents

63 COUPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW

PET FRIENDLY The Temporary Pet

Kelley and Jake Frink

23

WORKING

WELLNESS The Art of Fassage

69

24 HOMES An Entertainer’s Oasis

31 GOURMET Frosting on the Side

CLOSER LOOK

70 BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS

73 MOVERS & SHAKERS

78 CELEBRATIONS Missouri Employers Mutual

80 NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT Minority Men’s Network

83 BUSINESS UPDATE Convergence Financial

87 PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW Mindy McCubbin

106 THIS OR THAT Tom Schauwecker

FEATURES 53

COFFEE HOUSE COLLABORATION Columbia becomes a home — at least temporarily — for an HBO executive during the pandemic.

56

THE FINANCIAL CHRONICLES: A MONEY GUIDE FOR KIDS What kids are really thinking about money.

91

PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM LOANS IN COLUMBIA When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Columbia, it fell to the city’s banking community to help small businesses navigate the programs that would save hundreds of jobs and businesses across the city.

99

CREDIT UNIONS VS. BANKS 101 Which is right for you? The difference is in the details.

SPONSORED CONTENT

AN AWARD YOU CAN TASTE Celebrating DogMaster Distillery’s award-winning gin.

FRENCH 75

PREPARED BY SOP HI E SP ICC I FOR D OG M AST E R D I STI L L E RY

• 1 1/2 ounces of DogMaster Gin

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• 4 ounces of semidry champagne

estled right outside of downtown, DogMaster Distillery might feel like a local secret, but DogMaster has received national attention for a spirit distilled right here in Columbia. The spirit that’s garnered all the attention?

DogMaster Gin. Gin is a staple for any spirit shelf, but the recipe, production, and finished product are far from run-of-the-mill. If you’ve enjoyed a cocktail at DogMaster or brought a bottle home, you’ll know that the spirits are crafted with pride, passion, and disregard for the status quo. So when DogMaster set out to create its gin, the distillery knew it wanted to make more than just a gin, rather something uniquely its own.

Van Hawxby, owner of DogMaster Distillery, had an initial idea for his gin, but the result was a collaboration with the community. Van and Lisa Hawxby and the rest of the DogMaster team loves to talk spirits with anyone that comes through DogMaster’s doors. These chats over drinks have helped guide the distillery in creating products that bear the influence of the community. This gin would be no different. So, they put together a taste-testing team and got to work. After four blends, the tasting panel of gin-loving locals helped refine the now-perfected product.

The gin derives its complex flavor from a blend of 12 organically-sourced botanicals: juniper, orris, angelica, licorice root, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, coriander, black pepper, hawthorn berries, pears, and cucumbers. The hawthorn berries provide a special homage to Missouri’s state flower and a unique nuttiness to the flavor profile. Cucumbers and pears round out the spices with a fresh fruitiness. Once the botanical blend is just right, DogMaster macerates the botanicals in a high-alcohol solution for 24 hours, distills it at a high-proof, and then balances it out with locally-sourced spring water.

The result is a lightly juniper-ed, delicately floral, and fairly complex gin, beloved by Columbia locals and lauded by spirit enthusiasts.

From the community’s care to the masterful botanicals, it’s no wonder that this labor of love

• Juice of 1/8 of a Lemon Garnish with a lemon twist

NEGRONI produced an award-winning gin. DogMaster Gin was named a Top 10 Gin by USA Spirits Ratings, snagging the sixth spot over global competition. USA Spirits Ratings judges base their awards on quality, value, and packaging design, i.e., drinkability, bang for your buck, and how good it looks on your bar cart. To impress the panel of top-level experts, a spirit must score high in all of these categories to produce a bottle worthy of being brought home and enjoyed.

DogMaster fans in Columbia know that they can enjoy the gin in a cocktail whipped up at DogMaster’s bar, but DogMaster Gin is also a perfect addition to any home bartender’s collection. “If you’re using it at home,” Van explains, “It’s very flexible, and works well in a simple gin and tonic or more complex recipes. If you want to pair it with other ingredients, it complements and accentuates many mixers nicely.” When you bring home a bottle, you can be assured that you’ll be reaching for it often to craft cocktails that you enjoy.

According to Van: “If you haven’t tried the DogMaster Gin yet, you’re missing out.” DogMaster Gin can be found at the distillery, of course, but also anywhere you go to restock your home bar throughout central Missouri. Though it’s now a nationally-recognized spirit, DogMaster Gin will never lose its Columbia touch. The place, the people, and the love for their craft is blended right in with the botanicals at DogMaster, and you can taste it.

• 1 1/2 ounces of DogMaster Gin • 1/2 ounce Gran Classico Liqueur • 1/2 ounce Alessio Sweet Vermouth Stir with ice and strain in a cocktail glass Garnish with a cherry and an orange twist

Pick up a bottle of DogMaster Distillery’s awardwinning gin and be your own athome-mixologist!

Living

24 AN ENTERTAINER'S OASIS Adonica Coleman and her family create memories in a house that embodies style and attention to detail.

43 STYLED INVESTMENTS Timeless pieces worth every penny.

63 COUPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW Kelley and Jake Frink talk about how they met, their favorite family traditions, and their children.

Autumn is in the air.

As the weather turns so shall we, looking ahead to crisp fall days and the joys of the Holidays!

(573) 442-3151• mcadamsltd.com Monday-Saturday • 10am-5pm • 1501 Old Highway 63 South, Columbia, MO 65201 18

OCTOBER 2020

Living

A Game of Chance and Experience Doug Solliday shares his passion for antiques and the intricacies of running his business.

BY A LYSSA SHIKLES

S

itting on a shelf on the second floor of a small shop on Ninth Street is a miniature chest. Made in 1815 by a cabinetmaker’s apprentice, the handmade chest is both beautiful and a test — a way to measure the skill and inventiveness of the apprentice before they graduate onto larger items. Pieces like this have been collected for more than 100 years, with the original wood finish and pearl inlays still intact.

Doug Solliday, the owner of Doug Solliday Antiques, describes the chest with such admiration that you can almost imagine the apprentice making it, putting his heart and soul into proving his worth on the wood. You are truly transported into another time.

The apprentice’s chest is something special, but Doug says it takes years of experience and knowledge to walk into a room and know what something is worth. “Knowing that something that you‘ve found is in the top 1% of its category is something you only get

through holding thousands of similar items,” he explains.

After over 40 years in the antique business, Doug has the experience to know the difference between a good item and a truly great item. However, that wasn’t always the case.

Doug got into antiquing by hanging around an antique store in Minneapolis, where he used to live. He became friends with the unique people there, and after a time, they encouraged him to start buying for resale. “I quit my job,” he says. “I was so excited to find something that I love.”

Antiquing is not an easy business to get into, though. Not only does it take an incredible amount of learning and expertise to be successful, but you also never know when an item is going to be popular. “Categories of antiques go in and out of fashion,” Doug says, “Once something goes out, it’s hard to find customers for it.”

ART & CULTURE

Th is is why Doug says you shouldn’t just buy what you think will be popular or specialize in a specific item; you should buy what you love. “You enjoy what you've chosen,” he says.

“And then when you go to sell, you just trust that the market is going to respond, and then it really often does work.”

It is also a game of chance. “If you buy 500 objects, four or five of those things are going to hit,” Doug explains. “They're gonna hit so high that they're going to pay for everything and probably give you a profit. But nobody knows what those four or five things are going to be.”

The business has also changed over the years. With the shift to the internet, Doug no longer needs his thousand-book library to identify certain items, and the business has gone from being vertical, where sales mostly happened in organized, professional channels, to horizontal, where anyone can sell anything to anyone online. There has also been a shift to 20th-century furniture and objects since the crash of 2008, which means there is now an abundance of earlier antiques without much of a market.

“The challenge used to be finding great things, and selling was the easy part,” Doug says. “Now, we find great things, but selling is the challenge.”

Despite the difficulties and the intricacies of having an antique business, Doug remains as passionate about antiques as he ever was.

“It's a labor of love,” he says. “It's a great life.”

COMOMAG.COM

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OCTOBER 2020

Living

PET FRIENDLY

The Temporary Pet How Josiah Jainchill rescued and raised an orphaned robin.

BY JESSICA JAINCHILL

“It looked so helpless,” Josiah Jainchill says.

After a harsh summer storm, Josiah, a teenager, found a shivering clump of feathers on his lawn. He became interested in it when it hopped away.

“I didn’t know quite what it was,” he says.

“All I saw when I came up to it was a yellow beak, and then it opened up its mouth.”

The ball of feathers proved to be an abandoned robin Josiah later named “Texas.” With the aid of his older sister, Josiah smuggled Texas into his house, where he gave the robin worms and water with a syringe.

By the time his mother, Amy, discovered the guest in her home, Josiah says, “It was too late because we’d started feeding it.”

Though it can be difficult to raise an abandoned wild animal, Josiah doesn’t think it seemed hard in his situation.

“Mainly I fed her worms that I dug up in the garden,” he says, “But it would also eat fruit and soaked dog food.”

With the help of his family, Josiah nurtured Texas until she was ready to go outside for the first time. Josiah says, “I took her outside about the third day I had her, and I kept her in a flower pot until she grew more adventuresome and flew around the yard.”

Often, Josiah would do yard work while Texas sunned herself for hours under the plants in the flower pot. She soon got to the point of sleeping outside, but Josiah knew his temporary pet needed to learn how to fly if she was ever to return to the wild.

“I would pick her up and toss her, and she would fly away, and then I’d whistle for her, and she would come back,” he says. “She learned to fly that way. Every day she would gradually be able to fly higher and higher. After a couple of days, I started showing [Texas] the worms and putting them in the grass for her to find and eat. After that, every once in a while, I would see her digging for worms and other bugs in the ground.”

As Texas grew more independent, Josiah admits that it made him feel a little sad. Still, he says, “I also knew it was a wild animal, and the best thing for it was to fly away.”

“God usually takes care of his animals, but this time he chose me to take care of one.”

Eventually, Texas did break away from her adoptive family.

“For about the first two weeks when she began to fly, she would fly back when I whistled to her. About the next week after that, I noticed her getting a little more cautious towards my family,” Josiah says. “When they would come around, [she] would hop farther back or fly away. Before, she would have stayed there and waited for them to give her something to eat.”

Texas learned to wait for Josiah every morning on his back-porch, chirping to be fed. One morning, Josiah came out, and she wasn’t there. Josiah says she doesn’t come around anymore. “Not like she used to,” he explains.

“We’ll see her perching on a branch, or she’ll fly by the windows, and we’ll be able to recognize her. I can recognize her by her whistle— it’s more of a high-pitched whistle.”

Despite losing his friend, Josiah doesn’t regret anything he’s done for her. He believes people should always save an orphaned bird if they have the chance, since abandoned birds are exposed to predators on the ground.

“God usually takes care of his animals,” Josiah says, “but this time he chose me to take care of one.”

COMOMAG.COM

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OCTOBER 2020

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Living

WELLNESS

The Art of Fassage The ultimate relaxation experience in just 90 minutes.

BY MCKENNA NEVILLE

I

t’s a rare thing to know you’re in the right place at the right time. So many things have to fall in place to feel that kind of certainty — the location, the people, the feeling of the moment. Let me tell you, when you’re at a fassage, you’re in the right place at the right time.

When I walked into The Strand Salon and Spa to get a fassage for the first time, I did not know what I was getting myself into. Being welcomed by Crystal Preston, a 16-year massage therapist and 8-year licensed esthetician at The Strand, was comforting. “I enjoy helping my clients look and feel their best by improving their quality of life,” Crystal says. “After receiving a fassage, you will feel refreshed and rejuvenated.”

You may be wondering: What in the world is a fassage?

I was, too. Crystal says it best. “When I started practicing with my dual license, my clients wanted to receive a massage and a facial, so we came up with the name “fassage” — the ultimate relaxation experience,” she says. “A fassage is a signature treatment designed to relax and restore the whole body. It includes an integrative massage with a customized facial based on skin concerns and needs.”

She’s not joking. My body and face have never felt more relaxed and renewed than during the 90-minute treatment. From the soft music to the soothing smells to the relaxing environment, a fassage takes the average massage and facial to the next level.

This is not just a “woman-thing” either — men can benefit from a fassage, too. And Christy Huggans, owner of The Strand, believes this is the perfect gift for husbands clueless on what to get their significant other. “Some husbands don’t know if they should get their significant other a facial or a massage,” she says.

“The fassage is a great option.” So, if you don’t want to go yourself, take the opportunity to give a fassage to your special someone.

If you do end up opting for a fassage, your unique experience will go far beyond the 90-minute treatment. “Massages are great for pain management, improving circulation, boosting the immune system, decreasing stress, and increasing your quality of life,” Crystal says. “At the same time, facials will help improve your overall appearance by reducing the impact of environmental factors, treating specific skin issues, and rejuvenating, giving your skin a healthy glow.”

“I enjoy helping my clients look and feel their best by improving their quality of life. After receiving a fassage, you will feel refreshed and rejuvenated.”

— Crystal Preston No doubt, the occasional fassage is a great treat with endless benefits, but it’s also a great way to stay proactive about your health and overall well-being. These benefits can have life-changing effects, which carry on as you age. “I recommend getting a fassage every 4-6 weeks for preventative care and maintenance,” Crystal says.

Whether you want a fassage-related treat every now and then or you want a more routine fassage in your schedule — this is something you need.

