COMO Living Magazine - August/September 2017

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Photo by Emily Rodenbaugh

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IT’S GOOD TO BE HERE Come see what’s happening in The District this summer. discoverthedistrict.com

A BUSINESS TIMES COMPANY PUBLICATION

EDITORIAL Deb Valvo, Publisher Deb@BusinessTimesCompany.com

Beth Bramstedt, Editor Beth@BusinessTimesCompany.com

Matt Patston, Managing Editor Matt@BusinessTimesCompany.com

DESIGN Keith Borgmeyer, Art Director Keith@BusinessTimesCompany.com

Cassidy Shearrer, Editorial Designer Cassidy@BusinessTimesCompany.com

C R E AT I V E S E R V I C E S Kate Morrow, Graphic Designer Kate@JeffersonCityMag.com

Jordan Watts, Editorial Designer Jordan@BusinessTimesCompany.com

MARKETING R E P R E S E N TAT I V E Deb Valvo, Marketing Consultant Deb@BusinessTimesCompany.com

MANAGEMENT Erica Pefferman, President Erica@BusinessTimesCompany.com

Renea Sapp, Vice President ReneaS@BusinessTimesCompany.com

Amy Ferrari, Operations Manager Amy@BusinessTimesCompany.com

Brenna McDermott, Director of Content Brenna@BusinessTimesCompany.com

Fran Patrick, Account Manager Fran@BusinessTimesCompany.com

LE T TER from THE PU B LISHER

IN THE NAME OF SISTERHOOD The relational tension was heart-wrenching. The sounds of a woman screaming at someone into her phone echoed loudly between the buildings. Lifting the shade and opening my office window did little to identify the source of distress. Then our staff meeting commenced, and it was on to the next item on my agenda.

This woman’s phone call has haunted me nearly nonstop these past few days. It has made “We may not have it all me think about our Women at Work issue and together, but together the ties that bind us as a sisterhood. we have it all.”

In these pages, you’ll find some seriously kick-butt women. Powerhouses in the nonprofit world who are tireless champions for their causes. Women putting their hearts and souls into their startups. Ladies working tirelessly alongside their families to build vibrant businesses in this community.

I suspect each woman is committed to supporting other women in any way possible. As am I. But will we step outside our office to embrace that hysterical woman and attempt to provide comforting words? Maybe. Hopefully. I clearly did not and, consequently, now feel quite bad about it.

The essence of this issue is celebrating strong, bold, fearless women — no matter what their position. And, of course, sisterhood. Good stuff, that sisterhood. In the spirit of all things bold and girl power-like, I resolve not to ignore a sister in trouble when I see her. A stranger chose to embrace me in a moment of distress years ago, and I will never forget her.

Let’s hold each other up in both the good times and the bad — boldly, fearlessly, and in the name of sisterhood. I just love girl power. Don’t you?

Deb Valvo Publisher

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COM O LIVING Business Times Company 2001 Corporate Place, Suite 100 Columbia, MO 65202

P: 573-499-1830 Website: comolivingmag.com Twitter: @COMOLivingMag Facebook: facebook.com/ COMOLivingMagazine Instagram: @comolivingmag —

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Keith Borgmeyer, Anthony Jinson, Tiffany Schmidt

LE T TE R from TH E E D I T O R

CREAM OR SUGAR?

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Beth Bramstedt, Anne Churchill, Anna Comfort, Nina Hebrank, Kathleen McKinney, Lydia Melton, Jordan Milne, Carolyn Paris, Kennedy Robinson, Jennifer Truesdale, Melissa Williams, Jen Wilson

I am blessed to have a handful of dear friends: friends who listen intently, empathize willingly, and love me authentically. Friends who share their lives, their advice, and their favorite books. Friends who remind me that I’m beautiful even when I’m feeling unworthy.

They are my cheerleaders. My inspiration.

“A friend is someone who And I love to spend time with them. The place understands your past, is pretty much irrelevant. I’m not particular. believes in your future, and I just crave quality time with those who care accepts you just the way about me. you are today.”

That’s why I found myself both pleased and humbled recently when a long-time friend compared reading COMO Living to hanging out with me. “I feel like I had breakfast with you this week,” she said.

I love that. It may be a lofty goal, but it’s a noble one. I hope you’ll find this issue, and the ones to come, a place where we come together to open our lives, exchange advice, and share our stories.

May reading COMO Living be like sitting down to have coffee with a friend, and may you make a few new ones along the way.

COMO LIVING BOARD Nancy Allison, Barbie Banks, Muriel Browder, Adonica Coleman, Ann Merrifield, Kathy Lou Neale, Jill Orr, Carolyn Paris, Stacie Pottinger, Michele Towns, Justin Wilson

COMO LIVING INTERNS Nina Hebrank, Kennedy Robinson, Tiffany Schmidt, Rachel Thomas, Shuya Zheng —

SUBSCRIP TIONS S U B S C R I B E O NL I NE

www.comolivingmag.com

Beth Bramstedt

PH O NE O R DE R I NG

Editor

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COMO

On the Cover

COLUMBIA LIFESTYLE AND CULTURE

Aubrey Rowden and Jessica White, owners of Love Tree Studios, couldn’t be happier with the open, airy feeling and natural light in their new office digs. Meet more creative women and see their artistic work spaces on page 36.

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SUBSCRIBERS AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

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$5.95 per issue, or six issue subscription for $29.95. Call Amy Ferrari at 573-4991830 ext. 1003 to place an order or to inform us of a change of address.

October 6-13 Get ready to form new connections with like-minded people while learning about the many initiatives supporting mid-Missouri’s innovative business community.

A small sample of events to attend...

Startup Weekend

Missouri Tech Challenge

Bringing entrepreneurs together to spark ideas, meet new people, and create innovative solutions in just 48 fun-packed hours.

Live on stage, budding entrepreneurs get the chance to win $50,000 and bring their dreams to fruition in this “Shark Tank” like event.

Sam Richter OCTOBER 11

Celebrating Women in Social Enterprise

Keynote speaker & bestselling author delivers motivational workshops on technology, sales, and marketing.

Breakfast celebrates women social entrepreneurs in our community

OCTOBER 6-8

OCTOBER 11

OCTOBER 12

See the entire schedule at BringingUpBiz.org Questions? Contact Sherri Helm at helms@missouri.edu or 573-882-3087 MID-MISSOURI’S INNOVATION WEEK

@BRINGUPBIZ

This community-wide effort is possible through contributions from many different organizations and businesses. Thanks to our partners for their assistance in making this week a reality!

Office of Economic Development Office of Technology Management & Industry Relations dream up.

MISSOURI

INNOVATION C E N T E R

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CON TE N TS FEATURES / DEPARTMENTS

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Letter from the Publisher Letter from the Editor

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About the Board

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Shelf Life: Embracing the Quiet

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Day in the Life:

Trish Norfleet

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Libations: Wine on Tap

36

Home Away From Home

45 67 75 80 85

93

Fashion: For All Time

Feature: Maximizing the Impact

98

Feature: Living Heart Healthy

Feature: The Buzz on Family Biz Health: What’s Going on Down There?

Life Coaching: Cultivating Self-appreciation

95

Unleashed: Fostering

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For What It’s Worth: Galleristas of Downtown Wedding Confidential: Refreshing Traditions

100 August/September Datebook 102 Seasons: Bringing Up Boys 104 Strong Woman:

Lindsay Young Lopez

106 Couple You Should Know:

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David and Lee Russell

ABOUT THE BOARD

DREADED JOBS

Our worst work experiences.

In coordination with our “Women at Work” issue, COMO Living’s Advisory Board shares stories of the jobs that taught them valuable lessons and clarified their career paths.

MICHELE TOWNS

CAROLYN PARIS

ANN MERRIFIELD

Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri

Carolyn Paris Consulting

Columbia College

It was summer time and I needed to find a job. My mom, a nurse, told me about another nurse with young children who needed a sitter for her two girls. Well, how hard could that be?

I should have thought things through. It turns out nurses must be at work very early. And little girls don’t sleep in late and hang out on the couch like teenagers. They want to play and be entertained. It was rough! I think the nail in the coffin came one morning when I suddenly woke up on the couch — and the girls had been up playing around for quite some time. I was back on the streets looking for work.

The worst (or, quite possibly, the best) job I ever had was at a plastic bag factory, working from midnight to 8:00 a.m. I worked there all summer between my freshman and sophomore years of college. It was great money — but a terrible experience. I was on my feet all night, gained 10 pounds with my erratic eating patterns, and had no social life.

But it was also the best experience in the sense that after my sophomore year (when I went to school but forgot to go to class), all my mom had to say to me was “Do you want to make plastic bags from midnight to 8:00 the rest of your life?” I went back to school in a heartbeat!

After working for over 42 years, there are so many experiences I could talk about. One that sticks out happened recently. A young woman entered my office and yelled, “I’ve been robbed!” I immediately suggested we call the police, and when she replied, “no,” I found it a little strange. I continued to talk with her and see what I could do to help. After three to four minutes of her sitting in my office using the phone, I felt uneasy.

After she stepped outside to smoke a cigarette, I immediately locked the door. The police grabbed her as she left the building. Turned out she was not robbed — she was the robber!

BARBIE BANKS Citizen Jane Film Festival

I still feel nervous now when I think about my first day at work. I was 14 years old starting a part-time waitress gig at a local bingo hall. I felt helpless and ill-prepared. I got no prior training, and I ended up with more food and drink on the floor than on the tables. It taught me about failure (because boy, did I fail!), it taught me about money, and it taught me to value those who work in the food service industry!

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ABOUT THE BOARD

KATHY LOU NEALE

MURIEL BROWDER

Edward Jones

Community Volunteer

While I was a college freshman, I secured a position with a local life insurance agent in my home town of Coffeyville, Kansas. It was a one-man operation, and I was his only office staff, working every afternoon. We had giant four-inch binders full of actuarial tables and charts, and it was my responsibility to look up each client’s age and identify, based on those voluminous charts, an estimation of their premiums for a specific death benefit amount. I spent hours and hours poring over columns of numbers.

Oh, and did I mention there were no electronic calculators available?

Once the policy was determined, I was charged with typing onto paper forms all the salient information: name, date of birth, assets, proposed premium, etc. And it all had to be typed in triplicate, with carbon paper, on a large manual typewriter. There was no copy machine either.

To calculate the projected future premiums, I used a large manual adding machine, the kind with a tape and a crank on the side. If I was halfway through a string of numbers and I made a mistake, I had to start all over again.

I left that job drained and with a headache almost every day. It ended up being part of my motivation to major in English and language arts — anything but math. I suppose, looking back, that was my first introduction to working in the world of financial planning!

Summer, 1977. I was pregnant with my daughter Alison, and I was in marketing with IBM, loving my job. However, it consisted of a lot of travel, so during my ninth month, I worked in the office on a technical hotline. All day, I would answer customer calls and figure out their problems. One afternoon, I was trying to solve a customer’s issue — I was full of lunch and my hormones were raging. Only when I heard the customer saying “MURIEL? MURIEL? ARE YOU AWAKE?” did I realize I had fallen asleep. So, I said, “Of course I am — just thinking.” I did, in fact, figure out her technical problem, hung up, and knew it was time for my maternity leave to begin!

COMO L I V I N G

JILL ORR Author

I have so many stories about failed jobs that it would be impossible to pick just one. Here is a smattering of my employment history from my high school and college years alone, and the reasons those jobs ended.

(Note, I am not necessarily proud of this.): Swimsuit sales person (saw way too much); Benetton sweater sales person (tragically allergic to mohair); Schnucks bakery worker (time to make the donuts was way too early for this girl); waitress at Dos Hermanos (literally did not possess the upper body strength needed to carry those ceramic dishes loaded down with frijoles); summer nanny (it was Washington, DC in July and they didn’t have air conditioning — seriously?); and, perhaps the worst one of all, tanning bed operator (wiped up sweat in exchange for free tanning — that’s what you call a lose–lose situation).

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Just because you’re at work... doesn’t mean you have to hide your bold, beautiful self.

Books, Jewelry, Salt Lamps, Crystals, Essential Oils, Herbs & Teas, Fun Clothing & Inspirational Décor Items, plus Discussion Groups, Classes, Massage Therapy, Yoga, Tai Chi, Energy Work, and a lot of coffee and 1004 W. Worley, Columbia MO | 573.777.6771 | HeartBodyAndSoul.org conversation!

Heart, Body, & Soul

where your journey begins...

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SHELF LIFE

EMBRACING THE QUIET

Hearing the voice of reason over the loudest opinion in the room.

by J E N W I L S O N

I

am an introvert. Hear me roar.

Quietly, at home, probably in writing . . . but still.

Only in my recent entry into middle age (Surprise! It’s second adolescence!) have I truly embraced the gifts of my introversion and come to believe that my thoughts, words, and contributions matter. I owe this in part to “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking” by Susan Cain.

Cain’s transformative book and “Quiet Revolution” helped me recognize the value of my own blend of introversion and how vital it is to share my unique gifts with the world.

Apparently, I’m not alone in embracing “Quiet” — its rise on the New York Times bestseller list ushered in a veritable introvert spring of Facebook posts, blogs, and Buzzfeed articles extolling the virtues of the suddenly chic introvert.

If you are familiar with Myers-Briggs or the work of Carl Jung, you know that introversion is, after all, simply one end of a spectrum of personality — everyone falls somewhere along the line between total introversion and total extroversion.

Introverts make up an estimated 16 to 50 percent of the population, but introversion is often treated like a second-class personality trait in a world that rewards people who are outgoing, gregarious, and naturally charming.

Heralded as an introvert manifesto, “Quiet” offers thoughtful encouragement for those who may feel out of step in an increasingly chaotic and noisy world. What a radical thought: Perhaps introverts are not strange, shy, or “other” as our extroverted society tends to portray us?

What if introversion was recognized as a strength? How might introverts see themselves differently when they are celebrated rather

THANKS TO INTROVERTS, WE HAVE: • THE THEORY OF GRAVITY • THE THEORY OF RELATIVITY • CHOPIN’S NOCTURNES • “PETER PAN” • “THE CAT IN THE HAT” • “SCHINDLER’S LIST” • GOOGLE • HARRY POTTER than marginalized? In “Quiet,” Cain persuasively argues that introversion is more common than people realize, and that the world needs the quiet and cerebral thinkers, now more than ever. After all, much of history’s most profound ideas, art, and inventions are courtesy of introverts.

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Thoroughly researched (Cain’s legal background is apparent in her clear and persuasive prose), “Quiet” sets out a historical account of how Western society has built up an extrovert ideal: charismatic, loud, and action-oriented. The recipe for great leadership, right? Perhaps. However, what is lost when our culture embraces the loudest voice in the room over the quiet voice of reason? Cain argues that our enthusiastic embrace of extroversion has the negative impact of silencing contemplative thought, stifling creativity, and squandering the great thinking of our day. In other words, the world needs (and is, indeed, desperate for) the unique gifts of introverts.

Cain makes her argument masterfully.

She pushes against our cultural tendency toward extroversion while simultaneously encouraging the value of introversion. Yet Cain doesn’t blame extroverts, or suggest that they're inferior. On the contrary, she says extroverts and introverts need one another. Their strengths balance each other’s weaknesses. The challenge, of course, is that the quiet voices are rarely heard. Cain, perhaps unwittingly, embodies a loud, quiet voice in the wilderness. With a passionate and clear case, Cain speaks for the quiet ones. The thinkers. The philosophers. The artists.

Even if you are unfamiliar with introversion, and regardless of where you fall on the introvert–extrovert spectrum, “Quiet” has immense value as a guide to understanding yourself and those around you. Cain’s stated purpose in “Quiet” is to help you discover a newfound sense entitlement to be yourself. Discovering and owning the truest parts of who you are is the work of a lifetime. Consider “Quiet” to be a guidepost along the way.

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D AY I N T H E L I F E

UNDER THE GOLDEN ARCHES A day in the life of McDonald’s manager Trish Norfleet.

by K E N N E DY R O B I N S O N | ph o to s by T I F FA N Y S C H M I D T

T

rish Norfleet has a hard time describing the environment she works in every day, even though it’s at least a little familiar to just about everyone.

“That depends on what day it is,” Trish laughs. “Stressful, busy, and high-energy, but very rewarding.”

Trish Norfleet has been the general manager at the Stadium McDonald’s, owned and operated by Mark and Kate Mehle, for more years than I have fingers to count with. Growing up in Columbia, she started working for McDonald’s in 1981. Throughout her professional career, she bounced between locations in and around her hometown, and after graduating from MU in 1988 with her hotel and restaurant management degree in hand, she decided to stay on with the fast food restaurant.

“I stayed because I like the physical job that I do. I like the regular customers, the people I work with, and my boss,” Trish explains. “The job itself has been good to us — it’s very flexible and stable. There’s not a lot of jobs out there that are this flexible.”

Not only did McDonald’s provide Trish with a steady, comfortable lifestyle, but it also helped her find her true love. Trish met her husband of 25 years, Randy Norfleet, while working at McDonald’s 36 years ago.

He’s currently her supervisor.

