CBT | The Impact Issue 2023

A COMO COMPANIES PUBLICATION THE IMPACT ISSUE NOVEMBER 2023

PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW Kasey Hammock, Founder and Conspirator for Good at Partner for Better

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THE IMPACT ISSUE 2023

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

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PERSON YOU SHOULD KNOW Kasey Hammock, Founder and Conspirator for Good at Partner for Better

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/COMOBusinessTimes

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Hearing the stories of the volunteers, staff members, board members, and donors was moving. But hearing Lester Woods Jr. deliver our keynote…Pastor/Dr. Woods can deliver a message better than non other!

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s I sit writing this letter, I am basking in the glow of the Impact COMO Awards luncheon. It was and always is such a very special time celebrating those that do the hard work in our community every single day to support and help those that need a hand up, not a handout.

There are many unmet needs felt by our neighbors such as hunger, domestic violence, lack of shelter, lack of education or access to healthcare, those re-entering society after incarceration, those in need of love and parenting, and many more. When I moved to Columbia in 2005, I remember hearing people refer to Columbia as the ‘Tale of Two Cities’, essentially a city that had two very distinct realities as it related to access to resources. I didn’t really like hearing that. It sounded so cold and divisive, and all the people I had met were very caring, kind people. However, I have since witnessed how easy it is to go about our day working hard and taking care of our own families and not see those that are suffering right next to us. It’s not that our community isn’t kind or supportive. Quite the opposite. Columbia has a spirit of generosity and community service that is one of the primary reasons I love to call COMO home. The key is to show people where the needs are and to connect the agencies trying to help with those that have resources of time, talent, and treasure.

This is where I’ve been called to help. We use the pages of this magazine to highlight a nonprofit every month, but in November we dedicate the entire issue to these amazing people. We hope that by telling the stories of the work being done and what’s left to do, people will be moved to join the cause by volunteering, donating money or items in need, or serving on a board of directors.

This is where you are called to help. What can you do more of ? Better yet, what can you help others do more of ? As a business owner, I prioritize volunteering for our staff. We not only encourage it, but we expect it. I want each of our staff members to find a cause they personally care about to volunteer with in whatever manner they can. We give them paid time off to do it and support those causes with our services as we can. Additionally, as a company, we commit to giving 10% of our time and advertising space to nonprofit organizations.

Here are some next steps that I encourage you to take. Send a survey to your staff and ask them what the issues are that matter to them the most. Arrange tours of organizations that address those needs, and then help make connections for them. It’s good for your employee loyalty and retention. It’s good for the organization needing help. And it’s great for our community. If you need ideas on where to start, enjoy reading the pages of this issue or go to ImpactCOMO.com for more ideas.

ERICA PEFFERMAN

ON THE COVER

Kasey Hammock, founder and conspirator for good of Partner for Better.

Photo by Anthony Jinson.

@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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NOVEMBER 2023 VO L . 1 / I S S UE 8

TA B L E O F CONT E NTS

The Impact Issue 7 PUBLISHER'S NOTE 8 ADVISORY BOARD 11 CLOSER LOOK 12 BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS 15 MOVERS & SHAKERS 16 GUEST VOICES Steve Spellman

25 AS SEEN ONLINE MU Research Reactor

28 GUEST VOICES Matt McCormick

29 GUEST VOICES Brian Toohey

30 NONPROFIT UPDATE Justice for All

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34 PYSK Kasey Hammock

42 GUEST VOICES Megan Steen

CELEBRATIONS REDEFINING HOME Amid global conflict, City of Refuge helps refugees find a home in mid-Missouri.

43 WHAT'S GOING UP? 48 NEW BUSINESS LICENSES 50 DEEDS OF TRUST

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The Funding Formula NAP and YOP credits help boost nonprofits, but local leaders say individual donations are still key to success.

A Community of Giving CoMoGives provides platform for year-end giving.

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C BT | C LOS E R LOOK

Closer Look

HEXAGON ALLEY Hexagon Alley is a board game café offering not only a variety of over 600 games but also a selection of craft beers, hand crafted cocktails and mocktails, and a full espresso bar to keep you hydrated with your drink of choice. The café also serves fresh food including paninis and shareable boards. Founders Kyle Rieman, Nathen Reynolds, and Colleen Spurlock said they want Hexagon Alley to feel like your home away from home.

“We wanted a place where people no matter the age could get together and enjoy time together uninterrupted with board games. All three of us have a love and passion for board games and have always hosted weekly board games with our friends and wanted to share our love and passion with so many others,” Spurlock adds. “Most of the games in our library are from our personal collections, so it means something to share them with the community and see so many of our games that we haven’t played in some time get played again.”

WITCHES AND WIZARDS ARCADE Witches and Wizards Arcade is located in the heart of Columbia’s Arcade District. The arcade offers a blend of nostalgia and enchantment.

Relive the golden era with classic games and pinball from the ‘80s, ‘90s, and 2000s. Witches and Wizards also offers an indoor micro theater.

“We’ve handpicked a selection of sci-fi, superhero, and other iconic genre films to delight our audience,” says owner Bobby Campbell. With state-of-the-art acoustics and ambient lighting that enhances every scene, the theater promises “an immersive viewing experience.” A unique feature is free play. There is a general admission fee for adults and kids, and from there all the games are on free play, with no need for the typical fillable cards or quarters. The arcade hosts movie nights, video game tournaments, and other fun events. The arcade is also available for private parties and events.

111 S. 9th Street, Suite 10

DOUGH X BATTER Dough X Batter is an eco-conscious cottage bakery that opened for business in July 2023. When the world was in lockdown, Laura Vientos decided to make holiday-themed decorated sugar cookies to mail to her loved ones.

“After posting pictures [on social media] the requests started to roll in.

The idea that I could make custom treats for others as my new career path was born then and there,” says Vientos.

She wanted to create something that was rooted in sustainability, community, and social responsibility.

She makes an effort to keep production low-waste, composts food scraps, tries to source local ingredients when possible, uses fair-trade/conflict-free ingredients, seeks to partner with organizations that support important causes, and offers compostable or easily recyclable packaging.

Though decorated royal icing sugar cookies are the specialty, the bakery menu includes classic cookies, bars, muffins, scones, and other easy-toshare treats that are perfect for all types of events.

573-227-2213

1214 Eugenia Street

787-560-7942

@hexagon_alley

@witchesandwizardsarcade

@doughxbatter

hexagonalley.com

witchesandwizardsarcade.com

dough-x-batter.square.site 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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CBT

Briefly in the News

GIVING BACK

UScellular Announces More Than $32K Donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia To provide meaningful educational opportunities and experiences to local youth, UScellular announced a $32,300 grant to Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia. This donation is part of a $1 million grant to Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which will directly benefit 19 additional clubs throughout UScellular’s service areas.

This marks the ninth consecutive year of UScellular’s investment in Boys & Girls Clubs, continuing the company’s support of K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and academic enrichment programs happening at the clubs. Throughout 2022, UScellular’s support gave 147,000 youth across the country access to STEM activities and learning. Funds from the grant were used for the creation of STEM labs, hands-on interactive programming, and STEM curriculum training for club leaders.

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THE IMPACT ISSUE 2023

In addition to its support of STEM education at Boys & Girls Clubs across the country, UScellular is helping narrow the “homework gap” through the After School Access Project, which is an initiative that provides free mobile hotspots and service to nonprofits that support youth after the school day has ended.

COMMUNITY

Boone County ARPA Funds Awarded to Habitat for Humanity’s Boone Prairie Village Project An award of more than $700,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from the Boone County Commission to Habitat for Humanity will help with the completion of the second phase of development of the Boone Prairie Subdivision.

Access to safe and affordable housing was a key need identified in Boone County during the COVID-19 pandemic

B R I E FLY I N T HE NEWS

and was a focus area for the county in allocating ARPA funds. According to a news release, five development phases are planned for Habitat for Humanity’s Boone Prairie Village.

Each phase is approximately 30 homes, with a total of 143 homes planned for the subdivision.

ARPA funding will help Habitat for Humanity complete phase two infrastructure. Infrastructure includes sewers, excavation work, engineering, roads, and utilities. Phase two will cost approximately $1.5 million and could be done in 18 months. The news release stated that the additional funding eases pressure on the budget and allows the organization to focus resources on actual home construction.

Thirty new families will be able to affordably own their own homes, raise their children in a safe environment, and affect the generational wealth change that comes with homeownership.

selected by a panel of retired educators, social workers, and early childhood experts. They are chosen to present goodwill, gentleness, and compassion appropriately. Each school is presented with a tote bag of five storybooks, either from the preschool selection or the early elementary selection. Some schools and agencies receive both libraries, depending on the age range of their students or clients.

With this funding, Children’s Grove will present a new Kindness Library to every early elementary school, daycare, and preschool in Boone County, along with continuing its strong support of local agencies that assist area children.

COMMUNITY

Voluntary Action Center’s Holiday Program Celebrates 40 Years of Service to Boone County

CELEBRATION

Residents

Children’s Grove Receives

Voluntary Action Center (VAC) announces the 40th anniversary of its holiday program. The program aims to provide food, clothing, and toys to families in need during the holiday season. The VAC holiday program has been a staple of the Columbia community since 1983.

VAC is a nonprofit organization responding to the immediate basic needs of individuals and families in Boone County. The organization’s goal is to help people achieve selfsufficiency by providing basic needs assistance and support services.

The holiday program is one of the organization’s most popular seasonal programs. Last year, the program served over 1,000 families in Boone County.

This year, VAC foresees an increase in participants due to the unprecedented demand for basic needs services in 2023. VAC is

$10,000 Grant f rom Missouri Humanities Council for Kindness Library Children’s Grove has received a $10,000 grant from the Missouri Humanities Council (MHC) to continue and further develop the Kindness Library program. Children’s Grove, an allvolunteer nonprofit organization that encourages acts of kindness that reflect compassion, respect, and inclusivity, purchases and donates approximately $10,000 worth of books annually to all early elementary and preschools, both public and private, in Boone County, as well as countless public service agencies that work with young children.

The books, collectively called Kindness Libraries, are carefully

currently seeking family, individual, and business sponsors for the holiday program. Sponsors can sign up online now at www.vacmo.org/programs/ holiday or by calling 573-874-2273.

Sponsors can choose to sponsor a family or make a monetary donation to the program.

