JA N UA RY 2022 | T HE 20 U NDER 40 ISSU E | A PU B L ICATION OF TH E B U SIN E SS TIM E S COM PAN Y
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COMING FEBRUARY 2022
A L L N E W, A L L E L E C T R I C : T H E K I A E V 6
WHY KIA IN 2022?
As we wrap up our first year at Kia of Columbia, we have so many things to look back and be thankful for. We have grown our brand exponentially, we have increased our customer satisfaction to record highs, and we have brought several new vehicles to market for the first time which our customers love and enjoy.
So, why Kia? We are a brand that is continuing to
As we look forward into 2022 it is an even more exciting horizon. We have the all new EV6 All Electric vehicle launching in February, all new redesigned 2023 Kia Sportage launching in March, and an allnew Niro EV Plug In and Hybrid option launching in late summer.
importantly, we have brought together a team that
Moving forward Kia has made a promise to lead the electrification movement across all major brands.
pioneer some of the best-looking vehicles on the market at a very affordable price range for our clients! We are pushing the boundaries for how we take care of customers with our three-dimensional sales process that puts the customer first. Most shares a passion for the brand and a passion to be best in class with everything that we do!
Stop by and meet our team and check out our all-new line up anytime!! - Matt McMahon, General Manager #KiaLovesCoMo
Scan here to visit our blog to find out more and see what we’ve been up to at Kia of Columbia!
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JANUARY 2022
Letter from the Publisher
I
The Future of Columbia
am so excited to bring you this issue! The team has worked extremely hard on it . . . even more than our normal workload. We had to change our schedule and resources for just about everything. We rescheduled 27 people for a massive, multiday photoshoot due to unavoidable conflicts. We brought in our very own Charles Bruce to take on a larger load of photography resulting in his first ever cover. We came in way late on some deadlines, but the result is one of my favorite issues ever. If you’ve been around me for any length of time, you likely know that the 20 under 40 process is my favorite thing I get to do every year. I have worked to delegate many things, especially in light of my city council candidacy, but it’s been heard more than once that this brand will be pried from my cold, dead hands. Why do I feel so strongly about it? Because it’s just so much fun! It aligns directly with my passion for Columbia, for mentorship, and for telling stories of those in our community doing amazing things. While I lead the process, I don’t do it alone. Nominations are sent in from the community, and selections are made using our advisory board and our 20 under 40 alumni. But, I get to be the interviewer and producer. I meet cool new people every year. In a town where it often feels like I know everyone, this is very refreshing. Sitting with these people during their interviews will give you a large dose of optimism for the future of our city. Lastly, we structure it so that each person is individually celebrated through social media releases, the magazine article, and the gala. The feeling of watching them be loved on by their friends and family feels amazing . . . especially since we make them keep it a secret for two months ahead of time. It’s like watching your kids open the best Christmas present about 20 times over as they get to
ART DIRECTOR'S BREAKFAST PICKS I'm sorry, but waffles and pancakes just don't do it for me. I want a savory breakfast!
It’s been heard more than once that this brand will be pried from my cold, dead hands. bask in the verbal affirmation from their community. So often people do amazing things and it gets overlooked or becomes expected. During this process, we get to use our platform to lift them up and show people greatness in all creeds, races, genders, and professions. Ultimately, this is why we do what we do every day. Then, to top it all off, I was able to sit with Desiree Reed-Francois and interview her myself! After seeing her talk to the community at the September Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Membership Breakfast, I was fangirling hard! I toiled over which questions to ask so that it wasn’t a repeat of every other athletics interview she’s done. My goal was for people to get to know her past the headlines, and I feel we accomplished that. I hope you love this issue as much as I do. Go to The Toasty Goat and flip through it over a cup of coffee. And, as always, if you have questions or feedback for me, please feel free to email me at erica@comomag.com.
Pumpernickel Bagel with Scallion Cream Cheese Goldie's Bagels I am SO EXCITED about Columbia's new Jewish deli! I can't wait to see what Amanda Rainey comes up with next. Deluxe Bloody Mary Ozark Mountain Biscuit & Bar They also sell a non-deluxe version if you are a boring person. Cheese Grits Cafe Berlin I know, it is a weird choice, but these grits are comfort food to the max! Ham & Cheese Croissant Uprise Bakery I used to be obsessed with their sausage biscuit, until I had this croissant. Do yourself a favor and make the upgrade. Garlic & Greens Panzerotti Pasta La Fata Everything I have ever eaten from Pasta La Fata is the best version of that thing I've ever had. Check out these turnovers at the Columbia Farmer's Market.
ON THE COVER Michele Curry, treasury management officer at Commerce Bank. Read about our 20 under 40 Class of 2022 on pg. 97 Photo by Charles Bruce III
JANUARY 202 2 | 20 UND ER 40 | A PU BL I CAT I O N O F T HE BU SI NESS T I MES CO MPANY
MICHELE CURRY COMMERCE BANK
All my best,
ERICA PEFFERMAN PUBLISHER
COMOMAG.COM
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N e w Ye a r, N e w B r a n d
BIGGER IMPACT
Since opening its doors in 1964 Woodhaven has lived under our original branding. While we still do serve individuals with disabilities, we felt our branding needed to represent the community we’ve built, the modern era of programming (EnCircle Technologies), and show how we embrace all abilities. The infinity symbol not only represents two communities coming together and embracing but our lifelong commitment to the individuals we serve. Visit our website to learn more about the community we continue to serve.
1405 HATHMAN PLACE | WOODHAVENTEAM.ORG | (573) 875-6181
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JANUARY 2022
President Erica Pefferman
Erica@comomag.com
Senior Vice President Fran Patrick Fran@comomag.com
EDITORIAL Publisher | Erica Pefferman Erica@comomag.com
Editor | Kim Ambra Kim@comomag.com
Copy Editor | Matt Patston
DESIGN Art Director | Cassidy Shearrer
Cassidy@comomag.com
Senior Graphic Designer | Jordan Watts Jordan@comomag.com
Director of Photography | Sadie Thibodeaux Sadie@comomag.com
Graphic Designer | Kate Morrow Kate@comomag.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Keith Borgmeyer, Charles Bruce III, Getty Images, Jet Stream Photography, Anthony Jinson, Sadie Thibodeaux
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Kim Ambra, Taylor Ambra, Beth Bramstedt, Lauren Sable Freiman, Gracie Fitzgerald, Alex George, Jules Graebner, Amanda Long, Erica Pefferman, Mary Caitlyn Polovich, Hannah Robertson, La Toya Stevens, Michelle Terhune, Jennifer Truesdale
Director of Operations Amy Ferrari Amy@comomag.com
MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES Account Executive | Charles Bruce Charles@comomag.com
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.
CONTACT
Business Times Holdings, LLC 18 S. Ninth St. Ste 201, Columbia, MO, 65201 (573) 499-1830 • comomag.com /wearecomomag @wearecomomag
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Magazines are $5.95 an issue. Subscription rate is $39 for 12 issues for one year or $69 for 24 issues for two years. Subscribe at comomag.com or by phone. COMO is published every month by Business Times Holdings, LLC. Copyright Business Times Holdings, LLC 2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of any editorial or graphic content without the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited.
ON T HEM E
What was your favorite part about your 20 under 40 experience?
Trent Rash Class of 2021
Megan Walters Class of 2021
Erica Pefferman Publisher
Kim Ambra Editor
My favorite part of the 20 under 40 experience was the amazing community I was able to become a part of and the relationships that I have developed with people like me who care deeply about Columbia and want to continue to make it a better place.
My favorite part is the opportunity to meet so many wonderful, successful people in this community from vast varieties of different careers — many of them on paths I never cross. It was amazing to get the chance to meet them and learn and celebrate their victories!
My favorite part is getting to watch these 20 wonderful and very deserving individuals be celebrated by our entire community, including their family and friends. It really is a very special time for them. Every reveal day feels like Christmas morning.
ALL OF IT! From receiving nominations to sitting around a table battling it out for our selections to the photo shoot and getting to know these amazing individuals to the gala itself. It is hands down my favorite time of year professionally.
ADJUSTING
Your Health
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION Dr. Ashley Emel
DC, CACCP, Webster Certified
Dr. Jennifer Sutherland DC, FASA
2516 Forum Blvd. #102 (573) 445-4444 compass-chiropractic.com
1 in 3 SENIORS
dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. It kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer
COMBINED. Get the 2021 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report at alz.org/facts.
M I S SO U R I A L Z H E I M E R ’ S S TAT I S T I C S
153.8% 2,782
increase in Alzheimer’s deaths since 2000
6th
leading cause of death
DEATHS FROM ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE IN 2019
IN 2020 there were 120,000 people 65+ with Alzheimers. IN 2025 there will be an estimated 130,000 people 65+ with Alzheimers.
Need help? Reach out anytime.
24/7 HELPLINE 1-800-272-3900 More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. The cost of caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias is estimated to total $355 billion in 2021, increasing to more than $1.1 trillion (in today’s dollars) by mid-century. Dementia caregivers today are providing 20% more care than in 2009.
REGISTER TODAY FOR THE Columbia Walk to End Alzheimer’s a t alz.org/comowalk If you are interested in helping out with the 2022 Walk to End Alzheimers, contact Chris Cottle at ccottle@alz.org
FEATURES
119 JANUARY 202 2 | The 2o under 40 Issue
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52
Publisher’s Letter
FRIENDS & FAMILY
LIVING 26
ART & CULTURE An Artist by Nature, a Gallerist by Trade
28
WELLNESS Jerrell Jackson: Inspiring the Next Generation of Athletes
31
GUEST VOICES Alex George — Skylarking
32
HOMES Living History
47
FAVORITE FINDS Favorite Place
A Day in the Life of a Firefighter
63 COUPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW John Fabsits & Elizabeth Leatherman
WORKING 69 CLOSER LOOK
70 BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS
73 MOVERS & SHAKERS
75
GUEST VOICES La Toya Stevens — The Dream Continues
76
CELEBRATIONS A Local Cause in Motion
79
NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT A Vital Part
83
BUSINESS UPDATE Resources, Expertise, Support
87
PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW Barbara Buffaloe
130
THIS OR THAT Mike Nolan
AN INTERVIEW WITH DESIREÉ REED-FRANCOIS Erica Pefferman and Desireé Reed-Francois sit down over coffee at the Toasty Goat Coffee Co. to discuss breaking barriers, developing leaders, and dealing with social media haters.
57 SCOUTS HONOR Times are changing for the Boy Scouts of America Great Rivers Council.
92 FROM THE GROUND UP New growth and expanded entertainment options for Mid-Missouri.
97 20 UNDER 40 Introducing the best of the best in Columbia.
Amanda! Congratulations,
Congratulations on your outstanding recognition as a 20 Under 40 honoree!
You are truly #CPSBest.
1818 W. Worley Street, Columbia, MO (573) 214-3400 • cpsk12.org
20
JANUARY 2022
Congratulations to
Dr. Garima Singh on being named one of the 20 Under 40 Class of 2022!
www.burrellcenter.com | 573-777-8300
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Living
28 JERRELL JACKSON Inspiring the Next Generation of Athletes.
32 LIVING HISTORY Preserving a Columbia icon.
52
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FIREFIGHTER Co-workers turned family when working at the fire department.
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JANUARY 2022
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Be a part of something fresher Join us at the market. Join our community. co lum b ia fa r m e r s m a r ke t .org
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to our Executive Director on being a part of the 20 Under 40 Class of 2022!
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An Artist by Nature, a Gallerist by Trade Exploring contemporary and post-war pieces f rom around the globe with Joel Sager. BY G R ACI E F I T ZGE R A L D | PHOTO BY S A D I E T HI B O D E AUX
T
he Sager Reeves Art Gallery is nestled at the heart of the North Village Arts District in Columbia. The gallery hosts the work of over 100 artists from all over the globe. With both contemporary and mid-century pieces, the exhibits showcased throughout the year bring in artists and admirers alike. When Joel Sager, artist and co-owner of the gallery, was at the start of his career, his own art was showcased at the Sager Reeves gallery location (formerly known as P.S. Gallery and then Sager Braudis Gallery). When the owners of P.S. moved out of state, Sager was presented with the opportunity to take over. He explained that being a gallerist wasn’t the career path he had envisioned for himself, and he was admittedly
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JANUARY 2022
hesitant. “At the time, it seemed like something I’d do and then transition out of . . . but now, my dual identity is as an artist and a gallerist. I can’t imagine not owning the gallery.” Soon after taking ownership of the gallery, Sager was featured in the 2014 class of 20 under 40. At the time of Sager’s original feature, the gallery had contracts with about 30 artists. Since then, the gallery has reached new heights and now has upwards of 100 artists in rotation. Th is growth wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Sager’s fellow artists, collectors, supporters, and his new co-owner, Hannah Reeves. Reeves, who was a long-term director at the gallery, recently stepped up to co-owner. As a
longtime contributor to the arts community with years of experience in the gallery business, Reeves was the perfect fit. Sager says: “I met Hannah through the visual arts group. She was professional, smart, engaged, and passionate about the artwork. I had a shortlist of people, and she was at the very top, so I was very pleased when she took the job.” Sager and Reeves’ artistic styles and business approaches complement each other seamlessly. Sager says: “I couldn’t be any more proud or honored to have her by my side. We’ve always had a very ‘left-hand, righthand’ working relationship.” The Sager Reeves gallery represents two types of programming: contemporary and
Living
post-war. Contemporary art is created by living artists; the post-war pieces highlight an array of sometimes overlooked figures in art history. These artists are from the period after World War II, when the capital of the art world moved from Europe to the U.S., and more specifically to New York City. Because of this paradigm shift, there was a significant influx of creative talent, and the United States is still in the process of uncovering artists from that time. To contribute to these uncovering efforts, the gallery hosts its annual Masters Exhibit. Originally, the exhibit was intended to showcase only contemporary artists, but the event quickly shifted to include post-war work. Th is evolution happened in part because Sager had a long-term dream of selling an original Picasso. So, when planning the fi rst Masters Exhibit, he jumped into researching the process behind properly exhibiting such high-caliber work. It’s not an easy feat — transportation is costly and requires precision and extreme care. However, Sager successfully exhibited and sold a Picasso at the fi rst Masters Exhibit, and this December, the gallery proudly hosted its eighth annual event. In the future, Sager hopes to make the gallery collection more robust with the addition of artists in both the contemporary and post-
war categories. To do this, the gallerists will work with the secondary market of both dealers and the estates of artists and collectors to continue bringing in compelling work from deceased artists. Sager enjoys getting to know these individuals through the work they’ve collected over the years and have chosen to bring into their own houses and collections. He said, “There’s an art form to curating . . . there’s absolutely a talent that’s involved with collecting and buying and acquiring works, and so to be invited into people’s homes and to go through their portfolio of paintings is really special and intriguing.” While the collection is ever evolving, the gallery is not currently taking submissions. Th is allows Sager and his colleagues to properly focus on the artists they currently support. Sager considers this a positive because it means the gallery is in good standing with an abundance of talented artists in rotation. But there’s good news for artists wanting to be featured in the future — the gallerists reassess annually whether or not they’ll be accepting submissions. For others looking to get involved in the art community, the Sager Reeves Gallery is usually open to the public Tuesday through Saturday. During the fi rst week of the month, however, the gallery offers member previews
ART & CULTURE
by appointment Tuesday through Friday and is open to the public from 6 to 9 p.m. on First Fridays, when the North Village Arts District invites the community, including visitors and tourists, to collectively experience art and entertainment. Columbia has hosted quarterly gallery walks for years, but the board for the North Village Arts District created First Fridays as a way to increase the frequency of these events. The arts are thriving in Columbia, and there are even more exciting things on the horizon. In November, Veterans United donated $10 million in grant money to almost 100 local nonprofits, including the North Village Arts District. The grant of $231,530 will enable local and regional artists to contribute 10 to 12 local art installations, including sculptures, murals, and outdoor areas for the community to enjoy. Sager’s impact on the arts scene in Columbia is clear, and he’s excited for what the future holds for both the Sager Reeves gallery and, more broadly, the local arts community. “Columbia has something really interesting and special,” he says. “I think if people aren’t aware of Columbia’s arts district, they should come down and visit. If they are aware, I think they feel very privileged to live in this city.
COMOMAG.COM
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Jerrell Jackson: Inspiring the Next Generation of Athletes BY JULES N. GRAEBNER | PHOTOS BY CHARLES BRUCE III
A
fter playing for the Mizzou football team and a number of teams in the NFL, Jerrell Jackson has seen his name in lights more than the average person in Columbia. Though his time on the field has ended, Jerrell has found his footing as co-owner and trainer at API Project Fitness. However, Jerrell says that the journey to where he is now wasn’t all easy. After his stint in the NFL, Jerrell was living in Houston. At the time, he was working as a sales manager at a local gym, and he started doing a bit of personal training on the side. Jerrell’s first client? His mom. “I was training my mom and some of her friends,” Jerrell laughs. He eventually began training a few athletes that looked up to him, “but I wasn’t in charge of anybody. I was just doing it because I had a lot of free time.” Jerrell’s friend, Michael Egnew, took notice of this. Michael had lent a hand when his sister-in-law, Melissa Wilhite, had opened a competitive cheer gym, All-Star Performance Institute, in Columbia. Michael had noticed that
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JANUARY 2022
the cheer gym wasn’t being utilized for most of the day — many of the young athletes were not able to train until after 4 p.m., when the school day was over — and he had the idea to open the gym during the day to older clientele. Knowing that Jerrell was now a personal trainer, Michael invited him to move back to Columbia in order to start on this new venture together. “I thought about it, but it took me a minute to come around,” Jerrell says. In addition to furthering his personal training career, Jerrell still had ambitions of rejoining the NFL. After considering it, he decided that the move would give him more opportunity to hone his own skills. He agreed to Michael’s proposition, and Jerrell moved back to Columbia to work at All-Star Performance Institute. “Long story short, I moved up here [and] me and Egnew started doing boot camps and training athletes. Before you knew it, we were training 50 to 60 adults and over 30 or 40 athletes,” Jerrell says. The pair eventually moved to a new location and API Project Fitness was born. “If it wasn’t for the cheer gym, All-Star
Performance Institute, I wouldn’t have even made it out here to Columbia. Big props to Melissa and Egnew for convincing me to come out here!” Jerrell says. API has become a popular place for experienced athletes and fitness newbies alike, which Jerrell credits to the gym’s uplifting, positive energy. “If you talk to anyone, they always tell you for sure: API is electric. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been up for 72 hours and you walk into the gym with zero juice — like, just a body, no soul,” he laughs. “Somehow, you’re going to walk into that gym and feel like you just drank 10 coffees and a Bang energy. Why? Because we’re going to instill that energy. We’re going to make sure that the atmosphere in the gym is at its peak so that you can perform well.” This electric energy is one of the many reasons why Jerrell is one of the most sought-after personal trainers in Columbia, but he says this wasn’t always his plan. “I still had aspirations of getting back into the NFL. I still had my agent, I was still talking with
Living
a couple teams, but the injury I had . . . it took a bit longer to heal up than I thought,” he admits. Instead of dwelling on the injury, Jerrell dove headfirst into helping others improve. “When I was training, I started seeing success [for my clients]. At that moment, I thought, ‘Dang. This is cool. I’m applying my commitment into training and starting to reap the benefits.’” Despite having so much success as an athlete, Jerrell says he had some doubts when he started doing personal training. “I was a bit self-conscious, wondering, ‘Can I really do this?’” he says. “As confident as I am as an athlete, it’s such a different job. It’s not an easy thing to do. You can end up training people the wrong way, so you can’t just do what looks fun. It requires a lot of knowledge about how the body works, and at one point, I was scared to actually train people. Can I actually help these people reach the results they’re looking for? Am I going to help them reach their goals?” Thankfully, those fears didn’t last. “Over time, I realized, OK, I’m actually really good at this. As the boot camps began to grow and [more clients] showed up, I thought, ‘OK, maybe they like me!’” Jerrell laughs. After around eight months of personal training with API, he was looking through before and after photos of his clients. Noticing the positive, tangible change he had helped his clients reach — both in body and mind — Jerrell realized that he was not only an accomplished personal trainer, but that he had found his passion.