After extensively eventful days, it’s hard for her to turn off the work switch when she gets home, especially now that her two daughters are out of the house and she’s alone with her husband. “We both work for McDonald’s, so when we get home there is a lot of work talk, although he is much better at dropping it than I am,” Trish playfully confesses.

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From the very first meeting, my clients feel a sense of

relief.

They now know what needs to be done and why. And then they discover a level of personal service they’ve probably never experienced before.

I can do the same for you, as well.

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF SERVICE! THANK YOU COLUMBIA!

As owner of Personal Touch Cleaning Service, LLC, I want to personally thank my family, friends, clients and community for allowing me to provide 30 years of service to the Columbia and Boone County area. I am proof positive that you can succeed in following your dreams. This business has afforded me the opportunity to serve locally and abroad. We’ve been able to serve locally by offering free cleanings to women undergoing cancer treatment. I have also been blessed to serve abroad by participating in over 22 missions trips. Without the loyalty of our clients, none of this would have been possible.

THANK YOU COLUMBIA!!

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Does your home need a Personal Touch?

Office: 573.256.1920 www.personaltouchcleaningservicellc.com

The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.

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D AY I N T H E L I F E

A TYPICAL DAY 5:30 a.m.: Trish gets up bright and early!

6:45 a.m.: Trish arrives at work to greet

her staff and customers. She talks to her overnight manager to discuss the previous night and her dayside manager to discuss the schedule for the day. She will then make sure everything is ready for the day.

8:00 a.m.: Trish creates a to-do list of things needed to accomplish for the day (payroll, set-up interviews, finish bills, train staff, etc.).

8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Trish tries to cross as much off on her to-do list as she can, but will usually work the floor or wherever else she’s needed. Customer service always comes first.

Trish likes to vary which area she works so she can train her staff and interact with customers.

1:30-3:00 p.m.: Trish sits and tries to finish the rest of her to-do list.

3:00 p.m.: Trish talks to the night manager and gets them ready for their upcoming shift.

3:00-5:00 p.m.: Somewhere between these times, Trish leaves work. At home, she tries not to talk about work with her husband.

6:00 p.m.: Trish and Randy eat dinner, watch some TV, and get ready for bed. (Unless it’s MU basketball or football season — then you’ll catch them at the games!)

In her defense, being general manager means Trish is essentially in charge of everything. It entails working weekends, and the Stadium McDonald’s is a 24-hour location, which requires Trish to be on call all the time, getting the occasional phone calls at 2:00 a.m. Whether it’s organizing the paperwork, running the floor, or handling the ordering and scheduling, it’s on her to make sure everything runs smoothly.

“What we general managers like to say is that we are essentially the CEOs of a multimillion dollar corporation,” Trish says.

Trish won the Ray Kroc Award — a distinction given to the top one percent of McDonald’s managers around the world — in 2011. Although Trish had won the Outstanding Restaurant Manger Award multiple times

before, this honor was the most special to her. It included a three-day trip to Chicago, brainstorming conference sessions, and a crystal trophy she could take home. She says it was easily her proudest career achievement.

“I was overwhelmed, but I was also so excited because it was something I had been striving to get,” Trish says. “I’ve been doing this for so long, and it was just the icing on the cake for all the hard work I’d been doing.

It was nice to get the recognition.”

These rewarding moments on the job certainly outweigh the challenges for her, but part of Trish’s daily struggle is overcoming the stigma that people hold for McDonald’s employees.

“It has a negative connotation, but this job has provided us with a great

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lifestyle. We work hard for it. The job is very physically demanding and there are days that I am exhausted when I get home,” Trish shares. “But it’s a great career for a lot of people.”

The best way she knows to combat the stigma is by bringing a positive energy with her every day to work. “I try to make it a positive atmosphere,” she says. “I walk in, say good morning to everyone, and tell my staff we’re going to do the best we can today. And it works. You just have to stay positive, that’s all you can do.”

Trish’s favorite part about her job is interacting with customers, so feel free to stop in, say hi, order her favorite item on the menu (egg McMuffin), and steal a glimpse into her hectic, gratifying everyday life.

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INTRODUCING WINE ON TAP Savoring each glass the way the winemaker intended.

by LY D I A M E LT O N | ph o to s by K E I T H B O R G M E Y E R

My name is Lydia Melton. I’m the owner and founder over at Günter Hans, meaning I wear a lot of hats behind the scenes, and you’ll rarely see me. In fact, I try to make it a point to remain unseen. If you see me, it means I’m not doing the best part of my job: dreaming of Europe and hunting delicious, rare beer. Let me explain…

You know how some beers are hard to find?

My job is to find rare European beers and curate a current and interesting list of them for our tap system. This is so our customers can enjoy unique and exceptional beers the way they are meant to be savored. If you’ve been in our restaurant, you hopefully already know that part.

What you probably don’t know is that I’m on the hunt for delicious wine as well. That’s right — Günter Hans is taking wine and putting it on tap. Cue the chorus.

What does this mean? And why are we singing?

In short, wine on tap means that every glass tastes fresh, like a newly opened bottle.

This also means our wine won’t spoil, leaving you without the fear of receiving an off-tasting glass from our staff. This leaves nothing but a delicious ensemble of flavors, the way the winemaker intended it to be.

Our system is both complex and extremely simple. When it comes to the basics, wine on tap comes straight from a barrel keg kept under pressure with nitrogen. This ensures that your wine remains untouched by oxygen before it hits the glass. Unlike bottles, there’s no possibility for cork taint (the effects of a cork gone bad — think of the smell of a musty basement, nasty sponge, or grandpa’s favorite outdoor couch mid-summer).

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After spending the time to learn wine, its varietals, regional differences, and specific tastes, the customer shouldn’t have to worry about ordering from an open bottle that might have been sitting too long. Simply smell, sip, and savor!

Aside from attaining a delicious glass every time, there are other benefits to wine on tap.

Since there are no bottles or corks in use, landfills are less full. No bottles and no corks also means that the customer gets a better glass of wine for less money — they don’t have to pay the added cost of breakage on bottles or the cost of the bottle and cork itself.

Every glass is delicious, fresh, and inexpensive.

Whether you choose to drink great beer or wine on tap at Günter Hans, we are sourcing the best products and pairing it with intentional hospitality. Cheers to good times, good food, and good drinks!

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L I B AT I O N S

VISIT EUROPE WITHOUT A PASSPORT. Günter Hans is the first of its kind: a local café that features European-inspired light meals, snacks, desserts, and drinks. It’s a little bit of everything, all done right.

“When it comes to food, we don’t do much, but what we do, we do extraordinarily well,” says owner Lydia Melton.

If you pay them a visit, you’ll know that their menu is unique and their style is nontraditional, but so is Columbia! That’s one of the many reasons they’re excited to be here.

FOOD AND SNACKS • Traditional bretzels. (That’s German for pretzels.)

• Gourmet dips (mustard, cinnamon butter, cheese) • Liège waffles with toppings (apricot, raspberry, cinnamon butter, Swiss farm honey, Nutella, and whipped cream — to name a few) • Bretzel sandwich and European crisps • Bratwurst and European crisps (served on a bretzel bun) • European cheese plate (cheeses paired with a robust Italian-style salami. Served with fresh crackers and light Swiss jam.)

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Home pros know

What the

JAKE BAUMGARTNER

CALE KLIETHERMES

BAUMGARTNER’S FURNITURE

KLIETHERMES HOMES & REMODELING

DAN SHIFLEY

DOGWOOD SOLAR

ANNE TUCKLEY

JAKE FRINK

ANNE TUCKLEY HOME

ROST LANDSCAPING

Whether it’s home maintenance, design tips, or landscaping advice, this team has you covered.

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WHY SOLAR IS NOT A DIY PROJECT

BY DAN SHIFLEY Find more at dogwoodSOLAR.com

Everybody loves great deals, and people who shop for solar panels are no exception. We occasionally get a call from someone who ordered a solar kit online or has a project they started themselves and want to know if we can finish it or help them get a permit.

We won’t.

While there are certainly exceptions to the rule, in general, solar is not a DIY project. In fact, you’re likely to get a better value by hiring a professional. If not, some of the most critical elements could be overlooked:

THE DETAILS Our solar clients are typically most excited when we get to panel day. This is the day when the panels are actually installed. It may seem like the most important part of a solar project, but in reality most of the work that goes into a quality solar installation happens well before the panels arrive. We actively research and attend training on the products we use, as well as new products as they become available. We select tried-andtrue components that match the client’s needs, meet code, and meet our own standards for aesthetics and performance. A DIY project may

get one or two of these right, but what about the rest? When solar is on your home, you deserve to have it all: a system designed specifically for your needs, protection for your roof, electrical safety, assured system performance, monitoring, an aesthetic installation, and guaranteed materials and workmanship.

Our solar clients are typically most excited when we get to panel day.

SAFETY DC electricity and AC electricity are not the same. Solar photovoltaic panels produce DC current which, through the use of inverters and other electrical components, is converted to

DAN SHIFLEY

DOGWOOD SOLAR

Dan founded Dogwood Solar in 2010 to bring solar into the lives homeowners and business-owners throughout the area. He adheres to the standards set by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners [NABCEP], and is nationally certified as a Photovoltaic Installation Professional and a Solar Heating Professional. Dan specializes in beautiful solar installations that perform as well as they look. Very happy to call Columbia home, Dan spends time enjoying this great town with his wife and three daughters.

573-424-2011

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the AC current we use daily. In the event of an arc fault or improperly operated solar circuit, a DC arc is much harder to extinguish. Without wire, equipment, and the proper handling of these circuits, the results can be deadly or lead to structure damage. Although one could use regular building wire like that found in your home to carry DC current, it is not rated for it nor does it meet code. This is the type of issue a DIY project can inadvertently miss.

UTILITY INTERCONNECTION Utilities provide reliable power to our homes and businesses. When installing a grid-tied solar system, there are a myriad of codes and standards that must be met before a solar system can be interconnected to the electric grid. The National Electric Code (NEC), Underwriters Laboratories, and other standards define the safety requirements to keep your solar operating as expected and keeping you and utility line workers safe if there is a problem with your system or with the electric grid.

MAKE THE BRIGHT CHOICE Now is a great time to add solar to your home or business. Talk to a solar professional and have a solar site analysis completed. Be sure it includes a shade analysis and also the results from performance and financial models based on reasonable assumptions about future energy markets. You’ll get the best system for your money.

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5 EASY WAYS TO SPRUCE UP YOUR KITCHEN IN TIME FOR FALL

BY CALE KLIETHERMES Find more at: www.kliethermes.com

Though the weather may not necessarily reflect it just yet, summer is coming to a close and fall will be here before you know it. For those of you with children, that means a big shift is underway. The kids are going back to school, which means you’re having to get them up and ready, but once they’re out of the house, you have a little extra time on your hands. And what better way to make use of that extra time than by taking up the one project you’ve always wanted to sink your teeth into: giving your kitchen a makeover.

To give you a head start on the project, we’ve put together a few ideas for you:

sunlight, a simple, if a bit luxurious, solution can be replacing that regular door with a French door. It could be your kitchen’s missing piece.

4. Go Hands-Free

1. give Your Island Some Inhabitants For many homeowners, the island is the center of their kitchen, both literally and figuratively.

And while you certainly want to keep it clean and neat, that is not the same as saying that it should be completely bare. So whether it’s colorful placemats, a vase of flowers, or any other accessory to complement the centerpiece of your kitchen, don’t let your island be deserted. (But make it desserted if you want!)

2. Put Your Collection on Display A popular new trend is getting rid of cabinets and utilizing shelves whenever possible.

Some of you may be hesitant to put the disorganization of the inside of your cabinets out there for the world to see, but if you are willing to put in the time and effort to get everything organized (and maybe colorcoded?), you can give your kitchen a much more vibrant, open feel.

3. Give Yourself a View Every kitchen has a window, of course. But many of us also have, if not outright ugly, then nondescript doors that give no view to what is surely a beautiful deck or backyard. So if you’ve ever want to give yourself or your guys a nice view while taking advantage of that natural

Hands-free faucets aren’t necessarily anything new, but boy are they convenient. Whether your hands are messy from cooking, or you’re just coming after playing with your kids or dog in the yard, a hands-free faucet is an easy way to keep everything around your sink clean as you get yourself clean.

5. Hide Storage in Plain Sight Have you ever seen one of those tiny house TV shows? The concept here is the same,

but on a larger scale: maximize your space by replacing large, burdensome storage units with subtle, hidden versions of their predecessors. Whether it’s a small table and stool that pulls out of the wall, a pull-out cabinet hidden on the corner of your island, or any similar idea, give yourself the open space you’ve always wanted without sacrificing places to put all of your stuff.

Is your kitchen just not doing it for you anymore? Don’t worry, we’re here to help.

Kliethermes can build, remodel or update any kitchen and have it ready for the fall in no time. Give us a call today at (573) 446-2222 for a free consultation!

CALE KLIETHERMES

KLIETHERMES HOMES & REMODELING

Cale Kliethermes has learned the construction business from the ground up, working with his father to uphold the 40-year legacy that is Kliethermes Homes & Remodeling. Having been immersed in the industry since his teenage years, Cale possesses decades’ worth of expert knowledge and experience regarding new construction and remodels. Cale studied business administration and finance at Regis University, in Denver, Colorado, and earned his CGR (Certified Graduate Remodeler) designation from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). He also served in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps, where he built secure housing and observation posts. Cale specializes in leading homeowners through the creative process of designing their ideal home, and he is skilled in determining unique solutions that result in life-changing differences.

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THOUGHTS ON WOMEN AT WORK

BY ANNE TUCKLEY Find more at: AnneTuckleyhome.com

“Do what you love and you will never work another day in your life.”

You’ve heard this before. We’ve all heard this before. It is pounded into the minds of our youth as they eagerly look to the future and consider their different potential professions. It is intended to serve as an optimistic message that if you enjoy your work then it won’t feel like work.

I have a problem with this saying.

At what point in our lives did the word work become synonymous with bad? I absolutely love what I do, but it is definitely work. I’ve been on some amazing vacations and work is nothing like it. It is challenging. It can be physically grueling. It is personal and can be extremely emotional. But you know what, it is meaningful, and that is why I love it. I prefer to say, “do something meaningful and your work becomes worth it.”

People frequently ask me how I accomplish everything I do in a day. I am married, I have a child, I have a business, and I love to devote time to local charities. My days are full. My answer to their questions always go back to my view on work.

What I do is meaningful to me. I help families turn their house into a home. I help companies transform an office space into a business. Yes, I know I am not saving lives, but I am directly influencing the lives of those with whom I interact. I am making their life better and that matters to me.

So how can you make your work matter?

5. Determine what motivates you. Is there a cause you are passionate about? What inspires you? What topics do you love to talk about?

4. Figure out what you are good at. Be brutally honest with yourself.

3. Know what you like. Do you like to solve puzzles? Do you prefer physical labor or an office job? Do you want to be surrounded by people or work alone.

2. Ditch the ego. When you make your job about only you it will never be truly meaningful.

1. Be honest with yourself. Work is work. Not every day is going to be bliss. You will have failures.

Now go do something meaningful!

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ANNE TUCKLEY

ANNE TUCKLEY HOME

Anne has been in the interior design industry for over 20 years and has resided in many metropolitan cities from NYC to Houston while honing in on her skills.

Her specialties are interior design and home staging, with a focus on unique perception. Anne graduated with a BFA in fine art with a concentration in design and illustration. She has extensive experience in designing new construction as well as remodeling and conceptualizing out-of-the-box ideas. She ensures cutting edge design and superb customer service.

108 Corporate Lake Place, Columbia, MO 65203 573-639-1989 | AnneTuckleyhome.com

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ARE YOU TRULY GETTING A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP?

BY JAKE BAUMGARTNER Find more at baumgartners.com

Sleep is vital if you haven’t realized that yet! You can’t live without it, even if you’re a person who only requires four to six hours a night. I won’t even mention the ones lucky enough to get more than eight hours! So, are you truly getting a good night’s sleep? Here are a few questions to ponder:

Do you dream?

Seriously, ask yourself this question. Don’t try to remember your dreams, or if you dream in black and white or color, just simply try to recall if you dream at night. You may do some dreaming during a nap or short rest, but it’s believed that a person can only reach a deep dream state if they reach their R.E.M. cycle in sleep.

R.E.M., meaning rapid eye movement, is the most restorative and best type of sleep.

In most people, based on the regular eighthour sleep cycle, R.E.M. sleep only occurs between hours four to eight in your cycle (not from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., like some have thought). Therefore, if you don’t dream, you’re not reaching your R.E.M. cycle, which means you’re not getting the RESTORATIVE sleep that you need to wake up and ‘capture’ tomorrow.

Just think about it, do you dream?

different models. It can be quite overwhelming.

In our stores, we set up a testing area for the different types of technology: innerspring, memory foam, and hybrids. We have you lay down for a few minutes on each type to see if you like the feel of one over another. If you can narrow down the type of mattress you like, then we have our different technologies grouped together by feel. This is where you narrow down from a firm feel to a softer feel. It’s a much easier process than you may think.

