COMO Business Times | The Community Issue | November 2025 by The COMO Companies Magazines | COMO Magazine

Robin Westphal

Do you ever wonder “Why am I even with this bank?”

It’s too easy to accept a mediocre experience when banking is just a part of life. Before, it seemed like I had to jump through every hoop for my bank. I wanted a bank that would actually work for me. Look, switching banks is a big decision. I never made the e ort before, because I assumed I’d just get the same thing. After switching to The Bank of Missouri, I’ll never wonder if my bank can do more.

The bank of not settling. The Bank of Missouri. Switch to better.

Contributors

November 2025

Karen Pasley

I’ve been copyediting for the magazines since March 2025, after a serendipitous encounter near the Aldi dairy case reintroduced me to editor Jodie Jackson Jr.

I came to Columbia from Tallahassee, Florida, in 1999, when my history professor husband accepted a job at MU. This had the happy result of putting us much closer to family in Kansas City and Minnesota.

I love how our little city punches above its weight, culturally speaking, thanks to the creative entrepreneurship of its residents. The True/False Film Fest and the late, lamented Roots N Blues Festival have given me enough happy memories for a lifetime.

As the spouse of an historian and daughter of a man who never saw a roadside historical marker he wouldn’t stop for, I particularly enjoyed Michelle Terhune’s piece on Boone County’s legacy place names.

Sunitha Bosecker

Sunitha has written about a variety of lifestyle and food topics for our magazines, and she has shared her expertise as a mental health professional by contributing to our community “Voices” columns. She has been writing for COMO and CBT since August 2024 and has “greatly enjoyed the experience.”

Sunitha started her business, Sunitha Lea, LLC, in 2018 while completing her master’s degree in mental health clinical counseling at Stephens College in Columbia.

“I specialize in helping small businesses and nonprofits improve their marketing through strategy development,” she says. Sunitha is also a licensed mental health professional who is passionate about providing accessible, high-quality counseling services, from individual sessions to workplace mental health education.

In August 2025, she began her Ph.D. program in human development and family science at the University of Missouri.

“I love making connections and discovering new places and experiences,” she says, “and it’s wonderful to have the opportunity to write about them in Columbia.”

Sunitha lives in Columbia with a miniature Australian shepherd named Ollie.

PUBLISHING

David Nivens, Publisher david@comocompanies.com

Chris Harrison, Associate Publisher chris@comocompanies.com

EDITORIAL

Jodie Jackson Jr, Editor jodie@comocompanies.com

Kelsey Winkeljohn, Associate Editor kelsey@comocompanies.com

Karen Pasley, Contributing Copyeditor

DESIGN

Jordan Watts, Senior Designer jordan@comocompanies.com

MARKETING

Charles Bruce, Director of Client Relations charles@comocompanies.com

Kerrie Bloss, Account Executive kerrie@comocompanies.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Keith Borgmeyer, Jodie Jackson Jr

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ashli Eaves, Lauren Sable Freiman, Jodie Jackson Jr, Matt McCormick, Steve Spellman, Brian Toohey, Robin Westphal, Kelsey Winkeljohn

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Magazines are $5 an issue. Subscription rate is $54 for 12 issues for one year or $89 for 24 issues for two years. Subscribe at comobusinesstimes.com or by phone. COMO Business Times is published monthly by e COMO Companies.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

COMO Business Times and comobusinesstimes.com strive to be Columbia’s leading source for timely and comprehensive news coverage of the local business community. is publication is dedicated to being the most relevant and useful vehicle for the exchange of information and ideas among Columbia’s business professionals.

FEEDBACK

Have a story idea, feedback, or a general inquiry? Email our editor at Jodie@comocompanies.com.

CONTACT

e COMO Companies | 404 Portland, Columbia, MO 65201

PASTOR JACKSON IS IN THE HOUSE, dear flock, so let’s come together with hearts that yearn for peace and unity as we seek to share a sacred moment before the Lord. (Whoa. Not bad for a guy who hasn’t stood behind a pulpit in twenty-four years, since the Sunday after 9/11, huh?)

Cracking open the trusty ol’ King James Bible (authorized version, red letters and all), let’s take a peek at this month’s topic: Thankfulness and gratitude. Here are our verses.

Philippians 4:6: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

And then 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

That’s good old Paul, the scribe who penned most of the New Testament, and the same man who presided over and participated in the persecution and stoning deaths of the earliest Christians — well, before Christ’s followers were actually called Christians. For this guy to pontificate about being thankful and having a heart of gratitude in all circumstances, well, he must be superhuman, because I’ve been in some circumstances — some that are ongoing — that make it quite challenging to be thankful. And so was Paul.

Quick, abridged, Cliff’s Notes recap: Paul and his missionary pal Silas were the first to take the gospel of Christ to Europe (Macedonia), where Paul got fed up with a demonic spirit, cast it out of a young girl, and completely ruined her handlers’ exploitation of her plight, which they had monetized quite well.

Paul and Silas were whipped and nearly beaten to death, then cast into a jail where, at midnight — and here’s our first takeaway — “they prayed and sang praises to God.” Our second takeaway: “And the other prisoners heard them.” In my still-unpublished, 90,000-word, historical fiction novel Shackles, the other prisoners — and this is based on Philippi’s unique geographic location — could have represented other cultures and languages.

But each of them heard what was being prayed and sung.

What happens next, of course, is an earthquake and the miraculous salvation of the jailer, who, by the way, I’ve named and storified in Shackles.

Ruminate for a while on the midnight praying and singing of Paul and Silas and how the other prisoners heard them. Then grasp the fact that Paul wrote his “in all things give thanks” edict after all of this happened. What does that mean for you, and do you have a heart and an attitude of gratitude?

None of this means we aren’t pained by personal, family, or national strife. Having an attitude of gratitude, however, helps us foster and nurture a grateful mindset. What are you grateful for? What am I grateful for?

October 8, 2025, was the fifth anniversary of my dad’s death from COVID. I am grateful for how close we became in the last few years of his life. I hope my mini sermon here would have pleased him.

November 22, 2025, marks forty-nine years since I got a girlfriend, Kelly, in the eighth grade. We’ve now been married forty-three years. I am so grateful for this amazing woman. I am grateful for our daughters, who have helped mold me into the man I am.

I’m grateful to be an American, even as broken and divided as our country now is. I’m grateful for a team of co-workers who show up for each other like family. I’m grateful for David and Sara Nivens piloting the ship we are on. I’m grateful that God sent angels in the form of dogs. So grateful.

Let me know what you are thankful for, and how you manage — or struggle — to maintain a heart of thanks and an attitude of gratitude.

Happy Thanksgiving!

JODIE JACKSON JR EDITOR jodie@comocompanies.com

The editor shows off a nice bass that is among a stringer of catfish, which is held by Jodie E. Jackson Sr., circa 1973.

Robin Westphal marks one year as executive director of the Daniel Boone Regional Library system in November. She is this issue's Person You Should Know (see page 16).

Photo by Keith Borgmeyer

CBT’s Advisory Board

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

Shawn

Brooke

Drew

Jay

Mizzou Arena Renovations

Closer Look

ENOCH TRAINING & FITNESS

Opened in June 2025, Enoch Training & Fitness is a private, one-on-one personal training studio designed for women, o ering intentional, individualized coaching that helps women feel seen, heard, and strong. Founder Dr. Rachel Enoch is a certi ed personal trainer, certi ed nutrition coach, certi ed health coach, and behavior change specialist with a doctorate in rehabilitation. She opened Enoch to create something di erent for women.

“Too often, traditional gyms can feel intimidating or unwelcoming,” says Enoch. “Historically, women haven’t always felt safe taking up space in tness settings, and I wanted to change that.”

Enoch Training & Fitness brands itself as a space for women to feel supported and to build strength that carries into every part of life, mentally, emotionally, and physically. It strives to meet women exactly where they are and build from there. Every session is client and trainer, in a space created with intention, where strength feels personal, positive, and empowering.

“We believe strength looks di erent on every body, and all of it deserves celebration,” Enoch adds. “ is isn’t about comparisons or perfection. It’s about showing up, putting in e ort, and feeling the di erence that strength creates in your body and your life.”

You will never see “before and after” walls at Enoch Training & Fitness. Instead, the studio celebrates progress, con dence, and what it means to feel strong in your own body.

1203 Roger St., Unit 103

Instagram: @enochtraining enochtrainingandfitness.com 573-227-2249

TIARA’S LEARNING CENTER LLC

Tiara’s Learning Center LLC, a twenty-four-hour childcare center, early learning center, and preschool, opened its doors in 2022 as a registered in-home provider with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Now, it’s expanding into a larger, state-licensed facility — with construction set to begin in January 2026 and a grand opening planned for early spring 2026.

“We o er full-day, evening, overnight, and weekend care to meet the needs of working families with nontraditional schedules,” says founder and CEO Tiara Williams, a lifelong childcare provider and proud Columbian.

Recognizing the growing need for around-the-clock care, Williams set out to create a space that supports parents across all industries, strengthening both families and the local workforce by providing reliable, high-quality care.

“I don’t want to be just a place where you drop your children o ,” she says. “I want to be the place you choose for your children to learn and grow.” at’s why the center features nurturing classrooms designed around hands-on learning and kindergarten readiness.

