Columbia Business Times May 2018 CBT

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH HOA S ?

P G. 60

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN COLUMBIA P G. 97

PAUL LAND Owner of Plaza Commercial Realty PG . 106

2 MAY 2018

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14 MAY 2018

W

hat are your rights as a land owner?

What is truly yours?

And how much authority do you have over your property? Exploring another PAUL angle: How many rights do you have over your LAND neighbor’s property? How many rights do they have over yours?

Questions like this framed some of the features of our real estate issue. Homeowners associations have good and bad aspects, depending on who you ask (page 60).

Renting out your own property privately ON THE COVER can invite regulators you hadn’t maybe Columbia’s biggest name in expected (page 50). We asked the experts to commercial real estate was the natural choice for gracing the front tell us what we all need to know. of our Real Estate Issue. Paul Land’s We also did our best to investigate a myspersonality shows through in this tery: What the heck is going on with student month’s cover photo. Photography housing in Columbia? There are luxuriby Keith Borgmeyer ous-looking high-rises all over downtown (and elsewhere), just begging for teens to sign up to live “the life.” But we thought it might also be worth looking into the competition and the cost (page 56).

Speaking of costs, they’re on the rise when it comes to construction around here. Builders, realtors, and other authorities on the topic weigh in on the state of residential new builds (page 90).

We also explore the initiatives to address low-income housing in our community. High rental costs are a thing around here. More and more renters are moving to the outskirts of Columbia and commuting in because of it. In an effort to address the issue, we’ll also tell you about a public-private partnership working toward part of a solution (page 97).

For my part, I can testify about what a wise real estate investment can do to enrich a person, a family, and even generations. That’s why home ownership is spoken of as “the American dream.”

It’s more than the whole cliché “biggest investment most families will ever make” kind of thing. Real estate involves risk and (hopefully . . . eventually) reward.

Any such purchase requires a calculated decision, but it provides no guarantee.

Same with commercial properties. It can mean the building of an empire (Paul Land, page 106), and if done right, such an empire can last for generations (Jay Lindner, page 39).

So grab your spectacles, kick back, and read about the goings-on in Columbia’s real estate market. I promise you’ll learn a lot from this issue.

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH

HOA S ?

PAGE 60

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN COLUMBIA PAGE 97

EDITOR'S PICKS This month, I’d like to give recognition to three local businesses who have helped me out with my own family home.

Owner of Plaza Commercial Realty PG 106

LEWIS TREE SERVICE

Owner Matt Lewis impressed my husband and I with the clean work his crew did when we needed some trees and limbs removed from our yard last fall. He even directed us to an arborist to assure the health of a huge ash tree in front of the house. Matt holds a wealth of knowledge.

WINGATE PEST CONTROL

My family has relied on Wingate for as long as I can remember. They are responsive, honorable, and our go-to for any pest service or inspection.

NEVILLE & SONS CARPET CLEANING

My mother has sold flooring for decades and directed me to Neville & Sons when I bought my first home. I’ve used them ever since. They not only do a fantastic job on flooring; their upholstering cleaning service is top-notch.

Breck Dumas, Editor Breck@businesstimescompany.com

/Co l u m b i a B u s i n e ss Ti m e s

@ Co l u m b i a B i z

Co l u m b i a B u s i n e ss Ti m e s .co m

Ed i to r @ B u s i n e ss Ti m e s Co m p a ny.co m COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 15

2450 Trails W Ave Columbia, MO 65202

(573) 442-9499 superiorgardencenter.com

SPRING HOURS: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm Saturday 8am-4pm Closed Sunday

Trees, Shrubs, Perennials, Annuals, Mulch & Rock, Fertilizers, Gift Cards 16 MAY 2018

EDITORIAL Breck Dumas, Editor Breck@BusinessTimesCompany.com Megan Whitehead, Managing Editor MWhitehead@BusinessTimesCompany.com Madison Love, Department Editor Madison@BusinessTimesCompany.com

Inside the Issue Behind the Scenes

DESIGN/CREATIVE SERVICES Jordan Watts, Senior Designer Jordan@BusinessTimesCompany.com Kate Morrow, Graphic Designer Kate@BusinessTimesCompany.com Cassidy Shearrer, Graphic Designer Cassidy@BusinessTimesCompany.com Sadie Thibodeaux, Graphic Designer Sadie@BusinessTimesCompany.com

COVER STAR We had so much fun taking photos of the owner of Plaza Commercial Realty, Paul Land.

Paul entertained us while taking a keen interest in a Boone County plat map from the 1950s.

MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES Deb Valvo, Marketing Consultant Deb@BusinessTimesCompany.com Bonnie Hudson, Marketing Consultant Bonnie@BusinessTimesCompany.com MANAGEMENT Erica Pefferman, President Erica@BusinessTimesCompany.com Renea Sapp, Vice President ReneaS@BusinessTimesCompany.com Amy Ferrari, Operations Manager Amy@BusinessTimesCompany.com Beth Bramstedt, Editorial Director Beth@BusinessTimesCompany.com CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Keith Borgmeyer, Anthony Jinson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kacen J. Bayless, Jennifer Bukowsky, Al Germond, Jodie Jackson Jr., Karen Miller, Kermit Miller, Jordan Milne, David Morrison, David Roland, Caleb Smith, Jen Wilson

Facebook Love David Roland Thanks to Breck Dumas for running in the Columbia Business Times this column I wrote about the importance of government transparency.

Achieve Balance Chiropractic It was a joy to share our passion for helping people live their best lives with Columbia Business Times! “I look at what you’re doing in your life that creates stress — whether it be physical, chemical or emotional — that’s causing you to be ill,” Phelps says. “So we teach people how to have balanced nutrition, movement, and mindset to help them have tools outside of our office to take better care of themselves."

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CONTACT The Business Times Co., 2001 Corporate Place, Suite 100 Columbia, MO, 65202 (573-499-1830) • columbiabusinesstimes.com

Heather Harlan We were thrilled to have an interview with Columbia Business Times!

As always, I was honored to be offering information about substance use disorders to the community.

Contributors

Kermit Miller, KRCG 13

David Morrison

Jodie Jackson Jr.

Jennifer Bukowsky

@DavidCMorrison

@JJacksonJr

@esqonfire

Write to CBT editor Breck Dumas at Breck@BusinessTimesCompany.com COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 17

18 MAY 2018

MAY 2018 VOL. 24 / ISSUE 11

TA B LE OF CON T EN TS

The Real Estate Issue 15 FROM THE EDITOR 17 INSIDE THE ISSUE 21 CLOSER LOOK 22 BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS 25 BUSINESS UPDATE

90

Shakespeare’s Pizza

28 NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT City of Refuge

30 CELEBRATIONS Midway Golf & Games

33 MOVERS & SHAKERS 35 P.Y.S.K. Chuck Bowman, Monarch Title Company

39 9 QUESTIONS Jay Lindner, Lindner Properties

41 A CAPITOL CONVERSATION Missouri Officials Ponder Sunshine Reform

43 OPINION: AL GERMOND COU: The Next Phase

45 OPINION: DAVID ROLAND The Guardian of Every Other Right

47 OPINION: JENNIFER BUKOWSKY Needs Over Wants

49 OPINION: KAREN MILLER Economic Incentives: Pros and Cons

On the Rise Why residential building costs in Columbia continue to increase.

102 DEEDS OF TRUST 103 ECONOMIC INDEX 103 NEW BUSINESS LICENSES 105 BY THE NUMBERS 106 THIS OR THAT Paul Land, Plaza Commercial Realty

50

56

60

97

Renting on Air The impact of Columbia’s short-term rental market.

Pretty Vacant How has Columbia’s student housing market reacted to enrollment dips and market changes?

The FYI on HOAs What to know about how these organizations work.

In Focus: If You Build It Can the city’s community land trust make homes more affordable?

20 MAY 2018

B U S INE SS • P EOP L E • VOIC ES • F YI

C LOSER LOOK

Closer Look

Parisi Speed School

Russellbilt

Cherry Hill Clinic

The Parisi Speed School franchise provides cutting edge sports performance programming and includes different options for athletes of all abilities, ages, and goals. Each program focuses on proper technique to improve performance and reduce the risk of injury.

Parisi’s Columbia location is housed inside Wilson’s Fitness, which has been in the Columbia area since 1982. Under the direction of Chad Coy, an instructor and trainer who has been in the industry for over 25 years, Parisi Speed School of Columbia is a place where kids can learn how to become stronger, faster, and more agile all while preventing injuries and fostering self-confidence.

“Parisi Speed School delivers a positive training experience regardless the age or athletic ability,” Coy says. “Parisi counts their success with the local youth athletes who have improved their game and the countless youth who lead healthier lives due to the program.”

Emmett Russell started Russellbilt, a custom wood and metal design shop, in 2009, when he fused his love of building with his business skills. Russellbilt specializes in intriguing carpentry along with custom furniture and art. Russell loves to build for people who need something specific.

Although Russell primarily works with metals and woods, he uses many other types of material. He specializes in unique sculptures that are quick to draw anyone in.

Some of his clients in Columbia include The Barred Owl and Fretboard Coffee.

Russell prides himself on being an artist, fabricator, and carpenter. He started his business primarily for home improvement, but as he continued his journey, Russellbilt evolved into a more artistic endeavor.

“In the last six months, I’ve made the transition into custom building full-time. I become inspired when a client has a specific need,” says Russell. “I love being creative and solving problems.”

Dr. Sheena Jose runs the Cherry Hill Clinic, a new primary care office located in the city’s Cherry Hill commercial and retail area, to provide quality health care to people all over Columbia.

“I go above and beyond to make [my patients’] health great,” Jose says. “I treat my patients just like my family.”

Dr. Jose opened the clinic in late 2017; she first started preparing to open the business in January, and she saw her first patient in the clinic on December 1.

Jose wants to ensure health care in Columbia covers all of a patient’s needs, not only acute ones. She has previously worked in hospitals and urgent care centers.

“I did a lot of work in urgent care and surgeries, but out of everything, [primary care] is the thing I like because I can have that close relationship to the patient. I can talk to them and be part of their lives,” Jose says.

Address: Missouri Athletic Center, 2900 Forum Blvd.

Website: parisischool.com Contact: 573-438-3278

Address: 6361 S. Gateway Blvd.

Website: russellbilt.com Contact: 573-355-7990

Address: 1903-1905 Cherry Hill Dr. Website: cherryhillclinic.org Contact: 573-447-6564

Are you sprouting a new business? Reach out to Department Editor Madison Love at Madison@BusinessTimesCompany.com COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 21

BUS INE SS • P EO P L E • VOIC ES • F YI

Briefly in the News MAY 2018

E DUC AT ION

MU GETS NEW MUSIC CENTER MU held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new School of Music building. The UM Board of Curators approved phase one of the building project in December 2016. The first phase encompasses academic and rehearsal spaces, learning labs, a recording suite, faculty and administrative spaces, a traditional recital hall, and a showcase outdoor performance venue. The school has secured $24 million, including a $10 million gift from Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield, for phase one of the project. The School of Music is working to secure additional private support that could enable construction of phase two, which will include additional academic spaces, a contemporary recital hall, and a 500-seat concert hall.

BUS INES S

VU NAMED BEST WORKPLACE Great Place to Work and Fortune have ranked Veterans United Home Loans as No. 2 on the 25 Best Workplaces in Financial Services and Insurance. The ranking considered input from more than 76,000 employees in the industry.

In 2017, Veterans United employees gave $1.35 million to 135 charitable organizations and local causes throughout the country through the company’s philanthropic arm, the Veterans United Foundation.

“This recognition is a direct reflection of the culture our employees promote.”

— Nate Long, CEO, Veterans United

22 MAY 2018

BR I E FLY I N T H E N EWS

C OM M U N I T Y

FORCOLUMBIA Representatives from more than 50 local churches joined together in ForColumbia, an annual day of service in the community, on Saturday, April 28. The event, now in its fourth year, was established to serve nonprofit organizations and individuals in Columbia. More than 2,200 volunteers worked at 85 sites throughout Columbia, including nonprofit organizations, churches, and residential properties.

BUSINESS

MCDONALD’S ELECTRONIC UPDATE The McDonald’s on Business Loop debuted lobby registers, where customers can select and place their own order on a self-service screen, as part of a country-wide rollout for the new technology.

