COMO | The Finance Issue 2022

move, and then pivot

What to say about nances in the nancial issue? is year…everything! It’s crazy to me that during COVID, our business (Columbia Marketing Group and COMO Magazine) actually thrived. It wasn’t until this year that we experienced any serious nancial impact from COVID. Partnerships changed. Banking partners changed. Paper prices (if you can even get it) are skyrocketing! Postage prices increased. e cost of doing everything increased as did our commitment to nding a way to still serve our customers and our community.

However, one really good thing came from this. is gave us the opportunity to critically look at what we had and pivot as needed. We dove into our business model in a way that we have been putting o for years. We found ways to innovate and bring much more content to you on a regular basis using our digital properties that aren’t tied to the cost of paper and postage. We are adding new brands and events and have hired sta to help make this happen. Soon, we will even have new o ces.

What I have learned is that while the daily life of a business owner is not unlike a roller coaster, the key is to keep your eyes on the horizon. Learn, pivot, move forward. Our “forward” will include introducing new events for all of our readers. Pets, home renovations, makers, the Titan Awards as well as a conference for small business owners are all being added to the 2023 lineup.

We dove into our business model in a way that we have been putting off for years.

THE COVER

Brad Roling, Market President — Columbia, Mid America Bank

Photo by Anthony Jinson

COMO Magazine is coming out of covid (heck, even long covid) stronger than ever before. I can’t wait to show you what we have in store for you. My baby is growing up.

Photo of the infamous debit card.

Numbers have been digitally blurred — don’t steal my credit!

If this issue taught me anything, it’s that I’m doing everything nancially wrong. HA!

Around 15 years ago, my soon-to-be20-year-old son lost his rst tooth. As I was in the middle of ful lling my tooth fairy duties, with my hand under his pillow to retrieve the tooth, he sits up from a dead sleep and says, “Why are you stealing my tooth fairy money?” I was so ustered, I dropped the tooth and that thing has NEVER been found.

Is that who my children think I am?! Not the one who has loved and protected them since birth, but a tooth fairy money stealer?! HA! Okay sorry, but that story has stuck with me, and I had to share. Moving on. (Kind of.)

At 41 years young, I’m still living in the “treat yourself” mentality, and I just don’t see that ever changing. I’m stuck between “I need to save money,” and “You only live once.”

Maybe someday I’ll jump on the Dave Ramsey train. But for now, I am who I am. I’m more of a swipe-and-pray kind of gal — so much so that I am kind of famous for the current state of my debit card. at thing has been used and abused and it shows. It’s a soldier that’s been through many battles. It’s been lost and left behind but has always pulled through.

My debit card is a conversation starter. No one understands how it still works. Everyone has questions (and concerns) when they see me pull it out. It’s become somewhat of a challenge I WILL WIN. I refuse to replace that thing before its expiration date in January. So close!

I’m stuck between “I need to save money,” and “You only live once.”

Now that I have two children in college and am in the midst of planning my oldest’s wedding — maybe I wish I would have done things a little di erently. Planned a little more. Saved a little more. But we live and learn. And it’s never too late. How lucky are we to live in a community with so many opportunities! is issue is packed full of nancial opportunities. I personally was inspired by Central Bank’s ProsperU program. I now know who should be on my nancial team. So maybe, just maybe, there is hope for me afterall.

I have so many friends who are in the nancial industry, and I am sure you are reading this and cringing. I guess if anyone is interested in a project, you know where to nd me.

Whichever side of “I need to save money,” or “ You only live once,” you nd yourself on, I hope you enjoy this issue. For those savers out there, I am sure this may pique your interest more than the other side. And for the spenders… call me.

I would love to hear from you! What should we talk about in upcoming issues? Feel free to share, Kim@comomag.com.

KIM AMBRA EDITOR

President Erica Pefferman Erica@comomag.com

EDITORIAL

Publisher | Erica Pefferman Erica@comomag.com

Editor | Kim Ambra Kim@comomag.com

Copy Editor | Ryan Shiner

DESIGN

Creative Director | Kate Morrow Kate@comomag.com

Photo Director | Sadie Thibodeaux Sadie@comomag.com

Senior Designer | Jordan Watts Jordan@comomag.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Lana Eklund, Anthony Jinson, Drew Piester, Sadie Thibodeaux

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kim Ambra, Candice Ball, Alicia Belmore, Lauren Sable Freiman, Jules Graebner, Jodie Jackson Jr., Amanda Long, Michelle Terhune, Jennifer Truesdale, Emmi Weiner

Director of Operations

Amy Ferrari Amy@comomag.com

MARKETING

Director of Sales | Charles Bruce Charles@comomag.com

OUR MISSION

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

CONTACT

Business Times Holdings, LLC 18 S. Ninth St. Ste 201, Columbia, MO 65201 (573) 499-1830 comomag.com /wearecomomag @wearecomomag

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Magazines are $5.95 an issue. Subscription rate is $39 for 12 issues for one year or $69 for 24 issues for two years. Subscribe at comomag.com or by phone.

Representing Voices from All Different Walks of Life.

Kris Husted

Senior Content Editor

NPR

Beth

Jacobs Property Management

Morton

Director

Turning Point

Chief Executive Officer

Suzanne Rothwell

President

Advancement Division

College

Megan

President

Burrell

of

of

Nathan Todd

Business

Wende Wagner

WE’LL BE THERE FROM THE START

When you’re ready to commit, Central Bank is there. Whether you’re finally chasing down your dreams and need a loan or are looking for support and guidance to help keep your business afloat, we’re here for you. Our team of business bankers will work with you to find customized solutions to help you reach your goals — and then set new ones. Because that’s how we do business better.

Are you ready for the next chapter in your business? Consult your business banking team today to discover how we do business better.

ROLLING IN WITH BAJA-MIDWEST FUSION

George Nickols is living the dream “slinging tacos” to the masses.

BUILDING HOMES THE RIGHT WAY

Jake Bruton builds to help save the planet and save homeowners money.

HOUSING RELIEF

Boone County awards federal dollars to help stave off evictions.

Photo by Michael Spillers

Beautifying the Community

The Loop showcases local artists and promotes civic pride.

BY EMMI WEINER

The Loop began its street art project back in 2021.

“I went back to my hometown, and I was walking downtown, and they had big art billboards,” said Carrie Gartner, executive director of e Loop. “ ey had lined them up all along this one particular alley and I thought, well, that looks like a great idea.”

e project features works from about 10 artists and graphic designers each year. e works are displayed in parking lots along Business Loop 70 and are visible from the street.

“We've been working a lot with makers and we have so much space and parking lots on the street,” Carrie said. “We felt we could really showcase their work nicely.”

One does not need to go out and seek art; it is part of the everyday landscape, helping build a sense of community.

On July 13, Carrie received a call from artist Chris Foss that his painting was missing from in front of e Senior Center. A community e ort to nd the painting started. Local tech business, Gravity, helped pull security camera footage from local businesses. A Facebook post was made. Dive Bar immediately stepped up.

“Between everyone pulling their camera footage and the photo and Dive Bar doing some heavy-duty sleuthing, by the end of the day we had it back!” Carrie said.

“Our organization is funded mainly through property assessments and sales tax. We get grant funding for various projects,” Carrie said. “Every dollar we receive we pump back into the street.”

e street art project is one of the more visible projects the Loop does, with an allocated budget of $2,000 from the general

budget. Artists are given $700 and designers are given $400 for their contributions e submission period for the project will open in early 2023 for next year's series. From there, the artists are provided with the plywood and a special sealant to create the pieces. Graphic designers get to see their work in print. While artists do not have to be local, most pieces selected are from Columbia residents.

“We love to talk about Columbia as an artistic community,” Carrie said. “Unless we as a community buy art from artists, we are not an artist community, and the artist cannot survive.”

To learn more about the selected artists and the pieces themselves, you can view the project map on The Loop's website at theloopcomo.com.

Money

Central Bank’s ProsperU program helps pave the way to financial wellness.

BY CANDICE BALL PHOTO BY SADIE THIBODEAUX

Whether you’re a college student, working parent, or recent retiree, everyone can bene t from a little help with their nances.

Since June 2019, Central Bank’s ProsperU program has o ered practical nancial assistance and information to individuals and businesses.

ProsperU o ers 1-on-1 consultations and in-person classes on rotating topics such as “College Planning 101” and “Tackling Your Debt.” e program also provides numerous electronic resources, including Zoom meetings and streaming presentations.

ProsperU's mission is to meet community needs. “We were talking about how we could be the best community bank we could possibly be,” Central Bank of Boone County marketing director Mary Wilkerson said.

Her team started brainstorming the best way to o er nancial resources and information where they’re not always readily available, and ProsperU was born.

“For us, the program had to be as accessible as possible, so that people could feel comfortable with getting the information they need,” Mary said. “Even in our wildest dreams of what it could be, the real magic of ProsperU happened because of Sarah Moreau.”

ProsperU director Sarah Moreau said it’s common for people to feel overwhelmed when it comes to getting their nances in order. Additionally, she said it’s natural to be uncomfortable about asking for guidance.

“ at’s kind of the big thing about ProsperU,” she said. “Meeting people where they are. We make mistakes. So what? When you know better, you do better. It’s about progress, not perfection, when it comes to your nances.”

Sadie ibodeaux, photo director at COMO Magazine, knows the feeling.

“I had started taking a hard look at my nances, and I realized that I wanted to be saving more, and I didn’t really know how to do that. People have always said ‘just make a budget, just make a budget,’"

- Sarah Moreau, ProsperU Director

she said. "So I listed all my expenses, but I didn’t know what to do past that.” Sadie had heard good things about ProsperU, so she decided to give it a shot.

Sadie emailed Sarah to explain her predicament and schedule an appointment to meet. While she wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the program, Sadie says she's been pleasantly surprised with her experience.

“It’s just blown my mind. Sarah helps me look at money di erently. I’m in my second month of actively budgeting, so it hasn’t been that long, but she immediately changed my perspective on money and helped me set up a budget in EveryDollar.”

Sadie agreed the power of ProsperU lies in large part with its director.

“Sarah is just very kind,” Sadie says. “She never judged me. She just said, ‘It's okay! Nobody ever told you, and if nobody ever told you, how can you know?’”

To get involved with ProsperU, visit the program’s website (centralbank.net/ prosperu) to register for classes, schedule a one-on-one consultation, and access electronic resources.

"When you know better, you do better. It's about progress, not perfection, when it comes to your finances."

Sarah Moreau, ProsperU Director

THANK

True North held its annual Men as Allies Breakfast Fundraiser on September 8th, 2022 at the Country Club of Missouri.

More than $67,000 was raised and will be used to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence in our community!

To give or to learn about other ways to support True North visit TrueNorthofColumbia.org

Special thanks to our table captains: Brandon Banks, Dr. Courtney Barnes, L.C. Betz, Jon Class, Denny Douglas, Will Echelmeier, Glen Ehrhardt, Dr. Ashley Emel, First State Community Bank, Robert Flynn, Matt Garrett, Angie Gentry, Chad Gooch, Greg Grimes, Brad Jenks, Ryan Martin, Mike Middleton, Kerri Roberts, Lee Russell, Keith Schawo, Laura Schemel, Wendy Wiederhold

SPONSOR

ALLIES

Building Homes the Right Way

Jake Bruton builds to help save the

and save

BY JENNIFER TRUESDALE

Photo by Byler Media

“You get out what you put into it.”

Aarow Building focuses on eco-friendly homes built to stand the test of time — while remaining cost e ective.

“Our construction methods don’t add much to the cost of the build – maybe 5-10%,” Jake Bruton, president and chief builder at Aarow Building, said. He added owners of his builds are realizing a savings of half on utilities. is is achieved through a building approach that values “durability, energy e ciency, and architectural signi cance. If we combine these three things, and we make it so people want to live in the home, are comfortable in it, and they want to preserve it because of its beauty, we’ve done the best possible thing we can for the world,” Jake says. “And not waste building materials on something that’s going to have to be replaced in 45 years.”

Artist Turned Builder

Jake is a Columbia native and owns Aarow with his wife, Rebecca. Owning a construction company was not originally in his life plans.