Sleep is one of the most important things in life, and a good mattress that fits “you” can make a dramatic difference. When customers buy a new mattress from us, the most common response we hear is “Why didn’t we do this a long time ago?” There’s a good chance you’ll have the same reaction, no matter which mattress option you choose. So, come into either our Columbia or Auxvasse showrooms and take the first step to getting a TRULY good night’s sleep!

Do you like your mattress?

Get a pencil or your smartphone and make a list of three to five things you dislike about your bed. Is it too hard, too soft, does it have a big lump in the middle? Are you sleeping in a hole so big you can’t look over and see your partner, let alone get to them? When you sleep in a hotel, do you find yourself wishing you had a different bed at home? If you have issues with your current mattress, there are options out there to ensure you get a good’s night sleep.

Please come check them out!

Do you hate thinking about shopping for a mattress?

JAKE BAUMGARTNER

BAUMGARTNER’S FURNITURE

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.

Every person is different, and therefore each of us experience something different when we lay down on a mattress. That’s why you see so many COMO L I V I N G

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FULL SCALE OUTDOOR SPACE

BY JAKE FRINK Find more at rostlandscaping.com

A full scale landscape company takes the entire property into consideration to maximize the potential of a blank space. This includes many other features beyond plants and patios.

Fencing and gates, irrigation, and landscape lighting are factors that must be given attention when planning a landscape renovation.

Technology has opened doors for the most appealing, functional, and user-friendly fencing, irrigation and lighting systems to create the best possible landscape design.

FENCING & GATES: While there may not be a lot to discuss when it comes to fencing and gates, they are important.

Used to define a space, security, pets, kids, and pools, there are a number of reasons to consider fencing your yard or adding a driveway gate. The great thing is, fencing can not only be functional, but a focal point. Ornamental fencing can be a feature itself. It comes in a variety of styles and designs, from easy to order stock fencing and gates, to custom designed.

IRRIGATION: We all know how unpredictable and inconsistent Missouri weather can be, so irrigation is a significant part of a full scale landscape design.

The real purpose of irrigation is to protect your investment. It simplifies your life, is easy to maintain, and is worry-free. Innovative technology has increased the benefits of an irrigation system.

Rain sensors and smart controllers allow for watering to be scheduled on specific days, at specific times, for a specific length of time; all while adjusting based on weather conditions.

Water usage is minimized, saving you money, all while maintaining the health of your lawn and landscape. Irrigation systems can be installed at any time, not just while you are undergoing a landscape project. And, they are easy to maintain after install with service professionals who will activate, perform city-mandated backflow testing, winterize your system, and make repairs.

LANDSCAPE LIGHTING: Landscape lighting has come a long way in the last few years with technology opening doors to new, user-friendly systems. Halogen lights on a timer have now been replaced with LED lights set as zones, with dimming and color changing capabilities (all of which can be controlled from your phone!). LED lighting provides many advantages such as energy efficiency, heat reduction, and fixture lifespan. Requiring about 80% less voltage, LED’s lower energy costs and provides a longer lamp life. Traditional lighting

fixtures could become very hot, LED’s create much less heat and include temperature sensors. And finally, LED’s can last 50,000 hours, reducing worry and maintenance. Landscape lighting designs can be very simple, or very ornate and complex, and everything in between but it is both an art and a science that needs to be carefully planned. In some cases, well-designed landscape lighting can make an outdoor space look better at night, than during the day, but either way, landscape lighting doubles the usability of space making it a great feature to consider in an outdoor living space.

JAKE FRINK ROST LANDSCAPING

Jake Frink is a Columbia native who enjoys working and playing in outdoor spaces. He has a degree in plant science and landscape design from MU. With Rost Landscaping for nearly 18 years, Jake is the Design Manager. His natural talent for creating beautiful outdoor spaces gives him a huge sense of satisfaction.

Jake considers himself to be a very lucky husband as well as a lucky dad of three great kids.

573-445-4465

rostlandscaping.com

“

“Business Times Interactive made website design and content a custom project for Huntline Dental Group. I don’t believe in putting clients into a system that works for the company.

I believe in customizing a plan that works for the client! That is what I feel Business Times Interactive has done for my businesses. Thank You to Jamie and all the team members that worked on my projects.”

—Dr. Sam Barnhart DDS, Huntline Dental Group

DISPLAY ADVERTISING

SEO/PAID SEARCH

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MULTIMEDIA SERVICES

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HOME AWAY FROM

home

Local entrepreneurs create spaces where they love to work.

by B E T H B R A M S T E D T ph otos by K E I T H B O R G M E Y E R

AUBREY ROWDEN AND JESSICA WHITE

Love Tree Studios Aubrey Rowden and Jessica White, wedding and portraiture photographers, opened Love Tree Studios in 2011. For most of the past three years, they called 910 E. Broadway home, nestled in one of the office suites on the second floor, above Breeze.

They loved the location but had their eye set on Suite 200, an open studio space featuring two large windows, white bead board accents, and lots of natural light.

“When we heard the previous tenants were moving,” Aubrey says, “we contacted our landlord immediately.”

The ladies got their wish and moved in last November. “I wanted an inspirational space for us and our clients,” Jessica says. “We love their reaction when they walk in.”

“It’s so light and airy,” Aubrey adds, “and it’s so consistent with our brand.”

Jessica White (left) and Aubrey Rowden

KELLY GILION

Plume Before Kelly Gilion opened Plume in November of 2013, the space off Route K in south Columbia was home to a vintage retail shop. “It was one big fixer-upper,” Kelly says.

Today, it has been spruced up and is home to handmade gifts and furniture from local artisans.

“I had a heart to create an outlet for moms who were making and selling items from home,” Kelly shares.

“It’s a little bit of everything that all goes together.”

Kelly recently added a private office. “I needed to pull myself off the sales floor and have a private place for appointments,” she says, some place that showed off her personality and style as much as the store does. “I wanted a really bright and inspired place to work, one that was beautiful and fun.”

CHERIE DOYEN

Trauma Coach

The quaint two-story building on Santana Circle in south Columbia has been home to Cherie Doyen since 1995. While it opened as The Loft Hair Design, it’s also the place Cherie authored her first book and where she currently coaches women to help them leave their PTSD behind.

“Most spaces that people come to heal are

dark and clinical,” says Cherie. “I wanted to use color because it activates the creative space in our brain.”

old saris, and illustrations of elephants artwork symbolize community and the strength of women.

Cherie chose teal, the powerful color of the sea, to adorn the walls. She also chose fabrics and textures that exude comfort.

Her curtains are made from pieces of

Each table in her group space also includes coloring books and pencils.

“Coloring promotes art,” Cherie says, “and art is meditation in motion.”

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JOSIE MICKEY

The Pet Fair

After 20 years working at her pet grooming shop, Josie Mickey wanted to expand her business with mobile grooming, but she knew most grooming vans were unattractive and felt like a closet.

“I wanted to have part of my day in a space that was quiet and completely mine,” Josie says, pictured here with Gilda. “I wanted it to

feel tranquil, peaceful, and beautiful.”

Josie found her van online, already equipped with a generator and lots of windows. All she had to do was add plumbing and her distinctive touch.

for the tub surround, wall colors, and floor.

Josie and her husband put the mechanical pieces together and added a few accessories.

“In the end, we created a one-of-a-kind grooming space,” Josie says. “It’s open, airy, and pretty.”

Aaron Dolan, from Studio Home, helped bring her vision to life with the tile he picked

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KIM WADE AND ANNIKA MILLER

SilverBox Photographers Kim Wade and Annika Miller, of SilverBox Photographers, are thrilled with their new office space on East Walnut and the opportunity to share the space with Hoot Design Co. “We were able to afford a bigger and more versatile space than if we were on our own,” says Kim. “It’s a really great synchronicity.”

SilverBox moved into the former home of the Root Cellar in April of this year.

“The space kind of chose us,” Kim says.

“Our last studio was a white box,” adds Annika.

“This space has so much more historic character with the wood beams and brick.”

SilverBox changed the flooring, added windows, brought in white furniture, and added splashes of color to make the large room feel trendy. They also included a separate viewing area for clients.

“Our first studio was a leap of faith,” Annika shares. “We call this our grown-up space.”

Annika Miller (left) and Kim Wade

KRISTEN BROWN

Hoot Design Co. Kristen Brown, owner and founder of Hoot Design Co., has shared space in the North Village Arts District with SilverBox Photographers since 2011.

First in the Berry Building, a former warehouse and grocery, Kristen got used to working with eight or more people in the same room. She is glad that designing their new digs, just a few doors down, gave them the chance to liven up their look and create some separation.

“We wanted something hip and fresh,” Kristen says.

“Both of us stay on top of trends and are style leaders in what we do.

We wanted the space to feel modern and cool for our clients.”

For Kristen, the change meant a private space outside the larger work area, a conference table for gatherings, and an electronic garage door that she can open when the weather cooperates.

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MOVE BETTER, FEEL BETTER, SIMPLY LIVE BETTER. Join a community advocating for your family’s health and fitness! Enjoy all that Wilson’s has to offer with personal coaching, team training, indoor and outdoor pools, playcenter for kids, racquetball, hot yoga, pilates, kickboxing and much more!

We don’t always give training away...but when we do it’s worth it!

Ask us about our limited time August training promotion!

WILSONSFITNESS.COM 2902 Forum Blvd.

573-446-3232

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111 Orr St.

573-777-6700

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2601 Rangeline 573-443-4242

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2900 Forum Blvd.

573-449-2606

“IF YOU APPRECIATE BE AU T I F U L F U R NI T U R E, DÉCOR THAT M AKES A S TAT EMENT A N D UNS URPASSED PRO FESS I ONA L S ERV I C E,

you're in luck

."

“I

believe in creating a shopping experience that you won’t find anywhere else.

From the moment you walk in, you’ll experience gorgeous custom upholstery, unique accessories and art that will make your home complete!

I personally invite you to come discover luxury.”

Justin Wilson, co-founder

Visit Columbia’s new premier luxury furniture store for a diversified mix of well-made, functional furnishings and accessories at satisfying prices.

573.777.5975 • JasanyHome.com • 1400 Heriford Road • Columbia COMO L I V I N G - 44 - J U NE / J U LY - 2 017

FA S H I O N

F O R

A L L

T I M E

Local jewelers showcase watches from simple to sophisticated.

by N I N A H E B R A N K | ph o to s by K E I T H B O R G M E Y E R | st y led by T I F FA N Y S C H M I D T COMO L I V I N G

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FA S H I O N

P O S I T I V E LY R E F I N E D from Buchroeders Jewelers Whether you’re headed into an important business meeting, giving a presentation to your co-workers, or meeting with clients, you want to make an impression — serious yet sophisticated. Rolex has the perfect stainless-steel watch for you.

For more of a timeless look, the midsize white gold Datejust (bottom left) is simply stunning. This watch features a bronze Roman numeral dial, chocolate face, and diamond VI. For a classic look, the Lady’s Oyster Perpetual Datejust features a black face, Jubilee bracelet, and white gold fluted bezel. The White Roman Dial is a simplified take on a classic. From the office to the gym, this watch will look amazing.

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FA S H I O N

A B S O L U T E LY U N I Q U E from Betz Jewelers This fun watch from the Cora series would make a unique addition to your wardrobe.

Made from natural koa wood with a rose gold face and Swarovski crystal markers, it’s sure to catch the attention of your friends and family.

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FA S H I O N

S I M P LY S T R I K I N G from Betz Jewelers Whether you’re headed to the office, out on the town, or home to your family, these timepieces will travel seamlessly with you. The Reactor Curie Series watch (top) with Swarovski crystals achieves an elegant look whether you dress it up or dress it down. The Yellow Tone Betz Signature Series wristwatch with a mother-of-pearl dial and black strap is a beautiful yet practical piece. The Betz Signature Series high-tech pink timepiece will set you apart from the crowd, while the Bulova Diamond Series watch is a chic and simple accessory that coordinates with anything.

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FA S H I O N

P E R F E C T LY P R A C T I C A L from Calena’s Fashions Need something that can withstand bumps, bruises, a little dirt, or tugging toddlers? Search no further than these everyday watches from Calena’s Fashions in Holts Summit. Featuring a bangle-style band and available in a variety of finishes, you’ll find at least one to suit your lifestyle and personality.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

HERE’S TO

SMART WOMEN. May we know them.

May we be them.

May we raise them.

Women in the United States own close to 10 million businesses, and there are more than 1.47 million women in Missouri’s workforce.

Since 48 percent of the state’s total labor force is women, we decided to introduce you to a few of Columbia’s finest.

at work

Women at work Lydia Melton Gunter Hans What is your area of expertise?

You know how some beers are really hard to find? I hunt rare European beers and put them on tap. So customers can enjoy unique and exceptional beers the way they’re meant to be savored.

How long have you been with this company?

I founded Gunter Hans 4 year ago.

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To what do you attribute your success?

By accepting that success is never owned; it’s only rented- and the rent is due every day.

From what do you draw strength?

God. The greatest tragedy ever told is that this life ends in nothing. That it was all for nothing. I don’t believe that and that alone gives me strength.

What strengths do you bring to those around you?

It’s hard to be certain, but I pray it’s vision, hope and the belief that anything can be done when you stop making excuses.

What inspires you?

Art- which sort of makes me a hypocrite.

As an analytical person, I really struggle watching people pay an unfathomable amount for an art degree because I don’t see the financial ROI; but there’s something to be said about creating something truly beautiful. Something so exquisite it brings joy and value to another person’s life.

How have other women impacted your life?

How have they not?! Aside from the obvious superwoman-type folk, many women act as role models behind the scenes.

When faced with unparalleled workloads and family affairs, we serve as striking examples that you can do it. Not only that, but when times get tough, (and they will get tough) we are so quick to support each other. We’re not all perfect, and most of us may be unsung heroes, but it’s our cumulative efforts towards everyday activities that make our impact on society extraordinary.

On a typical weeknight, we could find you doing what?

Reading. For someone that owns a bar, I’m pretty nerdy at night.

What advice would you give to a younger version of you?

Stop worrying and just do it. Think it through, but recognize that worry is nothing more than interest paid on a debt you may never owe.

Anything else?

Grab a glass of wine, beer, whatever it is you enjoy and make sure you’re taking time for you. Life goes by so fast and it would be a shame to miss it.

7 Hitt Street, Columbia 573-256-1205 GunterHans.com COMO LIVING - 52 - 2017 15 -- AUGUST SEPTEMBER - 2017

Women at work

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Ashley Cunningham Naught-Naught Insurance Agency Area of expertise: My primary focus is auto, home, business and life insurance. Being part of one of the largest independent agencies in Missouri, I have access to more insurance carriers than most and can get the best insurance at an affordable cost.

How long have you been with this company?

I have been selling insurance for 15 years.

I started at Naught-Naught Agency 14 years ago and I have been enjoying selling insurance every day since!

To what do you attribute your success?

I run my business as I live my life, by the Golden Rule—do unto others. I handle each client’s insurance as I would my own. I review their policies every renewal and touch base to make sure they have the best option available and make recommendations based on their current needs. Being very family oriented, my clients know that they are part of my family and have my undivided attention whenever they need me.

What inspires you?

A good challenge. Insurance is like a puzzle, finding which carrier is the best fit for each client. Also, saving clients money.

The smile it brings to their face when I can find them a better option makes my day every time.

Who had substantial influence on you and why?

My parents. I was raised with a strong work ethic and to always do the best you can do in everything you do. This has helped me both in my professional and personal life.

What advice would you give to a younger version of you?

What strengths do you bring to those around you?

Always remember what is important in life family, helping others and doing your best.

The harder you work and the more you do for others, the more rewarding life will be.

Positivity, organization and problem solving. I never see a problem or puzzle that I cannot find a solution.

On a typical weeknight, we could find you doing what?

Most do not know that I am a very impatient person. But I use this as an asset. Since I do not like to wait for anything, I try to make sure that my clients never wait on me for anything.

Playing outside with my children. If I am not at work, I spend every minute I can with my family. Or you may find me tackling my next DIY project with my husband.

From what do you draw strength?

My family. Their support makes me always want to do better.

COMO LIVING - 53 - SEPTEMBER - 2017

Anything else?

3928 S Providence Rd Columbia, MO 573-818-8260

Women at work

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Kate Driskill

Sonja Ellis

Sales Manager

Sales Consultant

To what do you attribute your success?

How long have you been with the company?

With 35 years in automotive sales, I always do the absolute best I can.

9 years

Nicole Duncan Business Development Center Manager

To what do you attribute your success?

Discipline, hard work and probably a little bit of hard headedness.

What strengths do you bring to those around you?

What strengths do you bring to those around you?

I try to never display weakness. I’m good at finding solutions and putting them into place. Failure is not in my vocabulary!

A very strong work ethic

God and my family

From what do you draw strength?

How have other women impacted your life?

From what do you draw strength?

My faith and my family

My family. My husband has always been my biggest supporter!

How have other women impacted your life?

What inspires you?

All the women have impacted my life have strong faith and work ethics.

Helping others. It’s an overwhelming pleasure to help someone new succeed in this business.

What advice would you give to a younger version of you?