Lobby registers will allow customers to order food and customize their meals while also improving customer wait times and order accuracy. Customers will have the option to order at the front counter or through the touch-screen kiosk. Additionally, table service is now available for dine-in customers.

E DUC AT ION

NEW CIS PROGRAM Students in grades 9 through 12 at Columbia Independent School recently abandoned their usual classes and homework for a week in order to participate in experiential learning opportunities offered through the CIS Intrasession Program. This year’s intrasession courses included crime scene investigation, international foods, and preparing for their spring break trip to Japan. In one course, the “CIS-CSI” class, students investigated a mock crime scene. The course included a visit to the forensics lab at Columbia College and hearing from local experts in forensics, forensic anthropology, and law.

BUS INES S

GENDER WAGE GAP COSTS A state-by-state analysis released by the National Partnership for Women and Families revealed that a woman employed fulltime, year-round in Missouri is typically paid just 78 cents for every dollar paid to a man — a yearly pay difference of $10,029.

The study used an analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data and was released the day before Equal Pay Day, April 10.

B U S INES S

ROOT CELLAR’S NEW PARTNERSHIP Root Cellar, a locally-focused grocery store in the North Village Arts District, is now offering the Double Up Food Bucks program, which gives SNAP recipients more affordable and convenient access to locally grown produce. Through the program, Root Cellar’s Bounty Box, a weekly subscription of fresh fruits and veggies, will drop in cost from $35 each week to just $15 for those paying with SNAP benefits. The Double Up Food Bucks Program is supported by a USDA grant to help those with fewer resources access more fresh vegetables and fruit. The program, offered at many farmers’ markets and grocery stores in Missouri and Kansas, doubles the value of fresh produce SNAP recipients can purchase.

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BUSINE SS • P EOP L E • VOIC ES • F YI

BU SI N ESS U PDAT E

Maintaining an Icon Columbia’s most famous pizza shop embraces middle age.

BY MA RILY N HAIG H | P HOTOG R A P HY BY A N TH O N Y J I N S O N

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 25

BUSINE SS • P EOP L E • VOIC ES • F YI

WHEN SHAKESPEARE’S Downtown General Manager Toby Epstein learned the building on Ninth and Elm would be demolished, he carried a tape measure around the restaurant for two months. He measured everything: tables, the height of ceilings, the width of countertops.

The fate of the Shakespeare’s downtown location was up in the air, but Epstein knew that if the restaurant was going to be rebuilt, parts of it had to be as similar as possible. It had been Shakespeare’s home since 1973.

“In the end, we wanted to make sure that when you walked in the door, you went, ‘Wow, did they even change anything?’” Epstein says.

Perhaps one of the most endearing things about Columbia’s most famous pizza shop is that it never seems to change, even when it does.

CONSISTENCY IS KEY Consistency has been the key to Shakespeare’s success throughout its 45-year history. Its strong brand survived the demolition and rebuilding of the flagship downtown location, and in addition to the two other Columbia locations, the Shakespeare’s line of frozen pizzas is expanding to grocery stores around the state.

Columbia natives Jay and Nancy Lewis bought Shakespeare’s in 1976. It started out as a takeout pizza shop occupying just one room of a four-store building downtown.

But the demand for Shakespeare’s kept outpacing their size. Whenever a spot in the building opened up, Shakespeare’s knocked down the brick wall divider and moved in, adding more dining tables and then a bar. Eventually, Shakespeare’s took over the entire building, its original space on Ninth and Elm. The hodgepodge collection of real estate became the eclectic environment Shakespeare’s customers loved. Eventually, the Lewis family even turned the laundromat next door into a second kitchen and built a roof over the alley to create a seating space.

Shakespeare’s business strategy grew as haphazardly as its physical space, says General Manager Kurt Mirtsching. For 20 years, the company didn’t have a long-term growth strategy. Instead, Mirtsching says, employees just “showed up in the morning drinking coffee and did what needed to happen.”

Now, Mirtsching says the business is trying to figure out what they did right those first 20 years and pass it down to the next generation of Shakespeare’s employees through training materials.

26 MAY 2018

Kurt Mirtsching and Toby Epstein

“We were balancing the party and the business and doing a good job of that inadvertently without a lot of forethought,” Mirtsching says. “Then, over years 15 or 20, Shakespeare’s happened. And then we spent the next 20 years trying to figure out, now what exactly did we do there? Because this is working. Let’s not mess this up.”

REBUILDING HISTORY During downtown’s student housing boom, Shakespeare’s employees often joked that the building would get replaced by luxury apartments. They never thought it would really happen, Epstein says.

But in 2015, the managers found out the Rader family, who owned the building, had new

plans for the property. The building was built in 1927, and while it certainly had charm, Epstein says it also had the inconveniences of an older building. There was little heat insulation, the concrete floors were sloped in odd places. The building had to be grandfathered in to several city building codes.

“There were lots of things about the building itself that were old, kind of run-down,” Epstein says. “I wouldn’t say they were unsafe, but they were run-down. So getting a new space was great.”

Epstein says he’ll always be sad to have lost the old building, but the remodel gave Shakespeare’s the chance to build a space that would fit it perfectly and correct every inefficiency. The old building had two kitchens, which was one of the

B U SI N ESS U PDAT E

biggest inconveniences employees dealt with: To restock supplies, employees had to travel across the building and go up or down stairs carrying heavy bags of flour, pepperoni, and cheese.

“Once you get into the process of making 1,000 pizzas a day, you start to think about the little things that make it all easier and more productive so that you make your pizzas faster.”

Epstein and his team went to great lengths to preserve as much of the building as possible.

The original 1927 tin roof was taken down tile by tile and reinstalled. The restaurant’s 20,000 bricks were pulled apart, cleaned individually and then re-cemented. The signs on the walls were photographed using a 360-degree camera and then rehung in exactly the same place in the new building.

Epstein says he knows most businesses wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to recreate the space. But not all businesses are Shakespeare’s. “In some ways, it makes no sense,” Epstein says. “But I think that we were so mindful of the old store and what it meant to the community and to us that, for some reason, we did these things because it just seemed like we had to.”

THE FROZEN BUSINESS Even though it’s about 100 miles from Columbia, when you walk into Mark Twain Brewery in Hannibal on a Saturday night, it smells like a Shakespeare’s restaurant. That’s thanks to the Shakespeare’s frozen pizzas cooking in the brewery’s small kitchen space.

The Shakespeare’s frozen pizza business started about 15 years ago, when Mirtsching bought a freezer to experiment with. That freezer could only hold about eight pizzas at a time. Since then, the Shakespeare’s frozen business has become its own operation separate from the restaurants: About 16 percent of Shakespeare’s sales are from frozen pizza.

“It’s not a big, huge part of our business, but it’s really fun,” Mirtsching says. “I think what it points out is that there’s a strong demand for another Shakespeare’s in another location.”

The frozen pizza is made with the exact same ingredients used in the restaurants. The only difference is that the crust is par-baked (pizza jargon for “partially baked”) to accommodate a home oven. They’re sold in every Shakespeare’s store and in grocery stores, bars, and hotels around the state. Selling the frozen pizzas is a popular option for local fundraisers too.

“In this state, we have a very strong brand,” Epstein says. “When you’re a restaurant, you’ve

been around for 45 years, you have to have been doing something right. Given our proximity to campus, I think that a lot of our sales do occur in St. Louis and Kansas City because of the brand and the nostalgia of Shakespeare’s pizza.”

Shakespeare’s frozen pizzas are in about 100 grocery stores around the state, mostly concentrated in St. Louis, Columbia, and Kansas City.

Epstein says it’s no coincidence that St. Louis, the city with about 25,000 more MU alumni than anywhere else in the state, has the highest number of grocery stores selling the pizzas.

Shakespeare’s fans who live outside of Missouri probably won’t be seeing frozen Shakespeare’s pizzas in their freezer sections anytime soon, sadly. Mirtsching says the company is still

focusing on growth closer to Columbia. The good news for MU alumni out of state? Shakespeare’s now ships frozen pizzas to 23 states.

Jason Gregory, the director of operations at Mark Twain Brewery, says his customers love seeing Shakespeare’s pizza on their menu. For many, it brings back the nostalgia of college days in Columbia, or the excitement of gathering at Shakespeare’s after a home game win.

That feeling never changes. CBT

Shakespeare’s Pizza 225 S. Ninth Street 573-449-2454 shakespeares.com COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 27

BUSINE SS • P EOP L E • VOIC ES • F YI

Finding Friendship in Refuge City of Refuge helps refugees from around the world succeed in Mid-Missouri.

BY JEN W ILSON | P HOTOG R A P HY BY KEI T H B O R G ME Y E R

Cing Cing Hlamyo and her family moved to Columbia from Burma eight years ago. With the help of Barry Stoll and City of Refuge, they opened an international grocery store, Shwe Market, on Vandiver Drive.

BY THE END of 2016, 65.6 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide because of persecution, conflict, or violence.

Imagine being forced to flee your home, your country, and your way of life just to survive. All you have is what you could carry with you. Where will you go? Perhaps a new country, where you don’t speak the language.

What will you do? Everything seems foreign 28 MAY 2018

and confusing. How can you hold onto any hope of safety, home, family? Where will you find refuge?

Over the last decade, 13,466 refugees from 40 different countries around the world settled in Missouri. Mid-Missouri alone has more than 8,000 refugees and immigrants, with an average of 200 new refugees coming to Columbia every year.

Barry Stoll, director of refugee services for City of Refuge, says that Columbia has earned a positive reputation for welcoming and extending hospitality toward refugees.

City of Refuge is a local nonprofit created to help and serve refugees and immigrants in Mid-Missouri. Barry’s wife, Lori, explains that the organization helps refugees acclimate to our culture even after government assistance

City of Refuge GIVE • Financial donations to City of Refuge are tax deductible.

DONATE • Diapers size 2 and up • Paper goods • Toiletries • Cleaning supplies • Detergents • First-aid kits • Household tools • School supplies and backpacks • Toys and sports equipment • Gently used clothing • Household goods and furniture in good condition

VOLUNTEER • English buddy program • Adopt a family • Provide or teach a skill: tutoring, driving, mechanic work, repairs, sports, music, etc.

• Hire Safi Sana, a refugee-staffed cleaning company that provides financial resources for City of Refuge.

• Provide space: City of Refuge is seeking a central location for offices, donation drop-off, teaching, meeting rooms, therapy, and counseling.

N ON PR OFI T

begins to wane. “It’s a lifelong learning process when you haven’t grown up here; the culture is so different,” she says.

City of Refuge puts 90 percent of its budget toward refugee assistance and advocacy. Volunteers help refugees with many parts of daily life that are often taken for granted: finding a job, learning to drive, opening bank accounts, visiting the doctor, etc. Barry notes that volunteers benefit as well — they have an opportunity to help others while experiencing the joy and beauty of another culture.

AID IN PRACTICE One refugee who has been helped by City of Refuge is Taweh Helnar, who goes by Taw Taw. The 26-year-old refugee from Myanmar has lived in Columbia since November 2009, when he arrived with his parents and five siblings. Coming from a farming village with no roads or cars to Columbia was a big adjustment.

Taw Taw says: “At first in the U.S., it was hard. As time goes on, it gets better. We are not alone and have a friend to stay with us, teach us how to live…It gets better and better every day. But we still need help.”

Taw Taw smiles as he describes the ways City of Refuge has helped him and his family: “Helping with home repairs, providing mechanic work on cars. College students have come to the house and held an evening class on English language. They help with homework and tutoring.”

City of Refuge helps not only with practical needs, but also emotional ones. Barry explains that, for refugees, “knowing they have a friend is by far the most important thing. A refugee who has lived here for eight years recently reminded me of this, saying ‘Yes, we can learn to work, drive, be independent, but to have a friend is the most reassuring and positive thing.’

“A friend won’t just give you a ride to the store — they will also tell you that ‘in America, this is how we do something.’ A friend will go the extra mile in helping adapt to our culture. We assist and advocate,” Barry says.