EDUCATION

State Historical Society of Missouri Publishes New Historic “Mizzourians” Biographies As part of its educational outreach mission, the State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO) continues to expand the Historic Missourians website, a freely available resource that features notable people who influenced the Show-Me State. The biographies include images, artifacts, and primary sources that can be studied by students, educators, and the general public.

New biographies are made possible through a donation from Carolyn P. and Robin R. Wenneker, whose financial support allows the SHSMO to expand the “Historic Mizzourians” initiative, highlighting prominent Missourians whose lives have intersected with the University of Missouri in meaningful ways.

The new biographies include Mike Shannon, famed Cardinals baseball player and MLB sports broadcaster, who also played football at Mizzou early in his career; Mary Jane Guthrie, American zoologist and cytologist who graduated from MU and returned to teach at her alma mater; Arvarh Strickland, the first full-time African American professor at Mizzou; and Martha Griffiths, an MU graduate known for ensuring that protections for women were included in the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. To learn more, visit the Historic Missourians website at historicmissourians.shsmo.org CBT COMOBUSINESSTIMES.COM

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

Movers & Shakers L E E A N N C R AVE N S

Manor Roofing & Restoration Services owner Nick Allen named Leeann Cravens chief operating officer. In her new role as COO, Cravens will serve as a senior executive overseeing Manor’s dayto-day administrative and operational functions.

Cravens joined Manor in 2018 and has served in various key positions to contribute to the business’s success.

She also serves on the Better Business Bureau’s Advisory Board, is an active volunteer for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Columbia, and recently graduated from the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Columbia program.

T R AVI S CA M PB E L L

The Great Rivers Council of Boy Scouts of America welcomes Travis Campbell to the team as the program director of adventure and innovation. Campbell is a retired lieutenant colonel in the United States Marine Corps with 24 years of experience leading at the platoon, company, and battalion levels.

He is a veteran of the global war on terrorism, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. He served in a multitude of staff positions with the Marine Corps headquarters at the Pentagon. Most recently Campbell served as the

deputy commandant for operations at the Missouri Military Academy.

R O G E R WA L L E C K

Roger Walleck is the new president and CEO of Missouri Employers Mutual effective January 1, 2024.

Walleck has served as vice president and chief underwriting officer at MEM since 2017. He directs the company’s pricing and risk selection activities and leads several underwriting teams.

Before MEM, Walleck spent over a decade in leadership positions at the Meadowbrook Insurance Group, as well as more than 20 years at Liberty Mutual, where he worked in underwriting and operations. He holds several professional designations and is an active member of the CPCU Society and the Risk & Insurance Management Society. Walleck has served on the committees of national insurance organizations. He is a member of the Missouri Workers’ Compensation Determinations Board.

COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS FO U N DAT I O N

The Columbia Public Schools Foundation (CPSF) named its 2023 Hall of Leaders, to be honored at CPSF’s annual fall event. Honorees include Outstanding Alumni Adam Beckett and Matthew

Peach (posthumously) and Outstanding Retired Educators Craig Adams and Wanda Brown.

“The Columbia Public Schools Foundation is pleased to honor this year’s Hall of Leaders,” said David Townsend, president of the CPSF Board of Directors.

“We celebrate those who have made outstanding contributions, whether as alumni or educators.”

FIRST RESPONDER

C RAVEN S

CAM PB ELL

WA LLEC K

SUPPORT

First Responder Support announced the addition of recently retired Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones and Adam Burks, a fi rst responder and member of the First Responder Support Advisory Panel, to its Board of Trustees. Joining them on the Advisory Panel will be Valerie Sisson, the director of the Vet Center in Columbia and a committed board member of Phoenix Programs.

First Responder Support is a pioneering organization dedicated to bolstering the well-being and mental health of fi rst responders who serve our communities.

The Board of Trustees plays a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s strategic initiatives and furthering its mission of providing crucial support to the brave men and women who safeguard and save lives every day. CBT

B EC K ET T

PEAC H

A DA M S

BROWN

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

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CBT

Nonprofits

BY STEVE SPELLMA N

HUMAN INTERACTIONS TAKE various forms. Nuclear families exchange care and resources for their mutual survival and benefit. These are not monetary transactions.

Trade occurs every day between individuals who exchange cash with businesses for goods and services. For-profit businesses tend to get paid by directly serving their fellow humans.

Government organizations collect tax revenue to provide various public goods and services such as infrastructure, public safety, and other amenities. The taxpayer is not necessarily the direct recipient.

Then there are groups formed by private individuals, which operate with a different bottom line: as nonprofit organizations.

The patron is not at all necessarily the receiver of goods or services.

So we live in a mixed economy with personal, for-profit, public, and not-for-profit participants. They all co-exist, often doing their own thing, but sometimes overlapping.

NOT YOUR GRANDPA’S CHARITY Local nonprofits have experienced several recent game-changers.

First, the 2017 federal tax reforms increased the standard income tax deduction. It was a tax break for many Americans, but meant fewer tax filers received additional tax deductions for their charitable contributions, which is a huge selling point for nonprofits to solicit donations — that the government will give you a partial discount for donating to our group.

Still, many donors give from the goodness of their hearts, regardless of a tax reduction.

Most recently, there was the gigantic pandemic stimulus package — the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). Via

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THE IMPACT ISSUE 2023

municipalities such as the city of Columbia and Boone County government, millions of dollars are being infused into local nonprofit groups.

From a pending homeless services center off the Business Loop to buildings for readjusting people released from jail, to low-income housing units, Washington, D.C., is raining cash on local qualifying charities like nobody has ever seen or could have imagined.

NON BUSINESSES RUN LIKE A BUSINESS Worthwhile nonprofit groups are too numerous to list. One notable coordinating organization is the local United Way. Since transforming its focus to a “community impact” model a decade ago, the focus is lifting up disadvantaged youth. By helping kids early in life, the idea is that could prevent an entire adult life from being off track.

The Heart of Missouri United Way evaluates local nonprofits who operate in that space and ask probing questions to measure tangible success. Those who deliver results are rewarded with ongoing resources. If only government institutions had such business-like standards in determining the allocation of public resources, the cliché term “good enough for government work” would become obsolete.

The United Way offers a compelling value proposition to potential donors and cultivates ongoing patron relationships. The staff goes on-site to local employers, motivating employees and employers for mutual benefit, even gamifying fundraising efforts. United Way gives awards and showers donors with appreciation. (If only filing your income tax return was this fun and came with a thank you note from Uncle Sam.)

GIVE ‘EM WHAT YOU GOT A local nonprofit leader once explained that participants/leaders offer their relative wealth and also their work and/or wisdom.

Volunteers can roll up their sleeves to package food, offer a listening ear to an abuse victim, mentor a youngster, and so on.

GUE ST VOIC E S

People with life experience can provide wise input to achieve greater outcomes. Volunteers can also benefit beyond nice feelings, tax breaks, and line items on a resume.

Particularly for young and assisting professionals, helping out with a local nonprofit can be a really good experience. Your boss might not mind letting you off work early to go help a charity.

You’ll see the world differently and learn something about yourself.

VISTAS YET UNSEEN It also puts you in contact with others you wouldn’t otherwise interact with. You’ll find new, genuine friends and contacts of genuine character.

Volunteering can often open up career opportunities you might not otherwise imagine. An informal mentor of mine described joining a nonprofit group when she was a young professional managing a service industry call center. A fellow participant, an elder business executive in a different industry, observed her character and work ethic over time.

The executive had a leadership position open up and happened to run into the junior professional at a movie theatre. After saying “hi” in passing, the executive briefly mentioned a job opening at her office and, “You should look into that.”

After the junior contact replied with, “Um, ok,” the exec turned and pointedly reiterated, with a wink, “You should look into that.” Getting the less-than-subtle drift, she applied, got the job, and years later reached a career pinnacle succeeding the exec who retired.

This career success story would never have happened without the young person venturing out of her comfort zone and dayto-day monotony, giving of herself, and being able to be noticed as the kind of person a wise leader had been in need of.

Even for those who don’t hit a storybook home run like that, giving your dollars, time, or advice to connect with the nonprofit sector can reap intangible benefits you might not be able to otherwise imagine. CBT

Steve Spellman is a lifelong Columbia-area resident and political observer.

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CBT

Redef ining Home Amid global conflict, City of Refuge helps refugees f ind a home in mid-Missouri.

BY JULES N . GRA EBN ER | P HOTOS BY M A D I G R E E N

TUCKED AWAY COMFORTABLY in mid-Missouri, it’s easy for many to feel safe and unaffected as war rages in other parts of the world. However, that isn’t the case for the people behind the nonprofit organization City of Refuge and the community members it serves.

The organization has helped thousands of refugees from more than 20 countries find their footing after settling in mid-Missouri, assisting them with everything from housing to employment and learning a new language.

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“[Our goal] is to help empower them, help celebrate their cultures and where they’ve come from, all while helping them get on their feet again,” says City of Refuge executive director, Debbie Beal. “They’ve all gone through a lot to get here.”

CREATING A CITY Surprisingly, City of Refuge began as a cleaning company called Safi Sana, which translates to “very clean” in Swahili.

“We started in 2010 when our founders happened across refugees that were liv-

ing in some pretty dire circumstances, and employment was really hard to come by,” Beal says. “So [the organization] was started as a way to provide employment to folks that needed it — a cleaning company.”

It quickly became clear that there was a need for far more than just employment.

From there, additional programs were established which eventually blossomed into what City of Refuge is today.

Now, City of Refuge aims to have a hand in every type of assistance that a refugee and their family may need: case manage-

2010

2011

2018

Jen Wheeler, Lori Stoll, and several other community members found City of Refuge.

Lori Stoll became the first employee and City of Refuge helped a family purchase a home for the first time.

City of Refuge purchased and renovated its first office building, allowing for program expansion.

THE IMPACT ISSUE 2023

C E LE BRAT IONS

ment, English classes, legal consultation, funerals, credit building, navigating healthcare, and more.

“Even the little things — we’ll have someone ask, ‘What mail can I actually throw away?’ [Junk mail] can say ‘urgent’ in those big red letters, and it can be scary if you don’t understand the language,” Beal says, giving an example of how willing City of Refuge staff is to help in every aspect of an individual’s life.

“America is really, really different from Burma or Afghanistan,” she notes. “But we’re able to get people on the front end, like, ‘If you were a nurse or doctor in the country you came from, how can we help you get back to those things?’ or ‘What do you want to do?’ And giving them the tools and resources that they need to do that.