In addition, parents can access a live video feed for peace of mind and take advantage of a dedicated breastfeeding and parent comfort room. e center also promotes physical and mental well-being by partnering with Compass Health Pediatric Dental to provide free dental services for enrolled children and by o ering American Sign Language lessons for infants and toddlers.

Renovation of the new facility will begin January 1, 2026, with the location to be announced ahead of its spring 2026 grand opening.

tiarawilliams348.wixsite.com/tiaraslearningcenter

Facebook: Tiara’s Learning Center CBT

Movers & Shakers

BRECK DUMAS

Affinity Office Furniture has announced that Breck Dumas is now a co-owner, after she bought out a former owner of the nearly 20-yearold company earlier this year. A Columbia native, Dumas joins fellow Mizzou grad and Affinity founder Don Corwin as partner. Before the buyout, Dumas was a national reporter for FOX Business.

KEITH KENTER

The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) has elected Dr. Keith Kenter, MD, professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Missouri, to the position of board director elect. ABOS board members serve one ten-year term. Kenter specializes in shoulder and elbow surgery and orthopaedic sports medicine. He is the director of the Sports and Shoulder Fellowship Program at MU Health Care’s Missouri Orthopaedic Institute.

DAVE ROBERTS

Columbia College has promoted Dr. Dave Roberts to vice president for student experience and dean of

students. Roberts has more than two decades of experience supporting student development and campus engagement. In his new role, Roberts will oversee the Division of Student Experience, which includes student conduct, student engagement, health and well-being, Stafford Library, the Grossnickle Career Services Center, the Academic Achievement Center, residential life, and leadership development.

JAMIE THORNSBERRY

The Missouri Realtors Fall Business Conference in September named Jamie Thornsberry of Columbia as the recipient of the Missouri Realtors 2025 Bruce Aydt Code of Ethics Leadership Award. The award recognizes a Realtor who has been a role model in professionalism while engaging in activities such as offering advice and counsel on the Code of Ethics, teaching the Code to other Realtors. Thornsberry served as president of the Columbia Board of Realtors in 2023. She was the CBOR Realtor of the Year in 2017.

PROLIFIC EXTERIORS

The ACA Business Club of Missouri has awarded its Business of the Year honor to Prolific Exteriors, a roofing and exterior contractor serving mid-Missouri. The award recognizes companies that demonstrate exceptional business practices, professional excellence, and dedication to community service. Prolific Exteriors is based in Mexico, Missouri.

COLUMBIA INSURANCE

Madison Warrener has been promoted to human resources coordinator at Columbia Insurance. In her new role, Warrener is key in shaping company culture through internal communications and employee events. She welcomes new hires and provides support across benefits and HR programs. Nathan Miller has been promoted to commercial lines underwriting assistant at Columbia Insurance. He supports strong agency relationships as a member of the Columbia Regional Team. CBT

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

DUMAS

ROBERTS

MILLER

KENTER

WARRENER

THORNSBERRY

Briefly in the News

NOVEMBER 2025

CASA Cuts Ribbon on Fundraising Campaign

Heart of Missouri Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), which helps train court appointed special advocates for children in the foster care system, has kicked o a campaign to reach $4.6 million to complete fundraising for its new home o N. Stadium Boulevard.

CASA hosted a ribbon-cutting on September 9 at the site where it is planning to build a 10,000-square-

foot building. Half of the building will be used as a training and advocacy center for sta ; the other half will be a clubhouse for the foster care children CASA works with. e organization bought the 1.3-acre site in February 2024. A groundbreaking is expected to take place in 2026, with the facility opening in 2027.

“To me, with this building and campaign, I want kids in foster care to know that our community sees them,” said CASA Executive Director Kelly Hill. “We care about them. We care about their future.”

WELLNESS

City ARPA Funding Helps Spur Behavioral Health Crisis Center Construction

Burrell Behavioral Health hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Behavioral Health Crisis Center (BHCC) at 107 Texas Ave. on October 21. Burrell CEO Mat Gass and Columbia Mayor Barbara Bu aloe were speakers. e new BHCC will expand crisis services access to the city of Columbia, Boone County, and the mid-Missouri area. e new

facility will expand upon several elements from the existing Burrell Behavioral Crisis Center located at 1805 E. Walnut St. in Columbia. e Texas Avenue BHCC will be three times as large, at 5,437 square feet. Clients can receive up to seventytwo hours of care compared to up to twenty-three hours at the existing BHCC. Burrell will be able to expand overall treatment access and provide more care to individuals in the Boone County Jail. In September 2024, the city of Columbia allocated Burrell $3 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to construct a new BHCC on the same campus as the Phoenix Clinic. Burrell’s Phoenix Clinic has provided residential and outpatient substance use disorder treatment for more than fty years. “After the pandemic, the demand for additional mental health services — especially acute services — grew exponentially,” Bu aloe said in a news release. “ is investment in our community and the residents who live here will make us stronger.” e Burrell BHCC at 1805 E. Walnut St. will continue to operate 24/7 without interruption to services during the construction of the Texas Avenue facility.

ART & CULTURE

65th Annual Boone County Art Show Will Run Through November 21

Nearly 200 works of art were entered in the 65th annual Boone County Art Show, co-sponsored by Central Bank of Boone County (CBBC) and the Columbia Art League. Selected works from the show will be on display at CBBC’s downtown location at Eighth and Broadway through November 21. A partial list of this year’s winners includes:

Professional Painting

• First Place – “ e Game of eir Lives” by Larry Carver

• Second Place – “Pages of Her Dementia: e Diary I Never Knew About” by Linda Helmick

• ird Place – “Certainty” by Jane Mudd

Professional Drawing

• First Place – “Petroglyphs #1” by Larry Kautner

• Second Place – “Silent Paws Pause” by Hope Martin

• ird Place – “Airport Lights” by Joel Chrisman

Non-Professional Painting

• First Place – “Barn Swallows at Dusk” by Gary Roberson

• Second Place – “Morning in the Paw Paw Patch” by Ginny Trauth

• ird Place – “Film Noir” by John Shortino

Non-Professional Drawing

• First Place – “Manifesto: Only With You” by Ian Humbertson

• Second Place – “Cat Napping” by Babette Langeneckert

• ird Place – “Tourists” by Cheryl Hardy

Winners were also announced in sculpture, ceramics, ber, professional other media, and nonprofessional other media categories.

WELLNESS

Mayor’s Council Mini Grants Expand Access to Wellness in Boone County

e Mayor’s Council for Physical Fitness and Health began accepting

applications for its mini grants on October 1. e mini grant program o ers four annual grants of up to $500 each to support mental and physical well-being initiatives in Boone County. e mini grants are awarded on a rolling basis to projects and organizations dedicated to expanding access, knowledge, and opportunities that positively in uence local health policies, systems, and environments. Grants will prioritize applicants whose proposals demonstrate clear, community-wide impact and support for under-resourced populations. Projects might include new tness equipment, mental health workshops, active living programs, and innovative solutions addressing barriers to health and wellness.

“We believe a healthy community starts with expanding access and opportunity at the local level,” said the council’s president, Candace Rodman. “By removing nancial barriers for grassroots projects, the mini grant program empowers Boone County residents and organizations to create real change.”

EDUCATION

Columbia Public Schools Foundation Awards Gift Cards to New Teachers

e Columbia Public Schools Foundation (CPSF) gave a $100 gift card to each new educator in the school district at the start of the new school year. e foundation expected to give out about 200 gift cards this year, for a total value of $20,000. CPSF is a private foundation established by community volunteers dedicated to the enrichment of public education through community giving. Founded in 1966, CPSF has funded projects in every school, allocating more than $1.7 million to enhance education in the Columbia Public Schools. CBT

Should You Trust a Target Date Fund With Your Future?

BY ASHLI EAVES, CHSNC, FINANCIAL ADVISOR AT ALIGNED WEALTH GROUP

YOU’RE SIGNING UP FOR YOUR 401(K) and see a list of funds with dates attached — 2040, 2050, 2060. Which one do you choose?

Target date funds (TDFs) are the most common default option in workplace retirement plans today. According to Morningstar data, more than $3.5 trillion was invested in target date funds as of 2023 (Barron’s, February 2025).

TDFs were designed to simplify retirement investing by o ering a “set it and forget it” approach. Still, it’s important to understand a few key considerations before relying on them entirely.

WHAT IS A TARGET DATE FUND?

TDFs are professionally managed mutual funds that automatically adjust their mix of stocks, bonds, and other assets as you get closer to retirement. e “glide path” gradually shifts from growth to preservation.

For example, a 2050 fund may start with 80 to 90 percent equities early in your career, move to 60 to 80 percent at mid-career, and land around 40 to 60 percent equities at retirement. e goal is to reduce volatility as you approach the time you’ll likely begin drawing income.

WHY THEY’RE ATTRACTIVE

e appeal of target date funds is clear: ey’re simple to select, they automatically rebalance, and they provide builtin diversi cation and professional oversight. For many investors, they can serve as a convenient foundation for retirement savings.

THE LIMITATIONS

But there are tradeo s:

• TDFs are a one-sizets-all approach. A 2045 fund doesn’t know

whether you plan to retire early, own outside assets, or have a di erent risk tolerance than your peers.

• Di erent funds have di erent glide paths. Not all 2050 funds are built the same. Some remain growthoriented longer; others become more conservative sooner.