The Stolls embody this advocacy with Taw Taw by encouraging his efforts to become a certified mechanic. Taw Taw recently received funding from Job Corps, a U.S. Department of Labor initiative, to enroll in Toyota’s technician program in Utah. His dream is to open his own garage someday and help other refugees. “If I had my own business, I would work together with City of Refuge and help other people,” he says.

“I’d fix cars, provide transportation, hire refugees.”

Barry beams, adding: “It would be a dream of mine, too, to see Taw Taw open his own shop. I will do everything in my power to make that happen.”

Taw Taw clearly loves living in Columbia, describing how “amazing” the people are in the ways they help refugees. “I am very, very thankful to the people who make a difference for people’s lives who are here from overseas – to support them and make their life better and easier.”

Taw Taw and his family aren’t the only ones, in Columbia and elsewhere, in need of assistance. Organizations like City of Refuge provide a vital resource for those who are pushed out of their communities, who are no longer safe there, or are looking for a new place to call home. CBT COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 29

Kory Neisen

Did you know?

30 MAY 2018

Midway Golf & Games goes through as many as 12,000 to 15,000 golf balls on a busy day.

It takes more than five hours to mow the entire facility, which is done weekly.

The golf courses — greens, tee boxes, fairways, and rough — are mowed daily.

BUSINE SS • P EO P L E • IM P R OV EM EN T • F YI

C ELEBRAT I ON S

Making Way for Fun Midway Golf & Games renovates to add more attractions.

BY ELIZA BETH QU IN N | P HOTOG R A P HY BY A N TH O N Y J I N S O N

FORE! Midway Golf & Games, the par-3 golf course and entertainment center just west of Columbia, has been recently renovated.

Whether you’re an avid golfer or adventurous teen looking for a place to spend a summer afternoon, the new facility likely has something you’re looking for.

Midway Golf & Games opened in the 1990s under the name Perche Creek Golf Club. At the time, the complex only offered a driving range and par-3 golf course, but over the years, mini golf, batting cages, and a go-kart track were added.

Kory Neisen, general manager at Midway Golf & Games, has been with the company since May 1, 2015. Perche Creek Golf Club officially changed its name to Midway Golf Complex a few months later, in August.

Changes didn’t stop with a rebrand, though: The facility’s variety of attractions now includes the driving range, par-3 course, mini golf, go-kart track, a full pro shop, a nine-hole foot-golf course (a mix of soccer and golf ), and the eight-stall batting cage complex. Midway later updated its name again, to Midway Golf & Games, to reflect the more diverse entertainment offering.

By spring, there will be a new go-kart track, a championship miniature golf course, two bocce ball courts, a covered pavilion, an open lawn area with corn hole and washers, and giant Jenga and Battleship games.

“We have spent the better part of the past three years researching and planning the new design, so to finally see it come together after all the time and hard work is extremely rewarding,” Neisen says.

The largest event that Midway Golf & Games has hosted was around 400 people.

Even with all the renovations, Neisen says there is enough open space to continue researching attractions for customers. “This year, I really think the new go-kart track and mini golf course are going to blow people away,” he says.

“We have spent the better part of the past three years researching and planning the new design, so to finally see it come together after all the time and hard work is extremely rewarding.”

With Midway being the only go-karting venue in town, they’re opening the new track just in time for the summer season, when students are free from classes and able to enjoy it. There is never a shortage of interest for the main attraction, however: Golf is still the fan favorite at Midway. During the busiest time of year, April to September, Midway can expect

During the busy season, Midway Golf & Games employs 20 people.

to see anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 people a week. Since the driving range provides shade and heated stalls, it’s open year-round, regardless of the heat or cold.

“Being a golf instructor, I obviously get a lot of satisfaction from seeing people improve and get better,” says Neisen. “Golf can be really, really hard sometimes, so to help people play better and enjoy the game more is very rewarding.”

Midway currently has two instructors to help anyone looking to improve their stroke or learn the game. They also offer custom club fitting, and if you’re already an expert, the pro shop has accessories and clubs available to stock your bag.

Allie Rost started working as the advertising and media coordinator at Midway Golf & Games last fall, but she’s been visiting the complex for years. “I grew up in Midway,” Rost says. “My friends and I would play mini golf and ride go-karts when I was younger, so I’m so happy to be a part of these renovations.”

The unique qualities of Midway help it stand out in the community as a place for people of all ages to come together for bonding, laughs, and a good time. There are not many places in Columbia that offer an all-in-one atmosphere for a day’s worth of adventure, Rost says.

“It’s a perfect place for a family to spend an afternoon, for a company to work on morale and team building, or for a couple to spend a date night,” Neisen adds. “Our ultimate goal is to be Mid-Missouri’s premier family fun destination.”

Through all its changes, Midway Golf & Games continues to provide entertainment to the Mid-Missouri community. The recent renovations mark one of the facility’s biggest upgrades yet. CBT

The driving range is about 300 yards by 400 yards.

With the new renovations, Neisen expects the staff to grow to 30 people.

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 31

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We’re honored to work with Clyde Ruffin on the historical Blind Boone Home. He required musical accuracy throughout with the ability to play a documentary in one room and hear it everywhere. Our solution included an Audio/Video presentation system and music quality ceiling speakers with volume controls for each room. The system automatically switches from audio to video in every room when the TV turns on. All equipment is hidden and controlled using infrared emitters.

32 MAY 2018

B U SINESS • PEOP LE • VOIC ES • F YI

M OVER S & SH AKER S

Movers & Shakers MAY 2018

Columbia Apartment Association

Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau

The Columbia Apartment Association has announced the members of their 2018 board. Shawna Neuner, of Columbia Home Rental, is the board’s president; Matt Hembree, of Mills Properties, is vice president; and Ben Gakinya is secretary and treasurer. General Board members include DJ Dometrorch, of Central Columbia Properties; Emmett McNulty, of REM Initium; Mark Stevenson, of REMI; Steven Kempker, of Kempker Properties; and Keith Caldwell, of Caldwell Painting and More.

The Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau presented more than 50 individual Star Performer awards to employees from Columbia hotels who exemplify hospitality in their work. Among them, five were awarded specific honors. Jesus Mendez, of Hampton Inn & Suites, was recognized as Star Performer of the Year. Rachael Howser, of TownePlace Suites, was recognized as Rising Star of the Year. Jean Chambers, of Hampton Inn & Suites and The Broadway hotel, was recognized as Salesperson of the Year. Steve Bales, of Wingate Inn, was recognized as General Manager of the Year. Mike Griggs, director of Columbia Parks & Recreation, was recognized as Hospitality Star of the Year.

Jean Leonatti Jean Leonatti, CEO of the Central Missouri Area Agency on Aging, announced that she will retire from that position later in 2018. Leonatti has served as CEO of CMAAA since 1981 and began her career with CMAAA in 1974 while an undergraduate at MU.

Nicole Langston The Columbia Board of Education recommended Nicole Langston to become the director of preschool for the district’s 2018-2019 school year. Langston has been the principal of Southwest Early Childhood Center in Jefferson City Public Schools for the last nine years and has served in a variety of educational leadership roles over the past 15 years. Langston has an education specialist degree in education policy and analysis from MU and a master’s degree in elementary administration from William Woods University.

Susan Renoe Susan Renoe has been appointed assistant vice chancellor for research, extension, and engagement at MU. This new position represents an expanded role for Renoe, who will continue to provide oversight for the MU Connector, a joint unit between the MU Office of Research and MU Extension and Engagement. Prior to creating the MU Connector, Renoe was director of MU’s Broader Impacts Network.

In 2014, she also became principal investigator for the National Science Foundation-funded National Alliance for Broader Impacts.

Renoe earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in anthropology from MU and a master’s and PhD in education from the University of California–Santa Barbara.

LANGSTON

John W. Kemper The Commerce Bancshares Board of Directors announced that, effective August 1, John W. Kemper, currently president and chief operating officer of Commerce Bancshares Inc., will become president and CEO, assuming the CEO role currently held by his father, David W. Kemper. John Kemper has been with the bank since 2007 and was named president and COO in 2013. John holds a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science from Stanford University, a Master of Science in economic history from the London School of Economics, and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He is a member of the Visa Senior Client Counsel and Financial Services Roundtable and serves on several civic boards.

Boone County Historical Society

MENDEZ

HOWSER

BALES

The Boone County Historical Society Endowment Trust Board has chosen its 2018 inductees to the Boone County Hall of Fame. The 2018 living recipient is famed MU basketball coach Norm Stewart.

The 2018 organization or business inductee is Boone Electric Cooperative, the first electric cooperative in Missouri.

The 2018 posthumous recognition goes to a husband and wife, the late Dr. Eliot and Mrs. Muriel Battle. Eliot and Muriel, who died in 2013 and 2003 respectively, were both educators and civil rights leaders in Columbia. CBT

GRIGGS

RENOE

Are you or your employees making waves in the Columbia business community? Send us your news at Editor@BusinessTimesCompany.com COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 33

34 MAY 2018

B U SINESS • PEOP LE • VOIC ES • F YI

P E R S ON YO U SH OU LD KN OW

CHUCK BOWMAN

PRESIDENT AND SHAREHOLDER | MONARCH TITLE COMPANY Job description: Lead the organization by managing best business practices that will create an environment for growth; be the face of the company in dealing with all regulatory agencies, federal and state; provide training and tools so that our staff can excel and grow; attract and develop top talent; manage personnel, retention, marketing, strategic planning, and growth strategies.

Years lived in Columbia/MidMissouri: Most of my life in Mid-Missouri and six years in Columbia.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management from Harding University.

Favorite volunteer/community activity: I’m passionate about helping people in general, which is why I volunteer to serve on a number of different boards in town: Job Point (past chair), Boys and Girls Clubs, Crimestoppers, and Missouri Land Title Association (2019 president elect). Volunteering for boards gives me the opportunity to serve with outstanding staff and volunteer board members who share a common belief that we have the responsibility, as leaders, to serve and give back to our community. I’m especially proud of our wonderful staff at Monarch Title.

They spend personal time during the year raising funds for entities that need assistance.

Professional background: I worked for an electric utility, which proved to be outstanding training for supervising people and managing projects. I’ve also worked as a project manager at a management services company specializing in property management and real estate services, and now I’m in the title insurance profession.

A favorite recent project: One of the most time intensive but rewarding projects I led was to get Monarch Title certified in Title Insurance Best Practices, a standard

Photography by Keith Borgmeyer

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 35

B U SINESS • PEOPLE • VOIC ES • F YI

set by the American Land Title Association.

The certification audit was completed by a third-party CPA firm that reviewed seven pillars of the best practices: licensing, escrow account controls, information and data privacy, settlement policies and procedures, title production, errors and omissions, and consumer complaint resolution. This project was a very detailed activity that required coordination and input by all of our staff, especially the implementation of new software, policies, and procedures. Every pillar required a detailed written procedure and was audited by the CPA firm. We were one of the first in Missouri to achieve this certification. We believe it assures our customers that we meet the highest standards in our industry.

A Columbia businessperson I admire and why: I could use an entire page for this because there are so many people that I admire. The two that come to mind are people who lead by example and give of themselves to help others in our community: Matt Moore, Shelter Insurance, and Joe Miller, First State Community Bank. I first met both when I was invited to serve on the Boys and Girls Club board, where they were both members.

They are great leaders within their respective organizations, but more importantly, they’re passionate and caring leaders in our community. Someone once told me the best compliment you can receive is “You are a person of substance.” These two are certainly people of substance.

Why I’m passionate about my job and company: I go to work every morning knowing that I get to lead multiple projects, manage amazing people, and set goals and strategies that make an impact on this community and our company. I enjoy working with our dedicated, hard-working, passionate staff. They keep me enthused and looking forward to each day. It’s what motivates me.

If I weren’t doing this for a living, I would: Be on the beach, working at a resort. Come to think of it, I may still do that! But seriously: I would be working in the nonprofit area so I could make a greater impact in our community.

36 MAY 2018

P E R S ON YO U SH OU LD KN OW

What people should know about this profession: People in this profession are very detail oriented, they have great people skills, they work long hours, and they meet with people who all need and expect our undivided attention. We talk with lenders, real estate agents, attorneys, buyers, sellers, third-party servicers. Every one of those is a part of every transaction, and we must be exceptionally customer oriented.

The next challenge facing my industry: The one change coming in the near future — and what will be a challenge in securing non-public personal information — will be the ability to do remote closings.