We help point them in the right direction, not to be a crutch necessarily, but to really empower them and give them the tools to succeed in that capacity.”

It takes a village to do what City of Refuge does, as the organization assists roughly 1,500 refugees on an annual basis.

EXPANDING A CITY Beal says that in light of recent events, it has become clear that City of Refuge will

be welcoming more and more refugees and their families.

“We know that the need is increasing as the world around us is just in conflict all of the time. We’re really needed, and the need is critical towards our growth,” she explains.

“It’s based on looking at what the needs are of our refugee friends and asking, ‘How do we meet those needs? How do we do it in a way that is sustainable and scalable?’”

Recently, that has meant relocating to a new, larger location and expanding the charity shop, the City Boutique. Though the boutique accepts donations and sells gently-used items like a typical charity resale shop, the boutique also features work from artisans all around the world.

“We have three women from Afghanistan who are selling their products at City Boutique, but we also have a global artisan wall where there’s jewelry and candles being sold — and one of those artists is a little 12-yearold girl,” Beal says. “We [plan] to expand our global artisans and City Boutique line.”

City of Refuge is also slated to open a preschool at the beginning of the new year, helping families with part-time childcare and early language learning.

Though there are over 180 volunteers at the organization, with an increasing need

for assistance, the need for volunteers and partners is also growing. Beal explains that it’s more than just a volunteer opportunity, but a chance to make lasting friendships.

“I think the thing that is really unique about us is that we’re really focused on relationships,” she says. “We don’t want it to be transactional — where they come to us, they get what they need, repeat — but it’s about friendship, about relationships, us knowing them and them knowing us. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship and it takes time to form. Just to be able to invite more people and more [volunteers] into that, there’s something beautiful about the diversity — celebrating different cultures, food, and customs — that we see every day.”

Beal continues: “I think sometimes people think they need to go somewhere to experience different cultures, but there are refugees here from all over the world.

Right here in Columbia, [they can experience] new cultures, new people, new languages. Sometimes it’s their neighbor.” CBT

CITY OF REFUGE & CITY BOUTIQUE 10 N. Garth Ave., Entrance is on Garth Street cityof refugecolumbia.org 573-454-1552

2021

2022

2024

City of Refuge purchased its new headquarters, tripling in size and serving as a community center.

Thanks to its expanded capacity, City of Refuge starts a youth program, and City Boutique opens its doors.

City of Refuge will open a preschool program to give young children an edge on English language acquisition.

COMOBUSINESSTIMES.COM

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WHAT THE

BUSINESS

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ACCOUNTING

BANKING

Nicole Miller

Brad Roling

Accounting Plus

Mid America Bank

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COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION

Vaughn Prost Prost Builders

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THE IMPACT ISSUE 2023

MARKETING

Erica Pefferman COMO Marketing

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ACCOUNTING

WHAT THE

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NICOLE MILLER

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N

avigating the complex world of payroll compliance can be a daunting and risky task for any business owner, large or small.

Let us suggest a simple solution — leave it to us! Our firm has over 30 years of experience in accounting, payroll, tax and business advisory, so no reason to tackle payroll compliance tasks yourself. You have a business to run, and not to mention, we want to help! We assist hundreds of business clients with their payroll every day; whether you prefer to pay your staff weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, we can accommodate your needs. Consider these key reasons to make the switch today: Simplify and Save Payroll is one of those areas that can cost you precious resources, especially if it is done incorrectly.

The IRS and Missouri do not mess around when it comes to your employees. You are expected to pay them, process and submit reports and tax payments timely, and issue proper paystubs and W2s. Payroll management is an intricate process that demands time, expertise, and a keen eye for detail—a combination that comes at a cost. By outsourcing your payroll, your business can focus on what it does best without the burden of payroll administration.

Outsmart Tax & Labor Law Changes Staying ahead of ever-evolving tax & labor laws is more than a full-time job. It’s a specialized field of expertise that demands continuous learning.

With our seasoned experts at the helm, Accounting Plus ensures your business remains compliant with the latest laws and regulations. Avoid the

PROS KNOW

Born and raised in Columbia, MO, Nicole is our Payroll Manager and has over a decade of service at our firm. As a graduate of Columbia College with a degree in Psychology and Human Services she focuses on running a strong department that supports our business clients and helps them find solutions for their payroll needs

573-615-0291 insuranceplusllc.com 573-445-3805 accountingplusinc.com

stress and penalties associated with errors, HR missteps, and late tax filing. We’ve got you covered.

Protect Private Data and Prevent Fraud In an era where data breaches are increasingly common, protecting sensitive employee information is crucial. Our firm is equipped with robust secure technology to safeguard your data from potential threats, from internal tampering , and from cyberattacks. Rest easy knowing that your payroll data is in safe hands. Unfortunately, the biggest culprits of fraud happen from within, a long time employee with good intentions most of the time can be lured into a situation where they are asked to overpay someone

or worse, overpay themselves because of a financial situation they cannot find a solution for. Protect yourself and your staff from these things by investing in a proper payroll service (and consider Cyber Insurance Protection from our Insurance Plus Team).

At Accounting Plus we don’t just process your payroll; we partner with you to streamline your business functions and enhance your profitability. Leverage our expertise, technology, security, and commitment to excellence. Deciding to outsource your payroll is not just a smart business move—it’s a game changer. You can welcome back your time and energy, with outsourced payroll services. Call us today.

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BANKING

BENEFITS OF YOUR BUSINESS SUPPORTING CHARITIES

WHAT THE

BRAD ROLING

Market President – Columbia

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!

By Brad Roling broling@midambk.com

S

upporting local charities or nonprofits is great for your business in many aspects. Local charities and organizations are critical to the success of a thriving local community and its members. Not only are there benefits for your overall brand and company culture but there are monetary benefits for your business as well.

First, when considering local charities to support, select charities that reflect your business’s values and priorities. Doing so amplifies and helps reinforce your values with the local community, your patrons and your staff. In company culture today, it matters to current and prospective employees how you support your local communities and give back. This can be a very attractive trait in today’s highly competitive employment market. If your business wants to start contributing to a charity, research and find one that fits your business’s values.

Secondly, supporting local charities can boost your overall brand as some people will choose to patronize your business simply because of this involvement. These acts create a deep connection to your local community and patrons. Supporting doesn’t just have to mean donating fiscally, it could be volunteering your time and resources as well. Think outside the box about how your business can support a local charity. Start small, like volunteering occasionally or giving an end of the year donation; or think bigger and host a fundraiser for their benefit or volunteer as a companywide team builder.

Finally, there can be tax benefits to supporting a local charity or non-profit. For

BUSINESS

573-615-2343 | midambk.com

your donation to qualify for tax deduction, the charity must be a legitimate 501(c) (3) organization. Charities often can provide documentation from the IRS with their status.

Another great resource for determining if a charity meets this criteria is the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. You can find this tool at https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos. When considering donations, keep in mind there are three types of gifts that can be deducted for tax benefits: cash, gifts of property or equipment, and travel expenses accrued while helping a charity. Rules about these deductions are set by the IRS for businesses. We encourage you to consult with your tax advisor on the full benefits and implications of your donation.

For example, Mid America Bank has a long-standing history of supporting numerous local charities, organizations and community events throughout our market areas each year. Our community involvement & support spans from serving as a Partner in Education for our local schools, recognizing our Veterans and first responders, sponsoring county fairs, donating to church picnics, volunteering at local food pantries, serving on school boards, teaching financial literacy, assisting those in need and much more.

Mid America Bank is deeply tied to the communities we serve and we look forward to continuing that as we grow in Columbia as well! And that’s why we say “Good for you and your community too!”

Brad Roling, Market President- Columbia assisted with the ribbon cutting ceremony for the St. Raymond’s Society’s new home in Columbia.

Ronald McDonald House Mid-Missouri Board of Directors seen at the organization’s new home site. Brad Roling, seen with the group, serves as Treasurer of the RMHC’s Board of Directors.

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COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION

WHAT THE

CONSTRUCTING A TAILORED SPACE WITH DESIGN-BUILD-LEASE

By Vaughn Prost info@prostbuilders.com

VAUGHN PROST

BUSINESS

Owner & President

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.

A

Design-Build-Lease is a developer’s (or landlord’s) agreement to construct a purpose-built building that is usually for a single tenant. This type of agreement is beneficial to both the developer and the tenant because the building can be very specific to the actual needs of the future tenant.

For example, Prost Builders has constructed several Design-Build-Lease facilities, such as Columbia’s office building at 1500 Vandiver Drive, Jefferson City’s State of Missouri Health Department Office and Laboratory, Boonville’s Ballantine Office Building, Neosho’s Haas Office Building, Butler’s Palace Office Building, and Cape Girardeau’s Marquette Tower Office Building.

The Columbia office building located at 1500 Vandiver Dr. was a design-buildlease, where Prost Builders constructed a new 85,000-square-foot facility for the purpose of leasing it to the State of Missouri. This enabled the State to house up to eight agencies under one roof in a single location, with 500 parking spaces available for employees and visitors.

When Veterans United needed a larger building to lease, Prost Builders renovated the Vandiver facility inside and out to accommodate their unique requirements.

Another example is the historic 1928 Marquette Tower Office Building (formerly the Marquette Hotel) in Cape Girardeau. The iconic building was slated for demolition - much to the dismay of its local residents and businesses. In 2003, Vaughn Prost purchased it to historically restore it with the adaptive reuse and renovation that turned it into offices for the State of Missouri and other private entities. The downtown business area was revitalized by this action, Governor Bob

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

Holden and the town’s Marquette Tower residents were very pleased with the iconic building’s restoration and the Marquette Hotel received the Downtown Cape Historic Award in 2018.

The historic 1898 Haas Office Building in Neosho was on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993 and resided in the Neosho Commercial Historic District. It was purchased to restore the warehouse into a Class “A” office space by The Park Hills Office Building in Park utilizing an adaptive reuse Hills was a newly constructed, designand renovation design required to restore build-lease of a 20,000 square-foot facility the 30,000-square-foot building into unique developed by Prost Builders to house four office space for its tenants in 2005.

State agencies under one roof to serve St. The historic Ballantine Office Building Francois County residents. in Boonville was once a hotel occupied Design-Build-Lease is a great option by riverboat passengers in 1826-1890 and for companies that want a customized is on the National Register of Historic facility to suit their specific needs without Places. The restoration and renovation of having to be involved in the design and the 8,000-square-foot building consisted construction of a new building. Prost of the adaptive reuse and renovation Builders offers full building development into a Class “A” office space for State of Missouri agencies and other private services to those businesses with a vision tenants in 2004. and a viable business plan.