What advice would you give a younger version of you?

You have to believe in yourself and go for it. Don’t let anyone knock you down. There is so much opportunity out there.

On a typical weeknight, we could find you doing what?

Discussing the day with my husband.

Be an example for your family and your community.

On a typical weeknight, we could find you doing what?

Maybe watching a rerun or two of Walker, Texas Ranger.

Anything else?

Bob McCosh makes the difference!

LIVING - 14 54-- AUGUST -- 2017 COMO LIVING

From what do you draw strength?

I’ve always been surrounded by strong, independent women who have each made me who I am today. I attribute my focus, independence, compassion, humility and loyalty to my mom, my stepmom, both of my grandmas and my Granny.

What advice would you give a younger version of you?

Spend those extra moments with your family and the ones you love.

On a typical weeknight, we could find you doing what?

Hanging out with my husband and daughter. Usually playing dress up, twirling a princess, watching Beauty and the Beast.

Or eating make-believe pizza and macaroni and cheese!

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Rhonda Jones Office Manager How long have you been with the company?

30 years

To what do you attribute your success?

Education, work experience and logic.

What strengths do you bring to those around you?

Confidence and leadership

From what do you draw strength?

My family, the McCosh family, my friends and my staff

What inspires you?

That I successfully solve problems for both fellow employees and our customers

How have other women impacted your life?

I have an amazing support system of women who care, listen and push me to be strong and confident.

What advice would you give a younger version of you?

Give 110% and then some. Have a good

work ethic, be honest and faithful and stay positive. You can do almost anything you set your mind to.

What strengths do you bring to those around you?

On a typical weeknight, we could find you doing what?

From what do you draw strength?

Gardening, socializing. A little R&R at home.

Anything else?

I draw strength from working many years with a great group of managers, with Mr. McCosh as our leader. Our customers are very important to us and I have developed many friendships with them.

I learned early on that treating others with respect is important. You earn respect, you cannot demand it. Do the right thing and things will usually turn out alright.

Victoria Crane Warranty Administrator How long have you been with the company?

I’m a team player and motivate people.

God

What inspires you?

My grandchildren, nature and a good book

How have other women impacted your life?

Both of my grandmothers were strong women.

What advice would you give a younger version of you?

Have no fear. Step forward with confidence.

Failure can be a starting point.

On a typical weeknight, we could find you doing what?

Cooking, with a glass of wine or a drink in hand.

22 years

To what do you attribute your success?

My willingness to learn and ability to laugh at myself COMO LIVING - 55 15 -- SEPTEMBER -- 2017 2017

#1 Business Loop 70, Columbia, MO 573-442-6156 BobMcCosh.com

Women at work Rebekah Jouret

SPONSORED CONTENT

To what do you attribute your success?

Christian Chapel Academy

First and foremost I would attribute any success I have to God! I also am blessed with an amazing family, supportive friends, and fabulous mentors who have helped me along the way!

What is your area of expertise?

From what do you draw strength?

Educator. 16 years teaching and 1 year as Principal.

How long have you been with this company?

1 year

I draw strength from God and His word.

I also draw strength from the people that I interact with on a daily basis.

Whether it is my family, friends, staff, or students they are so inspirational and so encouraging to me.

What inspires you?

I gain inspiration by knowing that the place God has put me and the role that I serve in has the potential to change lives and make an eternal difference. That is enough to get me up and out of bed even on the hard days because it’s not about me but God and everyone He wants me to serve.

How have other women impacted your life?

I have had the priviledge to have many Godly women in my life both personally and educationally. I think that has allowed me to navigate my journey a little better.

By watching them and taking their lead, I have been able to stay focused not only on the tasks at hand but also look ahead and plan for the future.

What strengths do you bring to those around you?

I would say that I am enthusiastic. I like to think I bring energy and positivity. I do my best to lead by example and with all of my heart.

On a typical weeknight, we could find you doing what?

Driving my kids to different activities or at home - cooking, cleaning, and hanging out with my family.

What advice would you give to a younger version of you?

Be the best You - everyone else is taken.

Worry less about what everyone else thinks and focus on glorifying God, making your family proud, and being able to lay your head down at night with no regrets.

3300 South Providence Road, Columbia 573-874-2325 experienceCCA.org

photo by Jessica White, Love Tree Studios

COMO LIVING - 56 - AUGUST - 2017

Women at work

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Polly Reynolds

What strengths do you bring to those around you?

What advice would you give to a younger version of you?

The Trust Company

I am joyful. A positive outlook allows for greater freedom in finding solutions to complex problems. I also have a very open door policy and love to mentor and teach those around me.

To not worry so much about failure and be more confident! Some failures lead to very constructive growth. I would also tell myself not to worry so much about what others think – just do your best and everything else will take care of itself.

What is your area of expertise?

Wealth Management which encompasses investment management of individuals, businesses, charitable endowments, retirement plans; comprehensive financial planning; estate and trust administration and settlement, retirement plan administration.

To what do you attribute your success?

On a typical weeknight, we could find you doing what?

Cooking and spending quality time with my husband of 34 years. It might not be exciting to some but it’s exactly what I look forward to every single day.

I have a passion for the people that I help every day. They know I genuinely care for them and in doing so, I can better serve them with their financial matters – whether they are currently a client or not.

From what do you draw strength?

I have a very deep faith in God and my family is my rock. I also surround myself with encouraging and extremely talented people in our office.

What inspires you?

Unsung heroes, nature, individuals who have challenges (no matter what kind) and can still find meaning and blessings in their everyday lives.

How have other women impacted your life?

I love working with women who can be humble leaders in a team environment.

My mom is my greatest example in this area. She is one of the strongest people I know yet led her company (and later her town as mayor) with great moral fortitude, incredible perspective and effective leadership qualities while showing incredible kindness and treating others with the utmost respect.

4210 Philips Farm Road, Suite 109, Columbia 573-876-7000 TheTrustCo.com 57 -- SEPTEMBER - 2017 COMO LIVING - 15

Anything else?

I absolutely love what I do and feel incredibly blessed every single day to have opportunities to meet and be blessed by others while providing them solutions.

Women at work

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Holly Bremmerkamp La Di Da Children’s Boutique What is your area of expertise?

What inspires you?

I have a Fashion Design and Product Development Degree from Stephens College. I’m definitely a seamstress at heart and love to create.

My two young daughters, Arielle and Maisie. Their beautiful spirits influence me to create and achieve my many goals.

How long have you been with this company?

I’m the new owner of La Di Da! Not only am I a seamstress and designer but I have 14 years of retail and management experience.

To what do you attribute your success?

How have other women impacted your life?

From going to an all woman’s college to working in a female dominated industry, I’ve been surrounded by strong business women most my life. They have certainly set the tone for my career hopes and desires.

Anything else?

Hard work and deeply caring about any project I’m working on.

My very own girl’s line, HollyBee, is in the works to premiere at the shop soon!

2001 Corona Drive Suite 203, Columbia, MO 573.397.6991 Facebook: @ladidachildrensboutique Instagram: Ladidachildrensboutique

Amanda Lee Quick The Hatchery What is your area of expertise?

The Hatchery was born due to the need for a coworking space with on-site childcare that allows business owners the office space and professionalism they crave. Being a professional and a parent can exist without the guilt. We help entrepreneurial parents build a strong community and belief in themselves so they can become the best parent and business owner they can be.

From what do you draw strength?

So much comes from my daughter, Ellie. I didn’t grow up with a strong motherly figure so my dad is also a large source of my strength. I want to be the kind of woman I want my daughter to be - and my dad taught me how to do that. I want to teach Ellie to be strong just like he taught me. For me, failure is not an option because Ellie is watching.

How have other women impacted your life?

I am profoundly impacted by the women, mothers, entrepreneurs, and business owners in my life who don’t shy away from the tough topics and simply do not settle. I am surrounded by so many fierce ladies and I am a firm believer that who you surround yourself with is who you become. Coming alongside these women throughout the journey of opening The Hatchery has made the experience so worthwhile.

What strengths do you bring to those around you?

I am a wonderful collaborator - I believe in collaboration over competition. I’m also a strong connector and am always looking to connect people with the resources they need. Finally, I am fiercely honest.

COMO LIVING - 58 - AUGUST - 2017

What advice would you give to a younger version of you?

Ask more questions! Stop being afraid of looking dumb and tap into the knowledge of people around you who are definitely wiser.

206 Corporate Lake Dr., Columbia, MO 573-356-9567 TheHatchery.club

Women at work

SPONSORED CONTENT

Anna Lawrence, Kelli Smith, Mandi Heiland Vantage Consultants What is your area of expertise?

Marketing strategy with a focus on media placement, creative production, associate training and research

How long have you been with this company?

We started Vantage Consultants in March 2015 and each of us has more than a decade of media and marketing experience.

To what do you attribute your success?

Our clients really like working with us. We make the marketing experience enjoyable for them, becoming their partners and combining their personal business expertise with our marketing expertise in order to yield the very best results. We pride ourselves on being easy to do business with, and customize the way we work with each client.

What inspires you?

We are inspired by the opportunity to build lives that make us truly happy. Every day is a good day, because the decisions are ours and we see the benefits of everything we work so hard for. Enjoying what we do and the people we do it with is a gift, and we are grateful every day. And that’s pretty inspiring.

How have other women impacted your life?

Columbia is full of successful, talented women who have written their own stories and done things their own way. As a womanowned business, we are fortunate to have them as examples. Personally, we have each been blessed with strong, female role models who instilled in us the courage and strength to know we can accomplish anything.

From what do you draw strength?

What strengths do you bring to those around you?

We draw our strength from one another.

We have shared values and agree on what’s most important for our company, which means we can count on one another to work through difficult decisions with the right motivation. We are partners and also friends.

We all share a strong determination to succeed. While each partner has their own talents and expertise, there is also a degree where these talents overlap, which equips us to face any challenge presented and find the best possible solution for our clients.

COMO LIVING - 59 - SEPTEMBER - 2017

What advice would you give to a younger version of you?

ANNA:

Don’t be afraid to lock in on what really inspires you and head down that path. You can always change your mind, but you can’t get back lost time.

KELLI:

Don’t let anyone dictate your path to success. Make your own way, and own it. If you want it, you will have it.

MANDI: If you work hard, you can afford to play hard. But remember to slow down and be present.

(573) 999-7997 GetTheVantage.com

Women at work

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Celeste Hardnock and Stella Grove My Sister’s Circus Area of expertise: We’re at the top of our game when it comes to dressing our customers in the best looks suited for them and to get their “sassy” on! We have a good eye for merchandise which carries over in relationships with our customers and their personal style.

How long have you been with this company?

We are celebrating our 40 year anniversary this year! I opened the store and Stella joined about 20 years later.

To what do you attribute your success?

First and foremost, we are not absentee owners. We oversee every aspect of running the store. Each and every customer is treated with complete honesty and they are our top priority.

From what do you draw strength?

We are constantly inspired by not only our customers but also the positive feedback we receive from our community. Also, we both love what we do and constantly challenge each other in different aspects.

What strengths do you bring to those around you?

We have a very strong work ethic and believe in supporting our community in any way that we can.

On a typical weeknight, we could find you doing what?

CELESTE: I eat out just about every night at the same place! I then often head to the grocery store and home to unwind.

STELLA: I have a 17 year old dog and a 1 year old puppy so, needless to say, they are an important part of my evening free time. I also like to make seasonal wreaths!

What advice would you give a younger version of you?

You are on a good ride when you wake up

every morning and look forward to doing what you love. Everything you do is a trade-off and it all depends on how badly you want to succeed and how much you are willing to work for it.

took such pride in telling everyone that her daughter owned a clothing store and they needed me to dress them! She was my biggest fan and I always wanted to make her proud.

What inspires you?

My mom was an important influence in my opening the store. She loved clothes and always wanted to know about the latest trends. She taught me the concept of “Shop ‘til I drop!” Mom COMO LIVING - 60 - AUGUST - 2017

1110 E. Broadway, Columbia 573-443-5618

Women at work

SPONSORED CONTENT

Nancy Allison Shelter Insurance

®

What is your area of expertise?

Insurance for auto, home, life and business.

How long have you been with this company?

43 years – 10 years in Shelter’s Claims Department, 14 years as a Training and Development specialist, 5 years in Marketing, 3 years in Customer Communications, and 11 years as an Agent.

To what do you attribute your success?

By always doing the right thing, no matter how hard it is. And by having such a passion for helping my clients protect their families.

From what do you draw strength?

My strong roots and my family values.

What inspires you?

The world is my inspiration. All I have to do is look around. There are millions of things that I am in awe of all around me. I’m also inspired by those who work hard, play hard and live long!

How have other women impacted your life?

My mother was my biggest fan and my greatest critic. She made me the woman I am today. She always said, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Consequently, I’ve always had a strong will! Other impactful women have been teachers, managers and other leaders.

What strengths do you bring to those around you?

Encouragement and knowledge

On a typical weeknight, we could find you doing what?

Socializing with friends. Or on the golf course.

What advice would you give to a younger version of you?

Never give up. Learn to love a challenge and work well under pressure. Look at obstacles as solutions.

1729 W. Broadway, Columbia, MO 573-445-1749 ShelterInsurance.com/NancyAllison COMO LIVING - 61 - SEPTEMBER - 2017

Women at work Kathleen Bruegenhemke Hawthorn Bank What is your area of expertise?

Financial operations and risk management.

How long have you been with this company?

25 years.

To what do you attribute your success?

I’m still striving for success, but I’ve certainly benefited from a supportive family and from a variety of mentors who have educated and inspired me while challenging my thought process.

From what do you draw strength?

By learning from my mistakes and growing from my accomplishments.

What inspires you?

To be better tomorrow.

How have other women impacted your life?

I am fortunate to work every day with lots of great women, but the most impactful woman in my life is my mom. Growing up, I saw my parents work side by side in their sole proprietorship. After Dad passed away, Mom continued to operate the family business and it was evident how responsible Mom was for the success of the business. My mom has great business acumen.

What strengths do you bring to those around you?

I work with an awesome group of people so I probably draw more from them than I contribute.

What advice would you give to a younger version of you?

Make time to travel more!

On a typical weeknight, we could find you doing what?

I’m an early riser so by the time I get home from work and read the paper, it very well could be time for bed!

I never felt a glass ceiling! The only limitations I have are the ones that have been self-imposed!

Anything else?

I’ve always worked in professional environments that encourage employees (men and women alike) to be thinkers and problem solvers. Because of that, COMO LIVING - 62 - AUGUST - 2017

1110 Club Village Drive, Columbia, MO 573.449.3050 HawthornBank.com

Women at work

SPONSORED CONTENT

Carol Miller Central Missouri Auto Body What is your area of expertise?

State of the art collision repair with exceptional customer service.

How long have you been with this company?

35 years.

To what do you attribute your success?

The pride my staff takes in performing their respective positions with considerable dedication and precision.

From what do you draw strength?

I firmly believe “It takes a village” in all aspects of life, so having family, friends, co-workers, etc. as sounding boards enlightens me to many perspectives.

What inspires you?

All the charitable work that takes place in this community, especially the organizations that help children.

How have other women impacted your life?

There are so many women who have achieved so much because they did not let obstacles stop the momentum in achieving their dreams.

What strengths do you bring to those around you?

Dedication. When I say I’m going to do something, I follow through. Seems that my M.O. can also be described as honest, since I don’t go back on my word. I also have a very strong passion for helping others.

What advice would you give to a younger version of you?

Relax! Don’t take life so seriously! Every perceived “problem” is an opportunity to learn life’s lessons.

Anything else?

I receive an inspirational message every morning and each one ends with “Thoughts become things … choose the good ones!”

On a typical weeknight, we could find you doing what?

Some sort of physical activity- swimming or biking. I love to do triathlons, even though my running stinks.

5353 N Hwy 763, Columbia, MO 573-875-5877 CentralMoAutobody.com 63-- SEPTEMBER - 2017 COMO LIVING - 15

Women at work

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Mendy Diel Commerce Trust Company What is your area of expertise?

As a private banker, I provide comprehensive, high level financial advice and am the single point of contact for my clients’ banking needs.

How long have you been with the company?

I started in my hometown bank at the age of 16, but I have been with Commerce for over 25 years.

To what do you attribute your success?

Over the course of my banking career, I’ve stayed focused on customer service and have a strong desire to find solutions to fit my client’s life stages. Giving my clients confidence and peace of mind not only has contributed to my success but has given me tremendous pleasure.

What advice would you give to a younger version of you?

“Take pride in how FAR you have come and have FAITH in how far you can go” – unknown author

What inspires you?

My inspiration comes from people who make a positive difference in the lives of others.

How have other women impacted your life?

Several women have influenced me over the years including my mother, grandmother, Valerie Shaw, and Teresa Maledy. They have provided guidance in balancing my personal life and professional career. (Valerie Shaw, Retired, former director of retail for Commerce Bank, Central Missouri Region and Teresa Maledy, Chairman and CEO, Commerce Bank, Central Missouri Region)

From what do you draw strength?

My strength is drawn from the principles of belief, integrity and discipline. These three principles have allowed me to build my skills on the professional side as well as personally as I raise my two daughters.