“I am the second-generation owner, and this is our 39th year in business,” Bruton said. “I bought the company from my parents in 2007. Prior to that, I had worked for them a lot grow-

Photo by Michael Spillers

ing up, went to school at MU and got a degree in ne art and made a living as an artist for a while, and then my parents convinced me to come back to work for one job, and they said, ‘By the way, when this job is over, we’re retiring and we’re going to sell the business to someone who works for us.’ Well, I was the only employee, so I got suckered into buying the business.”

Jake dove into the business, but he had a learning curve. He says he spent the rst ve years just learning how to run a business. In 2013, he began researching construction litigation.

“I was [...] trying to gure out why other builders got sued and what I might be doing wrong that would cause me to get sued. I realized that to build a house to code, you’re really doing the absolute minimum that you can do for quality, health, and comfort, and most builders were getting sued because of water,” Bruton said. “Water gets in through windows, roof leaks, poor design causes water to come in, and I decided immediately that we were going to build much more durable homes and that was going to be one of our focuses, because we wanted to walk away from [a build] knowing that it wasn’t going to have problems. We didn’t want anybody to be able to point to one of our homes and say 'You did that wrong'. You can build a high-performance house that will be more durable, healthier, and more energy e cient, and in the end, way more comfortable.”

Jake is too busy nowadays to strap on his toolbelt. He co-hosts the “Unbuild It” podcast with an architect and a professor of building science at Yale, he creates weekly videos for a website teaching people how to run a construction business, consults with manufacturers, and does a lot of public speaking. e professional development of his sta also is a priority; he has ve employees and loads of subcontractors.

“My team is amazing. If I didn’t have them, I couldn’t do this. e crew we have right now is amazing, and so are our subcontractors. I have a goal that everyone I work with to be as good as they can be,” Jake says. It’s not uncommon for his employees to grow enough to go out on their own as subcontractors. So, he’s constantly losing sta but simultaneously gaining subcontractors.

Gaining Control

Aarow Building looks at ways it can make the “control layers” of the home more e cient. Control layers include air ow and mechanicals.

“We start with control of air ow in the home. Air leakage is the rst way you lose e ciency. By creating a very well air-sealed home, we maintain the air we’ve invested in with heating and cooling,” Jake says.

One way he controls air ow is by using only triple-glazed windows from Europe. ey have more than twice the “R value” of American-made windows. Wikipedia de nes R value as “a measure of how well a two-dimensional barrier, such as a layer of insulation, a window or a complete wall or ceiling, resists the conductive ow of heat.” e higher the R value, the more energy e cient it is. American-made windows average an R value of four, while European windows have an R value of 10.

“Next, [we consider] the mechanical design and energy e cient appliances. Windows, insulation, air sealing, and mechanicals are one line item on the budget,” Jake explains. We can spend a lot less money on mechanicals (HVAC) if you let us spend more money on the other three, because a well-sealed home is less likely to need high-capacity mechanicals.”

Photo by Michael Spillers

Jake points to his home as an example. He built the 4,300-square-foot residence as he does his other builds. He said the HVAC system cost was about half of what the cost would have been for a code-built house of the same size. He realizes about $150 per month in savings on his electric bill.

“ e average home in the U.S. is 2,260 square feet; the average energy usage for that house is about the same as what our house uses, and our house is twice the size. Our homes use half the electricity — I could put more into my mortgage if I know I’m saving $200 per month on electricity.”

You won’t nd a lot of concrete in Aarow’s builds due to how much its production contributes to global warming. ey also don’t use a lot of spray insulation for the same reason.

Aarow typically builds all-electric homes. Jake expects electricity to cost the same or be cheaper in the long run, while he expects natural gas to stay the same or increase. He says there’s no argument for natural gas unless you just have to have a gas replace.

Jake uses an architect based out of Boston, Steve Bazcek, for many of his home designs. “He is probably the best energy e ciency architect in America, and he’s reasonably priced,” says Jake. “ e majority of the time, we’re contracted before the design process begins. e energy e ciency aspect is too complex to retro t to existing plans. It needs to be integrated rather than applied.”

Quality Over Quantity

Aarow has built fewer than 25 homes since 1995, and they’ve built just 10 in Columbia since Jake bought the company in 2007.

Aarow brings in earnings from renovations and additions, but the focus has moved over the last few years to new builds as much as possible. Aarow also has an o ce in Kansas City, where all of the builds will be new.

“We don’t have a grand design for the future beyond wanting to continue to do right by the planet and by our customers.”

Photos by Byler Media

WHAT THE HOME PROS KNOW

SHAUN HENRY ATKINS

ANNE TUCKLEY

ANNE TUCKLEY

JACOB

GET COMFY & COZY WITH FALL HOME ESSENTIALS

By Jake Baumgartner Find more at baumgartners.com

IIt’s here. The crisp promise of fall. You know it’s here when you open the door in the morning to let the dog out and you have to grab a throw blanket because it’s cold. That bite in the air that tells you that the changing of the guard is happening. The dog days of summer have finally passed and the brief coolness of fall is here. This is the time that many people look inward to their home after a summer of entertaining outside. As winter approaches and the days get longer, there are four main things you can do to prepare your home for the cold.

Use warm colors in your upholstery. Colors with the names of Cinnamon, Cocoa, Mocha Latte, etc. will provide a sense of warmth and nurturing to your interior space. If you feel the need to be inspired, Baumgartners has hundreds of samples to look through to find the one that not only fits your personality but that of your home.

A fall must-have for those mugs of hot tea and a good book is the perfect reading spot. A comfy chair and matching ottoman pair up nicely to make sure you can snuggle in and enjoy a great book while the weather turns cold outside.

JAKE BAUMGARTNER

FURNITURE

What corner or nook of your house is begging for a cozy makeover?

No fall is complete without a cozy throw blanket. Accessories like rugs and throw pillows and blankets not only add a comforting and nurturing feel to a room but also provide comfort and warmth for those cool fall days.

Lastly, lighting. A great floor lamp not only brightens up the room for those

WHAT THE HOME PROS KNOW

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

(573) 256-6288

long, dark fall days, but provides an aesthetically pleasing glow to a room you’ve already outfitted with the perfect upholstery, chair and ottoman pair, throw pillows and a blanket.

Whatever the mood or look you’re looking for, let the trained staff at Baumgartner’s help you find it. Sitting in a chair, touching the fabric, looking at the lamps all helps guide your decisions as you prepare your home for a perfect fall.

FALL PROJECTS STILL UNDERWAY

By Shaun Henry Find more at AtkinsInc.com

There are a lot of things that I love about fall. Bonfires, fall tree colors, tailgating, the approaching holiday season and plenty of other outdoor activities with the family. Although, I am certain I will soon miss the fun in the sun on a warm summer day, I try to enjoy as much time outdoors as I can in the fall of the year. Cool brisk mornings and mildly warm afternoons are my favorite! For the lawn and landscape, here are some things going on yet this fall:

GOOD LAWN CARE PRACTICES NOW WILL CARRY OVER TO NEXT SPRING

• For cool season lawns, now is the time to fertilize, core aerate and add soil amendments (lime, gypsum, organics) as needed to improve your soil and your stand of turf.

• Broadleaf weed control for those perennial weeds can still be applied if needed to reduce competition for space and resources with your turf.

• We recommend finishing up any seeding by mid-October to allow enough time for seedlings to mature before we see a heavy frost but if you still have bare spots, seed when you have to. Watering during the warmer part of the day will help keep soil temperatures up and speed up germination and establishment of your new grass. Core aerating the lawn can continue until the grounds freezes though.

• Keep on mowing. Although growth of your turfgrass will slow, continuing to mow will help keep and even improve your turf’s density. As temperatures cool, you can now get away with lowering your cut height without as much risk for turf injury.

SHAUN HENRY

ATKINS

• Keep the leaves off the lawn as best you can to avoid suffocation of your turf. Matted down leaves will smother the grass and create bare spots for next spring. Regular mowing will help chop those leaves up too.

• Winterize that sprinkler system when you’re done using it for the season to avoid freeze damage this winter.

LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE

IN OCTOBER

• Now is a great time to transplant new deciduous trees and shrubs. Depending on where you live, you may want to protect the trunks of your new trees with wire or plastic guards. Deer rubs on a young tree can often kill the tree or at least cause enough damage to create issues for the tree for the rest of its life.

• If it’s still dry, you may need to continue to water your evergreens.

• Dormant feeding of your landscape plants can begin later this month. After a difficult summer, replenishing lost nutrition and promoting recovery and new growth for the next season, a fall feeding may be one of the most

THE HOME PROS KNOW

A Columbia native, Shaun Henry found a home at Atkins in 2000 when he started his career as a turf technician. Shaun holds a commercial applicator’s license through the Missouri Department of Agriculture and is a member of the National Association of Landscape Professionals, the Mid-America Green Industry Council, and the Missouri Green Industry Alliance. Shaun strongly believes in the importance of a great customer experience where the Atkins staff knows their clients and anticipates their needs accordingly.

Shaun is an MU alumnus and has a degree in plant science.

573-874-5100 ATKINSINC.COM

beneficial things you can do for your landscape plants. Soil testing can provide a guide for your plants’ fertility needs.

• Removing leaf litter and dead plant materials will not only keep your beds neat and tidy, it can also remove fungal disease spores that can infect your plants next season. Collecting and discarding this material is a good management practice for the fall.

We hope you have a wonderful Autumn and enjoy the fall colors and all of nature’s wonder. Remember, no matter what you decide to do with your lawn and landscape this season or next, we’re here to answer any questions you might have about your property. That’s what friends and neighbors do. Thank you for your continued trust in our team.

LANDSCAPE LIGHTING: A BRIGHT SPOT IN YOUR OUTDOOR SPACES

By Jacob Porter Find more at rostlandscaping.com

WHAT THE HOME PROS KNOWJACOB PORTER

L

andscape lighting has been a popular addition to outdoor spaces for several years. Over these years, lighting systems have improved in regards to technology, durability, and ease of installation. Low voltage, LED lighting systems have become the most desired option. LED systems offer the same benefits of spot lighting your landscape and added security while adding the ability to customize your lighting setup. Adding lighting to your new or existing outdoor spaces can add value and security, therefore, it is an option you should consider adding.

Adding a lighting system to your landscape and hardscape areas have several benefits. The obvious benefits of landscape lighting are accenting certain features of the landscape or shining light on your pathways and patios at night. This allows you to enjoy your outdoor spaces long after it gets dark. One of the advantages that landscape lighting provides that is often overlooked is security. Adding lighting to areas of your landscape that are hard to cover with your house lights can add to the security of your home. Extending the lights further from the house can keep potential intruders away. Along with these benefits, another benefit I want to discuss are the multiple options that are available with LED lighting systems that allow you to customize your setup the way you want it.

When designing a lighting system, there are different types of systems to consider. We typically break it down into three categories: Standard On / Off, Zone Dimming, and Zone Dimming Color. The on / off system is just as it sounds and is the most basic. The lights can be turned on or off by using a timer, photo eye or by manual operation. The zone dimming

Jacob comes from the small town of California, Missouri. With his plant science degree from MU and six years with Rost, he enjoys creating exciting outdoor spaces for his clients. Watching these creations come to life is only one highlight of being a designer for Rost. When he is not designing, he loves spending time with his wife and kids, tournament bass fishing, and doing a little bit of woodworking.

(573) 445-4465

systems are a step up by allowing you to adjust the brightness of the lights. This type of system also allows you to separate lights into different zones, giving the ability to adjust the brightness or turn on and off only certain groups of lights. The Zone dimming color system has all of the features of the zone dimming, but also give the options to change the colors of the lights. This is a great feature around the holidays or to show your team spirit. Both types of zone dimming systems can also be controlled by your smartphone or tablet.

Along with the different types of systems, the durability and ease of installation of

modern LED lighting systems have also improved. The low voltage systems allow us to install lights and wires in existing landscape without burying underground hubs and pipes that would normally disturb landscape plantings. This also makes for an easier process of adjusting and moving lights as the landscape grows.

The benefits of an outdoor lighting system along with the updated technology and features makes for a great addition to any landscape. If you are considering making changes to your outdoor spaces, landscape lighting should be a feature that is on your list.

AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE OPEN ROAD

By Anne Tuckley Find more at AnneTuckleyhome.com

There is something magical about the wide open road. Whether it be the endless opportunities for unplanned adventure or a carefully planned excursion, the vastness of the highway is invigorating. It is this desire for adventure and exploration that leads many to invest in an RV, but like many great plans, for some, the investment becomes more of a lawn decoration. Rather, I should say, it becomes a very expensive lawn decoration.

Now unused RVs, especially ones in good condition, can always be sold, but for many, the nostalgia of the dream still exists and parting ways with the motorized vehicle isn’t seen as an option. So what should you do with your new lawn ornament? Get creative!

Playhouse: Have young children? Turn your RV into a clubhouse. Decorate the inside, store toys, and snacks and let your child have their dream playhouse. Older kids can even camp out in it. This is a great temporary solution since you do not have to fully convert the RV, so it could always be used as originally intended in the future.

Library: Always longed to have your own library but lacked the space? Rip out the cabinet doors and convert the RV into a truly unique library. Convert a dining bench into a reading nook and bring out a beverage cart to store beautiful glasses, teas, liquor, etc.

Guest Suite: Give yourself some space from overnight guests by turning the RV into a boutique guest suite. You can even list it as a vacation rental property and make some bonus money!

Closet: Short on closet space? Convert your RV into a fashionable dressing room. While not beneficial for everyday

THE HOME PROS KNOW

TUCKLEY HOME

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

E. BROADWAY SUITE 1043 COLUMBIA, MO, 65201 (573) 639-1989

functioning, an outside closet is an ideal spot to store your formal attire such as dresses, suits, purses, etc.

Office: In need of a home office? Turn it into your own office space! The table works perfectly for a desk, cabinets are excellent for storage, counters are perfect

for much needed coffee, and there is even a bed should you need a quick catnap!

Man cave or she-shed: Reclaim your basement by sending your hubby outside to his own, portable man cave, or escape yourself into your own relaxation or crafting oasis.

Rolling his vibrant food truck all over town, George Nickols is living the dream “slinging tacos” to the masses.

BY AMANDA LONG | PHOTOS BY DREW PIESTER

Originally from Baja, California, George Nickols, the proprietor and chef de cuisine for Lilly’s Cantina, grew up in a big family with a distinct heritage — Mexican American and English-German.

“Southern California is a treasure trove of ethnic diversity when it comes to people and cuisine, including in my own family. It is a special place to grow up and learn about cooking because there is so much diversity — Mexican, ai, Chinese, Korean...,” George said. “And food trucks are everywhere out there. People love them!”

George has always been involved in food and cooking, but not always formally.

“All my friends growing up had parents that cooked. Everybody cooked. I would go to one friend's house and his mom might be Korean and another friend might serve Brazilian fare,” he said.

It was during this integral part of George's childhood revolving around food that he started picking up methods, recipes, and inspiration from his grandmother, aunts, and other family members.

“Growing up, everyone always hung out in the kitchens. Families — mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins — and there would always be a central gure who would be cooking and preparing food,” George said.

George moved to Columbia in 2008, bringing his love for diverse food culture with him. He was working in car

sales when he began seeking a career change and literally set the wheels in motion for the future of Lilly’s Cantina. “I was always very interested in the food truck business since it gives one more freedom than starting a brick-and-mortar facility.”

At the time, Columbia's food truck scene was less robust than it is today, and George was anxious to get the ball rolling and join the movement. According to IbisWorld.com, the U.S. food truck industry continues to gain popularity, especially as outdoor dining has become more common in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. ere are approximately 30,156 food truck businesses in the U.S. as of 2022, an increase of 8.2% from 2021, totaling nearly $1.4 billion in revenue. e rst step for George, toward Lilly's Cantina, was purchasing a food truck that he found in Milwaukee. He then drove the truck to Houston, and had it completely rebuilt by Houston-based Chef Units, a manufacturer specializing in producing new, custom-built, and renovated food trucks, trailers, and concession stands.

e process took approximately one year, but George said the result was worth the wait. In 2014, after picking up his new custom food truck, he procured the appropriate permits and licenses for food trucks and food service in Columbia.

“And the next thing you know, we’re slinging tacos!” he says laughing.

e truck is named after George’s daughter, Lilly, a Hickman High School sophomore who works on the truck part-time.

Lilly’s Cantina specializes in what George calls “Baja-Midwest fusion,” with avors originating from his Southern California and New Mexico roots and international travels, but with a midwestern twist.

e food truck menu o ers a combination of tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and nachos as well as vegetarian options that can be included or substituted in any of the menu items. Every plate includes made-from-scratch ingredients such as slow-marinated meats, fresh salsas and sauces, all served with accompaniments of shredded cheese, ripe tomatoes, diced onions, cilantro, and limes.

e Lilly’s Cantina taco menu also highlights a selection of seafood. e Mahi-Mahi tacos are cooked with red cabbage, served with cilantro-lime sauce, and placed on warm corn or our tortillas. Lilly’s also o ers shrimp or lobster tacos.

e burritos weigh in at approximately two pounds each and are chock-full of good stu wrapped in a warm, fourteen-inch our tortilla. George says his most popular burritos are the Garbage and the OG Cali.

“Growing up, everyone always hung out in the kitchens. Families – mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins –and there would always be a central figure who would be cooking and preparing food.”

« George Nickols

"Garbage" is a nod to the sheer number of ingredients in this burrito — 11 to be exact. It's stu ed with chicken, beef, lettuce, red sauce, sour cream and cheese. e OG Cali is lled with marinated beef, house-made chips, rice, beans, Pico de Gallo, and the house-made roja sauce made with a mixture of Mexican peppers. e Lilly’s Cantina menu also o ers chicken, carnitas, beef and veggie nachos and quesadillas.

George says there's an o -menu item patrons ask for so often he "might as well add it to the menu at this point." e ai Chicken Rooster is a Korean-inspired version of e Rooster, a burrito starring chicken, rice, beans, Pico de Gallo, lettuce, and cheese. “People’s palates here are little di erent than they are in southern California. I’m surprised they like it.”

George works daily with fellow chef Chris Jones, who brings 10 years of food service industry to the table. “We were introduced by a friend, and then he randomly came wandering in three years ago,” says George. Chris makes and prepares all the cold food which includes Pico de Gallo, guacamole, and fresh sauces.

Lilly’s Cantina can be found serving its delicious o erings at various locations around COMO, including Veterans United Home Loans, Harry Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, Boone County Health Department, ompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and Cooper’s Landing. You can also nd them rolling up to local festivals such as Food Truck Palooza in Centralia, Street Food rowdown in Ashland, or e True/False Film Fest in Columbia.

e food truck operates independent of any power source so there is no need for electric plugs or extension cords, making Lilly’s Cantina a prime choice for catering events

George says he has no plans for a brickand-mortar location or expansion of any kind, as he stays quite busy enough. “I love what I do, and I hope to keep doing it forever and ever.”

Upcoming Lilly's Cantina locations can be found on their Facebook page (@lillyscantinacomo) or visit foodtruckyourself.com, a website that provides the location of local food trucks.

Styled Strands

BY KIM AMBRA | PHOTOS BY LANA EKLUND

You don’t have to look far to see the ever-growing trend of hair braiding. ough hair braiding can often be found trending online or in pretty much every show on television, the history of hair braiding is rich and deep.

e oldest evidence of hair braiding goes back about 30,000 years: e Venus of Willendorf, a female gurine estimated to have been made around 28,000-25,000 B.C.E., is depicted with braids in her hair.

By the Bronze and Iron Age (1200-500 B.C.E.), many people in Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa, were depicted in art with braided hair or

beards. In some regions, braids were even considered a means of communication and social status.

History shows braids were often used to de ne tribes, social status and other societal classi cations. is tradition of hair braiding has been passed down through the ages, and today braids are a way to celebrate and honor one’s ancestral roots as well as express personality and style.

Kylie Phillips, cosmetologist and color specialist at local salon MK Lush, has a front-row seat to today's hair braiding trends and styles. Kylie attended the Davis Hart Cosmetology Institute during

her junior and senior year of high school, graduating from both high school and cosmetology school at the same time. She then went on to complete a six-month associate program at MK Lush salon.

Upon entering MK Lush, located in the heart of the North Village Art District, you are met with rich, vibrant colors, and smiling faces. Stylist and founder of MK Lush, Micki Kliethermes, said that her desire to build her own business was largely inspired by her belief in self-love/self-care.

From there, I was able to have a sit down with Kylie to dive deeper into her career and love of hair braiding.

Local cosmetologist Kylie Phillips discusses the salon industry, career goals and the art of hair braiding.

Kim Ambra: How did you manage attending both high school and cosmetology school at the same time?

Kylie Phillips: I had to be at Davis Hart Career Center in Mexico at 8 a.m. where I would start class with all the other cosmetology students. I left there at about 10:45 a.m. which would give me just enough time to grab some lunch and be back at the high school by noon to finish out my day before going to whatever activity I had going on after school. I did that for two years and then I graduated from the cosmetology program one week before I graduated high school.

KA: Why did you choose to work at MK Lush salon?

KP: They offer an associate program which allows newer stylists to really focus and continue your education without feeling like you're in a class setting. It allows you to work hand in hand with a more experienced stylist and get that experience that you didn't get in school to ask all of the questions.

KA: Growing up, did you always know you wanted to do this for a career?

KP: No! Actually my family and I were at dinner one night, and one of the ladies with us started casually french braiding my sister's hair. I found myself just staring at it because I couldn’t figure it out. I watched her do it over-and-over again. From there, I taught myself how to braid on others and myself. I think that’s where it all started.

KA: What would you say that you enjoy most about your career?

KP: My favorite part is just how rewarding it is to be able to see the difference that you make in everybody's day to day life that you come in contact with.

KA: What has been the most surprising thing to you about your career or this industry as a whole?

KP: Just how much growth the industry has had and how many different things you can specialize in. I wish that people would realize the

importance and the opportunity for continuing education because we have to invest in ourselves to be able to perform what you're asking us to perform.

KA: Talk to me about the trend of braids and what all the hype is about.

KP: Personally, I'm more intrigued whenever I see somebody who has a whole head of knotless braids. It is so gorgeous! And I love the fact that with braids, you can change it up. It also allows so much imagination with the hair, you can add in color, texture, length, etc. Maybe someone was not blessed with hair

that they love. This gives them the opportunity to transform their hair into something that they absolutely love and are proud of.

KA: Is there a certain hair type that works best or are you able to work on all types and styles?

KP: I've pretty much gotten to the point where I can work with any hair type, but more textured hair is a lot easier to work with just because the hair is used to bending and maneuvering in different directions.

KA: Do you have any advice for first time clients that are wanting to experiment with braiding?

KP: Don’t turn away a stylist who wants to do a consultation with you first because likely they are just trying to make sure that they can provide you with the best service that they possibly can.

KA: It’s kind of like an art project…

KP: It really is. And every single person is different. I mean, I never come into work and do the same thing and that keeps it exciting. I meet new people every single day. I get to create relationships with people. I get to sit here and do what I love and listen to some spicy tea all day long!

BY LAUREN SABLE FREIMAN

As the old saying goes, “You’re only as good as the company you keep.”

When it comes to your nances, that rule of thumb rings true. Surrounding yourself with a team of experts from ve key professions — law, insurance, banking, nancial planning, and accounting — will set you up for nancial success.

“ e timing is di erent for everyone, but ultimately, at some point in your life, you should be working with all of those professionals,” says Nathan Jones, partner and estate and business law attorney at Jones & Ueligger. “Your life dictates the order you begin working with them, but ultimately people are best served by having relationships with all those professionals. If you’re missing one, you’re missing out on having a full nancial plan.”

The ultimate list of professionals you want on your side.

FINANCIAL PLANNING

A certi ed nancial planner is likely one of the rst professionals that comes to mind when considering your nancial team. While a nancial planner can certainly work with clients on growing wealth, a nancial planner does much more than investment planning and wealth management.

“Because money and nances a ect all areas of life, a quali ed planner should be able to advise on budgeting and cash ow, risk management, tax and estate planning, generational nancial education, and wealth transfer,” says Greg Brockmeier, nancial advisor and investment consultant at Brockmeier Financial Services.

