CBT | The Health & Wellness Issue 2024

A COMO COMPANIES PUBLICATION THE HEALTH & WELLNESS ISSUE JANUARY 2024

RIC RANSOM CEO, MU Health Care

THE

HEALTH WELLNESS ISSUE

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EDITORIAL Erica Pefferman, Publisher

Erica@comocompanies.com Kim Ambra, Editor-in-Chief

Kim@comocompanies.com Jodie Jackson Jr, Digital Editor

Jodie@comocompanies.com

Erica Pefferman

DESIGN Kate Morrow, Creative Director

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Jordan@comocompanies.com MARKETING Charles Bruce, Director of Sales

Kim Ambra

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Jodie Jackson Jr

Amanda Melton, Director of Account Services

Amanda@comocompanies.com J.J. Carlson, Director of Web Development

jj@comocompanies.com Sarah Hempelmann, Marketing Representative

shempelmann@comocompanies.com Becky Roberts, Marketing Representative

Becky@comocompanies.com

Jordan Watts

Kate Morrow

MANAGEMENT Erica Pefferman, President

Erica@comocompanies.com CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Charles Bruce, Madi Green, Anthony Jinson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Lauren Sable Freiman, Lydia Graves, Jodie Jackson Jr, Matt McCormick, Brian Toohey, Marcus Wilkins

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TI M E TO DO NOTHI N G

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C BT | PU B L I S HE R' S LE T T E R

hen planning this issue, it was important for us to think through all forms of health and wellness…physical, relational, mental, financial, etc. During this process it really struck me that I personally was in need of paying attention to my own health.

Following the most stressful year in business in 2022 and having faced some health challenges of my own, I was guilty of not taking time out of the office in a meaningful way all of 2023. I felt that it was such a critical time in our company of change and evolution that I just simply couldn’t afford the time and that it would be detrimental to the company if I did. However, I did end up taking two and a half weeks off in December, and it was glorious.

As I usually do, I made a list of things I wanted to get done around the house, three books I wanted to read, cards to mail, and some software integration work that I had been putting off all year. I’m pleased to tell you that I did none of that. I didn’t even dust my house. But I did spend an amazing amount of time with my kids, people I love, and working on a new hobby of mine. For the actual first time in my life as a business owner, I truly turned it all off.

I did have anxiety about it initially but was able to shed those pesky feelings. And the truth is, the business ran fine without me, and I genuinely came back refreshed and recharged. Here are the truths I am taking with me into 2024 about taking time off.

Vacations are vital for maintaining mental and emotional well-being. The incessant demands of running a business often lead to stress, burnout, and a decline in overall mental health which I myself have experienced. Taking a vacation offers a respite from the daily grind, allowing us to unwind, relax, and recharge our batteries. Stepping away from the usual responsibilities enables me to clear my mind, alleviate stress, and return with renewed focus and enthusiasm.

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Gone are the days of being a martyr for not taking time off in our company.

Vacations facilitate a work-life balance that is crucial for sustained success. Continuous work without breaks can lead to strained personal relationships, deteriorating health, and a general sense of dissatisfaction. Taking time off encourages us to spend quality moments with our family and friends, engaging in activities that bring joy and fulfillment. This balance not only enhances personal happiness but also leads to increased productivity and creativity when we return to work.

From a business standpoint, vacations provide an opportunity for reflection and fresh perspectives. Stepping back from the daily operations allows me time to evaluate the business from a distance.

This can and often does lead to new insights, innovative ideas, and the identification of areas for improvement that might have been overlooked in the midst of everyday hustle.

Furthermore, taking vacations foster a culture of trust and empowerment within the company. Delegating responsibilities to capable employees during our absence not only demonstrates confidence in our team but also provides them with opportunities to showcase their skills and take on more significant roles. This empowerment leads to a more motivated and engaged workforce, enhancing overall productivity and promoting a sense of ownership among employees.

Lastly, taking vacations sets a positive example for the entire organization. It shows that prioritizing personal well-being and relaxation is not only acceptable but necessary. This, in turn, encourages employees to take their vacations without

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guilt, promoting a healthier work culture where everyone understands the importance of downtime. This is a value we plan to promote heavily moving forward. Gone are the days of being a martyr for not taking time off in our company.

I hope you have fun things planned in 2024 and find time to be the best version of yourself for your business, family, friends, and most importantly… for you.

ERICA PEFFERMAN PUBLISHER

ON THE COVER

Ric Ransom, CEO of MU Health Care.

Photo by Charles Bruce III

@COMOBusinessTimes

@COMOBizTimes

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C BT | ADVISO RY BOA R D

Meet the Advisory Board for COMO Business Times

CBT’s advisory board is made up of industry leaders and small business owners who help ensure CBT’s content is relevant to our local business community.

SHAWN BARNES

BROOKE BERKEY

NICKIE DAVIS

Director of Business Development and Recruiting Williams-Keepers LLC

VP Relationship Manager Central Bank

Executive Director The District, Downtown CID

MIKE GRELLNER

JEN HEDRICK

MATT McCORMICK

Vice President Plaza Commercial Realty

President SOA Architecture

President Columbia Chamber of Commerce

QUINTEN MESSBARGER

MATT MOORE

ERIC MORRISON

President & CEO Missouri Innovation Center, Inc.

Retired Shelter Insurance

President Sundvold Financial

SUZANNE ROTHWELL

STEVE SPELLMAN

BRIAN TOOHEY

MEGAN WALTERS

Vice President Advancement Division Columbia College

Senior Investment Officer The Bank of Missouri

CEO Columbia Board of REALTORS®

Founder & Team Lead The Walters Team, eXp Realty

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THE HEALTH & WELLNESS ISSUE 2024

JANUARY 2024 VOL . 2 / I S S UE 1

TA B L E O F CONT E NTS

The Health & Wellness Issue 5 PUBLISHER'S NOTE 6 ADVISORY BOARD 8 CLOSER LOOK 9 MOVERS & SHAKERS 10 BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS 12 AS SEEN ONLINE Gursha

22 CELEBRATIONS A Hidden Gem Helps Shape Bodies and Minds

25 GUEST VOICES Matt McCormick

26 BUSINESS UPDATE

20

Care Provider

29 GUEST VOICES Brian Toohey

P.Y.S.K. BRADY DUBOIS President and CEO at Boone Health

40 WHAT'S GOING UP? 41 NEW BUSINESS LICENSES 42 DEEDS OF TRUST

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Growing into the Future Ransom leads MU Health Care as it meets increasing demands.

Overdue Water System Improvements Coming Construction is still a few months away, but customers began paying more in November.

C BT | CLOSER LOO K

Closer Look ACUPUNCTURE OF COLUMBIA Acupuncture of Columbia specializes in complex conditions, non-surgical interventions, neuropathy, and chronic pain that hasn’t responded to other treatments. The clinic promotes itself as the “last resort with the best results,” serving a wide range of ages. A large portion of its clients are geriatric.

Owner Gina Butler is proud to be a women-owned business, and the only board-certified Chinese herbalist in Missouri.

“Our mission is to empower individuals on their wellness journey through natural, effective, and compassionate care. We believe in the potential of each person to reclaim their health, and we are committed to providing a healing environment that supports this belief,” says Rae Willis, Acupuncture of Columbia’s media and marketing specialist. “Offering personalized, drug-free, and surgery-free treatments for chronic pain and illnesses, we aspire to facilitate the body’s natural healing capabilities and restore hope for a healthier, vibrant, and pain-free life.”

Acupuncture of Columbia is offering complimentary initial consultations throughout January.

900 Rain Forest Pkwy B | 573-303-5522 | acupunctureofcolumbia.com

MANIC CURE Manic Cure is a nail studio known for its specialty in nail art, and a fun, laid-back environment.

“You’ll come in as a client, but you’ll leave as a friend,” says owner Jessica Rose Bruce. The name has a few meanings, she says.

“The obvious one is that we offer manicures,” Bruce explains. “The word ‘cure’ also references the chemical process by which many of our products harden, such as gel and acrylic. But mostly, we know that self-care is an excellent way to recover from the stress that comes along with the busy lives we all lead — it’s a cure when things get manic.”

Bruce is eager to bring not only lots of tiny hand-painted pieces of art to the community but more importantly, a passion for the nail industry and a strong focus on the client experience. Taking the leap of faith in May of 2023 to open her studio, Bruce says there is no looking back.

“I remember being stressed daily for months on end and saying, ‘I play with glitter for a living. Th is should not be this difficult.’ It was hard for me to provide uplifting services for my clients when I felt so down all the time,” she said. “I still loved what I did, but I needed to also love where I did it. And thankfully, I had — and still have — one hell of a support system that made taking the jump into business ownership much less intimidating.”

200 Old 63 S #305A | 573-554-5447 | maniccurecomo.com CBT

Would you like us to take a Closer Look at your business? Reach out to our Editor at kim@comocompanies.com.

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THE HEALTH & WELLNESS ISSUE 2024

C BT | M OVE R S & S HAK E RS

Movers & Shakers SARA SARNO

SCOTT PUMMILL

After nearly a decade of experience in luxury retail sales as the top sales associate at Buchroeders Jewelers, Sara Sarno has joined The Walters Team as a licensed Realtor.