• Costs are a factor. While generally lower today than a decade ago, TDF expenses still vary.

• Retirement isn’t the nish line. Many funds stop adjusting around the target year, yet the average 65-year-old can expect to live another 20 years. at’s decades of investing beyond the “target date.”

WHEN THEY MIGHT (OR MIGHT NOT) FIT

TDFs can be a practical option for younger investors just getting started or for

busy professionals who prefer simplicity. But for higher earners, business owners, or families with more complex nancial lives, a one-sizets-all approach may not fully address their needs.

Consider:

• Taxes: TDFs don’t account for whether contributions should be Roth or Traditional, how to manage capital gains, or when to take distributions in a tax-e cient way.

• Business ownership: Irregular income, succession planning, and/ or the need for liquidity often require more exibility than a preset glide path allows.

• Unique family goals: TDFs aren’t designed with objectives like college funding, early retirement, supporting a loved one with special needs, or charitable giving in mind.

• Personal comfort with risk: A preset allocation doesn’t account for how you react to market swings.

ALTERNATIVES AND ENHANCEMENTS TO TDFS

Fortunately, you don’t have to choose between all or nothing. You can mitigate the limitations of target date funds with:

• Layering: Some investors keep a TDF as their retirement core while using other accounts — like a 529 plan or taxable brokerage — for shorter-term goals.

• Periodic check-ins: Life changes — you may take a di erent job, receive a promotion, or develop new family needs. While a TDF rebalances automatically, it doesn’t know your broader picture. A regular review with an advisor can help con rm alignment.

• Customization: Some investors may prefer portfolios tailored to their needs, whether that’s more international exposure, higher bond allocations near retirement, or strategies to reduce taxes.

CONCLUSION

Target date funds can be a useful tool, but they aren’t the whole plan. Retirement isn’t one-sizets-all a air, and neither is your investment strategy.

e next time you review your nances, ask your advisor: Does this fund align with everything I’m trying to accomplish? at one question can open the door to a more complete plan. CBT

Your office holiday party deserves more than beige walls and breakroom cookies. Elevate the season (literally) in our brand-new Elevation Ballroom at The Broadway! With skyline views, chef-driven menus, and enough space to fit the whole naughty and nice list, we’ll help you host a holiday event that sleighs.

PYSK

Robin Westphal

Executive Director, Daniel Boone Regional Library (DBRL)

Job description: As DBRL’s executive director, I am responsible for making sure that the library develops and maintains programs and services that meet the unique needs of the varied communities served by the Daniel Boone Regional Library.

Describe your professional journey and some highlights: I’ve had the opportunity to work in a variety of library settings, including as a school librarian, law librarian, children’s librarian, adult services librarian, Missouri’s state librarian, and, of course, public library director. When I took my rst director’s job in Chillicothe, I helped the library pass a bond issue to renovate our 100-year-old building and managed the $2.7 million renovations without any previous construction management experience. roughout my career, I’ve never shied away from challenges. I lean into di cult situations — what some may nd as chaos or obstacles, I see as opportunities.

Hometown: Carbondale, Kansas

Years lived in Columbia: 5

Favorite quote or motto: “Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you.”

Favorite volunteer/community activity: Besides attending library programs, I really enjoy being outside, hiking trails and playing disc golf. In addition, Columbia’s live music scene is incredible and varied. It’s a music lover’s dream, especially when coupled with the area’s record stores!

Your position at DBRL began about a year after library employees voted to unionize and the library board approved a contract with the union. How did that step affect the workforce, library operations, or service to the public? Coming into DBRL after the union contract was in place, in many ways, was an advantage. From the start, it was clear that both the board of directors and sta expected me to prioritize building a people- rst workplace — a commitment I would have embraced regardless of the union’s presence. I very much feel the team approach to decision-making that a union brings to a workplace bene ts not just the employees (better working conditions, bene ts, and a mechanism that makes sure their input is valued and included), but also the community. Decisions are made more thoughtfully, with a wider range of perspectives at the table. For example, the union played a central role in ensuring DBRL established both a safety and security department and a social worker — investments that are critical to the daily operations and, ultimately, to how we serve our patrons.

It’s clear that today’s modern library is about more than books, but books are still the one image we associate with a library. What are some of the other services that today’s libraries provide? Libraries, DBRL included, have changed from a focus on physical books to becoming full-service community hubs, driven by both digital transformation and evolving societal needs. Having recently gone through a pandemic, libraries also recognize that how people want to use a library is di erent. For example, here at DBRL, digital materials (i.e., e-books, downloadable audiobooks, and digital databases) never lost any steam, usage-wise, after the pandemic, nor has curbside pickup.

Libraries provide ancillary services like notary services and passport services because those are needed public services that are being phased out in other areas. I see the library of the past was about information. e library of today is

about opportunity and connection — to knowledge, to technology, and most of all, to each other.

Let’s talk about “banned books.” (We felt like whispering that question.) What is your role in determining which books are among DBRL’s volumes, and when might a book or subject be banned? We have a collection development team that strives to create a collection that is balanced and that we feel meets the educational and recreational needs of our patrons. Ultimately, though, as executive director, that responsibility lies with me.

We recognize and defend the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to Read, which reinforces our commitment to providing access to information for all people — without restriction based on origin, age, background, or views — and our patrons’ right to access diverse ideas and viewpoints. We do, though, have a mechanism in place for patrons to request that we reconsider keeping a speci c title on the shelf.

A Columbia businessperson or leader you admire and why: Representative Kathy Steinho . I met her the rst time when I was state librarian, and as a former educator, she brings a calmness and willingness to listen as she represents a portion of Columbia in Je erson City. She reaches out to me if she has questions about library-related legislation so that she is informed on those issues.

What attracted you to DBRL and Columbia? e community support for DBRL is unmatched. As state librarian, I was privileged to visit many of the library districts across the state, and I was always impressed with the programs and services DBRL o ered that not only met the needs of Columbia residents, but also met the needs of our more rural locations in Fulton, Holts Summit, and Ashland.

Columbia also o ers so many opportunities to connect with nature, and that’s also something exciting and vibrant about living in a college town.

I see the library of the past was about information. The library of today is about opportunity and connection — to knowledge, to technology, and most of all, to each other.

If you weren’t doing this for a living, you would be … My dream job would probably be sports broadcaster or playby-play announcer for the Kansas City Royals. Another great gig would be to be the librarian at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Yes, that’s a real job!

It seems that we all have competing priorities these days. How do you prioritize your priorities? I’ve always been a very driven person, and for much of my life, my priorities centered on work and raising my children. Now that my children are grown, I’ve recognized that my priorities have evolved. Work remains extremely important to me, but I also value making time for travel and for solitude, which helps me recharge and maintain balance. I’ve learned that caring for myself allows me to show up as my best self in both my professional and personal life.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing public library systems today? Uncertainly about funding is one of the biggest challenges most libraries are facing today. In Missouri, libraries get 90 to 95 percent of our funding from local property taxes, and there has been discussion about how to “reform” this funding stream that could have major impact on libraries. In addition, the rising costs of e-books and other digital content are making it hard to keep up with demand. DBRL doesn’t su er from this, but some library systems are struggling with adapting to the ever-changing societal needs and how they continue to be relevant in their communities.

Biggest lesson learned in your working life: I’ve learned that no matter the challenge, maintaining a positive outlook keeps you a step ahead. at positive mindset not only helps in nding solutions, but also sets a tone for others around you.

Greatest strength: Here’s what I hope is my greatest strength: that I balance my professional authority with a sense of humanity and compassion.

Greatest challenge: I put a lot of pressure on myself in this pursuit I have for excellence, both professionally and personally. I’ve set very high standards for myself and the humanity that I give to others; I sometimes need to extend that to myself.

What you do for fun: Crate digging, aka looking for hidden gems when vinyl record shopping. I also love going to concerts, with my favorite recording artist being Willie Nelson.

Who makes up your family: My partner Ryan; his children, Ella and Keller; and my own grown children: Jamie and her spouse, Andrew, and my youngest daughter, Kelly, and her husband, Caleb. My family is not complete without KC and Hickory, our two dogs.

Most people don’t know that you: Read magazines starting from the back. I think I started this habit in the 1980s when Rolling Stone would list the top hits of the day in the back of the magazine. ey don’t do that anymore, but the habit has stuck with me. CBT

Changes to SALT Could Help Missouri Taxpayers Now

BY BRIAN TOOHEY

SOME MISSOURI TAXPAYERS are likely to see a welcome shift in their federal tax bills beginning in 2025 thanks to changes to the state and local tax (SALT) deduction. For many taxpayers here, especially those in the middle or upper-middle income brackets, the relaxation of the SALT cap can translate into meaningful savings.

Under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the federal deduction for SALT (including state income tax, property taxes, and other taxes) was limited to $10,000 (or $5,000 for married individuals ling separately). e intent of limiting SALT was to o set lost revenue from other tax cuts that were enacted that year. Many taxpayers in states like Missouri, which have state income and property taxes, felt at a disadvantage when trying to maximize their federal SALT deductions. is became a central sticking point in discussions regarding the most recent federal tax bill passed earlier this year.