COMO LIVING - 64 - AUGUST - 2017

901 E Broadway, Columbia 573-886-5368 CommerceTrustCompany.com

Women at work

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Erin Hendershott & Katie Wagner The 573 Home Team Real Estate Group What is your area of expertise?

We are determined to provide the highest level of service. To do so, we’ve become certified in U.S. Workforce Mobility. We are excited to be THE Relocation Team of RE/MAX Boone Realty! Columbia is growing and we are better equipped to serve our growing community thanks to our ongoing education in real estate. We get excited to share our city & “sell” its benefits to our relocating clients.

To what do you attribute your success?

We are very connected to our community and have a deep love & appreciation for our city. We were both transplants to Columbia 11 years ago & jumped right in.

We have raised our families here and are involved in many organizations.

What strengths do you bring to those around you?

KATIE: My personality makes it easy for people to get to know me & feel at ease. My husband always asks how I can find out someone’s life story in the first ten minutes of meeting them!

ERIN: Positive attitude and easy communication. I genuinely enjoy getting to know people and hearing about their life.

This strength is beneficial to my clients, as I listen to their goals and then work very hard to exceed their expectations.

33 E Broadway Suite 200 Columbia, MO 573-355-7159 573hometeam.com

Dr. Arminta Phelps Achieve Balance Chiropractic When did you start with this company?

I established Achieve Balance Chiropractic in 2008.

To what do you attribute your success?

Being grounded in my purpose is the root of my success. Without a doubt, I am here to help people live to their fullest potential.

There have been many coaches and mentors along the way, as well. If you want to achieve something, you must learn from those who have been there. We must also be constantly striving to grow and better ourselves everday.

What strengths do you bring to those around you?

Inspiration, a positive outlook, love, motivation, and encouragement. I have a “get things done” attitude, a plethora of knowledge in all aspects of what wellness is, and am able to inspire people to take action on their health.

How have other women impacted your life?

The sisterhood of women I surround myself with inspires me to be the best version of me. From my mother, Gwen, who has supported my business and vison from the beginning, to other chiropractic women I surround myself with. They all hold me accountable not only in business but in life.

From what do you draw strength?

I believe there is a little piece of God in each of us to guide and inspire us. If you don’t go within, you go without.

What advice would you give to a younger version of you?

To never cower but to always step into your greatness. You are here to do mighty things and never give up. The world needs your hands and your heart.

COMO LIVING - 65 - SEPTEMBER - 2017

1000 W. Nifong Building 8 Ste. 100, Columbia, MO 573-442-5520 AchieveBalanceChiropractic.com

FOUNDING DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES & MATHEMATICS

Dr. Sarah Vordtriede-Patton

FOUNDING DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Dr. Shanda Davis

We are proud to welcome Deans Vordtriede-Patton and Davis to our Columbia College family!

Maximizing the

Impact

LOCAL NONPROFIT DIRECTORS DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO THE COMMON GOOD.

by B E T H B R A M S T E D T A N D J E N N I F E R T R U E S DA L E photos by K E I T H B O R G M E Y E R

COMO L I V I N G

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Elizabeth Herrera

TRUE NORTH OF COLUMBIA Elizabeth Herrera moved to Columbia for love.

The daughter of Dominican immigrants, Elizabeth grew up in Puerto Rico. After receiving her master’s degree in not-for-profit management, she worked at PACE Center for Girls Inc. in Jacksonville, Florida before opening a PACE center in Miami in 2013.

Then she got bit by the love bug. With her partner living in Columbia, the couple had to choose whether to settle in Miami or Columbia. Elizabeth, who is expecting her first child in August, picked Columbia. “It’s a wonderful place to raise a family,” she says.

“There's fresh air, and you can breathe here.”

One condition of her move, however, was that she find work she was passionate about.

Elizabeth celebrated her one-year anniversary in Columbia — and at True North — in July.

“I want to help women find their value and reach their full potential,” Elizabeth shares.

“I believe a community can be transformed when we invest in women.”

True North was started in the 1970s as a shelter for rape victims, and it exists today to provide a safe environment by educating, empowering, and advocating for victims of domestic and sexual violence.

Elizabeth sees her strengths as her unique ability to merge best business practices with heart-centered leadership.

“I lead with my heart,” Elizabeth says. “I believe many management systems are outdated and don’t contribute to elevating the human spirit. I find that the most effective performer is one who loves their work, is engaged, and is treated with respect and consideration.”

Elizabeth enjoys working with her team of 27 staff and 30 volunteers and getting to know them personally. “They provide the

ideas, and then my job is to find ways to make them happen,” she says.

In her first year, Elizabeth and her team have been busy making the shelter more welcoming and enhancing the programs True North offers. In April, volunteers from For Columbia painted the inside of the shelter and remodeled the bedrooms using décor provided by local businesses. “The people of Columbia are so kind and generous,” Elizabeth shares. “The new décor really

communicates to the women that they are loved and valued.”

In addition to a warm environment, True North now provides life skill classes, counseling programs, AA and NA meetings inhouse, mindfulness coaching, and yoga to help the women become more fully independent.

“We’ve worked for 30 years to be a safe place,” Elizabeth says. “Now we want to become the gold standard for the holistic approach to programs we provide.”

˜

“The absolute favorite part of my job is Saturday mornings. There’s an exciting energy in the air during market. When I see customers get excited about a new seasonal fruit, or when my vendor’s tables are empty, I know it’s been a good day!”

– Corrina Rhea Smith, Columbia Farmers Market COMO L I V I N G

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Maximizing the Impact

Annette Triplett PEDNET COALITION When Annette Triplett started working for PedNet, she felt like an outsider.

“The position seemed like a stretch for sure,” Annette says. “I definitely struggled with imposter syndrome and not feeling qualified. It was surprising!”

Annette hadn’t worked for a nonprofit before, and she wasn’t a bike commuter.

What she did have was a background in health, experience commuting on foot, the organizational skills and attention to detail needed to move PedNet forward, and the determination to learn the rest.

So, in January of 2013, after Ian Thomas stepped down to run for City Council, Annette stepped in as executive director, and together with assistant director Lawrence Simonson, she's been working to keep Columbia safely on the move.

Annette finds a lot of joy in seeing the impact of her work in a brief period. “We work primarily at the policy and builtenvironmental level, and less one-on-one at the individual level,” she explains. “It’s an extended process, but at the end, something will change.”

She recalls a recent trail project that the organization advocated for with City Council. “Now it’s built and I can ride it,” she says. “The results are tangible.”

PedNet is now focused on growing their team and broadening their impact.

Their future includes Vision Zero, a transportation policy goal and data-driven strategy to achieve zero traffic deaths or serious injuries on Columbia’s roadways.

“The number one obstacle to having a comprehensive active transportation network is safety,” Annette says. “We need

to grow organizationally to help create that

The vision may seem like a stretch, but

transportation system, to have the capacity

Annette plans to meet it with the same focus and

to be involved in road projects.”

determination that have brought her this far.

˜

“Every day in this role is a joy because my work has a sense of purpose. The knowledge that my efforts directly and positively impact people’s lives drives and fulfills me, which enhances my quality of life overall.”

– Lindsay Young Lopez, The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri COMO L I V I N G

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Maximizing the Impact

Erin Reynolds FAMILY ACCESS CENTER OF EXCELLENCE OF BOONE COUNTY

“When I come to work, I come asking, ‘If it were me, what would I want to greet me at the door?’ That’s what I try to create,” says Erin Reynolds, about FACE. “I try to never lose sight of the fact that it could have been me.”

FACE opened last August with a mission to be the primary conduit between youth experiencing social, emotional, and behavioral problems and their needed health services. As of June, the center had served more than 1,100 people.

Erin says many families aren’t sure how to access and navigate the services their children might need. She hopes families feel a welcoming vibe at FACE that’s created by having a healthy, vibrant team.

She recognizes that the pace of the work is a challenge, and as a wife and mother of two, Erin emphasizes the importance of work-life balance in herself and her team.

She holds staff accountable for taking lunch breaks and stepping outside when the weather is nice.

“The team that we have here — I believe they have been entrusted to me,” Erin says about her goal to create an optimal work environment. “I believe in creating a culture here where they can thrive and grow and become the best version of themselves as professionals that they can be. I think that also impacts how we serve families.”

Erin thanks her past experiences for preparing her to lead FACE, a job that she calls “divine placement.” Reflecting on that past, she offers words of wisdom to women pursuing nonprofit work.

“If I could speak to my 16-year-old self, I would say ‘You can do this.’ And I

think as women, we need to hear that,” says Erin. “You don’t need to pretend that you’re not as strong as you are, and you don’t need to pretend that your voice

doesn’t matter. Is it difficult? Absolutely. Is it worth the fight? Absolutely. But I would tell any woman that, if this is your passion, do it. Be all in.”

˜

“It’s really exciting to work with creative people and really see what they can do. It’s amazing the talent these kids have and being able to find a productive way for them to channel that.”

-Linda Schust, Jabberwocky Studios

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Teri Walden

ENCIRCLE TECHNOLOGIES “I want our students to get amazing skills while they are here, and to be undeniable when it comes to getting a job that is satisfying, uses their intelligence, and helps them live an independent life,” says Teri Walden, executive director of Encircle Technologies.

Every time a student finds one of those jobs, Teri realizes a professional goal with profound personal meaning. An English teacher with an entrepreneurial flair, Teri helped create a place of learning where young adults with autism, like her son, could be trained in technology job skills like programming, website development, graphic design, and video production.

The center opened in 2013 and has served around 30 students.

“I’m one of those countless autism moms who is continually searching for resources for her child, and as he got older, I realized that we needed a plan for him,” Teri says. Her son, who is now 22, has taken classes at the center.

“There wasn’t anything that was satisfactory out there for him and his type of intelligence, which involved technology. I was in a place where I could start something.”

To help sustain the nonprofit, Teri’s students get real-world experience by building and maintaining websites and producing video content for local businesses, which lessens the organization’s reliance on federal grants.

Being a mom, an autism advocate, and an entrepreneur nurturing a budding nonprofit isn’t always easy, though. Teri admits that emotional ups and downs are part of the deal, and that practicing a healthy work-life balance that includes time for friends and exercise is important. So is realizing that she doesn’t have to take on everything by herself.

“It’s been extremely important to me to be open to input from others and learning from them,” Teri says. “I don’t have a real dominant

leadership style. It’s more about being democratic and working together as a team.”

Teri says the challenges of her job also create the most rewards, and she looks forward to a future in which Encircle Technologies might

be able to expand to other communities.

“We want to be an innovative answer for parents and families who are looking for something for their kids,” she says. “We want to make this a happy, positive place.”

˜

“The joy of my job is being able to see firsthand how our mission positively affects the families we serve, as well as the staff performing the work. It truly is a beautiful thing.”

-Heather Wall, Lutheran Family & Children’s Services of Missouri COMO L I V I N G

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Barbie Banks CITIZEN JANE FILM FESTIVAL

This October 26 to 29, some 6,500 people will gather at Stephens College and the North Village Arts District to view 70 short and 15 narrative films made by women. The event will mark the 10th anniversary of the

Citizen Jane Film Festival, and Barbie Banks’ second as executive director.

Barbie says Citizen Jane is a great fit for her because it’s more than a nationally recognized film festival; it’s a social justice organization working for gender equality in a male-dominated industry, a topic that speaks to Barbie’s heart.

“For me, women not being represented on screen is huge,” Barbie says. “I see it every day, and it really affects me. And it’s not because I want more people to attend my festival. I really care about it and I want representation.”

Barbie says only seven percent of top Hollywood films are made by women, a statistic she hopes the festival can help change by creating awareness around the issue. But she admits it’s not easy.

“You don’t have to be a bra-burning feminist, you don’t even have to be a woman to come to our festival. It really is for everybody,” she says.

Being a female director of a female-centric organization comes with personal challenges as well. Barbie says women directors of nonprofits tend to take on more emotionally than their male counterparts.

“I feel like women who run nonprofits — we have to become what we’re fighting for. And I don’t mind that my job is every conversation that I have,” says Barbie. “I feel like we become the face of the organization and the go-to person in the community, which can be challenging at times when you want to turn it off.”

But, as an indomitable extrovert, Barbie also finds it important to get out and about during the festival’s off-season rather than staying cooped up in her office. And when the festival is in full swing, she’s learned to rely on her staff to get the job done.

“You have to trust that when you hire somebody, their expertise is why you hired them. Initially I was trying to hand-hold everything, and once I let go, it was beautiful,” she says with a smile. “This is my dream job.”

˜

“The joy comes when we help families plan for the future, when they call and let us know that our 24/7 helpline met them in their time of need, when the community joins us in raising awareness, and when physicians partner with us in our direct referral program.”

-Jessie Kwatamdia, Alzheimer’s Association Greater Missouri Chapter COMO L I V I N G

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Maximizing the Impact

Cheryl Howard NORA STEWART EARLY LEARNING CENTER

As a former graduate of the Nora Stewart Early Learning Center, Cheryl Howard never thought she’d be running it one day.

Then, 10 years ago, her life hit a crossroads. Having worked for a national nonprofit that wanted her to relocate, she began looking for a way to stay in the town she loved. The learning center was also at a crossroads. Mary Jane Davis, their director since 1965, had died, leaving the organization without leadership.

Mary had been Cheryl’s teacher. Cheryl had grown up at Nora Stewart. There was only one thing to do — accept the challenge.

“I still remember my first day,” Cheryl says. “It was a brand-new arena for me. I had worked in nonprofits, but not in early childhood education. It was like starting a whole new business.”

Cheryl believes her history with the learning center now serves as a strength of her leadership. “I’ve been both an attendee and a leader,” she says. “I’ve seen both sides.”

The Nora Stewart Early Learning Center was started in 1933 by Amanda Estes, with the property donated by “Mama” Nora Stewart. It was the first nursery school in Columbia to serve African-Americans, and it now cares for 43 families with children from 6 weeks to 8 years old. The center strives to provide a nurturing environment for families in need of affordable care while preparing the children for kindergarten.

Cheryl knows the center desperately needs to expand without leaving their location in the heart of the community. Her plan to solve the problem? Raise the funds to build a second level.

“The fundraising side of the job is timeconsuming and demanding,” Cheryl shares.

“It takes a lot of energy and effort, but without it, you can’t move forward.”

annual Post Holiday Blues event each February.

“I love my job,” Cheryl says. “I put more

The center’s funding comes from four main

time in this job than I ever have. You’re not

sources — the United Way, USDA, tuition, and

going to get rich in this business, so you’ve

fundraising efforts like grants and the center’s

got to have your heart and soul in it.”

˜

“Knowing how many people we’ve helped brings me joy. Between 40 and 50 percent of our clients are domestic or sexual violence survivors. Through the legal system, we help people become safe, avoid homelessness, and get medical care and basic needs for their kids. We give them hope and help them get their lives back on track.”

-Susan Lutton, Mid-Missouri Legal Services COMO L I V I N G

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Living Heart Healthy Edie Diel, Jennica Gomez, Jill Stedem, and Michele Cropp are living red these days.

by K E N N E DY R O B I N S O N | ph o to s by A N T H O N Y J I N S O N

A

ccording to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease claims the lives of roughly half a million American women each year. The worst part is that most of these deaths can be prevented.

The AHA crafted the Go Red Campaign to do just that. By targeting women specifically, this campaign’s sole purpose is to provide women with the information and tools they need to lead a more active and heart-healthy lifestyle.

In a local effort, Boone Hospital Center teamed up with the American Heart Association to hold the Go Red for Women’s Go Red Challenge in Columbia,

a nutrition and fitness program designed to help women “makeover their hearts.”

After the application process concluded, 10 women were selected to take part in the challenge. Edie Diel, Jennica Gomez, Jill Stedem, and Michele Cropp were among the finalists.

These women received the tools to start them on the right track, including free health screenings, nutritional planning assistance, and a free three-month gym membership. In addition to the program itself, the women will get the company and motivation of other like-minded ladies pushing them throughout this 12week program.

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“This challenge has been fabulous because we’re all on GroupMe, and everyday someone says something really positive and affirming,” Edie shares. “I’m motivated when I see a message on GroupMe because I think, ‘If they can do this, I can do this.’”

Edie is no stranger to health issues. Six years ago, at age 60, Edie was diagnosed with celiac disease. Her diagnosis led her to create Dande Delights & Catering, which allows her to use her ‘genetically-gifted’ baking talents to cater for people with food issues or allergies. Because of her already restricted diet, eating well won’t be an issue for Edie. Instead, her main goal is to prioritize exercise.

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(From top) Michele Cropp, Jennica Gomez, Jill Stedem, and Edie Diel discuss fitness and overall health goals with the Go Red team, followed by a walk around Stephens Lake.

After reading about the challenge on Veterans United Home Loans’ blog, VU employee Jennica Gomez was eager to apply.

Breezing through the application, she had no pauses as the questions delved into her hobbies and objectives. Her only hesitation came when asked about her family’s medical history.

Being adopted made it hard to fill this section out. For Jennica, Go Red is more than just a way to start working out again; because she is unsure of any possible genetic health issues, this is her first preventative step in making sure she stays healthy for her daughters.