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MARKETING

WHAT THE

A WIN-WIN: BOOST YOUR BRAND AND YOUR IMPACT

ERICA PEFFERMAN President & Owner

By Erica Pefferman erica@comomarketing.co

C

ause-related marketing (CRM) is a strategic approach that has gained tremendous momentum in the business world over the past few decades. This marketing strategy involves a partnership between a for-profit company and a nonprofit organization, where a portion of the company’s sales or profits is donated to support a social or environmental cause.

The power of cause-related marketing lies in its ability to create a win-win situation for both businesses and the charitable causes they support.

First and foremost, cause-related marketing enhances a company’s brand image and reputation. By aligning themselves with a specific cause, businesses demonstrate their commitment to making a positive impact on society. This association can boost consumer trust and loyalty, as many customers prefer to support companies that actively engage in philanthropic activities. In a world where corporate social responsibility is increasingly important to consumers, CRM provides a valuable tool for building a positive brand identity.

Moreover, CRM can lead to increased sales and customer acquisition. Customers are more likely to make a purchase when they know that a portion of their spending will go towards a cause they care about.

This incentive can attract new customers and encourage existing ones to make repeat purchases. In fact, numerous studies have shown that consumers are willing to pay a premium for products or services associated with a charitable cause, making it a win for both the business and the nonprofit partner.

Additionally, cause-related marketing can generate significant media attention and public relations opportunities. When a company initiates a CRM campaign, it

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

WTBPK - COMO Marketing often garners media coverage and social media buzz. This publicity not only spreads awareness about the cause being supported but also showcases the company’s commitment to making a positive impact.

As a result, CRM can help businesses stand out in a competitive market and gain a competitive edge.

Cause-related marketing also has the potential to motivate employees and boost their morale. When employees see that their company is actively involved in social or environmental causes, it can increase their job satisfaction and engagement. Many companies encourage their employees to participate in CRM campaigns or volunteer for the chosen nonprofit, fostering a sense of pride and shared purpose within the organization.

Furthermore, CRM offers businesses a unique opportunity to address societal issues in a meaningful way. Companies can leverage their resources and expertise to make a tangible difference in areas such as education, healthcare, environmental conservation, poverty alleviation, and more.

This proactive approach to corporate social responsibility can have a far-reaching and positive impact on the world.

However, it’s essential for companies to approach cause-related marketing with authenticity and transparency. Consumers are becoming increasingly discerning, and they can quickly see through insincere or opportunistic attempts at philanthropy.

A successful CRM campaign requires a genuine commitment to the cause, clear communication with consumers about the impact of their purchases, and a transparent disclosure of the financial contributions made to the nonprofit partner.

In conclusion, the power of cause-related marketing cannot be overstated. It provides a unique opportunity for businesses to give back to society while simultaneously benefiting their bottom line. By aligning themselves with meaningful causes and promoting these partnerships effectively, companies can enhance their brand image, increase sales, attract and retain customers, boost employee morale, and make a positive impact on the world. In an era where corporate responsibility is paramount, cause-related marketing stands as a powerful tool for businesses seeking to create a positive and lasting legacy in both the market and society.

CBT

A S S E E N ONLINE

‘It’s a Good Day for MU’ Reactor facility expansion is the next move in ongoing cancer research and treatment.

BY J O D I E JAC KS O N J R

M

ore than 1.5 million cancer patients benefit from medical isotopes produced at the MU Research Reactor (MURR) each year, and those benefits are expected to multiply exponentially with a 47,000-square-foot addition to the facility.

MURR is already the most powerful university research reactor in the United States, operating at 10 megawatts, 24 hours a day, 6.5 days a week, 52 weeks a year.

Gov. Mike Parson, UM President Mun Choi, and Matt Sanford, MURR executive director, were among the state and local officials on hand Monday, October 2, for an official groundbreaking ceremony, although the construction project was already under way. The $20 million, three-story addition, known as MURR West, will expand the research center’s production and laboratory space. MURR produces radioisotopes used in drugs to fight four kinds of cancer.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (center) laughs with Michael Williams, chair of the University of Missouri Board of Curators during the ceremonial groundbreaking for a $20 million addition to the MU Research Reactor facility.

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“The new MURR West facility will drive even more research and development that will improve and save lives,” Choi said.

“Th is facility will significantly increase radioisotope productions to treat citizens of Missouri and the nation.”

UM Board of Curators Chair Michael Williams said MURR is the only facility in the country that produces four medical isotopes used in lifesaving treatments for liver, thyroid, pancreatic, and prostate cancer.

“Th is new addition expands our ability to improve the lives of Missourians and patients around the country,” Williams said.

The expansion, scheduled for completion in fall 2024, will also enable more collaboration with industry partners and will provide additional space for a growing workforce.

A news release that outlined the project said the first floor will provide 16,000 square feet for research initiatives, medical isotope production, and collaborative projects with researchers at MU and industry partners. The second and third floors provide space for employees currently working in temporary buildings, manufacturing support, research and development, regulatory documents and records, and shell space for future expansion.

Sanford said the MURR West addition is just one step in the university’s plan to grow and meet the increasing demand for radiopharmaceuticals. He said construction of a second, stateof-the-art reactor in the next eight to 10 years at the Discovery Ridge research area will further add to MURR’s research and isotope production capabilities.

“I’ve seen a number of investments and improvements, but this is by far the most substantial to date,” Sanford said, reflecting on MURR’s growth and progress. He was quick to credit the research and reactor team, many of whom lined the shaded outside of MURR to view the ceremony and ribbon cutting.

Others remained in the facility.

“They are making medical isotopes right now as we speak,” Sanford noted, adding that those components would be “on the road later this evening and into hospitals and patients later this week.”

He continued, “I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished here and more excited for what the future holds. And we are just at the beginning of a new era in the fight against cancer. Thanks to the research that is happening here, and the development of lifesaving medical isotopes again currently being produced inside and as the world’s most important university research reactor and the production of medical isotopes, we have a duty to continue reaching that need.”

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A S S E E N ONLINE

Sanford explained that the expansion is “mission critical” to MURR and the next step toward a new reactor that has already been dubbed NextGen MURR. He said that reactor will be “a larger and more powerful tool to expand our leadership in the nuclear sciences and research in medical isotope production.”

Choi next stepped to the microphone and pointed to the MURR staff gathered in the shade, calling for them to step from the shadows “to be recognized because your work is so important not only for Missourians, but for citizens throughout United States and the world.”

“At this facility, we’re going to be expanding the partnerships that not only enable the research and education, but also partnerships with industry so that we can develop the next lifesaving treatment right here in this facility in the middle of Missouri,” Choi added.

Williams said Monday’s event was an ideal example of how the Board of Curators makes decisions.

“How do we decide what we should do?” he said. “Th is is an easy one. Is it good for our students, faculty and staff ? Is it good for our state and is it good for our country? Th is touches all those boxes. Th is was an easy decision to say, ‘Yes, we want to take not only the fi rst step, but let’s prepare for the second and the third step.’”

Parson told the event audience that when he became governor and met Choi for the first time, they toured the reactor together.

“I remember that conversation and you telling me how important this was not only for MU and the state of Missouri, but frankly, for the world,” Parson said. He also noted Choi’s statement about increasing MURR’s ability to deliver vital medicine to other locations without patients having to come to where the medicine is.

“And I think that was one of the proudest things that I learned about the reactor, of what all it does, just not for us, but people will never see, people we’ll never know,” Parson said. “And it’s right here in Missouri. It’s right here in Columbia … And if we can do that and we can touch people in society, all over the world, it’s a good day for Missouri. It’s a good day for MU.” In an interview after the official ceremony, Sanford explained how medicine isotopes work.

“Th ink of the radioisotope as a magic bullet that is carried to the cancer cell,” he said, emphasizing that medical isotopes are “much more targeted” than chemotherapy.

“Th is is precision health medicine that carries the radioactive treatment directly to the cancer cell without damaging the healthy cells.”

MURR provides the active pharmaceutical ingredient that is shipped to the drug manufacturer, where it is formulated into the fi nal drug product. The drug is administered intravenously. and carried through the bloodstream directly to the cancer cell. CBT

This story was originally published at comobusinesstimes.com on October 4, 2023.

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Celebrating Business and Nonprofit Partnerships

BY MAT T MCCORMI CK

OUR COMMUNITY IS FORTUNATE to have both excellent nonprofit organizations and businesses committed to giving back. Together, our businesses and nonprofits have formed incredible partnerships that have yielded great benefits for Columbia and mid-Missouri.

Many of our businesses give generously to the initiatives of local nonprofit organizations; some have even created foundations specifically for the purpose of advancing causes that are close to their hearts and the mission of their business.

Other organizations allow their employees paid time off to volunteer in the community throughout the year, providing incentive to their teams to lend a helping hand to nonprofit organizations and create deeper connections to Columbia.

Additionally, the leaders of our businesses give freely of their time and expertise by serving on the boards of nonprofits. These generous gifts of time, talent, and treasure provided by our businesses and their employees allow Columbia’s amazing nonprofits to multiply their impact on the people and causes they serve.

In our role as a convener of inclusive collaboration, the Chamber has also been proud to partner with our nonprofit organizations on initiatives that advance the growth and flourishing of Columbia. Most recently, our Chamber took more than 70 business and community leaders on a Leadership Visit trip to Madison, Wisconsin. Each year we take a group to visit a different community and learn from their successful programs and initiatives in areas of interest to Columbia.

For our 2023 visit, we focused a significant amount of our time on Madison’s successes in finding effective and compassionate solutions to the city’s challenges with the unsheltered population.

During our trip, we met with Madison’s municipal officials as well as nonprofit leaders working in this space.

In addition to the many business leaders on our trip, we were pleased to have quite a few executive directors of our nonprofits in attendance, particularly those who are working on solutions to homelessness in our own community. The Chamber and its partners were able to provide scholarship funds for five people to attend the trip free of charge, opening up opportunities for our nonprofit leaders who might not otherwise have been able to afford this experience. This type of trip represents an

important opportunity for our business leaders to work together with nonprofits to meet the challenges of our day.