With the enactment of that bill in July, the imbalance of the SALT deduction got a little better. e SALT cap is now set at $40,000 for married couples ling jointly (and $20,000 for those ling separately) through 2029. For those earning less than $500,000 in modi ed adjusted gross income, the full deduction can now be claimed, while higher earners will see a phased reduction. After 2029, the law reverts to the original $10,000 cap unless Congress acts again.

Some argue that the expansion of the SALT deduction will disproportionately bene t the wealthy and add to the federal de cit. e new limit will cost the federal government roughly $130 billion

over the next ve years, and if extended beyond its 2030 expiration as expected, the total price tag could exceed $250 billion over the next decade. ose who will bene t claim the increase corrects an imbalance with states that don’t have state and local taxes.

For many Missourians — especially homeowners, middle- to upper-income households, and owners of pass-through businesses — H.R. 1’s SALT changes will o er welcome federal tax relief starting in 2025. While it’s not a permanent x, the temporary boost to the SALT cap gives taxpayers in our state a window to recalibrate their tax planning and take advantage of deductions that were previously capped out. With the right strategy, Missouri taxpayers can turn the restric-

tive SALT regime of the last eight years into an opportunity to reduce their federal tax burdens.

However, the increased SALT deductions might not help every Missouri taxpayer who pays state income tax and local taxes. eir total itemized deductions may still fall below the standard deduction amount of $32,200 for married taxpayers ling jointly ($16,100 for individuals). Another factor to consider is the cost of ling your taxes to claim all your deductions versus taking the standard deduction. If you pay a professional to prepare your returns, your savings from claiming SALT might be less than what you’d save by ling your federal and state returns yourself using only the standard deduction. CBT

Brian Toohey is the chief executive officer for the Columbia Board of REALTORS®.

Columbia Buses — Will They Ever Work Well?

BY STEVE SPELLMAN

AS OF THIS WRITING, our municipal government has pending yet another report on the transit system. It would be great to have a functioning bus system around COMO, but let’s be honest: We don’t. A lot of residents might use the bus to get to work, but they don’t — or rather, they often can’t.

Public transit has generally been a very uneconomical operation, kept a oat by massive taxpayer subsidies. For 2025, $7.8 million was budgeted for transit operations costs, but none of the money came directly from riders. In fact, since COVID, the city has waived all bus fares, recently extending that policy yet another year. When you’re giving away a service for free and still attract few takers, something is missing the mark.

Not surprisingly, public transit seems to have high adoption where it’s an attractive way to get around compared to other alternatives, namely driving a car. at’s especially the case in congested big cities, where metro area density means driving and parking can be slow, expensive, and infuriating. As a result, many commuters default to mass transit as the path of least resistance and make a habit of it.

In contrast, Columbia’s built environment is largely suburban. Just look around: Outside of downtown or the college campuses, everywhere in town is built for getting around by automobile. ere’s also a cultural aspect. Even where a relatively robust transit system in place (i.e., school buses), many Columbians still nd it a foreign concept.

Still, there is a strong potential target market. One obvious and vital segment is employees who need to be able to get to

and from work. Yet even for those whose home and workplace are near a bus stop, the frequency and reliability of bus service have to be better.

I found that the nearest bus stop to my home is two miles away. If I somehow trekked up there to catch the bus, then 50 minutes later — which includes transferring lines downtown — I’d end up nearly on time for work. at’s sure a tough sell.

Building back transit’s value proposition to attract a wider clientele thus has to include improved reliability, reasonable convenience, and safety (real or perceived). But that’s no quick x. For the vast majority of locals, who have been so utterly out of the habit of even considering riding the bus, right now bus service might as well not exist.

To change this status quo, the city should focus on the greatest potential target audience: those who need to get around the city center, including the MU campus, and get to and from downtown. It’s so vital to get the college students on

board — and some city-center routes now appear to be trying. More broadly, the city could consider establishing two main lines: one running up and down Providence, with the other going back and forth on Broadway/Worley all day, every 20 or 30 minutes.

Automated vehicles, which are coming closer upon the horizon, present another opportunity. Testing grounds worldwide have birthed functioning robot eets of cars, and now automated buses are being tried. Especially exciting are automated vans that can coordinate riders from various locations and get them various places elsewhere — it sounds like an AI carpool.

Imagine autonomous vehicles buzzing around COMO taking riders to and fro, at residents’ beck and call, available 24/7.

It’s clear that we need to update Columbia’s transit system. As a modern, forward-looking community, will we remain mired in mid-20th century thinking or consider modern methods as we approach the middle of the 21st? CBT

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

How Do You Say Goodbye?

BY MATT M C CORMICK

TWELVE YEARS AGO, my family and I made the trek north from the Dallas metroplex to Columbia, Missouri, to begin a new adventure. e most common question we heard was: “Do you know someone in Missouri or have family there?” e short answer: no. We didn’t know anyone in Columbia when we chose to make the move. en why did we do it? at’s easy.

• A welcoming community: From the rst visit through the interview process and after our move, we were greeted with open arms and warm hearts.

• A great place to raise a family: Whether it was Daniel Boone Little League or TRYPS Children’s eatre, there was always a place for our kids to belong.

• Endless outdoor activities: With its trails, Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, outdoor concerts, and more, Columbia o ers plenty of ways to enjoy nature.

• Living local: From restaurants to shopping and the farmers market, it is always fun and easy to live local.

• A strong, supportive business community: Local leaders are passionate about growth and making Columbia a great place to live, learn, work, and play.

• Higher education excellence: Our colleges and universities fuel

a constant thirst for knowledge, innovation, and progress.

• Unmatched Mizzou spirit: At tailgates and on game days, some of my favorite memories were made cheering on the Tigers.

• An engaged Chamber of Commerce: It’s been an honor to be part of an organization that truly helps businesses thrive.

ese are just a few of the reasons Columbia captured our hearts — and why our time here has been so memorable. Columbia and Boone County are truly unique and special. ey have been that for me and my family for the past twelve years, they are today, and they will continue to be for generations to come. ere is so much for our Chamber to be proud

of — from launching the Leadership Visit and Early College programs, to bouncing forward from COVID, to the Missouri River Bridge project and the ongoing improvements to I-70 — along with countless other e orts too numerous to name.

As I re ect on these years, I’m reminded of a lyric from the Jimmy Bu ett song “He Went to Paris”: “Some of it’s magic, some of it’s tragic, but I had a good life all the way.”

So how do you say goodbye? I’m not sure you can. All I can truly say is thank you — for the memories, the friendships, and the opportunity to call Columbia home. CBT

After leading the Columbia Chamber of Commerce for twelve years, Chamber CEO and President Matt McCormick resigned to become the new president and CEO of the Ocala Metro Chamber & Economic Partnership (Ocala CEP) in Ocala, Florida.

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

WHAT THE PROS KNOW BUSINESS

THE ROLE OF LEADERSHIP IN CYBER AWARENESS: How Business Leaders Can Set the Tone

By Andrew Gilstrap agilstrap@gfidigital.com

Even with advanced security software and a skilled IT team in place, one wrong click on a malicious link can still lead to a costly breach. While technology provides critical protection, the human element is equally important.

Effective cybersecurity starts with leadership. Business leaders have the power to foster a security-first culture where awareness, accountability, and best practices are part of everyday operations. When leadership prioritizes cybersecurity, it influences behavior across the organization, strengthens defenses, and protects what matters most.

Why Prioritize Employee Cyber Awareness Training?

Your employees are the front line of defense, and they need the right knowledge and tools to protect your business effectively. Regular cyber awareness training empowers your team to:

• Identify and avoid phishing attacks: Employees learn to recognize suspicious emails, unusual requests, and malicious links before they cause harm.

• Practice good password hygiene: Training reinforces the importance of creating strong, unique passwords, using password managers, and maintaining accountability for personal security.

• Understand social engineering tactics: Awareness helps employees spot manipulation attempts and verify identities before sharing information.

• Handle data securely: Ongoing education ensures your team knows proper storage, sharing, and encryption practices.

• Report suspicious activity: When employees are confident in recognizing threats, they’re more likely to speak up before small issues escalate.

The Importance of Leadership in Cybersecurity

As a leader, you set the tone for how seriously your organization treats cybersecurity. When your team sees your commitment to good cyber hygiene, they are far more likely to follow suit. You can make an impact by:

• Communicating clearly: Make cybersecurity expectations simple and relatable. Encourage open dialogue so employees feel comfortable asking questions and sharing concerns.

• Modeling best practices: From secure logins to password management, your actions set the example.

• Empowering your team: Provide them with the tools and technology to succeed, such as password managers, multi-factor authentication, and continuous training.

• Investing in continuous learning: Cyber threats evolve quickly. Training should be ongoing, not a once-a-year checkbox.

• Promoting shared accountability: When everyone understands their role

ANDREW GILSTRAP Vice President

Andrew graduated from the University of Missouri, Columbia with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. Before joining GFI Digital in 2016, he served as Director of Operations for Sangita Capital Partners and brought over eight years of sales and management experience. He has held leadership roles including Sales Manager in St. Louis and Managing Director in Kansas City. Andrew now serves as Vice President in St. Louis, overseeing all aspects of the Technology Services Sales Team and taking pride in coaching and developing his team to achieve their goals.

croofe@gfidigital.com (media contact) marketing@gfidigital.com (general) (877) 434-0012

in protecting company data, security becomes a collective responsibility.