Say a couple buys a house and one of them is deployed for military service: We could do the closing with one spouse in our office and the other spouse remotely present via video feed on a secured website, and they could sign all the papers electronically in front of our closing staff. Lawmakers are working on legislation that will address this issue in the near future.

We must make sure all the security features are in place to protect the parties we represent.

My next professional goal: I’m always looking for expansion opportunities from within the title insurance business, management services business, or new entities in general. By the time this goes to print, we will have opened a new Monarch Title branch office at the Lake of the Ozarks, giving us a total of five offices — the other four are in Columbia, Boonville, Brookfield, and Jefferson City.

Biggest lesson learned in business: Listen attentively, don’t speak just to be heard, and speak to add value.

How I would like to impact the Columbia community: By continuing to share my time, expertise, and money so people can have a chance to fulfill their dreams and find success.

Greatest strength: Always being positive, compassionate, and treating people with respect. And my ability to build strong interpersonal relationships, my good

communication skills, and getting projects completed in any team situation.

Greatest weakness: Absolutely zero patience for those who don’t accept and embrace change as part of our daily lives.

What I do for fun: Fly-fishing, racquetball, tennis, golf, traveling, and anything outdoors!

Family: I have the most remarkable, wonderful wife, Pam. She is truly my best friend and confidante. She is the one person who I can always depend on no matter the circumstances. Many of you reading this know her, and if she’s your friend, she’s a friend for life and one you can always depend on. We’re proud of our family: our son, Jake Bowman; our daughter, Brittany Montcalm; and our two grandsons, Bennett and Broxton.

Favorite place in Columbia: I enjoy our home for relaxing after a busy week. My two favorite places to go eat are CC’s and Murry’s. (How’s that for free advertising?!)

We live at Old Hawthorne and love it. I enjoy going to the Old Hawthorne gym to work out, play golf, or hang out with friends for dinner at the clubhouse. The staff at Old Hawthorne is fantastic!

Accomplishment I’m most proud of: Being asked to be a mentor for several people during my career. None of us succeeds on our own; all of us can attribute our success to individuals that took an interest in our growth and success. Surrounding yourself with successful people that have good core values is a prerequisite for success. In addition, being invited by Maureen Dalton and the late Mike Dalton to come to work for Monarch Title Company is certainly an accomplishment I’m proud of. They are truly great people to know and work for!

Most people don’t know that: In my mid- to late-20s, I traveled around the Midwest and played competitive racquetball.

At least two weekends a month, I played in a tournament, and I won around 25 to 30 of them.

I still enjoy playing, but I’m not as dedicated as I once was. CBT

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Commercial Cleaning Floor Refinishing • Carpet Extraction Construction Clean-Up • Window Cleaning • And More 38 MAY 2018

B U SINESS • PEOP LE • VOIC ES • F YI

9 QU EST I ON S

to slump as a result, we’ll see that impact in our industry, but it will lag a number of years behind.

3. What are some projects you’re working on that you’re particularly excited about? We’re currently finishing up an expansion of Tuesday Morning at our Forum Shopping Center, which will double their overall square footage. Tuesday Morning has been with us for over 20 years and it’s rewarding to see their business thrive to the point of needing such an expansion. We’re also converting a former bank at our Nifong Shopping Center to open Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, which I plan to frequent!

Q&A JAY LINDNER

Owner, Lindner Properties

1. What’s the hottest development market in Columbia right now?

It’s hard to narrow this down to just one submarket, as there is heavy activity in all four of our main trade areas. We’ve seen a shortage of retail supply and increasing rents in well-located centers throughout Columbia. The main interest continues to be the Stadium Boulevard corridor and East Broadway and Highway 63 trade areas, but there’s certainly a list of businesses that have not been able to secure space in Columbia yet.

2. Have changes in MU’s enrollment — down for a few years, up for next year — impacted the demand for development in Columbia? On the commercial side, we haven’t noticed an impact on demand. I think where the impact is being seen is on the higher-end housing market as well as revenue numbers for certain businesses in town that cater to that demographic.

If restaurant or retail sales numbers start

4. You’re known for some of Columbia’s big retail centers.

What type of challenges does this development provide that other types don’t? With a larger development, it can be more difficult to balance the overall tenant mix, especially when dealing with non-compete clauses. You may have a great grocery anchor in a larger center, but that restricts you from leasing small shop spaces to a bakery, pharmacy, wine store, and a host of other businesses. Additionally, the capital needs are huge. A roof replacement on a small retail building might be $100,000, but that same cost will far exceed $1,000,000 on larger properties.

5. If you could change one thing about Columbia, what would it be? I would love to look out my window and see either mountains or the ocean, but I think that’s asking a bit much! At this point, I would settle for a city government that makes it seem like they want business to thrive in Columbia. From the permitting and regulatory level to the city council, it sometimes feels like the city’s attitude is that business is evil, and that makes it challenging to get things done. As fees and other costs continue to increase, we risk squeezing the profit-making ability for a lot of businesses and consumers.

6. What’s a myth about development in Columbia that you’d like to dispel? The biggest myth is that development is bad, doesn’t pay

its way, is a drain on city resources, etc. In many ways, development is what keeps a city afloat. The employment base, sales tax revenue, and property tax revenue generated by all of the fine developments in Columbia are what allow us to have the great quality of life that we enjoy.

7. What’s a stereotype about development in Columbia that you think is true? I’ve heard a lot of talk about Lindner Properties being the top landlord in town, and that’s probably a true statement! I think there’s been a lot of talk over the years about sprawl being bad, and I don’t generally disagree with that. As a community, we should encourage in-fill development to take advantage of infrastructure and services that are already in place. Unfortunately, regulations don’t always support that and end up unintentionally creating sprawl.

8. What’s been your most rewarding project? Our Broadway Shops project still stands out as my most rewarding. Even though I had yet to graduate from Mizzou, I was involved from the initial site design phase to planning to construction, and then I spearheaded the lease-up efforts.

The project has won multiple awards and we think it drastically improved a main entrance into the City of Columbia.

9. You have a reputation as one of the most avid Mizzou fans in town — how do you think the football team’s going to do this year? I prefer to think of myself as a Mizzou junkie, but I’ll go with that! I really like what Coach Odom is doing with the program, and I definitely think he has us rolling in the right direction.

2018 will have its challenges, with Mizzou having to play both of the teams that just competed for the national championship, but I like the group of guys coming back and feel we plugged some holes with our recruiting. Overall, I expect us to build on the momentum from the second half of the season, increase our win total, and play in another high-quality bowl game! Oh, and Mizzou Basketball will be back in the NCAA tournament next year. CBT

Check out past questions and answers online at ColumbiaBusinessTimes.com.

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 39

40 MAY 2018

BUSI N ESS • PEO P LE • VOIC ES • F YI

A CA P I TOL CON VER SAT I ON

Missouri Officials Ponder Sunshine Reform

BY K RCG 13’ S K ER M IT M IL L ER

THE MISSOURI SUNSHINE LAW, THE legislation requiring open government meetings and records, celebrates its 45th birthday in 2018, and it’s showing some middle-age stress in its efforts to bring transparency to state government. Some of that is driven by partisan politics, but evolving communications technology — technology not really envisioned in 1973 — puts on the kind of pressure that can add a lot of gray hair.

This year, government officials’ use of smartphone applications that can delete communications once they’re read has exposed the limits of Missouri’s sunshine legislation. The issue first came to light in December in a Kansas City Star report on some Greitens administration staffers’ use of an app called Confide.

The story put some pressure on Attorney General Josh Hawley, Greitens’ fellow Republican and a candidate for the U.S. Senate, to investigate whether the governor’s office broke the Sunshine Law by using the app. By the end of February, Hawley issued a report finding no evidence of wrongdoing, but with the caveat that investigators had limited access to information. While they did talk to eight high-level Greitens staffers, five of whom acknowledged the use of the Confide app for discussion of minor office matters such as scheduling, investigators did not interview the governor himself. Apparently, they feared a constitutional clash over the questioned existence of executive privilege. At this writing, a private lawsuit over use of the app was still pending.

The controversy put a lot of light on legislative proposals to put some teeth into Sunshine Law enforcement. Some news organizations and concerned private citizens have complained

that government agencies have sought to avoid compliance with requests for open records by charging unreasonable fees for research and copying. Two pending bills, supported by Hawley and proposed by house Republicans David Gregory and Jean Evans, would make that practice a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail.

Without subpoena power in the Confide case, investigators were limited to knowing only whatever Greitens staffers told them.

The creation of a transparency division within the attorney general’s office would make a more immediate impact. Lawyers assigned to that unit would be isolated from others to preclude the possibility of conflicts of interest where the attorney general might have to prosecute and defend a government agency at the same time. Hawley has said the unit would be protected from any efforts by future attorneys general to undo its work.

Perhaps most significant, the sunshine unit would have the power to subpoena records and witnesses. Without that power in the Confide case, investigators were limited to knowing only

whatever Greitens staffers told them. Hawley has indicated he would re-open the investigation if lawmakers give him subpoena power.

The proposed GOP sunshine legislation does not outlaw the use of Confide or other similar apps designed to send encrypted, selfdestructing messages; Democrats have proposed legislation that would do that. Democrats also want to include social media pages in the definition of public records, thus preventing their deletion or significant alteration.

Sunshine Law reform advocates, including the Missouri Press Association and the Missouri Broadcasters Association, also point to the education gap that Sunshine Law reforms need to address. They have suggested that the sunshine unit in the AG’s office could function as a clearinghouse for local governments in communities too small to afford their own lawyers.

During testimony before the House General Laws Committee, the sponsors of the Republican-backed legislation said it was not designed to target Governor Greitens.

St. Louis Rep. David Gregory called the new enforcement proposals “commonsense and necessary.” Manchester’s Jean Evans told committee members she had spoken to the governor’s legislative liaison and was assured Greitens supported the bill; she indicated the move toward Sunshine Law reform predated Hawley’s report on the Confide app investigation. Clearly, however, the case has magnified interest in the middle-aged law. CBT Kermit is an award-winning 45-year veteran journalist and one of the longest serving members of the Missouri Statehouse press corps.

Kermit Miller anchors the 6 and 10 p.m. news for KRCG 13. You can reach Kermit at kmiller@krcg.com COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 41

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42 MAY 2018

B USINESS • P EOP L E • VO ICE S • F YI

OP I N I ON : AL GER M ON D

in delays, confusion, and missed opportunities.

Some points to consider:

COU: The Next Phase

•

Establish the Columbia Regional Airport Authority as an independent body with some heft that reports directly to the city manager and council.

•

Abolish the airport advisory board.

Like most of the city’s other commissions, it’s very nice that they meet, but the apparatchiks usually end up ignoring them.

•

Hire a professional aviation services manager who works full time to oversee the facility while nurturing the overall role aviation plays in our region. Pay — following industry guidelines — whatever it costs for this experience and competency.

•

Develop and nurture income streams that demonstrate the city’s commitment to aviation as it partners with funding sources including the FAA, MoDOT, REDI, and the revenue guarantors.

BY A L GERMON D

THAT’LL BE $600,000, IF YOU PLEASE! So the city recently cut a check for that amount to United Airlines to cover the agreed-upon revenue guarantee for the company’s accrued costs for service starting August 1, 2017 between COU and Denver International Airport. A far cry from the hundred dollars or so Ozark Air Lines was forking over to the city every month in 1953 for landing fees and the counter rental area.

No one among the hierarchy of guarantors seems especially surprised or alarmed.

Enplanements on the Denver route have been disappointing. Now with the firm guarantee in hand, United says it will give the new route until the end of the year to prove itself as a viable proposition.

What constitutes a profitable flight? What is the break-even cost to fly a 50-passenger jet from COU to Denver? Closely guarded secrets, of course, but as investors, we’d like some financial clarification here.

COU continues to grow, with enplanements this year expected to exceed 200,000 or more. Flights have been added. Other carriers may be interested in serving COU. The new terminal had been relocated and this should be the year all the arrangements with various funding agencies are firmed up so actual construction can begin.

Still, we’re dismayed.

With continued growth assured, we’re hearing nothing about temporary — though with some expense — measures to expand terminal capacity and keep the operation running smoothly in the interim. Discard any foolish optimism that the new terminal will be up and running by some fictitious date, because it never happens.