THE STRAND SALON AND SPA 573-875-3008 THESTRANDSALONANDSPA.COM

COMOMAG.COM

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An Entertainer’s

OASIS Adonica Coleman and her family create memories in a house that embodies style and attention to detail.

BY AUROL A WEDMA N A L FA R O PH OTOS BY KEI T H BORGMEYER

Adonica Coleman is an entertainer at heart. Owner and founder of A2D Events, she plans, designs, hosts, and, along with her husband, emcees a myriad of events. Her clever themes and careful preparation render the gatherings unforgettable.

When it comes to her home, Adonica pays the same attention to details. Her curated décor items and flawless color palettes bring refined ambiance to everyday living.

So, what does an entertainer’s home look like? It begins with a welcoming entrance. Two baskets fi lled with yellow flowers hang from the front double doors. Below, a wooden sign announces it is “Party Time” at the Colemans’ residence.

24

OCTOBER 2020

Living

Nestled in the Cascades, in Southwest Columbia, the house features five bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms.

The Colemans purchased the house in 2017 after living just two blocks away for 10 years. The home was somewhat of a legend among neighbors — known for being the fi rst house built in the subdivision and, most importantly, the only one with a pool.

Adonica and her husband DeMarko were planning to build, but they decided to buy the legendary house instead. The pool was one of the selling points. “With these little girls, how can we pass up a house with a pool?” Adonica says. The couple lives with their three daughters: Camryn, 14; Paityn, 9; and Jordyn, 8. The eldest, Jazmyn, 28, lives in town. She visits frequently and calls daily.

A N E L EG A N T S TAT E M E N T

When walking into the home, a palette of both warm and cool neutral colors set an

airy mood. Purposeful touches of blue make an elegant statement — a blue candle, blue dining chairs, and blue serving trays. The color story expands with silver and gold accents. It’s like a starry night sky scene.

A trio of gold pendant lights gracefully hangs over the dining table, where gold placemats and clear glass plates adorned with cobalt blue swirls promise to make every dinner worthy of royalty. A wall of sunburst shaped mirrors in silver and gold shine over a gray sofa decorated with sequined throw pillows. Throughout the house, there are family photos, board games, funny quotes — all celebrating family, humor, and play.

Beautiful as it is, Adonica believes in using their home, not just setting it up for pictures.

“If it were for me, I would have people over every weekend,” she says. Before COVID-19, she would easily have 30 people walking around her oversized kitchen island, filling

HOMES

their plates with scrumptious food. “It’s the best feeling ever. I love entertaining,” she adds.

The home’s floor plan is ideal for entertaining because it offers large open spaces to share with guests, but it remains versatile with a see-through double-sided fi replace partition that grants some privacy.

Adonica also enjoys cooking, a skill she learned from her grandmother. Naturally, Adonica’s favorite part of the house is the open family room that connects to the kitchen. The wall of windows brings natural light in and makes for a perfect place to read or gather for the daily family dinner.

F I T FO R E N T E R TA I N M E N T

While social distancing has limited gatherings, the Colemans’ large backyard allowed them to safely host one of Adonica’s favorite events so far: a formal Moroccanthemed dinner party to celebrate her and DeMarko’s 18-year anniversary. “We had a

COMOMAG.COM

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Living

26

HOMES

OCTOBER 2020

Living

HOMES

small number of people over and sat outside where we had room to space out,” Adonica says.

Much like the interior of the home is perfect for guests, the backyard is an entertainer’s oasis, with its ample seating, wooden bar, and champagne bucket stand. The pool, complete with a slide and cascade, sits in the middle of the tree-fi lled yard. Next to the outdoor sofa and table, a kitchen and grilling area crown the yard.

When there are no guests, the Colemans’ home remains active.

Camryn listens to music and fi lms makeup tutorials. Paityn and Jordyn play with and fi lm their Barbies, working on a Barbie video series.

“We see them walk out to the backyard with all of their Barbie things and fi lm a camping scene with their phone,” Adonica says.

Jazmyn comes over to hang out with her sisters.

They spend time in the pool or watch a movie. Camryn, Paityn, and Jordyn also have their own business, Youth Diversity, which they run with their friend Piper. They sell bracelets and colorful T-shirts and donate part of their proceeds to a local charity.

“If my husband had his way, we would live on 20 acres of land with no neighbors,” Adonica says with a smile, “I think we could do something like that when the girls are older.” In the meantime, the large lot and the placement of their home allows the family to have an intimate backyard, while the kids can remain near their friends and go out to play in the cul-de-sac.

DeMarko seeks silence in the screened-in patio located on the main floor. Built with cedarwood, the room connects to both the master room and the family room through sliding doors. During quarantine, this was the place where he worked. As far as home offices go, this is a great spot to take a Zoom call: A relaxing atmosphere characterizes the space adorned with colorful pillows, natural light, and a framed view of the backyard and pool.

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Living

HOMES

“I want my girls to remember the fun they had growing up in this home — that is my heart’s desire.”

- A DO NI CA COL EMAN

The view of the pool has become iconic for the family. During quarantine, Jenny McGee, a local artist, painted the view from a photo the family sent. While buying the painting wasn’t required, Camryn insisted: “Mom, we have to buy that picture. It can become a family heirloom.”

The painting is now mounted on the patio, and it bears a special significance for Adonica. “I didn’t grow up in a super cohesive family structure. For me, it’s very important that my girls have good memories in this house,” Adonica says. “I want them to remember jumping in the pool the fi rst day when it was open and sledding down the hill in the backyard when it snows. I want my girls to remember the fun they had growing up in this home — that is my heart’s desire.”

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OCTOBER 2020

REMODEL REWARD RECEIVE UP TO A

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rebate* with the purchase of select Café appliance suite combinations.

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Rebates are not available at any of the big box stores!

1104 E Broadway • 573.874.3333 • D owntownAppliance.com

*Purchases from Lowe’s®, The Home Depot® and Best Buy® are not eligible for this rebate promotion. Eligible purchases must be made at an authorized GE Appliances Reseller between July 1 and December 31, 2020. No more than one appliance from the Countertop Microwave/Over-the-Range Microwave category will be eligible for rebate. For example, if you purchase two eligible microwaves, only one will be considered for rebate. Depending on the number of models purchased and following rebate approval for eligible qualifying models, a rebate will be issued on a Visa Prepaid Card. Up to seven (7) eligible Café Appliances must be purchased on one sales receipt. See page 3 of this form for speciic models. This rebate cannot be combined with any other GE Appliances package rebate.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

A Günter Hans

Experience he pandemic brought a lot of things to a halt — school, work, events to name a few — but it didn’t slow us down. Rather, it’s given us time to grow. From our menu to our catering service to our new online ordering system, we’ve grown a lot, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

Fresh, New Menu Our new and improved menu items will make your mouth water. Come in and try our upgraded Monte Cristo with savory ham and cheese topped with European jam wrapped up in our liege waffles. With so many different flavors of savory and sweet, you’ll leave with your taste buds dancing.

We’ve also added more homemade calzones to the menu.

Indulge your sweet tooth with our Dessert Calzone — our traditional calzone with European jam and creamy Nutella bushed with our homemade cinnamon butter.

Our calzones don’t stop there, however. Our new selection of calzones can satisfy any flavor palette you’re craving. Enjoy a beer with our tangy German Calzone; enjoy the smoky flavor of our Sausage Calzone; or, get a taste of our Cheese Calzone with three different types of cheese and marinara — with our calzones, the world of flavor is all around you.

Online Ordering Made Simple

7 Hitt Street • Columbia, MO 65201 (573) 722-4045 | gunterhans.com

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OCTOBER 2020

We value our customers’ health and safety, and we know that right now, dining in might not be a comfortable activity to partake in. But you can still enjoy the Günter Hans experience to-go!

Order your appetizers and entrees online and pick them up to enjoy in the comfort of your own home.

And, even better, you can now order a Günter Hans signature cocktail to-go — your cocktail will be packaged in a complimentary recyclable container, so you won’t have to worry about damaging the environment or your car interior as you drive home to enjoy your night-at-home featuring Günter Hans.

Catering Solutions The pandemic canceled many events, and has made catering a more challenging process, but we’ve found a solution to keep Günter Hans available for your socially-distant gatherings.

When you cater with Günter Hans, you can rest assured that your gathering will be fun, tasty, and safe with our individually packaged food items, so germs don’t get spread as your guests are filling their plates. Do you want your closest friends to enjoy a savory calzone with you? We can make that happen through our catering services. With our delicious menu items, your guests will come back hungry for more.

With technology, the world is at your fingertips, so our menu should be, too. To adjust with the times, especially the COVID-19 times, we offer our whole menu to be ordered online and picked up whenever you’re ready. With our online ordering, you can stay safe through our contactless payment, and even better, you can pre-order your Günter Hans meal, so you can look forward to spending your Friday nights at home with your family and our European delicacies.

Now, enough reading and more eating. Come enjoy our new, mouth-watering menu items at Günter Hans. After one bite, we guarantee you’ll be wanting more.

Living

GOURMET

Frosting on the side Turning tasty treats into a humble side hustle.

BY HANNAH KUECK | PHOTOS BY KEITH BORGMEYER COOKIES PROVIDED BY SOMMERSWEET BAKERY AND SPRINKLED AND FROSTED

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Living

GOURMET

“I don’t define success primarily as financial. One of the things I really enjoy is being a part of my customers’ lives. It’s something that comes over time. . .

Getting to be a part of people’s lives has been rewarding.”

- Laurel Harlan 32

OCTOBER 2020

E

very holiday season when I was a child, my cousins and I all gathered at grandma’s house to decorate sugar cookies in the shapes of trees, Santa Claus, snowflakes, and — my favorite — snowmen. I would pile on a copious amount of our store-bought frosting and strategically place small Red Hots to act as its eyes, mouth, and buttons.

Years later, when I actually developed an appreciation for art, I started seeing videos on social media of bakers creating beautiful lettering, florals, characters, and more all on top of sugar cookies. I started appreciating cookies as more than just a snack, but as an art form instead. And while my sugar cookie decorating days should remain in my grandma’s kitchen for no extra eyes to see, local bakers around town are turning this art into a side hustle from the comfort of their own kitchens.

Starting From Scratch

For Laurel Harlan, owner of Kiss Me Cookies, her love of making sugar cookies began eight years ago with a batch of red and blue fish inspired by Dr. Seuss for her daughter’s baby shower. “I just did it. I didn’t think about it, and I didn’t have an idea in my head of what [the cookies] should look like besides the book illustrations, which they also looked nothing like,” she remembers with a laugh. “I look back now and I cringe. My sister calls them ‘red fish, blue fish, mean fish’ because they look like they have a scowl on their face.”

As Laurel looks back at her fi rst batch of scowling cookies, she is proud of how far her skills have come. She credits her improvement to practicing the art form and learning new techniques.

In baking, practice is everything. From the way the royal icing is made to how the hand-piping is done, this art form requires a lot of practice to have the skills necessary to satisfy customers and create unique designs.

“There’s always a learning curve,” Jenna Rozum, owner of Sommersweet Bakery, says — especially with hand-piping the icing. “It takes a lot of practice, especially when you’re doing things like writing text. You really just have to practice.” If the icing isn’t consistent, Jenna explains, then the design can go terribly wrong, or incredibly right.

Ashlyn Balch spends her days working as a clinical dietitian at University Hospital. Last year, she started Sprinkled and Frosted as a side job, but her passion for cookies started when she was a kid baking in her grandparents’ kitchen during the holidays. After her boyfriend took her to Kansas City for a decorating class, her interest was piqued even more.

“I started practicing random cookie designs at home, and I would give them away to family and friends to get feedback.

Then they started ordering from me,” Ashlyn says. “[The business] really started with my family and friends.”

Inspiration Is Everywhere

It’s no secret that running a business — even as a side hustle — can be a challenge, especially when it comes to the financial side. Every business owner has a wish list of what they’re saving up for, like a website for Sommersweet Bakery, or more cookie cutters for Sprinkled and Frosted.

“It’s addicting to keep buying cookie cutters,” Ashlyn says. But she’s been able to cut costs of her ingredients by sourcing what she needs from

Living

GOURMET

Aldi, and she never lets her royal icing go to waste, as she safely stores her extra supply in the freezer so she can use it for the next batch.

Running lean helps inspire more creativity, and that inspiration can come in many different forms.

Ashlyn finds inspiration by looking through different hashtags online. “It’s a great way for me to compare and contrast different designs, so I can see what I like, what I don’t like, and how to pair different color schemes together,” she explains.

Take a quick glance at Sommersweet Bakery’s Instagram page and you’ll easily find a variety of cookies decorated with flowers and greenery.

With a full-time job as the horticulture manager at MU, Jenna is always surrounded by plants, and she gets a lot of inspiration from these natural beauties. “Sometimes I want to try to make something that looks like a somewhat realistic flower,” she says. “I also get a lot of inspiration from the invitations, or even prints and wallpaper.” Her main source for inspiration, however, is the client, and what will make them happy.

A Glance into the Future

As with the rest of life’s plans, these independent bakeries were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, whether through cancelled events or classes. “I was set up to teach classes in March, but we had to cancel due to the pandemic. Once some of the social distancing guidelines are lifted, I would love to teach people just for a fun girl’s night, or even as a family event,” Jenna explains.