Building a Culture of Security with GFI Digital Secure

Leadership is not just about setting expectations; it is about giving your team what they need to meet them. That is where GFI Digital Secure makes it easy.

Our Complete IT Security Suite helps businesses strengthen their defenses while automatically meeting the standards required for cyber insurance prequalification and employee defense training. Through layered protection and continuous monitoring, we help organizations reduce risk and stay compliant without the paperwork or guesswork.

From Managed Detection & Response, Cloud Detection Response, Dark Web Monitoring, and Endpoint Protection to Email Backup, Spam Filtering, and Security Awareness Training, GFI Digital Secure equips both leaders and employees to play an active role in defending against evolving threats.

When your team is empowered, informed, and supported by strong technology, your business becomes more resilient, and your leadership sets the tone for a truly secure future.

Contact GFI Digital today to learn more about our Managed IT Services.

6 TIPS TO STAND OUT DURING THE HOLIDAYS WITH TARGETED MARKETING

By Charles Bruce III charles@comocompanies.com

The holiday season is one of the busiest — and most competitive — times of the year for businesses. Whether you’re a boutique retailer, a service provider, or a local restaurant, you’re vying for attention in a sea of promotions, events, and special offers.

The secret to cutting through the noise? Targeted marketing. Instead of trying to reach everyone, focus on reaching the right people with the right message at the right time.

Here’s how you can use targeted marketing to make your business shine this holiday season.

1. Know Your Audience (Really Know Them)

Before you start planning your holiday promotions, take a step back and look at your audience data. Who are your best customers? What are their shopping habits? What do they value — convenience, exclusivity, affordability, luxury?

Use tools like Google Analytics, email marketing platforms, and even social media insights to segment your audience by age, interests, buying behavior, location, and more. The more detailed your understanding, the more personalized — and effective — your marketing will be.

For example, if you know that your 25- to 35-year-old customers tend to shop online late at night, try sending a promo email in the evening hours with mobile-optimized content and exclusive online-only deals.

2. Personalize Your Campaigns

Once you’ve segmented your audience, tailor your messaging to each group. Generic “Happy Holidays!” emails just won’t cut it anymore. Consider trying:

• Custom product recommendations based on past purchases

• Special offers for VIP customers or loyalty members

• Emails that use the customer’s name and mention their local store

CHARLES BRUCE III Director of Client Relations

Charles Bruce is the Director of Client Relations for COMO Companies, which owns COMO Marketing, COMO Magazine, and COMO Business Times. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and his MBA from the University of Dubuque. When Charles isn’t being the life of the party, he can be found climbing a large mountain. In December 2023 he climbed the Imja Tse mountain in Nepal.

• Local event invites based on customer ZIP codes

Personalization increases engagement and makes customers feel seen and valued—a powerful combination during the emotional holiday season.

3. Time It Right

The holidays are a marathon, not a sprint. Plan a phased marketing campaign that builds momentum throughout the season.

• Early November: Focus on brand awareness, wish lists, and sneak peeks.

• Black Friday / Cyber Monday: Launch aggressive sales, flash deals, and bundles.

• Mid-December: Emphasize urgency with messages like “Last Chance to Ship in Time!” or “In-Store Pickup Available.”

• Post-Christmas: Don’t forget the gift card redeemers and post-holiday bargain hunters.

Use automation to send follow-up emails and retarget ads based on how customers interacted with your first outreach.

573-577-1965 | comomarketing.co

4. Use Local Targeting to Your Advantage Local businesses have one major advantage over big brands during the holidays: community connection.

Highlight that you’re locally owned and tie your campaigns into what’s happening in your area—parades, small business Saturdays, local causes, etc. Use geographic targeting in your ads and emails to invite nearby customers to shop local, attend in-store events, or take advantage of curbside pickup.

Pro tip: If you’re running digital ads, use location-based targeting to ensure your message is only shown to people within a specific distance from your storefront.

Scan the QR code to read the rest of our tips on how to stand out this holiday season!

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION

By Vaughn Prost info@prostbuilders.com

In the world of construction there are two types: residential and commercial. How are they different?

Residential construction is the construction of structures people live in-such as houses, townhouses, condos, duplexes, and apartments up to 4 units that provide living spaces. They’re smaller in the scope of work and are designed to focus on privacy, comfort, aesthetics, and function for residents. Residential construction also utilizes materials that are cost-effective and lighter by using wood framing and drywall, have a shorter timeline than commercial construction, and must adhere to the regulations with the IRC (International Residential Code).

Commercial is the construction of facilities for business operations: warehouses, offices, retail stores, hospitals, hotels, churches, schools, manufacturing plants, and industrial facilities. The scope of work is much larger, has a longer timeline for completion, and is more complex in functionality and design. They’re often built with steel, concrete, and glass that provide durability and structural integrity/strength. It must also meet the International Building Code, as well as meet environmental regulations, zoning laws, OSHA. Commercial construction must also comply with codes for public access-such as ADA compliance, fire safety, HVAC systems, and elevators. Developers, investors, government entities, and corporations are the owners of these commercial facilities that serve the needs of a community or city.

Prost Builders has dedicated 76 years constructing courthouse annexes (Boone County Courthouse Annex, Jefferson

VAUGHN PROST Owner & President

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

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

City Courthouse Annex), police stations (Jefferson City Police Station), medical facilities (Battle Avenue Medical Building), churches (Cathedral of Saint Joseph, St. Andrew Catholic Church, Church of Latter Day Saints), schools (Olen Howard Workforce Innovation Center, State Tech’s Utility Technology Center, Rock Bridge Elementary, Jefferson Middle School), manufacturing plants (Everlast Fitness Manufacturing, Brookstone), industrial facilities (Intermodal, Harry S Truman parking garage, MU Power Plant), and large scale apartment complexes (Ted Herron Apartments, Capital City Apartments,

Eagle’s Nest Apartments), and office buildings (American Building, Park Office Building), as some examples of our large footprint in Central Missouri.

Commercial construction is a crucial part of every community and Prost Builders has dedicated the past 76 years to providing commercial facilities that serve the needs of residents and businesses in our state. Our company was founded in Missouri, and given our dedication-we’ll always be here for our clients. Contact Prost Builders when you’re ready to grow your business with a trusted construction company rooted in legacy, pride, and excellence at 573-690-1616.

Eagle’s Nest Apartments in Linn, MO is commercial construction vs. a residential single-family home.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU: KELLY VANLOO, RESIDENTIAL LOAN OFFICER

By Brad Roling

Hello! I’m Kelly VanLoo, a Residential Loan Officer with Mid America Bank. I’ve been in the banking industry for over 30 years and with Mid America Bank for 19 years. I’ve been married to my husband Ted for 30 years and we have 2 sons, Jake & Luke. In my free time I enjoy spending time outdoors with my family and friends either at the Lake of the Ozarks or at the farm and always look forward to our yearly trips to Colorado.

How did you get started as a loan officer? I worked as a Customer Service Representative at my

previous employer, which didn’t offer home loans at the time. When a new manager came on board to launch the mortgage program, she asked me to take on the role of mortgage lender. Despite being the youngest and least experienced on the team, she saw potential in me and gave me the opportunity. I’m incredibly grateful for the trust she placed in me, it was a turning point in my career and has led me to where I am today.

What do you enjoy most about your job? I love establishing long-term relationships with my clients and walking them through the home buying or home building process. Throughout the process, we are in constant communication, so I get to know them well. It’s rewarding to see a project through from start to finish, but I’m always a little disappointed we won’t get to talk as frequently. I always love when they call me back on future projects and we get to reconnect again.

If you could give advice to future home buyers, what would it be? Get preapproved for a mortgage loan before you start house hunting. It will help you understand your budget and establish a price range to help narrow your search. Being preapproved shows the seller you are serious and ready to buy. Also, buying a home is not as scary of a process as it seems. We will be there every step of the way to answer questions and talk through scenarios, so you feel prepared and supported. Whatever arises, we will get through it together!

What is your dream home? A beautiful rustic cabin in the woods with a wraparound porch, massive fireplace, and large windows with fantastic views of the mountains. That would be the ultimate dream home for me.

BACK TO HER ROOTS Entrepreneurial

Kelsey Raymond steps into big shoes to continue her own legacy.

BY JODIE JACKSON JR

A CACOPHONY OF STUDENT VOICES, laughter, footsteps, and smartphones buzzing and beeping just outside her door pours into Kelsey Raymond’s o ce in the Griggs Innovators Nexus on the MU campus. But the mishmash of sounds is hardly displeasing to Raymond’s ears.

“I love it,” she says, ashing a wide smile. “I’m a product of this program.”

As the new executive director of entrepreneurship programs for the University of Missouri’s Division of Research, Innovation & Impact, Raymond now occupies the o ce and position held for twenty years by Greg Bier, who is somewhat of an institution in the entrepreneurial and business startup space.

Raymond would become a megastar among local entrepreneurs as a co-founder of In uence & Co. in 2011 — at the ripe old age of 22. First, though, she began that journey with a serendipitous campus visit to MU when she was a senior. As an accomplished golfer at Nerinx Hall High School in Webster Groves, Raymond had captured the attention of MU women’s golf coach Stephanie Cooper.

“I told my parents not to come along on my Mizzou visit, because I wasn’t going to go to Mizzou,” she recalls. “But mom said I should do it because Coach Coop had been so kind in recruiting me.”