“It was at that moment that I kind of hung up the cleats. I called my agent, told him what I wanted to do, and he was very supportive,” Jerrell says. Though he had closed the door on one dream, he had opened another. “Since then, I haven’t taken my foot off the gas. It’s my job — it’s my duty — to give them every single thing that I’ve got,” he says. Jerrell has stayed true to his word, giving his all to not only his own clients, but to the surrounding community. He and API have partnered with groups like the Boys and Girls Club of Columbia and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri, as well as local businesses that sponsor API’s training scholarships. “When it comes to our youth, we want to make it possible for anybody to have the opportunity to train with us at API,” he says. “Most kids in Columbia are involved in some kind of sport or activity, and we want to be an asset to people who are less fortunate.”
WELLNESS
API gives clients the chance to not only train, but to also learn about why they’re training a certain way. “The way we train is a very collegiate style of training, so even if a kid is here for just a month or two, they’ll be able to take away the key components of how to train safely and successfully,” Jerrell says. “A lot of kids struggle with transportation, so our next goal is to get a bus to be able to bring kids to the gym.” However, Jerrell’s desire to give back to his community is based on more than just making sure kids know how to exercise safely — he wants to give them every opportunity to succeed. “There probably was a kid in high school who was just as good as me,” Jerrell says, “but they didn’t get the same opportunities that I did, or they were just one step behind. I think if they could have had some guidance or training, it could have turned their life completely around.”
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Living
BOOKS, ETC.
Skylarking BY ALEX GEORGE, SKYLARK BOOKSHOP OWNER
O
ne of the most interesting sections of Skylark Bookshop is up on the mezzanine floor, nestled between Memoir and Sociology. There, you will find books on subjects as diverse as hallucinogenics, dinosaurs, the DNA double helix, astrophysics, and why algebra is a gendered construct. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the wonderful world of science. The undisputed queen of the popular science book is Mary Roach, author of a series of hugely popular and very entertaining tomes with punchy one-word titles, each of which examines a different aspect of this strange world we live in. She has written about death in “Stiff,” sex in “Bonk,” the afterlife in “Spook,” the human digestive system in “Gulp” — you get the idea. Roach writes with a refreshing frankness about this stuff and always has an eye for the absurd. Her books are funny, fascinating, and leave you with a plethora of interesting — if entirely useless — facts you can impress your friends with at parties whenever there’s an awkward pause in the conversation. So when it was time to select our first nonfiction title for the Skylarking book club,
Roach’s most recent book, “Fuzz,” was an obvious choice. The subtitle is “When Nature Breaks the Law,” and Roach’s subject here is the never-ending conflict between humans and, well, everything else. Most people in Columbia probably like to think of themselves as being pretty aware of the natural world on our literal and metaphorical doorsteps. We’re fortunate to have wonderful trails and parks to enjoy. Our schools have nature spaces; neighborhoods have shared gardens and designated wild areas. At Skylark we feed the “street” birds to help them get some nutrition not provided by their passion for French fries and pizza crust. In our backyards, we watch the antics of squirrels, deer, and coyotes. In my house, we’ve also had to address bats partying in our roof — and sometimes, excitingly, in our dining room. “Fuzz” is all about this and more. Roach considers where and how humans and animals collide and, in particular, how humans have impacted the natural world around us. To tell her story, Roach tags along with animal-attack forensics investigators, human-elephant conflict specialists (really), and bear managers. She travels intrepidly from leopard-terrorized hamlets in the Indian Himalayas to St. Peter’s Square in Rome in the early hours before the Pope arrives for Easter Mass, when thuggish gulls swoop in to destroy the elaborate floral display. We meet a motley cast of laser scarecrows, langur impersonators, and trespassing squirrels, and Roach finds herself in a series of hysterically unedifying situations: She taste-tests rat bait, learns how to install a vulture effigy, and manages to get mugged by a macaque. Chapter titles include: “The Legume as Accomplice to Murder”; “How Do You Handle a Hungry Bear?”; and “Futile Military Actions Against Birds.” It’s a hoot (pun intended.) These adventures reveal as much about humanity as they do about the animals Roach goes in search of, and it probably won’t come as much surprise to learn that, in many of the Human versus Nature conflicts that she takes such delight in describing, the guilty party is usually — you guessed it — us. That’s not to say that the book’s prognosis is especially gloomy. Roach inserts herself (sometimes by sheer will) into these conflicts in order to understand how humans can be part of the solution, not merely the cause of the problem. The book’s message is, ultimately, a hopeful one, as we see that humans (some of us, anyway) are learning, generation by gen-
GUEST VOICE
To tell her story, Roach tags along with animalattack forensics investigators, humanelephant conflict specialists (really), and bear managers. eration, to do better. Even as we continue to occupy space that isn’t always ours and guzzle resources that should be left alone, we are learning new ways, too. Roach is refreshingly honest about solutions that some of us would rather ignore. Bits of the book are heartbreaking; other parts are wildly inspiring. Overall, “Fuzz” offers hope for compassionate coexistence in our ever-expanding human habitat and suggests that maybe, just maybe, we can learn to share. Oh, and did I mention the footnotes? I usually skip footnotes — actually, I usually skip books with footnotes — but Roach does them brilliantly, and they add significantly to this book’s pleasures. These are not joyless recitations of arid arcana, but fascinating and irreverent asides that are more likely to make you snort with laughter than send you to sleep. We’ll be meeting, as usual, at 6:30 p.m. on the last Thursday in January — January 27. All are welcome to attend; we merely ask that you purchase your copy of the book from Skylark. We hope to see you there! Because Mary Roach. And (as this year’s shop T-shirt proclaims) Because Science.
Alex George is the founder and director of the Unbound Book Festival and the owner of Skylark Bookshop in downtown Columbia.
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JANUARY 2022
Living History Living
HOMES
Preserving a Columbia icon.
BY J E NNI FE R T R U E S DALE PHOTO S BY J E T ST RE AM PHOTO GR A PHY
I “It’s kind of a mystery who actually built the original cabin, and the cool thing is within this room and that room, the original cabin is still contained within these walls.” — JESSIE YANKEE
f you’ve lived in Columbia for any length of time, there’s a good chance you’ve driven by the house known by many names: the Hobbit House, the Hansel and Gretel House, the Gingerbread House, the Fairy Tale House. The iconic property at 121 N. West Blvd., at the corner of Ash and West, is one of the most recognizable in town, and now you can stay in it! The newest owners — Jessie Yankee, director of the Missouri Women’s Business Center, and JD Calvin, co-owner of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices — bought the property in August of 2020. These business partners, both Class of 2017 20 under 40 alumni, now rent it out on Airbnb and VRBO under the apt name “Hearth and Hobbit.”
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Living
HOMES
A Long and Incomplete History The long history of 121 West Blvd. is loosely preserved by a patchwork of old records and extrapolation. Nailing down a more concrete history of the house is a goal of Jessie’s. “It’s my dream to find out more about this house,” Jessie says, adding that she hopes people in the community might come forward with photos and tidbits that can help flesh out the home’s story. “It’s kind of a mystery who actually built the original cabin, and the cool thing is within this room and that room, the original cabin is still contained within these walls,” Jessie explains, pointing to the living room and one of the front bedrooms. It’s true that the original builder is unknown, though several articles have cited Arch McHarg as having built on the property in 1911 after felling the trees on the lot that year. Records show McHarg didn’t own the property until 1911, so it’s unlikely he built the original structure, but it seems that he and his wife, Blanche, turned it into the charming cottage we know it as today. The best guess is that the two-room log cabin was built in the late 1800s. At that time, of course, it had no kitchen or bathroom; it was just a small cabin with an enormous fireplace and hearth, which remain in the home today. Records show an addition to the cabin was made in 1935, which added two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Later additions would bring the home to its current 1,000-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom configuration with a four-seasons porch off the back and a two-car carport. Nadine Coleman and her husband, OT, purchased the home from the McHargs in 1941 for $1,500; Nadine is responsible for having lavishly landscaped the home. The Colemans also built the third bedroom. During WWII, Nadine opened a preschool for girls, operating out of the master bedroom. She called it the Little Female Seminary; the school bell still resides on property in the backyard. In 1985, Nadine wrote a short book called “The Joy of Gardening,” a photocopy of which can be read by guests. Nadine was a features writer in the early 20th century before journalism was a widely acceptable profession for women. She also wrote “The Mistress of Ravenwood,” published by the Tribune Publishing Company in 1992, a year before her death. A copy of the book is in the collection at the Columbia Public Library.
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Living
HOMES
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Mills Coleman, Nadine and OT’s son, says he remembers digging out a space under the house for the installation of the home’s fi rst furnace when he was 14. Th is space can be accessed from a trap door in the floor of one of the bedrooms, which Jessie keeps covered with a rug. The steps going down to the space are frighteningly steep but lead to a small room that Jessie has considered turning into a wine cellar. Somewhere around 1957, Herb and Betty Brown bought the house and lived there for 50 years. Betty, who was very active in the local arts scene, maintained Nadine’s gardens. Jessie says reviving the gardens is a priority for the property moving forward. Betty died in 2007 and Herb died in 2010. Since then, the home has changed hands many times. Kristin Bourgeois and her husband, Adam Kaiser,
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owned it from 2011 to 2013 and rented it out as Creekstone Cottage. It was then under the ownership of the Donald E. Living Trust from 2013 to 2015, then Jason M. Sclater from 2015 to 2018, Michalle Daytona from 2018 to 2020, and now Jessie and JD. Some might remember that the house was struck by a car in 2016, though, remarkably, no structural damage was done. Making It Modern When you walk up to the property, it’s hard not to notice that the gutters can easily be cleaned from the ground. But once you’re through the front door, the living room gives way to seven-foot ceilings. The living room is small but cozy, with the massive fi replace commanding focus. The house branches off in three directions from the living room: straight
back are the kitchen and porch; to the left are the master bedroom and small but functional en suite bathroom; and to the right, two additional bedrooms are adjoined by a small Jackand-Jill bathroom. Throughout the house are remnants of the two-room log cabin that have been preserved over the decades. Jessie says there are places here and there where you can see the logs from the original cabin. The original windows were not boarded up when new ones were installed; instead, they simply reside behind the new ones. The kitchen features old cast iron meat hooks hanging from a track. Although the meat hooks are a little scary to see at fi rst glance, “It’s one of those things you don’t want to get rid of because it’s original to the house,” or, at least, original to the kitchen, JD explains.
Living
The side of a bookcase off the living room has a hidden compartment on the side. The original front door is a work of art in wood, with a hole for the pull-string lock still in it: The door originally locked with a wood latch, around which a string would travel before going through the hole. Pulling the string from the outside lifted the latch and opened the door, and at night, you simply pulled the string inside! While the old is abundant in the historic cottage, modern amenities also abound. Besides the flat-screen TV in the living room, the kitchen has all modern appliances; the house has Wi-Fi, central heat and air, outdoor security cameras, and a washer and dryer for guests. Oh, and there’s plumbing and electricity too! There is some notable art in the house. JD’s sister, who lives nearby, made a mixed-media collage of the house, which hangs in the liv-
ing room. On the porch, there’s a painting of the house that Jessie received in the mail one day from a stranger, Peggy Quinn. It included a note that says, “My daughter [Emily] painted this in 2000 when she was in eighth grade,” and she thought Jessie should have it. “Any artwork or mementos of the cottage are welcome! We love to display anything to do with the deep history and love of the home,” Jessie says. Preservation Through Business Renting the home out through Airbnb and VRBO is an ideal way to preserve the legacy of this little cottage, JD says. “I think there are a lot of people out there who go, ‘They’re taking this relic and turning it into an Airbnb.’ Some people have opinions about Airbnb — they don’t like it,” JD says.
HOMES
“But I think that Airbnb is what’s going to keep this house going for another 100 years, because it’s being gently lived in instead of being lived in every single day. Rental is a good fit for this house.” The cottage has been consistently rented out since its fi rst booking for Christmas 2020. Perhaps not surprisingly, Jessie says about a quarter of the bookings have been from local residents who are curious to see the inside and experience what life might have been like 100 years ago. Jessie says the house does not seem to be haunted — it’s a question she gets about the home frequently. “One of the greatest things about the cottage is how much the community loves it!” Jessie says. “We both really care about Columbia and want to keep this place preserved for Columbians.”
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We are PAW-sitively stoked to celebrate Jessica Schlosser in COMO Magazine’s 2022 class of 20 Under 40!
Congratulations Jessica!
lizziandroccos.com
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JANUARY 2022
To the 2022 Class of 20 Under 40:
Congrats! Fun fact: Lara was in the 2019 class of 20 Under 40!
Did you know...
January is National Blood Donor Month.
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Join COMO Mag on Friday January 28th at the Columbia Mall as we host a blood drive with the American Red Cross.
Make an appointment to donate at redcrossblood.org Sponsor Key “COMOMAG” January 28th 10am-3:30pm 2300 Bernadette Dr Columbia, MO 65203
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WHAT THE
HOME
PROS KNOW
JACOB PORTER
ROST LANDSCAPING
ANNE TUCKLEY
ANNE TUCKLEY HOME
HOLLY MULLIGAN
TIGER HOME TEAM
JAKE BAUMGARTNER
BAUMGARTNER’S FURNITURE
SHAUN HENRY ATKINS
SPONSORED CONTENT
WHAT THE
JACOB PORTER
LANDSCAPE BED EDGING
HOME
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ROST LANDSCAPING
Jacob comes from the small town of California, Missouri. With his plant science degree from MU and six years with Rost, he enjoys creating exciting outdoor spaces for his clients. Watching these creations come to life is only one highlight of being a designer for Rost. When he is not designing, he loves spending time with his wife and kids, tournament bass fishing, and doing a little bit of woodworking.
(573) 445-4465 ROSTLANDSCAPING.COM
By Jacob Porter Find more at rostlandscaping.com
W
hen you are creating a space for new landscape plantings for your home, or simply dressing up existing beds, it is important to define those bed edges from the lawn areas next to them. Creating a nice, clean separation between mulch and turf helps keep the landscape bed and the lawn looking great. When it comes to edging the landscape bed, there are a few standard options that we like to use. A spade cut, or shovel cut, edge is the standard. This isn’t a physical type of edging. It is simply a V-trench that is cut to define the bed edge. This cut is simple to create and is fairly maintenance friendly. The trench allows the mulch to be installed at the proper depth at the edge of the bed without it spilling over into the turf. Another benefit is that this method allows a mower deck to go over the top of that edging, eliminating or reducing the need to string trim along the bed. The most maintenance that this edging requires
is raking the mulch back and cleaning up or recutting the edge as needed from season to season to keep that line nice and crisp. A spade edge works well if you are using wood mulch. If there is gravel mulch, a physical edge is needed. If a customer is wanting or needing a physical barrier between the mulch and the turf, my preferred material is natural stone edging. Typically, this edging is around 4 inches by 4 inches and comes in random lengths. These are set as individual pieces to create the bed line. I like for the bottom half of the edging to be
installed below grade on the turf side and for the mulch on the back side to be not quite to the top. I think this helps reduce the chance of the edging rolling over if a mower drives over it, but it also allows you to see it from the street. However, if a mower does drive over a piece and it moves, these are very easy to reset. When it comes to appearance of the edging, I think natural stone has the best look compared to concrete edgers you get from a box store. The last type of edging I’ll discuss is steel edging. Steel edging is a piece of steel that is painted and staked in the ground. Most of the time, I’ll use steel edging if budget is a limitation. Steel edging does take less time to install and costs less for the material than stone edging. A downside to steel edging is the damage that can be done if a mower runs over it. If it is hit by a mower and is bent or scuffed up, the entire 10 foot or 16 foot piece has to be replaced.
SPONSORED CONTENT
WHAT THE
REAL ESTATE BLESSINGS
HOME HOLLY MULLIGAN
PROS KNOW
TIGER HOME TEAM
On a personal note…Tiger Home Team is proud to welcome Holly Mulligan as our new TEAM Director. Holly will help handle all the administration, marketing and client care aspects of our business. She brings over 10 years of real estate expertise, making our team over 70 years strong in collective experience. As we focus on ringing in the New Year of 2022, it seems appropriate to also reflect on some of our “real estate blessings!”
By Julie Wesley Find more at tigerhometeam.com
T
here are many physical things related to houses and homes to be thankful for this holiday season. 12ft fully decorated Christmas Trees, large heated patios for hosting New Years Eve soirees, or even wrap-around couches for family movie night all come to mind. While these are top of our “home wish lists” the one thing we cannot overlook is the people that make these possible. One of the biggest blessings in our world of Real Estate has been the staff that oversees the day-to-day operations of the Columbia Board of Realtors! How They Help Us Help You These remarkable individuals are the backbone of our current 725-member strong Realtor organization. They prove their worth time after time; from keeping abreast of political races/ candidates, providing statistical information, supervising all board committee meetings, strategic planning, researching current events and sale statistics, organizing awards banquets and
573-289-4440 TIGERHOMETEAM.COM
philanthropic events, continuing member education, offering new member orientation and training, managing the Multiple Listing Service…the list goes on! Keep The Ship Afloat One of the most impressive accomplishments was shown during 2020 when our Board Staff provided us with daily updates on regulations and protocols for the Covid 19 pandemic. This allowed us, as a real estate community, to be informed and provide essential services to all of you. A Different Approach Over the years, the Columbia Board of Realtors has taken on the role of educator in the political arena. Rather than take strong positions on many issues, the Board provides forums, newsletter articles, candidate profiles and special mailings to its members to keep all of us
From Left to Right: Rachel Davis, Membership Director; Liz Wolf, Chief Operations Officer; Lissa Atkins, Professional Development Director; Brian Toohey, Chief Executive Office.
aware of issues of importance to our community. They have encouraged all members to form their own opinions independently and thoughtfully, which is something we all appreciate! Year after year, Our Board staff rises to the many challenges that
the real estate industry offers, which is always dependent on what type of marketplace presents itself! As leaders of the MidMissouri real estate industry and our Columbia Board of Realtors, we continue to applaud them and are grateful for a job well done.
SPONSORED CONTENT
WHAT THE
WINTER WORK TO BE DONE!
SHAUN HENRY
A Columbia native, Shaun Henry found a home at Atkins in 2000 when he started his career as a turf technician. Shaun holds a commercial applicator’s license through the Missouri Department of Agriculture and is a member of the National Association of Landscape Professionals, the Mid-America Green Industry Council, and the Missouri Green Industry Alliance. Shaun strongly believes in the importance of a great customer experience, where the Atkins staff knows their clients and anticipates their needs accordingly. Shaun is an MU alumnus and has a degree in plant science.
Find more at AtkinsInc.com
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TREE & SHRUB CARE With temps below freezing and a dry December behind us, you may see some winter desiccation (injury) on your ornamental plants. Extended dry periods can dehydrate your plants and they can experience some “winter kill.” Watering when the ground is not frozen may be a good idea for your more sensitive trees and shrubs. Now that it’s winter and there has been a good freeze, your plants should be fairly well “hardened off” and ready for pruning. Some species require pruning later in the spring or even over the summer, do research on your plants before making cuts! Pruning can manage size, create shape, remove dead plant material and also rejuvenate your shrubs when you cut them back a bit more aggressively. Prune to train your trees to grow away from your house and roof to prevent future storm damage. Keep in mind — once you’ve made the cut, you can’t take it back!
RODENT PATROL Wildlife often move indoors for the winter. Mice and voles can find their way into the house in
PROS KNOW
ATKINS
By Shaun Henry
inter is here. Now what to do? For the landscaper, there’s still plenty to do out there. If we’re not working on cleaning up a snow or ice storm, there’s always holiday lights to take down and store for the season, pruning and landscape beds to be cleaned up, removing those persistent leaves around the property and working on equipment to prepare for the coming spring. It’ll be here before you know it. Here are a few tidbits of info on winter projects you may be working on as well:
HOME
573-874-5100 ATKINSINC.COM
search of food or shelter. They can squeeze through a hole as small as the diameter of a #2 pencil. That’s crazy! Aside from seeing critters scurrying about, you can often hear them scratching or moving after dark or see droppings and chew marks on dry good materials. Plug any and all holes with caulk, steel wool, copper mesh, expandable foam or whatever material best suits the size, type and placement of the hole you’re working on. If mice make you a bit squeamish, consider a call to a pest professional.