Each of these bakers have their own unique skill sets to offer the community. And someday, they hope they can through teaching workshops for everyone.

“I teamed up with Plume and offered decorating workshops with [the owner]. But COVID hit, and teaching took a backseat,” Laurel says. ‘My next venture is to teach instead of doing as many custom orders. It’s fun to work up a set and teach other people how to decorate them.”

Cookies have the power to make lasting memories. Through her cookies, Laurel has been able to build a relationship with the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority at MU. She’s gotten to try new designs with them and even surprise them with different cookies. Her cookies have also seen a customer’s daughter grow up: From the baby shower to the little girl’s birthdays, Laurel’s cookies have been there through it all.

“I don’t define success primarily as financial.

One of the things I really enjoy is being a part of my customers’ lives,” Laurel explains. “It’s something that comes over time. . . . Getting to be a part of people’s lives has been rewarding.”

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OCTOBER 2020

Your House. Your Shelter. ®

Mike Messer

908 Rain Forest Pkwy., Ste. C Columbia, MO 65202

573-442-5291

MMesser@ShelterInsurance.com

We’re your Shield. We’re your Shelter.

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Home

PROS KNOW

Anne Tuckley

Jake Baumgartner

Tracy Arey

ANNE TUCKLEY HOME

BAUMGARTNER’S FURNITURE

TRACY AREY REAL ESTATE

Kelly Wilsdorf

ROST LANDSCAPING

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Color the Holidays Simple

By Anne Tuckley Find more at AnneTuckleyhome.com

A

s the wind begins to chill, people eagerly flock to orchards and pumpkin patches to pick up delicious treats and festive accessories. It is the beginning of the anticipated holiday season.

The holidays are wonderful. The costly decorations and annual post-holiday cleanup are not. The storybooks don’t boast about disposing of the pumpkins, putting away the ornaments, storing or tossing the tree, or yanking those lights off the roof, because, well, ew. If you dread the annual tear downs or are the type that likes to decorate for each major holiday, simplify the process by streamlining your decor. By modifying the type of decorations you have you can create a significant crossover between holidays which will save you both time and money.

How is this done? Color.

Pick a base color or colors for your decor that are versatile. For example, select red and gold as your main colors. These are the colors that your decorating foundation will be. Red and gold table runners, throw pillows, place settings, and ornaments can easily transition from the beginning of fall, to

Halloween, to Thanksgiving, to Christmas, and then on to Valentine’s Day. Add in additional accents such as yellows, blues, greens, purples, etc. as desired, but try to keep your neutral decorations in your primary colors.

What about Easter? Put away the red, keep the gold and add in some pastel accents.

Mother’s Day? Keep your Easter palette

but put away the Easter-specific items.

While you can easily manipulate one palette year-round, I personally prefer to have two palettes since I love the deep, rich, traditional colors in the fall.

While two is obviously more work than one, the time and costs saved are exponential compared to having completely separate decor for each holiday.

Anne Tuckley

ANNE TUCKLEY HOME Anne has been in the interior design industry for over 20 years and has resided in many metropolitan cities from NYC to Houston while honing in on her skills. Her specialties are interior design and home staging, with a focus on unique perception. Anne graduated with a BFA in fine art with a concentration in design and illustration. She has extensive experience in designing new construction as well as remodeling and conceptualizing out-of-the-box ideas. She ensures cutting-edge design and superb customer service.

108 CORPORATE LAKE PLACE, COLUMBIA, MO 65203 573-639-1989 | ANNETUCKLEYHOME.COM

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Reimagining Your Kid’s Space

By Jake Baumgartner Find more at baumgartners.com

A

s we inch further into fall and further into your child’s semester away from home, now would be a great time to recreate their space while they’re away. Say goodbye to their childhood furniture and cartoon bedsheets, and say hello to an organized and mature space fit for your student when they come home for a visit.

After sleeping on an old dorm mattress with no back support and wires beginning to protrude from the edges, the first thing you should treat your hard-working student to is a nice mattress and bed frame. Whether you’re

looking for a twin or a queen-sized mattress, or a Tempurpedic or hybrid, at Baumgartner’s, we have you and your kid’s back.

With the pandemic still looming, your child’s semester could go online at any point, so it’s best to be prepared, so they can return home safely and finish the semester strong.

And pandemic aside, when they come home for the weekend or break, they will likely be bombarded with homework, so they will need their own workspace. Curating a workspace for them can be easy, especially when you shop at Baumgartner’s. Are you working with a small space? Opt for a writing desk, perfectly sized for your kid’s textbooks and notebooks. If your kid needs some additional help with organization and keeping a tidy

space, add a junior executive desk to their room. With the extra drawers, your kid can stow away papers, textbooks, and other cluttering items. Now you won’t cringe when you walk past their messy room.

As your student’s time in college continues, they are likely to accumulate quite a few books. Add an open bookcase to the space to display their favorites and choose a few of their favorite knick-knacks to spruce up the shelves.

Are you ready to give your student a fresh space while they’re away? Whatever your project, we’re here to help. Visit our showrooms in Columbia and Auxvasse and let our staff help you find everything you need for your student’s room.

Jake Baumgartner

BAUMGARTNER’S FURNITURE Jake essentially grew up in the furniture industry as he is the fourth generation involved in Baumgartner’s Furniture. Working very closely with his father, Alan, Jake has been devoted to the stores full-time since 2004. His greatest enjoyment, however, still comes from working closely with the customers. He is married to Sarah, and they have two active boys, Noah and Laine. Jake received his degree in finance from Saint Louis University.

573-256-6288 BAUMGARTNERS.COM

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KNOW

Should I Sell? Is This the Best Time?

By Tracy Arey Find more at tracyarey.com

O

wn a home? Torn between selling or staying? Making a pro vs. con list?

Here are a few reasons why the market could be moving strongly in your favor to sell.

1. BUYER DEMAND IS STRONG The spring shutdown and recent opening-up has home buyers out in droves, and many of them are eager to make up for a lost spring market. August statistics for the Columbia Board of Realtors show a 16% increase in sales over August of 2019. New construction is off the charts at a whopping 123% over last August.

2. INVENTORY REMAINS LOW The number of homes for sale to meet the demand is at an all-time low. According to stats from the Columbia Board of Realtors, the months’ supply of homes on the market continues to be a concern, with a supply number of 1.48 months, a 52% plunge from August 2019.

Some reasons for the shortage of available homes show Americans are staying in their homes longer before moving and lower inventory is also the result of fewer distressed properties on the market.

3. SALE PRICES ARE UP Lack of inventory and costs of building supplies easily account for higher real estate prices. One of the few affordable new construction neighborhoods is The

Cottages of Martha’s Grove on Hummingbird Lane. These south side homes are priced from $179,900 to $189,900, and located off Hwy 63. See more info at www. cottagesofmarthasgrove.com 4. INTEREST RATES ARE AT ALL-TIME LOWS Historic low-interest rates continue to surprise and benefit buyers. Not only can buyers take advantage of interest rates, but they can also buy more house than expected and have a payment within their budget.

5. NEEDS HAVE CHANGED Along with working remotely, people

have been spending more time at home in general. This has sparked home buyers whose current homes no longer seem as comfortable or roomy as they were preCOVID-19. That is, if your dining table is also your office, you might consider a home with another configuration to make working from home more ideal.

Buyers are looking for home offices, more privacy, and outdoor spaces to complete their journey.

Still on the fence? Meet with us to go over your goals and how we can help. We offer low-pressure discussions, high-level service, and quality care.

Tracy Arey

TRACY AREY REAL ESTATE Tracy has accumulated 30 years in the Columbia real estate market, working with single-family home buyers and sellers, new construction, investment property, and development. His wellrounded knowledge and creativity have made him a top agent throughout his career. His wife, Beth, and son, Bennett, also work on his team. Tracy uses his expertise and outside-the-box thinking to achieve his clients’ goals. Growing up in Iowa taught him the value of family, the Golden Rule, and work ethic. His company mirrors these exact values. If you are thinking of buying or selling in the area, he’d be happy to sit down at the kitchen table and discuss all your options and how he can help achieve your goals together!

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FYI Before You DIY Your Landscape

By Kelly Wilsdorf Find more at rostlandscaping.com

I

f you are looking to do some DIY work on your landscape this fall, we want to help! We know that not everyone needs a full landscape design and installation but following these 5 steps may help make the DIY process a bit easier.

1. GOALS, WANTS & NEEDS Step one is to determine what you are trying to achieve with this project. Are you looking to add curb appeal and value to your home?

Attract pollinators? Add screening from the neighbors? These goals should be the basis of the decisions you make as you move through the rest of these steps.

2. BUILDING BEDS • As the foundation of the landscape, this is an important step. Make sure that the beds are deep enough to create layers of plants, but also to accommodate mature plants.

• We have a lot of clay here in Missouri so be sure to add topsoil and compost.

• If you plan to use gravel, as opposed to mulch, this would also be the time to lay weed mat.

3. CHOOSING PLANTS Year-Round Interest • In many DIY landscapes, it is easy to guess when the homeowner purchased

their plants. For example, if they shopped in Spring, it is bursting with beautiful spring blooms, but then lacking fall color and winter interest. One of the biggest mistakes is failing to consider year-round interest.

• While it can be tempting to pick out all the beautiful plants while you are shopping, be sure to talk to the garden center staff so they can recommend plants that will showcase their beauty other times of year.

Light Exposure • North, East, South or West? Know the answer to this question when you go shopping so the staff can point you in the direction of plants that will thrive on that side of the house.

• We want to make sure you are spending your money on plants in the proper locations for the best chance of success.

Deer • If this is a problem you may encounter, be sure to ask the staff to recommend plants that are more deer resistant, so you are not wasting your time and money.

All Categories • Be sure to spend some time looking into all types of plants. Including trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals will only improve the look of your new landscape.

Layout

4. DESIGN & LAYOUT Be sure not to overlook these concepts while laying out your plants.

measurements, so the staff at Superior

• We commonly see alternating plants in a straight line. We recommend a massing strategy that is repeated throughout the landscape by using similar plants, colors, or shapes to create unity and movement.

Levels • Consider plants of varying heights to draw the eye up and down.

Layers • By building in a foreground, middle ground and background, depth and interest are created.

Focal Point • Whether your front door, a water feature or a fireplace, use specimen plants or pops of color to draw the eye to your desired focal point.

5. FINISHING TOUCHES • The final step is to mulch or gravel your beds.

• We also recommend choosing a fertilizer for your plants and applying it at the proper times to maintain the health of your plants and protect your investment.

While the style of your house will somewhat dictate the design of your landscape, these are great starting points for the DIY process.

When you are ready, bring in photos and Garden Center has the information they need to help you brainstorm!

Kelly Wilsdorf

ROST LANDSCAPING Kelly Wilsdorf grew up in Columbia, just down the road from Rost, Inc. and is happy to still call Columbia home. She has a degree in Plant Science and Landscape Design from the University of Missouri and was hired as Rost’s Landscape Maintenance Manager after graduation. Her love for plants makes this job very enjoyable when assisting clients with their outdoor tasks. Outside of work, you can find her cooking, gardening, sewing, and several other outdoor activities.

573-445-4465 | ROSTLANDSCAPING.COM

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OCTOBER 2020

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OCTOBER 2020

Living

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Living

ST YLE

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Consign & Design is a highend local consignment boutique that offers designer clothing, accessories, and home goods for just a f raction of the original cost.

Visit the boutique located at 9 N. Tenth St., and f ind your next luxury product.

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We’ve vetted the options for top spa brands based on these criteria, and have come away with a line-up of great-value models with our Jacuzzi Hot Tubs. Our Jacuzzi Hot Tubs offer great value with top notch construction methods and materials to help them last long-term.

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OCTOBER 2020

1111 E. Broadway | Columbia, MO 65201 | The BroadwayColumbia.com

Living

FRIENDS & FAMILY

CARING FOR

Aging Parents The questions you should be asking now to prepare for the future.

BY JENNIFER TRU ES DA L E

If you are caring for an aging parent, or expect the need to do so in the future, there are several questions you need to ask yourself: Do my parents have an estate plan that includes a will, trust, advance health care directives, and powers of attorney? Do I know where these documents are, who prepared them, and what my responsibility will be when my parents die? When my parents can no longer safely live on their own, what will we do?

Furthermore, if you’re a parent yourself, have you made these plans for yourself so that, in the event something should happen to you, your children will be taken care of, and your fi nal wishes will be met?

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“The need to step in and assist was prompted by a call in 2015 from my dad,” says Barbara Buffaloe, 39, sustainability manager for the City of Columbia. “He was calling to tell me that my mom’s memory issues were not just her normal forgetfulness, but rather a diagnosis of advanced memory loss that will lead to Alzheimer’s. Neither of my parents have ever been good with making long-term plans and, with the latest diagnosis for mom and my dad’s own health concerns, it was important that we sit down and talk over what they wanted for their end-of-life care.”

Barbara’s mom, 74, and dad, 79, still live in Barbara’s childhood home in Springfield, Illinois. Barbara’s two siblings live abroad, so looking after them from Missouri fell to Barbara.

Barbara says that when it became clear that her parents needed help answering the questions about end-of-life care, she went to visit them to help them tackle a no-doubt difficult task; after all, who wants to dwell on their own mortality and examine every aspect of their potential legacy?