Columbia has been screwing around with aviation almost from the time Colonel Lindbergh was a barnstorming air mail pilot. Actions both good and bad over the years have resulted

Coughing up $600,000 recently assures the end of free parking at COU as well as the need to review other fees, on rental cars for example.

Let’s say the city charges $5.00 a day to park at COU. Based on 800 vehicle per day lot occupancy, the annual gross income would be $1,460,000, making this a widely visible financial stake that firms up the city’s commitment to aviation. With an assured steady source of revenue, the CRAA would then be in the position to market tax-free bonds to finance capital improvement projects.

So let the screaming begin. Go ahead naysayers. Abandon COU. For you, it’s back to those long drives on traffic- and accident-plagued Interstate 70, or hours equally wasted on shuttle busses.

For the rest of us, the time has come for the next phase of growth and development to unfold at COU. CBT Al Germond is the host of the Columbia Business Times Sunday Morning Roundtable at 8:15 a.m.

Sundays on KFRU. COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 43

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44 MAY 2018

B USINESS • P EOP L E • VO ICE S • F YI

OP I N I O N : DAVI D R OLAN D

The Guardian of Every Other Right

BY DAVID ROLAND, LITIGATION DIRECTOR, FREEDOM CENTER OF MISSOURI

WHAT DOES IT MEAN to “own” something?

For centuries, the system of law that built up first in England, then in America, has defined property ownership in terms of the right to make a range of decisions about and to control the use of a particular asset. The person (or group of persons) who ultimately has the authority to make these decisions is said to be the owner of the asset. In this legal tradition, the ability to own and enjoy private property is the foundation of independence. Former British Prime Minister William Pitt said, in 1763, “The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the crown. It may be frail, its roof may shake, the wind may blow through it, the storm and rain may enter, but the King of England cannot enter.” Shortly after the American Revolution, Arthur Lee, of Virginia, said, “The right of property is the guardian of every other right, and to deprive the people of this is in fact to deprive them of their liberty.”

The idea of private property is also deeply embedded in our constitutional framework.

Both the U.S. Constitution and the Missouri Constitution forbid government officials to deprive citizens of their property without the due process of law. Courts have long recognized that a person’s right to property included the “free use, enjoyment, and disposal

of ” the things he or she owned. The Missouri Supreme Court has described the right to private property as including “ownership, possession, and the right to use in enjoyment for lawful purposes.” Thus, put in a very simple way, Americans in general — and Missourians in particular — have a fundamental right to purchase property and then to use that property in a manner that the owner believes best suited to promote his or her own happiness or wellbeing, so long as that use does not violate the law or endanger others’ health, safety, or quiet enjoyment of their own property.

Over time, however, courts have allowed more and more government interference with citizens’ rights to use and dispose of their private property. Sometimes this has occurred in the form of the government assuming ownership of property that previously belonged to a citizen in such cases as eminent domain or asset forfeiture. And other times it has occurred in the form of the government using regulations to strictly limit the ways in which private property owners may use their property. As long as these infringements were limited to instances in which the government would put the taken property to a true public use (such as a public road or a public building), or where the government was attempting to prevent potential dangers to the

public health or safety (such as pollution, fire hazards, or vermin), the infringements do not conflict with constitutionally protected property rights. But governments both nationwide and here in Missouri have long since gone beyond appropriate constitutional limits; they now act as though there are no constitutional limits on government power to control who owns property and how citizens may use their property.

These restrictions most frequently work to the disadvantage of poor and minority communities. In the mid-20th century, communities began using eminent domain to displace minority-dominated neighborhoods and business districts, such as Sharp End here in Columbia, not because the government intended to put the condemned properties to “public use,” but instead to put the properties in the hands of different private owners. Although the use of eminent domain in Missouri has not been as blatantly racist in recent years, communities still frequently see it as a tool to remove poorer residents or businesses and replace them with a “better class” of citizen.

But even relatively affluent communities are increasingly willing to restrict property rights as a way to ensure a Stepford-esque homogeneity among residents. For the past four years, the city of St. Peters, Missouri, has been fighting in court for the power to impose hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and decades of imprisonment on two senior citizens who committed the horrifying offense of growing perfectly harmless, perfectly lawful flowers instead of devoting half of their lawn to growing turf grass. The homeowners are allergic to grass and believe that the U.S. and Missouri constitutions protect their right to choose for themselves what lawful plants they will grow on their property. The City has admitted that the couple’s yard includes ample ground cover that from a distance would appear to be grass, but because it is not the type of plant the city mandates, the city insists that it must be able to punish them for their non-conformity.

Property rights really are the guardian of every other right. If we are to remain a free people, we must demand that our governments respect citizens’ rights to purchase, keep, and use their own private property for all lawful, harmless uses. After all, if we will not work to protect our neighbors from eminent domain abuse and nonsensical regulation, it's just a matter of time before we lose our own rights. CBT COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 45

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46 MAY 2018

B USINESS • P EOP L E • VO ICE S • F YI

OP I N I ON : J E N N I F E R BUKOWS KY AN D CALEB SM I T H

Needs Over Wants

BY JENNIFER BU KOWSKY A N D C A L EB SM ITH

IN OCTOBER 2016, and at a cost of $1,100,000, the Columbia City Council voted to expand Flat Branch Park and purchased the building and lot at 32 S. Providence. This property abuts the busy Broadway and Providence intersection.

Flat Branch Park, located at Fourth and Locust in downtown Columbia, winds behind the Walton Building, which houses the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, a Hardee’s, and office buildings, and is a jump southeast of the newly purchased lot.

It’s a nice park. This airy, green space provides a small break from downtown and access to the MKT Trail. It accomplishes all that it’s needed to do. The expansion, however, spreads in two respects: the acreage tacked onto the old park, and the use of a new creative source of funds for council pet projects. Unlike other park purchases budgeted and completed through tax increases and charitable donations, this purchase was made with interest accrued from the capital improvement project account.

This costly park expansion came at a time when Columbia Police Department felt the strain from failing to grow at pace with the city. Currently a dispute among City Council

candidates, funds that were not necessarily tied to any budget line could have instead been used to hire more officers, rather than expand existing parks, such as Flat Branch. Even back in 2013, KMIZ ran a story showing the surprise of citizens learning that the city budgets more funds to the Parks and Recreation Department than to the Police Department.

This area, for those who aren’t familiar, was the focus of a long debate wherein CVS had hoped to purchase the real estate and build a new pharmacy but ultimately gave up after a prolonged fight with the city council over zoning and easements. While this corner now occasionally hosts small businesses, it is largely vacant. In rejecting CVS over minor issues, the city seems to favor an expensive park extension over a sales- and property-tax generating business.

Flat Branch Park is not alone; the City of Columbia owns several properties that are not being used with efficient ends in mind.

Gates Park was purchased in 2016 for $360,000 from a 2010 park sales tax but is currently undeveloped pending $275,000 from a possible future sales tax. Kyd Park, located at 2210

Garnet Ave., is currently undeveloped and sits unused with the anticipation of a future $125,000 through a park sales tax increase.

Don’t expect anything quick, either — Kyd Park has been waiting on that development since at least the 2002 Master Plan.

This long-running dispute points to a possible disconnect of priorities between citizens and council members. Interest accumulating as unallocated funds would better serve citizens of Columbia if directed towards public safety rather than extensions of existing parks. There are a lot of council endeavors that do promote economic growth, such as efficient road projects that get traffic moving and bring the whole city a little closer together, but not every project is a good one.

It’s important to question the projects that are not so good. The city should prioritize its needs over its wants. Some parks are essential to the character of our community, but many of the 64 parks we currently maintain (including seven undeveloped properties) are not more important than police and roads and sewers.

The cost of the city owning a premier piece of real estate on Providence are high and extend well beyond the $1.1 million purchase price to the $750,000 cost of developing it, maintaining it, and, significantly, foregoing the tax revenues that would have otherwise been generated and made available to support our community’s needs (roads, sewers, police, schools, and the like) had ownership of the parcel remained in private (preferably CVS) hands. This is passing on property and sales tax revenue that would have occurred had the city not bought it.

Paying for all these parks when the police department is understaffed and the sewers are falling apart makes as much sense as the teenager who spends thousands on a state-ofthe-art stereo, a new paint job, and flashy rims for an old car that is only worth a few thousand bucks and is regularly breaking down. Maybe instead of putting a new tax on the ballot to support more police, we should instead propose and vote on an initiative on whether the city should sell some undeveloped or unmaintained properties to generate revenue from both the sale price and then the continuing tax revenue from efficient private use. This would not only generate more money for the city, but it would also remove the expense of developing or maintaining an unnecessary upgrade. CBT COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 47

48 MAY 2018

B USINESS • P EOP L E • VO ICE S • F YI

OP I N I O N : KAR EN M I LLER

Economic Incentives: Pros and Cons

BY KAREN MILLE R , FOR M ER BOON E COU N TY CO MM I SS I O N E R

IF YOU FOLLOW THE CITY COUNCIL or county commission at all, you’ve probably heard the acronyms TDD and TIF, and you’ve also probably heard of Chapter 100.

TDDs started as an additional way to help expand local infrastructure for economic development. The project and funding should be used on projects approved by the taxing district responsible for the infrastructure in which it intersects. In my opinion, TDDs have been abused in recent years.

A TDD does not get local approval; it’s set up to go through the court system. If it meets the parameters set out by the state statute, the district is approved and funds from the special TDD tax are collected by the developer. There is no auditing of the local tax dollars and no approval by any elected local government, though the county commission is required to memorialize the creation of the TDD by “spreading it on the record.”

Much of the TDDs’ funding is used for private assets. The current law is so lax that it’s not even formed with specific project costs identified, meaning it can be ongoing into perpetuity.

State Auditor Nicole Galloway last year did an audit on the state TDDs, and the results were not pretty. “The TDD law does not include adequate safeguards to protect the public

when the TDD law is used as an economic development tool, particularly when funding is used for private assets,” she wrote.

Chapter 100 bonds, the tool most often used by Boone County, are an economic development tool where the local government issues bonds for a project as tax exempt and takes ownership of the property. The program was adopted by the county in 2005 as the first economic incentive covering the whole county, including the incorporated areas.

To be cautious, the county set several strict parameters to be met before issuing Chapter 100 Bonds. One of the most important was requiring an early review and vote by any taxing entity being impacted by the proposal before the commission would act on the project. Another was ensuring the company entering into a Chapter 100 contract must pay the average county wage and provide health insurance.

The county also requires the applicant to actually produce the required level of jobs to obtain an abatement. A yearly report is required at a commission meeting, so the outcomes are on the public record.

Tax-increment financing, or TIF, is a tax incentive an individual city government can

implement on its own. There are statutory requirements, such as that a TIF commission must be appointed to review the project with a county representative, the affected school representative, and a representative of each of the other taxing entities, along with the city representatives.

The TIF commission makes a recommendation to the city council, and the council must follow the recommendation unless a super majority of the council votes to overturn the recommendation.

This was the case of the latest TIF filed by The Broadway hotel. There were many arguments for the TIF and many against.

A TIF may be considered under one of three categories: blight, conservation, or economic development. The applicant of the Broadway Phase II TIF applied for the conservation designation. The statute requires an area in question that is not yet blighted but is detrimental to the public health, safety, morals, or welfare and may become a blighted area.

Is this Broadway Hotel parcel a threat to the public health or safety any more than any other property ready for redevelopment?

Another element of the TIF statutes is the “but for” test. Could it readily be assumed that this project could not happen without this additional public subsidy? Using historical data, the county assessor has shown that growth in the downtown area since 2008 is nearly double the rest of the county, all without needing a TIF subsidy.

I personally supported the first Broadway Hotel TIF, as the property was blighted and it would have been very expensive to demolish the old Regency Hotel. I felt the project met both of the statutory requirements and would fulfill a great need for the community. There is a place for each of these development tools, but each need to be monitored and be a cost benefit for the community. A recent accounting change requires local governments to track the tax revenue that they’re foregoing due to previously issued tax incentives. Local governments also must now track revenues lost due to the economic development incentives issued by other political subdivisions. These new accounting standards should assist the public in keeping their elected officials focused on the mid- and long-term consequences of tax giveaways in the name of economic development. CBT COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 49

50 MAY 2018

Renting on Air The impact of Columbia’s short-term rental market.