SNOW AND ICE MANAGEMENT Yes — snow. Sorry to bring it up, but it’s gonna happen! If you’re out there snow blowing or shoveling your drive and walks, please be careful. A slip and fall on a patch of ice can really set you back. I personally carry a set of ice traction cleats that I can slip on over my boots for a bit of traction on even the worst iced-over surface. After clearing your snow, you can apply a light dose of landscape and pet friendly ice melt product to help reduce re-freeze issues. Do research on the materials available at your favorite hardware store and choose one that best suits your needs and the temperatures expected
with that particular snow or ice event. If your place of business needs help with managing those events, we can help you with that!
TAKING DOWN THE LIGHTS Pick a warm sunny day to make it easier to work from the ladder safely and to store your lighting materials in a dry storage tub. Most ladderrelated injuries occur when getting on or off the ladder. Remember to use 3 points of contact when on a ladder: 2 feet and 1 hand; or 1 foot and 2 hands. That means you may have to slow down a bit when going up or down. Moving too quickly can result in a risky ride down to the ground! A few tips we’ve learned about storing lights might help you as well: Roll your mini lights into a ball (1 strand = 1 ball) to make putting them up next season easier. If you have multiple strands of lights on the house, marking the end of each strand will help take some of the guesswork out of it next year. Thank you to all of our customers and COMO Mag for a great year. We’re excited for an exceptional 2022. Be sure to let us know if ever we can be of any help to you and hopefully, you’ll have a great year too!
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WHAT THE
COLD DAYS
ANNE TUCKLEY
Anne has been in the interior design industry for more than 20 years and has resided in metropolitan cities ranging from NYC to Houston while honing 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.
Find more at AnneTuckleyhome.com
108 CORPORATE LAKE PL. COLUMBIA, MO, 65203 (573) 639-1989 ANNETUCKLEYHOME.COM
I
SMELL: Our sense of smell is a huge emotional trigger. While air sprays are a good quick fix option to freshen a room, they don’t provide the ongoing effects. Depending upon your preference, light some candles (I prefer spice or woodsy scents on cold days), drop some essential oils in a diffuser, or heat up orange slices and cloves in a Crock-Pot. TOUCH: Cold and fluffy go hand in hand. Splurge on luxury throw blankets for your sofa, chairs, and bed. Make sure they are over-sized to encourage snuggling with your loved ones. SIGHT: When it is gray and dim outside, you want it comforting inside. Maximize your natural light by opening up your blinds/curtains to at least get
PROS KNOW
ANNE TUCKLEY HOME
By Anne Tuckley
t is cold outside. I don’t like it. The influx of Arctic air leaves me fantasizing about white sand beaches, lush gardens, sunshine, and something fruity with a shot of alcohol. While I look out my window on this gray, bitter day, I am left with the realization that my fantasies are going to remain fantasies until I can sneak away. While I dislike the cold weather, I do love cold weather accessories. When it is too brutal to go outside, there is nothing quite as cozy and comforting as being cuddled up indoors. The following are my recommendations to target each of your senses and turn your surroundings into a cold day haven:
HOME
a little bit of Vitamin D pouring in. Avoid the harshness of overhead artificial lighting and instead opt for small table lights and candles. TASTE: Ever since childhood, cold days and hot beverages go hand-in-hand. Whether you still like to indulge in a rich cup of cocoa with marshmallows and whipped cream, a strong cup of espresso, or soothing herbal tea, a hot drink is a must for a cold day. Make the cold days extra special by purchasing a mug that you only bring out on those days. Stop any form of productivity and sip your drink while snuggled up under your favorite blanket. Even if you only have 5 minutes, those 5 minutes will be incredibly therapeutic. SOUND: While TV and movies are great for vegging out, the reality is we usually have to get stuff done around the house and can’t binge our favorite shows daily. Create a streaming playlist or pull out your old favorite CDs. I personally love instrumental-only music played softly in the background to keep me inspired.
PH OTOS BY KEITH B O R G MEYER | STYL ED BY AND R E A LYN S E PP O WI T H A ND R E A LYN EVE NTS A ND COM O PIC NICS
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20U40 ALUMNI
Favorite COMO checked in with a few of our 20 under 40 alums to find out some of their favorite places and spaces around Columbia.
Places BY KIM AMBRA | AERIAL PHOTO BY KEITH BORGMEYER | LOCATION PHOTOS BY ANTHONY JINSON
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Geoff Karr
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Ernie's Cafe My go-to is Ernie’s Café! There are several reasons why it’s my favorite, but for starters — pun intended — breakfast has always been my thing, and Ernie’s hits the spot every time. I personally go with an eggwhite omelet with ham, cheddar cheese, and mushrooms, and then raisin bread with lots of grape jelly! Pair my breakfast entrée with a to-go coffee in a Styrofoam cup and my day is off and running. My loyalty to Ernie’s began in college on Sunday mornings after what we hoped was a Mizzou football win.
Now, it’s an occasional weekend Ernie’s run with the family before or after church. I also get a chance once a month to meet up with former colleagues in the corner booth to catch up on the weekend football games ahead. I also feel like there’s an old soul in me somewhere, so I enjoy the history of the place, and I love being able to visit with Tom, the owner, as if we were old friends, asking about each other’s families and talking about how his golf game is coming along. Tradition runs deep at Ernie’s, which is why it’s one of my favorite places to go for breakfast!
CL
ASS
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Lara Pieper
Günter Hans The tucked away patio at Günter Hans has been one of my favorite spaces in Columbia for many years, long before it was Günter Hans. A summer evening out there under the lights drinking a gin and tonic (made with Bloom gin, of course) is the perfect way to relax and be transported to a quaint European setting. More recently, with the change in weather and chill in the air, I’ve spent more time inside enjoying the coziness of the exposed brick walls and dim lights. I feel
that every detail is thought of at Günter Hans, from the presentation of the cheese plate I frequently order to the beautiful flowers planted in containers on the patio in the summer. And during the holidays, the Christmas tree in the Barrel Room and the mini wreaths hanging from the chandelier take the atmosphere to another level. Günter Hans is truly a unique treasure here in Columbia and is one of my favorite places in town!
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Jesse Walters
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Broadway Brewery One of our favorite places to go to in Columbia is Broadway Brewery. Everything on their menu is amazing, and you can't go wrong. They use fresh ingredients, and if they can make it from scratch, they do! You can taste the difference all the way down to their homemade ketchup. My go-to order is their sriracha wings and hummus plate, not to mention their Lofty Pursuits Coffee Stout that [my company] Camacho Coffee collaborated on! We've been going there regularly for four to five years now and have gotten to know the staff and owners. The whole atmosphere of the place is what keeps bringing us back.
The restaurant itself is unique compared to any other place in town, with an industrial feel and the brewing equipment on display for everyone to see. They're constantly working on new beers and variations, so there's always something new to try each time you go. One of my favorites was their Butterfinger-infused stout they did for Halloween this year. Plus, they have a full bar with homemade ingredients and a whiskey selection you won't find anywhere else! The people are great, the food is great, and the beer is great. What more could you ask for?!
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Nathan Fleischmann
Top Ten Wines I love Top Ten Wines. Their nosh offerings have become more robust over the years. The variety of seating options have you nestled among the cases of wine for sale that give you wine cellar goals. Their location in the heart of downtown Columbia increases your chances of running into an old friend or meeting someone new. Plus, their selection of wines — paired with the expert staff — makes picking up a bottle a breeze, no matter your budget or the occasion. A new-to-me find is called Coming Home. You know that catalogue called Uncommon Goods? Coming Home is kind of like that, but in real life. They’re located in the Balsamo Warehouse space on Orr Street in the North Village Arts District. I recently picked up a vintage
floral art-inspired puzzle that I hope to be working on by the time you discover this place, too. I am also a loyal patron of Columbia Parks and Recreation. This is hands down our city’s crown jewel. Our city leaders have been such great stewards of our taxes to make our parks what they are. The fine folks at Columbia Parks and Rec build and maintain our trails and create places for us to play, gather, or simply enjoy the benefits of a nature moment. My favorite find has been the Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary — it’s a hidden gem! You will most likely catch me at Twin Lakes Recreation Area, where my partner and I often take our dog or set off on a bike ride.
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A DAY IN THE LIFE of a FIREFIGHTER 52
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Living
FRIENDS & FAMILY
“Family” is the word that comes to mind
Co-workers turned family when working at the f ire department. BY TAYLO R A M B R A PH OTO S BY C HA R L E S B R U C E I I I
as Tommy Goran, an alumnus of the 2020 class of 20 under 40, talks about his experiences working with the Columbia Fire Department. Tommy has worked in a couple different departments over the span of 12 years, but he came back to his hometown to work for the CFD for the past eight. Tommy works as a captain and follows the city’s schedule of working 48-hour shifts followed by having four consecutive days off. Many members of the fire department have secondary jobs that they work during their days off; Tommy owns his own lawn care company, J&S Lawn and Landscape. While the schedule is a huge sacrifice for a fi refighter and their family, it also allows Tommy to do things with his children that other occupations don’t allow for, such as going on field trips with his two children, Sophia and Jeffery. These 48-hour shifts begin at 6:30 a.m., when the new shift members come in to relieve the previous shift members while they finish up any work and head home. Tommy explains that there are three different shifts within the department, and then within those shifts, each team member is also assigned to work at a certain station. These assignments remain the same unless there is a promotion or a person specifically requests to move. The beginning of each shift is spent settling into the station while checking all trucks and equipment. Tommy says he catches up on emails and paperwork in the morning to ensure that he is ready for the next 48 hours. The rest of the day is spent doing training and staying available for any calls they may need to respond to. These calls can range from fi res to medical issues to car wrecks to any other emergencies that the fi re department has to respond to. At any given moment during the shift, a beeping noise can blare over the intercom, followed by the dispatcher’s voice. The fi refighters are alerted to what type of call it is, the location of the call, and which trucks are needed to respond to the scene. COMOMAG.COM
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Tommy Goran sits on the bumper of Quint 5 at Station 5.
If the specific truck that the fi refighter is working on that day is called, they immediately head to the bay, where the trucks are kept, and gear up. Within two minutes, each fi refighter is on the truck headed to respond to whatever emergency is waiting for them. The team on shift keeps their gear right next to the truck, over their boots, so they can quickly get ready to go. Each station is a little different when it comes to the number of members on shift, the types of fi retrucks they house, and the prevalence of certain types of calls. While each station can provide a slightly different experience, each member of the department is trained and educated to work at all of the stations. Just like any other job, they try to
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keep the clerical and training work during normal business hours so they get the evening to relax and do as they please. All members have to be prepared to respond to an emergency, day or night. Th is can often make getting a good night’s sleep difficult when on duty, but they try to rest as much as possible during the evenings. Spending 48 hours at a time with the same crew makes them a family unit as they work, eat, relax, exercise, train, and even spend some holidays together. Tommy says he spends “more physical hours with them then my own family in a month.” There are sleeping quarters that are typically separated from the main living area of the fi re station for the crew members to sleep at night, if they aren’t responding to emergency calls. Visitors are allowed to come see the crew members at the station, but the crew could be called away at any minute, so Tommy often uses FaceTime to keep in touch with his family while on duty. Every shift, the crew takes the truck to the grocery store to purchase the food that they’ll eat while on duty, which they pay for collectively out of their own pockets. When it comes to holidays on duty, the crew comes together in amazing ways to try to cover at least the morning hours for those who have children. On days like Christmas, this allows them to watch their family open presents in the early morning before heading to work. Members of the community often generously donate food and other items to help the crew celebrate holidays at the fi re station. On the occasion that there is an important family event while on duty, the crew members are occasionally allowed to leave the station. They stay readily available to respond to any emergency while away from the fi re station. We think of fi re stations as housing brave heroes, but the men and women of the fi re department see themselves as normal people doing what they love — helping others. Tommy says he often can’t believe that he gets to call this profession his job and gets paid for simply doing something he’s passionate about. Helping people at some of the worst moments of their lives and leaving the scene safer than he found are Tommy’s favorite parts of the job. While it takes hard work, dedication, and bravery every single day, fi refighters also make sure to have fun and enjoy their time spent at the fi re station with others who become like family to them.
“
I can speak about the family life
parking lot in front of the fire
of firefighters from personal
truck with the entire crew of
experience — my dad, John
Station 2 in the pictures. When
Ambra, is also a member of the
you have a family member who
Columbia Fire Department.
works for the department, they
Despite the hectic schedule,
all become like family. They show
he never missed a special
up to birthday parties, school
event when I was growing up. I
events, sporting events, and even
remember taking my senior prom
cheer competitions.
pictures in the Shelter Gardens
—Taylor Ambra, author
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Nathan Jones and Ernie Ueligger, your trusted attorneys. Let Nathan assist you with your will or trust and powers of attorney. By getting these documents in place, you will: • Ensure your assets pass to the people of your choosing • If you have minor children, exercise your right to name their guardian if something happens to you • Avoid probate and its expensive and unnecessary costs • Have peace of mind knowing your family and assets are protected
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JANUARY 2022
Scout’s Honor Times are changing for the Boy Scouts of America Great Rivers Council — with female scouts, a growing camp and Invention Campus, and a new off ice and Adventure Center. It’s no surprise that an Eagle Scout is leading the charge. BY M ICH E LLE T E R H UN E
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COMO Magazine’s 20 under 40 recognizes professionals who excel in their industry, are company leaders, and are good community citizens. It’s only natural that John Fabsits made the list in 2011. After all, he’s an Eagle Scout in an organization where excellence, leadership, and helping others are a way of life. John’s fi rst job out of college was with the Boy Scouts of America Great Rivers Council in Columbia. He worked his way up through the ranks for the next 10 years before taking a new job as director of field service and chief operating officer for the Lake Erie Council in Cleveland, Ohio. It was solid career preparation for the scout, who would return to the Great Rivers Council in January 2020 to serve as its CEO. And if pandemic leadership were one of the BSA’s 136 merit badges, John would have earned it.
LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD YOUTHS The Great Rivers Council encompasses 33 counties in central and northeast Missouri, typically serving more than 5,000 scouting youth. Those numbers are down due to the pandemic. Although the council put some events and merit badges online, in-person meetings continue to be difficult in many places. The biggest recruitment hindrance is lack of access to scouting’s best place to fi nd potential scouts — schools. “Normally, we go into the schools where we talk to youth in an assembly, in a lunch room or cafeteria,” John says. “We couldn’t do that in the fall of 2020. Scouting is still challenged to fi nd ways to engage with families and youth outside of schools. We’re doing some things online to promote scouting, as well as billboards and television, but our connection has always been through the schools. We’re hoping that with the vaccine available to youth, this spring may look a lot better for us.” Recruitment numbers were down 75% in fall 2020. Although they’re higher now, they’re still down 40% to 50% compared to 2019 numbers.
IT TAKES MORE THAN POPCORN Funding for the council is local. It receives no government grants or money from the national scouting organization. The organization raises its own $1.5 million annual operating budget which, like recruitment, took a hit during the pandemic.
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Nearly 30% comes from the Friends of Scouting annual fundraiser. Of course, there’s also popcorn. Scouts selling popcorn, sausage, and cheese isn’t just designed to raise money; true to the scouting philosophy, product sales teach scouts how to ask others for support. A sporting clays tournament attracted 400 shooters in 2021 and raised about $100,000. The council hosts annual golf tournaments in Columbia and Jefferson City and a holiday auction. The auction went online during the pandemic and continues to be virtual. Districts host local fundraising events as well, with all money gathered and distributed by the council’s central office. Volunteer-raising is also a challenge. John calls the 2,500 leaders in the Great Rivers Council and the 65 members on its board of directors “amazing.” They’re always looking for more.
A CUB BECOMES AN EAGLE There are ranks in scouting. In Cub Scouting, ranks are based on grades in school: Lion Cubs are kindergartners, who then move to Tiger Cubs in fi rst grade, Wolf Cubs in second, Bear Cubs in third, and Webelos in fourth and fi fth grade. Venturing, Exploring, and Sea Scouts are open to those ages 13½ to 21. Scouts BSA is for those ages 10 to 18. There are eight ranks scouts move through as they complete certain requirements. The seventh rank is Life Scout, and much of what a scout does there qualifies them for the highest rank in Scouting BSA, Eagle Scout. Only about 4% of all scouts nationally and 6% in Columbia achieve this rank. Each rank requires earning a certain number of
merit badges, but Eagle Scout requires the most, at 21. Scouts must also ask for personal recommendations, serve at least six months in a scouting or community leadership role, and devise and complete a major community service project. Soaring with the eagles is quite an achievement.
NOT YOUR FATHER’S SUMMER CAMP Scouts have a lot of support as they move through the ranks, from council staff, scout leaders, and even from MU and Linn Technical College, which host Merit Badge University events where scouts can earn some badges in a single day. More than 1,200 scouts and leaders attended the MU event in 2021. Then there’s the 450-acre Lake of the Ozarks Scout Reservation, which isn’t your father’s summer camp (although your father might have gone to camp there, as the res-
ervation has been operating since 1965). Besides miles of trails, waterfront, and camping facilities, the reservation boasts things like a zero-entry pool, a zip line, scuba certification, and family adventure camps. The reservation is also home to the Sinquefield Invention Campus, a state-of-theart operation unmatched by any scouting organization in the country. The campus hosts the Invention Lab, Program Building, Metalworking Building, and the soon-to-be completed Skills & Trade Building. John says scouting started the concept of workforce development. Scouts learn and earn merit badges in things like metal working, welding, sewing, engineering, pottery, laser-etching, composite materials, woodworking, and more. The latest addition will teach scouts trade skills in electricity, plumbing, small engine repair, and marine mechanics.