Her passion lies in connecting with people and helping them make one of life’s biggest decisions.

Guiding clients through the real estate process is not just a job for her—it’s a satisfying and rewarding experience.

Growing together with her clients and being a part of their lives brings her immense joy. With her wealth of experience in luxury sales, Sarno’s transition to real estate is a natural fit.

Central Bank of Boone County (CBBC) promoted Scott Pummill to assistant managing officer. He will be responsible for overseeing the global operations of the Boonville and South County markets.

Pummill has twelve years of banking experience with CBBC. He started his career with the bank in the call center, then transferred to Hallsville as a financial associate before later becoming the Hallsville branch manager. He ran the Village Branch before transferring to Boonville as a lender.

Pummill graduated from the Missouri Bank School of Management in 2019 and was the loaned executive for Heart of Missouri United Way that same year. In 2020 he was the bank’s campaign co-chair for United Way. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Boonville Kiwanis Club, Boonslick Heartland YMCA, and the Missouri Symphony.

JAY S PA R KS

Jay Sparks has been named the new director of Columbia College’s Steven and Barbara Fishman Center for Entrepreneurship.

Sparks most recently worked as the entrepreneurship coordinator for the Columbiabased Regional Economic Development Inc. (REDI). He received his Bachelor of Arts in Independent Studies with an emphasis in Philosophy from Columbia College.

At REDI in the past three years, Sparks oversaw significant growth in the agency’s client roster, especially with minority- and womenowned businesses.

S H A N N O N H E M E N WAY

The Missouri Public Transit Association has named Shannon Hemenway of Go COMO among the newest members of its board of directors. Hemenway is the administrative supervisor for Go COMO. She is a twenty-five-year veteran of the transit industry and has worked in everything

from school buses and paratransit to fixed routes. In her current role, she is helping to expand transit in Columbia and integrate multi-modal options into existing services.

She was elected to a threeyear term.

S A RN O

DR. SANDRA HAMAR

Columbia College President Dr. David Russell announced that the current dean of the School of Public Service, Dr. Sandra Hamar, has been named the institution’s new provost and vice president for academic affairs.

She succeeds Dr. Piyusha Singh. Hamar joined Columbia College in 2017 as an associate professor of education. She began serving as chair of the Education Department in 2020. In separate yearlong stints, she filled in as interim dean of the former School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, and the Robert W. Plaster School of Business. Hamar currently serves as dean of the new School of Public Service.

She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Graceland University, a Master’s in Elementary Education from the University of MissouriSt. Louis, and a Doctorate in Educational Organizational Leadership from Grand Canyon University. CBT

S PA RKS

PU M M I LL

HE M ENWAY

HAMAR

Are you or your employees moving up in the Columbia business community? Send us your news at kim@comocompanies.com

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Briefly in the News

CELEBRATION

CPSF Announces Grant for Esports Gaming Rooms at Battle, Rock Bridge High Schools The Columbia Public Schools Foundation (CPSF) has announced a grant for esports gaming rooms at both Battle High School and Rock Bridge High School.

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THE HEALTH & WELLNESS ISSUE 2024

The Foundation’s board of directors awarded grants of $18,478 to establish esports rooms at both Rock Bridge and Battle high schools.

In 2019, the Foundation provided a grant to establish an esports room at Hickman High School. The esports team at Hickman continues to grow and build success, including the first CPS student to receive an esports scholarship in 2022.

Now, by establishing esports rooms at Battle and Rock Bridge, the Foundation

can provide an equitable gaming facility across the three high schools to enhance the student experience.

The grant provides funding for gaming computers, gaming chairs, and any infrastructure needed to upgrade electrical needs and equipment. Each school currently has about 100-150 students participating in esports, with participation continuing to grow. The schools sponsor two official teams for competition — League of Legends and Overwatch.

B R I E FLY I N T HE NEWS

COMMUNITY

Around-the-Clock Access to Burrell’s Columbia Behavioral Crisis Center Now Available Burrell Behavioral Health has expanded the hours at its Columbia Behavioral Crisis Center Rapid Access Unit to provide walk-in access to care twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week for individuals in need of immediate mental health or substance use care.

The center, located at 1805 E. Walnut St., is on the lower level of Burrell’s Stephens Lake Clinic.

“Providing round-the-clock, 24/7 walk-in access to care saves lives by allowing individuals to receive lifesaving treatment when it is needed most,” said Mat Gass, president of the Central Region of Brightli, Burrell’s parent company. Now, anyone experiencing a crisis can walk into the Columbia Rapid Access Unit any time of day, in addition to calling the new Suicide Lifeline at 988.

COMMUNITY

New Photograph Exhibit at the State Historical Society of Missouri Documents 75 Years of Small Towns in Missouri The State Historical Society of Missouri, in collaboration with the Missouri School of Journalism, invites the public to view a new exhibit, Small Towns, Big Stories, open now through February 10, 2024, at the Center for Missouri Studies, 605 Elm St in Columbia.

The free exhibition documents seventy-five years of the Missouri Photo Workshop, which has captured images of life in rural Missouri towns and the changes to the people,

culture, and landscape in America’s heartland. Visitors can explore 121 images taken in fifty-one towns over the last seventy-five years. The exhibit is supported by the Missouri School of Journalism, Miller’s Professional Imaging, and the Missouri Humanities Trust Fund.

Cliff Edom, founder of the workshop and a pioneer in photojournalism education at the Missouri School of Journalism, was inspired by the gritty documentary photography of the Farm Security Administration during the New Deal. Veterans of the FSA photo corps worked with Edom to create a rigorous weeklong workshop in 1949.

Each year, a town in Missouri is chosen as the host community. Workshop participants document a story with their cameras under the guidance of faculty who are some of the industry’s most prominent photographers and editors. The body of the work then becomes part of an extensive archive of life in small-town Missouri.

CELEBRATION

Columbia College named to 2023 Best for Vets list

by Military Times Military Times recently announced that Columbia College has been named to its 2023 “Best for Vets: Colleges” list. The publication provides a comprehensive annual ranking of higher education institutions in the United States for military service members and veterans.

Columbia College is the highestranked private institution in Missouri and the second-highest-ranked school in the state overall. The college ranks third in the country among schools that deliver education primarily online.

“Fifty years ago, Columbia College and the United States military forged a relationship that has developed into a nationwide network of locations and an Online Program offering quality education to those who have served

this great nation,” says Columbia College President Dr. David Russell, a retired Army lieutenant colonel. “We are committed to supporting service members, veterans, and their families as they advance their lives.”

Military Times analyzed Columbia College based on the effectiveness of its programs for veterans and metrics related to student success, militaryspecific resources, and financial aid. The college has adapted to the changing educational landscape by incorporating increased online and virtual options, making it possible for students to take classes from anywhere in the world.

AWARDS

Children’s Grove, Missouri Business Alert Announces 2023 Kindness in Business Awards Honorees Children’s Grove and Missouri Business Alert have announced the 2023 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.

This year’s honorees include: • Kindness to Youth: Daniel Boone Regional Library, LBO Sports, Powerhouse Community Development • Kindness to Employees: 850 Wood Fire Pizza, Impact Support Services, Mobility Worldwide • Kindness to the Community: The Spay Neuter Project, Radio Friends with Paul Pepper, Family Focus Eyecare CBT COMOBUSINESSTIMES.COM

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CBT

Gursha Mahi’s Ethiopian Kitchen feeds and teaches Columbia.

BY LYD I A GR AVE S

T

he idea of community never seemed so dear until isolation was at the front of our minds in the disconnected depths of the pandemic. Within confinement, in my moments of hunger, I dreamed of gatherings, planning dinner parties in my mind — longing to break bread in rooms fi lled with laughter and commotion.

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Yearning for a seat at the table where food might fall accidentally from serving spoons, staining the tablecloths with random spots that, later, would refuse to come out in the wash, becoming reminders of lifelong memories. Feasts with debates, jokes, and, above all else, unity. We craved company.

Mahalet Tesfaye, left, at her first pop-up, at Christian Fellowship Church, introduces Columbia’s food scene to Ethiopian cuisine. Her mother, Amelework Agide, was along to help and provide continuing inspiration.

A S S E E N ONLINE

At Mahi’s Ethiopian Kitchen, a pop-up in Columbia, the sense of togetherness is a guiding principle. Sharing a plate is encouraged among guests. The energy and values behind the food quenches the parched thirst for companionship even before tasting the fi rst bite of beets and potatoes. Eating communally here is eating with compassion. Share the flavors and share about your day. Pass the plate to the person next to you.

WELCOME Mahalet Tesfaye is the host and owner of Mahi’s Ethiopian Kitchen. She was born in Ethiopia. When she was young, her parents moved to Kenya as refugees and lived there for around twenty years.

The family immigrated to San Jose, California by 2011. Columbia, Missouri became a peak interest after her mother attended a friend’s wedding in the area and decided to move to the Midwest town. And five years ago, Tesfaye followed suit, moving to Columbia to be close to family. When she arrived, Tesfaye discovered a dearth of Ethiopian food service options, prompting her to share her own.

Tesfaye is no stranger to the kitchen.