“I brought a legal pad and just asked them question after question about their health, finances, wishes, etcetera,” Barbara says. “We also did a power of attorney for health and property [and] updated their will. On that trip, we also added my name to all of their bank accounts, so that I could help arrange things from afar.”

Seeking Legal Counsel Virna Camacho, 54, a litigation paralegal for Shelter Insurance, has had a similar experience in caring for her aging mother, who is 90. Her father, 89, was in the Air Force, so Virna lived all over growing up, but moved to Columbia from Seattle in 1999.

After Virna settled here, her parents came to visit, and they enjoyed the town. As they grew older, they wanted to be closer to her, so they moved to Columbia. Twenty years ago, Virna’s father had to move back to his homeland, Puerto Rico, and her mother chose to stay in Columbia, leaving Virna to be her mother’s main caregiver.

“Because of my mother’s circumstances, I became responsible for helping her with health care, personal needs, finances, and being the main source of her transportation,” she says.

As a paralegal, Virna felt comfortable finding the appropriate estate-planning documents online, but still consulted with an attorney.

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OCTOBER 2020

“The most common comment I get from clients when we finish is, ‘That was so easy, I don’t know why I was putting it off for so long.’ I think people build up estate planning in their heads as something that’s daunting, plus it’s scary — we’re talking about mortality. And the best time to talk about it is when your death is a long way off.”

- NATHAN JONES , NATHAN JONES L AW “These are very important documents to have prepared, especially if you are caring for your parents,” Virna says. “Many of these documents are forms that can be found online. For my situation, I was able to use the online forms, but I still consulted with an attorney to make sure they were done correctly . . . I would recommend a visit with an attorney who specializes in estate planning or elder law to help prepare the documents . . . it’s worth the peace of mind to have this done and be certain it is done correctly.”

One such attorney is Connie Haden, of the Law Firm of Haden and Colbert.

“Elder law attorneys handle a broad range of legal issues that affect the elderly or disabled, including issues related to estate planning, health care, long-term care, retirement, public benefits, and guardianship,” Connie says. “We are really specialists in the area of dealing with issues that affect our

senior population, and we act as counselors to elderly individuals and their families in guiding them through a challenging time.”

Breaking Down The Legal Process Nathan Jones, of Nathan Jones Law Firm, specializes in estate planning, trust, and probate law, which he describes as “putting a plan in place for whatever assets you have, whether they are simple or complex, to go to the people and organizations that you care about as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.”

What is probate law? Probate court deals with the property and debts of a person who has died. The basic role of the probate court judge is to assure that the deceased person’s creditors are paid and that any remaining assets are distributed to the proper beneficiaries.

If you have assets when you die that you did not name a beneficiary for, your heirs will be headed to probate court to suss out who

Living

Barbara Buffaloe

Virna Camacho

gets what. Nathan warns that this process can cost tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees and can last 10 to 15 months. “It’s not the most efficient process,” he says.

“By the time you liquidate and sell off things and get beneficiaries on the same page, a year in probate is not uncommon at all. That’s why people who have experienced [the process] are motivated to take action to keep their families out of probate.”

If you die with only a will in place, that document must be fi led with the probate court (within a year after death in Missouri).

And what about a power of attorney?

“Any good estate plan should also include both financial and health care powers of attorney,” Nathan advises. “In the event you are incapacitated and unable to make decisions for yourself, a POA is a document that appoints somebody to do that for you. With a financial POA, you’d be saying who can call a bank or pay a bill on your behalf. With a health care POA, you’d be saying who can communicate with doctors and nurses if you cannot.

They are important documents for people of any age, but extra important for elderly clients who may experience memory troubles someday.”

A legal document that goes hand-in-hand with a health POA is the advance health care directive, which outlines in what circumstances you would wish to be resuscitated, receive life-saving or extending interventions, be placed on (or removed from) life support, and more.

Your physician should have a copy of this document, as well as whomever you appoint to make decisions for you.

Here’s what you should bring to an estate planning appointment: “General categories of the information we need to know are your health condition, what assets you own, what income you are receiving, who should make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so, and who should receive your assets when you are gone,” Connie says.

FRIENDS & FAMILY

“We help people navigate this process,” Connie says. “It is certainly true that MO HealthNet should be considered a ‘safety net.’ However, we can help clients assess their options and determine the best path for them. There are often ways to protect assets for a spouse or other loved ones.”

Retirement accounts, pensions, Medicare, and private insurance are also options for paying for long-term care, but if you or a loved one need 10 years of longterm care or more, paying for it can get tricky. That’s why saving for retirement, and starting early, is important. And tackling your estate plan early is important, too. Nathan adds that the process need not be scary, and the peace of mind is worth the effort.

“The most common comment I get from clients when we finish is, ‘That was so easy, I don’t know why I was putting it off for so long,’” he says. “I think people build up estate planning in their heads as something daunting, plus it’s scary — we’re talking about mortality. And the best time to talk about it is when your death is a long way off.”

For Barbara, dealing with her parent’s affairs has motivated her to take action for herself.

“Since dealing with my parent’s affairs, [my husband] and I have talked about what we want our end-of-life plans to look like, developed our wills and estate plan, and had the conversation with our parents, siblings, and close friends about our final wishes,” she says. “It is a comfort to know that we’re working to prepare our affairs to be in a better state than my parents, because I would not want my daughter to have to go through what I have been through.”

Finding a Place for Mom and Dad

Connie Haden

Nathan Jones

Virna’s mother, living alone without her husband, downsized to a condo, then a small apartment, and now a retirement community as her health has worsened.

Virna’s father has since returned to Columbia to help care for her.

According to the Missouri Department of Insurance, the average cost of an assisted or independent living facility in Missouri is about $2,700 a month, which is more than $32,000 annually, while a nursing home costs around $58,000 a year for a semi-private room.

Virna says, in her mother’s case, paying for her living arrangements is mostly out-of-pocket, with supplements from Social Security and her father’s military pension.

Most Americans pay for this care with Medicaid, known here as Missouri HealthNet, but to qualify requires that you have few assets. Some people find they have to spend down or sell off assets to qualify for Medicaid, and the paperwork process is daunting.

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OCTOBER 2020

Columbia becomes a home — at least periodically — for executives during the pandemic.

BY BRENNA MCDERMOTT | PHOTOS BY KEITH BORGMEYER COMOMAG.COM

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E

uan McLeod, vice president of customer experience engineering for HBO Max, has been working remotely in Columbia, spending several hours each day at a collection of coffee shops, where he’s been able to build relationships.

Though the spread of COVID-19 has brought hardship and illness for many, it’s also come with realizations about the benefits of working remotely.

“Maybe we can get the best of both worlds now because people have understood that it is feasible, and, in some cases, more productive to work from home,” Euan says.

Euan, originally from the Highlands of Scotland, moved to the U.S. more than 16 years ago and has had stints with Turner Broadcasting and Amazon before his job at HBO Max. His children live in the Columbia area, and McLeod has been traveling back and forth to visit them for the last eight years, spending most weekends in Mid-Missouri while working from HBO offices in Burbank, California.

Since the pandemic began its spread, he’s been in Columbia “pretty much nonstop,” he says.

Coffee Shops Turned Offices The transition to remote work coincided with the May launch of HBO Max, the new streaming platform from the prestigious television leader.

It might seem like ill-fated timing, but it worked well for Euan’s team of engineers and designers. The collaborative work needed to develop the platform was already finished, and only individual work remained.

“I needed to go into my ‘writer’s cabin,’ and just knock out a list of a hundred things that needed to be done before the launch,” Euan says.

“So for me personally, it was actually almost in a way helpful to be away from conversations and those types of [collaborative] moments.”

But Euan, an extrovert, found his much-needed social moments in Columbia’s coffee shop culture. Most mornings, he wakes up early, works from home, and spends the afternoons working in one or two coffee shops like Shortwave and Three Story Coffee. He says he tries to switch it up so as not to overstay his welcome.

He’s built relationships with other creatives and investors around town just by striking up conversations mid-latte.

“The pandemic — even though it comes with a lot of stress and hardship and health

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OCTOBER 2020

concerns for a lot of people — in a way it's actually helped me integrate with the local community and local business community, which has been really cool for me,” Euan says.

When it’s time to make a confidential phone call, he goes for walks, sometimes for hours at a time. Being in nature was something he never really appreciated in the past, Euan explains.

Now, his team has returned to creating new features and products, a task made more challenging without those moments of human connection and collaboration that occur more easily when the team is together in the office.

“The main challenge is just that you lose the human connection," Euan says. He hopes to eventually strike a balance in the future in which he can gather with his team for creation and ideation, and then retreat for individual work.

For now, HBO employees are working from home through the end of the year, a spokesperson says, and Euan plans to stay in Columbia for that time, with more visits to Th ree Story Coffee and his other haunts.

"I think this is going to be around for a while, and I'm quite looking forward to spending more time with my kids and enjoying Columbia," he says.

Attracting Those Tired of The Hustle While Euan has made Columbia his remote-work home because of personal circumstances, others are choosing Columbia for professional reasons. Companies like Paytient are using Columbia’s quality of life to draw workers from major metros.

CEO Brian Whorley says about half of Paytient’s employees were working remotely before the pandemic; it’s now almost 100%, and he’s trying to recruit more workers to relocate to Columbia, even if on a trial basis.

Paytient, headquartered in Columbia, is a fintech company that augments health savings accounts to help individuals pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses.

It worked on Darius Chehrzad, a Paytient executive who relocated from New York City and spends about half his time in Columbia.

"The idea of a city in the middle of Missouri — I think when Brian fi rst told me about it, I was like, Hmm. My initial reaction was, 'I don't know about that,'" Darius says.

But after visiting, Darius says he didn’t have to give up the things that were important to him. But leaving the grind of the daily New York City commute and the lifestyle of working until 10 p.m. was pretty easy.

“In exchange for giving up very little, I got a lot of things that I do care about, and I do want, and in a place like New York or a place like L.A., they’re harder — like having affordable places to live, or really easy access to the outdoors," he says.

Brian hopes the mobility of remote work spurs more professionals to choose fi rst where they live, and then where they work — and he hopes Columbia gets a hard look for its low cost of living, safety, and space.

“A lot of people are trying to find ways to take advantage of this newfound flexibility, and so, in my mind, somewhere like Columbia is a phenomenal place for people to land,” Darius says. “To the extent I can spread the gospel, I do my best."

Need to get out of the house?

Find a table at one of these coffee shops.

Aroma Coffee House 1009 N. Providence Rd.

B&B Bagel Company • 124 E. Nifong Blvd.

• 904 Elm St., Ste. 100

Coffee Zone 11 N. Ninth St.

Cornerstone Coffee Shop 222 S. Ninth St.

Fretboard Coffee 1013 Walnut St.

The Grind Coffee House • 4603 John Garry Dr. #1 • 2601 Rangeline St. #101 • 2902 Forum Blvd., Ste. 101 • 1412 Forum Blvd.

Lakota Coffee Company • 24 S. Ninth St. • 3111 Green Meadows Way

Love Coffee 15 Business Loop 70 E.

Papa’s Cat Café 14 S. Second St.

Scooter’s Coffee 5 Old 62 S.

Shortwave Coffee 915 Alley A

Three Story Coffee 300 N. Tenth St., Ste. 100

Toasty Goat Coffee Co. 3301 W. Broadway Business Park Ct., Ste. A

COMOMAG.COM

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THE FINANCIAL CHRONICLES

A Money Guide

for Kids What kids are really thinking about money.

BY H A N N A H KU EC K | I L LU ST R AT I O NS BY A D R I A N B I T T NE R

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OCTOBER 2020

COMOMAG.COM

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I

didn’t know how expensive it was to be an adult until I paid for my first oil change and tire rotation for my shining silver Nissan. When the mechanic rang up my $40 oil change and the $30 tire rotation fee, my soul died as I meekly asked if he could put the tires back to where they were (a joke that he did not find amusing, I might add). That was an awakening for me — now every time I pay a bill, my bank account sheds a tear, and I yearn for the days that I could put my lost tooth under my pillow and wake up with a wrinkled, green dollar replacing it.

On one occasion, the Tooth Fairy forgot to leave a dollar under my pillow, and I woke up feeling betrayed. To make up for the slacking fairy, my mom handed me a worn-out Ziploc bag of nickels and pennies. I was rich.

Well, at least I thought I was.

My experience with money as a child, and even now as an adult, is vastly different from others. After sending out a questionnaire to parents around Columbia to learn more about what kids are thinking about money, I must say, my Tooth Fairy did not appreciate my pearly whites nearly enough.

How much allowance do you pay your kids?

• We deposit $20 per paycheck cycle per kid to a savings account. Then they can earn spending money on chores.

How old should kids be when they start earning an allowance?

• Any age after 6.

• They receive room and board.

• Nothing, but we do talk about earning toys.

• Nine or 10 — depending on the chores they do.

• It depends on the age — 8 to 11 gets $20 to $25 a week; older than 11 gets $25 to $40 a week.

• Ten years old.

• Fourteen years old.

How old should kids be before they are allowed to have a debit card?

• Twelve for girls and 18 for boys.

• Dad says 13, but mom says 14.

• High school, at least.

• College.

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OCTOBER 2020

Do you expect your kids to work while they’re in school?

• No, they have enough on their plate with school.

Ask your kids this: If you had $100, what would you spend it on?

• Yes, go get your own money and leave mine alone!

• Yes, but only when they’re not in sports.