During that visit, and with the offer of a full-ride scholarship on the table, Raymond explained her reluctance to make Mizzou her collegiate home: e university did not o er an entrepreneurship major. Cooper countered by introducing her to Bier, who was “doing some cool stu with entrepreneurship.”

And just like that …

“I called my mom and dad on the way home and said, ‘I signed my o er. I’m going to Mizzou,’” Raymond said.

Now 36, Raymond occupies Bier’s o ce.

“I feel like I hit the jackpot. is feels like a dream job to me,” she said. “It is a big honor to add to Greg’s legacy.” She added, “ ose are big shoes to ll.”

THE INFLUENCE & CO. YEARS

It was Bier’s mentorship — and having a front-row seat to the evolution and growth of the Griggs Innovators Nexus — that put Raymond on a trajectory to build her own business. She wasted no time. After graduating from MU, Raymond joined with John Hall and Brent Beshore to start In uence & Co., a digital marketing company.

In the beginning, the company’s only service o ering was helping business leaders establish themselves as “thought leaders” by getting their opinion and commentary articles published in online publications. e team quickly realized that they were unable to show solid return on investment results without handling other aspects of their clients’ digital marketing, including blogs, e-newsletters, white

pages, and landing pages to capture email addresses and other data. In uence & Co. later added search engine optimization to its list of o erings.

Over the years, Raymond and In uence & Co. found their stride, earning national and regional recognition along the way. eir accolades include Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Marketing & Advertising (2016), Inc. Best Workplaces (2017), one of St. Louis’ Largest Women-Owned Businesses (2019), and Missouri’s Small Business Person of the Year (2020).

Over time, the company became a full-service content marketing agency. Meanwhile, Raymond bought out Hall’s and Beshore’s interests in the company in 2018, taking out a $4 million SBA loan to make that happen. She invited Bier and Alyssa Patzius, one of the original In uence & Co. Employees, to come on as investors/co-owners.

And then came 2020.

Raymond was struggling with a dicult pregnancy, and her rst child was born on February 20, just two weeks before “the world shut down,” she said. Her mother was also undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

“Going through COVID, we got to a point where we would not have been able to make payroll,” Raymond recalled. She had to lay o some employees because she did not have the “deep pockets” needed to give the business an infusion of cash. As she nursed her son in their living room, Raymond was despondent, telling her husband, “I’m going to make us homeless.” He countered, “I’m one of seven kids. We’re not going to be homeless. Someone will take us in.” at moment of levity lightened the stress load a bit, but it left Raymond with a rm conviction.

“I never wanted to have that feeling again,” she said. “I never wanted to be in a position where I had to go to employees to say, ‘You need to nd another job, not because you didn’t do what you needed to do, but because I didn’t do what I needed to do.’”

A TIME OF TRANSITION

During the economic uncertainty of COVID, Raymond sat with her co-owners — “in lawn chairs, six feet apart” — to talk about what it would take for another company to buy In uence & Co. At that point, In uence & Co. had grown to seventy-two employees and was generating some $7 million in annual revenue, with clients in nearly forty cities. ey came up with a gure they could agree on, but it had to be more than that. Raymond and Patzius agreed that they both wanted to stay on board.

“ e biggest thing was they were not going to mess with our team culture and especially our very generous HR policies,” she said. “And their quality of work had to be up to our standards.”

Not long after, a private equity group came calling as a possible buyer, acquired the company in February 2022, and rolled ve marketing agencies into one company. e new

company was re-branded as Intero Digital. Raymond stayed on as the chief operating o cer. e original plan was for the sive agencies to continue as separate operations. Instead, the company decided to integrate all agencies into one. Raymond was tasked with making that happen. ere were roughly 350 employees and ve agencies “with di erent cultures, and di erent ways of doing things.”

Recovering from another di cult pregnancy, Raymond and her family were then devastated by the death of her brother on Valentine’s Day 2024. She said her brother had long struggled with drug abuse and mental health issues.

“Going through that loss and grief shined a spotlight on how short life is and that I shouldn’t be doing something that is causing me so much stress and not bringing me joy,” she confessed. “I decided I needed to do something di erent.”

COMING FULL CIRCLE

She made that decision in February 2024; her last day with Intero would not be until April 2025. Raymond said she wanted Intero’s integration to be complete, and she wanted people for more than a dozen years to be prepared for her departure.

“I had no idea what I wanted to do next,” she said. “I wanted something more ful lling, giving back to people more.”

en Raymond saw Bier’s post on LinkedIn about his retirement and the open position.

She said, “I thought I was a complete long shot for the job because I don’t have a master’s degree,” which the position required. Fortunately, she knows that the hiring committee received some exemplary letters of recommendation on her behalf, urging them to bring in someone with real-world experience.

“I had zero experience in academia,” Raymond said, noting what she told the committee. “What I can con dently promise you is that I can bring value to this role because of people I know who are willing to help students and the university. I might not be an expert on that, but I know someone who is.”

She regularly elds calls and inquiries from local entrepreneurs and business leaders who are searching for others to mentor.

“So many entrepreneurs in our community want to help the next generation,” she said. “ at’s just so exciting.”

When it comes to student entrepreneurs, which the Griggs Innovators Nexus helps

Welcome to the Entrepreneur Quest Program

Entrepreneurial-minded Mizzou students showcased their problem-solving ideas at a September 23 pitch competition that determined which teams would land a spot in the Entrepreneur Quest Student Accelerator (EQ) program and a chance to win funds from a $30,000 prize pool.

The signature program of MU’s Griggs Innovators Nexus, EQ has invested more than $223,000 in student ventures since 2018.

The final round for EQ pitches is set for 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, November 18, in the Monsanto Auditorium in the Life Sciences Building. The first-place venture will receive a $15,000 investment, second place will receive $10,000, and third place will receive $5,000.

EQ is sponsored by the employees of Veterans United Home Loans and U.S. Bank. Hawthorn Bank was the audience favorite sponsor.

EQ workshops and coaches guide students through the process of refining their business ideas based on customer needs. The EQ program challenges them to take advantage of a multitude of industry and marketplace resources at Ellis Library and to validate and test their ideas using customer interviews and surveys. The teams also receive services through the School of Law’s Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic and coaching from campus and community experts.

The

finalists

for the intensive EQ program

are:

Green Society

Quality houseplants to support sustainability and health

• Cailey Blackmer, senior in plant science, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

RgentAI

AI-powered RStudio assistant providing context-aware code help, debugging, and insights for researchers

• Nathan Bresette, graduate student in bioinformatics, School of Medicine

Golden HomeShare

Connecting homeowners with vetted live-in help while creating affordable housing

• Malaki Doubet, junior in ﬁnance, Trulaske College of Business

• Nathan Smith, junior in accountancy, Trulaske College of Business

SidewalkScan

AI to detect sidewalk hazards, prioritize repairs, and improve accessibility

• Hang Du, graduate student in civil and environmental engineering, College of Engineering

AcreView Analytics

Converting complex farm data into clear insights for farmers

• Noah Graham, junior in agriculture systems technology, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

Vital Track

Empowering senior citizens and caregivers with proactive health monitoring

• Ted Krause, junior in ﬁnance, economics, and music, Trulaske College of Business/College of Arts and Science

• Dane Bishop, senior in information technology, College of Engineering

• Brock Schoﬁeld, junior in accountancy, Trulaske College of Business

• Harley Whitaker, junior in natural resource science and management, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

Quiet Night ER

Supplemental veterinary education resources for students

• Scott Miller, graduate student in veterinary medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine

Sencare Medical Solutions

Products that alleviate symptoms for individuals with chronic skin conditions

• Chinyere Omeife, sophomore in biomedical engineering, College of Engineering

State Street Spices

Authentic spice blends from different parts of the United States

• Andrew Rubin, freshman in business administration and statistics, Trulaske College of Business/College of Arts and Science

Element IV

Accessible hygiene products, including a novel back washer

• DeShawn Sutton, graduate student in biological engineering, College of Engineering

• Peter Dailey II, senior in mechanical engineering, College of Engineering

• Quentin Rodney, senior in electrical engineering, College of Engineering

• Stephen Ike, graduate student in biological engineering, College of Engineering

• Rayna Bowman, senior in mechanical engineering, College of Engineering

foster through the Entrepreneur Quest Student Accelerator and four retail spaces operated by students, Raymond said one common denominator is that the most successful students have a mindset of wanting to be in control of their own destinies.

And for good reason.

“ ey don’t know if the jobs they are being educated and trained on how to do today are going to exist in the same format four years from now when they graduate,” she explained. “If you feel unsure about that, the best thing you can do is take control of your own future and create something where you’re creating a job for yourself.”

Meanwhile, Bier continues to cheer on his former student-turned-colleague. In a ShowMe Mizzou e-newsletter article in August, Bier said he continues to be inspired by Raymond’s “unbreakable positive attitude” and unwavering team spirit.

“She clearly understands that entrepreneurship is a team sport,” he said. “She also understands the importance of support. Whether that be her husband tag-teaming on their kids’ activities or getting advice from some of our very successful Columbia entrepreneurs, Kelsey realizes how important it is to surround yourself with the right team.” CBT

As renovations and enhancements continue at Columbia Regional Airport, Airport Manager Michael Parks says he is con dent that the future is extremely bright for COU and the city of Columbia.