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IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME Right now, you’ll probably fi nd John back at the office in downtown Columbia, but not for long. He’s packing for his next adventure — the Scouting Adventure Center. John says it’s a phenomenal opportunity for the Great Rivers Council, Columbia, and Mid-Missouri. “We’ve been on Fay Street since the 1970s, and while it has served us well, it is in need of work and repair, so it’s time to either renovate or move,” John says. “It began as a conversation with Brenda and Larry Potterfield in August 2020 about our sporting clay tournament. A few months later, they contributed the Lincoln Building on the MidwayUSA campus, which housed their call and contact center, to the Great Rivers Council.” The current office has 4,000 square feet of space. The Scouting Adventure Center has 4,000 square feet of move-in ready office space plus 9,000 square feet of programming space that John says will help them engage families and youth in scouting and, he hopes, attract new members and volunteers. Plans for the facility include an indoor climbing wall, made possible by a grant from Veterans United and other donors. There will also be an audio/ visual studio to learn animation and video; an engineering and computer science lab to work with drones, robotics, and computer-assisted design; a science lab; and a health area teaching emergency preparedness, public health and safety, search and recovery, and wilderness survival. Outside will
I
n 2018, Cub Scouting opened to girls, and in 2019, Scouting BSA followed. Currently, about 15% of the current scouting membership is female. “All youth are welcome in scouting, first and foremost,” John says. “They have to accept the values of scouting, and if they don’t, they probably shouldn’t be here. If they do, scouting can be life-changing.” Two young women from Columbia not only accepted those values, but took on the challenge of being among the first women in the country to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. Sophie Froese and Serena Anderson earned the rank in less than two years. Because there are seven ranks before Eagle Scout, that’s quite a feat. “The biggest pressure I felt was the
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Sophie Froese Serena Anderson
“All youth are welcome in scouting, first and foremost.” feature an archery range, climbing boulders, raised garden beds, a fi re pit, and a cooking pavilion with a pizza oven. “It’s a transformational gift in how we operate,” John says. “When you’re on a highway, people are going to see you and they’re going to stop. Schools are very important to us, but we learned through the pandemic that we have to have other avenues to attract and recruit youth. Th is facility will do that.”
time constraint,” says Sophie. “Traditionally, scouts have many years to work through a succession of ranks to Eagle Scout. I had no downtime between rank advancement. By the time I got to the end of my scouting journey, I had to work really fast to be in the inaugural female class of Eagle Scouts nationwide.” Sophie, a sophomore at MU majoring in art and psychology, began that journey in the middle of finals in December 2020. She found herself overwhelmed and under tremendous pressure. Her dad, an Eagle Scout with no sons, welcomed the chance to support his daughter in her efforts. “I knew I was going to do it because I knew it was worth doing,” Sophie says. “It was nice to know I could look to my dad for advice and support.” For Serena, now a senior at Tolton Catholic High School, family tradition encouraged her journey. Serena’s dad is a Life Scout, and her older brother is an Eagle Scout. Her mom, whose dad was an Eagle Scout, looked forward to being the parent of one of the first females to achieve the rank. “Joining scouting as a female was not that different from what a male would experience,” Serena said. “I went through the
Plans are to move the administrative team and retail store, which sells scouting gear, in March. The rest will be added over the next several months as the council raises the money necessary to add them. “We’re so grateful to the Potterfields for believing in the scouting program,” John says. And believe they do. Their son is an Eagle Scout, and their grandchildren are involved in Scouting.
same process as my older brother went through to rank up and experience all there is to experience in the scouting program.” Serena hopes that the valuable skills she learned in scouting, as well as being able to put “Eagle Scout” on her resume, will benefit her throughout her life. Sophie believes being an Eagle Scout has poised her for success. “I can handle whatever I’m faced with. I learned how to pace myself and learned what my limits are. I learned how to delegate and step back,” Sophie says. “The scouting leadership model is servant leadership. It is your job as a leader to serve others and facilitate growth. This can mean stepping back and letting those you lead take a role so that in the end, everyone succeeds.” Eagle Scouts are given a pin they can use to honor a mentor. Sophie gave hers to John Young, who “embodied the scout spirit in everything he did,” she says. John recently passed away, but Sophie is forever grateful to him. The scouting tradition continues, with members, volunteers, and entire families engaged in helping youth become trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, friendly, brave, clean, and reverent. That’s something worth aspiring to, no matter your gender.
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Great auto rates for any budget. Everyone’s budgets are different. I can help with options to personalize your auto policy to get a surprisingly great rate that fits yours. Call me for a quote today. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®
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Insurance • Benefits Risk Management
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Living
COUPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW
John Fabsits & Elizabeth Leatherman John and Elizabeth, both 20 under 40 alumni, discuss their first date, their love of the local music scene, and the key to a lasting relationship. HOW DID YOU MEET?
John: Lenoir Woods — we met at the assisted living center. We were introduced by a mutual friend at an EPIC young professional casino night. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST DATE?
Elizabeth: I remember our first date very vividly; John was newer to town, and we couldn’t decide what we wanted to do, so we stopped by a hotel to grab a local travel guide for inspiration. The result: dinner and a movie. WHAT KEEPS YOU BUSY DURING THE WEEK?
J: Being the executive director for the Boy Scouts of America keeps me busy with events, meetings, and community functions across the 33 counties in central and northeast Missouri we serve. E: Our weeks are typically busy with work for both of us, community events, and picking up hickory nuts in our backyard. (It’s kind of a running joke between family and friends.) WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR FREE TIME?
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ART OR CULTURE ACTIVITY IN COLUMBIA?
E: Attending concerts at any of the live concert venues in town. Whether it’s supporting local bands or national artists traveling through, our venues in town are some of the best. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES?
J: Nothing like a good run or bike ride on our trail network. Columbia’s outdoor places at Pierpont and Logboat are some of our favorite places to relax. E: My favorite outdoor activities would be kayaking or going for a hike. We also love to hang out on any outdoor patios around town.
J: We always find ourselves on the go. When we have free time, we travel, attend Mizzou football and basketball games, and we always make time to attend country music concerts.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN COLUMBIA?
WHAT BROUGHT YOU BOTH TO COLUMBIA?
J: So many good choices. I can narrow it down to Booches, Flat Branch, CC’s, and Addison’s
E: I moved to Columbia in 2002 for college. We moved to Cleveland for four years and then recently returned for John’s job. We are so glad to be back in this great community and closer to family and friends!
E: There are so many to choose from, but a favorite for me would be Sophia’s or Addison’s.
WHAT IS THE KEY TO A LASTING AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP?
J: Communication, love, laughter, and lots of liquor. (The last bit is a joke.)
E: Laughter, being each other’s biggest cheerleaders, and making sure I just sleep in the car on road trips so I don’t bother John with my backseat driving. WHAT IS THE BEST QUALITY OF YOUR PARTNER?
E: John is such a hard worker; he makes me laugh and just lives life to the fullest. He also does his own laundry and cleans. I’ll take it! J: Having such a supportive spouse; Izzy is my biggest champion. When I was hired with the Scouts, our board said that they got a two-for-one deal. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE TWO OF YOU?
E: Right now, it’s hard to look past a month or so with the pace of work, but we both plan to continue growing personally and professionally, take life one day at a time, and live in the moment. WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP?
J: I am not sure about anything unique. In almost 10 years of marriage, we have never had anything more than minor disagreements.
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Working
76 A LOCAL CAUSE IN MOTION Local Motion — formerly known as PedNet — rebrands to reflect advocacy focus.
87 BARBARA BUFFALOE Candidate for Mayor of Columbia.
83 RESOURCES, EXPERTISE, SUPPORT Midwest Computech — providing IT services and support since 1982.
Put fun back in the driver’s seat. Volkswagen Taos An SUV that’s just right. joemachensvw.net | 1200 Vandiver Dr, Columbia, MO 65202
EVERY CHILD DESERVES A VOICE.
LEND YOURS. DID YOU KNOW?
Last year there were 722 children in the Boone and Callaway county foster care system. When the state removes a child from their home because of abuse or neglect a CASA volunteer is there to make sure their best interest remains the top priority. Right now there is a child in foster care who needs YOU to show up and provide this powerful advocacy.
Apply to volunteer today!
Our next training class begins January 19, 2022.
HEART OF MISSOURI CASA
Donate today and help us give every child the powerful voice of a CASA.
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CLOSER LOOK
JANUARY 2022
573 Tees debuted online in September 2019 and opened their brick and mortar shop in August 2021. Owners Miki and Emily Merritt decided to go into the business when they felt like they were seeing the same merchandise everywhere and wanted a way to be more creative than the norm. 573 Tees has recently partnered with local student athletes on merch with the athlete’s name, image, and likeness. Located in the heart of The District, you can find 573 Tees in Alley A. “As we grow, we hope to provide jobs and skills to others in the community. We also actively work with local charities and other organizations to help give back,” Miki says. 910 ALLEY A. WWW.573TEES.COM SUPPORT@573TEES.COM
MeowLuxe Hotel
Kenko Sushi & Tea Recently opened Kenko Sushi & Tea offers 17 types of signature sushi rolls, bubble and fruit teas, bento boxes, poke bowls, and even create-your-own sushi roll options. Popular items include the salmon-lover rice bento box, which includes rice with specialty sauce, salad, and four pieces of sushi. Owners Kongying Ni and Qixiao Dong say they wanted to have a restaurant that would not only offer standard fare, but also give them the option to offer new and exciting menu items. From the sushi to the wide variety of flavored teas and smoothies to bub-
ble waffles with fruit and ice cream, there is something at Kenko for everyone! 21 CONLEY RD., STE. N (573) 777-1373 WWW.KENKOSUSHITEA.COM
573 Tees
573 Tees is a print T-shirt shop that sells their own retail T-shirts and will custom print your own designs. They can print 1 or 100-plus shirts; there is no minimum quantity required.
After visiting a luxurious dog boarding facility in St. Louis, Shannon Kasmann, owner and founder of MeowLuxe, found herself wondering why cats don’t receive the same treatment. “It was my love of cats that led me to my vision to create and build MeowLuxe,” Shannon says. MeowLuxe is a place where cats can enjoy luxurious, stress-free, happy cat boarding without cramped cages and the sounds of barking dogs. Shannon’s goal is to provide a compassionate, trustworthy, and customized professional cat service — a new standard of cat care and peace of mind for cat owners. What can you expect from MeowLuxe? Posh cat rooms with lots of fluffy beds, soft blankets, and large windows looking out to bird feeders. All rooms also have HD cameras, which means you can lay on the beach and see what your kitty is up to! Shannon has been a long-time volunteer with Second Chance Animal Rescue and is committed to positively impacting the lives of community cats. 8101 HIGHWAY 40 W. (573) 825-4442 WWW.MEOWLUXEHOTEL.COM
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Photo by Sadie Thibodeaux
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Partnership Between MU and Local Community Mental Health Center Under a new agreement between one of Missouri’s largest community mental health centers and the state’s largest institution of higher education, Burrell Behavioral Health and MU will partner to provide educational opportunities for Burrell employees seeking a Master of Social Work degree from MU’s School of Social Work. Under Burrell’s tuition assistance program, employees who qualify and are selected to receive assistance — and who also meet MU School of Social Work admission criteria — will receive $10,000 from Burrell toward their advanced degree. Selected employees will be able to pursue a Master of Social Work degree online or in person. In exchange for the fi nancial assistance, the employees agree to continue working for Burrell for at least three years following the completion of the Master in Social Work program.
Working
“This agreement is directly in line with Burrell’s commitment to helping employees advance within the field and to retaining the best and brightest social workers. We also know there is a mental health worker shortage, and our service area includes many rural and underserved communities across Missouri. One way to address this challenge within our workforce is to provide benefits like our tuition assistance program.” — MAT GASS, BURRELL CENTRAL REGION PRESIDENT COM M UNITY
Children’s Grove, Missouri Business Alert Announce Annual Kindness in Business Award Winners Children’s Grove and Missouri Business Alert have announced the 2021 honorees of the Kindness in Business Awards, a
celebration of Boone County businesses and nonprofits that have shown and promoted kindness in dealings with customers, employees, youth, and the community at large over the past year. The honorees were chosen by a local committee following a public nomination period. In total, over 75 Boone County-based businesses and service organizations were nominated for consideration in categories including Kindness to Youth, Kindness to Employees, and Kindness to the Community. Th is year’s honorees are: • Kindness to Youth: Community United Methodist Church, FACE of Boone County, Prism • Kindness to Employees: Cherry Street Cellar, Job Point, Tsokolatè • Kindness to the Community: HeartSpace Clinic, NAMI Columbia, Raw Roots Turmeric Th is year’s honorees were featured at a virtual awards ceremony on Friday, November 12.
BRIEFLY
COMMUNITY
State Historical Society of Missouri Expands Historic Missourians Website As part of its mission to support educational outreach, the State Historical Society of Missouri continues to add new biographies to the freely available education website Historic Missourians. An essential resource for students and educators, Historic Missourians features well-resourced biographies of notable Missourians. The articles are written for a school-age audience and meet education standards set by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, but readers of all ages visit the site. The new biographies were made possible through a generous donation from Carolyn P. and Robin R. Wenneker, whose financial support allowed the State Historical Society to engage MU graduate students in researching and writing articles on people with a connection to the university. COMMUNITY
EDU CATION
UM System Announces Launch of MizzouForward University of Missouri System President Mun Choi announced the launch of MizzouForward, which he described as “a comprehensive strategy with the goal of enhancing research and education missions.” The UM System expects the transformation of the university system to take 10 years and a $1.5 billion investment. According to the release, this is the largest investment of its kind at MU. Choi said the grand opening of the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building embodies the spirit of MizzouForward, saying NextGen “is just the beginning.” He also announced MizzouForward will use new and existing resources to recruit 150 new tenured or tenure-track faculty and 150 new staff to support the plan’s research mission. The investment money will go toward building and upgrading research facilities, increasing student support, raising salaries of faculty and staff, and more.
Columbia College selected to host NAIA Cross Country Championships in 2024, 2027, and 2030 The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced that Columbia College, in partnership with the Columbia Sports Commission and the City of Columbia, will host the 2024, 2027, and 2030 NAIA Men’s and Women’s Cross Country National Championships. Each year will bring nearly 75 teams and over 600 racers to Columbia. At the 2019 NAIA Championships (the last year data was available), the city of Vancouver, Washington, received an overall economic impact estimated at $1,336,464. The average team stay was four days, and 2,000 hotel rooms were used. The 2024 event will take place on November 22, with the dates for the 2027 and 2030 championships to be announced later. All three national championships will occur at the state-of-theart Gans Creek Cross Country Course on the south side of Columbia.
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EDMUND DZIUK
Columbia resident Edmund Dziuk is among the judges for the 146th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, which will be held in New York City on January 24 through 26. The iconic dog show is set to return to the city after the 2021 event was held outdoors at the Lyndhurst Estate in Tarrytown, New York, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Edmund will officiate over several breeds at Pier 36 on Manhattan’s lower east side during his third judging assignment at Westminster. For the past 20 years, Dziuk has been the chief operating officer of the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, where he has the unique opportunity to combine his business and management experience with his love of dogs and passion for and interest in canine health. He is approved to judge the hound group; numerous sporting, nonsporting, and toy breeds; best in show; and junior showmanship.
N ATA L I E T H O M A S
Natalie Thomas has been selected to serve as the director of advancement at Columbia Independent School. Natalie most recently served as the director of advancement at the Trulaske College of Business at MU. Thomas will oversee all fundraising activities, including the CIS Pride Fund annual campaign; special events such as the school’s gala and Spaghetti Supper; and capital campaign and major gift programs. She will also serve as a member of
the school’s leadership team. Thomas earned a bachelor of arts in communication from MU and a master’s degree in business administration from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. Prior to her advancement work at the Trulaske College of Business, Thomas served as a digital marketing officer and account manager for companies based in New York and Denver.
fiduciary for their clients, acting in their best interests, and have demonstrated the knowledge, ethics, and experience required to deliver comprehensive financial planning. Greg has reaffirmed his commitment to provide client-centric financial planning, risk management and investment, tax work, and estate planning guidance.
DZIUK
HABIB ZAGHOUANI CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHURCH
Christian Fellowship Church installed new leadership, including elders, pastors, and a new lead pastor. New elders are Steve Boul, Nene Peter, Bruce Moe, and Jean Claude Ntimpa. New pastors are Beth Bramstedt and Deb Schaefer. The new lead pastor is Michael Acock, who previously served the church as executive pastor. Christian Fellowship has been part of the Columbia community since 1978, and Phil Schaefer, who retired at the end of the year, served as senior pastor for more than 27 years.
GREG BROCKMEIER
Brockmeier Financial Services congratulated Greg Brockmeier on earning his certified financial planner designation. Greg has been an integral part of Brockmeier Financial Services’ development and success since 2012. While many people can use the title “financial planner,” only those who have fulfilled the CFP Board’s rigorous requirements can call themselves a CFP professional. A CFP professional must act as a
The National Academy of Inventors has named the MU School of Medicine’s Habib Zaghouani, PhD, to its 2021 fellows program. The NAI Fellows Program highlights academic inventors who have demonstrated a spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society. Zaghouani is the J. Lavenia Edwards Endowed Chair in Pediatrics with appointments in the MU School of Medicine Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and the Department of Child Health and Neurology. He is director of the Immunity & Autoimmunity Research Laboratory, which focuses on the biology of T lymphocytes and their contribution to the development of immunity and autoimmunity. He holds 23 patents and has three that are pending. The 2021 NAI fellow class represents 116 research universities and governmental and nonprofit research institutes worldwide. Collectively, the class holds more than 4,800 U.S. patents.
THOMAS
ACOCK
BROCKMEIER
ZAGHOUANI
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The Dream Continues BY LA TOYA STEVENS PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
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s we approach the birthday of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I can’t help but reflect on our nation’s history, his vision for a beloved community, the reality of where we are today, and the vision for tomorrow. In order to discuss Dr. King’s dream, you must have historical context for it and the fight for equality during the civil rights movement. We know our nation was founded on land seized from indigenous people and built by the hands of enslaved people. In 1776, when the colonies unanimously declared their independence from Great Britain and became the United States of America, the first statement made as to the cause of the separation was as follows in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The founders go on to state that governments are “instituted” to secure these rights, and when government becomes “destructive of these ends,” the people have the right to alter or abolish it and institute new government. That is exactly what the founders did. We now know that when they said, “all men,” they really only meant white men. I want you to consider the following. The Emancipation Proclamation abolished slavery in 1863. Subsequently, Congress made the determination that the 13th and 14th amendments extended civil rights to Black men. During Reconstruction, 16
Black men were elected to Congress and more than 600 were elected to state legislatures, not to mention those elected in local government. Some people would look at this progression and argue that it’s evidence there is no systemic racism in America. However, a brief glimpse at some of the history of civil rights reveals that at its inception, the system foundational to our nation’s democracy was never concerned with the well-being of Black people. Almost immediately after Black people were granted freedom from slavery and Black men were given the same rights as white men, those rights were effectively taken by a Supreme Court ruling, ushering in the Jim Crow era. The executive and legislative branches would each play pivotal roles in upholding systemic racism, ending Reconstruction and solidifying the hold of Jim Crow in the South. White people designed and established systems to maintain their power.
Dr. King used language from the founding documents of this nation to present the argument that Black people, by the founders’ own words, should be treated the same as our white counterparts. As such, he fought for equality. Dr. King fought for voting rights, economic opportunity, racial justice, and an end to police brutality. He had the dream that his children would live in a nation and not be “judged by the color of their skin but the content of their character.” Major victories were won during the civil rights movement, including the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which
GUEST VOICE
prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which removed barriers that prevented Black people from voting. Sometimes, equality feels right. For instance, the 2020 stimulus payments. Everyone was impacted by COVID-19, but not everyone was impacted the same way. Equality says everyone gets a check, and if we’re going to be honest, most people were OK with that. However, people experiencing systemic barriers (those who were often most in need) such as those with no identification, no bank account, no stable address, or no stable employment did not receive the benefit of that stimulus relief. Equality says to provide resources to people so they learn to live with systemic barriers when everyone gets the same thing. Equity takes a more individualized approach to understanding what each person needs to survive and seeks to remove systemic barriers so they no longer negatively impact anyone’s ability to succeed. While we’ve made progress toward Dr. King’s dream, it has yet to be realized. We are still fighting for voting rights, economic opportunity, social justice, and police reform. The reality is that no one should be judged based on the color of their skin. Likewise, no one’s outcomes in life should be determined by the color of their skin. As the founders stated, when government no longer secures the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, the people have the right to alter the government. We can do this through our election process. We all have the power to impact change by electing leaders who will fight for equity — leaders who will fight for everyone.
La Toya Stevens is an inclusive marketing and communications professional. Her unabashed style highlights cognitive dissonance, dissolves tension, and sets the stage for meaningful dialogue to advance work against racism.
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Roll Out for Justice event in 2020.
A Local Cause in Motion Local Motion — formerly known as PedNet — rebrands to reflect advocacy focus. BY HANNAH ROBERTSON
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f you have walked, biked, driven, or ridden transit on Columbia’s transportation system — in short, if you’ve gone anywhere — you have likely benefited from the work of Local Motion. The mission of the nonprofit organization previously known as PedNet is to provide walking, biking, and transit solutions that meet people’s everyday transportation needs. They have been contributing to Columbia’s community since 2000, but in recent years, their focus and strategy have changed. With these changes, they felt they needed a more inclusive, accurate brand and name. Thus, Local Motion was born.