• Legos and LOL Dolls.

• A Nintendo Switch for my 8-year-old.

(It’s written on our fridge, and she is patiently waiting for me to match her $100 that she already has). The older boys say candy and spending cash when they’re with friends.

• Gaming equipment or in-game currency.

What is the going rate for a babysitter?

• If it’s more than $30 an hour, we will never be leaving the house.

• It depends on the age. Our 28-year-old babysitter with an early childhood degree who works as a teacher makes $20 an hour, but $15 is more of an average rate.

• Fifteen dollars an hour for each kid.

• Ten dollars an hour.

If your kids save money, what mechanism do they use?

• A bank account with both parents’ names on it, plus a big jar for pocket change.

• A piggy bank.

• What’s savings?

Have your kids accidentally purchased things from Amazon or an app?

• Yes, $400 on apps from iTunes.

• Never. They know way better than that.

• Yes, $300 for toys in my cart.

• A bank account.

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Ask your kids this: Who’s in charge of money in your house?

• Dad makes it and mom spends it.

• Mom — she’s in charge of everything.

• Mom and dad, but mom mostly pays the actual bills.

Ask your kids this: How much money do you need to have to be rich?

• A thousand dollars.

• Infinity and beyond.

• I don’t know — I’m not rich!

Ask your kids this: What are you saving your money for?

• My college and other needs. And my house. And a phone.

Ask your kids this: How much is a candy bar?

• To buy toys.

• To buy a movie production company.

How much does the Tooth Fairy pay in your house?

• It can range from $1 to $10.

Whatever is handy when I wake up and panic because I forgot, or whatever the older siblings have handy to loan me.

• Nothing. Usually because they forget to come, but sometimes a dollar.

• Twenty dollars.

• Negotiations are still ongoing, but I’m willing to go as high as $1.

• I’m saving money just to save so I know I have money if I need something.

Ask your kids this: How much do you think a house costs?

• A dollar.

• The price varies depending on the house. Some cost $1,000, but I’d say on average $100,000 to $150,000.

• Probably just $3.

• Around $25,000.

• Ten dollars.

• Thousands.

60

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OCTOBER 2020

Living

COUPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW

Kelley and Jake Frink Kelley and Jake Frink talk about how they met, their favorite family traditions, and their children.

HOW DID YOU MEET? Kelley: Biology class during our sophomore

year of high school, but I knew his sisters from softball before that. We didn’t date much in high school, but ended up in the same co-ed dorm at MU. Jake: This is up for debate: I say it was through a close mutual friend in junior high, but Kelley will say high school.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST DATE? K & J: We were 16 — no idea!

WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP? J: I proposed in a tree stand on our family

farm. Not many girls can say they had something that romantic!

WHAT KEEPS YOU BUSY DURING THE WEEK? K: Work and family. We have three young

kids that keep us on our toes!

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY. K: We have three wonderful kids: two boys

and a girl. They teach us how to be better every day! Matthew, 10, Cameron, 7, and Addison, 4. Addison may be the littlest, but there is no doubt she is the boss of the boys!

We also have an incredible support system of extended family nearby that are a very important part of our life.

together. It was great to get away and have time to connect.

J: Lots of fond memories come from camping

trips to Wyoming, and many of Kelley’s “first” hunting and fishing moments in Missouri.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE OUTDOOR ACTIVITY TO DO TOGETHER? J: Anything outdoors: boating, hunting,

fishing. We’re outdoor people.

WHAT’S THE KEY TO A LONG-LASTING RELATIONSHIP? K: Communication and trust. When you are

honest and communicate with each other, everything is smoother!

J: It’s not a competition. That was a lesson

I learned in a small group, and it’s been really helpful. Whether it be who went to the grocery store last or who went to happy hour last, it’s not a competition. But if it were, I would win.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FAMILY TRADITION?

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY TOGETHER? K: We took our first vacation without kids about a year ago. It was the first time since our honeymoon we had been on vacation

K: We cut down our own Christmas tree from the Frink farm every year, and every year we overestimate the size of our living room, and it is quite the scene — think Chevy Chase and “Christmas Vacation.” We haven’t broken

any windows, but it’s fallen over a time or two. Then, I love letting the kids go through the ornaments from over the years. Our tree is a mess of random homemade ornaments and colored lights. There’s no coordination or matching at our house!

J: Summer camping trips to Wyoming and

deer season.

WHAT IS YOUR PARTNER’S BEST QUALITY? K: He is an incredible support for me. He is laid back and easygoing, especially when it comes to some of my crazy ideas! He is also a great dad for our three kids — we are blessed to have him.

J: She has an incredible heart, she’s caring,

and she’s driven. She keeps us moving forward as a family.

WHAT’S YOUR BEST FINANCIAL ADVICE FOR COUPLES? K: It’s so important to communicate and set goals you’re both on board with. Then remember to give grace — I don’t always understand the “need” behind all of his hunting purchases, and I’m sure he would say the same about some of the boxes that show up for me, and that’s OK! J: Live within your means and marry an

accountant!

COMOMAG.COM

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OCTOBER 2020

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Working

78 25 YEARS OF SAFETY Missouri Employers Mutual celebrates 25 years of providing affordable insurance and safety to businesses.

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OCTOBER 2020

CLOSER LOOK

Working

OCTOBER 2020

tattoos for all of his clients, Iron Moe’s provides Columbia with a great experience for all.

Iron Moe strives to provide a place where every person that comes in feels welcomed into a warm and inviting atmosphere. “A lot of people who come in don’t know much about tattoos, which is fine because that’s our job, as artists, to inform and help,” Moe says. “I want to be the guy that creates the place where everyone is welcome, and you’re not going to be [judged] for any questions or ideas you have.”

Iron Moe hopes to open another shop in the future, but for now, he wants to welcome everyone into his new shop.

816 E. BROADWAY, STE. 202 573-489-2643 INSTAGRAM: @MOERICEE

Sawdust Studios

The Basement Reef

Having been an aquarium enthusiast for a while, Anthony Willroth finally decided to open his own shop, The Basement Reef, in July.

The Basement Reef is an aquatic store and houseplant shop with a wide variety of saltwater and freshwater life, including fish, invertebrates, plants, and corals.

In the future, Anthony hopes to incorporate fun and interesting lessons revolving around aquariums. His goal is for them to be a unique and alternative way of learning, and he has even started teaching some online.

Anthony is not alone in his new aquatic business endeavor, however. Dr. Mitch Tucker, his business partner, holds a PhD in biology and works as a professor in New York. Mitch Zooms into the classes being held at the store

to share his knowledge with customers.

Classes are up now through the Basement Reef’s social media. Anthony believes these classes are needed now more than ever as an alternative to hands-on science experience.

110 N. TENTH ST. THEBASEMENTREEF@GMAIL.COM THEBASEMENTREEF.COM

Iron Moe’s “Iron” Moe Ricee has opened his own shop, Iron Moe’s Tattooing, after being requested frequently by his previous clients and friends.

His new shop officially opened at the beginning of August. Specializing in fine-detailed

“Carpentry and woodworking is certainly a passion of both of ours, and we wanted — and saw the need — to bring that to more folks in Columbia,” John Walter, co-owner of Sawdust Studios, says. After seven months of planning, John and Cruz Chavez opened Sawdust Studios in July.

John describes Sawdust Studios as “a gym for woodworkers.” Members are given keycard access to the studio 24 hours every day.

They bring in their own lumber, Sawdust Studios provides the tools, and they can make whatever they want.

“There’s a lot of makerspaces all over the country, but they’re not catering to woodworkers,” John says. But Sawdust Studios does. Right now, the business is focusing on safety and sanitation as COVID-19 looms large over small businesses, but in the future, the pair’s goal is to have 200 woodworkers as members of the shop. Once they’ve achieved this, the possibility of more locations will be explored.

2207 NELWOOD DR., UNIT 105 412-SAW-COMO (412-729-2666) SAWDUSTSTUDIOSCOMO.COM

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Briefly in the News O CTOB E R 2020 70

OCTOBER 2020

COMMUNITY

The Community Pop-Up Park Opens The Community Pop-Up Park, located at 807 Business Loop 70 East, has opened to the public.

The lot will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. so people can come for lunch or to meet friends after work. The park also has full amenities for events, including movable furniture, cornhole, giant Jenga, giant dominos, nighttime lighting, and a shipping container that can be used as a stage.

Working

BRIEFLY

R ECOG NIT IO N

Forbes Names Boone Hospital as a Top Employer Boone Hospital Center has been named to the Forbes list of America’s Best-in-State Employers. Forbes and Statista selected the winners based on an independent survey of more than 80,000 U.S. employees working for companies employing at least 500 people in their U.S. operations. The surveys were administered using a series of online panels and provide a representative sample of the U.S. workforce.

“Boone Hospital Center has served the MidMissouri community for 99 years, and the employees are the heart and soul of our organization. Boone’s over 1,600 teammates live a culture of excellence.

We are thrilled to learn that Boone Hospital has been named to Forbes list of America’s Best-inState Employers. This is a tribute to everyone who works here.”

— MICHELLE ZVANUT, VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES AT BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

Ph oto p rov i d e d by Co lumb ia Co llege

EDU CATION

GR OWTH

Columbia College Receives Grant

Thomas Law Offices Announce Expansion

Columbia College will receive $1.38 million through the TRIO Student Support Services Program to help first-generation and low-income students and students with disabilities earn their degrees. The grant will provide funding for the program at the college for the next five years. This is the fourth time the program has received a grant renewal since its establishment in 2001. The program is designed to encourage eligible day program students to complete their four-year college degree.

RECOGNITION

DogMaster Gin Receives Top Rating DogMaster gin has been named as a top ten gin to try in 2020 by USA Spirits Ratings. To achieve this rating, USA Spirits Ratings judge on a brand’s quality, value for both trade and the consumer, and how the product stands out on the shelf. Distilled from Missouri corn, DogMaster gin has a lightly floral flavor profile with a cucumber finish — a signature taste that landed the brand sixth place.

Thomas Law Offices is pleased to announce its expansion into Missouri and its merger with the Law Office of Mike Campbell. The firm’s fourth office officially opened its doors in Columbia at the beginning of September.

Tad Thomas, managing partner of the firm, is excited to continue the firm’s expansion and bring his firm’s client-centered approach to Missouri.

ED UCATION

Missouri School of Journalism Receives Donation The University of Missouri School of Journalism has received a $3 million gift from an MU alumna to support an endowment to provide scholarships, paid internships, and professional mentoring for journalism students at Missouri Business Alert, a business journalism publication housed in the MU School of Journalism.

Dean David Kurpius said this gift will support the school’s critical mission of preparing the world’s best journalists to help citizens understand complex issues and make informed decisions.

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OCTOBER 2020

W E S L E Y H A M I LT O N

Klingner and Associates has welcomed Wesley Hamilton, PE, to its Columbia office as a structural engineer. Wesley joins the firm with six years of experience performing structural investigations, construction administration, and design for many different types of structures, including steel, cold-formed framing, tiltup concrete walls, wood-framed buildings, and masonry. He holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering with an emphasis in structures from MU.

CAITLIN FERGUSON

Caitlin Ferguson has joined the Columbia Chamber of Commerce staff as the new director of Women’s Network. Caitlin holds a bachelor’s degree from MU in English and a master’s degree in communications with an emphasis in nonprofit leadership from Drury University. Her background in leading and growing associations comes from years of church and nonprofit leadership, particularly with women’s groups.

MIKE GOLDEN

Great Circle has recently named Mike Golden as vice president of education. In his role, Mike leads a statewide team of professionals responsible for delivering a fully accredited school experience that combines a strong academic curriculum with therapeutic services for K-12 students

throughout Missouri. Mike began his career as a teaching assistant and then worked as a special education teacher for eight years. He also holds a doctorate in education.

M AT T PI N KSTA F F

Matt Pinkstaff recently joined SOA Architecture as a project manager. He received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Kansas State University and has a diverse background in building design and construction, with study and work experiences from around the globe. Matt’s prior experience focused on community projects, where he served as a manager for construction work in the inner city of Memphis and in India as an architect and a coordinator for volunteer professional design teams.

CLAIRE OWEN

Columbia Insurance Group has named Claire Owen as vice president and general counsel.

Claire has served as corporate legal counsel since joining the company in 2017. In her new role, Claire has responsibility in the areas of corporate and board governance, contract review, regulatory matters, and legislative relationships.

She earned both her bachelor’s degree in agricultural journalism and law degree from MU. Prior to joining Columbia Insurance Group, Claire served clients both in private practice and as in-house counsel.

B R YA N M A N E S S

COMO Cooks has named Bryan Maness the company’s kitchen manager. Bryan is a consummate restaurant industry professional with over 20 years of experience in kitchen management and new project launches. His experience includes brick-andmortar restaurants, mobile vending, catering, and food production, making him a valuable resource for a wide range of kitchen clients.

H A M I LT O N

FERGUSON

MICHAEL DELEON

Michael DeLeon is the new general manager at Cooper’s Landing Riverside Resort and Marina. In this role, Michael looks forward to continuing to create amazing riverfront experiences for people that visit. Michael has big plans for Cooper’s Landing as he takes on this new role, including bringing in food trucks, live music, spirits, tastings, and more.

PI N KSTA F F

OWEN

C A M E R O N K E L LY

Stephens College named Cameron Kelly as the college’s new executive chef. Cameron came into the role in June after working as the executive chef at Hotel Frederick in Boonville.