Her mother, Amelework Agide, ran an Ethiopian restaurant in Kenya; Tesfaye grew up with it. She was, as she puts it, “free labor, in a good way.” She occupied a variety of roles, from prep cook to dishwasher, or simply as a stand-in for those who couldn’t make it to work on a particular day. Around the clock, after school, or on break, she seemed to happily grow up in the restaurant.

“But I never thought I’d do it. I was like, ‘Nah, it’s not for me,’” Tesfaye explains. “I know how much work it is. But then, when I moved here, I would have Friendsgiving or throw a party and make food, and even my non-Ethiopian friends were like, ‘You should open up [a restaurant].’ Even as I moved here, I didn’t have any work history. So [working in a restaurant] was the best way to start. I started taking food orders, and then I became a cook. And I just went up. And then I realized I should do this for myself; like, I’m already doing it. I’ll just run my own place, you know?”

PLEASE MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME Noticing the feeling her food evoked among friends gave her a reason to set the table. The feeling of making others happy with her recipes, their faces smiling with glee and sautéed eggplant, warmed her, and she wanted to take it a step further.

Before venturing into her business, she began a Facebook page to gauge the demand for her food. And since her fi rst event in early Summer 2023, the popups have attracted solely from word-ofmouth and social media — which has amassed more than 1,000 followers.

From the idea of her pop-up, Tesfaye expresses a sense of fulfi llment: “I’m helping people get to know this new, unique food.”

Most of the menu, pardon one meat option, is even vegan, a surprising theme that could never be guessed from the intense flavors. These healthier options are also the most enjoyed and requested, the vegetables take on a whole new identity, becoming so much more than the acquaintance you thought you knew. The options are welcoming and brilliant, inviting you back for more.

Columbia seems to be indulging happily in this spread. Tesfaye has been mentioned as the talk of the town and continues to be a topic in conversations among friends.

FROM HAND TO MOUTH Tesfaye’s values resonate with the values of her mother’s restaurant.

“It’s not just about the food. It’s about what our family is all about,” she explains.

“Having a connection with the customers and getting to know them. And the recipes, of course, have helped a lot.”

Tesfaye’s mother assists heavily in the business, as both a helping hand and an inspiration.

“I was always around her and running her place,” Tesfaye says, adding that she will always admire and support her mother.

“I remember the fi rst time she was really proud of me was when the dishwashing guy didn’t show up,” Tesfaye says, recalling the childhood memory. She was just five years old. The sink the dishwasher would’ve stationed at was a simple standing tap outdoors, away from the restaurant itself.

Hearing her mother ask for plates, not looking up from her chef duties at hand

Split peas wot (stew), red lentils, shiro, gomen, atikilt wot, cabbage, and carrots on top of injera.

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A S S E E N ONLINE

A colorful and delectable table setting f rom Mahalet Tesafaye’s first Ethiopian pop up at Christian Fellowship Church.

at that moment, Tesfaye felt a sense of responsibility and went to wash the dishes outside. The air was cold, as was the tap gushing out while it cleaned the plates and drenched her dress. The process continued from noon until around four. The young worker washed the plates, brought them inside, and handed them to her mother, who still didn’t notice who was handing her the clean dishes. The restaurant was crowded and busy, and her mother didn’t look up until the hustle of the lunch-rush calmed.

“By the time we were done, she looks at me, and she goes, ‘What happened to you?’’ Tesfaye remembers. She explained to her mom how the dishwasher never came in, and how she took over the position for the shift. “And she just quit and 14

THE HEALTH & WELLNESS ISSUE 2024

suddenly just sat down and started crying. She said, ‘You could get pneumonia.

You could get sick. Why did you do that?’

From then on, I was called her little helper and just got more excited to help out.”

RIPPING INJERA Mahi’s Ethiopian Kitchen may expand soon already. The next step is to prepare fi nancially in hopes of starting up a food truck by summer 2024. There may even be a DoorDash option offered in the meantime. Until then, Mahi’s Ethiopian Kitchen shares company and culture through combos at 14 Business Loop 70 East, open from 5-7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday for pickup.

When visiting, Tesfaye may encourage you to share a plate.

“I think it is a very different perspective for people to share. As the culture in the U.S., I guess you always hear grownups telling kids to share this or that, but then it’s so hard to see sharing stuff as a

grownup,” she says. “That always kind of rubs me the wrong way. Like we preach it, but we don’t always show it.”

When you visit Mahi’s Ethiopian Kitchen, take the opportunity to meet those around you. The food is built on communal eating, and it tastes much more decadent in the presence of colleagues. The true experience of Mahalet Tesfaye’s cuisine is in sitting with loved ones or soon-to-be-friends, savoring every moment of conversations as you scoop up every last bit of lentils and red pepper sauce. Confi nement simmers away as senses fluently harmonize with delectable discussion, and, perhaps, plans to soon meet again. CBT

This story was originally published on our website comobusinesstimes.com on December 11, 2023.

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Another example is one of the oldest buildings in Missouri called the Felix Valle House in Saint Genevieve, built in 1818 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Prost Builders restored the Federal-style Valle home but later became a commercial outlet, as well, for the Valle family. The home even has original mantles, interior trim and an exterior staircase that leads to the second-floor bedrooms, plus the original frame outbuildings on the property.

The 100-year-old Missouri State Capitol has needed restorative work which was undertaken by Prost Builders on several projects. One project was the historic restoration of the large, 30 ft by 30 ft barrel vault stain glass skylight over the Grand Staircase at the Main Entrance to the Capitol. The stained-glass skylight was taken down in pieces and shipped to a stained-glass specialist in Los Angeles for restoration. The stained-glass sections will be shipped back this year to be re-installed high above the Grand Staircase.

Another associated project Prost is performing is the removal of the massive Bronze Main Entrance doors into the Capitol. These bronze doors had become non-functional and were recently removed

BUSINESS

PROS KNOW

Vaughn Prost is the owner and president of Prost Builders lnc., a design/build and construction services firm located in Columbia. Vaughn has over forty years of domestic and international design and construction experience as a cost and scheduling engineer, structural engineer, owner’s construction representative, and general contractor.

(573) 635-0211 | prostbuilders.com 3305 Crawford Street Columbia, MO 65203

by Prost Builders and shipped back to New Jersey to be repaired and refinished by a bronze door specialist firm. The bronze doors will be reinstalled at the end of this year just in time for the Inauguration of the new Governor in January 2025.

Prost Builders also restored the Union Covered Bridge built in 1871 in Paris, MO, which is one of only four remaining covered bridges with the Burr-arch truss design. The bridge had fallen into the Salt River and Prost Builders raised it back up and completely restored it. The bridge was used by travelers in Monroe County for almost 150 years and remains as another notable place in Missouri history.

Prost Builders has been around for three-quarters of a century, and you can easily see our historic restoration work in Missouri when you look at Jesse Hall’s dome, the Boone County Courthouse, the Governor’s Mansion, the Bollinger Mill and covered bridge, the Armory Sports and Recreation Center, and many other significant structures in Missouri.

Our 75 years of knowledge and quality work reflect our high regard for both historic restoration and new construction projects for our clients.

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BANKING

WHAT THE

BRAD ROLING

FINANCIAL WELLNESS FOR YOUR BUSINESS IN THE NEW YEAR

Market President – Columbia

BUSINESS

PROS KNOW

Brad Roling is the Columbia Market President for Mid America Bank. Brad has more than 10 years of banking experience that he uses to help businesses in and around Columbia thrive. When he is not helping your business with its financial needs, Brad is serving the community in a variety of capacities. He is proud to serve on the Ronald McDonald House Mid-Missouri Board of Directors as Treasurer, the Columbia Chamber Foundation Board, and Beta Theta Pi Advisory Board. Brad is a proud Mizzou grad and loves cheering on the Tigers!

573-615-2343 | midambk.com

By Brad Roling broling@midambk.com

T

he beginning of a new year brings thoughts of improvement for many in their personal lives. Have you taken time to do the same for your business?

It is never too late to evaluate your business and set goals for the future.

To start, do a financial review. Important and useful documents to use for the assessment are your profit and loss statement, cash flow statement, and balance sheet. These documents will give you an overall view of where your business finances stand. With this information, you can track trends in your profits and spending to use that information for planning purposes. If there are months that aren’t as profitable, make a plan to offset this by ramping up marketing or having a sale. Digging deep into the numbers and evaluating the reasons behind the trends can set your business up for success in the coming months and year.

Now that you know where your business finances stand, it’s important to set goals for the business. They can be big or small. When thinking about goals, keep in mind the business mission and core values and ensure your goals align with both. Goal setting will also help you determine who you need to reach out to and rely on for the coming year. Do you want to expand your brick and mortar? You may need a realtor and loan officer. Do you want to improve your online presence? You may need a digital

marketing firm. With a clear view of your finances in hand, this will make setting attainable goals easier.

And finally, while preparing your business for 2024, don’t forget to take time to celebrate the successes and learn from the challenges. You and your business can learn from both and create opportunities for improvement. There’s never a better time than the present to evaluate your business and set goals. I’d love to hear about how your business year went and be your financial partner in 2024!