BY DAV ID M O R R IS O N

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 51

constituted little more than an afterthought during the discussions that crafted the City of Columbia’s new zoning code in the summer of 2015.

Shouldn’t we do something about these Airbnbs?

At the time, Columbia didn’t have that many properties listed on Airbnb, the vacation rental website that allows people to advertise shortterm rentals to willing consumers. How the burgeoning service could affect the city didn’t really generate much discussion.

That has changed considerably in the three years since.

According to Airbnb’s figures, Columbia was Missouri’s fourth-most active city on the site in 2017, trailing only St. Louis, Kansas City, and Branson. Columbia Airbnb renters welcomed 11,140 guests into their homes (or apartments . . . or condos . . . or lean-tos . . . or tents occupying a vacant lot . . .) last year, generating a total of $1.1 million in income.

Last August, the month of the total solar eclipse, 355 listings were available for rent in Columbia. In September, a month in which the Missouri football team played four straight home games, Airbnb hosts raked in more than $551,000.

The numbers have leveled off a bit since then, but, as of February, there were still 284 active rentals in the city. Now is definitely time for the discussions that got tabled in 2015.

“We’re trying to stay ahead of the curve,” says Megan McConachie, strategic communications manager for the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau. “A lot of destinations our size, or even smaller, are trying to catch up to this really big trend in how people are traveling.”

The Convention and Visitors Bureau and the city’s Community Development Department teamed up to hold a series of four public information meetings — two in Febru52 MAY 2018

ary, two in April — to gather comments and determine what sort of legislation would be beneficial on a municipal level to regulate the short-term rental market available on sites such as Airbnb.

Right now, there isn’t much on the books.

Some short-term rentals already meet the city’s safety inspection requirements because they’re repurposed long-term rentals. Does that mean all short-term rentals should meet the same requirements? Do short-term rentals meet the city’s definition of a “hotel,” and if they do, should they have to pay the same lodging tax as the city’s hotels and motels?

What sort of recourse does a neighbor have if the house next door becomes a short-term rental property against their wishes?

Questions like these are just the tip of the iceberg.

“We just don’t have enough in our code, even for people who want to do the right thing,” said Leigh Kottwitz, the city’s neighborhood services manager. “We just don’t have enough information to tell them because we haven’t laid that out. We just haven’t defined it in our code.”

WHAT IS A HOTEL, ANYWAY?

How, exactly, does the City of Columbia define a hotel? At present, as any property with 12 units or more that rents out for 28 days or fewer. These properties are subject to a five percent tax with the city, which goes toward funding the Convention and Visitors Bureau as well as bankrolling the Columbia Regional Airport terminal project.

So no, Airbnb rentals are not currently hotels. In February, Airbnb started factoring Missouri state, city, county, and local sales taxes into its pricing. Airbnb says it collected and remitted more than $306,000 in taxes to the state of Missouri in the first month of this new arrangement. Columbia’s hotel and motel tax is not included.

For a million-dollar-a-year industry, that tends to add up. Or not add up.

“If you look at Airbnb itself as one hotel that subcontracts to all these houses around town, they’re a pretty big hotel,” says Shawna Neuner.

She and her husband, Rick, manage long-term rental properties that they sometimes post on Airbnb. “And yet, it’s not your traditional commercial property. So it’s kind of a tricky area to figure out how you word that” How do you reclassify the definition of a “hotel” in the city so that Airbnb properties

fall into it? Do you keep the 28-day limit but lower the number of units down to one?

That would certainly catch all the Airbnb properties, but then you could run into some other complications. Mark Farnen, co-founder of City Watch Columbia, a consulting service for various business communities in the city, can see a fairly glaring one.

“If you define everybody as a hotel, guess what? In the zoning code, hotels are not allowed in residential areas,” Farnen says. “It would’ve been a ban on them, or at least made a conflict in the code.”

At the public comment meetings, some Airbnb owners also expressed concern that an extra tax would put a severe crimp in their business by raising the price of their listings to an

extent that would scare off potential renters. This is a concern that resonates most among Airbnb hosts who only rent out a room or two on their property rather than an entire house or apartment.

Randall Kilgore and Gary Smith have one property on Airbnb, dubbed the “Fairway Suite.” It was built originally as an addition on their home for Kilgore’s mother but, after she passed away, the two started offering it as a shortterm rental.

Kilgore and Smith say an additional tax probably wouldn’t hurt their business too much, but they’re still wary of being grouped in with the city’s hotels. They would like to see the creation of an Airbnb hosts association in Columbia to give this new classification of lodging a unified voice.

“We do not believe Airbnb properties such as ours should be levied a tax like a hotel or motel lodging establishment because that is not what we are,” they said in an email. “At a minimum, we believe the city of Columbia should have a mechanism for obtaining a proper registration and/or renewable business license that is tiered based on size, occupancy, location, parking availability, and adherence to public safety ordinances. Too much regulation and inappropriate taxation without proper representation will affect this otherwise ‘mom and pop’ type of business.”

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

Columbia Airbnb renters welcomed 11,140 guests into their homes last year, generating a total of $1.1 million in income.

Pat Bess is one of the owners and operators of Community Association Management, which helps manage more than 50 homeowner and condominium associations in and around Columbia.

There is a variety of opinions when it comes to shortterm rental properties cropping up in established residential neighborhoods, but Bess said the feeling among the organizations she oversees is consistent. None of the boards of directors with which they consult have codes that favor Airbnb properties in their neighborhoods.

“It is pretty uniform that neighbors do not like the fact that someone different could be staying in the home or condo each week or month,” Bess said.

That’s the main fear coming from the homeowners community when it comes to the growing Airbnb scene in Columbia: not knowing who is living next door at any given time.

The city zoning code allows for no more than three or four unrelated people to live in a unit at one time, with some leeway built in for guests coming to stay for short periods.

Neighborhood services enforces that ordinance, but Kottwitz says it’s a gray area when it comes to short-term rentals.

If you’re limiting the number of people who can occupy a short-term rental unit — say, a whole house — to only three or four, how much of a dent does that put in the Airbnb market? And if you don’t enforce a limit, how is it fair to the neighbors if, say, 22 people show up for a Mizzou football weekend?

Kottwitz says neighborhood services doesn’t get a large volume of complaints considering the number of shortCOLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 53

term rentals in the city, but there have been some.

“Sometimes there are issues with parties, traffic, and parking,” Kottwitz says. “The other challenge we have is when those folks call and have a complaint, because we haven't addressed those properties in our code, we don’t have an answer for them. We don’t have much the city can do at this point to have any enforcement authority over those properties.”

Kottwitz said other cities have ordinances dealing with short-term rentals that Columbia could mine for ideas: limiting occupancy for short-term rentals to two people per bedroom plus two to four people, for example. That would allow for large groups to continue patronizing Columbia’s Airbnb market while still exerting some sort of control on party size.

Farnen says he doesn’t think Columbia wants to drive large groups out of town. What about the Show-Me State Games youth baseball team that doesn’t have the means to rent a block of hotel rooms?

“A lot of people are worried about ‘what if ’ instead of what is. That drives a lot of the emotional side of the debate,” Farnen says. “Do you legislate based on anecdote or fact?”

The Airbnb hosts can do their part as well. Kilgore and Smith said that, before they listed the Fairway Suite in October 2016, they checked with the city’s Planning and Zoning department, their neighborhood association, and their neighbors to make sure they weren’t running afoul of anyone.

They have strict admonitions against noise, partying and “unruly behavior” in their house rules.

“It was very important to us as hosts and good neighbors to be certain we had the confidence of the neighborhood association, and that we were doing business in such a way as to not be intrusive in any way,” they wrote in an email.

A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD

One segment of Columbia’s shortterm rental hosts was already cleared and zoned to rent before the Airbnb 54 MAY 2018

"If you look at Airbnb itself as one hotel that subcontracts to all these houses around town, they’re a pretty big hotel."

- SHAWNA NEUNER phenomenon, with all the necessary safety inspections completed.

They’re the long-term renters, landlords with houses, apartments, and condominiums for lease. When some of their properties sit vacant for extended periods of time, they’re looking for ways to offset their losses. Realtor Betsy Woodruff has just such a client. He uses some of his properties as short-term rentals, but has to juggle the possibility that he’s missing out on some longer-term tenants in order to do so.

“It’s kind of risky for an investor or landlord to have that property, and maybe you have no reservations for February and you don’t know when you’re going to get them,” Woodruff says. “The

unit still gets the wear and tear just like a tenant would put on the property. It’s hard for a landlord, because every day that sits empty, they’re paying utilities, property taxes, all those things.”

Shawna and Rick Neuner have been posting some of their properties on Airbnb since last summer. They had eight rented out at once during homecoming weekend, but Shawna says the pair can usually only manage four or five at a time. That’s how many they booked during the eclipse and during this year’s True/ False Film Festival.

Starting out, the biggest hurdle for them was deciding to keep certain properties empty instead of having them on the market for

more traditional leases. Once they decided to make the move, they also had upfront costs of furnishing the short-term units and paying for utilities.

They have seen some perks from their association with Airbnb.

“When it’s staged, it helps it rent faster,” Shawna says. “We find that the properties we’ve listed on Airbnb will get long-term rentals on it because it’s easier to see that space and what it’s going to look like going forward. It ends up being something where we do a lot of furniture moving from one property to another.”

But what about the properties that aren’t converted long-term rentals, those that haven’t gone through the city’s inspection protocols?

Well, there is no set protocol for short-term rental units registering in the city. Kottwitz says that the most the city can do when it becomes aware of a new short-term rental is to kindly ask the owners to be in compliance with city code.

“When people come to us and ask what they need to do to comply with city code, we often encourage those property owners to get their property registered and inspected as an act of good faith,” Kottwitz says. “Many have been happy to do that. We also realize we don’t have anything in our code that talks about this specifically. When there are people who don’t want to do it, we don’t have good standing to make them or take them to court for that.”

Even if the city were to normalize the process for registering and inspecting shortterm rental properties, there’s no guarantee it would catch them all. You can comb Airbnb listings for addresses, but that wouldn’t capture those listed on other vacation rental sites, of which there are currently around 35, according to Farnen. Not to mention even more informal arrangements: A friend comes into town, stays a night and leaves $50 on your kitchen counter. Does that make your place a short-term rental unit?

For now, it’s one of the many unanswered questions the city is grappling with concerning a real estate trend not many envisioned. A lot can change in three years.

“I get the sense that the city is really trying to understand the whole issue and figure out what, exactly, they do need to address it and how to be the most equitable to all parties,” Shawna says. “They want to make sure that, if people are staying in a home, that it’s safe. And they want to get their tax money. How do you stay on top of it?” CBT COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 55

Y T T E PR T N A C VA 56 MAY 2018

How has Columbia’s student housing market reacted to enrollment dips and market changes?

BY KACEN J. BAYLESS

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 57

AT 128 FEET, Rise on 9th, the newest in a slew of downtown luxury student apartments, is the sixth tallest building in Columbia, according to Emporis Research. The building’s 10th floor penthouse lounge offers an aerial view of MU’s campus and downtown.

The paneled glass windows provide students an almost complete panorama of Missouri’s fourth most-populous city. Crowded alongside Columbia’s easy-tospot landmarks like the white dome of Jesse Hall or the bright red sign atop the 91-year-old Tiger Hotel is a massive tower of red, gray, and beige.

The current skyline of Columbia is drastically different than it was just under a decade ago. Swarms of new student housing developments have sprung up all over town and, recently, the buildings have reshaped the city’s downtown landscape.

In the mid-2000s, enrollment at MU was increasing.

Developers saw the swelling demand for student housing, and pretty soon apartments began to line the streets along Highway 63 outside campus. Enrollment reached its peak in 2015. With 35,488 students enrolled — almost 30 percent of Columbia’s population — and plans to keep that number increasing, there was plenty of reason to build off-campus housing. As more developers moved into the area in response to the increasing demand of students, it created a student housing bubble.

Between 2015 and 2017, however, enrollment plummeted around 12 percent, according to MU data. With the decrease in student numbers and the subsequent temporary closure of seven on-campus residential halls, the student housing market has struggled to adapt to the shifts in demand.