Under Cameron’s guidance, the culinary team in the food service operations department for Stephens College and SC Events is committed to providing students with flavorful and nutritious meals.

MANESS

K E L LY

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Testing the Castle Doctrine Breaking down the castle doctrine in the case of the armed St. Louis residents who made national news.

BY KRCG 13’S KERMIT MILLER

W

hen we look back on the summer of COVID-19 and racial unrest, we will recall the defining moments that changed our lives or gave us pause in reflection on the state of American society. In Missouri, one of those moments has put a bright spotlight on the state's laws addressing personal safety and the legitimacy of fear.

In June, protest marchers pushed the envelope of tolerance by entering a gated street in St. Louis en route to a demonstration at the home of Mayor Lyda Krewson. The first house they passed belonged to Mark and Patricia McCloskey, a pair of St. Louis attorneys who would later insist they feared for their lives when they picked up a pistol and an AR-15 rifle, walked out to their front porch, pointed the weapons at the marchers, and demanded that they leave the private street.

Observers will speculate on what was spontaneous and what was calculated. Either way, the McCloskeys instantly became poster children for self-defense and gun rights activists — to them, the McCloskeys were courageous defenders of property rights in the face of rank lawlessness. For communities of color in general, and Black Lives Matter protestors in particular, they were the face of white privilege acting with a reckless disregard for the rights and safety of others. And in an age of cell phone-recorded celebrity, they were an instant cause célèbre in a campaign year, one whose escapade alerted those in the corridors of the highest political power.

Beyond that, the McCloskey confrontation opened the door to an intriguing test of a longheld but little-tested notion in law: the socalled "castle doctrine," and a provision within it known as "stand your ground."

Born of English common law, the castle doctrine advances the idea that one's home is one's castle, off-limits to anyone uninvited. It assumes that a home invader is, by definition, a threat and thus can be repelled with physical force. The stand-your-ground standard suggests the legitimate occupant of the home is under no obligation to retreat in the face of an attack, even when such retreat is possible.

Both concepts are codified in Missouri law.

Gun rights advocates immediately declared the castle doctrine to be a blanket of protection for the McCloskeys. Missouri Governor Mike Parson would remind reporters he had co-sponsored Missouri's castle doctrine law while serving in the House of Representatives more than a decade earlier — “the exact one the McCloskeys defended their property with in St. Louis, which they had every right to do," Parson asserted during a news conference in July.

The McCloskey story might have faded with the summer heat but for the decision of St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner to prosecute the couple for unlawful use of a weapon, a felony. "It is illegal to wave weapons in a threatening manner — that is unlawful in the city of St. Louis," Gardner told the Associated Press.

So the stage was set to find out what the castle doctrine allows and does not allow in Missouri.

FindLaw — the go-to online source for reporters without education in the law — says about half the states have castle doctrine or stand-your-ground laws on their books. The website says Missouri's castle doctrine law is more extensive than most by permitting property owners "to use the amount of force reasonably perceived as necessary, including deadly force" to protect themselves.

A revised castle doctrine law took effect in Missouri on New Year's Day of 2017. It ex-

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“It's always based on what would a reasonable person do in those circumstances. Some people are not reasonable.”

– FORMER COLE COUNTY SHERIFF GREG WHITE

panded the application to protect invited guests in the home, such as babysitters. It also broadened the covered stand-yourground environment to include one's vehicle or any other location where someone has a legal right to be. "If you're gonna attack me, you're gonna have to expect consequences," former St. Joseph Representative Galen Higdon asserted. Former Governor Jay Nixon vetoed the broad-ranging bill. "We're lowering the standard. We are creating the perfect storm," then-State Representative Kim Gardner told her house colleagues during the override debate. The Republican-controlled legislature passed the bill over Nixon's objections.

The McCloskey case could come down to a definition of private property. Anders Walker, a professor at the St. Louis University School of Law, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that a private street would qualify under the doctrine. "At any point that you enter the property, they can then, in Missouri, use deadly force to get you off the lawn,” Walker told the newspaper. But John Ammann, Walker's colleague at SLU Law, told KMOV in St. Louis that the stand-your-ground protections might not apply. "Those protections would not allow you to aim a gun unless there was some threat," Ammann said.

Ultimately, however, it could come down to the legal standard of review the courts apply to the situation. Many human actions get evaluated by a "reasonable man" standard. Harvard Law professor Ronald Sullivan, Jr., told the Washington Post the castle doctrine probably wouldn’t help the McCloskeys because the widely seen video of the incident would make any claim of "imminent danger" difficult to argue. "It's always based on what would a reasonable person do in those circumstances," former Cole County Sheriff Greg White observed following the last castle doctrine revision. "Some people are not reasonable."

Kermit Miller anchors the 6 and 10 p.m. news for KRCG 13. You can reach Kermit at kmiller@krcg.com

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Healthy and Affordable

Delivery Available 212 East Green Meadows 573-777-3636 LeanKitchenCo.com/columbia

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25 Years of Safety

J

Missouri Employers Mutual celebrates 25 years of providing affordable insurance and safety to businesses.

im Owen, the president and CEO of Missouri Employers Mutual, says that some of his favorite moments at MEM have been the celebrations.

After reuniting retired employees and celebrating the growth of the company for the 25th anniversary back in March, Jim says there’s always a time to appreciate how far MEM has come over the years.

“It’s about celebrating being able to say, ‘Look where we were, look where we’ve come from, and look forward to where we know we can go because it’s a bright future,”’ he says, smiling. “A future so bright we have to wear shades, right?”

And the future is bright. Time in business is not the only thing MEM celebrates — every year equals safer working conditions for employees in Missouri and possibly lives saved as well. As a company that found success in a struggling workers’ compensation market, MEM prides itself on giving back real results to the community by promoting preventative safety before incidents happen.

BY ALYSSA SHIKLES

Founded in a Moment of Need When MEM was created by the Missouri State Legislature in 1993, the state was in a crisis. Workers’ compensation was required for businesses, but unafford-

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1993

MEM created by Missouri State Legislature to address the insurance crisis.

1995

MEM opens its doors and becomes No. 1 in the Missouri workers’ compensation market.

1996-1999

The company opens Kansas City, St. Louis, and Springfield offices over three years.

2015

MEM Partners with Previsor Insurance to serve more Missouri businesses and launch in Kansas.

2017

MEM awards its first safety grants to 17 Missouri businesses.

2019

MEM expands Previsor Insurance into five new states: Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and Tennessee.

2020

MEM celebrates 25 years of providing affordable insurance to businesses.

CELEBRATIONS

able, and businesses had to enter involuntary market pools that gave high rates for not much service. “It was not good for Missouri businesses, and literally 38% of Missouri businesses were in that,” Jim says.

“That's how bad it was.”

So when MEM’s doors opened in 1995 to provide affordable insurance and good service, it was a hit.

They started writing a lot of policies and quickly became the No. 1 carrier in Missouri by the end of their fi rst year. Now, only 3% of businesses remain in the involuntary market, and workers’ compensation is one of the most profitable lines of insurance.

According to Jim, MEM’s early success was due in part to its diligent employees. “It was a real crisis. Somebody needed to step in, and they created MEM,” he says. “We put our staff together and hired people who were looking to come to a company that had a purpose.”

MEM remains the market share leader in Missouri after all these years, an impressive feat considering the competition of giant international insurance companies. “We are David,” Jim explains. “We're taking on these Goliaths in the industry, and we have to grow from this very small mom-and-pop company to a company that has to be agile.”

A Culture of Safety There’s a flag in front of the MEM building. When lowered to half-mast, it signals to every employee that there was a fatality to one of the 200,000 workers covered by MEM. It’s a symbol that something terrible has happened, and a reminder for all employees to look into the issue so it will never happen again.

The flag shows how safety and caring for workers are two core components of MEM’s values. Revee White, the director of marketing and communications, says that the company culture is “safety fanaticism.”

“If you talk to any of our employees, most of them won't say they work for an insurance company,” she says. “They'll say that they work for a safety company that provides insurance.”

Jim explains that by focusing on safety fi rst and how to best serve workers, the employees at MEM have confidence that they have a purpose and are working for something meaningful. Each day at work has value in bringing someone home.

“We feel part of it,” Jim says about employees having a purpose in their work. “It's all in one village, as they say, but we feel like we're an integral part of keeping people safe.”

Pay It Forward Though safety is MEM’s primary goal, they also have a focus on giving back to the community. Employees put in more than 2,000 volunteer hours over the past year, and employee contributions to community

Top photo: Jim Owen, President and CEO, addresses employees, board members and retirees at the 25th anniversary celebration in March 2020.

Bottom photo: Independent agents are foundational to MEM’s rise to number one in Missouri. Each year topperforming agents are invited to the annual MEM golf classic.

causes topped $75,000. “We have people who are genuinely interested in helping the people in our community,” Jim says.

Th is spirit was prevalent during the 25th anniversary celebrations, as employees were given money to give to nonprofits or to help someone in need. One employee gave the money to a nurse at the hospital to buy pizza for her co-workers, but the nurse ended up giving it to a COVID-19 patient being released from the hospital — a truly pay-it-forward series of events.

Ultimately, paying it forward is at the heart of MEM. “If we can get all businesses showing safety and showing they care for their employees, then they're happier at work and they're more productive,” Jim says. “Then you go home and you're happier to your spouse and your kid and you're happier in your community. That's why we talk about paying it forward."

MISSOURI EMPLOYERS MUTUAL 101 N. KEENE ST. 1-800-442-0593 CUSTOMERCARE@MEM-INS.COM MEM-INS.COM

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A Time to Be Heard Keith McIver discusses the Minority Men’s Network and the importance of the nonprof it in the Columbia community.

BY NICOLE FLOOD

“THE MINORITY MEN’S NETWORK was born of the idea that the voices of our community in Columbia, Missouri, needed to be heard; and we needed to position ourselves to be at the table where decisions were being made about ethnic minorities, generally, and Black men, specifically,” says Keith Mclver, president of Minority Men’s Network. “The Minority Men’s Network started as a round table, of sorts, of local leaders in business and in the academy.

Dr. Eliot Battle and Dr. Arvarh Strickland were the co-conveners of the Minority Men’s Network.”

The co-conveners began meeting in 1985, and in 1998, the organization formalized its status. They are currently meeting regularly at Columbia College.

“The current officers and I work to carry the baton and address relevant issues facing our community through monthly MMN meetings, presenter-discussion events, community service, newsletters, and scholarship-mentorship opportunities,” says Keith.

Keith, the director of alumni development at Columbia College, is the current president of the Minority Men’s Network, something he holds as a deep honor. “It’s a legacy, a commitment, and a proud tradition of service in Columbia, Missouri,” he says. “The men welcomed me over five years ago and entrusted me last year to continue in this leadership role. I work to fill the large shoes of our prior presidents.”

Keith is joined in the office by Dr. Fred Williams, vice president; Dr. Wiley Miller, treasurer; and Al Cobbins, secretary.

The Minority Men’s Network has a mission to utilize the power of commitment to improve the lives of ethnic minorities through service.

“We value educational achievement. We value our work as mentors and role models. We seek connectedness among ourselves and the community. We value economic empowerment and diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Keith adds.

GETTING CONNECTED The organization is always open to connecting with men who share the organization’s vision, and anyone is welcome to attend a meeting as a guest. Often, their monthly meetings will include a guest speaker discussing an important topic in the community.

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Membership is by invitation and attending the Minority Men’s Network informational event is a good way to get connected and meet current members.

“The Minority Men’s Network is currently not meeting face-to-face due to the pandemic, but we have been organizationally meeting every few weeks,” says Keith. “We had our fi rst presenter-discussion events last week. Our presenter was Randy Cole, from the Office of Community Development at the City of Columbia, discussing the city’s response to the pandemic for small and minority-owned businesses.”

The Minority Men’s Network is seeking membership and renewals for the new 2020-2021 year. Joining them for a meeting, their First Friday Socials, or their scholarship programs can be a great way to engage in the community’s social issues.

THE MINORITY MEN’S EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION In 2002, the Minority Men’s Network established the Minority Men’s Network Educational Foundation to provide financial support for the education of minority youth in the Columbia area. The Minority Men’s Educational Foundation holds 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.

“We award a total of four $2,000 scholarships named for one of our late members, Ron Marley,” says Keith. “The Ron Marley Memorial Scholarship earnestly solicits contributions to support the mission of improving the lives of ethnic minorities at each of the four high schools in the Columbia Public School District. We value mentorship, community service, academic pursuit, and financial need.”

The 2020 Ron Marley Memorial Scholarship winners are: Mr. Jaden Matthew Lewis from Rock Bridge High School, Ms. Larissa Falls from Battle High School, Mr. Ezekiel Adjokatse from Hickman High School, and Ms. Trinity Stodgell from Douglass High School.

The Minority Men’s Network Educational Foundation has a committee for the scholarship to identify recipients and oversee the program. It is co-chaired by Dr. Wiley Miller and Robert Ross, an administrator at the University of Missouri.

Minority Men’s Network Founded: The co-conveners began meeting in 1985, and in 1998, the organization formalized its status.

Mission Statement: To utilize the power of committed men to improve the lives of ethnic minorities through leadership and service.