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The organization started as PedNet Coalition, which stood for “pedestrian and pedaling network.” The founders of PedNet envisioned a safe and attractive network of trails and sidewalks that could be used for walking, biking, or using wheelchairs. To help others see their vision, they created a map of what they would like the pedestrian network to look like and how it would work. Driven by that vision, PedNet formed into a legal corporation, hired staff, and started advocating. PedNet had strong successes for many years as their advocacy influence grew, highlighted by the PedNet map being accepted by Columbia City Council and used as the basis of the Parks & Recreation Trails Master Plan. One of the organization’s first major policy wins was leading the charge for Columbia to adopt a Complete Streets policy. Complete Streets is a transportation policy and infrastructure design approach that promotes safe, convenient, and comfortable travel and access for users of all ages and abilities. The city adopted the policy in 2004, one of the first in the country to do so. Local Motion is currently working on a grassroots campaign to update this policy to be equity-focused. Their campaign goals include “developing and advocating for a new gold standard Complete Streets policy for Columbia, developing an anti-racist community engagement process that relies heavily on community input to inform the details of the Complete Streets policy, and creating a crowdsourced mapping app to gather street-level walking, biking, and accessibility safety and repair data,” according to their website.
Nine years after passing the Complete Streets policy, in 2013, PedNet experienced a leadership change and, with that, began to shift the focus of their advocacy. One of these changes was expanding to include street networks, meaning safer transportation for all of Columbia. They also began focusing more on equity — PedNet saw how disadvantaged groups, such as Black residents, low-income families, children, older adults, and people with disabilities, were being systematically oppressed through transportation policy. The systemic barriers in transportation result in difficulty accessing basic needs, such as food and health care, participating in democracy, and having an increased risk of serious injury or death from traffic crashes. With this in mind, PedNet changed its advocacy approach to make transportation equity one of the four priority areas of their strategic plan. They also changed their advocacy strategy and began partnering directly with individuals who are negatively impacted by the auto-centric transportation system. These changes to the organization’s focus and advocacy would help inspire the future rebrand to Local Motion. Their second major advocacy campaign began in 2015 as a result of multiple crashes between drivers and pedestrians in Columbia in a seven-month period. These crashes killed four pedestrians and injured at least six others. Local Motion partnered with the Mayor’s Task Force on Pedestrian Safety, sharing the philosophy of Vision Zero. Vision Zero, as described on Local Motion’s website, is “a trans-
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CELEBRATIONS
2000 PedNet Coalition is founded with the vision of a network of trails and sidewalks throughout Columbia.
2004 PedNet leads Columbia to be one of the first cities in the United States to adopt the Complete Streets policy.
2013 PedNet faces leadership and strategy changes. With that comes an updated logo and the start of PedNet’s “new phase.”
2016 Columbia is one of the first cities in the country, and the first in Missouri, to pass a Vision Zero policy.
2019 PedNet launches grassroots organizing strategy with neighborhood leaders in the Vision Zero priority neighborhoods.
2021 PedNet is awarded the platinum-level Guidestar Seal of Transparency and announces rebrand to Local Motion.
Clockwise from top left: Grassroots organizing with neighborhood leaders; rebrand announcement event; staff photo in Columbia's first protected bike lane; Roll Out for Justice event in 2020.
portation policy goal and data-driven strategy to achieve zero traffic deaths or serious injuries on our roadways.” The task force recommended adopting a Vision Zero policy in March of 2016 and Columbia City Council voted it in unanimously in December 2016. The Vision Zero Action Plan was created in April of 2017 and laid out measurable steps for Columbia to reach the goal of zero traffic related deaths or serious injuries by 2030. As part of these efforts, PedNet launched a grassroots organizing strategy in 2019 and created a neighborhood leadership council made up of 10 members who live and work in Vision Zero priority neighborhoods — neighborhoods with high populations of people of color, low-income families, and households without vehicles. It was during the leadership change in 2013 that Local Motion’s current chief development officer, Annette Triplett (20 under 40 class of 2020), joined the team. They had updated the logo to incorporate streets, but even at that time, she felt the name PedNet created problems, and she wasn’t the only one. The organization’s scope had broadened to encompass much more than a pedestrian and pedaling network. It was in the back of most people’s minds for years, but talks about a rebrand didn’t get serious until 2019. They were approved to change the organization’s name
at the end of that year — but they had no idea what the name would be. In 2020, they worked on brainstorming names and developing the logo, with a list of potential names on sticky notes decorating the hallway so that staffers thought about it as they walked past each day. Lawrence Simonson, chief executive officer of Local Motion, would be responsible for the new official name. The organization planned to celebrate its 20th anniversary and announce the rebrand in May of 2020. Then, of course, COVID-19 happened. They delayed the announcement for about a year and a half until they could meet together and celebrate. Finally, on October 2, 2021, they announced the rebrand at a secret announcement party. Ending the year on a high note, Local Motion just received the platinum-level GuideStar Seal of Transparency in 2021. Currently, they are focusing on updating Complete Streets, working actively towards Vision Zero, and working on a long-range master plan for what they want transit in Columbia to look like in 20 years.
LOCAL MOTION 201 W. BROADWAY, BLDG. 2, STE. A (573) 999-9894 LOMOCOMO.ORG
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Congrats!
COMO MAGAZINE 20 UNDER 40 WINNER,
Jacob Garrett! First State Community Bank is both honored and proud to have Jacob Garrett on our team. His dedication to serving Columbia and the surrounding communities is truly remarkable.
COLUMBIA | (573) 441-1800 | www.fscb.com | Member FDIC
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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT
A Vital Part
Become an active participant in the health and sustainability of our community through the Red Cross. BY MARY CAITLYN POLOVICH
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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT
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he Red Cross was founded in 1881 by Clara Barton as a response to her experiences as a nurse during the Civil War. The organization became known for remaining neutral in confl ict and treating soldiers from both sides. The American Red Cross of Central & Northern Missouri — the local chapter of the Red Cross — began in 1917. Time can change a lot of things, but the critical need for the services the Red Cross provides to central and northern Missouri remains constant. “There are five lines of service within the American Red Cross,” Abigail Anderson, former executive director of the American Red Cross of Central & Northern Missouri, says. “There are two primary ones that affect Columbia: blood donations and fi re safety.” The American Red Cross provides 100 percent of the blood to all of the university hospitals in Columbia, but they have seen a decline in donations since 2020. “We’re seeing a decline in donations — 38 percent lower than what we saw around this time last year,” Abigail explains. “In order to ensure that the hospitals have the blood supply that they need to treat local patients, we need more donations.” On average, one pint of blood can save three lives, and the Red Cross hosts an average of five blood drives a day across the Central and Northern Missouri territory. Recently, Abigail worked with Sean Spence, Salvation Army of Mid-Missouri community relations director, to host a VIB — Very Important Blood Drive. Fifty high-profi le individuals from the Columbia area were asked to come and donate, which not only helped in getting blood to hospitals that day, but also helped advocate for the overall need in the community. “The primary message of this event is that blood is vital to the health and sustainability of the community. It really helps rally the community together when you’re asked to give blood by somebody you know,” Abigail says. Aside from donations, the Red Cross also needs volunteers to assist with transportation. After receiving a blood donation, the Red Cross sends vials to a testing facility in St. Louis, where over 100 tests are run to ensure that the blood is completely safe for recipients. “We have five days from the moment a donor sits in the donation bed to the time [the
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The American Red Cross provides 100 percent of the blood to all of the university hospitals in Columbia, but they have seen a decline in donations since 2020.
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blood] is transfused into a hospital patient . . . five days is all that donations are viable for,” Abigail says. “We need volunteers that can assist us in transporting blood post-testing from the Red Cross facility to the local hospitals, even if that’s just across town. Th is is a very safe volunteer position in terms of COVID-19 precautions. Volunteers can sit in a vehicle by themselves — it’s pretty safe in regards to transmission.” During the pandemic, the Red Cross has remained open, and they initially switched their schedule to being open seven days a week. They have since returned back to being open six days a week, but they are collecting blood donations in some fashion — whether that be through community blood drives or at the local blood bank — every day of the year. “The most commonly asked questions right now typically pertain to COVID and vaccination status,” Abigail says. “The simple answer is as long as you don’t have any symptoms or a fever, you can donate. Just come ready to report which vaccine you received, which helps when it comes to testing.” The other priority for Columbia is disaster relief, especially as it pertains to fi re safety. As the winter months continue to get colder, it is not uncommon for people to try and seek out alternative heating solutions. Th is trend is common among low-income families and usually results in a spike in home fi res. “We provide immediate shelter, food, water, and financial assistance to families who have experienced home fi res,” Abigail says. “The average cost per family is $650, and we are looking to our community to help us maintain and secure that financial assistance for local low-income families who have experienced a home fi re.” Beyond being a place of relief for families who experience home fi res, the Red Cross also works with local fi re departments to provide fi re safety awareness and free smoke alarms in low income homes. To donate, give blood, or become a volunteer, visit redcross.org.
NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT
American Red Cross Mission: The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.
Founded: 1917
Central & Northern Missouri Board of Directors: • Kari Less, Board Chair • Nathan Hays, Vice Chair • Bill Plank, Secretary
Board Members: • Alan Earls • Becky Branson Hill • Becky Miller • Jamie Scheppers • Jessica Woodson • Kerri Roberts • Randy Haight • Sarah Hill • Toni Westbrooks • Vince Bentinganan
AMERICAN RED CROSS 1511 S. PROVIDENCE RD. (573) 635-1132 REDCROSS.ORG/LOCAL/MISSOURI
Junior Board Member: • Rebecca Shyu
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BUSINESS UPDATE
Resources, Expertise, Support Midwest Computech: providing IT services and support since 1982. BY MARY CAITLYN POLOVICH PHOTOS BY SADIE THIBODEAUX
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hat began as Young’s Typewriter IBM dealer, in Sedalia, has grown into a one-stop shop for IT services across Missouri — one that continues to expand into Arkansas, Kansas, and Illinois. Midwest Computech provides managed IT services and support to businesses, school districts, and both city and county governments. This includes backend support and technical expertise as well as the hardware and software for a service. “We have a data center where we do [web] hosting for companies and we have a structured cable division,” David Nivens, CEO of Midwest Computech, explains. “We provide the resources, expertise, and humanpower.” Greg Miller, David’s business partner, acquired the company in 2000, and David bought out the remaining half in 2004. Together, they changed the name to Midwest Computech. “We wanted to let our customer base know that there was a change and a new direction for the company.” David says. “We also wanted to have more of a regional feel because our plan was to grow the company beyond the civilian market and the school we already serviced.” With two owners, Midwest Computech had the ability to divide and conquer when it came to growing into new markets. “I moved to Jefferson City and opened an office there, and then in 2005, I got married and we relocated to Columbia and opened an office in Columbia, as well,” David says. While Midwest Computech continues to do a lot of business in Jefferson City, the company has since consolidated the two offices to one office in Columbia. All of the Central Missouri region is managed from the Columbia location, while most of the West Central region is managed from the Sedalia office. The company began with around six employees and currently has around 50 employees. They’re looking to add another five to 10 positions over the next year.
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BUSINESS UPDATE
IT Rapid Questions Q: What is a common IT mistake you see companies making? A: Thinking that
they’re all good. I mean, honestly, if you’re not constantly evaluating your technology on a very regular basis, there are going to be gaps. It’s a constant — you have to constantly be investing in that. And that doesn’t necessarily always mean from a money standpoint; it can also mean making sure that you’re taking the time to train staff and getting them comfortable with the technology.
Q: Of all the IT services Midwest Computech offers, which would you say is the highest priority? A: Anything to do with cybersecurity and disaster recovery.
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(Above) Greg Miller with the 2021 winner of the Tipton R-VI Midwest Computech Laptop Scholarship, Kaylee Higgins. (Below) The team in 2007.
“We are constantly looking for new talent and good people that are a great fit with our culture and with what we’re trying to accomplish,” David says. Company growth has resulted in facility growth, too. Midwest Computech has moved five times over the past 15 years, and their current facility is around 15,000 square feet. In addition to their new facility, the team has been working towards building a 2,300-square-foot training center that would double as an event center to rent out. It isn’t just company growth that has resulted in the need to expand their space, but industry growth, as well. “2000 was just the beginning of people understanding IT. At that time, people were just starting to understand what networks were,” David explains. “So we had to evolve. Originally our service offerings were along the lines of the ‘break-fix’ model, which involved sitting by the phone and waiting for someone
In addition to their new facility, the team has been working towards building a 2,300-squarefoot training center that would double as an event center to rent out.
(Above) Midwest Computech was named Top IT Company at 2017's Top of the Town. (Below) David Nivens with two of the 2012 laptop scholarship recipients.
to call with an issue. A lot of time going to fixing those problems led to the discovery of a lot of other issues that had to be fixed before the original issue was fixed. That is a hard existence — just sitting and waiting for business to roll in — so that’s when we started our own managed services business model.” The managed services business model began as a proactive response to their ongoing customers. Midwest Computech began offering bi-monthly appointments with current clients, and they used this time to check on back-ups, antivirus measures, updates, and anything else that would ensure everything was running smoothly on an ongoing basis. “We kind of started the managed service business model without even fully knowing what it was at the time,” David says. “Over
time, that has obviously evolved, too. Things have changed in how we deliver those services. With current technology, we can manage thousands of desktops and provide checkup services from one spot, and we can fix any issues remotely versus having to go on-site. This makes our clients’ lives easier because we can provide a very fast, reliable service.” Even though so much can be done remotely with new technology, Midwest Computech still prioritizes personal relationships with their clients. They usually go on site to touch base with clients at least once a month. “We want to know how things are going and what can be done better. We want any feedback they can give,” David says.
WHAT’S NEXT? The pandemic presented unique opportunities for Midwest Computech — many of which have spawned ideas for the future. “We were fortunate to be able to navigate the last couple of years successfully,” David says. “We have had some tremendous growth. The pandemic put an extra sense of urgency and reliance on technology, as well as the ability to work from multiple different environments. For a lot of our clients, we already had most of what they needed in place — it wasn’t a huge transition. Enabling our clients to have full functionality during a stressful time was very rewarding and presented some new growth areas for the company.” In order to continue to grow in these areas, staying on top of and understanding the latest technology and security is critical — this is true for both Midwest Computech and their clients. “One of the things we are really trying to do is evolve in training aspects,” David says. “You can put all the best technology and security in place, but if the end user doesn’t know how to use it or isn’t comfortable with the technology, then it isn’t going to be nearly as successful. Even though what we do is pretty complicated, we try and do it in a manner that makes it as easy as possible for the person on the other end to do what they need to do in their role to be successful.”
MIDWEST COMPUTECH 404 PORTL AND ST. (573) 499-6928 WWW.MIDWESTCOMPUTECH.COM
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Congratulations Austin! We are so proud of you. FROM:
Ai Painting Plus, Lacie, and your beautiful children
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PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW
Barbara Buffaloe Candidate for Mayor of Columbia PH OTO BY SADIE TH I BO DEAUX JOB DESCRIPTION
I am currently running for mayor of Columbia because I love this community. As a candidate for mayor, the job right now involves a lot of meeting with community stakeholders and finding out from them what the important issues are facing our community. Talking to people about the city we all hold dear to our hearts is kind of my jam, and I love meeting new people. PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
I had the privilege of serving as the City of Columbia’s first sustainability manager. (And I was a 2016 20 under 40 recipient!) As sustainability manager, I was responsible for integrating short- and long-term comprehensive action plans, resource conservation, and programs and operations that advanced a more sustainable, vital, and well-planned future for Columbia. I am a current board member, and former cochair, of the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, a peer-to-peer network of local government professionals from over 180 global cities dedicated to creating a healthier environment, economic prosperity, and increased social equity. HOMETOWN
Springfield, Illinois. YEARS LIVED IN COLUMBIA
22.
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QUOTE YOU LIVE BY
Former city manager Bill Watkins passed out this quote from President Harry Truman to department directors: “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” This was a guiding statement for me because, as a civil servant and, hopefully, future mayor, it reminds me that the decisions we make today are not about us — they’re about the people we serve. FAVORITE VOLUNTEER/ COMMUNITY ACTIVITY
I recently volunteered with my Rotary club at Voluntary Action Center’s Holiday Program. It’s an amazing program that matches sponsors with more than 1,000 families in Boone County. Families receive gifts, toys, clothing, and household supplies for the holidays. It was amazing to see the amount of love our community has for those in need. A COLUMBIA BUSINESSPERSON YOU ADMIRE AND WHY
I think Susan Hart is the most dedicated person in Columbia. She volunteers her time on so many boards and committees, all while being a mentor, a mom, and a partner. We’re lucky to have her in Columbia. WHY YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SERVICE
I believe that if we want to see positive changes in our community, then we have to step up and make them happen. WHY YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY
As one of the fastest growing cities in Missouri — one that attracts new businesses and talent every year — we can see that people want to be here. With forwardthinking leadership and a vision for where we should go, Columbia can be the Future City of Missouri. We need a mayor and city council that will lead us there. IF YOU WEREN’T DOING THIS FOR A LIVING, YOU WOULD
Oh gosh, I kind of tried retirement for a few months and I was not good at it. I’m meant to do civil service! WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR PROFESSION
It is hard to serve in public office right now, and we’ve all seen that people are not being the best versions of themselves. The best elected officials are the ones that are actively gathering
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The best elected officials are the ones that are actively gathering the best ideas from a lot of viewpoints and working to improve the community for our present and future generations.
BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The decisions you’re making today are really for future generations. There might be some decisions made that will have an immediate impact, but the majority are for your children and grandchildren, and it is our responsibility to take that into consideration when acting today. HOW YOU WANT TO IMPACT THE COLUMBIA COMMUNITY
We need someone listening and really putting their heart out there to do the work and lead Columbia to be a place that all can appreciate. We grow together. WHAT YOU DO FOR FUN
I love watching cooking shows (especially the Great British Baking Show), riding my bike, hiking with family and friends, teaching and taking Pilates classes, and eating and shopping at local restaurants and stores. FAMILY
My husband, Luke, is a family medicine doctor at MU. Together we’re raising two little Buffaloes, Eleanor (11) and Benjamin (9), who are just awesome. the best ideas from a lot of viewpoints and working to improve the community for our present and future generations. GREATEST STRENGTH
I am approachable — I welcome conversations with pretty much anyone and love getting to know new people. This probably leads to what my kids would say my greatest weakness is. GREATEST WEAKNESS
My kids would say it takes me too long to leave somewhere because I want to continue talking with people. THE NEXT CHALLENGE FACING COLUMBIA
Bringing differing viewpoints together to address workforce housing, racial disparities, and how we want Columbia to grow into the future. It’s going to take someone with the experience of bringing people together with a vision of where we should be going. YOUR NEXT PROFESSIONAL GOAL
To be the next mayor of Columbia!
FAVORITE PLACE IN COLUMBIA
Most places downtown in The District. You’ll find us riding our bikes to Uprise Bakery for breakfast, Café Berlin for lunch, and Kampai for dinner. ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF
My kids inspire me daily with their curiosity and thoughtfulness towards their friends, neighbors, and planet. MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT YOU
I was a diver in high school and can still do flips on the diving board and trampoline. The January issue is always dedicated to revealing the new 20 under 40 class as well as providing updates on what the alumni are doing. Barbara was selected for PYSK as a 20 under 40 Alumni before the mayoral race became what it is now. Due to providing her this space in this issue, we will be giving equal space to the other four mayoral candidates in the February issue. COMO Magazine is not and will not be endorsing any candidate in the upcoming elections.
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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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Congratulations to
Megan Steen on being named one of the 20 Under 40 Class of 2022!
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We’re bringing
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Enjoy a beautiful view from the comfort of your own igloo! WE’RE BRINGING THIS UNIQUE WINTER EXPERIENCE BACK FOR ANOTHER SEASON ... Bring the family and a blanket! Our heated igloos keep you and your guests (up to 8!) warm, and have an unobstructed view of our beautiful Columbia skyline. Check out the website for more details including how to book your igloo.
(573) 875-7000 • 1111 E. Broadway, Columbia • TheBroadwayColumbia.com COMOMAG.COM
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FROM THE GROUND UP New growth and expanded
entertainment options for Mid-Missouri. BY L AUREN S A BL E F R EI MA N PHOTO OF N I C PA R KS BY A N TH O N Y JI N S O N
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s he’s traveled the country with his family, Nic Parks has made a point to visit as many entertainment districts as possible. From Branson to Kansas City to St. Louis and beyond Missouri, Parks has been taking notes on attractions and entertainment venues that enhance life for both residents and visitors alike. “I want Columbia to be one of the best college towns to live in, and to be the best, you have to have entertainment and, to some degree, tourism,” Nic says. “I have a wish list of entertainment options I’d love to see exist in our community, things like a children’s museum, an ice skating rink, an aquarium, an outdoor amphitheater, a big outdoor ropes course, a zip line, a Ferris wheel. I have a big list basically generated by all the places we’ve visited as a family.”