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MARKETING

WHAT THE

HEALTHY SITE, HEALTHY MARKETING

ERICA PEFFERMAN President & Owner

By Erica Pefferman erica@comomarketing.co

F

or any business, a website is the 24-hour digital storefront, a virtual gateway that invites visitors from around the globe, and the foundation to all marketing efforts. This is where all inbound leads are sent to and where potential clients start their review process of your business. Just like a physical space, it requires consistent care and attention to ensure it remains healthy and inviting.

Maintaining the health of your website isn’t just about aesthetics; it encompasses various technical, security, and content-related aspects to ensure its optimal performance.

Regular Content Updates Content is the heart of any website. Regularly updating your website with fresh, engaging, and relevant content is crucial to keep visitors coming back. It not only improves your site’s SEO but also shows that your platform is active and trustworthy. Consider adding blog posts, articles, or updated information about your products/services to keep your audience engaged.

Responsive Design With the increasing use of mobile devices, ensuring your website is responsive across various screen sizes is paramount. A responsive design ensures that your site looks and functions well on desktops, tablets, and smartphones. Google also prioritizes mobile-friendly sites in its search rankings, making this aspect critical for both user experience and SEO. Optimizing Loading Speed In the fast-paced online world, users expect websites to load quickly. Optimizing images, leveraging browser caching, and using content delivery networks (CDNs) are a few strategies to enhance loading speed. Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can help identify areas for improvement.

Regular Backups Creating regular backups of your website is like having an insurance policy. It safeguards

BUSINESS

PROS KNOW

Erica Pefferman is the owner and president of COMO Companies, which owns and operates COMO Magazine, COMO Business Times, COMO Marketing, and COMO Tickets. In 2017, Erica was named Outstanding Business Woman of the year and her team was named the Columbia Chamber Of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year.

573.499.1830 | comomarketing.co

your content and data in case of cyberattacks, server failures, or accidental data loss.

Automated backups or using reliable backup plugins are recommended to ensure you have the latest version stored securely.

Security Measures Protecting your website against cyber threats is non-negotiable. Implementing security measures such as installing SSL certificates, using strong passwords, keeping software updated, and employing security plugins can prevent hacking attempts, malware infections, and data breaches.

Monitoring and Fixing Broken Links Broken links not only hamper user experience but also negatively impact your SEO. Regularly scanning your website for broken links and fixing them promptly maintains a seamless browsing experience for your visitors and ensures search engine crawlers can navigate your site efficiently.

Engaging with User Feedback Listening to user feedback can provide invaluable insights into improving your website. Encourage visitors to leave comments, reviews, or suggestions.

Addressing their concerns and incorporating constructive feedback shows your commitment to enhancing user experience.

Regular SEO Audits Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a continuous process. Conducting regular SEO audits helps identify areas for improvement, such as optimizing meta tags, improving keyword usage, enhancing internal linking, and ensuring proper indexing by search engines. Gone are the days of being able to build a site without a regular SEO maintenance schedule. Doing so is like buying a car but never putting fuel into it. Ranking for your desired keywords and getting on the shopping list is nearly impossible to do without a solid SEO plan in place.

In conclusion, maintaining a healthy website involves a combination of regular content updates, technical optimizations, security measures, and engaging with your audience. By dedicating time and effort to these aspects, COMO Marketing will ensure that your website remains an inviting, informative, and reliable space for visitors, ultimately contributing to its success in the digital realm and your success as a company.

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B R A DY D U B O I S

Photo by Madi Green 20

THE HEALTH & WELLNESS ISSUE 2024

PE R S O N YO U S HOULD KNOW

PRESIDENT / CEO AT BOONE HEALTH JOB DESCRIPTION: Lead all aspects

of the Boone Health organization to drive clinical, service, operational, and financial performance.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND:

Started my health care career as a recreational therapist in 1995. In 1999, I completed my MBA and moved into administrative/executive roles. From 2000-2008, I was active duty as a Medical Service Corps Officer in the U.S. Navy. I returned to civilian executive healthcare roles from 2008 to the present.

HOMETOWN: Groves, Texas.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN COLUMBIA: Two months.

FAVORITE VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY ACTIVITY: Volunteering at the local

Food Banks has always been a cherished volunteer activity for our family. Food insecurity in a nation as strong as America is preventable if we all focus on the basic needs of our community.

A COLUMBIA BUSINESSPERSON YOU ADMIRE AND WHY: I have had the

great fortune to meet several outstanding leaders since arriving five weeks ago. It would be regrettable to unintentionally omit some key leaders. I will say it appears that Columbia has a very deep talent pool of exceptional leaders doing some great things for their businesses and this community.

WHY ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT

QUOTE YOU LIVE BY:

YOUR COMPANY: Boone Health is a

“Leadership consists of picking good people and helping them do their best.”

highly respected healthcare organization based upon its exceptional clinical and patient satisfaction service levels. From our front-line team members, medical staff, and the board, Boone Health is completely focused on excellence. It is a tremendous honor and privilege to join this great team that cares for so many of our friends and neighbors.

IF YOU WEREN’T DOING THIS FOR A LIVING, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING: I have always enjoyed fishing, and I have retirement dreams of starting a fishing guide business. If I were to ever leave healthcare, it would be to answer the call of the water.

WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR PROFESSION: Hospital

administration is much more than just the day-to-day operations of a hospital or clinic. Countless hours are spent ensuring the strategic direction and structure of the organization will continue to meet the future needs of the communities we serve.

This includes everything from evaluating new technology, driving down supply expenses, and ensuring that we are a preferred employer and the care provider of choice, all while managing financial and legal obligations.

YOUR NEXT PROFESSIONAL GOAL:

I have been blessed in my career to have led some of the largest hospitals owned

by Fortune 500 companies. While I’m thankful for those opportunities, leading an independent Boone Health is my professional goal now.

WHY ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT

BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED IN

YOUR JOB: I began my career as a hands-

BUSINESS: The biggest lesson that I

on therapist to help improve the lives of those I served. My original sphere of influence was between 14 to 20 patients per day as a therapist. Now, while I no longer provide direct patient care, I can positively impact the care that is delivered across the whole organization.

It’s a responsibility that I embrace, knowing that I get to help those who help others heal.

— ADM. CHESTER NIMITZ

learned early on is that you must operate in all facets of business with integrity.

Everything else can be removed from you, but your own personal integrity can never be tarnished unless you choose to do so yourself.

HOW YOU WANT TO IMPACT THE COLUMBIA COMMUNITY: I hope to be

a leader focused on service. While we all

have demanding careers, putting “service before self ” helps grow the community in ways that help drive prosperity for all.

GREATEST STRENGTH: I think my

greatest strength is the support from my family to always do the right thing, no matter how challenging that may be.

GREATEST WEAKNESS: I have been

known to just talk too much and lose track of time periodically.

WHAT YOU DO FOR FUN: I love to fish

and spend time with my family. It can be sports, dinner, movies, or traveling. Just time with my family helps rejuvenate me for the week ahead.

FAVORITE PLACE IN COLUMBIA: It’s a toss-up in the few weeks here between Peking Chinese restaurant or Tiger Dry Cleaner due to the great service offered by both places.

ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF: It’s been a while now, but I am most proud of my time in the U.S. Navy. I believe each of my deployments served a purpose to benefit the interests of our nation. CBT COMOBUSINESSTIMES.COM

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MizzouRec: How a Hidden Gem Helps Shape Bodies and Minds

BY JODIE JACKSON JR PH OTOS BY CHARL ES BR U C E I II

HOW CAN SOMETHING THAT DATES back to 1905 and encompasses 300,000 square feet be a hidden gem?

Unless you’re a Mizzou student or affiliated with the University of Missouri in some way — and the numbers indicate that tens of thousands of Columbia and Boone County residents have only seen the exterior of MizzouRec — the innards of the massive, steeped-in-history, cardio-pumping recreation center at the southwest corner of Rollins and Hitt streets is still a secret to most locals. Although affordable memberships (ranging from $43 to $53 per month for non-students) are available to the public, only 7 percent of the recreation center’s 21,500 users in the 2022-2023 academic year were non-students — Columbia household residents with no academic or employment ties to Mizzou.

While there’s a plethora of fitness, meeting, swimming, and basketball dribbling space in the gigantic building that grew up around Rothwell Gymnasium (built in 1905)

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and Brewer Fieldhouse — which was dedicated in 1930 and once hosted an Elton John concert — the recreation space footprint and reach extends outside and even far beyond the campus boundaries. The MizzouRec Trail has connections to Columbia’s nationally recognized MKT and nature/fitness trail system, providing both a fitness and recreation venue as well as an ecofriendly route for commuting to campus.

MizzouRec’s eight outdoor spaces include the spacious and multi-functional Stankowski Field. Though not physically attached, the Mizzou Gaming Lounge in Center Hall is home of the burgeoning esports realm on campus. All MizzouRec spaces, from one lane of the 50-meter pool to the entirety of Stankowski Field, are

available for rental to community groups, businesses, and organizations for meetings, tournaments, formal banquets, oneof-a-kind birthday parties, or other celebrations and events.