“The reason I applied was because of the heart health — I have two little kids and it’s just me. I need to be there for them as they grow. So I wanted to get on track with that,” she explains.

Conversely, Jill Stedem has always known the health problems that potentially lie ahead for her. In 2006, she lost her mom and brother to heart disease. Applying was an effort to both honor her family and overcome her health history. Her challenge is finding time.

“It’s a real challenge to balance work and your personal life, especially when you’re in a busy position,” says Jill, the COMO L I V I N G

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administrative services director at OATS, a transportation service. “When I started in 2012, I had just come off a Weight Watchers program where I had lost a lot of weight. Then I got busy, and most meetings or events served food. I’m behind the computer all day, so I put the weight back on really quickly.”

“IT’S A REAL CHALLENGE TO BALANCE WORK AND YOUR PERSONAL LIFE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU’RE IN A BUSY POSITION,” Michele also understands how work can affect health. She lost her mother to a massive heart attack 14 years ago, and she’s been on blood pressure medicine since she was 26. Michele admits that her inactivity was beginning to affect her life, and she was going down the same path as her mother.

“Work–life balance is super important to me, and I think that’s why I haven’t made time for exercise,” Michele says. “I work a lot, so when I was done at work, I really wanted to rush home and be with my family.”

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First Row: Michele Cropp, Della Luaders, Wanda Ott, and Marion Timmerman. Second Row: Linda Christensen, Kelly Melegrito, Jennica Gomez, and Jill Stedem. Third Row: Alyson Heimsath (intern at Boone) and Edie Diel.

Before the challenge, Michele admits she had very little activity: “I have a desk job for the most part, so my exercise happened when I got home, and consisted of a few trips up and down my stairs and walking around the house. I had no planned activity.”

For Edie, she found her biggest barrier to exercise was overscheduling. She said “yes” too much. While most of her time was spent with her businesses, consulting, or watching her grandson, the rest was spent helping whenever she was asked or doing whatever was needed.

“I have a lot of trouble making exercise a priority,” Edie says. “If someone says come, I go. So I need some balance and to be able to say, ‘No, I’m exercising right now,’” she says.

For Jennica, work doesn’t seem to be the problem — the 30-year-old has learned how to keep her work and life separate —

but all the single mom’s spare time is spent on her daughters.

“I can keep work at work, but when I’m home, it’s my family time,” Jennica says.

“After work, it depends on whether we go to the pool or the park. I’m always moving with two kids, but I don’t know if I’m actually being physically active.” Jennica also struggles with nutrition. “I like healthy foods, I just don’t make time to cook them,” she says. “It’s just easier for me to feed my kids and then eat what they’re eating.”

Jill also struggles with eating healthy, especially with her demanding job.

“I do lots of traveling for work, for the most part around the state,” she says. “Being out on the road makes it difficult to find healthy meals, or to find meals that are low in sodium. Even when you’re at any work function there’s always food there, and it

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is never healthy food. It’s always donuts, cookies, cakes, or bagels.”

But at the end of their very long, tiring, and demanding days, all these women have one thing in common — they want to make the time to transform their lives. This challenge, which officially began mid-June and will end August 28, is requiring the women to whole-heartedly (pun intended) schedule out time and devote energy into including a proper exercise and diet routine in their busy, everyday lives.

For Michele, this has already made a difference.

“Now, I go to yoga two nights a week and to the gym three times a week,” she says. “If I miss the gym, I make sure that I get exercise in at home, whether it’s swimming, walking, or some strength exercises on the floor.”

They’re all going red one step at a time.

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THE BUZZ ON FAMILY BIZ The pros and cons of working with loved ones.

by J O R DA N M I L N E

SISTER UNCLE

BROTHER

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MELISSA MURPHY JOHNSTON PAINT AND DECORATING In 1996, then MU student Melissa Murphy started working a few hours a week for her uncle Gary Turner and his business partner, Ron Elder, at their company, Johnston Paint and Decorating. When Melissa was hired on, she says, Vicki Wren Eultgen, one of the company’s interior designers, was fearful of Gary hiring within his family. She thought he might not be able to get rid of her if she ended up being a “cupcake.”

“To this day, Vicki and I often joke about my potential ‘cupcake’ status,” laughs Melissa.

When Melissa started working at the shop, her now husband, Blair Murphy (or Murph, to those who know him), had been working there for nearly 10 years.

“I had just turned 21, and he was almost 28,” says Melissa. “I was only working a few hours a week and really didn’t have much interaction with the ‘paint guys.’ This guy started calling my apartment, and my roommates did a stellar job of intercepting the phone calls and the doorbell. But he soon charmed my roommates, and the rest is history.”

Murph and Melissa currently own the business with her cousin and Gary’s son, Corey Turner.

Corey’s brother, Josh Turner, is also an employee.

“My only full-time job has been at Johnston’s, so I don’t know anything else but working with family,” says Melissa, who worked under Gary for more than 15 years.

Melissa says that “selfishly,” one benefit of working with family is that it’s easy to coordinate child pick-ups, doctor appointments, and other family matters with Murph.

“For my husband and me, having offices on the opposite end of the building has worked rather well,” says Melissa. “There are honestly full days when we may not even see each other or communicate except via a text or two.”

In the years Melissa has worked at Johnston’s, the business has grown from eight to 21 employees. She says this slow growth has allowed a feeling of family to spread across the entire employee base.

“While there are only four of us who are blood-related, we still treat each other with the same respect and concern that we would if we were all related,” Melissa says. “We do everything from picking each other up from car maintenance appointments to crying on each other’s shoulders when we’ve had a personal crisis. We spend more waking time with each other in a week than we often do with our own families. That culture has been evident since the day I started, and it’s a clear contributor to the success of our operation.”

WIFE

HUSBAND

MORGAN PINGEL FRINGE BOUTIQUE Morgan Pingel, her mother, Charlotte Smarr, and her sister, Riley Smarr, co-own Fringe Boutique and have a long history as co-workers.

Both sisters worked for their parents’ business, Ri-Mor Topsoil and Mulch, as high school and college students. This past May, Charlotte and Morgan celebrated 10 years of working together.

As they began adulthood, the girls wanted to do something different. But maybe not too different.

“Toward the end of college, the idea of Fringe started brewing,” says Morgan. “We worked on both Ri-Mor and Fringe for about a year, then in April, we focused on Fringe.

“No one will have your back like family. You know their quirks and behaviors so well. You know how they will respond in any given situation. Sharing all of your daily ups and downs with someone so close to you is wonderful. I highly recommend it!”

—Charlie Graznak, McAdams’ Ltd.

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“People think that we’re crazy for working with one another,” she adds, “but we wouldn’t have it any other way. The three of us work together well. We’ve been close our entire lives.”

The three often go for a drink or have dinner at one another’s house after their workday is complete. “Most days I’m with my mom from 5:30 a.m., when we go to the gym, until we leave the store at 6:30 at night,” Morgan shares. “And I’m with Riley from 9:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.”

Morgan credits trust as the key to their family business success.

“None of us would ever think twice about leaving the store in one of the other’s hands for a day or two, because we know that we all have the same values,” she says. “It’s nice to know that we’re always treating the store like it’s our own, because it is our own!”

Knowing how to handle one another throughout various situations is crucial to the ladies, “because owning a business isn’t all glamorous and fun,” Morgan says. “One piece of advice I’d give to anyone considering opening up a family-owned business, or really any sort of business, is to look at the strengths and weaknesses of everyone on your team. I know that Riley is better at organizing and merchandising things than I am, and that our mom has a lot of business background that we can learn from. We utilize our strengths and let the other two compensate for our weaknesses.”

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“My daughter, Stella, and I truly are the definition of best friends, which is why I believe it works so well for us. We take strong pride in maintaining My Sister’s Circus. It’s been a locally owned family business for 40 years, and each outfit that walks out of our store represents us. Even after working all day together, we call each other several times at night. We’re like, what could there possibly be left to talk about?” ­—Celeste Hardnock, My Sister’s Circus

“Family is one of our highest values, and we’re all very close. It’s a joy to work with the ones you love. And who can you trust and depend on more than family?”

—Dr. Arminta Phelps, Achieve Balance Chiropractic

“Finding quality employees is always difficult. With a family member, you have a good idea of their qualities as well as their qualifications.

Actually, family members are your better employees: They have the best interest of the business at heart.”

CHASE PATTON

“I love working with my mom, even when we make each other crazy. I’m an only child and she was a single mom, so we had an incredibly close relationship — but spending 100 hours a week together trying to achieve world pie domination takes it to an entirely new level! It truly is a gift to know her in such a new way.”

WILLETT & PATTON, D.D.S. When husband-and-wife team Chase and Ashley Patton moved to Kansas City in 2009, he attended the UMKC School of Dentistry and she attended UMKC for dental hygiene.

They should have guessed their future career paths might someday collide.

When Chase joined Dr. Kent Willett’s practice in 2012, the couple moved back to their hometown of Columbia and had their son, Landry, shortly after.

After spending some time as a stay-athome mom, Ashley joined the practice to work on the website, handle patient correspondence, and occasionally work as a hygienist in the office.

“I love when Ashley is in the office, because despite not working directly together, it’s nice to see her throughout the day,” says Chase. “Having your best friend in the office is always a good thing!”

The only pitfall Chase can imagine is something he also describes as a potential benefit.

“In some ways, it would be nice to be in different professions where we brought home unique experiences to share,” Chase says.

“But it’s nice to be able to talk about things

—Rebecca Miller, Peggy Jean’s Pies

that happen at work and have Ashley be familiar with what I’m talking about.”

Chase’s advice to anyone considering working with a spouse is to “always try to keep your priorities straight. In the grand scheme of things, your marriage or relationship is far more important than being productive or having a successful business,” he says. “Also, try to keep work at work and home at home. There will inevitably be some crossover, but we try to keep it to a minimum.”

FATHER

SON

DAUGHTER

—Karen Trittler, Carpet One Floor and Home COMO L I V I N G

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When it comes to your smile, you deserve the in Columbia!

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WHAT’S GOING ON DOWN THERE? So me thi ng s you n e e d t o k n ow about your pel vic fl oor.

by A N N A C O M F O R T

S

ex isn’t supposed to hurt, but Sarah Cranston didn’t know that. She assumed her discomfort was normal — she didn’t even tell her husband. Sarah had no idea she was experiencing problems with her pelvic floor muscles until she sought treatment after her second C-section.

“I asked my OB for a referral to see Jen Stone,” Sarah says, “because I’d heard good things about her from my doula. She told me that Jen specialized in C-section recovery, so I should have her evaluate me to make sure I wouldn’t have any long-term issues.”

Dr. Jennifer Stone, a physical therapist and orthopedic clinical specialist, is the clinical supervisor of rehabilitation services for Mizzou Therapy Services. She’s specially certified to

treat pelvic floor issues. “She put me so much at ease that I got to talking with her and ended up asking questions,” Sarah says. “Just little things, like painful sex, that had always been there, and that I hadn’t asked anybody about because I thought they were normal.”

Stone examined Sarah’s C-section scar and checked her pelvic region. Sure enough, Sarah’s pelvic floor muscles were extremely tense.

EXPLAINING PELVIC FLOOR DYSFUNCTION Sarah was experiencing a type of pelvic floor dysfunction, an umbrella term for disorders specific to the pelvic region. “Up to 80 percent of women experience some type of pelvic floor dysfunction at some point in their lives, and

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30 to 40 percent of men experience it,” Stone says. “And those numbers only reflect the people who have complained to their health care providers about their symptoms. The rates could be higher.”

In Sarah’s case, her pelvic floor muscles were too tense. The muscles would contract and then fail to relax, leading to her discomfort during intercourse.

Sarah had some other abdominal issues related to childbirth, including the nerve problems with her C-section scar and a diastasis, or gap, left between her abdominal muscles. She went to Dr. Stone for several months of physical therapy. “Some of it was hands-on,” Sarah says, “helping to show my muscles which way they should move

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H E A LT H and help physically remind my muscles and bones the right paths of motion.” It wasn’t painful, and Stone gave Sarah exercises to do at home as well.

TALKING ABOUT PELVIC FLOOR ISSUES “I’ve heard so many patients say, ‘I had no idea it wasn’t just me,’” Stone says.

“After I got treatment and found out that I didn’t have to live with these things,” says Sarah, “anytime I got one of my girlfriends off in a corner without kids or men around, I’d be like, ‘Guess what? Guess what?’ I did lots of talking afterward. But not before.”

While pregnancy is not the only cause of pelvic floor dysfunction, it is a leading contributor. Stone says, “In almost every other first-world country, it’s standard practice for women to see a physical therapist after giving birth — both with vaginal births and cesareans, because it’s really the process of pregnancy that puts strain on your pelvic floor muscles more than birth itself.”

The state of Missouri requires a prescription from a doctor, nurse practitioner, or chiropractor to see a physical therapist. Stone recommends that all mothers ask their OB/GYN for a referral to a physical therapist that is specifically trained in pelvic floor health.

“Don’t let embarrassment keep you from talking to your doctor,” Stone says. “People should know that we’re certainly not embarrassed to talk about these issues, so they shouldn’t let embarrassment keep them from getting the help that they need.”

Pelvic Floor Disorders Defined Dr. Laura Grant founded Women’s Wellness Center in 2007, recognizing the value of a multidisciplinary approach to health care for women. She specializes in perimenopausal hormone health and non-invasive treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction.

She has compiled the following list of the intimate conditions that can affect our pelvic floor.

Sexual Pain in a Woman of Any Age CAUSE: Overly tense pelvic floor muscles are in spasm, either constantly or intermittently. This can be a result of an identifiable trauma, such as childbirth or history of sexual assault, though commonly it occurs without an obvious cause.

SYMPTOMS: Inability to allow vaginal penetration without significant pain. A woman may be quite willing, but the vagina contracts involuntarily instead of relaxing appropriately, making penetration painful or impossible.

Chronic Bladder Pain and Genital Burning CAUSE: Overly tense pelvic floor muscles are in spasm either constantly or intermittently. This leads to inflammation of pelvic floor nerves, which run between the muscles in spasm. The result is nerve dysfunction manifesting as overactive or inappropriate pain signals.

SYMPTOMS (BLADDER): Frequent or constant feeling of bladder discomfort or pain. Commonly, sufferers have history of frequent bladder infection with or without positive culture results and symptoms not relieved with antibiotic treatment.

SYMPTOMS (GENITAL): Burning or prickly sensation, usually without any rash or lesion. Pain can be constant or intermittent.

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Stress Urinary Incontinence CAUSE: Weak urethral sphincter. When abdominal pressure increases, urine leaks out.

SYMPTOMS: Bladder leaking with activities that increase intra-abdominal pressure (laughing hard, coughing, sneezing, exercising).

Pelvic Organ Prolapse CAUSE: Weakening of pelvic floor muscles due to childbirth or aging, leading to pelvic organs, such as the bladder or uterus, to protrude from the vagina.

SYMPTOMS: Feeling of fullness or pressure in the vagina, visible protrusion from the vaginal opening, painful intercourse.

Urinary Urgency Incontinence CAUSE: Overactive bladder contracts and begins to empty before the appropriate time.

SYMPTOMS: Leaking when there is a feeling of need to empty the bladder.

Classic scenario is leaking on the way to the restroom. Often associated with urinary frequency.

Urinary Frequency CAUSE: Overactive bladder contracts frequently with even small volumes of urine.

SYMPTOMS: Feeling the need to empty frequently day and night, even immediately after voiding. Often associated with urgency incontinence.

Fecal Urgency and/or Incontinence CAUSE: Uncoordinated pelvic floor muscle and nerve function. The rectal sphincter holds closed when it should open and empty. It opens when it should stay closed.

SYMPTOMS: Constipation, fecal smearing (not perceived, but later discovered), or full fecal incontinence.

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DOC TALK Columbia is fortunate to have access to some of the nation’s best health care professionals and most cutting edge technology. Learn more about some of the area’s top providers in this special section.

SPONSORED CONTENT

DOC TALK

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DOC TALK

AARON GRAY, M.D.

CHRISTELLE ILBOUDO, M.D.

CHILD HEALTH

SPORTS MEDICINE

Vaccines are the easiest and safest way to protect yourself, your children and your community from many serious and potentially lifethreatening illnesses; including tetanus, influenza and meningitis.

Athletes run the risk of injury in any sport.

However, during summer, two injuries to be on the lookout for include heatrelated illnesses and head injuries.

Heat-related illnesses include: • Dehydration: dry mouth, thirstiness, dry lips, fatigue, lightheadedness and headache. Drink plenty of water or liquids such as sports beverages that hydrate and replace electrolytes.

• Heat exhaustion: dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, nausea and profuse sweating. Find an air-conditioned environment and rest while rehydrating.

• Heat stroke: high body temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit or more; hot, dry skin with no sweating; rapid pulse; confusion; and changes in mental status.

This is a serious medical emergency and 911 must be called immediately.

Vaccines protect you by preparing your immune system to recognize and fight these diseases. Children are inoculated against different diseases when they are most susceptible, so it is important that they receive scheduled vaccinations.