Because every client’s nancial situation and planning needs are di erent, Greg uses a variety of tools to determine a set of goals and objectives for each client. rough this process, he is often able to uncover potential nancial concerns and obstacles, and then work with the rest of the client’s nancial team to remedy or accommodate those issues.

“ is cooperative partnership allows the client to have a team of professionals dedicated to their speci c needs and goals.”

LAW

People spend a lifetime growing their wealth through employment earnings and investments, so it makes sense to have a plan for the future of those assets. at’s where a legal professional comes in. As an estate planning attorney, Nathan Jones works with clients to develop wills, trusts, powers of attorney and other legal documents that protect their hard-earned assets today, and in the future.

“ ese documents are designed so people have a plan, so everything they’ve worked for their entire life will go to the people and organizations they love,” Nathan says. “We want it to be set up to do that as efciently and e ectively as possible, so all of those documents are put together in an estate plan.”

As an attorney who specialized in estate planning, Nathan has an expectation he’ll work with other professionals to prepare a plan that is best for his client.

“In my line of work, if someone has a nancial planner and an estate planner, but they aren’t communicating, they don’t get as much out of each as they could,” he said.

“It’s important to make sure that each knows what is going on.”

BANKING

Having an established relationship and a high-level of trust with a banker is advantageous when assembling a team of nancial planning pros. A good banker is a trusted advisor who is often a key part of many major life milestones, like buying a house. With an understanding of your assets, a banker can advise clients on thenancial decisions and investments that make the most sense.

“We take pride in making sure we know where our clients are in their stage of life and making sure they’re making good nancial decisions,” said Jay Alexander, community bank president at e Bank of Missouri.

While a banker is your go-to professional for things like home and business loans, they can also be a trusted advisor who has the knowledge and experience to guide and support clients and their nancial health.

“It is very common for us to be a part of a larger nancial team and part of that collaborative e ort between professionals,” Jay said. “You need good professionals around you for the things that will happen in your life and we work closely with that team to help clients accomplish their goals.”

Greg Brockmeier

Nathan Jones

Jay Alexander

INSURANCE

A home is typically one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your lifetime, and it’s important to protect it. Although insurance is oftentimes an afterthought, a proactive and informed insurance agent is an important part of any nancial team.

“From the obvious risks associated with your home and automobiles, to the more complex coverages of life and health insurance, the right insurance broker can ensure you and your family are su ciently protected when losses occur,” says Matt Nivens, insurance broker at AssuredPartners/Naught-Naught Agency. Your insurance agent will typically work closely with other professionals on your team. Matt said he often works with lenders or realtors on insurance for a new home, or to provide the proper insurance documentation required for a home closing.

“Having a solid working relationship with other nancial professionals is a crucial part of providing exceptional service to a client.”

ACCOUNTING

As you assemble your team of nancial professionals, a certi ed public accountant is an important piece of the puzzle. When working as part of your nancial planning team, a CPA does so much more than prepare tax returns.

“Having a good CPA is about watching your income taxes and planning and being proactive instead of reactive to be able to avoid surprises,” says John Weaver, CPA at Williams-Keepers. “A good CPA is doing more than just your tax return, they are helping you plan and providing value.”

With the help of a CPA, you can plan things like investments, sales of stock and IRA distributions, and eliminate any unwelcome surprises during tax season.

“Being engaged with a CPA, though it will cost you more, will generally result in more value and save you more money over the long haul,” John says. “ e biggest thing is being proactive. If we only see each other in February or March to do a tax return, the ship has sailed, and you’re just rolling the dice to see how the year will look.”

JAY ALEXANDER

SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS

As you assemble an A-team of legal, accounting, banking, nancial planning and insurance specialists, Jay suggests keeping an eye out for the mark of a true professional.

“ ey’re accessible when the client needs them,” he says. “To help clients in the best way possible, all of these professionals should be accessible, and have the knowledge and experience necessary to help guide the client.”

“You need good professionals around you for the things that will happen in your life and we work closely with that team to help clients accomplish their goals.”

Matt Nivens

John Weaver

Housing Relief

Boone County awards federal dollars to help stave off evictions.

BY JODIE JACKSON JR.

An average of nearly $1 million a week is flowing from the State Assistance for Housing Relief Program to help Missouri renters and homeowners stave off eviction or foreclosure, as well as catch up on delinquent utility bills.

The pandemic-related program is intended to battle financial hardship from unemployment and accumulating rental arrears.

As of September 27, 2022, Boone County renters and homeowners accounted for 3,439 successful SAFHR applications totaling some $10.6 million. The figures from the SAFHR online dashboard are updated weekly. The most-recent update showed a weekly average of $989,647 distributed throughout the state.

The Missouri Housing Development Commission, based in Kansas City, administers the rental relief program in partnership with select local agencies in most counties.

MHDC public information administrator Brian Vollenweider said the rental assistance program prevented more than 60,000 evictions and promoted long-term stability through wraparound services provided by nonprofit partners.

Some of those services include legal counseling, housing counseling, mediation and other social services.

“The purpose of the SAFHR program is to prevent eviction and foreclosure and promote long-term housing stability,” he said. The program’s related Housing Assistance Fund has prevented more than 2,500 foreclosures.

Other Mid-Missouri counties have accounted for the following totals:

Audrain County

$472,354

County

$1.1

Howard County

$95,934

Moniteau County

$234,101

County

totaling $3.4

Callaway County

The SAFHR online dashboard does not provide a breakdown of how much of the county totals are for rental or mortgage assistance or utility costs.

Brian said the rental assistance program has provided more than $400 million in rent around the state and utility assistance and the HAF program has provided over $22 million.

“The majority of assistance provided to Boone County would be rental and utility assistance,” he said.

The program will end on September 30, 2025, or when funds have been exhausted. MHDC began administering the program in February 2021.

In Boone County and Columbia, MHDC partners for administering the rental relief program are Love Columbia, Salvation Army of Columbia and Jefferson City, and Central Missouri Community Action.

As part of the program, MDHC awarded $6.1 million to 38 SAFHR service agencies. Housing Stability Services Providers assist renters and homeowner households with housing counseling, case management and legal services, including assistance preparing and submitting SAFHR applications.

Through September 27, total SAFHR awards amounted to $364,127,383.

The payouts went:

• 49% for rent arrears

• 48% was paid for “forward” rent assistance

• 3% for utilities

When it comes to approving SAFHR applications, funds are paid directly to the landlord, with limited exceptions. The

MHDC processes all payments and issues all checks or electronic transfers.

The federal Consolidated Appropriations Act provided roughly $324 million in initial funding for the SAFHR Emergency Rental Assistance Program. The American Rescue Plan Act provided additional funding for the SAFHR rental assistance program (approximately $270 million) and the Homeowner’s Assistance Fund (approximately $138 million).

Brian noted outside of the SAFHR program, MHDC offers other state and federal programs through a network of nonprofit providers who can assist individuals and families with more extensive or ongoing needs.

Through the assistance of HUD Certified Housing Counseling Agencies, homeowners also have access to housing counseling to help ensure long-term stability.

He did not respond to a question asking whether the MDHC monitors or measures the success of SAFHR to see how many renters and homeowners are still in their homes after receiving assistance.

Applying and qualifying for SAFHR assistance is rather straightforward. Per U.S. Treasury guidelines, “one or more individuals within the household has qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship during or due, directly or indirectly, to the coronavirus pandemic.”

Renters apply for the program— or a landlord applies on behalf of the renter—to cover up to 12 months of rental assistance.

It’s possible to qualify for covering up to three months of “forward” rent and past due rent, not to exceed 12 months. After the renter applies, they provide an email for their landlord or property manage-

ment company so the program can reach out to get the housing providers’ information needed to complete the application, such as direct deposit information.

To qualify, a renter must be at or below 80% of the area median income limit. Agencies assistance with the process can help applicants calculate that figure, which varies from county to county.

To qualify for the HAF program, which can provide mortgage reinstatement—a one-time assistance paid directly to lenders—individuals must have experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19 and have household income at or below 150% of the area median income.

While a landlord can apply for rental relief on a renter’s behalf, only the renter or homeowner can apply for utility relief. To date, the SAFHR for renters program has paid roughly $11.7 million in utility assistance.

“All utility assistance must be paid directly to the utility provider without exception,” Brian said.

Some utility companies helped educate customers about SAFHR. Spire Energy touted the program on its social media channels, website and customer newsletters. The SAFHR dashboard showed the total for utility assistance but does not break down the amount paid to each participating utility company.

“This type of detailed information would require a significant amount of time to provide and is not readily available,” Brian said.

Federal guidelines for housing relief funds allow from 10%-15% — depending on the specific fund—for administrative expenses.

“MHDC passes all administration to non-profit partners, using a minimal amount necessary to provide direct assistance,” Brian said.

rental

program prevented more than

evictions and promoted long-term stability through wraparound services provided by nonprofit partners.

Planning forthe Unthinkable

BY LAUREN SABLE FREIMAN

You’ve just nished installing a beautiful new pool, complete with an outdoor kitchen and luxurious patio area. You’ve added a room onto your home, or remodeled a bathroom. Or maybe you’ve traded in your old, beat up car for a brand new model. Who will you call rst to share the exciting news?

If Phyllis Nichols has any input, that rst call will be to your insurance agent.

“Keep the lines of communication open to make sure you’re covered properly at all times,” Phyllis says.

As a State Farm Insurance agent, there’s one phrase Phyllis dislikes and spends her days working to ensure her clients never have to utter it.

“I wish,” she says. “We hate that verbiage in insurance.”

By the time you need to rely on an insurance policy, it’s too late to go back and make sure you are properly insured. It’s why Phyllis wishes more people were aware of how important it is to keep your policies up-to-date.

Putting a premium on protecting your assets.

“Identity theft coverage has become really relevant lately because so many people have become exposed to hackers.”

Phyllis Nichols, State Farm Insurance agent

Review insurance annually.

Because life constantly changes, Phyllis stresses the importance of meeting with your insurance agent on an annual basis to review and share information about any updates to your home.

“It might sound like a job, but think about how many changes have happened in the past year,” Phyllis says. “Maybe one year it is repetitive, but maybe you remodeled a kitchen or a bathroom. We do our best to look for additional coverage to ll in the gap but we want to do that sooner rather than later so we can hit those what-ifs head on.”

Build the right plan.

A home is most likely one of the biggest assets you’ll ever own. Oftentimes, people don’t initially realize the quantity of personal items they own, and they fail to consider they would likely need and want to replace those items in the event of a loss.

“We try to encourage folks to annually take a home inventory,” says Phyllis. “Televisions, stereo equipment, linens, furniture, clothing, shoes.

“We’re all guilty of thinking we don’t have that much until we go to replace what we have, and it’s so much better to have an inventory to re ect on if a loss should occur.”

Phyllis provides clients with a home inventory booklet that keeps track of personal property.

“ e home inventory booklet divides inventory by room, so it breaks it down into more manageable parts,” she says. “It allows you to see what is important to you that you would want to replace if it was lost. It allows you to have the coverage to protect those dreams.”

If you have a mortgage on your property, Phyllis says the holder of the mortgage will often require a certain amount of coverage to protect their loan.

While some people choose a cash value policy, most select a replacement policy. Replacement policies provide for the replacement of items that have been lost after the deductible, or out-of-pocket cost, has been paid.

“ e price di erential is not that much, so most folks do choose a replacement policy,” Phyllis says.

Adding endorsements to an insurance plan is one way to customize the plan to provide the level of coverage that’s right for you. Endorsements can be added to policies to provide broader, more comprehensive coverage against certain events, like the backup of a sewer or drain, identity theft, an earthquake or HVAC issues.

“Identity theft coverage has become really relevant lately because so many people have become exposed to hackers,” Phyllis says. “It’s

“I know a lot of folks think floods are covered under their homeowners policy, but it is government mandated that it has to be a separate policy.”

easy to add an endorsement to your policy, so if someone tries to steal your identify you have a partnership with someone who will help.”

A personal articles policy is another type of policy that covers larger items like jewelry or artwork.

“We like to keep abreast of specialty things that we need to insure better,” Phyllis says. “Some items might be better served under a personal articles policy which would provide a lesser deductible than what's under the homeowners policy.”