He notes that passengers who used to rely on the St. Louis and Kansas City airports are beginning to see the advantages of ying out of Columbia instead. As COU works to further enhance the customer experience, he expects those numbers will only grow.

“ e positive experience they have in Columbia will continue to allow us to expand our services, and that allows more customers in mid-Missouri to use a service that has short security lines, convenient parking, and access to the world through mid-Missouri,” Park says.

Part of that positive passenger experience will be planes with more elbow room. With the completion of a new terminal this past October, COU has introduced larger aircraft to fulll higher demand from passengers.

“We have switched to all dual class aircraft with the Embraer 175, and we currently have three direct ights to Dallas and Chicago from Columbia daily with American Airlines,” Parks reports.

While United Airlines suspended service during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it has recently returned to an updated COU.

e airline resumed operations on September 25 with one nonstop ight to Denver and two nonstop ights to Chicago daily. at’s one obvious driver of the increased passenger numbers Parks foresees.

“In 2019, we serviced approximately 270,000 passengers, and we expect to exceed that with both United and American Airlines operating with larger jets in 2026,” Parks says.

Middle photo: Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, left, COU Manager Michael Parks, and University of Missouri System President Mun Choi display the announcement that United Airlines will begin flights from COU on September 25. Bottom photo: Columbia and Boone County officials and local economic development officials applaud the news of United’s return.

In Parks’ view, United’s return to Columbia shows con dence in the mid-Missouri market to support both existing ights and future expansion. COU is rising to the growing demand and preparing for expanded service in the future.

“We nished out counter space and added infrastructure like powered bag belts behind the airline counters,” Parks says. “ is will keep airline employees from having to push bags back to TSA to help expedite the check-in process for passengers with the increase in passengers that the airlines are going to see.”

AN EAR TO THE GROUND

Along with pre- ight and in- ight improvements, travelers will nd that the COU team is also making things better on the ground. Passengers requiring rental cars will enjoy a more accessible and streamlined process, as an old FAA automated ight service station has been repurposed into a new rental car facility, complete with a covered walkway leading from the airport and an improved parking lot.

“ is will allow rental car passengers to deplane, go through baggage claim, and walk out the doors to a covered walkway that will take them to the rental car facility,” Parks explains. To make it easier for customers to nd their rentals in the lot, airport personnel are working to systematize cars’ locations to improve the customer experience for outbound and inbound passengers alike.

e airport grounds will also bene t from a variety of improvements designed to add ease to the customer experience. e addition of enhanced way- nding signage on buildings and the road leading into the airport and the resurfacing of 181 parking spaces from gravel into asphalt lots are both currently underway. Parks notes that the airport will continue to make parking lot improvements over the next few years, with work taking place in phases to avoid disruption for current passengers.

LET MY PEOPLE EAT

Other airport enhancements are focused on food and beverage o erings. In the spring of 2024, Jackson Brothers of the North won the bid to provide an eatery to the airport. e company has had a contract with the city of Columbia for about six years and has been handling the airport’s vending operation, called Stockwell, for some time.

Billy Dearing, general manager of Jackson Brothers, describes Stockwell as a “more upscale vending service” that o ers a selection of cold sandwiches and drinks, along with some candy. It is located on the non-secure side of the airport.

“Stockwell is a cooled vending machine that is always there,” Dearing says, “so someone coming in at 5 a.m. can get something before going through to the secure side.”

Last September, Jackson Brothers opened Tailwinds Market in the secure section of the airport. It features readyto-eat sandwiches, drinks, snack items, and alcoholic beverages. To get passengers on their way quickly, Tailwinds uses Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, which tracks purchases and allows customers to walk in, make a purchase, and walk out without waiting in line. Dearing proudly notes that COU is the rst regional airport in the U.S. to make use of the technology.

A second phase of Tailwinds is now in the early stages of planning and design, Dearing reports. It will likely feature a full co ee bar with a barista and will offer a variety of food, including made-toorder hot sandwiches and pizza. While there is currently no target date for opening, Dearing says that the concept of the eatery will be designed around customer needs.

“It’s about understanding the space, and in that space, customers aren’t coming out to lounge around for three hours,” he notes. “ ey’re dropping someone o or getting on a plane, so everything has to be built around time, rst.”

One thing Dearing can say for sure is that the second phase will expand on the grab-and-go concept of Stockwell and Tailwinds Market.

“With Tailwinds Market, we rolled out with bags of chips, sandwiches that are cold, and drink options to grab and go,” Dearing notes. “ e next upscale step from that is more options with the coffee selection and taking the simplicity of grab and go to the next stage. … Instead of getting the sandwich out of the cooler, we will make it fresh for you straight o the grill into your hands.”

In addition to serving airport customers, Dearing believes a new food o ering on the non-secure side of the airport will also bene t the surrounding businesses and their employees.

“With the post o ce and Amazon facilities, TSA, airline and city employees, and Moberly Area Community College opening their college, that’s going to be the bulk of the customers,” Dearing says. “To get something Door Dashed, it can cost up to $40 extra, so this will give folks in that area another way to get food.”

FRUITFUL COLLABORATION

As Jackson Brothers and COU continue to move their vision forward, Dearing says collaboration with Parks and the COU team has been productive and exciting.

“Together we want to bring something more to travelers, but something that makes sense,” Dearing says. “ ey’ve been great stewards of explaining what their customers are after and helping us with the vision. ey’ve been really great partners.”

Strengthening and enhancing partnerships is front of mind for Parks, as he works to expand COU’s services to the region.

“I continually meet with our current airlines to discuss expansion of the current routes and the addition of routes in the future,” Parks says. “I also meet with other airlines. We have a strong demand for air service in mid-Missouri and will continue to work on additional options for passengers to grow airport service in the region.” CBT

Street Talk

BY JODIE JACKSON JR

Under the Heading “We’ll Wait and See …” At the time of writing “Street Talk” in mid-October, word on the street was that Trader Joe’s may open by the end of the month. If you’re seeing this in November and the popular grocer hasn’t yet welcomed its rst shoppers, well, we’ll wait and see.

e Trader Joe’s sign is now installed on the refurbished building that once housed Macy’s, and a “Now Hiring” banner apped in the early autumn breeze, beckoning the store’s crop of new employees.

e waiting and seeing goes double for Buc-ees, which, we have on good authority, does not have its sights set on Columbia and Boone County, although a clever but satirical Facebook page, “CoMo Breaking News,” reported on October 3 that a “Buc-ee’s Deluxe” is coming to Columbia. e post included an image of a massive Buc-ee’s store, complete with dozens of gas pumps, a car wash, and “the all-new Buc-ee’s Resort.” e “resort” featured several spirals of roller-coasters and other amusements.

If anything lent credibility to the wild fantasy, it was the mention of current work on the 70/63 connector and the claim that the project would be getting nished as the connector project was being completed. e post added, “Ground will break early in 2026 on the property located at Vandiver and 63 just across from the Bass Pro Shops.”

We can con dently report that the mega super Buc-ee’s development is, at the moment, nothing more than a nutty rumor.

CDJR Shows Off Massive Expansion

Chryslers, Jeeps, and Truman the Tiger, oh my. ose trusty Chamber Ambassadors and their gigantic scissors were at it again on October 8, cutting the ribbon at CDJR of Columbia at 500 Vandiver Drive. Naturally, CDJR’s managers and executives — including McClarty Automotive Group founder and CEO Mark McClarty — were also on hand to o cially open the ground-up rebuild of what is now the largest Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram facility in central Missouri.

McClarty said the all-new CDJR of Columbia stands as a milestone investment in the region, designed to strengthen the local automotive market and enhance the overall customer experience. e dealership spans more than 43,000 square feet on nearly ve acres, more than doubling the size of its previous location. Service capacity has also expanded from eleven stalls to twenty-nine, creating a modern, expanded space that makes the sales and service experience faster and easier.

New Owner at Capital Mall?

e Columbia Mall had an October ribbon-cutting to mark its fortieth anniversary, and there are no signs of retail and mall-walking activity slowing any time soon. In fact, Senior General Manager Rusty Strodtman is looking forward to that Trader Joe’s opening, thinking that the shopping surge sure to follow could spill over onto the mall.

But it’s di erent news for the mall to the south. e Je erson City News Tribune recently reported that a change of ownership is coming for Capital Mall. e capital city’s mall, located at 3600 Country Club Drive, had been listed as “under contract” on the website of CP Partners Commercial Real Estate, a national commercial real estate brokerage.

More Roll Carts in COMO?

e Columbia Missourian reported October 8 that Columbia residents are eventually going to use roll carts for recycling, and it’s not a question of if, but when. In fact, the City Council approved the cost for the city’s adding roll carts for recycling in the new operating budget approved on October 1. First, the city is pondering plans to rebuild the Material Recycling Facility that was clobbered by a tornado in April. CBT

Street Talk is a monthly overview of “word on the street” business and community news. Street Talk is sponsored by e Bank of Missouri.