Board Members: • Keith Mclver president

• Dr. Fred Williams, III vice president

• Dr. Wiley Miller treasurer, co-chair Ron Marley Memorial Scholarship Committee

• Al Cobbins secretary

• Steve Calloway immediate past president

• Douglas Simmons former president, active member

• Robert Ross former president, co-chair Ron Marley Memorial Scholarship Committee

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

“We value educational achievement. We value our work as mentors and role models. We seek connectedness among ourselves and the community.

We value economic On behalf of the co-chairs, Keith adds: “They wish to express their deep and sincere appreciation of each selection panel member for their time, energy, devotion, and effort serving in the selection process. It is largely the scholarship committee and selection panel’s time that made these outstanding selections possible.

“On behalf of the entire Committee, we regret that we were not able to host the Ron Marley Scholarship Luncheon this year due to the pandemic. We annually toast our award winners and their immediate family members at a catered luncheon,” he says.

The organization welcomes contributions to help support the scholarship. Those interested in contributing can do so through the Minority Men’s Network’s website, or by reaching out to Keith or the Ron Marley Memorial Scholarship Committee.

MINORITY MEN’S NETWORK P.O. BOX 1839 COLUMBIA, MO, 65205 573-875-7550 INFO@MINORITYMENSNETWORK.ORG MINORITYMENSNETWORK.ORG

empowerment and diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

— Keith Mclver COMOMAG.COM

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GROW YOUR BUSINESS, NOT YOUR BUDGET

WITH A HOSTED PHONE SYSTEM FROM CHARITON VALLEY

660.395.9400

cvalley.net/business

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BUSINESS UPDATE

Two Roads Converged in the Woods Convergence Financial pulls together multiple services, creating a single, smooth f inancial path for its clients who don’t have to travel it alone.

BY MICHELLE TERHUNE | PHOTOS BY MEGAN CASADY

W

hat happens when two seasoned financial advisors successfully running separate companies figure out they share a commitment to their clients and a vision to offer multiple disciplines to better serve them? In the case of Travis Cook and Adam Bethel, you get Convergence Financial.

Travis worked for Waddell & Reed for 10 years before founding Convergence Financial in 2016.

Adam operated the Columbia office of Financial Planners of Missouri for 15 years before he and Travis decided their goals were so closely aligned that maybe their companies should be as well.

The “convergences” haven’t stopped since.

“The original idea for Convergence was bringing together the three pillars of investing, planning, and service,” says Travis, the company’s CEO. “Adam and I had both been working along this vertical channel, growing our financial planning practices independently for the last 14 or 15 years. Now we’re

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bringing these businesses together and going horizontal by pulling in different elements.

So, ‘convergence’ has taken on a bit of a new meaning today in that we’re converging some of these different business disciplines for the benefit of our clients.”

Convergence Financial, Convergence Accounting, and Convergence Insurance operate under one roof. The companies seamlessly provide investment management, retirement planning, financial and estate planning, full-service accounting, insurance, and annuities. Each service line is staffed by client-centered professionals who know their disciplines. Clients can use just one of those services or all of them.

“I like to describe it as an à la carte service offering where people can choose what they want and what they need,” says Adam, president of the company. “Whenever I’ve had the opportunity to work with other professionals on behalf of one of my clients, I’ve always found that we’ve been able to come up with a solution that was unique and

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better than what the two of us might have come up with independently.”

TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE IS JOB ONE Adam and Travis also share a passion for client service.

“We’re building something that’s designed to help not only our current clients with financial planning needs, but also more people with more of their financial-related needs,” Travis says.

“The number one thing we want to be known for is just taking really good care of people,” Adam says. “If you just take care of people first, instead of worrying about getting paid first, they’re often going to realize what’s going on, be very grateful, and be looking for ways to help you out, whether that’s using other lines of service or referring another person into our ecosystem.”

That commitment to taking care of people begins with providing a free initial consultation to learn what a client needs. Unlike some

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BUSINESS UPDATE

specialists,” Travis says. “Sometimes it works well. Sometimes, I think it has a more adversarial feel to it, where I’m looking out for my client and they’re looking out for their client, and there’s sometimes a little head-butting that happens. What’s really exciting for us is that we have a team of people committed to a variety of client needs, and that adversarial feeling is gone.”

Bill Costello brings a background in client relationship management to his role as vice president.

“It’s great to be in a conversation with a client about their financial planning needs and have a tax question come up. It’s not uncommon that a financial planning decision has a tax consequence,” Bill says. “So we can say, ‘That’s a great question. Let me step out and grab one of our CPAs and ask them to join us right now to talk that through together.’”

Travis says, “If you have multiple people working on behalf of the client, that’s where really great, comprehensive work gets done for that client.” other financial planning companies, Convergence doesn’t require clients to have a minimum asset value; although Travis says they have the most significant impact on clients with assets over $200,000, they work with clients who have far less, like the 17-year-old son of a client who came in to discuss investing in mutual funds.

Adam says that many of the company’s clients are in the age range of 55 to 62 and have experienced something in their life that makes them think about all of their “scattered pieces,” like investments, savings accounts, retirement accounts from multiple employers, or an inheritance. These clients are looking for someone who can pull all the pieces together to help them realize their goals, whether that be travel, leaving a legacy to their kids, charitable giving, or spending everything they have.

“I had a client who said he wanted the last check he ever writes to bounce,” Adam says.

“Whatever it is, our job is to listen to what clients want and help them plan for that.”

CONVERGENCE AND COLLABORATION Collaboration of professionals in a single company is another example of converging talent and know-how to benefit clients, and

“If you have multiple people working on behalf of the client, that’s where really great, comprehensive work gets done for that client.”

— Travis Cook, CEO, Convergence Financial it’s something Convergence is doing that’s relatively rare in Columbia.

“The traditional way companies work is they form referral relationships with other

THE PRESENT AND FUTURE CONVERGE The merger of Travis and Adam’s businesses was just the first step toward the future.

They recently purchased the building that houses Sophia’s restaurant on South Providence Road and are beginning a renovation and expansion project on the south side of the building to house the burgeoning company.

(Sophia’s will remain.)

Although Convergence Financial currently has loose referral arrangements with attorneys to handle clients’ legal issues such as wills, estates, and trusts, Adam and Travis say they might someday bring that service under the company’s tent as well. Any service that can help their clients is a possibility for growth.

Robert Frost wrote about two paths diverging in the woods and taking the one less traveled. For Convergence Financial, converging many paths into one smooth road is the route they want to create for what they hope are generations of clients. And that, to them, will make all the difference.

CONVERGENCE FINANCIAL 200 E. SOUTHAMPTON DR., STE. 102 573-818-2264 CONVERGENCE-FINANCIAL.COM

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PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW

Mindy McCubbin Owner, Founder, and Financial Advisor, Truman Wealth Advisors PHOTO BY ANTHONY JINSON JOB DESCRIPTION

Every day, I try to inspire my tribe to live a life of “TruWealth.” I focus on empowering clients to compound both their money and their knowledge about their money.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

I started my career in financial management at The Boeing Company. Thirteen years ago, I moved to Columbia and embarked on an amazing adventure managing investment portfolios for Shelter Insurance. Truman Wealth Advisors started as a “side gig,” leveraging my institutional knowledge to help individuals with their wealth. It evolved into a full-time venture earlier this year. I have a degree in finance from Truman State University and an MBA from Saint Louis University, as well as the chartered financial consultant certification. I spent six years on the Truman State University Foundation Board as chair of the investment committee, and I am currently on the board of the Heart of Missouri United Way. HOMETOWN

Belleville, Illinois.

QUOTE YOU LIVE BY

“Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.”

— Maya Angelou

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A COLUMBIA FINANCE LEADER YOU ADMIRE AND WHY

I admire Kathleen Bruegenhemke, the chief operations and risk officer at Hawthorn Bank. She is strong, smart, and fun. I know that it’s not easy to be a woman executive in financial services, but she makes it look easy.

HOW YOU GOT INTO YOUR PROFESSION

I have always been a bit obsessed with the concept of compound interest and finding ways to make money work for you (so you don’t have to work for money). When I started working in investment management, I found myself drawn to the intellectual challenge of portfolio theory combined with the art of designing a portfolio for a specific purpose. Finally, I am a “relational” person, so I like working on a human level directly with clients. This led me on the path to starting my own investment and financial planning firm.

“ I have a hidden breakdancing talent, and every once in a while, I will bust out 'the worm' on the dance floor.”

THE NEXT CHALLENGE FACING THE FINANCE INDUSTRY

The financial services industry is on the cusp of the biggest wealth transfer in history.

Women control a third of all wealth today, but another $30 trillion is set to change hands in the next three to four decades.

Women are both climbing the career ladder faster than ever and, given higher life expectancies, will likely inherit wealth from their spouses and aging parents. At the same time, the financial advisory profession is rapidly aging and dominated by male advisors. I started my firm recognizing the need for more women advisors that could connect to this expanding market.

FAMILY

I am happily married to Travis, my husband of 20 years. We have two wonderful and

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A SURPRISING FACT ABOUT YOURSELF

I have a hidden breakdancing talent, and every once in a while, I will bust out “the worm” on the dance floor.

YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE FOR TRUMAN WEALTH ADVISORS

I want to continue to build and expand the TruWealth community. My goal is to start not just a company, but a movement. True wealth is focused on optimizing your finances and investments and focused on creating a better design for your life. I started my company because I believe that exceptional people deserve true wealth. They deserve to live life by design and not by default. And, I am committed to guiding my clients who are motivated to achieve it.

GREATEST STRENGTH

WHY YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR JOB

There is nothing more satisfying than guiding a client to achieve a truly meaningful financial goal. Whether that is embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, establishing a charitable foundation, or investing and planning wisely so they “emancipate” themselves from work for the rest of their lives — getting to see client dreams become reality is what ignites me. I am wildly passionate about delivering successful outcomes for my clients.

women from Equita Financial Network, which I am a member of.

messy children: Riley, a junior at Rock Bridge High School, and Tyler, a fifth grader at Rock Bridge Elementary. We have a Second Chance mutt named Rogue that we all adore. My inlaws are lifelong Boone County natives (and distant relatives of Daniel Boone)!

I am very competitive and enjoy the challenge of portfolio management. I could geek out on investment strategies, economics, and financial markets all day.

But, I also like to simplify complex financial ideas for clients too.

GREATEST WEAKNESS

Buffalo chicken dip.

FAVORITE PLACE IN COLUMBIA

I love running the beautiful Columbia trails with a fantastic group of amazing women runners. We have traveled many miles together, and we always talk and share our stories and struggles while we run the MKT trail and Rock Bridge State Park.

IF YOU WEREN’T DOING THIS FOR A LIVING, YOU WOULD

I would love to be a full-time surfing instructor, but I don’t have either the talent or the ocean in my backyard to make that a reality. Maybe someday!

AN ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU’RE MOST PROUD OF

Becoming a registered advisor and starting my own firm. Only 16% of financial advisors are women. Firms owned by women and/ or minorities manage just 1.3% of the $69 trillion under management by the industry. It was an enormous risk to start a business in the middle of a pandemic, but I have the support of an amazing group of

YOUR FAVORITE VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY ACTIVITY TO DO IN COLUMBIA

The United Way Day of Caring. I miss the “one community” feel of events like the Day of Caring, especially given the challenges of COVID-19. I am looking forward to a time we can have it in person again.

BIGGEST LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED THROUGH YOUR CAREER IN FINANCE

Your net worth does not equal your self-worth.

FINANCIAL ADVICE FOR OTHERS

If you don’t save your money, your money can’t save you. And while it’s important to save, you must also have a quality plan for how you want to be joyful in spending your wealth, both today and in the future.

The most important element for financial happiness is knowing how your wealth can deliver more freedom, greater peace, and richer meaning in your life and for your family. That is what finding TruWealth is all about!

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PAYC HEC K PROTEC TION PRO GR A M

Loans in Columbia

BY NI CO L E FLO O D

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“The U.S. Treasury and Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program was a flurry of activity from the day the CARES Act was passed,” says Mark Claypole, of The Bank of Missouri. “Normally, SBA loans across the bank’s footprint [32 branches in 22 Missouri cities at the time the CARES Act was passed, but now 36 branches in 25 Missouri cities] are handled by our dedicated team of four SBA lenders, six support staffers, and a manager. With the tremendous need from the small businesses in all of the communities we serve, it was all hands on deck, so everyone in the bank’s entire lending department — which is approximately 150 loan officers, loan assistants, compliance and operations staff — and a large portion of our retail department was involved in some way with processing, reviewing, submitting, approving, and disbursing PPP loans to small businesses.”

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ALL THAT’S TO SAY — the PPP was quite an operation.

Mark works as the SBA sales coordinator, managing internal and external business development for The Bank of Missouri’s dedicated SBA department. “I specifically worked on getting loans processed as quickly as possible, while providing as much information to answering questions for our customers and community resource partners about the program and the changes made along the way,” he says.

Eric Morrison, Mid-Missouri region president of Providence Bank, shares a similar experience in working with the PPP loans. “The program as a whole proved to be a very successful way to move a lot of capital into the hands of a lot of small businesses in a short amount of time,” says Eric. “For banks, it was a really tangible way to respond in a time of real economic need in a way that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible.”

“As a team, it was a real rallying cry for our whole commercial bank team,” says Eric. It was a lot of calls and a lot of odd hours and remote working situations we hadn’t seen before. It’s been satisfying to see how everyone really tackled their duties head on and came together for our client base.”