It’s important to note some things are excluded from a homeowners policy. While an all-terrain or utility vehicle is covered by a homeowner’s policy while on the property itself, once it leaves the premises, it must be covered by an endorsement to the homeowners policy.

One of the biggest exclusions is ooding.

“I know a lot of folks think oods are covered under their homeowners policy, but it is government mandated that it has to be a separate policy,” says Phyllis. “It does cost a little more but it is always good to have broader coverage because you never know what Mother Nature might bring about.”

Control cost.

“ ere’s no denying that higher costs are a result of supply chain issues we’ve had, or in ation in general,” says Phyllis. “ ere’s a higher cost to replace property, whether it is a re or hail loss, or a burst water pipe. ose costs are being driven up because of what’s going on in the world today.”

Even though insurance costs have risen, there are ways to manage the costs and tailor a plan that ts your lifestyle and budget.

Phyllis suggests adjusting your plan’s deductible as a big way to save money. A higher deductible will likely translate to a lower insurance premium.

“If you take a higher deductible, if there is a loss you would share in more of the loss itself before the insurance kicks in, and that is one of the factors that helps decrease premiums,” she says.

If you have updated wiring or utilities, that could translate to a discount. Having a security system on the properly can also translate to a cost savings.

“De nitely let your agent know of any safety precautions you have for your home,” Phyllis says.

Regardless of your situation, there is likely an insurance solution that can be customized to work within your budget and your needs, and now is the time to explore those options.

“Your home is more than the four walls that surround you,” Phyllis says. “It has lots of personal property, it has your family, it has lots of memories housed there. It’s important to take the time out to think about whether you have appropriate coverage on the things you love so much, and you want to have it in place before you need it.”

Kristen Graham-Brown,

Hoot Design

SEARCH AND RESCUE

COMO residents weigh in on priorities for spending $12.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding.

LIVE ON AIR

KOPN Community Radio prepares to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

BENEFITS OF INFLATION

city

Greg Brockmeier, CFP®, CIMA®

Alex & Ellie Boutique

Alex & Ellie Boutique opened to the public in October 2021 after successfully selling online for more than four years, gaining over 40,000 combined followers on Poshmark, Mercari, and Marketplace. Alex & Ellie is a designer resale boutique specializing in higher-end brands selling at a ordable prices, with both new and preowned items available. Although they are primarily an online resale boutique, they are open to the public every rst Friday of the month and during major events downtown. ey also o er shop-by-appointment, seven days a week, with sameday shopping available. Besides o ering quality designer handbags, formal and casual dresses, and unique gifts handcrafted by local artists — they also o er themed shopping parties. Owner Chrys-

tal Meadows said “My goal is to o er a store where other local artists can showcase and sell their unique crafted items, as well as always showing support with recommendations to other downtown local businesses.”

573-810-2774

814 E BROADWAY

SHOPALEXELLIECOMO.COM

That’s a Wrap

Opening their doors in January 2022, at’s a Wrap is excited to bring custom vinyl wraps to Columbia and surrounding towns. A few of the services they provide include; Commercial Fleet Graphics, Window Graphics, Vehicle Wraps, Chrome Delete, Roof/Hood Accent Wrap,

and Custom Vinyl. Owner Kai Nickerson said he could not have pursued his dreams of being a business owner without the support of his family, who formerly owned and operated Taxi Terry’s. ese custom wraps can be used for walls, windows, cars, trucks, boats and more. When asked what he feels his business brings to our community, Kai said, “I feel that we bring style, creativity and originality to Columbia. We can provide a wide variety of colors and even textures to make any vehicle stand out. We also provide wraps to promote businesses, they’re like mobile billboards!”

573-530-9588

8450

TRADE CENTER DR,

Hedda

&

Located in e District’s Wabash Alley, two doors down from Fretboard Co ee, you will nd Hedda. Hedda is a shop and studio, providing sustainable and small batch clothing and objects through previously loved pieces, thoughtful small batch brands and their own in-house handmade clothing. Owner Heather Ripcse enjoys cruising estate sales and other secondhand places to nd the best things to make available in her shop. “I want to in uence the culture and make thoughtful consumption the norm, not the exception. ere are so many beautiful and useful things that have lots of life left. ings used to be made better — we don’t have to live in a throwaway culture, there’s di erent ways of doing things. And it’s just fun,” said Heather when asked why she wanted to open this business. Heather takes pride in bringing a nontraditional shopping experience and supporting other artists through collaboration and providing a marketplace. She invites everyone in to say, “Hello!”

1023 E WALNUT ST, SUITE 4

Briefly in the News

EDUCATION

CIS Celebrates Record-High Enrollment

Columbia Independent School recently enrolled its 400th student, which is record-high enrollment for the 24-year-old school. CIS, which serves students in junior kindergarten through 12th grade, marked the occasion on Sept. 9, with cupcakes for all students, a cake for faculty and sta , and photos with school mascot, Leo the Lion.

“I am grateful to the families that choose to be part of our supportive school community and to the dedicated faculty and sta who devote so much time, energy and care to our students,” head of school, Bridgid Kinney said. “Reaching this enrollment threshold while continuing to provide each student with the individual attention they deserve is not an easy task, but it is the right way to grow.”

Columbia Community Mental Health Center Receives $5,000 Donation

Burrell Behavioral Health’s charitable arm, e Burrell Foundation, was presented with a gift of $5,000 from Joe Machens Toyota. e donation will be used to support the greatest needs for mental health programs and initiatives within Burrell across the city.

“Contributions and support like this help us provide vital programs and services that support community mental health and substance use recovery e orts right here in Columbia,” said Burrell Foundation executive director Gabrielle Martin.

Renew Missouri Comments on Inflation Reduction Act

Renew Missouri, a 501(c)(3) focusing on clean energy policy and accessibility to clean energy for Missouri, heralds the signing of the In ation Reduction Act. e act secures $369 billion for clean energy projects, but the organization noted public education must be conducted for Missourians to understand how they can take advantage of certain tax advantages.

In addition, the state and its utility companies must take action to make sure the promise of this legislation is turned into action. Renew Missouri worked with regional partners to help secure the nearly-$40 billion under the IRA that will be used by rural electric cooperatives to shut down their fossil-fuel-burning plants and to shift more towards renewables and energy e ciency.

“ is is a campaign that has taken over two years of work to get to this point,” executive director James Owen

said. “We know that the co-ops have the option of joining this program and we look forward to talking with REC leadership on how they can continue their mission of bringing rural Missouri into the future.”

e legislation also makes available $27 billion for states who have set up funds for projects involving renewables and energy e ciency.

“Renew Missouri has also worked closely with Gov. Parson’s administration on how we can make these funds available to Missouri’s homeowners and small businesses,” James said.

CELEBRATION

Boone Health Opens Plastic Surgery Clinic

Boone Health announced the opening of its Boone Health Plastic Surgery clinic. e clinic is led by Dr. Giorgio Allegra, MD. Dr. Allegra is board-certi ed in general and plastic surgery and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Allegra has practiced in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, New York, Dubai, and Milan, bringing more than 27 years of experience to Mid-Missouri. Also providing services is family nurse practitioner Ti any Carmichael, FNP. Before joining Boone Health Plastic Surgery, Ti any worked at the Boone Health High Risk Breast Clinic.

COMMUNITY The North Village Arts District Unveils Second Round of Art Installations

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the Veterans United Foundation awarded $10 million to almost 100 nonpro ts in 2021. e North Village Arts District was awarded $231,530.00 for its North Village Art Walk. e new sculptures being celebrated will be Tractioner by Matt

Moyer on 10th Street between the re station and Café Berlin; Sparky, an 8-foot dinosaur by Vince Houston at the entrance to Café Berlin on Park Street; Simplicity! by Jessie Cargis on the landing between the Balsamo Warehouse and Orr Street Studios on Orr Street, and an 80-foot long mural by Laura Pintel, John Fennell, Sawyer Wade, and Kate Gray that will run along Park Avenue on Boone County Lumber.

COMMUNITY City of Refuge Launches Campaign for New Refugee Community Center

City of Refuge is pleased to announce the public phase of its capital campaign, “A Place to Call Home: Serving and Celebrating our Refugee Neighbors.” Funds raised will purchase the organization’s new home at 10 N. Garth Avenue and 2 E. Walnut and renovate it for use by resettled refugees who are navigating a new way of life in Mid-Missouri. Refugee services will begin in the new facility on October 10, and a brand-new preschool program is planned to launch in Fall 2023. Led by a $300,000 gift from Veterans United Foundation, City of Refuge has already received gifts and pledges worth one-third of its campaign goal of $3 million. To participate in the campaign, donors may send checks or give online.

Global con icts in places like Afghanistan and Ukraine continue to create a crisis of displaced persons crossing international borders, hundreds of whom arrive annually to make a new permanent home in COMO. City of Refuge mobilizes more than 150 volunteers to serve over 1,200 resettled refugees every year and to celebrate their contributions to our community. e new facility, triple the size of City of Refuge’s current o ce, will meet a variety of refugees’ needs.

DUSTIN THOMAS

University of Missouri Health Care has named Dustin Thomas chief financial officer. Dustin joined the institution in September from the University of Texas Medical Branch, where he served as chief analytics officer and health system chief financial officer. He began his career with Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City and served in finance roles at United Healthcare Insurance, Intel Corporation and Scottsdale Healthcare prior to joining the University of Texas. Dustin earned his MBA/HSA from the University of Utah and is a certified project management professional and fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Dustin is succeeding Kay Davis, EdD.

topics. Study topics include professional conduct and regulation, general principles of financial strategies, risk management and insurance planning, investment strategies, retirement savings and income planning and estate considerations.

GINA MAULLER-CRANE Financial Advisor Gina MaullerCrane of the financial services firm Edward Jones in Columbia, MO has received the certified financial planner certification, granted by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board). The certification is awarded to individuals who meet the CFP Board's stringent requirements. To gain certification, a financial advisor must complete a CFP Board Registered educational program, pass the CFP examination and background check, and agree to comply with the CFP Board's Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct. This training offers investment professionals information across a broad range of

JACOB GARRETT

Jacob Garrett is the newest mortgage loan officer at Central Bank. In the banking industry since 2008, Jacob brings an impressive resume to the position, including extensive experience in many facets of banking along with strong knowledge of mortgage loan programs. Jacob was recognized in COMO Magazine’s “20 Under 40” in 2021. He was also given the Emerging Professional of the Year award in 2019 under the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, and named as the “The Face of Mortgage Lending” in the 2022 Faces of Columbia publication. He is currently a member of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Columbia Board of Realtors RPAC Committee, Mary Lee Johnston Community Learning Centers board, and Cattlemen’s Day Rodeo board.

film slate, conceiving of and coordinating the film adjacent Synapses programming, as well as cultivating relationships in the film industry and extending the Fest’s radical hospitality to attending guests. She will also collaborate with the festival’s art and music. Kristal is a bilingual Latino festival programmer, film critic and filmmaker based in Philadelphia, who also serves as awards competition manager for the IDA Documentary Awards, and the interim editor-in-chief of the cinéSPEAK Journal.

KRISTAL SOTOMAYOR

Ragtag Film Society welcomed Kristal Sotomayor as the new film programmer for the True/False Film Fest. In collaboration with artistic director Chloé Trayner and film programmer Amir George, Kristal is responsible for programming the festival

JAZMYN DRAKE

The Columbia Chamber of Commerce has announced Jazmyn Drake as their new director of program development where she will oversee Leadership Columbia, EPIC Division and small business. Jazmyn is a Missouri native and graduated from Rock Bridge High School in 2010. She went on to the University of Central Missouri to complete her bachelor of fine arts with a focus on studio art and interior design. She moved on to find a career path that started in Dallas, Texas, in interior design that eventually led her back home to the Midwest and into the field of design and communications. Jazmyn is also a local small business owner and provides creative design of all kinds. She has a desire to serve her community, promote the development of young professionals and local businesses, and the overall betterment of Columbia — the place she is happy to call home.

THOMAS

MAULLER-CRANE

GARRETT

SOTOMAYOR

DRAKE

BY JULES N. GRAEBNER | PHOTOS BY ANTHONY JINSON

KOPN Community Radio prepares to celebrate their

anniversary.