In his welcome message in MizzouRec’s 2022-2023 Impact Report, director Stephen Boyd listed myriad improvements and updates that are now among “the exciting new array of high-impact service offerings” and recreation amenities “that are as wonderful as any in the country.” He emphasized that MizzouRec is available to students, staff, and the community.

MizzouRec Services describes itself as a conglomeration of historic facilities and spirited traditions. Here’s a peek at the facilities.

May 1, 1905

February 21, 1930

April 1, 1975

August 1, 1996

Rothwell Gymnasium is completed and dedicated.

Cost was $69,000.

Brewer Fieldhouse dedicated to Athletic Director Chester Brewer.

Brewer racquetball courts are added to the fieldhouse.

Cost was over $400,000.

Stankoswki Recreation Field opens.

THE HEALTH & WELLNESS ISSUE 2024

C E LE BRAT IONS

INDOOR FACILITIES The spaces include: • The Mizzou Aquatic Center (MAC) and 50-meter pool with diving wells and a diving platform. The MAC is the site for all Mizzou swimming and diving home competitions and has hosted 17 competitions that have attracted more than 6,470 athletes in the 2022-2023 academic year.

• Brewer Butte climbing wall.

The thirty-five-and-a-half-foot-tall

DID YOU KNOW? Superstar swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, set the men’s 200-meter butterfly world, American, and U.S. Open record at the MAC in 2007.

climbing wall is a weekend rental option, ready for a group or business looking for a unique and challenging party idea. The wall has treks suitable for beginners all the way to advanced climbers.

• Even the indoor track mezzanine — a one-sixth mile track — is outfitted with several stations and pieces of equipment to turn a leisurely, mindclearing walk into a comprehensive core workout.

• Tiger Grotto is in the same space as the 50-meter pool — “It’s always Spring Break in the grotto” — with resortquality facilities including zero-depth pool entry, a lazy river and waterfall, and a hot tub, sauna, and steam room.

March 18, 2003

August 25, 2015

October 2022

Fall 2023

Official groundbreaking of the $50 million Rothwell Gym and Brewer Fieldhouse expansion.

The MU Student Recreation Complex (MizzouRec) is officially dedicated.

The Mizzou Gaming Lounge opens in Center Hall.

Completed demolition of Truman’s Pond and construction of a new outdoor fitness space.

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C BT | C ELEBRATION S

• Eight traditional meeting rooms.

Rental costs range from $35 an hour for six of the eight spaces, and $55 an hour for the Old Varsity Club and $45 an hour for the Old Varsity Club Lounge. Take a nostalgic step back into time for a cascade of yesteryear amenities, as each meeting room — in fact, each space in the rec center — features a plaque with a message about the space’s place in Mizzou history.

Throughout the rec center, the installation of new audio-visual equipment has enhanced not just meeting spaces, but the fitness space experiences, too.

Other amenities include: Clark’s Boxing Gym, the Jungle Lounge with reclining leather chairs and high-top tables for studying or chilling out with friends, Cardio Gallery with more than 100 pieces of workout equipment, multi-sports courts including the home of Mizzou Wheelchair Basketball’s games and camp, Tiger Lair; and more.

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THE HEALTH & WELLNESS ISSUE 2024

OUTDOOR FITNESS SPACE The open-air facility is near the southeast entrance. The multi-functional workout and fitness space is usable most days of the year — cooled with fans and shade sails during warmer months and equipped with heaters for cooler months. Other outdoor facilities include: • Stankowski Field • Sand volleyball courts • MizzouRec Trail • Mizzou Tennis Complex • Hinkson Outdoor Complex • Epple Park RENT SOME OR ALL MizzouRec has spaces for events ranging from eight to 2,000 guests. Rentals can include ( for additional fee) event staffing, equipment, and services such as catering and custodial help.

AQUATIC SPACE Student organizations, university department/affiliates, and non-affiliate rates for renting the entire 50-meter pool are $150,

$180, and $215 an hour, respectively, for those three categories. Also available to rent: one or more pool lanes; all or some dive wells; diving spring boards; the diving tower ( from $35 to $55/hour); and Tiger Grotto.

INTERIOR SPACES Non-affiliate rental costs range from $30 an hour for the indoor track and Spirit and Tradition Hall to $215 an hour for all four courts at Brewer Fieldhouse.

OUTSIDE ACTIVE SPACES Non-affiliate rental costs range from $30 an hour for Stankowski Track or Stankowski Pavilion to $215 an hour for all sand volleyball courts (or $35/hour per court).

Check the MizzouRec website for updated rental terms and options for Hinkson Field and Epple Field.

MizzouRec Services is among the largest student employers on campus, with more than 300 students filling jobs in 2022-2023.

In addition, Mizzou Rec Services awarded $25,000 in scholarships. CBT

C BT | GUEST VOICES

Columbia as a Healthcare Mecca Keeps Our Economy Stable

BY M AT T MCCORMIC K

HEALTHCARE IS ONE OF THE top three employment industries in Columbia with multiple hospitals and research centers. It's clear that healthcare in Columbia keeps our citizens employed and healthy.

As the home of many of the state’s top medical research and secondary education institutions supplying the next generation of doctors and nurses, Columbia has become a healthcare destination across Missouri.

Columbia’s workforce in many ways supports healthcare in not just the clinical positions but in non-clinical and supportive roles that keep our health centers running.

Nursing stands as the heartbeat of Columbia's healthcare system, with nurses playing a pivotal role in delivering compassionate and quality medical services. Their significance extends beyond the clinical setting, as they often serve as the primary point of contact between patients and the healthcare system. In Columbia, aspiring nurses undergo rigorous training and education, equipping themselves with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the dynamic healthcare landscape. The growing demand for nurses in the country's healthcare sector underscores their indispensable role, highlighting the need for skilled professionals who can contribute to the evolving healthcare needs of the community.

Simultaneously, doctors and specialists form the backbone of Columbia's medical professions, bringing expertise and dedication to the forefront. The educational paths and training required for physicians are rigorous, ensuring that they are equipped to address the intricate and changing health concerns of the population. Doctors play a

transformative role in enhancing the overall health of the community, using their expertise to diagnose, treat, and prevent myriad medical conditions. Their impact reverberates beyond individual patient care, contributing significantly to the broader health outcomes of the population.

In this intricate dance of healthcare professions, nurses and doctors collaborate seamlessly to ensure the well-being of the community they serve in Columbia.

While doctors and nurses are the cornerstone of the healthcare system, many of them will recognize that the hospitals and clinics could not run without the assistance of the behind-thescenes worker in the administrative and technology fields. Where would a doctor be if a receptionist was not checking in patients or how would a nurse know what medicine is allowed for their patients without the medical record software? Along with frontline healthcare and staff that many are familiar with, healthcare professionals also include support careers like paramedics, emergency response teams, and pharmacies.

The exceptional healthcare resources in Columbia have positioned it as a top destination for local and statewide healthcare

needs. The diversity of specialists available from birth to retirement ensures that the community has access to expertise for various ailments, bolstering the local economy through increased demand for services like hotels, restaurants, and retail. This demand drives continuous innovation in healthcare treatments, contributing to the growth of the health sector in Columbia. Columbia emerges as a beacon of diverse opportunities within the realm of healthcare.

The city's healthcare careers, both clinical and non-clinical, weave a rich tapestry of options for individuals with varied talents and passions. The collaborative efforts of professionals from different spheres highlight the importance of a well-rounded healthcare system, ensuring meticulous attention to every aspect of patient care.

To those considering a career in healthcare, Columbia welcomes your passion and dedication, offering boundless possibilities for personal and professional fulfillment in this dynamic and growing industry. Celebrate the diversity of healthcare careers in Columbia, acknowledge the importance of a harmonious healthcare system, and embark on a fulfilling journey in the ever-evolving and impactful healthcare industry in Columbia. CBT

Matt McCormick is the president and CEO of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

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Care Provider Paytient helps customers more eff iciently access healthcare benef its and ease stress.

BY MARCUS WILK I N S

AS BRIAN WHORLEY RECOUNTS the route toward his current role as co-founder and CEO of Paytient, it’s clear his path was one few had traveled. Yet ironically, it was on one of COMO’s most-trodden thoroughfares — the MKT Trail — where inspiration first struck in 2017.

“It felt like a crack of lightning,” says Whorley, an avid cyclist. “I slowed, stopped, and stood there staring at the Missouri River, mentally piecing it all together. Th is could actually help heal the system.”

The company’s concept is simple: Paytient bundles credit with health insurance plans. Accessible via card or smartphone app, out-of-pocket healthcare expenses can be paid over time and free of interest on a plan of the cardholder’s choosing.

Employers pay for the service as a benefit, which has resulted in improved enrollment in lower premium health plans, happier employees, and patients receiving necessary healthcare with greater efficiency and frequency. (Paytient assumes all the risk for the line of credit given to employees.)

Whorley — a Mizzou-educated engineer whose career has crisscrossed healthcare and tech — embraces a contrarian element in his entrepreneurial perspective. In other words, he understands the status quo well enough to challenge it, looking for new and dynamic ways to make “uncertain moments in people’s lives feel better.”

Whorley explains his path to Paytient and the company’s place in the national healthcare marketplace.

Describe your upbringing, family and what brought you to Columbia.