When it comes to important issues such as vaccinations, don’t let yourself be misled by inaccurate information. Decades of research prove that vaccines are safe and effective in the prevention of deadly diseases and are critical to building up the immune system in children.

A jarring impact to the head could lead to a concussion. Concussions alter normal brain function with potential long-term consequences. Signs and symptoms include: dazed or stunned; confusion; poor balance; headache, nausea or vomiting; blurry or double vision; loss of consciousness (even briefly).

As we’re nearing the start of a new school year, be sure that your child is current on their vaccinations. In Missouri, all students must present documentation of up-to-date immunization status before attending school.

For more information about vaccines, please contact your family physician or call MU Health Care at (573) 882-4141.

If a concussion is suspected, a health professional needs to determine when the individual can safely return to activity.

MU Health Care muhealth.org

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DOC DOCTALK TALK

SPONSORED CONTENT

DOC TALK

LISA BRENNAMAN, M.D.

RACHEL LITTRELL, M.D.

WOMEN’S HEALTH

CARDIOVASCULAR

Women have unique health needs that deserve specialized care.

All women are susceptible to problems that can be embarrassing or uncomfortable such loss of bladder or bowel control, or a bulge in the vaginal area. These problems can greatly affect quality of life.

Because survival rates for many cancers are improving dramatically, it is increasingly important to make prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease part of the survivorship care plan. In addition, many cancer treatments can be damaging to the heart. Side effects from chemotherapy or radiation can include weakening of the heart muscle or heart rhythm problems. That’s why a comprehensive approach dedicated to personalized risk assessment, prevention, detection and treatment is so important.

One common health issue that affects many women is female urinary incontinence.

Stress incontinence is a loss of urine with cough, sneeze, laugh or exercise.

Urge incontinence is a loss of urine that happens because you cannot make it to the bathroom in time or you have an urge to go very frequently. The good news is there are excellent treatments for urinary incontinence and other pelvic floor issues.

MU Health Care’s onco-cardiology specialty clinic, the only one of its kind in central Missouri, offers comprehensive care to patients with heart and cancer-related health issues.

Our team at MU Health Care offers treatments that include both surgical and non-surgical options. Treatment can involve small changes in daily habits, medications, physical therapy or advanced pelvic surgery.

If you are being treated for cancer and have a history of heart disease or heart failure, underwent radiation therapy to the chest, or have symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or swelling during or after your cancer treatment, ask your doctor about whether an onco-cardiology consultation is right for you.

At MU Health Care, we provide comprehensive care for women who suffer from a multitude of pelvic floor disorders. Whatever your specific needs, you can be assured that you will be treated with respect and compassion.

MU Health Care’s onco-cardiology clinic is located at the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center.

Appointments can be scheduled by calling (573) 884-4854.

For more information or to make an appointment, please call (573) 817-3165.

MU Health Care muhealth.org

MU Health Care muhealth.org

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SPONSORED CONTENT

DOC TALK

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MEGHA GARG, M.D.

FREDERICK FRAUNFELDER, M.D.

CHIEF OF BREAST IMAGING

OPHTHALMOLOGY

Do you have an active lifestyle, but your glasses or contact lenses put limitations on your freedom? At MU Health Care, we treat patients, not just eyes. Advanced laser surgery can make it possible for you to reduce your dependence on corrective lenses or possibly remove them altogether.

Early detection is one of the best weapons against cancer.

The development of the Women’s Imaging Center at University of Missouri Women’s and Children’s Hospital allows us to offer another convenient, onestop imaging service for our patients.

Women’s and Children’s Hospital worked with Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, a certified member of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Network®, to consolidate and expand imaging services.

These services include both 2-D and 3-D screening mammography, diagnostic mammography, mammography- and needle-guided localization for minimally invasive biopsy, breast ultrasound, ultrasound-guided biopsy, and diagnostic bone densitometry. Additionally, an on-site radiologist increases the speed of acquiring results and decisions about other possible diagnostic care.

LASIK surgery can correct refractive errors including nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. If you’ve thought about undergoing LASIK surgery, there are a few factors to consider, such as your age, general health, corrective vision prescription and the health of your eyes.

We perform a comprehensive eye exam and specialized testing to assess your potential. If you have cataracts, you may be a candidate for bladeless laser cataract surgery, the most advanced cataract removal technology available.

At MU Health Care we are committed to making a difference in people’s lives, and it is now easier for women to have potentially life-saving screenings.

Additional locations within MU Health Care for women’s imaging services include Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, South Providence Medical Park and Ellis Fischel’s mobile mammography van.

If you’d like to learn more about LASIK surgery, MU Health Care is hosting a free information seminar from 6-7 p.m., October 12 at University Hospital. For more information about upcoming seminars visit MUHealth.org/LASIK.

MU Health Care muhealth.org

MU Health Care muhealth.org

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DOC DOCTALK TALK

SPONSORED CONTENT

DOC TALK

CHRISTINE FRANZESE, M.D.

RAGHAV GOVINDARAJAN, M.D.

NEUROLOGY

ALLERGIST

It’s an unfortunate reality that millions of Americans live with movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. At University of Missouri Health Care, we have a team of dedicated neurologists who are specially trained to provide the latest treatments for movement disorders and their related neurological conditions.

Millions of Americans suffer from seasonal allergies — and when I say suffer, that’s not an exaggeration.

Itchy eyes, a runny nose and respiratory reactions can keep us from the outdoor activities we love. At University of Missouri Health Care’s ENT and Allergy Center, we offer treatment options to keep allergies at bay. Traditional therapies such as allergy drops and shots are available, but you may not know that we also offer a new form of allergy treatment that can help you literally brush off your allergies.

Each year, MU Health Care physicians host a Parkinson’s Disease Patient and Caregiver Conference. Life with Parkinson’s disease can seem overwhelming, but this event can help patients and their loved ones understand and manage their condition.

The conference will address movement symptoms and signs, emotional well-being and strategies for patients and caregivers, planning ahead with Parkinson’s disease, and the latest developments in diagnosing and treating the disorder.

It can be easy to forget to take your allergy drops or shots, and if you’re a parent of a young child with allergies, these may not always be the easiest option. Using new customized toothpaste, your allergies can be treated without disrupting daily routines.

The toothpaste — available in a variety of flavors — is mixed with allergens for your individual allergies. Our mouths are lined with cells that absorb the allergy medication, and brushing with the toothpaste can lessen the severity of your allergies over time or eventually even eliminate them.

The Parkinson’s Disease Patient and Caregiver Conference will be held from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 30 at the Holiday Inn Executive Center. The program is free, but space is limited. If you’d like more information about the conference, or if you would like to register, visit medicine.missouri.edu/parkinsons or call 573-882-8668.

If you’d like to learn more about the toothpaste or other allergy treatments, please visit www.MUHealth.org/allergy or call (573) 817-3000.

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LIFE COACHING

CULTIVATING SELF-APPRECIATION Pau s e to cel e b ra t e eve n your smal l est success.

by C A R O LY N PA R I S

H

e backed up slowly, with full concentration, looking down at the ground one step at a time. He backed up to the fireplace hearth, carefully lowering his bottom onto the ledge. Still looking down, with an inward appreciation, my 13-month-old grandson settled in and reveled in his accomplishment of walking backwards and sitting on a ledge for the very first time.

Oliver was so pleased with his effort and accomplishment of taking on a new challenge. A small, satisfied smile crossed his face, as if he appeared to be saying to himself: “Nice work buddy. You stayed focused and accomplished your goal. Wasn’t that great?” I watched with amazement — first because I’m his grandmother, of course, but also because I saw something natural in him that we seem to lose as time goes along: a healthy, genuine appreciation and acknowledgement for ourselves. He reminded me that it becomes increasingly important to pause and celebrate our victories throughout the day.

I was raised in the Midwest, and one of the important things about growing up here, for me, was having a base value of humility. However, a good thing can go too far. Humility is a wonderful virtue, but if we don’t acknowledge and appreciate ourselves in the everyday moments of our lives, who will? It feels supportive, empowering, energizing, and healthy to come to the end of a project or day and reflect with gratitude on our accomplishments. It can be a wellspring of joy and satisfaction.

Most of us have heard the saying “What we think about grows.” What would your life be like if you consistently focused on acknowledging and appreciating yourself, your actions, your intentions, your empowering way of showing up in challenging circumstances? Can’t you feel the respect, admiration, and love? I can!

Whether you’re a working at home or at an office, taking that pause to revel in your accomplishments also impacts how you show up with your family, friends, or co-workers. Think about how different

IT FEELS SUPPORTIVE, EMPOWERING, ENERGIZING, AND HEALTHY TO COME TO THE END OF A PROJECT OR DAY AND REFLECT WITH GRATITUDE ON OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. your experience is when you’re being perfectionistic and critical, feeling like you’re not measuring up. Compare this feeling to the feeling you get when you’re enjoying your endurance and courage, having selfappreciation as a steady companion. If you aren’t comfortable with that part of yourself,

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how can you expect others to follow you or your example?

Watching my grandson and all his firsts continually reminds me that when we are kind to ourselves and appreciate our successes, big and small, we have the energy to continue our growth edge and to experience joy and satisfaction. Today, consider asking yourself these questions: What do I want to be appreciated for? What do I want to be acknowledged for? How can I begin honoring these attributes and actions inside of myself and for myself?

C A R O LY N PA R I S As a consultant and coach, Carolyn works with highperforming people who are “up to something.”

She guides clients to new levels of joy, power, and satisfaction in their life.

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UNLEASHED

FOSTERING: HOW DO YOU DO IT? Caring for pets needing a forever home.

by K AT H L E E N M C K I N N E Y, S E C O N D C H A N C E

“I don’t know how you do it! I would keep them all.”

Walking into an animal rescue or shelter seems to come with a significant risk: falling in love with every animal inside. This is the most common excuse I receive from people not wanting to foster. If you’ve had this same thought, let me ease your mind.

For a lot of people, thinking about animal shelters brings to mind images of sad-eyed dogs and cats in small, concrete boxes. I have good news: The face of animal rescue is changing. There is a push from many rescue organizations for alternative housing situations that are, rightfully, pretty wonderful — picture a doggy daycare or a playroom created specifically for cats. Many shelters even partner with local pet supply shops for more space. And, of course, foster homes are becoming more and more prevalent.

All these programs are beneficial for animal health and have the added benefit of socializing the animals for improved odds of adoption. Observing an animal in a home with a family or other animals allows us to get a better idea of their true personality.

Second Chance, a privately-funded and all-volunteer shelter founded in 1985, works to care for stray or abandoned dogs and cats.

Our goal is to rehabilitate each animal in order to find them a forever home. In 2010, we were able to expand into a 6,000-squarefoot building on 30 acres off I-70. But with an increasing number of animals coming through our doors (last year we took in 818 animals, 763 of which were adopted), we rely on foster homes to take care of as many pets as we can.

Second Chance houses all our dogs and a majority of our cats in foster homes. Our foster homes are truly the limiting factor in

how many animals we are able to take in.

Before we commit to taking in any animal, we line up a foster home for them. Second Chance provides all the supplies and medical care for every animal, so there’s no cost to be a foster home. All you have to provide is a little space and a lot of love. Whether you’re looking for old or young, high or low energy, long or short term, big or small, sick or healthy, we’ll have a best friend for you.

If you’re worried about space, time, or other pets, fear not. A spare bathroom or bedroom is a great place to host a foster cat, and Second Chance can provide you with a crate for your foster dog. Fostering is also a great way to temporarily test out how your schedule works with an additional responsibility. And while some pets truly do have issues with other animals, we’ll admit, we find most just need a proper, slow introduction to the newcomers. You might be surprised to find they love fostering too!

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Now, on to the biggest concern. What happens if you become too attached to your foster?

You won’t find a foster parent who denies how hard it is to give them up. But you’ll also hear countless heartwarming stories of uniting a beloved animal with their perfect forever home. Most importantly, you’ll hear about the next animal they fostered, the next life they were able to save.

So the next time you tell a foster home you don’t understand how we give them up, keep this quote in mind: “I would rather cry watching them leave our home to live a life of happiness and joy in a loving home than cry because no one stepped up to help them and they died alone, frightened, and sad.”

Editor's Note: Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 7. Second Chance will hold their 14th annual Paws in the Park event at Stephens Lake Park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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F O R W H AT I T ' S W O R T H

GALLERISTAS OF DOWNTOWN Shop owners showcase local art and clothing.

by M E L I S S A W I L L I A M S | ph o to by T I F FA N Y S C H M I D T

T

hough our own upstairs art gallery is 24 years old, we are relative newcomers among the prizewinning galleries south of Broadway.

The Columbia Art League was founded in the 1960s, and Bluestem and Poppy have been exceptional galleries for decades.

All three of these purveyors of fine arts and crafts have histories of being run by women owners and directors. Diana Moxon at CAL, Liz Tucker at Poppy, and all the partners at Bluestem, like Cindy Messer, have stellar reputations for exhibiting works with quality, inventiveness, and professionalism.

But interspersed among these venerable art venues, several young women have opened new stores that offer a fresh look and a fusion of vintage design, artisan wares, and hard-tofind contemporary items.

Among these creative women are Sabrina Garcia-Rubio, Nickie Davis, and Heather Garcia, the new owner of Absolute Vintage. Heather’s personal style mixes vintage and contemporary looks, and I hope to be among the first to explore her new store. Heather has recently reopened Absolute Vintage with her own format and her own vintage merchandise.

A grand opening is planned for late August or early September.

Come see us in The District!

MELISSA WILLIAMS FINE ART Paintings — mid-century and older 11 S. Ninth St. Melissa Williams

Heather Garcia, Absolute Vintage

Other women store owners mix art with their traditional business. For instance, you can always browse local artists’ work on the walls of Main Squeeze while you’re waiting for your order of organic and local food. Make sure to tell owner Leigh Lockhart which work is your favorite.

And, Makes Scents has recently moved to their new location next door to Kaldi’s on South Ninth. Makes Scents is the goto local store for essential oils and other olfactory pleasures, and owner Christina Kelley also has local art shows.

First Fridays, a nationwide trend adopted

by Columbia, have made the first Friday of

BLUESTEM Fine regional artisans 13 S. Ninth St. Sandy Litecky, Cindy Messer, Ruth Walker, Laura Bullion

MAUDE VINTAGE Vintage clothing and costumes 88 E. Broadway Sabrina Garcia-Rubio

POPPY Artisans and unique gifts 920 E. Broadway Liz Tucker

ABSOLUTE VINTAGE Vintage clothing 917 E. Broadway Heather Garcia

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the month a celebration of the arts, and the galleries south of Broadway are welcoming and festive during this monthly art holiday as well.

In fact, every Friday evening is an impromptu gallery crawl. Come out and enjoy it.

MELISSA WILLIAMS Melissa Williams is a local art seller and broker and the owner of Melissa Williams Fine Art, located at 11 S.

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Ninth St.

MUSE CLOTHING Local clothing and jewelry 22 S. Ninth St. Nickie Davis COLUMBIA ART LEAGUE Local art exhibitions 207 S. Ninth St. Diana Moxon, Karen Shortt-Stout

WEDDING CONFIDENTIAL

REFRESHING TRADITIONS Creating a ceremony that’s uniquely you.

by A N N E C H U R C H I L L

T

rends these days tell me that most of you reading this haven’t been dreaming of a church or ballroom wedding.

You’re hip. You want something a little different.

That rocks. And because of that, we’re going to cover the best ways to tweak the traditional wedding ceremony to fit your vision without losing the focus of why you’re gathering together: for you and your special someone to say, “I do.”

These days we see wedding ceremonies under a big oak tree, in the backyard of someone’s home, or on a rooftop along a skyline. We don’t have the traditional elements of an aisle, back rooms to prepare in, or trained officiants for performing the ceremony. This allows us to refresh tradition and embrace innovative ways of doing things — the freedom!

The Processional Having a blended family or preparing for a same-sex wedding can cause a lot of anxiety when it comes to the traditional process of a processional. The processional is the opening moment of your special day, when your guests see you for the first time, and it sets the tone for the entire celebration to follow.

That makes it important that everyone be comfortable. One thing to consider is whether to include parents in the processional. Are there too many relationships to manage? It’s OK if there are — let them be ushered naturally into the ceremony rather than organized to music. Do you want an aisle? Are two aisles better than one?

Does entering from each side work best? These are things to consider based on your vision for the ceremony. Remember: This day is because of two people only, not everyone and their mother.

Staging before the Ceremony If your venue does not provide a place to “stage” prior to your ceremony, I have two alternatives. The first is to budget for oversized transportation. I’m talking a 30-

plus passenger bus. Locally, I suggest MO-X. This will give you a room on wheels to hang tight on-site without being seen.

Second, consider arriving to your wedding on time. You’ll arrive and walk right down the aisle. I know it sounds scary, right? I only suggest this to my Type-A couples (who are just like me). If you can be trusted to arrive on time, then do it. It’s actually best to be five minutes late, to accommodate for your notoriously late guests. I will add that I only make this recommendation if you have a wedding planner — otherwise there are too many unknowns in the ten minutes before your ceremony to risk not being there.