Currently, there are no pending housing developments downtown. Those projects that went up during the enrollment boom, however, are left to compete in a crowded market with fewer customers.

THE BUBBLE BURST The possible decline in MU enrollment and its effect on housing has long been speculated. In 2014, the Odle family, the Columbia-based developers of the Brookside student housing apartments, published a report that condemned the influx of downtown development and predicted “a bleak picture for increasing student housing demand.”

After the report was released, however, the Odle family continued to build, demolishing Shakespeare's Pizza's original location and Bengals Bar and Grill to develop new housing.

58 MAY 2018

In the report, the Odles urged developers to wait for older properties to become obsolete before considering any new projects and to prepare to purchase “distressed” buildings. The report predicted these obsolete and distressed properties to appear over the course of four to eight years.

In the years after the release of the report, the demand for student housing began to drop as MU’s enrollment plunged, but developers kept building.

Columbia real estate agent John John said the Columbia student housing bubble burst during the 2015 protests at MU. Three years ago, a wave of race-related incidents and protests swept through the campus, leading to the resignation of UM System President Tim Wolfe and MU Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin.

“What happened happened, and that caused students to not want to come to MU,” John says. “Until that turns back around, we’ve got more housing by 5,000 beds than we need.”

However, there has been no comprehensive explanation for why enrollment at MU did drop and, in 2018, freshman applications are actually up by about 17 percent over last year, according to the UM System Board of Curators.

John disagrees with the idea that the decrease in student enrollment and its subsequent effect on housing demand could have been predicted. Before the 2015 protests, officials at MU predicted a yearly influx of incoming students with a goal of reaching 40,000 students by 2020, and developers built accordingly.

“The fact is, if the university kept on track, we did not overbuild,” he says.

However, John said, there are peaks and valleys in all forms of real estate, and supply and demand rarely reach equilibrium.

“You get into a situation where there’s a huge demand and everyone starts to build and they build until they’ve completed the demand,” he said. “At some point, you overbuild a little bit and then there’s a valley until that overbuild capacity is used up and it starts up. Those waves go in every real estate market there is.”

Enrollment at MU first began to swell in the early 2000s. JPI, a Dallas-based apartment developer, was one of the first companies to capitalize on the demand for student housing in Columbia by implementing multi-room floor plans. Along Highway 63, the developer erected Jefferson Commons, now owned by Education Realty Trust and renamed The Reserve.

As MU’s student population continued to rise, developers followed in JPI’s footsteps and began marketing to students. At the same time, on-campus housing development at MU lagged behind; the school “only added a total of 3,000 beds from 2003 to now,” John says.

As MU Residential Life failed to compete with the luxury amenities and increased independence provided by off-campus housing, developers began inching closer to downtown and campus. Apartments like District Flats, The Lofts at 308 Ninth, Rise on 9th, Todd, UCentre, and three Brookside locations have sprung up across downtown boasting resort-style features and prime location.

However, as the customer base has failed to grow as expected, the influx of student housing has forced a rather ruthless bidding war between complexes.

“What’s happening now is the downtown buildings are able to suck all the tenants out of the ones that are scattered along the edge of campus,” John says. “The further out they are, the higher the vacancy rate.”

Moore and Shyrock, a real estate appraisal company in Columbia, keeps track of these vacancy rates, or the percentage of vacant or unoccupied units in a rental property at a given time.

The company’s most recent report, released in fall 2017, stated that, while downtown student housing complexes are less than six percent vacant, the apartments outside downtown were more than 20 percent vacant. With the increase in competition, many apartment complexes have been forced to adapt their marketing strategies.

BIDDING WAR To cope with the decrease in student demand, complexes have implemented new ways of attracting potential tenants. Apartment staff workers set up tables at Speakers Circle on MU’s campus and offer students free food and gift cards for signing leases. Companies offer discounted rates to tenants who choose to re-sign another year, and some companies have even taken to placing advertisements and flyers in the parking garages of their competitors. Some complexes allow tenants to postpone their rent payments until student loans are dispersed.

Most of the housing complexes in Columbia submit their current leasing and occupancy rates to a market survey to compare the performance of each competing company. The UCentre, located on Turner Avenue near Greektown, offers two-bedroom floor plans for $999 a month per occupant and four-bedroom plans ranging from $809 to $839 a month. Shaylan Thompson, the leasing manager for UCentre, says that due to the saturation of downtown housing, students can essentially wait until the last minute to sign a lease, so his company focused heavily on customer service and competitive rates to remain occupied.

The complex is 100 percent leased for next year.

“We worked our butts off,” he says. “This past fall, it was rough with marketing and constantly explaining things to people, being overly thorough with things, tour after tour after tour, football games, basketball games — it took a lot. I think what separates us is our customer service.”

Thompson agreed with John’s assessment about student housing and said that students are becoming increasingly more attracted to living downtown and near campus, as opposed to some of the complexes on the outskirts of town.

Although the UCentre plans to be 100 percent occupied for next year, other complexes have had issues attracting tenants. According to the market survey, the next closest competition is only 57 percent leased for next year.

“As far as I know, no one’s really even close,” Matt Olsen, a community assistant for UCentre, says. “I don’t think anyone is much over 50 percent as far as being leased next year.”

Over off Grindestone Parkway, The Den, which offers such amenities as a pool, a sand volleyball court, and a 24-hour gym and game room, leasing for next year is below 50 percent.

“We pretty much up our marketing,” Shiv Patel, a leasing consultant for The Den said. “We pretty much go on campus and market every day.

We’ve learned that students love free food, so we’ll always go and market with food just so we can get more people to our tables.”

Just like the UCentre, The Den offers two-bedroom options with pricing ranging from $675 to $705 per occupant per month and four-bedroom options with pricing between $499 to $529 a month.

Despite the company’s current low leasing percentage, Patel said he has seen a steady increase in signings as the end of the school year draws near.

Amy Karpowicz, the marketing coordinator for Todd apartments, said she could not disclose the company’s current percentage of signed leases. Todd, which sits at the corner of Fifth Street and Conley Avenue next to the UCentre, offers two-bedroom floor plans starting at $979 a month, a three-bedroom option for $885 a month, and four-bedroom plans starting at $749 a month.

THE FUTURE Given the city’s past attempts to halt downtown housing development and the demand for student housing on the decline, the future of the market remains unclear.

The students that were a part of the 2015 enrollment peak will soon be graduating and, for at least the next four years, the overall net enrollment at MU will remain below that number.

“There’s little to no possibility of anybody wanting to build more housing in Columbia at this point or at least until the university is back up to where they were before,” John says. “It’s easily five years or maybe more than that before anybody comes back and builds student housing anywhere, not just downtown.”

While the debate over downtown development persists, student housing complexes will have to continue to compete with each other and some may have to choose between lowering their prices to attract tenants or going vacant. CBT

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 59

The FYI on HOAs What you need to know about homeowners associations in Columbia.

BY JOR DA N MI L N E P HOTOG R A P HY BY A N T HO N Y J I N S O N

Have you ever driven past a neighborhood and thought it appeared to be its own little community within a community? Perhaps that’s because it’s intentionally functioning as one.

Homeowners associations, or HOAs, serve to create consistency and communication among residents of a subdivision. Here’s the scoop on how they function — or, at times, malfunction.

HOAs AND NAs IN COMO “The City of Columbia has no authority in relation to HOAs,” says Leigh Kottwitz, neighborhood services manager with the city. “We do maintain a list of HOAs on our website, communicate with HOA contacts on city issues, and often work with them on code enforcement issues when we have a common interest.”

According to Kottwitz, though the city’s primary focus for support is neighborhood associations — a type of group that takes on many HOA functions but is non-mandatory and less formal — they also work with 60 MAY 2018

The mother-daughter team of Kim Broswell and Pat Bess, owners of Community Association Management LLC, work with 55 neighborhoods in the city, including Thornbrook.

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 61

HOAs as much as possible to provide tools and resources, such as dumpsters to help clean up big projects. Both NAs and HOAs participate in citywide volunteer events, like Cleanup Columbia.

While there are similarities between NAs and HOAs (both groups have elected leadership, for example) some of the differences go deep.

“Neighborhood associations are made up of both owners and occupants in an area self-defined by the organizers, and the NAs are recognized by the Columbia City Council,” explains Kottwitz. “HOAs are made up of owners, and usually there are deed restrictions that are enforced on the properties which are out of the city’s jurisdiction. [Since] some HOAs have restrictions above city code, it is up to them to enforce those restrictions civilly.”

HOAs may also have common areas (think clubhouses, green space, pool, etc.) that they maintain through fees collected from the owners; NAs, typically, do not.

DIVING DEEPER: THE PURPOSE OF HOAs “HOAs are in place to keep the theme of the neighborhood consistent,” says Denise Payne, Realtor with Weichert, Realtors-First Tier. “Maybe only brown or black roofs are allowed and someone installs a red roof. That can be a detractor. And most people want to make sure that their neighbor is not allowed to park a non-working vehicle for weeks or months on the street or driveway.”

Pat Bess, co-owner of Community Association Management LLC, an HOA management company that works with many neighborhoods in the city, says that the primary responsibility of a homeowners association is to maintain the property values of the homes within the association. She says this is accomplished by maintaining the common areas, as well as enforcing covenants “to keep the neighborhood in pristine condition.”

According to both Payne and Bess, HOAs have certain rules in place so that the values of the homes stay consistent. These rules are often referred to as “covenants, conditions, and restrictions” — also known as CC&R. “Covenants, conditions, and restrictions are a set of rules and regulations that speak to that particular neighborhood design 62 MAY 2018

in order to protect the property values,” says Rob Wolverton, owner of R. Anthony Development Group. “Breaching them is not a law violation, but rather a civil issue.”

Wolverton says that most neighborhoods are designed to reach out to a particular price range of homes and believes that CC&R are a necessity in order to “govern the subdivision and make sure you don’t have a 5,000-square-foot house next to a 1,200-square-foot house.”

Wolverton worked with various local attorneys to write the CC&R for his Columbia subdivisions, which include Arcadia and The Cascades. When writing the CC&R for his subdivisions, he took a large number of assets into consideration, including the consistency in the size, style, and usage of the homes, as well as the minimum level of landscape, pet policies, and stormwater handling.

HOA MANAGEMENT “The HOA is the enforcement arm of the covenants, conditions, and restrictions,” Wolverton says. “To have a set of CC&R without an HOA to reinforce them is ineffective. Every developer does it differently, but typically the developer initially heads up the HOA. Once residents start to move in, then the developer turns the power over to the residents, who then elect a board.”

Here is where things can get tricky during the turning over of power, and where HOA management companies, such as Bess’s, often come into play.

Bess and her business partner, Kim Broswell, currently manage 55 associations in the Columbia area. It is their job to assist the boards of directors in the day-to-day management of their condominium or HOA. “At the direction of the boards of directors, we perform duties related to fiscal and physical management of the associations, as well as the administrative duties of the associations,” says Bess. “We allow association members the opportunity to serve their community as a member of the board by focusing their energy on decision-making, rather than personally seeking bids, working directly with contractors, collecting unpaid dues from their neighbor, or paying the association’s monthly expenses.”

Furthermore, Bess and Broswell work with CC&R on a daily basis, as they are “able to interpret the language of the documents, as well as use our experiences with other associations to help guide board members.”

H OW TO DIY AN

Even if you don’t belong to an NA or an HOA, the City of Columbia can help in protecting the peace around your residence.

The city’s Office of Neighborhood Services enforces city codes related to residential areas. “We enforce portions of the health code, including nuisances, unlicensed and inoperable vehicles, and tall grass and weeds,” says Leigh Kottwitz, the city’s neighborhood services manager. “We also enforce the property maintenance code to ensure that structures are in good repair, as well as portions of the zoning code, including parking and occupancy. All rental properties in the city must also be registered and inspected, and our office conducts those inspections.”

Kottwitz directs Columbia residents to CoMo.gov/ neighborhoods for more information, including a complaint form.

The city website also has an abundance of further information on the topic, including how to organize a NA, current neighborhood lists, and resources for neighborhoods.

PROS AND CONS OF AN HOA As with any group enforcing a set of rules and regulations, even externally-managed HOAs tend to have their obstacles.