It's our hope that the conversations started on the Leadership Visit will continue in the coming months and years among civic and community leaders, business owners, and nonprofit champions.

We are proud to provide a space where people from across our community can come together and discuss partnerships and projects that will create lasting change in Columbia.

Our business community needs the crucial work of our nonprofits, and vice versa, in order for everyone to achieve maximum impact. Together, we can continue to make Columbia and Boone County a safe, equitable, and thriving place for all of our residents. CBT

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

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THE IMPACT ISSUE 2023

C BT | GUE ST VOIC E S

What Does it Take to Finance a Home in Columbia?

BY BR IAN TOOHEY

HOMES IN COLUMBIA have undergone massive price appreciation. The median price of a single-family home in the city limits of Columbia increased by 50 percent from 2017 to 2022, up to $300,000. Some financial news outlets are now predicting Columbia will see the highest home appreciation in the country over the next 10 years, pushing the median price of homes in Columbia well above the national average. Currently, Columbia’s median home price is $20,000 below the national median home price.

From experiencing so much price appreciation in Columbia, what does it take to buy and finance a home in our area?

First, you will need a credit score of a minimum of 580 to qualify for most types of mortgages, but the closer your credit score is to 580, the higher the down payment may be and the interest rate a buyer will pay. Most loans require a minimum credit score of 600.

You also need a debt-to-income ratio, including your new mortgage payment, of typically 43 percent or less.

A buyer’s down payment will vary based on the type of loan they qualify for, and it has become the biggest hurdle for new homebuyers as homes keep getting more expensive. The median-priced single-family home in 2023 in Columbia has been as high as $330,000.

To qualify for a conventional loan, a buyer must put down 20 percent of the purchase price — around $66,000 — and closing costs.

First-time homebuyers or anyone who hasn’t owned a home for three years are eligible to qualify for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans. First-time buyers can pay as little as 3.5 percent for a down payment. A typical first-time buyer will have a purchase price of less than the median price, but if they did purchase a median-price home, their down payment would be around $11,500. In addition, they’ll have a higher monthly payment of their loan balance and additional fees associated with FHA loans.

Other mortgages allow buyers to finance 100 percent of their mortgage, such as Veterans Administration (VA) loans and Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans. VA loans are only available to U.S. military veterans, while USDA loans are only eligible for properties outside municipalities. In addition, some buyers can qualify for down payment assistance to help bridge the gap to help them qualify for a mortgage they could not own on their own.

Through the housing programs division, the city of Columbia also has additional affordable housing assistance programs offering forgivable loans for down payment assistance for low- to medium-income buyers.

Homeownership costs in Columbia continue to increase because of price appreciation. The rate of home value appreciation in Columbia is estimated to triple compared to the national average percentage. Unfortunately, that will make home affordability difficult for first-time homebuyers who need a stronger financial position than in the past. This is on top of mortgage rates now up to 8 percent or more, a 25 percent increase for 2023, and a 130 percent increase since the beginning of 2022, taking interest paid on a median-price home from $168,000 to over $430,000 for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. CBT

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

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Justice for All Mid-Missouri Legal Services gives a voice to those who need an advocate in legal matters.

BY MICHELLE TERHUNE

“

Courts exist to do justice, to guarantee liberty, to enhance social order, to resolve disputes, to maintain rule of law, to provide for equal protection, and to ensure due process of law.” That description comes from the National Center for State Courts.

But what happens when people cannot access and navigate the court system because the cost of doing so is unaffordable? Attorneys, fi ling fees, service fees, and other costs add up, and that expense can impact someone’s ability to have their day in court. Providing full access to civil courts regardless of ability to pay is at the heart of the mission of Mid-Missouri Legal Services (MMLS).

A CIVIL ACTION MMLS assists clients in eight broad categories of civil law, including consumer law, domestic violence and family law, expungement of criminal records, elder law, employment law, and legal matters related to healthcare, public benefits, and housing.

Kirsten Dunham, an attorney and executive director of MMLS, clarifies that the organization doesn’t assist with criminal matters. Those are handled by the public defender’s office in Boone County and in the other 10 mid-Missouri counties MMLS serves. Nonetheless, the organization’s representation of clients in civil matters impacts the entire community.

“At legal aid, we help provide safety and stability,” Dunham says. “In family law, in particular, we help individuals separate safely from their abuser and help individuals get their kids away from an abuser.

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THE IMPACT ISSUE 2023

A Mid-Mo Legal Services attorney and client meeting.

It’s a very fundamental need to have safety and protect your children. That’s powerful work our attorneys do every day.”

“We also provide stability in terms of housing stability by preventing evictions and financial stability by helping people

with accessing public benefits they’re entitled to and reducing debts as a result of predatory lending and unfair and deceptive practices by lenders,” she says. “These help our clients have more income to meet their family’s needs.”

NO NPR O F IT UPDAT E

“Attorneys who come to Mid-Missouri Legal Services are interested in helping people who don’t have anywhere else to turn.”

Mid-Mo Legal Services attorneys at the courthouse.

KIRSTE N DUNHAM, AT TOR N EY EXECUTIVE DI RECTOR OF MMLS

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Mid-Missouri Legal Services MIS SI ON

Mid-Missouri Legal Services (MMLS) provides f ree legal services in civil matters to low-income people, domestic and sexual violence survivors, and other vulnerable populations in central Missouri. MMLS seeks to expand access to justice despite the encumbrances of poverty.

FOUNDE D

1978 B OARD ME MBE RS

• Arvids V. Petersons, Esq., president • Hannah Milster, vice president • Kristin Arnold, secretary • Irene Karns, Esq., treasurer • Jordan Ault, Esq. • Joan Chenault • Glen R. Ehrhardt, Esq. • LaShonda Eniade • Ben Faber, Esq. • Derek Hux, Esq. • Amanda Landrum, Esq. • Christina Jackson • Rigel Oliveri, Esq. • Michael Pryor • Deborah Riekhof, Esq. • Tanya Teegarden • Teralyn Williams • Philip Wooldrige, Esq. • Kirsten Dunham, Esq., executive director

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THE IMPACT ISSUE 2023

NO NPROF IT UPDAT E

The need in Columbia and throughout mid-Missouri is vast. Moreover, legislative policies and events like the pandemic increase demand in certain areas. Changes in eligibility for public benefits, pandemic-related unemployment benefits, and new laws related to the expungement of certain criminal records bring more people to the door seeking help.

Unfortunately, some who come knocking must be turned away. In 2022, MMLS handled 884 cases. Some were advisory cases, but 30 percent of the cases involved extended representation in settlement negotiations, court trials, or administrative hearings which all take a substantial amount of time to prepare for and execute.

ATTORNEYS WANTED MMLS has full-time attorneys on staff and can’t find the lawyers it needs to fi ll open positions. Even private law fi rms are feeling the talent crunch. Law school enrollments are down and the number of those retiring or otherwise leaving the profession is up.

In addition to staff attorneys, MMLS relies heavily on private attorneys willing to tackle cases pro bono and those who can receive a modest fee through its Judicare program.

“Our private attorneys are very important to our ability to extend our resources,” Dunham says. “When you look at the unmet legal need and the number of people going without legal assistance for their issues, there’s no way we have the resources to meet those needs without the help of private attorneys.”

Most attorneys who agree to do work for MMLS without payment are involved in one of the organization’s clinics, such as the uncontested divorce clinic. Attorneys don’t make court appearances for clients, but they counsel clients and provide them with all the resources and information they need to confidently represent themselves in the process.

The “Champions of MMLS” fund the work of the organization. Legal Services Corporation, the state of Missouri, Missouri Lawyer Trust Account Foundation, Missouri Bar and Missouri Bar Founda-

tion, Heart of Missouri United Way, United Way of Callaway County, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Boone County Bar Association, and private donors provide funding via grants and donations.

Still, lawyers are the backbone of the organization’s ability to serve its clients.

Whether they’re on staff or volunteer for MMLS, their reward isn’t monetary.

“I think that all attorneys are using their law degree to help their clients. That’s what we’re there for, to be an advocate for our clients,” says Dunham. “But attorneys who come to Mid-Missouri Legal Services are interested in helping people who don’t have anywhere else to turn: People who have lost faith in the justice system because they haven’t been able to access any kind of legal services; people who have maybe never been listened to and their legal aid attorney is the fi rst person who has ever really listened to them and taken their concerns and issues seriously. I think it’s that reward that attorneys who work with us feel because they’re making a difference by helping people.”

REMOVING THE PRICE TAG ON SAFETY AND STABILITY Durham continues, “Certainly, at legal aid, we’re there to be advocates for clients and to help get the best outcomes for them. Our work does have a community impact.”

It’s likely that the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who tackled some pro bono cases for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) more than a decade before she was named to the U.S. Supreme Court, would agree. She said: “If you want to be a true professional, you will do something outside yourself. Something to repair tears in your community. Something to make life a little better for people less fortunate than you.” CBT

MID-MISSOURI LEGAL SERVICES 117 N. Garth Avenue 573-442- 0116 mmls.org

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Depending on the day I am a big picture thinker, strategist, community advocate, coach, confidant, finance manager, or yes, even janitor.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND:

I’ve worked in nonprofit organizations since I was 18. I’ve gained critical experiences at Wonderland Camp, Adventure Club, TSPA Grant Writing Program, First Chance for Children, and so many others that shaped my passion for partnering with our community and sharpened my skills to build nonprofits. While working full-time my entire college career, I received a Bachelors in Social Work, Masters in Public Affairs - Nonprofit Management, and am currently working on a PhD in social work. In the last decade, I’ve worked at all levels of organizations from frontline staff, program management, and the executive director.

Today I run Partner for Better, a nonprofit consulting firm focused on creating nurturing spaces for learning that builds the wholeness of individuals, nonprofits, and communities.

My team of co-conspirators helps organizations with funding strategy, grant writing, program evaluation, reducing burnout, coaching, strategic planning, and so much more.

HOMETOWN:

Camdenton, MO. Home of the Lakers. Fun fact, they didn’t have a football mascot until a few years ago, and now it’s just some cartoon hulked out football player. Seriously, look it up.

Photo by Anthony Jinson | Books sourced by Skylark Bookshop 34

THE IMPACT ISSUE 2023

PE R S O N YO U S HOULD KNOW

YEARS LIVED IN COLUMBIA: 11 QUOTE YOU LIVE BY: “Actually I can.”