Officiants and Wedding Planners As traditions go by the wayside, I find that the officiant is most often a hired professional, an uncle, a best friend, or a public figure. Many times, it’s their first time officiating, and while they love the couple, they have no clue what they’re doing. If you find yourself in this boat, my best piece of advice is to hire a day-of wedding planner. If that’s not in the budget, appoint a friend.

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Here’s what the wedding planner needs to oversee: guest arrival experience, ushers, programs, processional order (organizing and facilitating); ceremony elements (unity ceremony and readings); music order and queues; sound equipment; pinning personal flowers; and your vendors (photographer, videographer, and venue). All these items must be aligned to ensure your trip down the aisle is a smooth one.

Tweaking traditions is a given in weddings today. More than anything, the most important thing is to make sure your wedding is just that — yours! Do what the two of you want and make your opinions the deciding factor.

ANNE CHURCHILL Anne is the founder of AnnaBelle Events, a local event planning firm, and Jubilee Planning Studio, Columbia’s one-stop

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planning shop.

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delicious salads + sandwiches scratch kitchen creative flatbreads complimentary valet parking during lunch 1111. E Broadway. Columbia, MO 573.818.6207

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DATEBOOK AUGUST 3 Stephens Lake Park Amphitheater Concert Series, free entry, 7 p.m., 573-874-7460

Total Solar Eclipse Viewing, Cosmo Park, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

CoMoEclipse.com AUGUST 23 Big Brothers Big Sisters Countdown to Kickoff with coach Barry Odom, Columns Club at Memorial Stadium, 573-874-3677 ext. 219

AUGUST 7 27th Annual Rainbow House Golf Classic, $200 per player, Old Hawthorne, 10:30 a.m., 573-819-1203

8/21 9/2910/1

AUGUST 12 Wacky Water Olympics, free entry, Indian Hills Park, 3 to 5 p.m., 573-874-7460

AUGUST 26 Red Shoe Bike Ride, $35 to $75 per ticket, Shakespeare’s Pizza South, 7:30 a.m., 573-443-7666 ext. 307

AUGUST 16 Family Fun Fest: Mad About Science, free entry, Cosmo Park, 6 to 8 p.m., 573-874-7460

MidMo PrideFest, Free entry, Rose Music Hall, 1 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 8 Movies in the Park: “Secret Life of Pets” (PG), free entry, Cosmo Park, 8 p.m., 573-874-7460

AUGUST 19 Kaleidospoke nighttime bike ride, $15 per person, Flat Branch Park, 7:30-10:30 p.m., 573-874-7460

SEPTEMBER 9 3rd Annual Berlin Bazaar, Free entry, Café Berlin, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Movies in the Park: “Guardians of the Galaxy,” free entry, Cosmo Park, 8:30 p.m., 573-874-7460 AUGUST 20 Totality Run 5K and 10K, $35 per adult, $25 per youth (15 and under), Cosmo Park, 9 a.m. comoeclipse.com/totality-run Totality Ride, $35 per adult, $25 per youth (15 and under), Cosmo Park, 11 a.m. comoeclipse.com/totality-run

MU ST DO IN AUG US T/S EP TEM B ER AUGUST 2 1

The total solar eclipse starts at 1:12 p.m. and will last 2 minutes and 26 seconds.

S E PT E MBE R 2 9 — ­ O CTOBER 1

Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival, Stephens Lake Park, Tickets available online rootsnbluesnbbq.com

Total Eclipse of the Heart Celebration, Free entry, Logboat, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Foodstock, Free entry, Corporate Lake, 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m., servecomo.org/foodstock.html -

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SEPTEMBER 20 Family Fun Fest: Creative Kids, free entry, Cosmo Park, 6 to 8 p.m., 573-874-7460 SEPTEMBER 25 Go Red Luncheon, Country Club of Missouri, 10 a.m., 573-446-3000

AUGUST 21 Solar Eclipse Golf Tournament, $250 per person or $1,000 per team, Country Club of Missouri, 11 a.m., 573-449-2561 ext. 205

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SEPTEMBER 16 – 17 Annual Heritage Festival and Craft Show, free entry, Nifong Park, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 573-874-7460

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SEPTEMBER 29 – OCTOBER 1 Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival, Stephens Lake Park, Tickets available online rootsnbluesnbbq.com SEPTEMBER 30 Wheeling for Healing, $30 per ticket, Katy & Rock Trail, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. w4hkatyride@gmail.com AUGUS T/ S E P TE MB E R - 2017

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SEASONS

BRINGING UP BOYS

Em bra ci ng a l i fe of b odi l y f l u i d s an d practical jokes.

by B E T H B R A M S T E D T

POOP. P-O-O-P. I can hardly suppress the giggles. Sitting alone at my desk, they’re working their way up from the inside. Bubbling to the surface, trying their best to escape out the side of my mouth, the corners turned up in a smile.

Maybe I’m easily amused, but the word evokes so many silly memories.

Recollections of burps, and farts, and bodily fluids. Remembrances of poking, teasing, and practical jokes. My thoughts drift back to the preschool years, where I should have gotten an inkling of what was to come.

“Who’s making that smell?” I remember myself reading aloud. “Uughh! I’m feeling so unwell. Is it Ben or Annabel?” As I flipped the pages and opened the flaps of a favorite Usborne book, the anticipation grew as each page displayed a new character creating an unusual aroma – painting, baking, or spraying perfume.

As I reached the final page, my youngest was beside himself – arms flailing, legs kicking, laughter erupting. “Who’s making that smell? Pooohh!! Hey Ben where’s Annabel? Oh, I can hear her yell.” He’d point for me to open the flap to reveal baby Annabel making a mess in her diaper while the remaining characters held their noses. His hands would fly to his mouth attempting to hold in the giggles. “Again!

Again!” he would plead, and we would start the entire process over.

Apparently, the fascination never grew old. During the teenage years, I opened my phone to find “Don’t forget to poop!” listed on my calendar every Tuesday from 9:20 to 10:20 a.m. My oldest had invited his brother to the appointment as well. I guess it was more fun for him to imagine us pooping in sync.

And then there were the random brightly colored post-it notes he displayed around my bedroom that simply read “poop.”

On yet another day, a black and white photo of an elephant releasing the mother lode showed up as the wallpaper on my phone.

The fun continued with the writing of “poop” in the chocolate icing on a cake we were taking to a friend’s birthday party. My son thought a fellow mother of boys would get a kick out of it, or so he said. Thankfully, she did.

FOR TEN YEARS, EVEN OUR DOG WAS A BOY. AND YOU CAN GUESS WHAT MY MAIN JOB WAS IN THAT RELATIONSHIP. Another time he programmed a handful of words in my phone to auto-correct to something else, so every time I typed “crap,” it changed to “Huzzah!” I guess it wasn’t lady-like for his mother to text “crap”!

For 10 years, even our dog was a boy.

And you can guess what my main job was in that relationship.

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Is it any wonder that I like lace, and bling, and Vera Bradley bags? That I yearn to spend time with my girlfriends and plan a monthly escape to the spa? Or that I painted my bathroom pink?

And to their credit, occasionally, to redeem themselves, they give me a nicer surprise. A gift, a bear hug, or maybe a card like the one I received at Christmas, which featured a gingerbread woman and a gingerbread man who was missing half his face. “Well, you ASKED me if that icing makes your butt look big,” it read. “You didn’t have to bite my head off!”

Inside, nicely scribed, were the words “I love picking on you.”

And so the relationship goes. A mother and her boys. The love languages of humor, sarcasm, and references to bodily functions.

And yet, as my oldest prepares to move out and my youngest starts his senior year of college, a tear forms in the corner of my eye. I can’t help but wonder — how will our relationship change?

And how long will it still involve poop!?

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Visit TalkingHorseProductions.org for showtimes and tickets!

THE LYONS August 11-13, 17-20 As Ben Lyons lies dying in the hospital, his wife of forty years, Rita, flips through decorating magazines, planning a living room make-over. When they’re joined by their children all efforts for a sentimental goodbye to the dying patriarch are soon abandoned. Terrible secrets and vicious accusations replace sentimental memories. “Black comedy perfection.”

– The Hollywood Reporter

MEMOIRS September 8-10, 14-17 Two American legends, Mark Twain and Ulysses Grant, try to make sense out of their lives as Twain urges Grant to write his memoirs to make up for Grant’s lost fortune through bad investments before he succumbs to cancer. Friendship, the tragedy of war, and the travails of writing are part of this imagining of a true event. Funny, moving, and totally absorbing, the unusual friendship between Twain and Grant comes to life in this powerful one act play.

LIVE THEATRE in the Heart of Downtown Columbia 210 St James St, Columbia, MO 65201 COMO L I V I N G

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STRONG WOMAN

LINDSAY YOUNG LOPEZ The Food Bank director discovers hope in the future. ph oto by K E I T H B O R G M E Y E R

day: how to survive losing my rock and best friend; how to do things I never did before and how to do them alone; how to ask for help, which is difficult for me; how to be a single parent; how to get through major life milestones; how to find hope out of darkness; how to reach deep inside and find strength I did not know I had. Tragedy has offered me a completely new perspective on life and how truly precious it is. I refuse to waste a single second of the time I’ve been given on this Earth, and I have a lot of living left to do. I’m hopeful for the future.

Lindsay Young Lopez, executive director of the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri, talks about the rewarding parts of her job and the tragic experience that defined her.

WHERE ARE YOU ORIGINALLY FROM? I grew up on a farm outside of Fayette, Missouri. I’ve lived in Columbia for 29 of my 45 years.

WHAT ARE THE THREE WORDS YOUR BEST FRIEND WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE YOU? I asked three of them — the consensus was dedicated, passionate, and sincere. I would add optimistic.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A STRONG WOMAN? For me, being strong means having utmost confidence in yourself, being unafraid to be who you are and unafraid to stand up for what you believe in. Strength means you face challenges head-on and turn them into opportunities. Strength means learning from your mistakes, knowing you will be better for them. Strength means keeping your faith in dark times and never losing hope. Strength is resilience. Being a strong woman means lifting other women up, encouraging them, and helping them to achieve their full potential.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A YOUNGER VERSION OF YOU? Have confidence in yourself, first and foremost. Do not be afraid to take a risk, because otherwise you can’t realize a reward.

Be unfailing in your kindness to others.

Appreciate every single second you have in this life because it can be taken suddenly from you at any time and without your consent. Find and do what brings you joy; then do it often. This is the same advice I give to my son and daughter, who are the

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COCKTAIL? White wine. Though recently I tried a dirty martini and it was great.

strongest young people I know. Maybe my daughter will end up in this article some day!

WHAT’S THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR JOB? I am honored, humbled, and grateful to lead The Food Bank. I have the best job in the world and I work alongside the best team. Every aspect of this job is helping to improve lives, to offer people in need hope in the form of nourishment.

I cannot describe the feeling of satisfaction and joy that offers me. To serve others is the highest calling, and to turn that into a career is the ultimate accomplishment. This job is more than an occupation — it really is a vocation and a way of life for me and my family.

WHAT IS A MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE THAT DEFINED YOU? My husband of 19 ½ years died in a farming accident four days before Christmas last year. By far that has been my most defining moment. I have learned so much since that

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WHAT IS SOMETHING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU? People are surprised when they find out I do not have a high school diploma. I was accepted to Stephens College when I was a sophomore in high school — I enrolled at the age of 16 and transferred to MU after a year, which is where I received my degree.

WHO IS A BUSINESSPERSON YOU ADMIRE AND WHY? I admire many business people, but I must name three specifically: Michele Spry, Sarah Dubbert, and Shelly DeVore. All three are incredibly accomplished and well-respected in their fields. They actively offer their time and talent in volunteer roles throughout our community and across the state. They are terrific role models for women of all ages.

When those three put their heads together, there is nothing that they cannot do — they are an unstoppable force. They also happen to be my Golden Girls, a group that epitomizes the meaning of true friendship for me. Quite simply, they are amazing and my life is better because they’re in it.

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ADVERTISER INDEX 573 Home Team Real Estate Group 65 Achieve Balance 65 Anne Tuckley Home 32 Baumgartner's Furniture & Carpet 33 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri 6 Big Cedar Lodge 50 Bob McCosh Chevrolet 54 & 55 Boone Hospital 9 Bringing Up Business 16 Busenbark Flooring and Granite 12 Business Times Interactive 35 Central Dairy and Ice Cream Company 76 Central Missouri Auto Body 63 Christian Chapel Academy 56 Citizen Jane Film Festival 103 Columbia College 66 Columbia Convention & Visitors Bureau 78 Columbia Podiatry 22 Commerce Bank 64 CoMo Leaders 22 Dave Griggs Flooring America 11 Designer Kitchens & Baths 94 DogMaster Distillery 101

Dogwood Solar 30 Downtown Appliance 108 Dr. Letrisha Thomas 96 Ferguson Bath, Kitchen, & Lighting Gallery 3 GĂźnter Hans Artisan Cafe 52 Hawthorn Bank 62 Heart, Body & Soul 20 Jasany Home 44 Jenning's Premium Meats 96 Joe Machens - Volkswagen 4 Johnston Paint & Decorating Direct 5 Kliethermes Homes and Remodeling 28 & 31 La Di Da 58 Landmark Bank 107 Macadoodles 74 Makes Scents 96 Manor Roofing & Restoration 92 Mid-City Lumber Co 105 Midwest Block & Brick 74 Missouri Dept. of Conservation 10 My Sister's Circus 60 Nathan Jones Law 24 Naught-Naught Agency 53

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Organize That Space 92 Personal Touch Cleaning Service 24 Providence Bank 20 Provision Living 92 Shelter Insurance - Nancy Allison 61 Shelter Insurance - Mike Messer 76 Stange Law Firm 84 State Farm Insurance - Stephanie Wilmsmeyer 101 Studio Home 8 Superior Garden Center/Rost Landscape 34 & 99-103 Talking Horse Productions Theater 103 The Broadway Hotel 99 The District 13 The Hatchery 58 The Pet Fair 94 The Trust Company 57 University Club 7 University of Missouri Health Care 2 & 88-91 Vantage Consultants 59 Willett and Patton Dentistry 84 Wilson's Fitness 43

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CYSK

COUPLE YOU SHOULD KNOW Local retirees David and Lee Russell just can’t seem to quit.

David and Lee share about their favorite Columbia activities, family gatherings, and how they got a second chance at love.

HOW DID YOU MEET? David: A mutual friend was convinced we should meet. Having both lost spouses to illness after many years together, Lee and I were each just convinced that we weren’t interested in dating. Twice we turned down our friend’s invitation before finally agreeing to have dinner at Sophia’s, Booth No. 11. Our matchmaker left after an hour.

Mission accomplished.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST DATE? Lee: An old-fashioned dinner date at Bleu where we discussed our love of history.

Amazingly enough, we found we had both read Joseph Mitchell and Edward Creasy’s book “Twenty Decisive Battles of the World.” Now that book sits in a place of honor in our library. I know, crazy.

David: We talked so much — about favorite movies and books and our prior experiences around the world — that I for one was exhausted when it was over. We’re still talking.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ART OR CULTURE ACTIVITY IN COLUMBIA? David: Jazz at Murry’s, Art in the Park, and an occasional performance sponsored by the University Concert Series. I like to poke around Columbia’s many art galleries.

Both of us enjoy attending sporting events in Columbia, St. Louis, and Auburn.

WHAT IS ONE THING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOUR SPOUSE? David: The public knows Lee as a member of the local Planning and Zoning Commission, President of True North’s board of directors, and the former CEO of the Columbia Board of Realtors. What the public doesn’t know is that Lee likes to iron our pillowcases. Go figure!

Lee: David doesn’t retire well. First he retired from the U.S. Army, then from the UM System, then from serving as Missouri’s commissioner for higher education. Now he’s back in his old role as chief of staff for the UM System. You would think he was a real serious dude. But David’s sense of humor is boundless and varied — practical jokes just come out of the blue.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP IN ONE WORD? David: Joyful! We feel fortunate to have found each other late in life. We are true partners and appreciate the opportunities that life provides every day.

Lee: Giving. If you give more in your relationship than you expect to receive, your relationship thrives.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY. David: We have six sons and eleven grandchildren scattered from coast to coast.

We gathered the whole family together in 2015 for a Fourth of July week in a beach

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house at Wild Dunes, South Carolina. It was like Barnum & Bailey’s Circus came to town. It was a hoot.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THE TWO OF YOU? David: This fall’s game between MU and Auburn should be tense. (Lee’s an Auburn alumna, ya know!) More travel, morning coffee while watching the fog burn off the nearby lake, sports, great conversations, and watching our children and grandkids grow and prosper.

Lee: Time together, traveling, hiking, talking about everything, watching sunrises, sunsets, snowfalls and thunderstorms. I love this man.

WHAT ARE THE BEST ASPECTS OF YOUR PARTNER? David: She is sensitive, smart, a terrific mother, and highly organized. She wields a mean clipboard.

Lee: His integrity, humor, intelligence, and humor. He’s giving, loving, and did I mention humorous?

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