Unlimited Potential Creates Excitement As the CEO of The Pinball Company and Parks Amusements, which includes Silverball and Level Up, Nic is a key player in Columbia’s indoor entertainment scene. But, as indoor events were largely shuttered during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nic’s wheels began to turn. While Level Up offers a ropes course, an arcade, and a restaurant (along with the new addition of mini
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golf and roller skating), Nic says that people want to be outside when the weather is nice. So, with the warm summer months approaching, Nic set his sights on a new concept for familyfriendly outdoor entertainment. “During the early stages of the pandemic, the acceptance for group activities was doing things outside, and I started to think about what I could be doing so people could do things outside,” he says. “I grew up in St. Louis, and we had a drive-in theater that I thought was really cool. Nostalgia is clearly back, and I thought a drive-in would be a really cool thing to do in our community.” That idea for outdoor entertainment options continued to take shape, and this spring, Lakeside Ashland, a multiattraction outdoor entertainment area centered around a small lake, will open on a 37-acre plot of land located at 5900 E. Log Providence Rd., west of U.S. 63 at the Columbia Regional Airport exit. “I think it’s a perfect fit,” Nic says. “With great access off 63, close to Jefferson City and Columbia, it’s the perfect property.” The fi rst phase of the development on the east side of the lake will feature an outdoor LED movie screen, which will allow families to view movies before dark, a restaurant, and a play area. After a recent trip to a convention for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, Nic began exploring the possibility of adding a zip line across the lake as well as an inflatable aqua park. “We are looking for things that we think will make Lakeside great because we want this to be a multi-attraction outdoor entertainment area,” he says.
Growing Pains Cause Strain Alongside the recently completed parking lot, steel and wood framing is taking shape around the movie screen and stage. Construction on a restaurant, complete with two bars and an upstairs area with outdoor covered seating, will soon begin. But Nic’s growing excitement about a spring opening is tempered by the pushback the project has drawn from concerned neighbors. Nic says there is “a bit of debate on how fast Columbia wants to grow,” and he is fi rmly planted on the side that supports growth. But he is keenly aware of the fact that some local residents aren’t in favor of any commercial development in the area. Ashland Mayor Richard Sullivan says that while many neighbors are supportive of the development and the exciting opportunity it brings to Ashland, a few neighbors have been particularly vocal in their opposition and have mounted an attempt to slow or derail the project. “There is no doubt that the area is going to grow commercially, and nothing is hindering the Lakeside Ashland project — it is happening,” Richard says. “With the land being
I want Columbia to be one of the best college towns to live in, and to be the best, you have to have entertainment and, to some degree, tourism. I have a wish list of entertainment options I , d love to see exist in our community, things like a children,s museum, an ice skating rink, an aquarium, an outdoor amphitheater, a big outdoor ropes course, a zip line, a Ferris wheel. I have a big list basically generated by all the places we , ve visited as a family. ,, COMOMAG.COM
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Lakeside Development Prepared by: Crockett Engineering Consultants 1000 W. Nifong Blvd., Bldg. 1
Fountain
Crockett Engineering Consultants, LLC Missouri Certificate of Authority #2000151301
zoned commercial nearly six Beach years ago, anything could have gone in there. There were all sorts of plans that had concerns. Mr. Parks has been very open from the beginning of the project to being a good neighbor and to creating a family-friendly entertainment venue.” Now that attorneys have worked out the issues that temporarily prevented the project from moving forward, including issues around the interpretation of the fi re code and emergency access to the property, Nic says that the site plans are approved and nothing stands in the way of the spring opening that he is planning. He is confident that changes and additions to the original plans have addressed any safety and traffic concerns. “We completed a traffic study, and though it did not say we were required to put in turn lanes, because of safety concerns and to manage our traffic flow better, we are putting those turn lanes in,” Nic says. “At some point, maybe it would have been required, so we decided to widen the road and put in turn lanes for two roads into the development.” They also altered plans in order to enhance emergency access into the development. Because of the movie screen’s height and the roof that covers it, it qualifies as a structure. Though it won’t have any occupants, the structure is required to have multiple points of access for the fire department. “We are putting more access points around the building so there is more access for fire trucks, and we feel like that satisfies the fire
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department concerns about access to the tall structure,” he says. “With the turn lanes, the fire department can get past our development without any choke points, and neighbors will benefit from that better access.”
Finding Common Ground Though Nic says that, to date, there hasn’t been a good dialogue with the neighbors, he says he’s open to communication and is interested in exploring ways to make Lakeside Ashland an asset that is mutually beneficial to the residents of Ashland and the surrounding areas.
Splash Park/ Playground Area
Parking Lot (236 spaces)
Concessions/ Restrooms Above: Renderings of the concession and restroom facility. Below: A rendering of the screen at the center of the ampitheater.
Ampitheater/ Screen
“What can we do to work together to still make it a joy to live here, but for us to revive family entertainment so we can coexist and build something that is financially viable and still appealing to the neighbors?” Nic says. “Maybe we have golf cart parking, maybe we plant trees in the Northwest corner that faces the neighbors. Maybe the type of fencing we put up around the property is more attractive, maybe we have capacity limits or reduced hours. Let’s talk about discounts for neighbors or neighborhood meetings on our property. Let’s talk about all those things. There is still time for constructive conversations and dialogue.” There is also still time to solidify plans for the west side of the development. Nic says architects are currently working on the plans, which will likely include two more restaurants, a hotel, volleyball and pickle ball courts, and additional outdoor entertainment. “It will be more typical commercial development with a lot more buildings,” Nic says. “That plan will unfold over five or 10 years as demand increases for restaurants in that area. We think there will be demand for a hotel out there in the next five to 10 years.” Though the early stage of the Lakeside Ashland project has had some hurdles, Nic says he is encouraged by the number of people who support the development and the concept of family entertainment in the area. “So many people want this and so many families benefit from us being there,” Nic says. “We are spending millions of dollars on this development because we want it to exist for our kids and our families, not because we think it is going to be tremendously profitable.” As construction continues to move forward, Richard says that, despite past disagreements, he expects that the residents of Ashland will enjoy the restaurants and entertainment options that Lakeside Ashland offers. “The whole project in general is going to be a great benefit for Central Missouri because it will draw people from the surrounding areas to a family-friendly environment,” Richard says. “That benefits not only Ashland, but also Boone County. It will really be a positive thing.”
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20 UNDER 40 CLASS OF
P R ESENTING SPONSOR OF 20 UNDER 40 !
UNDER FORTY Introducing the best of the best in Columbia. BY B E T H B R A M S T EDT PH OTO S BY C H A R L E S B R U C E I I I
20 under 40 honors a group of outstanding professionals under the age of 40 who excel in their industry, are company leaders, and are good community citizens. We’re excited to introduce you to the class of 2022!
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Ming Hsieh Owner, Polished Salon Age: 38
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f Ming could change one thing about her life, she’d love for her house to be as organized as her nail salon. As a small business owner, Ming wears many hats. A typical day begins with answering messages and prepping the salon for the day while looking over her appointments, which are usually back-toback Monday through Saturday. Between clients, she works on the operational side of the business, which includes branding,
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marketing, monitoring cash flow, visual merchandising, keeping up with the latest product trends, and maintaining inventory for sales and salon use. “People have the misconception that it does not take much effort to be in the beauty industry,” Ming says. “But it requires you to be super consistent and reliable, to become an expert in your trade so you can establish a loyal clientele, and to sacrifice your evenings because most clients that come to see you usually work until 5 p.m.” Ming says it also demands that you are pleasant, accommodating, and have a sympathetic ear even when you are having a rough day. “It is an industry that is exceptionally demanding yet incredibly rewarding if you put your time in,” says Ming. Of all the things that demand her time and attention, Ming is most proud of creating a positive work environment and finding new incentives that allow her to retain excellent employees. “Salons can have a
reputation for being negative or hostile work environments,” Ming says. “I want to create a safe space for employees to work and collaborate and feel supported. I’m always striving to let my employees know that they are appreciated for their hard work and reward them accordingly.” When she’s not at work, Ming enjoys shopping at the Columbia Farmers Market and giving back to the community. In 2020 she joined the board of The BOLD Academy, a local nonprofit that works to empower and uplift black and brown girls. “Ming has been an incredibly active board member who has worked tirelessly to create enrichment and scholarship opportunities for black and brown girls,” says founders Melita Walker and Chrystal Graves-Yazici. “Most recently, Ming was directly involved in helping The BOLD Academy apply and obtain a grant from Veterans United Home Loans that will allow us to have a permanent space.”
Ming has a major fascination with procuring her own food and enjoys hunting, fishing, and gardening.
Wende Wagner Director of Philanthropy, The Missouri Symphony Age: 38
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ende Wagner believes that development is not about raising money; it’s about raising relationships. “People need to trust our organization and feel they can trust me as a steward of their generosity,” Wende says. “By building trust and developing strong relationships with all our supporters, whether they’re individual donors or corporate partners, we can do amazing things for the thriving performing arts community in Columbia.” In a typical day at The Missouri Symphony, Wende may be drafting corporate sponsorship proposals, grant applications, and individual giving proposals, or she may be entering donations, sending out thank you letters, meeting with donors and corporate sponsors, writing donation solicitation appeals, attending professional development webinars, or attending networking events. While Wende has served as the director of marketing for MOSY in the past, she is excited to be focusing on fundraising and donor stewardship. “I will still be involved with parts of marketing as the primary contact for our corporate partners,” she says, “but my priority shifted to development at the beginning of January.” “Wende has been an instrumental member of the staff,” says Trent Rash, executive director of MOSY, “and her contagious energy and strengths at connecting with others have led to new and exciting relationships and partnerships, opening up many new future possibilities for the organization.” In addition to her role at the symphony, Wende is active in the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. “In 2021, I was selected as for the Emerging Professional award by the Columbia
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by the Chamber of Commerce,” Wende says. “It was an honor to be recognized, especially at age 38, when many would consider me too old for a young professional award.” Wende was also selected to be the chair-elect of EPIC and will take on the chair role in July 2022. “I was honored to be nominated by my fellow executive committee members to lead them into the next phase of EPIC,” she says.
In her spare time, Wende is extremely supportive of Columbia’s thriving arts scene — both performing and visual. “We have so many options for high-quality arts entertainment,” she says. She would love to see Columbia selling out arts events from the symphony to the Missouri Contemporary Ballet to art exhibitions and events at The Blue Note and Rose Music Hall.
Wende collects Funko Pops. Her favorites are Ruth Bader Ginsberg, George Washington crossing the Delaware, and Queen Elizabeth II with one of her corgis. COMOMAG.COM
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Amanda Ruyle Principal, Two Mile Prairie Elementary School Age: 37
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indness matters to Amanda Ruyle. “Every decision I make as a wife, daughter, friend, educator, and school leader is impacted by that simple guiding value,” says Amanda, the principal of Two Mile Prairie Elementary School. “Am I treating others the way I want to be treated? Am I listening without judgment? Am I speaking from my heart? Am I valuing the perspective of others? Am I allowing for courageous conversations in a respectful way? These are the questions that matter to me, and they all go back to kindness.” Amanda credits the unwavering support, high expectations, love, and guidance of her parents for being where she is today. “My mom taught me about grit and perseverance, showed me the value of education, and instilled a deep appreciation for finding joy and gratitude daily,” Amanda shares. “My dad taught me about integrity, honesty, and hard work. He taught me what unconditional love looks like and that it is OK to make mistakes.” Amanda started her career as an elementary teacher before serving as the assistant principal at Russell Elementary for eight years, where she met Kate Canterbury. “The day my kids entered Russell, I admit I was a little dazzled by the amazing hair and brilliant smile of the assistant principal,” says Kate. “As a tired mom wrangling a very noisy set of twins into school every morning, I found Amanda pretty darn intimidating. So, it was a revelation to find out that this woman was even more beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside.” When Amanda transitioned to the role of principal at Two Mile Prairie, she had the goal of making it a place-based agriculture
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education school, and kicking off that dream during a pandemic makes her proud. Amanda and her team built a school-wide garden, revamped their outdoor classroom, created a compost club, welcomed chickens to the school, stocked the pond, and created an Ag Day for the students.
“I am so proud of what I was able to accomplish my first year as principal, and I can’t wait to continue to make big dreams happen,” she says. Outside her role as principal, Amanda serves on the executive board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Amanda has a habit of not bringing home her dirty dishes from lunch. “I usually have a bag of dishes under my desk or in my car for days,” she admits.
Brandon Banks Managing Partner, MAAD Creative LLC, and Co-owner, Nclusion Inc. Age: 26
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randon Banks wants to be your branding buddy. Since graduating college, Brandon Banks has held almost every role in MAAD Creative, a local advertising company that houses more than six local brands, including The Add Sheet and Marketplace Magazine, which serve as platforms to help small businesses grow in a cost-effective way. Brandon started in sales, did hand distribution of publications, and got his hands in creative copywriting and then production. In the past year, he’s trained himself in photography, photo retouching, and graphic design. On most days, he’s at-the-ready to answer phone calls and consult clients on marketing, management, and growth strategies, all while trying to maintain a lifestyle of fun social events. Brandon says that one of the biggest misconceptions of his job is that it’s all fun and games and nothing is serious. “While we have fun, are light-hearted marketers, and like crude tongue-in-cheek humor, we all have lines, boundaries, and the expectation of delivering results and professional products into the market,” he says. Brandon’s goal for 2022 is improving MAAD’s digital foothold, expanding their forced distribution to ensure that 100% of the Columbia population gets The Add Sheet, where they can utilize the coupons and find new small businesses to support. They’re also working to expand the free pick-up distribution throughout Mid-Missouri. “We began working with Brandon when he was an account executive for Modern Media,” says Jason Gruender. “He dedicated
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endless hours to listening to our needs, created unique plans and content (including our jingle) for Liberty Family Medicine, and truly made our entire team feel special during every interaction.” Brandon is also the co-founder of Nclusion Inc. This year, his organization is focused on developing the first ever Midwest Drag Convention and working with several university systems to bring drag shows and pride festivals to their students and
community. They’d also love to find an affordable brick and mortar downtown location to open as a consistent safe space and drag bar for the LGBTQIA+ community. Brandon considers the golden rule a guiding principle for himself. “It’s easy to be an asshole,” Brandon says, “But it takes true intelligence, self-control, and education to refine yourself into someone who can successfully make others feel affirmed, welcomed, and loved no matter what.”
Brandon can recite the ABCs backwards and forwards at an extremely fast pace.
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Dr. Garima Singh
Chief Medical Officer, Burrell Behavioral Health Age: 39
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arima Singh is passionate about increasing mental health awareness and providing more services for children, minorities, and individuals with autism spectrum disorders. She is triple board certified in child and adolescent psychiatry, general psychiatry, and addiction medicine. In her current role, she focuses on novel methods of health care delivery, including telehealth and integrated and collaborative care models, especially for rural and underserved areas. She is also passionate about bullying prevention and the expansion of mental health services. Burrell Behavioral Health is one of the nation’s largest community mental health centers, providing meaningful care to more than 40,000 patients across 25 counties in Missouri and Arkansas. As chief medical officer, Garima leads the organization in creating an individualized care plan for every patient. She collaborates with multiple community partners, including families, schools, colleges, law enforcement, courts, health care systems, nonprofits, and other networks to provide appropriate and quality care for each situation. Garima is proud of her team’s recent accomplishments. “In the last year, we have reduced the wait time for a patient to see a provider to 5.1 days,” she says. “There has been a 40% increase in psychiatry providers with 100% physician retention. We increased telehealth services by 99% and served 32% more psychiatry patients compared to the year before, which has resulted in 62% decrease in anxiety symptoms and 73% decrease in depressive symptoms.” Garima’s leadership has touched virtually every aspect of her organization. “Dr. Garima Singh is a talented leader and an amazing human,” says Shawn Sando, president of Burrell Medical Group. “Each day, Garima demonstrates competency as a physician, positively motivates her peers and teammates, and shows genuine compassion for the clients we serve. She is truly committed to our organization and the community.” In May 2020, Garima helped open Burrell’s first behavioral crisis center, which has served more than 1,600 patients and is the first 24/7 facility for behavioral health and substance use crises in southwest Missouri. She and her team are excited to replicate the same model in Columbia Garima strives to be authentic, kind, passionate, and hardworking, and she would love to expand her knowledge about American history and politics so she can advocate for her patients and reforms better.
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Garima learned to drive when she was 25.
Jessica with her dog, Biscuit.
Jessica Schlosser J
essica Schlosser credits copious amounts of Coke Zero and a lot of self-deprecating humor for getting her where she is today. She is incredibly proud of the fact that her passion for the nutrition for her own pets has exploded into a seven-figure business that supports more than 20 employees in multiple locations. “That’s never something I envisioned happening,” Jessica says, “and I’m still regularly in awe that this is my life!” Jessica founded Lizzi & Rocco’s because she wanted quality-made, ethically sourced, more natural pet products for her own pets. She says it’s been an honor to help countless families in Columbia take better care of some of the most important members of their family through premium nutrition, training, grooming, and toys.
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Co-owner, Lizzi & Rocco’s Natural Pet Market Age: 39
“The absolute favorite part of my job, and one I get to do almost daily, is helping a pet owner improve the health of their pets,” Jessica says. “Whether it’s a nutrition consultation for a new puppy or working with an owner to improve the symptoms of a pesky health issue, I love helping find people products that can enhance and possibly extend the lives of their best pals.” When she’s not on the sales floor with customers, Jessica is generally working on marketing or meeting with sales reps to bring in even more products. Jessica is also proud of having their new south location, which opened in March of 2020, thrive despite the pandemic. “It is nothing short of sheer luck and a lot of hard
work from my team,” Jessica says. “I am beyond proud. But it’s an accomplishment I don’t wish to repeat!” “Jessica has a head for business yet leads with her heart,” says Stacey Thompson, sponsorship coordinator for the Ragtag Film Society. “She is hardworking, visionary, creative, and loyal. She is also kind, thoughtful, and inspiring. Sometimes I feel that seeing her is like embracing sunshine . . . it makes you feel warm all over!” What’s on the horizon for Jessica? “We’re aiming to do an entire renovation of our I-70 Drive location in the spring,” Jessica says. “The old girl needs a serious makeover, and doing so will no doubt be of a major benefit to our business overall.”
Jessica used to have a very robust Pez dispenser collection.
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Tyson Mutrux Senior Trial Lawyer, Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers Age: 38
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yson Mutrux’s proudest accomplishment is receiving a jacket from a client after her son was killed by a drunk driver. After finishing the family’s case, she came in to sign some paperwork and asked Tyson to try on the jacket; it fit perfectly. “She gave me her son’s jacket and said I reminded her of him,” Tyson says. “The jacket is a reminder that the work we do matters.” The gesture embodies the vision Tyson had when he started Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers. “I want to help people,” he says. “No matter how bad things get, we are here to help clients put the pieces of their lives back together.” Tyson’s week is typically split between working at the law firm, which he built from scratch in 2010 and currently has a team of 22 people and two offices, and working on Maximum Lawyer, a podcast he started in 2016 with St. Louis attorney James O. Hacking. Tyson serves as co-host of the podcast, which boasts more than 20,000 monthly downloads and approximately 5,000 Facebook group members. “Maximum Lawyer podcast is another one of my greatest accomplishments,” Tyson says. “We’ve won awards and we have tens of thousands of people listen to us monthly. However, we help transform lives through the podcast, the conference, and the guild. It’s incredible to watch lawyers go from struggling to success in the span of a year.” James met Tyson back in 2009 when Tyson was his student at the Saint Louis University School of Law. “We became friends and I have watched his meteoric rise over the past decade with a sense of awe,” says James. “The long and short of it
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is that he is absolutely kicking butt in a very competitive market.” At the firm, Tyson spends time building systems and reading to sharpen his skills. The rest of his week is scheduled with client meetings, attorney meetings, team meetings, depositions, mediations, and court.