It’s in glitter lettering on a cheesy coffee mug my dad got me for Christmas when I was in undergrad. I use this as a daily affirmation. Some of the more consistent ways I use it are "Actually I can ...": • show up for myself and others.

• do the hard thing.

• invite others to the table (and bring them a chair).

• hold space for discomfort.

• be kind, especially when it’s challenging.

• make time for creativity and fun.

• question the status quo.

FAVORITE VOLUNTEER/COMMUNITY

everything else. What sets us apart is our dedication to empowering nonprofits with evidence-based strategies while also promoting rest, well-being, and joy in the workplace.

We believe that true transformation happens when organizations are not only efficient and effective but also compassionate, inclusive, and fun. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?

IF YOU WEREN’T DOING THIS FOR A LIVING, YOU WOULD: A professional artist. I actually have most of a bachelor's degree in art/ceramics and spend a lot of time creating in my free time. In my next life, I’ll be a famous artist and write million dollar checks to nonprofits.

WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR PROFESSION: This

FAVORITE RECENT PROJECT: In the last six months, my team has written and secured over $6 million in federal, city, and state grant funding for midMissouri nonprofits.

is a secret I’m not supposed to share. Consultants aren't walking encyclopedias of all nonprofit knowledge. We're more like architects, crafting innovative solutions with a sprinkle of passion, a dash of data, and a whole lot of creativity, helping organizations discover their unique path to success.

A COLUMBIA BUSINESS PERSON

YOUR NEXT PROFESSIONAL GOAL:

ACTIVITY: Teaching Columbia Art

League kids summer classes!

YOU ADMIRE AND WHY: Ann

Merrifield. She is who I want to be when I grow up. To me, Ann exemplifies what it means to be a leader. She never stops learning, is always building community and is lifting others up. She is a community advocate, volunteer, and leads Big Brothers Big Sisters.

WHY YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR JOB: Because I’m doing

important work and have an incredible team that supports me in showing up as my authentic self. I have the privilege of helping good organizations across the country do their best work.

WHY YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR COMPANY: We get to make

up the rules and put our values above

Oh, I'm really excited about this one.

We are starting a nonprofit arm of Partner for Better, called The Do Good Collective. We will provide grants, free classes, and sliding scale rates for local nonprofits. More on that in 2024.

BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED IN BUSINESS: Relationships and kindness

are everything. As they say, “if you want to go fast, go it alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

HOW YOU WANT TO IMPACT THE COLUMBIA COMMUNITY: My mission

is to dismantle barriers, encourage collaboration, and promote restorative practices so that every individual and organization finds the support they need to flourish.

GREATEST STRENGTH: My greatest

strength is the incredible network of people around me and the support they provide. They encourage and challenge me. Their collective wisdom and belief in me makes me a better human.

GREATEST WEAKNESS: I have a deep

passion for social change, and while this fuels my work, it also occasionally makes it challenging to step back and find the balance needed for sustainable progress. This is one reason why I’m such an advocate for rest and fun.

WHAT YOU DO FOR FUN: I love

learning, especially if that learning means enjoying new food or culture. In Columbia, you can find me at Ragtag, The Mother Farm, or curled up with a book from Yellow Dog. I also spend a lot of time traveling, and most of my trips are planned around hikes and food. Ask me about my taco obsession.

FAMILY: My husband, Max, and I have

been married three years and have family all across the U.S. We have a pair of elderly pets with big personalities — an 8-year-old Australian shepherd and a 13-year-old Russian blue.

FAVORITE PLACE IN COLUMBIA:

The MKT trail.

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT YOU: I create and sell art with my sister,

Abby, and her business 1030 Creations.

ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF: I was 22 when I became the interim executive director of First Chance for Children. I had a lot of experience for being so young, and what I lacked in experience I made up for in tenacity and audacity. I learned how to be a good leader by making a lot of mistakes and being willing to try things that might not work. I’m so proud of my time with First Chance and all we accomplished. CBT COMOBUSINESSTIMES.COM

35

We make families.

You can help us make more families!

Scan the QR code to donate through CoMoGives!

columbia2ndchance.org • 660-882-5050 • 24687 Highway 179, Boonville, MO 65233 • PO Box 10186 Columbia 65205

36

THE IMPACT ISSUE 2023

THE

Funding FORMULA NAP and YOP credits help boost nonprofits, but local leaders say individual donations are still key to success.

BY JODIE JACKSON JR

How many diapers will $1,483.28 buy?

That’s one question that helps illustrate how Columbia nonprofits strive to make every dollar count, no matter how big or small the donation is. And the answer — that amount buys up to one month of diapers for 20 infants — provides vital perspective on the continued need for businesses and individuals to become ongoing donors for Columbia’s nonprofit organizations.

Small dollar donations and individual donors still make up the majority of giving to Columbia’s more than 150 nonprofits that provide service and fundraising for a bevy of causes and supplies, from foster care and art and culture to diapers and job training, budget training initiatives and a variety of social programs.

Businesses also have donation opportunities that can translate to tax credits, letting those entities claim from 50 to 70 percent of donations over $500 against their state income tax liabilities. Those credits come via the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) and Youth Opportunities Program (YOP) that a number of local nonprofits offer.

And as the diaper example demonstrates, the needs are growing even as donors are being pinched by inflation and economic uncertainty.

First Chance for Children (FC4C) is a case in point. Executive Director

38

THE EDUCATION IMPACT ISSUE ISSUE 20232023

Gay Littiken said the local nonprofit began distributing diaper packs to families in need four years ago, ending that year with a total distribution of 7,000 diaper packs. Th is year, the diaper pack program — one of FC4C’s four target areas — is on a trajectory to give out 28,000 diaper packs.

Littiken was a guest at the October 23 Columbia Kiwanis Club of Missouri meeting, where the club presented checks for $1,483.28 to both Coyote Hill and First Chance for Children. The funds were an even split of the proceeds of the Kiwanis Kutest Kritter Kontest. (COMO Magazine was the social media sponsor for the fundraiser.)

The Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) awarded Littiken’s organization with $111,250 in NAP tax credits through May 2024, with about $70,000 in tax credits remaining.

“Obviously, we’re pushing that right now as we end the year because it’s just a good opportunity to make a donation and then have 50 percent of those tax credits,” she says.

NAP credits are designed to help implement community or neighborhood projects that will strengthen economic development, funding projects in the categories of job training, education, crime prevention, community services, and physical revitalization.

Other recent Columbia and Boone County NAP credit recipients include: Coyote Hill, Harrisburg, $348,415 in available credits for donors Coyote Hill will use the NAP credits to expand its foster care services program.

The program gives foster families additional support via family nurture groups, life skills training, education enrollment program, community groups, and respite facilitation.

The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri, Columbia, $250,000 The funds will help provide food to people experiencing food insecurity across 32 counties and serve as part of a regional disaster relief network.

Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopment, Columbia, $231,967 The credits will help raise funding toward expanding services to support the growth of comprehensive clinical and research services and improving access for at-risk children and families at the Thompson Center.

Other local NAP credit awards included: • Central Missouri Stop Human Trafficking Coalition: $41,906.

• Child Abuse & Neglect Emergency Shelter Inc. (Rainbow House): $200,000.

• City of Refuge: $241,753.

• First Chance for Children: $111,250.

• Grade A Plus Incorporated: $30,103.

• In2Action: $95,002.

• Job Point: $135,000.

• Love Columbia Corp.: $500,000.

• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mid-Missouri: $250,000.

• Voluntary Action Center: $249,9978.

COMOBUSINESSTIMES.COM

39

“It’s a win-win.

You’re creating a relationship and you’re a part of something that’s helping your community — and creating a wonderful social impact for your community.”

— T R E N T R A S H , E X E C U T I V E D I R E C TO R OF THE MISSOURI SYMPHONY SOCIET Y

Coyote Hill was also awarded $199,618 in YOP tax credits for 2023 to benefit the organization’s equine-assisted activities program, which is offered to all at-risk children in the mid-Missouri area, with an emphasis on teaching children coping skills and emotional health intelligence skills.

Boy and Girls Clubs of the Columbia Area also received $200,000 in YOP tax credits to offer in 2023. Funds raised via the YOP credits will provide after school and summer enrichment programs to Columbia and the surrounding Boone County area. Those programs focus on communication, academic skill building, problem-solving, literacy, self-expression, emotional intelligence, physical and mental wellbeing, decision-making skills, and job readiness.

In 2022, Job Point used NA credits to complete bathroom renovations, with a majority of the work donated by Coil Construction as an in-kind contribution. NAP also helped with replacing HVAC units, and the replacement of ceiling tiles and energy efficient lighting fi xtures. The space is used to provide occupational skills training to prepare participants for employment in the health care and construction industries.

On a national scale, nonprofit organizations report a decrease in individual and smaller donations, which some groups cite as one result of the increase in the standard deduction that taxpayers may claim on their federal income taxes. In other words, the increase in that deduction could mean there’s less incentive to make donations that in previous years might be claimed when itemizing deductions to gain the most favorable tax rate or refund.

Littiken doesn’t think the standard deduction increase has stymied giving to FC4C. And for businesses and corporations, the NAP and YOP credits are still good options, and Littiken and her team do all of the work on fi ling the needed forms for donors. She adds, “We make the process as easy as possible.”

Columbia’s nonprofit and fundraising community is unique in that most organizations and donors seek out shared missions and interests, which leads to relationships. And that’s the key to sustainability, says Trent Rash, executive director of the Missouri Symphony Society (MOSY).

With more than 150 nonprofits vying for contributions, Rash says “corporate dollars are already spread a little thin.”

“We’ve been around for 53 years so we’ve certainly seen Columbia change in many ways,” he adds, noting that there certainly are more arts organizations than the number that existed when MOSY was founded in 1970. MOSY continues to build connections with corporate sponsors but is focusing more energy on connecting with individual donors who are “mission-driven.”

“It’s all about the relational aspect; not the transaction,” Rash explains. “It can be really easy when you’re working with corporate sponsorship for it to be transactional. ‘Hey, can I have money,’ ‘here’s your money …’ but we want to build a real relationship and a sustainable connection with that person, so that you can have them as a donor for many, many years.”

Sarah Leonard, senior associate at New Chapter Coaching, which has a lengthy client base of local nonprofits, smiled as Rash described the relational versus transaction dynamic.