One evening on your drive home, try turning o your Spotify playlist and tuning into the radio.

If you’re lucky, you’ll land on 89.5 FM and hear anything from reggaetón, to jazz standards, to an impassioned tangent from a caller explaining the social implications of recent events while doing an obviously fake British accent.

It’s perplexing, mesmerizing, and a little bit strange — but that’s exactly what community radio station KOPN set out to be almost 50 years ago.

When KOPN debuted on March 3, 1973, the station’s volunteers had one goal in mind: to give a voice to the community, even when corporate radio stations wouldn’t. Forty-nine years after that rst broadcast, KOPN is still ghting for the same cause.

“It’s pretty amazing when you put the math together,” says Jet Ainsworth, the station’s executive director. “As a community radio station, we’re powered by volunteers. Like any nonpro t, if we make it through one scal year based on volunteers and donations alone, we’ve done quite well. e fact that KOPN not only has spanned ve decades, but two or three generations of Columbians… It's remarkable.”

One of the only community radio stations in Mid-Missouri, KOPN’s longevity seems like a miracle considering that radio stations are shutting down at alarming rates.

“I think traditional [radio stations] are really struggling because of that rst word—traditional,” Jet says.

Fortunately, KOPN isn’t a traditional radio station.

“ ere’s not really a place in this community like KOPN,” explains KOPN operations manager Dylan Martin. “We take people o the street and turn them into radio broadcasters. People of all di erent perspectives, ages, sexual orientations, abilities, et cetera, whether they have radio experience or just a lot of gumption and show them the ropes.”

He continues: “Essentially, we provide an open platform for people in the community who would be otherwise voiceless in

the local mass media to have a voice, to [be heard] 50 miles in every direction over FM or around the world on the internet. Not only do we provide that platform, we provide radio, audio, and electronics training that can be very valuable to that person and their career development.”

ough this concept is largely unheard of in traditional media, KOPN has been doing it for almost 50 years — it’s one of the driving forces behind the station’s success.

“In the early years, [KOPN] was looked at as being the weirdos, the rabble rousers, the ones shouldn’t ‘do’ radio—this wasn’t the ‘right’ way to do things,” Jet explains. “Here is a public media that talks about women’s issues, features Black community talk shows, things you didn’t talk about on radio.

As we reach 50 years, it’s phenomenal how KOPN was right on the nose from the beginning. Now, we have a new generation that’s been looking for this kind of diversity in their entertainment and news, and they probably don’t even know that it’s right here in town and has been here for as long as it has been.”

Still, some things have to change. KOPN recently moved from its iconic downtown location nestled above the street on Broadway to a larger, more accessible building at 401 Bernadette Drive. ough the tiny studio space downtown held a lot of memories for the station and its volunteers, Dylan and Jet say the move was for the best.

“I’ll de nitely miss the old place,” Dylan says with a sigh. “It was just an incredible trust of history for KOPN, but I will say that this [new] building is so much more optimized for technology, broadcast, and accessibility. No stairs, accessible restrooms, two restrooms! Plus, rent [costs] downtown are always going up, and maintaining something that you don’t own for 49 years doesn’t make a lot of budget sense.”

e community stepped up and supported KOPN’s move, raising over half a million dollars for the new property and equipment.

Opening photo, left to right: KOPN staff members: Julie Aston (Administrative Manager), Jet Ainsworth (Executive Director)

Dylan Martin (Operations Manager), Sarah Catlin (Director of Underwriting)

50 Years of KOPN

March 3, 1973

KOPN’s inaugural broadcast in the Broadway space.

March 1975

KOPN secures 89.5 FM (where it still broadcasts today), expanding the station’s reach from a 5-mile radius to a 50-mile one.

March 3, 1998

KOPN celebrates its 25-year anniversary.

2020-2021

KOPN begins quietly fundraising for its new building, raising more than $500,000 for the cause over the next year.

June 20, 2022

KOPN goes live in the new building for the first time.

March 3, 2023

KOPN to celebrate its 50-year golden anniversary.

“ e money that was raised for the capital campaign shows me that for how much love there is for the history of the old location, there’s every bit as much love for the future of KOPN,” Jet says. “For every tear shed as we walked away from that old location, there was a butter y or two in everyone’s stomach, because we really needed a restart.”

Dylan echoes this statement, saying, “More than anything we’ve done in a very long time, this is an action we’ve taken that may ensure that we survive.”

KOPN will be celebrating its 50-year anniversary on March 3, 2023, but the station’s team won’t be resting on its laurels. Instead, it’s looking forward to the future.

“We really want to be more visible in the community,” Jet says. “We want folks in Mid-Missouri to feel that there is a place that they can go to that’s a little bit unpredictable, a little bit rebellious. We aren’t [entirely] thinking about radio anymore. We’re asking, ‘Where else can we be? Can we do a video series? A YouTube channel?’”

Dylan explains that while KOPN is going global, COMO will always be rst in the station’s heart, which is why KOPN aims to pour back into the community through education.

“I would love to help train the next generation of audio engineers, electronics technicians, the jack-of-alltrades radio engineering types,” Dylan says. “You really need a teacher for a lot of these skills. YouTube is great, but it can’t bring you the people or equipment you need. KOPN can.”

“It’s community radio, we’re here for the voiceless, the underserved,” Jet says, encapsulating KOPN’s mission. “ at’s what KOPN is. e more people that know we exist, the more activation we’ll see, especially from younger generations that feel more empowered than ever before to speak out. Now, they can do it with professional equipment.”

KOPN 401 BERNADETTE DRIVE COLUMBIA, MO 65203

KOPN.ORG

OFFICE: 573-874-1139

STUDIO (OFF-AIR): 573-874-5676 TALK LINE (ON-AIR): 573-443-8255

Community is the New Currency

The Source Summit convenes communities for economic and social change.

BY AMANDA LONG

O riginally from Shady Grove, Louisiana, Lester Woods Jr. moved to Missouri in 1993 to pursue a master’s degree in public administration from MU. But it was Lester’s dissertation for his doctorate of ministry from United eological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, that became the impetus for what is known today as e Source Summit. e project established a model that brought together private businesses and corporations. Training programs like Job Point and faith-based organizations joined forces to foster discussions around social and economic concerns and collaboration to enhance social equity amongst disadvantage communities. e dissertation project participants experienced a 4% increase in economic income, increased social capital (knowing what organizations exist to provide upward mobility), as well as established inner-group relationships and learned how to work together to improve quality of life.

“As a result of that work, I established e Source Summit. It is an extension of the dissertation to put in practice the model that was established in the community to have a larger impact on increasing the social and economic status of people in need,” Lester said. “ e purpose of e Source Summit is to convene community-based organizations, corporations, and the faith-based community to in uence economic and social change for individuals within the Columbia, Missouri community.” e economic and social concerns that every community across the country struggle with today.

Speakers discuss faith-based partnership solutions during the 2021 Source Summit.

The Source Summit Global

Mission

The Source Summit Global (SSG) brings together the faith-based community, community-based organizations and corporations in order to enhance economic and social equity within disadvantaged communities through education, employment and entrepreneurship.

In order to address economic and social concerns, which are ever evolving, concerned individuals must work together and give undivided attention to obstacles and barriers prohibiting individual and communal progress. The Source Summit Global mission is accomplished through collaboration amongst community stakeholders to enhance the lives of those affected by joblessness, lack of opportunities and poverty.

SSG plans to close economic and social gaps through local summits and other events, which foster dialogue and discussions through presentations, workshops and sessions that inspire partnership and change.

1. Summit leaders, speakers and volunteers gather at the conclusion of 2021 Source Summit. (Pictured from L-R: Karita Moss, Johnnie Moss, Maurice Coffee, Edlexus Coffee, Cassandra Gould, Lester Woods, Christine Woods, Michelle Lee, Charles Stephenson, Jonathan Lowe, Tina Johnson, Cheryl Cheadle, Shannon Wilson and Marcus Taylor). 2. The 2021 Summit launch with a ribbon cutting during the business expo. (Pictured from L-R: Jonathan Lowe, Shannon Wilson, Lester Woods and Whittley Walker). 3. Lester Woods presents during the 2021 Source Summit.

“ e overall plight of e Source Summit was to include the faith-based community in the discussion of economic inequality,” Lester said. “ ere are other existing organizations that have these conversations, but often the faith-based community is not at the table.”

e Source Summit held its rst conference last November. e two-and-a-halfday event kicked o with a business expo featuring 16 vendors. At the event, each vendor discussed the opportunities they offer to connect employers to interested candidates and minority and woman-owned businesses to potential opportunities.

e annual event is the agship for the organization, and Lester says e Source Summit has continued what it learned in last year’s event. e organization conducts bi-monthly roundtable discussions with a holistic group of 30 community leaders and organizations including Love Columbia, Job Point, e United Way, Columbia College’s TRiO Student Support Services, MU, e City of Columbia and Boone County Government.

Volunteer Leadership Team

• Shannon Wilson, JD/MBA, Client Partner Executive, Kyndryl, Inc.,

• D’Andre Thompson, MBA, Program Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist, Boone County Community Services Department

• Whittley Walker, MBA, Vice President and Executive Director, Nevada Health Centers

• Jonathan Lowe, BA, Success Coach, Dallas College

• Larisha Jones, AA, Registrar, Oakland Middle School

Day two was lled with sessions and workshops that addressed the power of social change through the work of local not-for-pro t organizations. is second day saw participation from 14 churches, 41 corporations, and seven community-based organizations.

Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Brian Yearwood also took part and presented a keynote presentation. e talk focused on the future of workforce development, diversifying the workforce, and releasing the power of minority and woman-owned businesses.

e nal day of the conference focused on providing back-o ce support for the faith-based community to better position itself to do business with corporations and other training programs.

e organization’s latest initiative, e Last Mile Valet Service, will provide free, supplemental transportation to COMO residents in need. “We have purchased three vans and are in the process of writing a business plan to seek funding from private donors as well as the city of Columbia,” Lester said.

e Source Summit Global gained its 501(c)(3) status in August, and this year’s summit is scheduled for Nov. 10-12. e nonpro t organization fundraises through sponsors and private donations. Volunteers who are interested can ll out an application on their website.

THE SOURCE SUMMIT GLOBAL thesourcesummitglobal.com

TheSourceSummit@gmail.com (573) 823-9679

Shining for the Community

Accounting Plus has grown from a spark to a shining star during their 30 years of business.

BY ALICIA BELMORE | PHOTOS BY LANA EKLUND

The exterior of Accounting Plus looks like that of any other accounting rm.

But upon stepping inside, you're greeted with a bright, welcoming space. On the west side of Columbia, they have settled into a nice-sized o ce building which has allowed them to grow throughout the years. Come 2023, they are taking over another space in the building they currently reside, and the future looks as bright as their well-appointed lobby.

THE SPARK

Accounting Plus was started by Denise Nelson in 1992. Her company began in a tiny, shared o ce, preparing taxes for roughly 75 clients. Partner Tina Marso joined the venture early on and the two began building Accounting Plus into the company we see today. ey would say they balance one another out.

“We build on each other’s di erences,” says Tina about the way they work well together. ey are celebrating this year, what they call a “20/30 year combo” anniversary. e business has grown and changed so much over these last 20 to 30 years.

Today, Accounting Plus is a full-service accounting and nancial services advising rm. With the addition of Insurance Plus to their umbrella, they have several departments to cover all the nancial needs of the community.

Of course, they handle tax preparation for individuals. Outside of tax season, they are focused on helping the community thrive. Focusing more on small to medium-sized businesses, they also handle business payroll, workers compensation, liability, bookkeeping, etc. ey like to focus on startup businesses, helping them learn all of the things they need to get their business up and running.

A RADIANT TEAM

As you might suspect, it takes quite a few people to make this all happen. e business has grown a lot since those early days. ey have roughly 35-40 employees at any given time. Denise and Tina are still partners. In addition, there are six managers, four accounting team members, eight on the payroll team, four insurance team members, four business and tax advisors, a tax preparation team that uctuates gaining some seasonal tax preparation help as the business demands, and an administrative team that supports them all.