I grew up in Springfield, Missouri, where my parents cared deeply for my sister and me. Hard work and sacrifice were 26

THE HEALTH & WELLNESS ISSUE 2024

highly valued in our household, and my parents marched to their own beat, comfortably apart from the crowd. The most important people in my life are my family: wife Gina, son Joe, and daughter Gabby; my business partner, Daniel Lynn; and a small circle of close friendships.

Walk us through the trajectory of your career. Did you always know you wanted to work in healthcare and its adjacent industries?

Ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to start a business but I didn’t have anyone in my life with entrepreneurial experience. After college, I decided the best way to get experience was to get experience. In 2007, I joined Boone Hospital and was incredibly fortunate to call it home for most of my career. I learned so much and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have grown as a person.

Before my time at Boone, Daniel and I created a software platform that local entrepreneurs could use to start local market branded, independentlyowned DoorDashes — more than seven years before DoorDash existed. We were at the intersection of a couple of massive societal waves (smartphones, on-demand purchasing, and online payment processing). By 2014, nearly a million people were using the software across the country. We had summited a mountain and it fi lled me with confidence. I started looking for a bigger societal problem to solve, something that I could pour my soul into for decades. I thought it would have been the hospital, but life had other plans.

Paytient represents everything I’ve learned and believe to be true about what’s over the horizon. Once again, I see several waves coming together, and we’re quietly building something that millions

of people will use in their daily lives only this time we’re not doing it alone. We’ll have several hundred people building with us here at Paytient by this time next year.

What is Paytient’s genesis story?

I had been exploring the idea of a marketplace of cash-priced procedures inside of a health savings account (HSA) when I was riding my bike with John Riddick (CEO of ASI Flex) on the MKT Trail talking about some of the challenges. The idea of a cash marketplace was compelling, but fronting payments to providers, off insurance rails, is something that a majority of Americans aren’t ready for and certainly haven’t set aside enough savings for yet.

“It felt like a crack of lightning, I slowed, stopped, and stood there staring at the Missouri River, mentally piecing it all together. This could actually help heal the system.”

— BRIAN WHORLEY

B U S I NES S UPDAT E

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What kind of card is Paytient?

The Paytient card is a health plansponsored line of credit called an HPA that members can use to pay for care for their whole family — including pets. After each transaction, they choose an interest-f ree payment plan that f its their budget. On-demand line of credit with a limit set by the health plan.

“We saw immediate usage and began to receive positive feedback f rom users — powerful stories of how Paytient helped them get care.

Today, Paytient is part of nearly 2,000 employer health plans. By this summer, we’ll be serving 5,000 to 10,000 employers across the country in partnership with the nation’s largest insurers.”

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THE HEALTH & WELLNESS ISSUE 2024

B U S I NE S S UPDAT E

The arc of employer-provided benefits bends toward defined contribution. We saw this play out once before as pensions transitioned to 401Ks. The increase in deductibles is evidence of this arc slowly playing out once again. That increase represents uncertainty.

I rode on that afternoon and kept turning it over in my mind mile after mile. I decided to pursue it with everything I had. I called up Daniel and asked him if he had “one more climb” in him.

Matt Jenne (owner of Addison’s) and his partners were our fi rst employer clients. One of his staff used Paytient within 24 hours of our explaining the benefit at open enrollment. She loved the experience.

We saw immediate usage and began to receive positive feedback from users — powerful stories of how Paytient helped them get care.

Today, Paytient is part of nearly 2,000 employer health plans. By this summer, we’ll be serving 5,000 to 10,000 employers across the country in partnership with the nation’s largest insurers.

Paytient is a healthcare company.

Functionally, we help people pay for care, but the essence and outcome of what we create is certainty. We ensure that patients can easily get and pay for care.

Why is Columbia a great home for Paytient?

Columbia is an unexpectedly awesome place to live, work and play. Paytient has two annual summits which are all-hands get-togethers twice a year. We even call one of those meetings “homecoming.” At those meetings, and throughout the year, we’re really intentional in trying to create relationships and facilitate conversations.

We are always thinking about our colleagues who work from their home offices in Atlanta, Seattle, Austin, Brooklyn, or wherever. When we bring people into COMO, it’s an open company secret: Brian’s trying to sell us on moving to Columbia. I’m always saying, “Isn’t this place great? Isn’t this downtown great? Isn’t Sparky’s great? You can get really good seats at sporting events. You can go to this amazing documentary fi lm festival.”

You’re not giving up things, you’re gaining things moving to Columbia from these other big cities. CBT PAY TIENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC .

3601 Endeavor Ave. Suite 109 573-206 -9147 pay tient.com

C BT | GUE ST VOIC E S

What Do Home Inspections Look For — and Why They Are Important

BY BRIAN TOOHEY

YOU FINALLY FOUND the home of your dreams and had your offer accepted by the seller. Now a different kind of stress has settled in. What type of inspections do you need — and will the seller fix any issues found?

Home inspection results can lead to another set of negotiations during the transaction that can require give and take from both sides. There are numerous inspections a buyer can choose to have done based on the characteristics of a property. Some of the most common are basic whole-house inspection, termites, and radon. Home inspections can identify structural issues and defects a buyer might not have the knowledge to look for and reduce the possibility of finding problems after the sale has closed.

Most buyers start with a general inspection, where an inspector will inspect the most common areas of a home. The inspector will look for structural issues with the foundation, roof, and exterior of a property; the heating and cooling systems for failures and proper airflow; the electric system for faulty wiring, overload circuits, and proper grounding fault interrupters (GFIs); the plumbing system for leaks, slow drains, and corrosion; and appliances to make sure they are all functioning properly.

Another common inspection is a termite inspection, required by some types of mortgages. During a termite inspection, a qualified inspector will look for active termites, wood damage, mud tubes, and paint buckling. All can be signs of active termite

infestation that needs to be treated or damage that needs to be repaired from a previous infestation.

In recent years, testing for radon has become the norm. Radon is an invisible, odorless, radioactive gas below the soil that can seep into a home through the foundation. There are various tests for radon, but most professional home inspectors set a testing machine in the lowest level of a home for some time to determine the radon level. If the radon level is above four picocuries per liter (4 pCi/L), a mitigation system may need to be installed to lower the radon level.

There are numerous other inspections a buyer can perform — sewer, lagoon, pool, and air quality — all for the health, safety, and investment protection of a new owner.

Home inspections might not find every issue, but they can provide a buyer with peace of mind when making their biggest investment in homeownership.

Sometimes inspectors will call out items in their findings that are part of the current building code but were not required when the home was built. Depending on the age of a home, some of those items are easy to upgrade, and some are more costly.

There is no licensing requirement in Missouri for home inspectors, although most are certified by the American Society of Home Inspectors. Before hiring an inspector, make sure you speak to several about the property you are purchasing and the type of inspections needed. Also, consider asking for references you can contact to get feedback. CBT

Brian Toohey is the Chief Executive Officer for the Columbia Board of REALTORS®

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Growing INTO THE

Future Ransom leads MU Health Care as it meets increasing demands.

BY L AUREN SABLE F R EI MA N | PH OTO S BY CHA R L E S B R U C E I I I

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he son and brother of a physician, Ric Ransom says he was the kid who passed out in biology class.

Instead of attending medical school, Ransom decided to approach health care from a different angle. He pursued a law degree, along with master’s degrees in both business administration and science in health administration.

“It was clear to me early on that I didn’t have some of the gifts and abilities that clinical leaders have in caring for the sick, but the idea that I’m able to help doctors, nurses, therapists, and pharmacists do what they do is a big part of my motivation of getting into health care administration,” Ransom says. “Health care is complicated, heavily regulated, and the environment is shaped by federal and state agencies. My education has helped me in leading organizations to navigate a complex healthcare environment.”

Ransom took the helm as the chief executive officer of MU Health Care in May, and after eight months in Columbia, he says watching healthcare professionals care for patients and families continues to motivate and inspire him.

“The respect I have for our clinical team day in and day out is one of the best parts of the job,” he says. “Coming from a family involved in health care has impacted my motivation and how rewarding I find the work.”

Ransom came to MU Health Care from his position as president of the University of Wisconsin Hospitals. For the bulk of his career, Ransom says he served in roles in “not-for-profit, mostly academic and frequently publicly affiliated health care systems” around the country, including Greenville, South Carolina, Memphis, Atlanta, Boston, and Dallas.

“A significant portion of my career has been in places like MU Health Care, and as I look back, that has helped me in getting where I am as I lead this organization,” Ransom says.

Expanding Clinical Scale While there are many aspects of his role that Ransom says excite him, there are a few key initiatives that particularly energize him. MU Health Care’s focus on clinical scale has opened the doors to several significant changes and improvements to the way MU delivers health care.

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“We are trying to grow into what the state of Missouri and our patients need us to be.”

— RIC R AN SOM “We are trying to grow into what the state of Missouri and our patients need us to be,” Ransom says. “That means expanding our locations and services to be who the community needs us to be.”

A new, $230 million Children’s Hospital will be completed in June 2024, and Ransom says the 140-bed space may be used for patient care as early as this spring.

“Under this idea of growing into who Missouri needs us to be, the Children’s Tower is one of the things I’m most excited about,” Ransom says. “This is a significant expansion of our ability to care for women, kids, and neuroscience patients.”