“It’s like he’s replaying conversations we’ve probably had and I’m sure he’s had with other folks,” Leonard says. “How do we connect people to the impact that we're trying to have on the community, the changes they're trying to make to improve lives — all the ways we're working to make our communities better.” Building a relationship that's rooted in those shared interests and values helps create an ongoing donor base, she adds.

Rash adds, “It’s a win-win. You’re creating a relationship and you’re a part of something that’s helping your community — and creating a wonderful social impact for your community.”

Leonard continues, “Those are the relationships that will sustain our organizations and institutions.”

Whether influenced or motivated by tax credits, Rash says it will be individual donors who help local nonprofits meet their needs.

“If you have told your story and they want to be a part of it, and they want to give to that, they’re going to do it regardless” of the tax implications, Rash adds. “For most people, if we’re doing our jobs, they’re going to be committed to giving.” CBT

COMOBUSINESSTIMES.COM

41

C BT | GUEST VOICES

Catalysts for Community

BY MEGAN STEEN , MBA , LCS W

LIVING IN COLUMBIA, it’s not unusual to hear people reference how fortunate we are to live in such a resource-rich community.

Similar to how people who live in surrounding areas travel to Columbia for shopping, entertainment, education and healthcare, many also come here for help with basic needs. Our community helps people secure food, housing, and healthcare and also supports arts and culture organizations that lift the soul of our community. The very definition of nonprofit organizations as being those whose “mission and purpose further a social cause and provide public benefit” reinforces their importance to the fabric of our community.

Through the lens of my role at a community behavioral health organization, I have the opportunity to work across multiple communities, and can honestly say there is no other city in mid-Missouri as fortunate as Columbia to have the volume of resources and support available through mission-driven nonprofit organizations.

As a social worker by training, I’ve had the unique lens of interacting with many of our nonprofit organizations in various ways — working directly as a paid employee; helping individuals access resources through other organizations; volunteering as an unpaid board member providing oversight; volunteering time and resources as a committee member or volunteer for events; or attending local fundraising events. I am grateful for all the ways in which I have had the opportunity to interact with these unique organizations and see the passion and commitment they have to their missions and the individuals they serve.

Social determinants of health are the conditions in the environments where people

are born, live, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.

Public sector resources alone do not have the capacity or scope to create equity and decrease disparities across communities.

This is where partnerships between the public and private sectors can work to improve conditions in communities. Nonprofit organizations are uniquely suited as partners to fill these gaps with their knowledge of communities, mission-driven approach, and strengths to serve communities together. As Columbia grows, these partnerships become even more essential to a sustainable and thriving community.

A positive trend I have seen over recent years has been the welcoming of nonprofit

organizations as equal and important members of the business community. Just because an organization qualifies for tax-exempt status with the IRS and distributes its profits back into furthering the advancement of its mission and organization does not make them “less than” business entities.

Nonprofits are one of the driving forces within communities, and they support not only economic growth and opportunity, but civic engagement and leadership opportunities for community members. This indirect impact on Columbia is just as important for our community to thrive as the direct impact for the individuals who are served through the various nonprofits we are so fortunate to have as part of the fabric of our diverse and passionate community. CBT

Megan Steen, MBA, LCSW, is the Regional Chief Operating Officer of Brightli’s Central Region, which includes Burrell Behavioral Health.

42

THE IMPACT ISSUE 2023

CBT

WHAT ’ S G OING UP?

What’s Going Up?

BY JODIE JAC KSON JR

COLUMBIA APPLIANCE IS BUILDING an 11,289-square-foot warehouse at 1801 Heriford Drive. The new freestanding, one-story structure is just a half mile from the business’s main location at 1805 Westfall Drive.

The new building, located just east of Columbia Honda has a valuation of $1.56 million, according to the building permit issued by the city’s building and site development office in March 2023. Russ Palmer, sales manager at Columbia Appliance, said the structure will provide more warehouse space for the local business. Oakridge Contractors LLC is the general contractor for the project.

The project is visible from I-70 to the north between the Providence and Rangeline exits.

Meanwhile, Columbia’s building and site development office issued 182 building permits in September 2023, totaling a valuation of $47,668,934.

September’s building permit total includes: • Commercial (new), 1, valuation $14.14 million.

• Commercial (alteration), 13, valuation $3.46 million.

• Commercial (addition/renovation), 1, valuation $14.66 million.

• Single family residential, 21, valuation $9.91 million.

• Residential (addition), 2, valuation $101,049.

• Residential (alteration), 12, valuation $700,129.

• Townhouses, 5, valuation $1.53 million.

• Re-roof, 118, valuation $3 million.

• Deck, 6, valuation $90,545.

Five more townhouses are going up in the East Campus neighborhood next door to the six that “What’s Going Up?” reported going up in October. All are in Fyfer’s Subdivision and the five additional townhouses are located at 1615 University Avenue. Four of the townhouses there are designed as 2,375-square-foot units, each with a valuation of $327,210. One unit will be 1,350-squarefeet with a value of $224,208.

Photo by Jodie Jackson Jr

Combined with the six townhouses at 1617 University Avenue, the total valuation of both projects is $3.4 million. The permit lists “owner contractor” for the construction.

The top dollar project on the re-roofing list is a new roof and spot replacement of wet insulation for Eurofins BioPharma Product Testing at 4780 Discovery Ridge Drive. The city placed a valuation of $859,263 on the project that lists Centimark Corporation as the contractor.

Broadway Lodging Phase 2 has the green light to begin at 1104 E. Walnut St. The new, 80-room hotel will be behind The Broadway hotel at 1111 E. Broadway. At 73,275 square feet, the project has a valuation of $14.14 million. It will include 7,816 square feet of meeting space.

Two big projects at Columbia Area Career Center at 4203 S. Providence got building permits in September. A commercial addition of 35,000 square feet has a valuation of $14.66 million.

Reinhardt Construction is the general contractor.

A second permit is for renovations to the CACC horticulture building to create two classrooms. The project valuation is $350,000 involving 2,430 square feet. The contractor is Brown & Root Industrial Service.

Among the permits for single family homes, the top-dollar permit lists a valuation of $1.18 million for a 6,363-square-foot house on W. Arrowhead Lake Drive. Anderson Homes is the contractor.

Next up on the price scale: A 6,128-square-foot home on Lightpost Drive at Old Hawthorne. The permit lists a valuation of $825,257.

The U Centre on Turner, a student apartment complex at 625 S. Fourth St. next to the MU campus, will get a pool, spa, and deck replacement. Heintz Pool & Spa is the contractor for the $1.1 million project. CBT Source: Columbia Building and Site Development (como.gov/communitydevelopment/building-site-development/building-permit-reports/)

Something building up in your business? Send us your news at kim@comocompanies.com

COMOBUSINESSTIMES.COM

43

A Community

Giv CoMoGives provides platform for year-end giving.

BY L AU R E N S A B L E F RE IM AN

44

THE IMPACT ISSUE 2023

of

ing T

he Community Foundation of central Missouri was just over two years old when a local resident fi rst referenced a campaign supported by a Community Foundation in Lexington, Kentucky, and suggested that a similar campaign might work in Columbia. Following a bevy of meetings and multiple conversations, the concept was adapted, and, as all seeds that are planted and nurtured do, it germinated and grew into a robust and successful effort to support nonprofits throughout Central Missouri.

In 2013, CoMoGives, operated and produced by the Community Foundation of Central Missouri (CFCM), raised $62,400 for 30 nonprofit organizations in its year-end giving campaign. In its second year, the campaign raised $256,000. Last year, the campaign raised more than $1.9 million for 153 organizations.

“We knew we had something after the end of the second year when we had the biggest percentage jump in the history of the campaign,” says Dr. John D. Baker, CFCM executive director. “That’s when we knew we had something that was going to work.”

What is CoMoGives?

CoMoGives is a service of the CFCM that is dedicated to bolstering community support for local nonprofit organizations at the end of the year. It is not a standalone organization, and it is fully supported and run by CFCM. In fact, CoMoGives was the first online campaign for multiple nonprofits in Missouri, and the concept has since been replicated in St. Louis and Springfield, Baker says.

Though the dates change slightly each year, the campaign always runs the full month of December. This year’s campaign begins on November 28, which is known as Giving Tuesday.

“We have chosen the end of the year because it remains the giving season, as people give donations that may impact their taxes in a certain year by the end of the year,” Baker says. “It also capitalizes on the general spirit of giving in December.”

Prior to the first campaign in 2013, the Community Foundation of Central Missouri contacted a list of nonprofit organizations with the hopes of recruiting their participation. Thirty “brave souls” agreed to take part in the campaign, Baker says.

COMOBUSINESSTIMES.COM COMOBUSINESSTIMES.COM 45 45

TOP TEN DONATION RECIPIENTS FROM 2022 CAMPAIGN 1

City of Refuge

2

The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri

3

"We Always Swing"® Jazz Series

4

Central Missouri Humane Society

5

Room at the Inn

6

VAC Voluntary Action Center

7

Second Chance

8

Ragtag Film Society

9

Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture

10

Local Motion

46

THE IMPACT ISSUE 2023

“Once people saw it worked, the campaign has been self-feeding ever since and the organizations come to us primarily,” Baker says. “There is a simple vetting procedure, we share what's expected of them, and we send an official invitation and instructions. The campaign has grown just by word of mouth.”

In order to take part in CoMoGives, an organization has to be a registered 501 (c)(3) organization and be providing essential services in central Missouri. Organizations are assessed a $350 participation fee, an amount that hasn’t changed since the first campaign. Scholarships are available for organizations that demonstrate that they aren’t able to pay that fee.

“We spend way more on the campaign that we collect in participation fees,” Baker says. “We assess a participation fee and there are very low credit card processing fees through our processor, Commerce Bank, but we don’t hold anything back. One hundred percent of all gifts go to the organization.”

Participating organizations are required to attend meetings where they learn about the mechanics of the campaign, and they are encouraged to actively market the campaign to their supporters. Individuals are also able to start peer-to-peer campaigns where they use their social networks to market their campaigns on behalf of a specific nonprofit.

At the same time, the Community Foundation of Central Missouri conducts a marketing campaign of its own with a yearlong social media presence, web presence, and email campaign.

“We do the essential skeleton marketing of the campaign and the organizations market their participation in the campaign,

which is a key granular marketing piece,” Baker says. “They take their networks and contact lists to share the word about their organization being in the campaign.”

The Facets of Success While success looks different for each organization, last year, over 130 organizations received more than $2,000. For smaller organizations, that amount can be a substantial financial boost.