Tyson says that when he has a trial, things get hectic. Even a short two-day trial takes months of preparation and involves early mornings and late nights away from his family. “This can be one of the most stressful things I do,” Tyson says, “but also the most enjoyable.”
Tyson got his pilot’s license in November, and he has one blue eye and one green eye.
Lauren Karr Director of Marketing Success, Veterans United Home Loans Age: 37
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hen Lauren was a little girl, she wanted to be an actress. Her dream was to move to New York and perform on Broadway before moving on to TV. During high school, she decided to focus on the next best thing — TV news and radio. She spent her college years moonlighting as Larissa on Y107 and working as a student reporter at KOMU. She co-anchored the morning show before eventually joining Veterans United Home Loans and becoming their director of marketing success. Lauren spends most of her days interacting with the marketing department, where she coordinates with partners in New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, and more. One of her main roles is running a nationwide sweepstakes with VU’s partners at realtor.com. “It’s a fast-paced job with a lot of moving pieces,” says Lauren. “I love traveling to New York to educate our partners about the VA loan. I love hopping up to Iowa to meet the latest sweepstakes winner. And above all, I love that more veterans and service members own their own homes than they did 10 years ago.” In addition to marketing and helping veterans, Lauren is passionate about cancer research. After her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, she joined the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure board as the PR chair for two years. “The year leading up to the race was always long, but the energy in the early morning hours of race day gave me life,” Lauren says. Cancer hit even closer to home when her son was diagnosed with leukemia in 2018. Since then, Lauren has been an advocate for
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pediatric cancer awareness. “Knowing only 4% of cancer research funds go to pediatric cancer, I’ve made it known these kids deserve #MoreThan4,” Lauren says. When there was a shortage of a common chemotherapy drug used on children in July of 2019, Lauren reached out to her journalism friends across the country to share the story.
By her son’s next monthly visit, the chemo was available again. ”I’ve seen Lauren go through unimaginable pain in her personal life,” says Joy Ahern, senior staff attorney at VU. “Through it all, Lauren always kept her priorities in line, and she never stopped caring about the people around her.”
Lauren was part of a small group who named the John Warner Middle School.
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Kerri Roberts Chief Operating Officer, TIG Advisors Age: 39
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s a female executive in the insurance industry, Kerri is concerned about the drop in women in the workplace since the pandemic. “It’s painful to watch the data,” Kerri says. “I want to advocate for women. I want to advocate for schooling and secure daycare options, and I want to advocate for workplace flexibility to give women more options if they desire to stay in the workforce.”
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As chief operating officer for TIG Advisors, Kerri is motivated to excel by her faith, which sets her guiding values. Her favorite Bible verse can be found in Colossians and encourages people to work at what they do with all their heart, as if working for God. “My mom took me to church my entire life and my dad joined us there when he reached his 40s,” Kerri says. “As a family, this built a very strong foundation for me that continues today.” In late 2017, TIG Advisors needed experienced leadership to help the owners in all aspects of operations, including aligning their people, processes, and strategy. They needed someone who could come into a 120-year-old company, take all the great benefits of that company, and make it better. They also needed someone who could come into a closely held family business and help them grow while balancing the blessings and challenges of being a family business.
TIG found that person in Kerri Roberts. “Kerri is a leader and a doer, not comfortable with the status quo,” says partner Rich Miller. “And she had done just that in her HR leadership at both MidwayUSA and Veterans United [Home Loans], which are locally owned, closely held companies.” Rich adds that TIG Advisors has increased its profitability and operational health each year that Kerri has been in leadership. “Kerri’s commitment to TIG has gained the trust of the TIG team and its leaders,” says Rich. “Our teams are much more aligned, and our culture is much better.” Personally, Kerri would like to see a Christian group for women in business leadership, much like The Business Advantage for men. “I don’t typically say that out loud because then I feel prompted to start it or lead it,” Kerri says, “but I would love to share this responsibility with other women in our community.”
Kerri grew up in the country and owns a 140-acre farm in the same area she’s from. She hopes to retire there someday.
Darren Morton Managing Director, Turning Point Day Center Age: 36
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arren will be the first to tell you that he is on Earth to build relationships. He is the director of Turning Point Day Center, a ministry of Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church that meets the practical needs of more than 70 people experiencing homelessness each day. They provide daily essentials, such as use of phones, computers, showers, laundry, personal hygiene products, and an address so that clients can receive mail and fill out applications for jobs, housing, and benefits. “The biggest thing I feel like we provide is hope,” Darren says. “We walk alongside our community, restoring their dignity.” On a typical day, Darren pulls in the parking lot around 6:30 a.m., where he’s greeted by members of the Turning Point community, who are usually telling him about their night — their highs, their lows, and all the things in between. Some days, Darren plays the role of brother, while other days it’s the role of parent, teacher, therapist, spiritual guide, friend, or enforcer. “At the end of the day, it’s all about building that relationship with the people we serve,” Darren says. Darren’s influence, however, extends beyond his clients. “I have never met someone so able to connect with others, regardless of who they are, where their walk has taken them, and where they may be heading,” says Melissa Stone Rogers. “Darren went from being my supervisor to one of my best and most important friends. We have a strong friendship that has challenged each of us and encouraged growth.” Melissa believes that what Darren does for our community is unmatched. “There are so many people with numerous degrees and
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credentials that will never be able to engage, interact, and impact others the way Darren does,” she says. “Who and how Darren is can never be taught.” More than any award or accomplishment, Darren is proud of being able to connect with a population that is invisible to most
people. “It’s not only me seeing them; it’s them seeing me as a leader, an advocate, and an ally,” Darren says. “That’s just as big. Being able to bridge the gap between our clients and the rest of the community. Being able to give them a voice and speak on their behalf.”
Darren was working on his college degree and playing football at Missouri Valley when his firstborn came along. He gave up school and sports to become a father. COMOMAG.COM
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T’Keyah Thomas I
n 2022, T’Keyah Thomas wants to build community through poetry, radio, and film. She hopes to produce stories that highlight new and distinct voices and challenge Columbians to diversify their media libraries. As a poet and spoken word artist, she’d also like to do more with her own voice, including exploring voiceover for animation. Currently, you can hear T’Keyah on KBIA as an on-air announcer reading community announcements and sponsorship promos during NPR programs throughout the day. She also works as a radio producer, collaborating with colleagues and MU students to create local programs, special events, and episodes. “Something folks might not realize about our job,” T’Keyah says, “is that when the
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On-air Announcer and Media Producer, KBIA Age: 30
news is hard, it’s hard on us, too. One of the most difficult parts about my job is listening to a reporter recount a tragic story, and then getting on-air to talk about something completely unrelated. I’ve had to actively hold back tears several times.” T’Keyah has had many personal and professional mentors, including Kenny Greene, the unofficial “mayor” of the North Village Arts District and owner of Monarch Jewelry. “He cares deeply for the people — it shows in his work (business, teaching, and volunteering) and in the way he speaks to all he comes into contact with,” she says. “That man is all love, and his presence is a blessing to this community.” The respect is mutual. “For years, TK has used the page and the stage to push, to coach,
and to encourage hundreds of kids and young folks,” Kenny says. “I have been a fan and have seen the impact of her poetry event, One Mic, since its days down in the Vault at the Tiger Hotel, and I pushed Columbia’s Office of Cultural Affairs to bring TK on as a judge for 2021’s Poetry Out Loud competition.” Nickie Davis considers herself lucky to have worked with, volunteered with, and been friends with T’Keyah. “She has been in my life for over seven years,” Nickie says, “from an energetic customer in my store to pointed journalist to talented artist and poet and now an established activist and voice of Columbia’s most listened to public radio personality. I can’t wait to learn more about her stories, experiences, and thoughts on Columbia.”
T’Keyah doesn’t really have a hometown; she grew up as an Air Force military brat.
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Misty Larkins President, Relevance Age: 37
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isty Larkins gets excited about strategically driven communication design, impeccably executed events, and finding the perfect T-shirt. As a marketing specialist and company president, Misty is responsible for the vision, strategy, and direction of Relevance, a multi-million-dollar growth marketing agency. She specializes in organic growth strategy through digital PR, thought leadership, conversion optimization, and search engine optimization. Since joining the team in 2019, Misty has increased agency revenue by more than 50% and improved average client tenure by more than 60%. She has also expanded the agency’s full-time team, more than doubling the size of her staff in less than 18 months. Misty says a common misconception about marketing and public relations is that it’s a super sexy field. She blames shows like Mad Men and Sex and the City for this perception. “Don’t get me wrong, there are kernels of truth in both of those shows,” Misty says, “but a significant amount of my time is also spent analyzing data and looking at spreadsheets.” Misty worked her way up from senior account manager to VP to president at Relevance in two short years. “During this period, the company has grown significantly,” says founder John Hall. “And I’ve personally seen her earn the respect of all her co-workers while helping build an industry-leading company.” For the two years prior to Relevance, Misty worked in the public sector to raise awareness of the realities of poverty. “As the public relations manager for Central Missouri Community Action, Misty transformed the organization’s brand, media messaging, and public relations to tell the story of members of our community who are struggling with poverty,” says Angela Hirsch, executive director of the Rape and Abuse Crisis Service. “Through this transformation, Misty was able to tie together the for-profit and nonprofit worlds with the tools of marketing and storytelling.” While at CMCA, Misty secured a $60,000 grant for infrastructure improvements at the local Head Start facility and won a national competition to secure over $100,000 in brand consulting from a specialized agency. Misty describes herself as a Disney fanatic, Enneagram 8, and a lover of a good underdog story. She is passionate about helping challenger brands become relevant and she believes the best relationships are based on honesty, clear expectations, and shared definitions of success.
In her free time, Misty designs and makes custom sneakers.
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Megan Steen Vice President, Central Region, Burrell Behavioral Health Age: 36
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egan Steen’s life principle is to remain curious and open to new ideas. “Some of the greatest business leaders are those who are willing to re-invent their ideas and brands, especially in today’s quickly evolving world,” Megan says. “Outside of business, I think remaining curious and open allows you to develop new relationships and connections to continue learning and growing.” Megan works for Burrell Behavior Health as vice president of the central region. Burrell Behavioral Health is a growing community mental health center that connects clients in Missouri and Arkansas. Their provider base of 400 clinicians offers a full continuum of care through their integrated network. “Every day I am honored to decrease the stigma of accessing mental health treatment, increase access to care, and work with dedicated professionals committed to providing individualized mental health treatment to individuals in the communities we serve,” says Megan. “One of the biggest misconceptions is that you have to be actively involved in treatment to engage with us,” Megan adds. “That’s not true. Programs such as our BeWell and ONE Suicide Prevention have provided opportunities to engage with our organization even if you are not currently in need of therapy or mental health treatment.” Through her role as the system director of human resources at Burrell Behavioral Health, Kristyn Lyon has witnessed firsthand how invaluable Megan’s commitment to excellence, expertise in behavioral health, and sound business acumen are in her role at Burrell.
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“Megan’s longstanding commitment to serve those in need of behavioral health services has shaped her career and impacted the lives of thousands in our community,” Kristyn says. “Megan has influenced the development of service lines and resources available to those in need through her work leading large teams of clinical providers, in addition to her volunteer work at several other nonprofit organizations across Columbia.”
In addition to the work she does at Burrell, Megan is proud of recently completing her MBA. “I started the exec program prepandemic while working full-time and raising my young daughter,” Megan says. “There were many times throughout the course of the program when I questioned why I had taken it on, but at the end of the two years I am so grateful for the knowledge and relationships I gained.”
During the pandemic, Megan started online lessons to learn Italian.
Mark Hoehne I
n his tenure with the Columbia Police Department, Officer Mark Hoehne has affected approximately 700 DWI arrests. Mark was assigned to the DWI unit in March of 2016, where he works closely with Mothers Against Drunk Drivers by speaking at the victim impact panels they offer to offenders. “This allows me to reach out to the public and ask for their help in making sure family and friends drive the appropriate speed, put their phones down, wear seatbelts, and do not drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” Mark says. He also assists with public events such as parades and outreach opportunities. “When interacting with the public during my shifts, I try very hard to make sure that the interactions I have are professional, polite,
Fun Fact:
Police Officer, Columbia Police Department Age: 38
and relaxed as best as they can be,” Mark says. As a result of his efforts, Mark has been honored with DWI Hero of the Year, the Duane D. Pace award, People Saving People, and other awards for his continuing work in DWI enforcement. “I have known few officers in my career with the drive, passion, and dedication Officer Hoehne demonstrates each day he comes to work,” says Officer Bradley Wolf. “When I work alongside him, I learn something new. His attention to detail is something that has assisted current officers as well as new officers in all facets of the job. His dedication to his craft makes him an expert in the field of DWI enforcement. Without question, Officer Hoehne has made me a better person and an even better police officer.”
A typical shift for Mark includes handling emails and paperwork, along with taking calls for service. He’s out patrolling the streets in Columbia at night, enforcing traffic laws, looking for impaired drivers, assisting patrol officers, and assisting other law enforcement agencies in the area. He is also the DWI training instructor for Lincoln University’s Police Academy and the field training officer for the DWI portion of the Columbia Police Department’s field training. Mark’s guiding values include being respectful, kind, and empathetic while working hard and looking for ways to grow. “I determined these through my faith, upbringing, and raising my own family,” he says.
Mark can play the organ and piano, and he can sing.
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Austin Ilsley Owner, Ai Painting Plus, LLC Age: 32
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ustin Ilsley is more than a house painter. He is a leader and developer of people who happens to own a painting business. For Austin, every morning starts with strong black coffee and a meeting with the leadership team at Ai Painting Plus. The team discusses the daily schedule and team logistics and coaches each other on leadership strategy. Once the team disburses to the field, Austin prepares for the client meetings and consultations on his schedule for the day and fields any emails or messages the office staff has ready for him. Any additional time is spent building new systems, networking, strategizing for the future, and working on ways to improve and develop the culture and community impact. He typically commits to a hard stop of all work activity by 4:30 p.m. to make time for exercise and family. “A common misconception about what I do is that I simply paint houses. In actuality, it is much more than that,” Austin says. “We like to say at Ai Painting Plus that we are a customer service and team development company that just happens to paint houses.” Painting is simply the vehicle Austin and his team use to pursue their larger mission, which is to create a place of work that provides opportunity for growth and professional advancement for everyone involved, especially those who feel stuck in life and have no clear direction. Austin’s character and purpose has not gone unnoticed in the community. “The work that Austin does in his business is of superior quality, living out his company’s mission statement,” says Greg Brockmeier. “Where Austin’s craft truly shines is through the passion and encouragement he offers his team, giving measurable goals and apprenticeship advancement within his training program. This work has poured over into his work within the community partnering with many nonprofits, and Austin has plans to help build Columbia’s labor-ready workforce.” In 2022, Austin hopes to provide opportunities for 16 to 18 employees and produce a gross revenue of $1.8 million. He would also like to bring on a salesperson to allow him more time to focus on the things he loves such as visioning, leadership coaching, and improving company culture.
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Austin is an introvert and often uncomfortable in social situations. “I’m successful at it,” Austin says, “but it’s draining.”
Amber Goodwin I
n 2016, Amber Goodwin decided that California wasn’t for her anymore. So she decided to sell everything and move across America. “If it wasn’t for my husband saying yes and believing in me to take on my own business, I would still be living in California dreading getting up every day and spending my life in traffic, paying way too much to live, and barely getting by,” Amber says. Amber took ownership of Nutrishop in 2017. Her day usually starts at the gym, where she trains for two hours. From there she works 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. most days to meet with customers and go over proper supplementation, meal plans, and workout programs. She also does the accounting,
Fun Fact:
Owner, Nutrishop Age: 33
ordering, marketing, networking, social media, cleaning, and employee training. After work, she is usually back in the gym, at a network event promoting the store, or at home enjoying time with her husband and two dogs. Since taking ownership, Amber has completely rebranded the store. Within the first three months, she moved the location to the north side of town and gave it a whole new ambience. She brought in an analysis tool to make sure they were giving their customers the proper recommendations for their body type. “I have also successfully put together more than 30 transformation challenges, helping over 1,500 people get healthier and happier, losing over 1,000 pounds of body fat,” Amber says.
Because talking about weight can be very difficult for some people, Amber prides herself on going out of her way to make every single person feel comfortable. “Some days are very emotional for me in the store — when people win my challenges and lose weight, more than half of the time they cry,” she says. “I can’t help but feel that emotion with them and for them. I usually wait till they leave the store, then go in the back room and cry as well. Happy tears, of course.” “Amber is very passionate about helping people,” says Stephanie Goans, of Edward Jones. “Her industry can be intimidating, but when you walk into her shop, it’s welcoming, and she helps people of all ages, gender, shapes, and sizes. She really wants you to succeed in your goals.”
Amber is a backseat driver and hates being in the car when others are driving. “I can’t handle not being in control,” she says. COMOMAG.COM
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Dr. Stephen Graves Assistant Professor, Department of Black Studies, MU Age: 39
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o make Columbia an even better place to live, Dr. Stephen Graves would create more opportunities for people of color to be represented in decision making and reduce the number of homeless people in our community. “I would also create more spaces for people who are having a hard time,” Stephen says. “[That means] more shelters and learning centers to help people get back on their feet.” Stephen moved to Columbia five years ago and serves as an assistant professor and director of undergraduate studies for the department of black studies at MU. He has written two books and specializes in black politics, political theory, and American government. His research focuses on black political ideologies, social movements, and the intersection of racism and American political thought. During his time here, Stephen has been acknowledged for his work by the students he teaches. “I am most proud of receiving the MU Faculty Teaching Award in Diversity and the Black Excellence 365 Award,” Stephen says. “These awards are voted on by students. To be recognized for my involvement in working with and teaching diverse students and courses reinforces my purpose and intent in being in Columbia.” Natasha Jones has gotten to know Stephen through Troublesome, a non-profit Stephen founded several years ago. “Dr. Graves envisions a world that is equitable for all, and he takes action to affect change that can lead to such an end through teaching, mentoring, and encouraging others to find their own ways to do the same,” says Natasha. “Dr. Graves is always speaking and engaging people in the community with an empowering message.”
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Stephen’s goal for Troublesome is to focus on community outreach and provide educational and professional services to minorities and underprivileged groups. Some of Troublesome’s recent activities include providing Thanksgiving meals for over 200 local families and hosting clothing drives that provide winter coats and job interview clothing.
Stephen has also participated on panels and community discussion forums at Ragtag Cinema, the Boone County Library, Second Baptist Church, and this year’s Juneteenth celebration. “I believe in routinely and consistently lending my voice and talents to uplift and inspire people in Columbia,” he says. Stephen’s guiding principles are to be himself, stand up for what is right, and never get outworked.
Stephen loves to do puzzles and played the tenor saxophone in middle school.
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Michele Curry M
ichele Curry often describes herself as the Barney Stinson of banking, referring to the professionally mysterious character from the TV show “How I Met Your Mother.” “No one really knows what I do,” says Michele. “Not even my mother. Or my boyfriend, hard as he tries.” What Michele does for Commerce Bank is called treasury services, which is a catch-all term for commercial payments. “A common misconception is that I lend people money,” Michele says. “Loan spreads and term rates aren’t really my jam. Instead, I help large companies understand and automate their cash flow.” Michele credits much of her success to her friend and mentor Karen Miller. In 2016, they were formally paired together through the Women’s Network Mentoring Program. “Before I met Karen, I spread myself so thin with boards, volunteering, work, and theater. I had a time management problem,” Michele says. “Karen taught me how to say no and dedicate my time only to causes that I care most about.” Since then, Karen has helped Michele clear her life of clutter, and today she’s thriving and leading organizations that matter to her, like Women’s Network and the Voluntary Action Center. The professional accomplishment Michele is most proud of is her service as chair of Women’s Network during the height of the pandemic. “When I was elected in 2019, I had big dreams. Then the pandemic hit,” Michele says. “I was chair of a network that couldn’t network. I got a major reality check.” In her time as chair, Michele introduced a new three-year strategic plan, revived the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force, restructured their leadership team, downsized the number of committees, approved a framework for a scholarship, and created an expectation that the Women’s Network chair and the chamber chair meet frequently.