“We’re so proud of the team we have,” Denise says. “And those that have come before them. ey live out our company promise every single day to listen intently, earn our client’s trust, and become their partner in prosperity.”

In addition to serving their community with outstanding nancial advising and tax preparation, Accounting Plus is a vital volunteering group in our community as well. Allowing their team members paid time o to volunteer, Denise and Tina are avid supporters of the community themselves. e busi-

ness sponsors a lot of events and athletes with monetary donations. ey volunteer with the Voluntary Action Center, Honor Flight sponsorship, and many team members sit on the boards of various nonpro ts in the community.

When they see a need, they o er probono work. For example, if a small business needs help with nancial direction, yet does not have it in their start-up budget, Accounting Plus jumps in.

"We encourage our sta to give back to the community, and provide opportunities to volunteer throughout the year," Denise says. "Our work is powerful and meaningful, but it can't be done well if our hearts aren't in the right place."

With all that has changed over the past few years, Accounting Plus has done the same as many of us and bolstered their digital services. ough they’ve had to learn along the way, growing their digital platforms has allowed them to help more clients and be more exible in the ways they do so. ey’ve found that using more digital tools has allowed the business to be more streamlined and Denise

hopes to improve their digital functionality, while implementing even more modern tools of their trade, to give their clients the easiest ways to achieve their goals and thrive.

SHADES REQUIRED

Looking forward to the future of the business, Denise says, “We would like to deepen our relationships with clients, to engage, and service clients better.” In addition to continuing to grow the business, they plan to add a fully integrated and well-rounded nancial advising service, including accounting, insurance, and investment. Accounting Plus o ers a valuable service to the community both in their beautiful o ce space, as well as digitally, and plans to continue growing and shining for years to come.

ACCOUNTING PLUS, INC. 1604 Business Loop 70 W 573-445-3805 accountingplusinc.com

A Financial Pillar

After more than a century and a half of service, big change is on the horizon for Commerce Bank with promotions and growth.

BY JENNIFER TRUESDALE | PHOTOS BY LANA EKLUND

Since 1845, Commerce Bank has prided itself on safe lending practices and compassionate customer service.

As the country transitioned into e Reconstruction Era following e Civil War, future mayor Francis Reid Long came to Kansas City with $10,000 and founded Commerce Bancshares, eventually renamed Commerce Bank.

When the stock market crashed in 1929, Commerce took some losses but didn’t take as big a hit as other banks. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the banks to close, Commerce President W.T. Kemper personally handed out apples to those waiting in line to collect their accounts. Following World War II, Commerce Bank, again, helped spark business growth, even helping Marion Laboratories Owner Ewing Kau man buy the Kansas City Royals in 1969; Commerce remains the bank of the ballclub today.

From the 1960s-2000s, Commerce added locations across Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Colorado, and Oklahoma. When the Great Recession hit in 2008, Commerce avoided risky mortgages and was the third-largest bank in the country to turn down the government bailout. As of March 31, Commerce Bank is the 61st-largest commercial bank in the U.S., according to the Federal Reserve Bank. Commerce Bank ranked 34th on Forbes list of America's Best Banks 2022, ranking for a 13th consecutive year. Additionally, in 2022, Newsweek named Commerce one of America’s best banks for customer service for the second consecutive year.

In July, Commerce announced that Steve Sowers, former president and CEO of Commerce Bank’s central region, was promoted to senior regional director and CEO of the bank’s Missouri Community Markets. Steve promoted Sarah Dubbert to president of Commerce’s COMO branch.

“My promotion re ects increased responsibility for overseeing our community banking strategy for a larger territory that includes all of our locations in Missouri outside of St. Louis and Kansas City,” Steve said about his new role. “Having a strong leader in Sarah Dubbert, president, Commerce Bank, Columbia, was essential to gaining the capacity to expand my scope.”

Steve looks forward to the coming growth of its commercial payment o erings and being of greater service in healthcare.

“Improving the complete patient experience, including the nancial component, has become a mission for health systems, hospitals, and practices,” Steve said of coming developments at Commerce. “ e e ort has gained greater currency as patients increasingly demand the convenience and e ciency they experience in their other consumer encounters. Commerce Bank o ers cost-e ective, easy-to-implement, proven automation solutions in accounts payable, patient nancing, receivables management, and electronic payments that can help drive improved patient nancial experience. is is an exciting time for the growth and expansion of our commercial payments solutions and services portfolio, including commercial card, merchant, treasury, and several specialty solutions and teams in key industries like healthcare and insurance.”

Sarah said the expansion of commercial payment solutions isn’t the only exciting development on the horizon.

“We recently announced the launch of Commerce Connections Direct, developed in collaboration with FISPAN, a leading North American ntech company, to o er embedded banking within our business customers’ Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems to automate processes, payments and nancial information,” Sarah said. “We were proud to be one of the early banks providing this solution. Our customers have made signi cant investment in their ERPs; integrating their banking and payments into those systems and increased automation allows our customers to leverage those investments more comprehensively. Additionally, we continue to stay on top of the volatile and unprecedented economic environment so we can help business owners and households focus on what matters most to them.”

Before her promotion, Sarah was the commercial banking division manager for Commerce’s central region, a role which she will continue.

“In addition to leading and managing the Commercial line of business for our

larger region, I will also serve on Commerce Bank’s Columbia Advisory Board and Commerce Bancshares Foundation, with broader responsibility for community activities in the Columbia market. In this role, I will continue to have opportunities to connect our business with the needs of the community.”

Both Sarah and Steve love working at Commerce Bank, as evidenced by their tenure. Sarah has been with the company for 15 years, and Steve for 25.

“Commerce Bank is a great place to work,” Steve said. “I’ve been on the team

for more than 25 years and had lots of opportunity to grow. Commerce is intentional in development and career growth which has been evident for both Sarah and me. I am excited about how we support team members with great bene ts and exible schedules so they can focus on what matters most.”

COMMERCE BANK 901 E. Broadway 573-886-5200 commercebank.com

At Lombardo Homes, we don’t just build homes. We help families lay the foundation of their future.

With numerous communities in the greater Columbia area, including Anywhere Lombardo, a build-on-your-lot company, we offer a price, product, and community for any client you may have. Visit our sales office and decorated model at The Gates to learn more about building with Lombardo Homes!

BRECKENRIDGE PARK OLD HAWTHORNE OLD HAWTHORNE ESTATES

West of Scott Blvd / Highway TT, south of I-70 / US 40 Ranch & 2-story homes priced from the mid $400s

East of Rolling Hills Road, north of Fulton Gravel Road Ranch & 2-story homes priced from the high $400s

THE GATES

West of MO-163, south of Highway K Ranch & 2-story homes priced from the low $400s

East of Rolling Hills Road, north of Fulton Gravel Road Ranch & 2-story homes priced from the mid $600s

THE BROOKS

East of US 63, north of E Broadway Street Ranch & 2-story homes priced from the high $300s

FOREST PARK SOUTH WIND

East off US 63, South of W Broadway / Hwy M Ranch & 2-story homes priced from the mid $300s

West off US 63, South of W Broadway / Highway M Ranch & 2-story homes priced from the mid $300s

Brad Roling

Market President — Columbia, Mid America Bank

PHOTOS BY ANTHONY JINSON

JOB DESCRIPTION

My job is to help Mid America Bank strategically expand its presence in this community. My main focus now is continuing to grow our commercial loan portfolio in this market. As we grow in COMO, I will add to our team and help formulate our plan to help and give back to our community.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

My entire professional career has been spent in banking. Before joining Mid America Bank, I spent more than 10 years working for Central Bank in St. Louis, Lake of the Ozarks, and here in Columbia.

erson City, Missouri

YEARS LIVED IN COLUMBIA

12 total (eight professionally and four as a student at MU) .

QUOTE YOU LIVE BY “Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses.” — Kobe Bryant

FAVORITE VOLUNTEER/ COMMUNITY ACTIVITY

I enjoy being a part of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of MidMissouri. I’m currently an active member on its Board of Directors and serve as the treasurer. What RMHC does to keep families close while their child receives medical care is truly incredible.

FAVORITE RECENT PROJECT

I’m currently focused on two large projects: Growing and expanding Mid America Bank into the COMO market and helping the Ronald McDonald House with its $12 million capital campaign to construct a new house near the newly located Children’s Hospital. Both projects are developing, and I’m excited to be a part of their future!

A COMO BUSINESSPERSON YOU ADMIRE AND WHY

Mike Hentges. Mike left a very successful career in the lawn-and-landscape industry in 2020 to follow his heart and start St. Raymond’s Society. SRS is a nonpro t and its mission is: “Partnering with new and expectant mothers to build a thriving future for themselves and their families.” With Mike’s guidance, SRS continues to grow and have an impact on so many people.

WHY YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR JOB

I thoroughly enjoy building relationships with each of my clients. I like learning about them and their businesses so I can better assist them with their banking needs. I also enjoy being a sounding board for my clients/prospects and listening to their ideas.

WHY YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR COMPANY

Mid America Bank is continuing to grow and expand while still remaining a true

“My kids. There is no better feeling than being a parent.”

going forward. Banking / community banking is not an exciting industry right now. So, we have to nd ways to attract the talent that is needed not just to serve the client’s needs now, but for years to come. Some fundamental aspects of nance jobs have changed in terms of technology, remote and exible work environments, and where and how the clients want to do their banking. is has forced banks to reevaluate how they operate going forward.

YOUR NEXT PROFESSIONAL GOAL

Continue to expand Mid America Bank’s presence in COMO, form a good team, and begin opening branches in this community.

BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED IN BUSINESS

Treat people fairly and with respect. Surround yourself with mentors and colleagues that make you a better person.

HOW YOU WANT TO IMPACT THE COLUMBIA COMMUNITY

I want to continue to give back by being active and volunteering on nonpro t boards that make our community a better place. COMO is an amazing community, and I am happy to be living here and raising a family here!

GREATEST STRENGTH Integrity.

locally owned and operated community bank. It’s been around for over 100 years, and its primary mission has been, and continues to be, serving the banking needs of the people living in and near the communities they serve. I’m excited to be a part of their mission and to help them grow.

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

I would be in the construction/ development industry. at is what my dad and grandpa did for a living, and I have always had an interest in it.

WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT YOUR PROFESSION ere’s no such thing as bankers’ hours!

THE NEXT CHALLENGE FACING YOUR INDUSTRY

I see the biggest challenge as nding, attracting, and retaining the workforce

GREATEST WEAKNESS Patience.

WHAT YOU DO FOR FUN

I enjoy attending MU basketball & football games with family and friends. Both of my boys keep me active, and we spend a lot of time outside at the pool, the lake, or playing golf.

FAMILY

I have a beautiful wife, Rachel, that works at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. We have two very active boys, Beckham (5) and Tyson (2).

FAVORITE PLACE IN COMO

Faurot Field on gameday or CCMO’s golf course.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT I married my high school sweetheart!

ACCOMPLISHMENT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF

BY MICHELLE TERHUNE

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) was enacted to address the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on individuals, businesses, organizations, and governmental entities.

It earmarked $65 billion for jurisdictions entitled to receive Community Development Block Grants, which includes the City of Columbia. According to the Government Finance O cers Association, the federal funding is intended to “make strategic investments in long-lived assets, rebuild reserves to enhance nancial stability, and cover temporary operating shortfalls until economic conditions and operations normalize,” in the wake of the global pandemic.

e city received $25.2 million in ARPA funding. e rst half is already being used by the city to address four key social services issues: Workforce development, homelessness, community violence, and behavioral crisis care mental health services. How does the Columbia City Council determine how best to spend the extraordinary second $12.6 million?

It asks the people who live and work here.

The Question

Kari Utterback, senior planner with Columbia/Boone County Public Health & Human Services puts the enormity of the city’s total ARPA funding into perspective.

“ e city every year spends almost $1 million on social services funding. is is essentially 25 times that to be spent over the next couple of years. So that investment could be a dream come true for some folks,” Kari says.

Kari and colleague Jordan Bales, also a senior planner with Health & Human Services, were tapped to plan and execute a comprehensive assessment of the community’s priorities for spending this half of the ARPA funding. As stated in a formal presentation developed by Kari and Jordan, “ e purpose of the survey was to identify disproportionate impacts on individuals, households, businesses, and nonpro ts, and to collect feedback regarding the community’s prioritization of the American Rescue Plan Act funding.”