“I tell the organizations that if you’re a smaller organization and you receive $2,000 or $3,000 in the campaign, you can consider your efforts a success,” Baker says.

“They’ve gained recognition and surpassed the participation fee.”

While some organizations build the CoMoGives campaign into their annual funding process, Baker says the campaign has become vital to Columbia’s nonprofit sector as they build an expectation of income into their annual budget.

In addition to raising key funds, the CoMoGives campaign is also spotlighting the community’s nonprofit assets, and the increased publicity has proven beneficial for many participating organizations.

“Donors are also exposed to 172 other nonprofits, and some of those will catch that donor’s eye,” Baker says. “They will give to that organization as well even though it may not have been their intent, so CoMoGives is also expanding the donor base for nonprofits.”

Last year, Baker says, more than 50 percent of CoMoGives donations to Heart of Missouri CASA were from first-time donors.

“We are trying to educate the community and expose them to the good work that is happening through the nonprofit sector,” he says. “When people are exposed to it, many people want to give to it.”

CoMoGives Challenge Grants In addition to the CoMoGives campaign, the Community Foundation of central Missouri offers different challenge grants each year. This year, $18,000 will be distributed through 23 different challenge grants in 11 categories. The funding for the challenge grants comes out of the CoMoGives budget.

“We are trying to educate the community and expose them to the good work that is happening through the nonprof it sector. When people are exposed to it, many people want to give to it.”

— DR. JOHN D. BAKER

Setting Goals This year’s campaign includes 173 organizations — 20 more than last year. While the majority are located in Columbia, Baker says that nonprofits in Fulton, Jefferson City, Mexico, and Moberly will also take part in the 2023 campaign.

This year’s campaign goal is $2 million, which is the same as last year’s goal. While last year’s campaign just missed the mark, Baker says the goal was set before the stock market drastically dipped and inflation rose.

“We have an aspirational goal out there for how much we think we will get but the donors and organizations might do a great job of marketing and blow past that,” Baker says.

Looking to the Future While the hope is that CoMoGives continues to grow each year, in participating nonprofits, in donors, and in dollars raised, Baker says there is plenty of room for growth.

“Last year donations came from 5,000 individuals, which is 4 percent of the demographic of Columbia residents between the ages of 18 and 75,” he says. “That means there are a lot of people who don’t yet know about the campaign, a lot of people who don’t give to the nonprofit sector, and a lot of headroom in the solicitation of funding and education of the community for the future.”

By educating residents and introducing them to the organizations and the work that is happening throughout Columbia and central Missouri, Baker says he hopes the donor base will continue to grow.

“The greatest need right now is hope.

Hope that the campaign can inspire more people to be more generous so that more of the life-improving services that the nonprofit sector provides can be implemented in central Missouri,” he says. CBT

COMOBUSINESSTIMES.COM

47

C BT | NEW B U S I NE S S L I C E NS E S

New Business Licenses Son of a Gun

Solstice Winds LLC

16 N Ninth St

1805 Dunhill Way

Bar.

RV rental business.

Fosscapes

So Cal Catering

611 Bluff Dale Dr

1401 Illinois Ave

Handyman.

Food trailer.

Posh Threads

Market Ready Realty

118 Cedar Falls Ct

1819 Gordon St

Clothing and accessories sales.

Real estate brokerage, real estate consulting, collections on debts

Safelite Fulfillment Inc

due to company.

#3736 902 Conley Rd

Rooted Soul Integrative

Auto glass repair.

Therapeutic Massage 1000 N College Ave

Lone Peak Construction

Licensed massage therapy

and Removal LLC

services.

1300 E Oakland Church Rd Lutheran Family and Painted Owl Gift

Children’s Services of

Boutique

Missouri

6050 Brown Station Rd

307 Locust St

Gift boutique – offering

Parenting services, behavioral

handmade items from local

health services for children,

columbia makers and artists.

adoption services.

Captain Nemo’s

Fidelity Non-Emergency

1414 Rangeline St

Medical Transportation

Sells scuba equipment and

4508 Fall River Dr

teachs scuba.

Limo - medical transportation.

Seed Trader

Timeless Tastes

307 Lindell Dr

& Creations

Wholesale seed and flower bulb

42 E North Cedar Lake Dr

direct to wholesale farmers.

Mobile food trailer selling bulk candy, treats and misc.

Mahi’s Ethiopian Kitchen

As well as vendor fairs.

14 E Business Loop 70

48

THE IMPACT ISSUE 2023

Catering out of COMO Cooks —

Pro Nail Spa

cooking food at COMO Cooks

2901 W Broadway

for customer delivery.

Nail salon.

Bliss Culture, LLC

After Bite

1406 Subella Dr

2900 Trimble Rd

Yoga services and sell handmade gifts and products.

Food prep and pick up for customers.

404 Portland................................... 50

Central Rental LLC 5311 N Hwy 763

Immortal Art, LLC

Dumpster and equipment

2405 W Ash St

rental company.

Molto

ADVE RTI S ER IND E X

Tattooing.

47 E Broadway

Architectonic

Pop up restaurants inside

Design & Construction

other eateries.

720 W Sexton Rd

Accounting Plus................................21 Anthony Jinson Photography....................................... 3 Columbia Second Chance............36

General contractor.

COMO Marketing............................ 24

Mental health tele-therapy

GEH General

and group meetings.

Construction, LLC

First State Community Bank............................36

REKOOP 3107 Skylark Dr

Notarize It Easy 5671 S Rte K Provide mobile services to notarize documents.

1511 Longwell Dr General contractor.

Hawthorn Bank.................................. 2 Shave Cave 2101 Corona Rd

R.O. Cleaning Co.

Barbershop.

4358 W Bellview Dr Cleaning company – professional cleaning services.

GKR Motor Cars................................51

Heart of Missouri United Way........................................ 14 Impact Support Services.................4

Gracefully Made Boutique, LLC

Studio 104 Barbershop

Online retail of children’s

2101 Corona Rd

clothing & accessories.

Mediacom.......................................... 10 Mid America Bank...........................22

Barbershop.

Joyful Cookie Co.

Shearz N Beardz

Plaza Commercial Realty............. 48

2621 Oakland Ridge Dr

2101 Corona Rd

Cottage law bakery making

Hair salon and barbershop.

Premier Moving & Storage.............................................. 5

Annabelle Michelle -

Prost Builders...................................23

and selling sugar cookies.

Better Together Mental Health, LLC

Pies & Sweet Treats

3610 Buttonwood Dr

11700 E Vemers Ford Rd

Mental health care.

Cottage law bakery. CBT

Taylor’s Commercial Grounds Maintenance.....................................33

COMOBUSINESSTIMES.COM

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

Deeds of Trust Worth at least $706,000.

$10,000,000 SLH Columbia South LLC CFG Bank Lt 1a Rockbridge Sub Blk 9 $10,000,000 SLH Columbia Superstore LLC CFG Bank Lt 501 Liberty Square - Plat 5 $8,580,000 EIG14T O2B MO COLUMBIA BEARFIELD LLC Artes Capital SMA 1 LLC Lt 1a-1 Bearfield Plaza Subdivision Plat 1-B $8,580,000 EIG14T O2B MO COLUMBIA RAINBOW TROUT LLC Artes Capital SMA 1 LLC Lt 1 Quail Creek Plat No 1 $5,000,000 Crown Power & Equipment Co LLC The Central Trust Bank Str 19-49-12 //Ne Sur Bk/ Pg: 994/427 Ff Tract 1 W/ Easements $5,000,000 Vandiver 1500 LLC The Central Trust Bank Lt 4 Curtis Rollins Sub Block 2 The $1,940,000 HBH Holdings LLC The Central Trust Bank Lt 11 South Woods Valley Sub $1,778,250 Hurdle Investments LLC The Central Trust Bank Lt 130 Linkside At Old Hawthorne Plat 2

$1,248,000 Matthew G. Struttmann Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems Inc. Lt 103 Heatherhill Estates Plat 1 $1,100,000 Ashland Rentals LLC Connections Bank Lt 105 Bluegrass South Estates $958,400 Amanda Stephens The Central Trust Bank Lt 26 Highlands Plat 8-A $944,691.78 1801 Nelwood LLC Puffin Holdings LLC Lt 10 Mid Missouri Industrial Park Blk 2 Pt Lts C&D $925,000 Thomas A. Burkett The Bank of Missouri Str 21-47-13 //N Sur Bk/Pg: 5537/87 Ac 20 Ff Tract 3 $805,000 Ryan Christopher Adams First State Community Bank Lt 46 Deerfield Ridge Plat 2 $785,000 Keith Miller The Bank of Missouri Str 19-46-12 //N Sur Bk/Pg: 5347/146 Ac 10 Ff Tr 1d $726,200 Robert F. Smith Trustee The Bank of Missouri Lt 805 Old Hawthorne Plat No 8 $706,643 Dustin Duran Hawthorn Bank Lt 410 Creeks Edge Plat No 4 CBT

Dear Reader,

eyeaside the shiny paint jobs and set to e tim te ria op pr ap an ere November seems is truly about - reflecting on wh son sea e th at wh on s cu fo to s popping photo we are and how we got here. s that led us to where we are ing th of de tu lti mu a e ar ere For the GKR team, th values. Hard work and passion nt rta po im d rte pa im ly mi fa today. Friends and mers that have trusted us to sto cu r ou d An ts. len ta r ou have helped us grow se. er honing our skills and experti rth fu e, lif to ms ea dr eir th bring do what we do. From we y wh d an ly, ar de sh eri ch These are the things we re than cool cars for us. mo ch mu so is it g, nin eve y Monday morning to Frida ection of who we are as refl ect dir a d an d lea to d ou GKR is a lifestyle we are pr are doing exactly what we at th er ind rem t ea gr a is a team. This time of year we are meant to do. aks has a deeper meaning and spe rs, Ca tor Mo R GK , me na ny ’ve Even our compa pursue our passion for cars. We to us ed nc ue infl o wh ose th d to our roots an te. which you can find on our websi shared that story on our blog n as well, in regards to our soo ce un no an to ws ne l coo ly We have some extreme We are truly one of a kind y. nit mu com ing az am is th in plans for the future us as one of the best areas fy rti fo lps he is th pe ho I d an here in Mid-Missouri, to live and play. without saying this month. es go it ink th I rt. po sup e th Thank you everyone for - Tyler Willy

GK R Motor Cars

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