As of January 1, Capital Region Medical Center has integrated with MU Health Care, adding a 114-bed community hospital and thirty clinic locations to the MU Health Care family.

“This dovetails precisely into the clinical scale and growth and becoming who Missouri and the patients need us to be,” Ransom says.

In addition, to support efforts to provide care in rural areas, MU Health Care recently opened new clinics and urgent care locations in Audrain and Mexico.

“We want to make sure that communities impacted by rural hospital closures still have access to a level of care,” Ransom says. “This is big news for patients in Missouri, and represents significant strides in being who Missouri needs us to be.”

Preparing for the Future With 8,000 employees of MU Health Care, including about 800 physicians and advance practice providers across eighty sites and seven hospitals, the MU Health Care professional team is critical to its success, and ensuring that the team remains strong in number and skill is always top of mind, Ransom says.

“The challenge around recruiting, attracting, and retaining a talented workforce is not unique to Missouri or to MU Health Care,” Ransom says.

“There is national pressure on health care workers, physician shortages, nursing shortages, and challenges in the availability of members of the allied health team. Because health care is people caring for people, we are dependent on retaining and attracting caregivers of the future.”

Another serious concern that weighs on Ransom is the pressure on rural and critical access hospitals across the state to remain open.

Ransom explains that critical access hospitals are defined by their size and proximity to other healthcare delivery. In July, a report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform found that nineteen rural hospitals are at risk of closure due to “serious financial problems.”

“While MU Health Care is based out of Columbia, we serve a great part of the state, including many rural areas,” he says. “There are fifty-seven critical COMOBUSINESSTIMES.COM

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“We are very fortunate to have someone with Ric’s experience guiding MU Health Care during this extremely important period of growth for the health system.”

— MUN CHOI

PH OTO BY ANTHO N Y JI N S O N

access hospitals in Missouri, and nineteen are under some risk of closure. As there is pressure on our partners, that puts more pressure on MU Health Care to try to increase capacity and meet demands for care.”

Despite the challenges facing the health care system at MU and across the country, Ransom says his vision for the future is tied directly to the mission of MU Health Care, which is to save and improve lives through the delivery of exemplary patient care, teaching, and research.

“As I look at the work of the health care system and saving and improving life through patient care, we have to continue to provide access to care, both inpatient and ambulatory,” he says.

As MU Health Care looks to the future, Mun Choi, University of Missouri System president, says Ransom is the right leader to carry the hospital system into the future.

“Ric’s arrival comes at an exciting time for MU Health Care,” Choi says. “He’s already immersed himself in three transformative projects as MU Health Care integrates with Capital Region Medical Center, forms strategic relationships to 34

THE HEALTH & WELLNESS ISSUE 2024

ensure local access to health care in Missouri’s rural communities, and prepares to open a new Children’s Hospital next summer. We are very fortunate to have someone with Ric’s experience guiding MU Health Care during this extremely important period of growth for the health system.”

Maximizing Time Off In his short time as a Missouri resident, Ransom has already found plenty of reasons to love the city of Columbia.

“I am really digging Columbia,” he says.

“One of the things I love are the trails with lots of lakes and ponds. I spend a lot of time walking and hiking.”

He’s also found joy in exploring the restaurant scene, and he says he quickly found many amazing spots to enjoy a variety of foods.

“There are some wonderful places to eat, including Murry’s that has this amazing butter cake,” Ransom says.

“There’s Jina Yoo’s — I love sushi — and Shakespeare’s Pizza. I really love the restaurant scene.”

As a self-proclaimed milkshake connoisseur, and coming from Wisconsin —

often referred to as “America’s Dairyland” — Ransom says he was somewhat surprised, and completely thrilled, to discover a hidden gem within driving distance.

“Central Dairy in Jefferson City has some of the best milkshakes I’ve stumbled across,” he says. “I wasn’t expecting to get that level of ice cream expertise, but Central Dairy is on point.”

Ransom says he’s become invested in Tiger sports after enjoying “an amazing season” from the football team, and he says he is looking forward to basketball season and watching a team that is “incredibly well coached and off to a reasonable start.”

In his downtime at home, Ransom says he finds relaxation in the world of science fiction, fantasy, and Star Wars.

“I am a fairly significant nerd,” he admits. “I love Star Wars, comic books, and super hero movies. Right now there is an option on Disney-plus where you can go through and watch every Star Wars movie and animated series in time order. I am doing that, and I would be embarrassed to tell you how many hours of Star Wars I’ve been watching. It’s a good way for me to decompress.” CBT

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Overdue Water System Improvements Coming Construction is still a few months away, but customers began paying more in November.

BY JODIE JACKS O N JR

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onstruction is expected to begin this summer on a long-awaited, $25 million upgrade to the city’s water treatment plant at McBaine, which has been operating at only about 75 percent of its water treatment capacity since 2016.

The city’s finance department worked to close a $23 million bond sale in October as authorized by a $43 million bond issue approved by Columbia voters in 2018.

To retire the new bond sale, residential customers began paying an extra $2 per month base charge in November — an increase from $10 to $12 — with commercial customers’ rates increasing proportionally based on the customer’s water meter size.

In November, the Columbia City Council approved an ordinance to authorize construction of the first phase of McBaine water treatment plant upgrades, anticipating the cost for the base bid improvements at $25 million. Further upgrades, which likely will require another bond issue, are estimated to cost between $15 million and $20 million.

The 2018 bond issue for water system improvements dedicated $23 million to the water treatment plant upgrade, with the other $20 million paying for other water system needs.

“The project will restore the plant’s capacity to treat thirty-two million gallons of water per day” and includes several “re-

habilitation and replacement projects,” according to a city council memo. City staff reported that some equipment in the facility “is nearing the end of its useful life and must be replaced.” While the plant has a rated capacity of thirty-two million gallons per day (MGD), it only has the ability to reliably treat twenty-four MGD. Additionally, a long-range water system study in 2015 determined there was “insufficient treatment capacity at the McBaine [plant] to meet anticipated future demands within the study planning horizon” through 2033.

The city Water and Light Department expects to bid the project this winter and award a construction contract by this spring, with construction beginning this summer. Construction is expected to take twenty-four months.

The water treatment plant treats water pulled from fifteen wells in the McBaine bottoms with average depths of about ninety-five feet, providing Columbia with an average of twelve million gallons of water a day. The plant is less than two miles east of the Missouri River. Formed from glacial deposits along the river’s edge, the aquifer holds some forty-four billion gallons of naturally filtered water, which is then secondarily treated at the city’s water treatment plant before being piped to customers. A report from the Source Water Protection Task Force to the Columbia City Council showed that the McBaine aquifer is replenished by the Missouri River, rainwater, and groundwater flow from higher elevations.

The McBaine water treatment plant was built in 1970, with substantial upgrades and expansions in 1994 and 2007. The plant, located 12 miles south of Columbia, treats and transports water to 51,000 customers — a population of more than 126,000 people — in Columbia’s 89-squaremile service area.

In August 2018, Columbia residents voted overwhelmingly in support of Proposition 1,

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While the plant has a rated capacity of thirtytwo million gallons per day, it only has the ability to reliably treat twenty-four million gallons per day.

The project will restore the plant’s full capacity.

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a $42.8 million water bond issue, with almost 82 percent of ballots cast in favor of the bond issue. A little more than half of the bond, $23 million, will go toward the city’s water treatment plant.

About $10.2 million went toward upgrading storage units and pumps at the West Ash pumping station. Another $5.25 million was spent to replace and relocate water mains and $1 million went for upgrading well platforms. A new water tower in southwest Columbia and a new pumping station in southeast Columbia were also on the list of projects.

In total, Water and Light officials said the projects provide several benefits to Columbia water customers, including: • Continuing to meet customer expectations of reliable, safe and affordable water service.

• Restoring previous water treatment capacity.

• Enhancing water treatment and distribution operational controls and efficiency.

• Improving finished water quality using existing treatment processes.

• Establishing long-range waterquality goals informed by treatment costs and benefits.

Though the 2018 bond issue had strong support, some who favored the bond issue said the city did not go far enough to address water quality issues. For instance, one citizens’ group recommended removing all chloramines from drinking water, but that action had an estimated pricetag of $40 million. Water and Light officials had said that if bond had not

HOW COLUMBIA’S WATER TREATMENT WORKS Water arrives at the McBaine Water Treatment Plant from water withdrawn from the Missouri River alluvial aquifer, via 15 socalled shallow wells (around an average of 95 feet deep) in the McBaine bottoms.

1. The water is exposed to air to oxidize it, which reduces levels of iron, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, which are naturally found in groundwater supplies.

2. Next, water is softened by adding lime to the oxidized water.

Water softening removes about 50 percent of hardness-causing minerals from the water, which reduces scale formed in water heaters and pipes and allows residents to use less laundry detergent.

3. Once softening has occurred, water goes through a filtration process to remove particles that carry over from the softening process.

passed, the city would have been forced to raise water rates 30 percent over the next five years to fund improvements.