One of the federal government’s requirements for ARPA funding is that it must be allocated by Dec. 31, 2024 and spent by Dec. 31, 2026. With those deadlines, there was no time to waste.

Part one of the community assessment was initiated with the distribution of sur-

veys beginning June 1. More than 5,000 surveys were completed in writing, online at BeHeard.como.gov, and even by phone by people from various demographics in COMO. Surveys were printed in six di erent languages and made available at the public library, the city’s rec center, and even distributed to, completed, and returned by those waiting in line at mobile food pantries and to those attending multiple public events in COMO throughout June.

“We were really intentional about making sure we got the survey to as many folks and as many identities of folks as possible, because we live in a really diverse community in Columbia,” Kari says.

“We wanted to make sure that this survey would be completed by the number and identities of people representative of the community. Because we did, we heard from those who have been signi cantly impacted by COVID.”

Part two involved conducting 12 focus groups in just three weeks to obtain more qualitative input. Among those participating include Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) residents, Spanish-speaking residents, refugees, nonpro t organizations, residents from households earning less than $35,000 a year, teenagers, parents of children, health and mental health professionals, frontline workers, and residents with disabilities, among others.

e people spoke. Here’s what they said.

The Search

e survey data was broken down in a variety of ways, including by zip code of the respondent and whether they lived or worked in COMO. ose most negatively impacted by the pandemic nationwide, namely low-income and BIPOC were also speci c categories examined in the analysis.

Four of the ve top areas of concern were shared among all respondents, low-income respondents, and BIPOC respondents. ey were health and mental health access, a ordable housing, homeless residents, and food, utility, rental, or cash assistance. Among all respondents, “premium pay,” which addresses pay for those who had to work on the frontlines during the pandemic, ranked third. Low-income and BIPOC respondents didn’t put premium pay in their top ve, replacing it with food insecurity instead.

What may be most telling is that the order in which low-income and BIPOC survey respondents ranked their top concerns was nearly the opposite of the way the top concerns were ranked overall.

“It was really important for us to break down the data the way that we did, by showing the priorities of low-income and BIPOC respondents” Jordan says. “I think what we learned was really vital, but not necessarily surprising that they ranked priorities in a di erent way.”

Kari and Jordan presented the ndings of the survey to the City Council in July. e Council, in turn, decided who should be involved in the focus groups. Focus group participants voiced their concerns about those priorities established by the survey results. And although access to health and mental services was a priority no matter how the data was broken down, mental health as a topic emerged in every discussion about the impact of the pandemic.

“The city every year spends almost $1 million on social services funding. This is essentially 25 times that to be spent over the next couple of years. So, that investment could be a dream come true for some folks.”

- Kari Utterback, Senior Planner, Columbia/Boone County Public Health & Human Services

Rankings Comparisons

“It was really important for us to break down the data the way that we did, by showing the

of low-income and BIPOC

I think what we learned was really vital, but not necessarily surprising that they ranked

in a different way.”

Bales, Director

Perhaps the comments on surveys and in focus groups tell the story best.

“ eir quotes de nitely help tell the story and bring the data to life,” Jordan says. “It’s very bene cial to hear those personal experiences.”

The Rescue

Once the focus group input is presented to the City Council on Nov. 7, it will be up to them to establish priorities for the $12.6 million. And unlike many funding opportunities, open only to nonpro t organizations and agencies, anyone will be able to propose e orts to address those priorities in a request for funding.

“We want to put money where it’s going to be utilized by the folks who are most impacted,” Kari says. “So, maybe that’s really not a large agency. Maybe that’s a group of individuals with more boots-on-theground interaction with those who need the most help.”

e city has purchased ResourceX, budgeting software that aligns community priorities with governmental expenditures. Matthew Lue, the city’s director of nance, says those interested in putting forth a proposal will submit it via ResourceX. e software will use the submitted information to rate the value of proposals according to factors such as alignment with target priorities.

ARPA funding requires timelines, program costs and expenditures, intended outcomes, and how those outcomes will be measured. Moreover, the City Council will need to be able to assess, at the end of the day, the impact funded e orts have on the community. For those small organizations, groups, or individuals who aren’t agencies accustomed to submitting grant proposals, some of these details can be intimidating.

“ResourceX will eld the ideas from the public about how to solve problems related to the priority areas,” Matthew says. "Once we can gure out whose ideas best address the priorities, we will get into the speci cs with those people about what we will need to provide them with funding.”

“We’re looking at putting out an RFP for capacity-building. We de nitely need to build capacity for those smaller organizations,” Matthew says.

Capacity-building is partnering smaller grant-seekers with larger agencies, like United Way, for example, who can help them with the technical requirements. e

"A large centralized facility for the homeless, to provide shelter, showers, laundry facilities, clothes, food and mental health supports/life coach support programs."

"Renewable housing resources: new build + rehab of old homes in subsidized micro loans (not land trusts) that are paid back at next to nothing interest rates to create an on-going pool of resources to develop more housing of the same nature..."

objective is to help those o ering potential solutions put their ideas into action.

“In the long run, it will help these small organizations not just with ARPA funding, but with state and federal dollars as well.

ey would have that new knowledge of what they need to do to track funding to respond to other grant opportunities. Hopefully, we can build small organizations as well through this capacity-building opportunity,” Matthew says.

The Best is Yet to Come

"Funding to assist middle-class working semi-retired people struggling with buying food, gas, emergency expenses (car/medical/ dental) due to the prices increases and no increase in income."

After a pandemic that devastated individuals, businesses, and organizations is many ways, this ARPA funding may o er hope in the search for solutions. Because this is the rst time such funding is being o ered to the community, the city is still working out many of the details necessary to meet the requirements of how the money is supposed to be spent.

Not every single voice was heard during the assessment process, and not every idea will be funded. But the opportunity for an entire community to engage in building a better place to live is real. It will be exciting to see what happens next.

Stay tuned.

Infographic and survey quote information from City of Columbia, Columbia/ Boone County Public Health & Human Services' Revitalize, Renew, Recover: ARPA Community Engagement presentation.

"...there used to be a coupon program through CPS and local clothing pantry that would help parents buy new shoes for their kids twice a year — that program was SO HELPFUL, and I haven't seen anything like that anywhere else we've loved — and haven't had that program since before the pandemic. Parents NEED that back!"

A Huge 2022 SP ONSORS

Joe GabouryJill & Darin Mongler

&

BY JODIE JACKSON JR. | PHOTO BY ANTHONY JINSON

ith in ation still squeezing money from our wallets, everything is more expensive. at a ects how much we all pay in sales taxes.

It’s an important perspective for Columbia residents when they read about the City Council’s $472 million budget.

On one hand, the city could gain $60 million in sales tax receipts for the rst time. On the other hand, the city is paying more for goods and services, just like the rest of us.

A new source of sales tax revenue — an expected $4.2 million from the 2% use tax approved by voters in April — will help boost the sales tax collection total. But don’t get the impression the additional money is a windfall.

“Items just cost way more than they did a year ago,” Columbia nance director Matthew Lue said. “Services, materials, supplies — we’re seeing 10, 15, 20% increases on a lot of those. We’re receiving more from sales tax because prices are higher. We’re also spending more because prices are higher.”

Columbia’s economic picture is hardly doom-and-gloom. According to Matthew, the robust sales tax gures are indicators of an equally great business and retail climate.

Roughly 45% of Columbia’s budget is funded by sales taxes. Many city services, such as water and light utilities and parks and recreation function, are funded by user fees and revenue bonds issued for some capital improvement projects.

e scal year 2023 budget, which began October 1, includes more than $48 million in capital improvement projects. Projects include nearly $1.9 million for renovations at the Grissum Building, replacing the water slide at the Activities and Recreation Center and more.

Before taking a deeper look at the various taxes funding Columbia’s infrastructure, public transit, and parks, here’s a snapshot of other features in the new budget approved by the Columbia City Council on Sept. 19:

An increase in the water rate highlighted most of the public comment and council work sessions after the council received the draft budget Aug. 13. ere will be a $2 increase to the base rate and a 24-cent-per-cubic-foot increase across all use tiers, and a 40-cent increase to the commercial rate.

Users who pay $32-$34 a month for water service now will see a roughly $4 increase in their monthly water bill. Keep in mind residents and businesses can expect to see additional increases of 2% annually through 2028. Columbia Water and Light Advisory Board

Member David Switzer said the incremental approach would be less challenging for low-income residents.

Matthew said city o cials justi ed the rate increase based on lagging revenue versus the cost of providing the service. He warned the water utility “would face going negative cash in two years” without the increase.

A 4% pay increase for city employees.

Construction for Fire Station No. 11, which will cost $4 million, on the southwest side of town, which will be sta ed with 12 re ghters. Construction will begin in 2023.

Additional sta ng for the Columbia Police Department, including three airport-safety o cers, an additional crime scene investigator and a new police sergeant.

City bus services will continue to be fare-free in scal year 2023.

Funding to increase and build investments in social services, including contracts with communitybased providers Turning Point, Room at the Inn, e Food Bank, Salvation Army and more.

Adding a possible shuttle service for commuters along the Route B corridor.

Business license fees will increase for the rst time since the license fee schedule was adopted in 1975. Annual at rates will increase by $5, with further increases for the city’s higher-grossing businesses. All told, about 2% of Columbia businesses may see an increase of $2,250 per gross receipts calculations.

Some increased fees for multiple recreation programs and rental facilities. (Increases are expected to bring in an extra $25,000 for parks and recreation.)

e city’s storm water utility, recycling/refuse collection, sewer, water and light department, and airport are self-funded via user fees, sometimes making use of revenue bonds that are paid for with user fees. Parks and Recreation is an example of a city department that both generates user fees and receives sales tax revenue.

e city sales tax is collected at a rate of 7.975%, or almost 8 cents for every dollar spent. e city tax does not include additional tax charged by transportation development districts, tax increment nancing districts or community improvement districts. ose entities receive those tax receipts.

e 7.975% sales tax rate includes 4.225% for the state; 0.50% for county general revenue; 0.50% for the county road tax (which is shared with the city); 0.125% percent for the Boone County Law Enforcement tax; 0.25% percent for the County Community Children’s Services Fund; and 0.375% percent for the County E-911 Emergency sales tax. at leaves 0.2% of sales tax for the city: 0.1% for the general fund, 0.25% for parks and recreation, 0.25% for capital improvement projects, and 0.50% for transportation.

Columbia voters approved the one-quarter cent parks sales tax in April 2000. Half of the tax is permanent and supports operating costs and some capital projects.

e remaining half is temporary and must be approved by voters to continue, which voters did in November 2021. at part of the tax will expire March 30, 2032.

It’s a similar arrangement for the quarter-cent capital improvements sales tax. Half is permanent; the other half, set to expire Dec. 31, 2025, must be reauthorized by voters.

e city receives 5.6% of property tax bills, while the school district receives almost 86 cents of every dollar in property taxes. Missing sales tax revenue from residents shopping online meant losing out on millions of dollars. Columbia voters approved a 2% local use tax, also called the internet sales tax, that is expected to generate about $4.2 million each year.

Matthew says the actual results may take a while to see because adding the tax is voluntary until January 2023. at additional amount is expected to increase total sales tax revenue by $13.7 million, or 27.4%, over scal year 2022 totals.

While the public’s awareness of the budget process probably began in mid-August, the process occurs year-round.

“It’s a long process. It never really stops,” Matthew said. “We get one scal year approved, and almost immediately we move to the next year.”

“Services, materials, supplies — we’re seeing 10, 15, 20% increases on a lot of those. We’re receiving more from sales tax because prices are higher. We’re also

404

A Secret

Accounting

Alzheimer’s Association

Andrea Lyn Events

Anne Tuckley

Anthony Jinson

Atkins

Baumgartner’s

Boone Health

Brockmeier Financial

Callaway Bank

Bank of

Central Missouri

Commerce Bank

Chiropractic

Convergence

State Community

Hawthorn Bank

& Ueligger

Lizzi

Lombardo

Mcclure

Mediacom

Mid

from the Past