Fun Fact:
Treasury Management Officer, Commerce Bank Age: 32
“I also helped coordinate a 40th anniversary celebration that brought back Women’s Network past presidents and chairs from all over the country,” Michele says. “Ironically, it was at this program that I got to take the stage for the first and last time to introduce the incoming chair.”
“Michele is the ultimate leader,” says Nikki McGruder, director of diversity, equity, and inclusion for MU Health Care. “She continues to show up in the hardest of times yet never loses sight of the mission and vision of the organization while also thinking through how they would come out doing even better!”
Michele is a trombone player who marched with Marching Mizzou for five seasons, including five trips to bowl games and two NCAA championships. COMOMAG.COM
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Jacob Garrett Mortgage Loan Officer, First State Community Bank Age: 31
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acob Garrett’s job is most rewarding when he’s sitting at the closing table and gets to hand borrowers the keys to their new home. He enjoys it so much that his goal for 2022 is to help more than 120 families purchase their dream home or save money by refinancing. Jacob has served as the secondary market real estate lender for First State Community Bank for the past year and has excelled to levels beyond what the bank’s leadership thought possible. He serves the Columbia market and provides support for the Marshall, Boonville, Moberly, Mexico, and Macon markets. “Jacob has quickly become one of the top producers in our entire organization,” says Joe Miller, president of First State Community Bank. “He is leading by example and generating an energy that has required us to rethink how much one person is capable of doing.” Joe also appreciates the energy and enthusiasm that Jacob brings to their team. “To say it is contagious would be an understatement,” Joe says. “Jacob is truly passionate about helping people in our community purchase their first home or next vacation home. He works side by side with our customers to ensure that they understand the process. He makes it as seamless as possible and celebrates with them when they're ready to move into their new home.” What motivates Jacob each day is taking on a challenge and advancing on a personal level. “I’ve been forced to develop new skills that I never would have attempted on my own,” says Jacob. “This role allows me to use
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my creativity, which keeps me motivated and energized. I can’t imagine not doing what I am today.” Personally, Jacob believes in giving back to the community. He currently serves on the board for the Mary Lee Johnston Learning Center and the Cedar Valley Riders Saddle Club. He is involved with the Columbia Chamber of Commerce EPIC program and
serves as the chair for the Cattlemen’s Day PRCA Rodeo. Jacob is also involved in the foster care program with Coyote Hill. “In 2019, I became a licensed foster home as a single dad,” Jacob says. “It has been the most rewarding experience. I’m licensed to accept emergency placement, respite, and kids currently in care or ready for adoption.”
Jacob is a banker by day and a farmer and horse trainer by night.
Corrina Smith C
orrina works with farmers in their 70s that can run circles around her. It’s their passion and dedication for food and local agriculture that keeps her going. As executive director of the Columbia Farmers Market, Corrina Smith’s Saturday mornings start bright and early, getting to the market at 6 a.m., ensuring that everything is ready when the 8 a.m. opening bell rings. “Coordinating Saturdays is a large chunk of my job, cultivating the ambiance we all love,” Corrina says. “It’s a fast paced and high energy morning!” During the week, Corrina works behind the computer managing the market’s programs, accounting, grants, vendor inquiries, marketing, and more. During the summer, she plans their annual farmto-table fundraiser, goes out on farm
Fun Fact:
Executive Director, Columbia Farmers Market Age: 38
inspections, and oversees the weekday markets. During the winter months, she’s attending and presenting at conferences, running the winter market, and planning for the upcoming season. “As a member- and vendor-owned and managed farmers market, it’s also my role to ensure that our 80-plus members have everything they need to be successful,” Corrina adds. “I’m responsible for processing their applications, collecting permits, and assigning their stalls at market.” The market has grown and expanded significantly over the past few years. Vendors’ sales have nearly doubled since Corrina became the executive director, going from $1.1 million in 2012 to $2.2 million in 2019 and 2020. By the fall of 2021, they’d already had more than 109,000 customers, breaking all their records.
According to Corrina, much of this growth can be attributed to the buildout of Clary-Shy Park, home to Columbia’s Agriculture Park and the MU Health Care Pavilion. “The pavilion has been a game-changer for our market,” she says. “As a result of this growth, we were named the No. 1 farmers market in the nation for the Midwest and Missouri by the American Farmland Trust. I’m still in a bit of shock!” Although the numbers are impressive in themselves, Corrina’s leadership has helped the market grow in clout, too. “Columbia Farmers Market is one of the things that defines our town,” says Bill Polansky, executive director of the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture. “Under Corrina’s leadership, the market has flourished. Her passion and commitment to local foods and support for Mid-Missouri’s farmers is unmatched.”
Corinna was born and raised as a vegetarian, but then she married a butcher. She’s no longer a vegetarian. COMOMAG.COM
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Desireé AN INTERVIEW WITH
Reed-Fra ncoi s
Erica Pefferman and Desireé Reed-Francois sit down over coffee at Toasty Goat Coffee Co. and discuss breaking barriers, developing leaders, and dealing with social media haters. BY ERICA PEFFERMAN | PHOTOS BY KEITH BORGMEYER
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W
hile I love helping select the stories that go in the pages of COMO, I rarely am on the other side of the camera or write articles myself. However, I called dibs on this story immediately. I was very excited to get the chance to sit down with Mizou Athletic Director Desireé Reed-Francois to learn more about who she is beyond the notoriety of being one of the most powerful women in collegiate athletics. I found her to be delightful, authentic, smart, empathetic, and inspiring. After warming up the conversation talking about birthdays, lipstick, and shoes (because being powerful women doesn’t mean we have to leave our femininity behind), we dove into the topics I was anxious to learn more about.
Erica Pefferman • I saw you at the Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Membership Breakfast, and one of the things that stuck out to me was your engagement. You jumped off the stage and asked if you could come out and be with us and talk to us. You were so comfortable. As a CEO myself, I was very interested in hearing what that was like for you, so I asked you a question that I’m sure you get asked all the time: What does it feel like to be the first female AD? Your answer was very graceful, and I’ve thought about it so much since then — you said, “I look forward to the day when I don’t have to answer that anymore.”
Desireé Reed-Francois • Frankly, I used to answer questions along those lines a little differently. I used to say, “Well, I don't know how to be a man.” Because it's true. I only know how to be myself. But I was watching how some of my female student-athletes interacted, and after engaging with so many, I realized that it's not me, but it's what I represent. And then I felt a responsibility
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to be more thoughtful. My answer to the question then became, “I cannot wait for the day when my students are CEOs or surgeons or they're running their own architecture firm and their gender isn’t even part of the question.” But, I understand the question, because this is somewhat new. There's not that many women that do what we do at this level. There are also gender stereotypes and misogynistic social media posts about my lipstick shade or folks who want my husband to explain the game of basketball to me or suggest that I stay in the kitchen. So, I just pray for their hearts. I have thick skin. I am going to lead the athletic department with integrity and with a firm commitment to doing what is in the best interests of our student-athletes and our university.
EP • Well, I think that's the case regardless of what gender or any of that other stuff, right? It's just an added layer. DRF • Yes, and I just remember that this is a people business, and you have to have high empathy and do really good work. Because if we do really good work, we keep the door open for the next group.
EP • So, let me ask you a question about that. I'm very much involved in mentoring women in leadership, and have been mentored in leadership by both men and women. I know that you don't like to answer those questions sometimes, but there is still the truth that you are a barrier-breaker. You are a part of why it will be normal later. How do you feel about that? Is there an extra weight that comes with that? DRF • I do think about my responsibility for those young women looking for role models. I'm a little bit like a mama bear when it comes to my students. I want the young women and men at Mizzou to know that they can do anything. I come to work every day working to earn my responsibility. I want everybody to do that. “Pressure is a privilege” — I read that [ from Billie Jean King’s book of the same name] and thought, “That’s amazing.” Embrace it. Have a sense of humor while being intentionally purpose-driven.
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EP • So, who mentored you? DRF • My mother was my first mentor. She expected excellence, and I never wanted to disappoint her. She was a strong woman but very, very caring. Education was critically important. My father is very smart and just expected us to make good decisions and really care about people. Education was important to him, as well. My dad was a diver who became an eighth-grade English teacher. My grandfather speaks 23 languages and loves learning. He worked for the State Department. My love of learning came from him. So, from an early age, I was surrounded by mentors who taught me about the importance of education, hard work, and compassion for others.
EP • Professionally, who were your mentors? DRF • Debbie Yow was the former athletic director at St. Louis and Maryland and N.C. State, and she provided context on what I
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could be. But like you, the majority of my mentors have been men, and I've been very fortunate to have not only mentors but real advocates who were men. Among them is Brian Burke, who is the president of hockey operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins; Jeremy Foley, who was the Florida athletic director; Mike Slive, who was commissioner of the SEC; and Greg Sankey, who is currently the commissioner. There’s also one thing that I think is really important. If you're being mentored and someone is advocating on your behalf, you better reach back and help those behind you. I'm involved in several programs on a national level, both with football coaches and with athletic administrators, and I have a mentee that is incredible. Mentoring has been a hallmark of my professional career. I'm also proud of the fact that at my last institution, UNLV, we had one of the most gender-diverse staff and coach rosters in the country. We didn't hire based on diversity; we hired based upon who was the best person. But I think that, as CEOs
and executives and as leaders in general, we have a responsibiity. We don’t post a job and pray for the best outcome. At Mizzou, we're not going to do that, we're going to go out and recruit the most talented people regardless of if they check a box. I want our coaches and staff to reflect our studentathletes because in the end, we are in the education business.
EP • I think that's it! I've reached where I am today because people have invested their time and energy in me, and when I stepped in it or made mistakes they kind of pull you off the cliff and give you some perspective. They're like, “OK, it feels like shit right now. But, you're gonna learn from it, and you'll move past it.” I'm just thinking about some of my hardest conversations and hardest moments, because I'm an experiential learner. I learned by making those mistakes. If it hadn't been for what you had mentioned — advocates versus mentors — I wouldn’t be here. What I love
about advocates is they advocate for you when you're not in the room, when they're not talking to you. They're looking for those opportunities and those connections, and I've been blessed to have that. I think that is so important for all young professionals, but I’m especially passionate about helping women in that way. So tell me — what are you doing on a daily basis to sharpen your leadership? In general, what habits do you have? Are you reading books?
DRF • I am constantly reading. I always listen to one book, and then I read another one as well. I learn that way. I am also constantly trying to surround myself with people who I can keep learning from, like my peers in the Young Presidents Organization. In every senior staff meeting, we dedicate time to professional development. I assign a different staff member each week to provide a lesson. I believe that most people want to learn. Leaders are readers. And I genuinely
believe we have to have intellectual humility, because we won't advance and we won't progress if we don't have that intellectual humility. We're operationalizing our core values. Our Student Athlete Advisory Council took our core keywords that we want to be defined by, and they operationalized it from their lens and now each unit level department is doing the same thing.
EP • One question that I had for you, Desireé, is what would you want people to know about you that has nothing to do with athletics? I'll speak for myself — I have to consciously work on not making my company my identity. DRF • I genuinely love people. I love hearing people's stories. Everybody has a story inside of them. Everybody has something to teach you. I love just getting to know people.
EP • What are you passionate about that doesn't have anything to do with your job?
DRF • Right now, I’m really into interior design. I love design. We're buying a house this week, and I'm very excited. I want to make it our forever house. I've been thinking about the concepts for the house and I'm excited. I am really looking forward to my husband and son joining me in Columbia and moving in together.
EP • Yeah, when will they be here? DRF • My son will graduate high school in May and they will come right out, though my son will very quickly move into a dorm. For several months, I have been a bit one dimensionally focused on work. I’ll have to acclimate back into family life, but I cannot wait. They provide me balance, and I can’t wait to explore Columbia with them. It really is a great community. The people are incredibly kind and the university provides a vibrancy. I love having students around.
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20 UNDER 40
THROUGH THE YEARS A TIMELINE
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20 under 40 has a deep legacy of highlighting change-makers and influencers in our community. While our records are incomplete due to a variety of factors, including archiving methods changing, we do know that the first class was selected in 2001. It was known then as 40 under 40 and was held every other year. Over time, it became 20 under 40 and has been celebrated yearly.
The current format of 20 under 40 began in January 2014 and has stayed consistent in celebrating the unique people that make our community thrive. Honorees have included not just entrepreneurs and businesspeople, but also teachers, artists, police officers, firefighters, politicians, and religious leaders.
Each 20 under 40 class is interviewed, photographed, and featured in the magazine with the goal of learning who they are beyond their LinkedIn profile. The celebration culminates in a black tie gala in their honor. Videos featuring past classes can be found on the COMO Magazine website.
You can be a part of forming future classes by nominating someone deserving. Our nominations for the next class will open in August 2022.
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CL ASS OF
2001 • Andrew Beverley • Craig Brumf ield • Jim Cherrington • Jill Cox • Rob Dunscombe • Ann M. Echelmeier • Jeff rey T. Echelmeier • Michael Flanagan • Brian Forrest • Anna Hargis • Susan Hart • Tim Hickman • B.J. Hunter
• Trish Koetting
• Jennifer Thomas
• Jen Bukowsky
• Candy Neuner
• Emily Thoroughma
• Brian Cunningham
• J. Michael Roach • Dan Ruether • Greg Trachsel • Wendy Wiederhold • Greg Wolff • Tonya Wolff
CL ASS OF
2005 • Gregory Baker • Sonja Derboven • Mendy Diel
• Paul Jackson
• Heather DimittFletcher
• Steve Knorr
• Sarah Dubbert
• Sabrina McDonnell
• Cindy Frazier
• Elizabeth Mendenhall
• Matt Garrett
• Mario Moccia
• Deborah Graves
• Brian Neuner
• Shatenita Horton
• Ed Orr
• Sahba Jalali
• Mark Palmer
• John Keller
• Joe Priesmeyer
• Rose Lloyd
• Marci Reimler
• Leigh Nutter
• Suzanne Rothwell
• Gena Patton
• Bob Schaal
• Steve Powell
• Paige Scott
• Rob Quinn
• Teri Smith
• Michael Radzin
• Chris Stevens
• Brian Smith
• Lili Vianello
• Keri Tipton
• Cindy Whaley
• J. Alan Weber
CL ASS OF
2003
• Lily Dawson
• Sarah Reeseman
CL ASS OF
2007
CL ASS OF
2009
• Emily Holdman • Rachel Holman • Katelyn Jones • Matt Kitzi
• Jay Alexander
• Kari Laudano
• Brent Beshore
• Izzy Leatherman
• Jerry Dowell
• John Meyer
• Cameron Dunafon
• Amanda Owens
• Alex George
• Monica Pitts
• Mike Grellner
• Caleb Rowden
• Michelle Kemp • Todd McCubbin • Mike Messer • Jack Miller • David Nivens • David Tyson Smith • David Townsend • Lindsay Young Lopez
CL ASS OF
2011 • Amanda BarnesTolson • Kerrie Bloss • Kate Boatright
• Joel Sager • Sean Siebert • Peter Stiepleman • Dale Wright
CL ASS OF
2015 • Joshua Burrell • Emily Clapp • Aimee Davenport • Nathan Fleischmann • Nicole Galloway • John Hall • Danielle Harrison • Eric Johnson
• Susanne Bylund
• Caleb Jones
• Anne Churchill
• Kip Kendrick
• Kellie Ann Coats
• Leighanne Lamb
• Camren Cross
• Caroline Leemis
• John Fabsits
• Lydia Melton
• Kris Farmer
• Eric Morrison
• Mills Menser
• Sidney Neate
• Erik Morse
• Elizabeth Palmieri
• Freddy Spencer
• Rachel Payton
• Michele Spry
• Candice Rotter
• Catherine Atkins
• Larry Atterberry Jr.
• Travis Tucker
• Don Seitz
• Tom Bradley
• Shawn Barnes
• Tim Weiss
• Josh Tennison
• Marnie Clark
• Michelle Baumstark
• Bill Costello
• J. Scott Christianson
• Paula Elias
• Shelly DeVore
• Renee Hulshof
• Kate Essing
• Michele Kennett
• Steve Hollis
• Wendy Knorr
• Jocelyn Kilgore
CL ASS OF
2014
CL ASS OF
2016
• Beau Aero
• Sonya Addison
• Andrea Benna
• Lyria Bartlett
• Barbara Buffaloe • Caleb Colbert • Jon Galloway • Tyson Hunt • Curt Kippenberger • Madeleine LeMieux • Matt McCormick • Andrea Paul • Kelsey Raymond • Laura Roeder • Chris Rosskopf • Jabbok Schlacks • William Schlacks • Jonathan Sessions • Drew Smith • Steve Tuchschmidt II • Michael Urban • Stephanie Wilmsmeyer • Jim Yankee
CL ASS OF
2017 • Elias Abadi • Brooke Berkey • Ada Buckman • J.D. Calvin
CL ASS OF
2018 • Barbie Banks • Jesse Bodine • Kristen Brown • Taylor Burks • Cory Crosby • Nickie Davis • Jackie Floyd • Jaime Freidrichs • David Isaacks • Scott Lenger • Brianna Lennon • Brian Millner • Leigh Neier • Cara Owings • Nic Parks • Amanda Quick
• Arminta Phelps
• Marcus Jones
• Lara Pieper
• Sarah Klaassen
• Jolyn Sattizahn
• Wendy Moore
• Lee Sensintaffar
• Garrett Pearson
• Liz Tucker
• Trent Rash
CL ASS OF
2020 • Mason Aid • David Anderson • Taylor Bacon • Angie Bass • Matt Boyd • Heather Brown • Stacey Cole • Kyle Cook • Secily Devese • Sarah Dresser • Laura Gerding
• Dan Riepe
• Tommy Goran
• Jesse Walters
• Dr. Bridget Gruender
• Adam Weber
• Galen Hassler
• Valerie Zumwalt
• Geoff Karr
CL ASS OF
2019
• Cole Knudsen • De’Vion Moore • Sarah Moreau • Camille Roland
• Josh Rein • Joe Seymour • Jeremy Spillman • Megan Thomas • Megan Walters
CL ASS OF
2022 • Brandon Banks • Michele Curry • Jacob Garrett • Amber Goodwin • Stephen Graves • Mark Hoehne • Ming Hsieh • Austin Ilsley • Lauren Karr • Misty Larkins • Darren Morton • Tyson Mutrux • Kerri Roberts • Amanda Ruyle
• David Coil
• Judson Ball
• Annie Doisy
• Greg Brockmeier
• Ty-Ron Douglas
• Jose Caldera
• Justin Dyer
• Sara Cochran
• Alissa Gerke
• Randy Cole
• Amanda Jacobs
• Josh Devine
• Nathan Jones
• Gabe Garcia
• Michael Aslanidis
• Kimberly Lodge
• Chrystal Graves
• Julia Chisholm
• Billy Polansky
• Danny Hammack
• Erica Dickson
• Joe Ritter
• Benjamin Hamrah
• Aaron Emel
• Mark Stinson
• Aric Jarvis
• Ashley Emel
information to update
• Gary Tegerdine
• Krista Kippenberger
• Jason Gruender
this roster from past
• Nathan Todd
• Jay Lindner
• Kelly Hill
• Brian Whorley
• Megan McConachie
• Kari Hopkins
• Loreli Wilson
• Mike Nolan
• Chris Horn
• Jessie Yankee
• Jaime Palmer
• Jerrell Jackson
• Megan Sievers • Annette Triplett
CL ASS OF
2021
• Jessica Schlosser • Garima Singh • Corrina Smith • Megan Steen • T’Keyah Thomas • Wende Wagner
If you have
classes, please email kim@comomag.com.
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