Mark adds that ever-changing rules are normal in SBA lending, but generally these changes are minor tweaks to existing rules.

The hardest thing about the PPP loans was the broadly written initial rules; they were written so broadly, in fact, that it left several gray areas initially unanswered. “Th is understandably caused confusion and frustration for everyone involved, without much clarity until additional guidance was issued,” says Mark.

“Certainly at the beginning of anything that large in scale, there are going to be differences in the way you think it will work and how it actually does work once rolled out. For a program of this magnitude, that certainly magnified,” says Eric. He says those uncertainties generally worked themselves out, and during the time of confusion, there was also quick feedback from the SBA and treasury.

“There was so much demand that it was difficult to manage the pipeline of what was coming in to start with, and we knew the initial funding was likely to not be sufficient, which created even more demand for that fi rst group of funding,” says Eric.

Many organizations who applied for the loan noticed a gap in funding. “The initial funding for the program ran out in 13 days,” says Mark. “It took another act of Congress to get additional funding appropriated to reopen the program after an 11-day gap. The demand initially for the second round was high as well, but the second round of fund-

ing did not run out by the time of the initial application deadline of June 30 or the extended deadline of August 8.”

Columbia Business PPP Money Distribution “It was a staggering amount for specifically Columbia businesses,” says Eric. “From Providence Bank’s perspective about 50 percent of all the PPP loans we did were to business with 5 employees or less. Just under 70 percent were to business with 10 or fewer employees. Just under 90 percent of loans were to companies with under 25 employees.”

As of June 30, 101 lenders issued 2,019 PPP loans under $150,000 in Columbia for a total of $69,581,588.19, saving 10,905 jobs as reported by the SBA. “The Bank of Missouri did 170 of these loans for $6,257,500 and helped save 1,035 jobs,” says Mark. “For PPP loans over $150,000, a specific dollar amount was not in the data provided, but it showed 46 lenders did 304 PPP loans over $150,000 and saved 16,181 jobs. The Bank of Missouri did 27 of these loans and was able to help save 1,689 jobs. I note that those are jobs reported, because some loans did not have a reported job saved in the data.” (Editor’s note: Additional data can be found on SBA’s Freedom of Information Act website.)

PROVIDENCE BANK’S SMALL BUSINESS PPP LOAN DISTRIBUTION

ABOUT

50%

JUST UNDER

70%

JUST UNDER

of PPP loans issued

by Providence Bank went to business with 5 employees or less.

of PPP loans issued

by Providence Bank went to business with 10 employees or less.

of PPP loans issued

by Providence Bank went to business with 25 employees or less.

90%

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COLUMBIA PPP LOANS BY THE NUMBERS

As of June 30, 101 lenders issued 2,019 PPP loans under $150,000 in Columbia for a total of $69,581,588.19, saving 10,905 jobs as reported by the SBA.

Mark Claypole

SBA Sales Coordinator, The Bank of Missouri

THE BANK OF MISSOURI’S IMPACT ON JOBS

Jessie Yankee

Director, Missouri Women’s Business Center

Eric Morrison

Mid-Missouri Region President, Providence Bank

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The Bank of Missouri issued 170 loans under $150,000, for a total of $6,257,500, and helped save 1,035 jobs. They also issued 27 loans over $150,000, which helped save an additional 1,689 jobs.

Loan Forgiveness Process “The Bank of Missouri has partnered with Sageworks to provide software to help borrowers calculate and submit their PPP forgiveness applications,” says Mark. “Th is was done to help the efficiency for getting the forgiveness request processed as well as for better tracking and communication with the borrowers.

“Sageworks worked directly with the SBA so that their two software programs will communicate seamlessly,” he adds. “The forgiveness applications will still be reviewed by the bank before submitting to SBA, but the software will provide the ability to automatically submit the request to SBA rather than being done manually.”

Mark says a common question he receives from borrowers now that they are in the forgiveness phase of this program is whether the government will run out of money to actually forgive the loans.

“Because the way the CARES Act was written, the funds for any borrowers loans were appropriated at the time of SBA authorization — AKA when your lender got approval from SBA for your PPP loan,” Mark says. “Th is means they had to specifically set aside the funds at that time, so there is no cause for concern that the government will run out of money to actually forgive your loans.

He adds that it’s important to note that this program was put together by U.S. Treasury Department and Small Business Administration in a week.

“To my knowledge, no other government program has ever been done in that short of a time period and defi nitely not at that level of funding. At that time, no one could have seen the impact COVID-19 has had on our local economy and the world. The program wasn’t perfect, but it did help a lot of businesses get much needed access to capital very quickly,” says Mark.

“True recovery for our business community will not come as a result of government disaster relief programs.

It will come from our business owners that learn to adapt and the continued patronage of local businesses by the citizens of Columbia, Boone County, and surrounding areas,” he adds.

“True recovery for our business community will not come as a result of government disaster relief programs. It will come from our business owners that learn to adapt and the continued patronage of local businesses by the citizens of Columbia, Boone County, and surrounding areas.”

— Mark Claypole, SBA Sales Coordinator, The Bank of Missouri

PPP Loans from the Missouri Women’s Business Center’s Perspective “The PPP loan was a great COVID-19 relief opportunity for many businesses. The clients who successfully accessed the loan were able to weather the fi nancial storm a bit better, at least temporarily,” says Jessie Yankee, director of the Missouri Women's Business Center, a program of Central Missouri Community Action.

MoWBC, just like the PPP loans, is funded by the Small Business Administration. MoWBC serves as a resource partner to the SBA and assisted the community with preparing PPP applications, understanding and communicating the rules and regulations, and working with local banks to educate businesses.

“The communication process was messy, and getting timely, accurate data to as many businesses as possible was a challenge,” Jessie says. “Many of our clients are sole proprietors, and there was a lot of confusion about whether they qualified for the PPP. Many small businesses disqualified themselves without really looking into the opportunity. And the media coverage regarding the PPP, unfortunately, left many businesses fearful of accepting the money due to worry about spending it incorrectly or having to pay it back.”

During the initial rollout, the MoWBC tried to position itself as a trusted partner for as many small businesses as possible.

“If a business didn't have a pre-existing relationship with a resource partner like the MoWBC, a banker, or other avenue of communication regarding the PPP, they were simply left out,” Jessie says. “We are currently working very hard to create new avenues of communication and education regarding small business issues and opportunities to our minority community.”

Jessie adds that many clients were successful in accessing the PPP funds, but she is still hopeful another round will open up. “I would love it if it were open only to businesses with 10 or fewer employees in a micro-grant format,” she says. “The Missouri Women's Business Center is still connecting as many businesses as possible to various grant opportunities.”

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Credit Unions vs. Banks 101

Which is right for you?

The difference is in the details.

BY L AU R E N S A B L E FR E I M A N

COMOMAG.COM

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T

here are many flavors of ice cream.

Some people prefer chocolate, while others crave vanilla or maybe strawberry.

The same principle applies to the variety of banks and credit unions in Columbia, says Joe Miller, Central Missouri regional president of First State Community Bank.

“Banks and credit unions both serve a unique and important purpose in helping folks financially,” Joe says. “We can all be successful in our markets and serve an important purpose in helping our communities grow.”

While banks and credit unions are similar in the financial services and products they offer, a couple of distinct differences separate them.

Understanding these differences and knowing what questions to ask are the keys to choosing the option that works best for you.

WH AT ’ S THE D IFF E R E N C E?

Banks are for-profit institutions that offer financial services and products to the general public. While some banks, like Bank of America and U.S. Bank, are publicly traded on the stock market, community banks, like First State Community Bank, are privately held entities.

“We are controlled by the owner-employees who own the stock,” Joe says. “There is a huge difference between community banks and Wall Street investment banks. We aren’t investing in derivatives and things on Wall Street. We are investing in our community, our depositors, and our customers who borrow money.”

In contrast, credit unions are not-for-profit institutions with eligibility requirements for membership. These requirements can be based on geographic location, employer, or membership in a group like a labor union, school, homeowners’ association, or place of worship.

At Columbia Credit Union, membership is open to anyone who lives or works in Boone County and to those who are direct relatives of an existing member, says Amy Walker, Columbia Credit Union’s member advocate. As nonprofits, credit unions return profits to their members “through monthly dividends, lower interest rate loans, and higher deposit rates,” Amy says. Every member of a credit union is eligible to run for the board of directors, and if elected, that member can help make decisions regarding the local operations of the credit union.

Both banks and credit unions are federally insured up to $250,000 per depositor; banks are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance

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OCTOBER 2020

Corporation while credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Administration.

Though insured by different government agencies, banks and credit unions guarantee investments in the same way. Should a bank or credit union suddenly shut its doors, both the FDIC and NCUA exist to protect clients and the money they’ve invested. “All banks pay into a national fund that is a function of the federal government, and your dollars up to a certain threshold are safe and guaranteed to be paid back to you,” Joe says.

Entrusting assets to banks and credit unions comes with the same amount of risk, but Amy says that becoming knowledgeable about where you plan to invest makes for a financially healthy customer.

AMY WALKER Member advocate, Columbia Credit Union

ACCES S I NG YO UR FUNDS

According to Amy, “everyone likes to be close to their money,” and both banks and credit unions provide customers with the ability to quickly and easily access funds. Credit unions use “shared branching,” which means that members

JOE MILLER Central Missouri regional president, First State Community Bank

"Banks and credit unions both serve a unique and important purpose in helping folks financially.

We can all be successful in our markets and serve an important purpose in helping

our communities grow."

- JOE MILLER

can walk in to nearly any credit union across the nation and access their account. Columbia Credit Union members and members of other credit unions also have access to shared ATM networks like the CO-OP system.

“You’ll have easy access to your money wherever you may be traveling with the CO-OP ATM system,” Amy says. “There are over 33,000 ATMs in the CO-OP system, which outnumbers Bank of America and Wells Fargo combined. Over 8,000 of those take deposits, so you don’t even need to visit a branch.”

Similarly, First State Community Bank’s customers have access to the bank’s 59 locations throughout Missouri.

“Whether you are in Columbia, Farmington, or the Bootheel, you can walk into any branch and access your account or make a deposit just like you would anywhere else,” Joe says.

CO NNECTION WI T H CUSTO ME R S

Both banks and credit unions pride themselves on building relationships with customers and providing them with highly personalized service.

“We really pride ourselves on individual attention to individual customers, and we try to assign customers to individual bankers in our bank,” Joe says. “If I have a commercial lending customer, that customer knows they can call me day or night, and they have my cell phone number. We provide a level of service that continues to earn that relationship.”

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7 Key Questions for Choosing a Bank or Credit Union When it comes to choosing where to put your money, Amy says asking some key questions will help you arrive at the option that’s right for you.

1. What services do you provide with online banking platforms?

2. Are there monthly or annual fees, and how much are they?

3. What do your deposit rates look like?

4. What do your loan rates look like?

5. What kind of benef its do I have as a customer/ member of this f inancial institution?

6. How will you help to protect my credit score?

7. How can you help me rebuild my credit?

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OCTOBER 2020

At Columbia Credit Union, Amy says the team views customers as more than just an account.

The staff prides itself on learning every customer’s name within the first few visits.

While banks and credit unions both offer services like checking and savings accounts, CDs, safety deposit boxes, credit cards, debit cards, and online banking, other factors — like interest rates, fees, and added services — will vary.

At Columbia Credit Union, members have access to discounted movie tickets, amusement park tickets, gift cards, and travel cards, as well as discounts on things like cell phone bills and homeowner’s insurance. The fee structure also differs from banks.

“Your membership means higher investment rates and lower loan rates,” Amy says. “Since credit unions are member-owned entities, loan fees and maintenance fees are minimal. We restructure loans every day to help people save money. We know that we can save you money, and to prove it, we give members up to $100 cash when we close loans, which lowers monthly payments for our members.”

Banks typically offer investment portfolio management, while most credit unions do not.

Due to their larger asset base, Joe says banks are also typically able to offer a wider range of products and services, especially when it comes to business services.

“The level of business services, and our ability to help the cash flow of businesses, is a main differentiator,” Joe says. “We are pretty diversified in our product offerings and offer more tools in the toolbox, especially for commercial customers.”

CO MMUNI TY I NVESTMENT

When it comes to supporting the local community, Joe says with confidence that Columbia’s entire financial services industry is secondto-none. Whether supporting the food bank, chamber of commerce, Boys and Girls Club, or other local organizations, Columbia’s banks and credit unions are united when it comes to reinvesting in the community to support growth and positive change.

“The banks and credit unions are unbelievably supportive in giving back to our community and in helping our nonprofits in a lot of ways,” he says.

“We all get along — there isn’t one-upmanship.

We work very well together in the community to help support the needs of the community.”

Ultimately, the deciding factor in choosing where to bank — whether it is a large national bank, community bank, or credit union — is personal comfort.

“It’s about relationships more than anything,” Joe says. “Find a bank you’re comfortable dealing with, who provides that level of customer service that you’re expecting.”

Committed and authentic for the greater good of our company, and more importantly, our clients.

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Vice President and Trust Officer Jenny and I have our own responsibilities, strengths and weaknesses. By encouraging and supporting one another, we enhance each other and more importantly, our clients benefit from working with a cohesive, high performing team. And they’ve learned to count on us to cheer them on toward their professional and personal goals.

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5. I enjoy people, but I relish my down time.

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Call

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