Remaining parts of the original plan from 2018 deferred into a second phase are a higher-priority $4.1 million in “Add Alternate Improvements” and $18.2 million in “Deferred Improvements” bringing the total project cost estimate to $47.1 million. “Add Alternate Improvements” include a new maintenance building, filter building improvements and a re-carbonation chemical feed system. “Deferred Improvements” include major electrical improvements, a new filter header and high service pump building.

Water and Light engineering supervisor Shawn Carrico told city council members that the deferred improvements included replacing equipment that was near the end of its lifespan. He said those improvements would be needed within the next ten years.

“I wouldn’t want to defer them any further than that,” he told council members, adding that the deferred improvements would “likely have to be part of the future bond issue.” CBT

4. Finally, the water is treated through disinfection to prevent disease-causing microorganisms.

Once the water has gone through these four steps, it is ready for residential and commercial use.

Will the process change with the McBaine Water Treatment Plant Improvement Project?

Columbia Water and Light officials says the initial phase of the McBaine Water Treatment Plant Improvement Project will not fundamentally change the current water treatment process, but the rehabilitation and replacement of key equipment and facilities “will provide much greater operational controls and efficiencies, enhance treatment performance and reliability and provide higher-quality water” for customers.

For a more detailed explanation of the water treatment process, visit como.gov/utilities/water/#tab4

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C BT | WHAT ’ S GO I N G UP ?

Building and Site Development issued a total of 138 building permits in November 2023 with a valuation of $21.99 million.

The breakdown included: » 1 commercial addition, $120,840 » 5 residential additions, $165,292. » 9 commercial alterations, $1.57 million. » 13 residential alterations, $973,879.

What’s Going Up? STO RY & PHOTO BY JO DI E JACKS O N JR

STRAP ON THE FEED BAG and get ready to be first in line for the buffet. Golden Corral at 3421 Clark Lane will reopen soon, more than a year after the all-you-can-eat restaurant was closed by a New Year’s Eve fire that caused an estimated quarter-million dollars in damage.

The Columbia Building and Site Development office issued a permit on November 1 for commercial building alteration at the site. The permit lists a valuation of $300,000 for repair of fire damage and additional alterations. The general contractor is White Tree Group LLC. The permit covers some two thousand square feet. The business, owned by MDB Restaurants, previously received permits for interior demolition, reframing, fuel gas, plumbing, and electrical work.

» 2 pools, $71,251. » 2 new commercial, $4.25 million. » 6 decks, $79,000. » 67 re-roofs, $1.24 million. » 30 single-family detached houses, $12.48 million. » 3 townhouses, $1.05 million.

Highlights include: • A permit for installation of Tesla charging stations in the existing parking lot at Bandana’s Barbecue, at 3405 Clark Lane, just west of the Golden Corral permit site. The general contractor for the $150,000 project entailing 2,500 square feet is EVC Company LLC. The property owner is listed as SMJ International.

• Little Dixie Construction is the general contractor on a project at 2703 E. Broadway, Ste. 226, owned by Lindner Properties. The 1,802-square-foot project is an interior tenant fit up with new partitions, lighting, plumbing, HVAC, electrical service, and tenant finishes. The building permit doesn’t indicate a type of business.

• Two new buildings are being added to the existing Mill Creek Senior Living campus at 1990 W. Southampton Dr. Willco Construction LLC is the general contractor for the 2,188-square-foot project with a valuation of $381,160. It includes a commercial office/storage space at 2082 Southampton Drive.

• The top-dollar single family homes to receive building permits in November were a 6,601-square-foot house off Pebble Creek Court in the Bluff Creek Estates. The permit valuation is $935,021. Travis Block Construction Co. LLC is the general contractor.

• Anderson Homes is the builder for a 5,144-square-foot home in Old Hawthorne North on Ivory Lane. The permit lists a valuation of $727,792.

• Three townhouses will be built on Bunker Loop Court On the Ninth at Old Hawthorne. Two of the townhouses will be 2,830 square feet with valuations of $382,080, and the third townhouse will be 2,040 square feet and has a valuation of $285,197. Eibel Construction is the general contractor.

• A $500,000 project at 2500 S. Old 63 involves replacing exterior steps for buildings 3 and 4 at the site. The permit shows “owner contractor” performing the work.

• A permit for construction of a 30,223-square-foot, $3.87 million mini storage facility is shown as “on hold” for a site at 4501 Peabody Road. The owner is ASM Development LLC and the builder is Andrew Marcy General Contractor. The permit is on hold pending additional steps needed to begin construction. CBT

If you see a building popping up and wonder, “What’s going up?”, email jodie@comocompanies.com and let us know!

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C BT | NEW BUSINES S L I CEN S ES

New Business Licenses Empower Property Group 500 E Walnut St Real estate development and investing company.

El Moes Catering and Caribbean Cuisine Food Truck 14 E Business Loop 70 Catering business.

Cedarhurst of Columbia 2333 Chapel Hill Rd

Key Janitorial Services, LLC 3514 Yellowwood Dr

Straight Beastmode 2.0, LLC 1304 S Pecos Ave Home remodeling and handyman services.

SewGr8Quilting 5005 Chesapeake Ln Custom quilts, image quilts, t-shirt and baby/toddler.

O’Reilly Auto Parts #6643 5701 Freedom Dr Retail auto parts and related supplies.

Missouri G&F, LLC 609 Angels Rest Way Firearm sales and accessories.

Social Room 222 N Eighth St Full-service bar and restaurant.

Columbia Christmas Light Company 3716 Bray Ct Install Christmas lights. No wiring, plugging into existing outside outlets.

Daniel Keith Contracting Services 6400 E Karin Ct General contractor/handyman.

Sidelines Sales and Event Space 701 Big Bear Blvd Provide event rental space.

Survivalist Tactics Speaking, LLC Public speaking for hire.

The Columbia market remains healthy!

Das Byrds Nest, LLC 14 E Business Loop 70 Food truck serving burgers, fries, hot dogs, etc.

Eyeconic Moments Photography 48 Broadway Village Dr Photography.

Homestead Steaks 4151 Paris Rd Sales of prepackaged, frozen meat.

New Hope Homes, LLC 5000 Derby Ridge Dr Home office for home health care.

Cherry Hill Counseling 2024 Cherry Hill Dr

Find more insights in our updated market report.

573-445-1020

Etalia Communications, LLC 4300 N Interstate Dr Underground utility construction, directional drilling, boring, trenching.

Hulen Four, LLC 2905 W Akeman Bridge Rd Handyman.

A. B. Cleaning Cleaning Company. CBT

Paul Land - Mike Grellner - Lauren Crosby

www.PlazaCommercialRealty.com 2501 Bernadette Drive Columbia, MO 65203 573-445-1020

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C BT | D E E D S O F T R U ST

A DV ERT IS ER I N DEX 404 Portland................................4

Accounting Plus......................... 16

Anthony Jinson Photography.2

Columbia Second Chance......35

First State Community Bank...3

GKR Motor Cars........................ 43

Haas Accounting........................35

COMO Marketing....................... 19

Job Point......................................35

Mid America Bank..................... 18

Nabholz Construction................3

Plaza Commercial Realty........ 41

Prost Builders..............................17

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THE HEALTH & WELLNESS ISSUE 2024

Deeds of Trust Worth at least $750,000

$10,000,000 YBR Properties Columbia LLC Stride Bank LT 1 Hilton Plat 3 $6,602,000 Woodstock MH LLC JLL Real Estate Capital LLC STR 29-48-12 /E/NE $3,115,000 Columbia South Real Estate LLC First State Community Bank LT 3B The Village of Cherry Hill Plat 3 $2,000,000 Kinney Point Housing Development Group LP City of Columbia LT 1-A Grace Covenant Church Subdivision Plat 1-A $1,375,000 Kevin Reichert Mid America Mortgage Services Inc STR 26-47-13 //W $1,328,000 Anderson, Scott A. Trustee Commerce Bank LT 201 Old Hawthorne North Plat No. 1 $1,307,000 Liberty Square Industrial Park LLC Connections Bank LT 1 Liberty Square $1,134,673.58 JAJ LLC Mid America Bank STR 11-46-12 /NW/SW SUR BK/PG: 4945/103 AC 16.06 FF Tract 1

$1,040,000 Blackfoot Estates MHP LLC The Mercantile Bank of Louisiana MO STR 34-49-13 //E SUR BK/PG: 318/188 FF W/ Excep $971,500 Heifner, Gregory F. The Central Trust Bank STR 21-49-13 //NW SUR BK/PG: 5805/124 AC 20 FF W/ ESMT $960,000 Medicinal Properties LLC First State Community Bank STR 29-48-13 //SE SUR BK/PG: 765/714 FF Tract 6 EXCEPTING $887,595 Shy Rentals LLC First State Community Bank LT 18 Parkade North PL 1 $815,000 Herter, Nicole R I Regions Bank STR 20-47-13 /NW/NE $800,000 Ashland MHC LLC First State Community Bank STR 11-46-11 /NW/SW SUR BK/ PG: 4945/103 AC 20.91 FF TR 2 $780,470.21 Greystone Cap Fund II LLC The Callaway Bank LT 1 East Ashland Plaza $750,000 Shawn M. Degler Regions Bank LT 37 PT Woodrail Sub Plat 4 CBT

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