New Business Licenses

Issued September 2025

Billy Goat Dumpsters LLC

Brooke Dennison 110211 I-70 Drive NE, Columbia

Amber Nicolle Stylist

Amber Stringer 3601 Endeavor Ave., Columbia

Studio Daffodil 3601 Endeavor Ave., Columbia

Adamson Construction and Investments

2201 E. Highway 163, Columbia

H&K Advisors LLC

1716 Linkside Drive, Columbia

Keevins Industries LLC

Riley Keevins 905 University Ave., Columbia

Yulu Handmade

Yury Milena Pineda Ortiz 3001 S. Providence, Columbia

Shelly’s Smashburger

James McNutt 101 E. Nifong, Columbia

Titan Ridge LLC

Construction 2000 E. Broadway, Columbia

Diversiﬁed Excavating LLC

Gerald “Kyle” Pierce 2223 W. Botner Road, Columbia

Paladin Security Specialists

7420 E. St. Charles Road, Columbia

Prairie Hollow Gardening

Amber Klaas and Jonathan Klaas

7110 W. River Oaks Road, Columbia

Class It Up Cleaning

Charles Smith

441 E. Cabo Lane, Columbia

Warrior Service Company LLC

504 Big Bear Blvd., Columbia

AW Inspections LLC

Alan Whitt 1013 Caymus Court, Columbia

Parks Strategic Advisory LLC

Wesley Parks 5110 Wood Shire Drive, Columbia

Loops and Layers

Samantha Barrett 4409 W. Ludwick Blvd., Columbia

The Cookie Cottage LLC

1300 War Admiral Drive, Columbia

Jade Buchanan Agency LLC

405 Bernadette Drive, Columbia

Augusta Lawn Care Services of Columbia MO LLC

6545 N. Wagon Trail Road, Columbia

Tempered Minds Counseling PLLC

200 S. Old 63, Columbia

Salam Dawood

Salam Industries Inc. 605 Huntridge Drive, Columbia

Reliable Roots Home Care

Ebonie Jones 303 N. Stadium, Columbia

Investors Community Bank

5600 Bull Run Drive, Columbia

Integrative Massage LLC

1000 N. College Ave. and 3308 Mexico Gravel Road, Columbia CBT

Issued by the city of Columbia’s Finance Department.

What’s Going Up?

New Keene Street Hotel, South Columbia Coffee Shop Coming Soon

STORY AND PHOTOS BY JODIE JACKSON JR

A LONG-DELAYED HOTEL CONSTRUCTION o Keene Street and a new drive-through co ee shop in south Columbia are among the projects that received building permits from the Columbia Building and Site Development o ce in September. at o ce issued 128 building permits with a cumulative valuation of $35.9 million, while the Boone County o ce of Resource Management approved and issued ninety-one building permits in September with a combined valuation of $17.9 million. Together, the city and county issued 219 permits with a valuation of $53.8 million.

A four-story HOMES 2 SUITES BY HILTON HOTEL , with 111 guest rooms, will be built at 3100 Keene Court. A omas Construction trailer has been parked for several weeks at the site, a vacant lot between the medical complex at 303 N. Keene St. and the Solstice Senior Living facility at 109 N. Keene St. e building permit lists a $12.84 million valuation for the 65,254-squarefoot project.

e builder is omas Construction of Osage Beach. e property owner and developer is Bryan Properties, based in Spring eld, Missouri. Crockett Engineering Company of Columbia developed the site plan for the 2.57acre lot. A land disturbance permit for the project was issued on August 16, 2024, before expiring in August 2025. e new building permit was issued on September 30.

e Columbia City Council approved vacating the right of way for 3100 Keene Court in July 2023 to pave the way for future development of the Keene Court Hotel Planned Development area.

e site has been the focus of other rumored developments through the years. In 2015, an o ce building was planned for the site, with signage facing Highway 63 that announced a new building was coming. However, that development did not materialize.

A new drive-through co ee shop is far from the highest-cost item on the September building permit report, but it is another indication of south Columbia’s rapid growth and development. CARTER’S COFFEE BAR will be located at 4505 Stellar Drive, within walking distance of Veterans United and the new SpringBrook apartment complex o State Farm Parkway. Rock Bridge High School and the MU Health Care South Providence Medical Park will likely also provide foot tra c and co ee-seeking motorists.

Co ee bar owner Ciara Weese said the location for her company’s fourth store is ideal.

“We looked all around Columbia, and we met with the developer at SpringBrook,” she told COMO Business Times. “We felt like it was a really good spot.”

Weese, who lives in the Quincy, Illinois, area, owns Carter’s Co ee Bar with her mother. e pair have two stores in Quincy and one in Palmyra, Missouri. Weese was a barista in Seattle before moving to Quincy with her husband. She anticipates an opening “around January.”

“We’re excited to get to know the community and everybody around,” Weese said.

e building permit listed a valuation of $257,404 for the 1,269-squarefoot building. e permit also described the project as a new commercial co ee shop with a drivethrough lane and covered outdoor patio with a walk-up window. It will include a new parking lot, new drive, new sidewalks, and new site lighting.

e breakdown of the city’s September building permit report includes:

• Commercial additions: 1 permit, $800,000.

• Residential additions: 10 permits, $568,783.

• Commercial alterations: 9 permits, $2.71 million.

• Residential alterations: 16 permits, $717,311.

• Pool (1 & 2 family): 2 permits, $52,150.

• Commercial new: 5 permits, $13.28 million.

• Deck only: 9 permits, $244,851.

• Duplex: 10 permits, $3.32 million.

• Re-roof: 36 permits, $1.18 million.

• Single-family detached: 28 permits, $12.99 million.

• Solar photovoltaic system, commercial: 1 permit, $25,000.

• Solar photovoltaic system, residential: 1 permit, $15,000.

Other highlights of the city’s building permit report include:

A new BREW CREW drive-through co ee shop at 3307 Clark Lane. e valuation listed for the 740-squarefoot building is $150,101.

WHAT’S GOING UP?

e COLUMBIA FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE at 1201 S. El Chaparral Ave. will get an approximately 1,800-squarefoot addition. e project includes renovation of the existing building on both the upper and lower levels. Little Dixie Construction Co. is the contractor for the $800,000 project.

McVey Builders is the contractor for a series of duplexes that got the green light from the city’s Building and Site Development o ce. e TEN DUPLEXES , located o Silver Mill Drive, range in value from $331,470 to $332,464, and they are roughly 2,200 square feet in size. e area is the Cross Creek development north of E. Brown School Road and between N. Providence and N. Burning Bush Road. Subcontractors include Burnett’s Electric, Comfort Crew Heating & Cooling of Columbia LLC, and Daly Plumbing LLC.

File Construction is the builder for an interior o ce renovation of existing tenant space at 3107 Green Meadows Way, Suite 103. e SHELTER

INSURANCE o ce project entails 1,289 square feet with a valuation of $100,000.

Guarantee Construction, LLC is RENOVATING INTERIOR COMMERCIAL OFFICE SPACE at 1101 Club Village Drive. e permit listed a valuation of $344,828 for the 1,700-square-foot project.

e SURGICAL CENTER AT COLUMBIA ORTHOPAEDIC GROUP is renovating a little more than 4,500 square feet for additional o ce occupancy. Coil Construction Inc. is the contractor for the $1.9 million project at 1 S. Keene St

Now that pool season is over, work is ready to take place at the DOUGLASS FAMILY AQUATIC CENTER at 400 N. Providence. e work will include modi cations to restrooms, concession areas, and sta support spaces. Seth Paul Excavating is the contractor. e permit listed a valuation of $154,500 for the 2,060-square-foot project.

New home builds with permit approval range from $260,258 for two homes o Ravello Drive and a $924,246 home in Chapel Hill Meadows. e builders are Sedona Homes, LLC, and Hemme Construction, LLC, respectively.

e highlights of the Boone County building permit report include a DAYCARE AT THE BOONE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE law enforcement complex o County Drive. Reinhardt Construction LLC is the contractor for the $4.9 million facility.

New homes range from a $250,000 home o North Highway 124 at Hallsville to a $1.36 MILLION home o Tampa Court in Columbia. e builders are Brian Crane and Tompkins Custom Homes, respectively.

e Boone County building permit report for September included:

• Single-family residential: 21 permits, $9.1 million.

• Two-family buildings: 4 permits, $1.35 million.

• Industrial building: 1 permit, $100,000.

• School/educational building: 1 permit, $4.9 million.

• Other nonresidential: 4 permits, $187,000.

• Other structures: 16 permits, $846,493.

• Residential additions/alterations: 11 permits, $528,300.

• Nonresidential additions/ alterations: 4 permits, $162,000.

• Residential garages: 13 permits, $529,001.

• Miscellaneous: 16 permits, $24,386. CBT

24/7

Operating hours at Burrell’s new behavioral health crisis center that is being built at 107 Texas Avenue.

1975

The year Shelter Gardens opened to the public at 1917 West Broadway.

$1.18 m

Total value of re-rooﬁng building permits issued by the Columbia Building and Site Development ofﬁce in September.

219

The combined number and value of building permits issued by the city and county in September.

27 0 , 000

Approximate number of passengers serviced at Columbia Regional Airport in 2019. With the addition of United Airlines this fall, COU expects to exceed that pre-pandemic level of service in 2026.

$3.5 trillion +

Total amount invested in target date funds in the U.S. as of 2023.

43,000

Total square footage of the all-new Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram (CDJR) dealership at 500 Vandiver Drive, increasing the number of service stalls from 11 to 29.

Heart of Missouri Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) needs to raise

$4.6 million to build a

10 , 000 square foot training center and clubhouse off N. Stadium Blvd.