“The most common areas of conflict we see are regarding fencing issues, pets, and parking,” Wolverton says. “The primary cause is that a set of covenants and restrictions was written in 1995 and may have been appropriate when written, but things have changed between then and 2018. That’s why you have a board to exercise judgment and deal with these changes.”

Wolverton cites solar panels, home finishes, and swimming pools as examples of home trends that are changing with the times.

In addition to ruffling the feathers of some current neighborhood residents, the strict conservation of some CC&Rs may also deter future buyers.

“HOAs help to keep the neighborhood looking as it did, or better than, when it was brand new,” says Payne. “But they can hurt if the buyers have decided [to purchase] in a market where they need the ability to do certain activities or make certain changes to their home. Maybe the rules say no solar panels

"A set of covenants and restrictions written in 1995 may have been appropriate when written, but things have changed between then and 2018."

are allowed, but if buyers wish for that to be a choice — that subdivision may not be desirable to those who want to be able to heat and cool their home with solar energy.”

Bess says that potential homeowners need to be provided an opportunity to review the CC&R to make sure that they can adhere to the “use restrictions” outlined in the document, and so they’re aware of their rights and responsibilities as a member of that association.

“Covenants are recorded documents, and therefore, they are available to the general public at anytime,” says Bess. “Real estate listings and seller disclosure forms indicate if the property is included in an HOA. And a title commitment will include [whether] the property is subject to deed restrictions.”

If Payne’s buyers have specific needs, she and they check into the HOA before she shows them houses in that particular neighborhood.

“For example,” Payne says, “some buyers have wanted raised garden beds, and not all neighborhoods allow them.” Payne cites several other scenarios: a buyer may have a large dog that jumps over fences, but the subdivision HOA says only four-foot tall fences are allowed.

Or a buyer wants to have a garden shed, but the HOA says no sheds or detached buildings can COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 63

be built. Or a buyer may want to run a business out of his or her home — maybe he or she is an accountant with low-traffic clientele — but the HOA doesn’t allow home-based businesses.

“In some markets, the buyer must sign the rules prior to purchasing a home,” says Payne.

“In our local market, that’s not enforced, but any good agent will request them from the title company and ensure that his or her buyer has seen them before purchasing a home.”

POWER TO THE PEOPLE HOAs aren’t governments, but they do carry out a government-like function: elected leaders developing new rules and regulations and enforcing existing ones. So should HOAs be subject to Missouri’s Sunshine Law, which mandates that government entities keep certain records and disclose them to the public upon request?

“Covenants and restrictions and bylaws require certain records to be kept for the association,” says Bess. “These documents,

64 MAY 2018

as well as [Missouri] state law, outline what information homeowners are entitled to access.”

Bess says that HOAs are private entities with members — more like a union than a government — and therefore, information should be subject to review by members, but not necessarily by the general public.

However, there may be exceptions.

“I believe that anyone can request information in writing from the HOA,” says Payne. “Per the state statute, some [documents] must be given to those who have made a request in writing.”

Payne believes that the necessities should be about ensuring the safety is secured and property values are kept high — quibbles about something like fence height, she says, could be overreach. “HOAs should have as much authority as the residents of the HOA wish for them to have,” Payne says. “If the residents have decided to make a change in the rules, it would be up to the homeowners who are affected to vote for that change. Or if the

residents don’t wish to pursue a neighbor who has broken a rule, it’s also up to the people in the subdivision.”

And in a worst case scenario, an HOA may have the power to step in when the homeowner can’t pay their dues.

“Of course an HOA will be after a mortgage lien or tax lien in the list of who gets paid first with a foreclosure,” says Payne. “Personally, I have heard about some HOAs getting close, but my understanding is that it has been more involving condos with monthly fees that were not paid.”

So know your rights, know your neighbors, and know what you’re getting into.

“A well-operated HOA goes a long way toward preserving the value of the homes in the neighborhood,” Wolverton says. “And a poorlyoperated HOA doesn’t preserve the property values at all. Just like building a house: If you build a house well, it’s going to maintain its property value, and if you don’t, it’s not going to maintain its property value.” CBT

Meet some real pros in real estate.

Few industries worldwide are as volatile and diverse as the real estate market and Columbia is no exception. From interest rates to inventory, community growth to lifestyle trends, we’re all impacted in some way.

Here’s a chance to meet some of those who are closely connected to this industry and learn more about their various roles.

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 65

Karen Harned, Realtor® SRS, ABR, RENE, CTA RE/MAX Boone Realty WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY OR AREA OF FOCUS? Residential real estate, both on the buying and selling side.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR FIRM’S SUCCESS? The leadership, support, training and tools that are provided by RE/ Max Boone Realty are by far the best I have experienced in my career!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING FOR YOUR COMPANY? There

are so many things I love about RE/MAX Boone Realty! First, the team - the leaders, other agents, and support staff. We have the best support team. They always have your back and make sure everything goes smoothly. And while we are the largest real estate company in town, both by size and volume, it truly feels like a family atmosphere.

WHAT TYPES OF SKILLS DO YOU BRING TO THE TEAM? With over 20+ years of

selling to Fortune 500 Companies, I bring sales, negotiation, marketing, and project management experience to my team.

WHAT’S AN IMPORTANT LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR LINE OF WORK? You better be okay with

change! The business is constantly changing the market, regulations, requirements, what is trending, and who you are currently working with, etc.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER

trust me, I don’t have to spend time prospecting and promoting myself. I can dedicate myself fully to the activities that benefit the client and always deliver truly exceptional service.

are my clients (many who have become friends) and those that I work with!

WHAT PROMPTED YOUR INTEREST IN

Make sure you understand every document you are asked to sign, and always have a plan B! There are so many moving parts in getting a real estate deal closed and while it is rare, there are times when closings don’t happen at the time expected.

THIS PROFESSION? Like many, I was in a

job where my skills were under-utilized. I was traveling for business significantly more than what I had been prepared for, and realized I needed to make a change. Having moved numerous times in my life, I had thought about getting into real estate. It has been the best professional decision I have ever made!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING IN THIS FIELD? The people! Those that

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE NEEDING YOUR EXPERTISE?

WHAT DO YOUR CLIENTS LIKE MOST ABOUT YOU? My ability to provide

professional service and results with personal attention before, during, and after the sale. My clients know that our relationship does not end at the closing table, and that I am always here to help.

WORKING WITH YOU? Relationships are

Karen Harned, Realtor®, SRS, ABR, RENE, CTA

more important than transactions to me. I have built my reputation on building strong business relationships. Since my primary source of new business is referrals from people who know and

Each Office Independently Owned and Operated

RE/MAX Boone Realty 33 E. Broadway, Ste. 200, Columbia, MO 65203 573-256-3103 | karenharned.com

Mike & Connie Leipard Quality Drywall Construction

WHAT IS YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE?

Light gauge metal framing, Drywall, Acoustical Ceilings, EIFS (Dryvit), Commercial - New Construction, Commercial - Remodels TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS? Hard work, dedication, and

a willingness to take risks. Guidance from business mentors in this wonderful community, and mostly, God’s blessing.

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS? 40 years WHAT’S AN IMPORTANT LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR LINE OF WORK? Owning

a construction company covers multiple facets of business. It’s a tough industry, experience and expertise is necessary for a quality product. Attention to detail on budgeting, financial management and vision for future economic trends is also key to success. And be flexible.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING FOR YOUR COMPANY? Working with

challenges of running a quality construction business has always been most interesting and rewarding.

knowledgeable, fun co-workers and clients to build quality projects. Working together

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART

as a team is #1 priority.

ABOUT BEING IN THIS FIELD? The

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER YOUR FIRM OVER ANOTHER? Simply

said, Quality is our name for reasons such

completion of high profile projects that are very time sensitive such as current projects: Aurora Organic Dairy, & American Outdoors Brands.

as: projects completed on time, on budget, WHAT DO YOUR CLIENTS LIKE MOST

as well as quality work.

WHAT PROMPTED YOUR INTEREST IN THIS PROFESSION? Mike was trained as a

drywall finisher at a very young age. But the

ABOUT YOUR FIRM/YOU? We are reputable, stand behind our work and take care of their project like it was owned by us.

Which means be their “wing man”.

KNOW ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? We

have been heavily involved in the local construction community for a long time.

We stay tuned into the big picture of construction by participating outside of the local community to bring new ideas and information for the benefit of our clients and employees.

Mike & Connie Leipard Quality Drywall Construction 165 E. Hoedown Dr. Columbia 573-449-1044 qualitydrywall.net

PWArchitects, Inc. WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY OR AREA OF FOCUS? We are a general architecture

firm, which means we take on many different types of projects of varying size and complexity.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR FIRM’S SUCCESS? Our relationships with clients, consultants, and contractors are a key factor. The successful delivery of services, meeting deadlines, and keeping promises are key goals of every project.

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS? PWA will celebrate its 40th anniversary in June of this year.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING FOR YOUR COMPANY? The variety of the projects

that we do allows us to constantly exercise our creativity. The fact that we are always learning so that we can develop creative solutions to difficult problems keeps us engaged. Most importantly, though, we enjoy interacting with each other and all the team members outside our office who make our work possible.

WHAT TYPES OF RELATED SKILLS DOES YOUR TEAM HAVE? Our team is made up of architects, designers, interior designers, CAD technicians, marketing, and administrative professionals.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER YOUR COMPANY? “Design for where you

want to be” is our tagline. The focus is on our clients’ needs and aspirations – where they want to be now and in the future.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING IN THIS FIELD?

The work we do creating building environments and spaces that are responsive to the needs of our clients can have a long-term impact on building users.

This is humbling, but also a challenge that we enjoy taking on every day. Making lives better while we grow the community is an honor we do not take lightly.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? The planning, design,

and construction of a building is very much a customized process at PWA. Not only do we customize the building to reflect the needs and goals of the client, but we also customize the planning and design process depending on their needs as well.

WHAT DO YOUR CLIENTS LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR FIRM/YOU? Our clients understand that with PWA they are getting a team that values integrity, a company that will work hard to develop solutions that are responsive to their individual needs. They

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS!

appreciate that we are straight-forward with them, that we will weigh a variety of factors until we find the right balance that works in the best interest of their project.

WHAT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT DOES THE FIRM SUPPORT THAT YOU MIGHT CARE TO SHARE? Much of our

community involvement revolves around working with groups whose mission it is to improve the lives of those in need. While we have been long-time supporters of the United Way and The Food Bank, our upcoming anniversary event will spotlight Great Circle, Columbia Public Schools Foundation, and the Cradle to Career Alliance.

rchitects, Inc.

2120 Forum Blvd., Ste. 101 573-449-2683 | pwarchitects.com

Laura Brownfield AVP Mortgage Banking Officer, NMLS 468540 Providence Bank Mortgage Center WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY? Originating

mortgage loans for the purchase or refinance of residential real estate. I enjoy building relationships with realtors, referral sources, prospective homeowners, and past clients.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR FIRM’S SUCCESS? The most refreshing piece of the Providence Bank culture is the culture. Everyone is respected, cared for, and appreciated. Regardless of where you stand on the proverbial corporate ladder or which department you work in, everyone’s opinion is encouraged, listened to, and respected.

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS? I have about 30 years

of experience in the financial industry and more than 15 years in mortgage lending.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING FOR YOUR COMPANY? The

unique mix of mortgage resources coupled with the caring, community banking culture toward our employees and our customers.

I keep saying, “I’m still in the honeymoon period,” but it is just the way Providence Bank operates!

WHAT TYPES OF RELATED SKILLS

WHAT’S AN IMPORTANT LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR LINE OF WORK?

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

Easy! My top three:

of your mortgage lender. A 30-year mortgage is a big commitment. Ask several Realtors.

Realtors and lenders work together for the success of their clients. Realtors are wellconnected and understand the importance of a quality lender.

1. Everyone has a story and history. Respect and learn from each individual.

2. Some borrowers simply have not been coached about money or credit. They need solid advice, a specific plan, a path, and a timeline. Spending a little extra time with a borrower can lead to the greatest professional reward - watching them hold keys to their new home.

3. Never assume anything! This is true for me as your lender and you as a borrower.

YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? Check on the reputation

WHAT DO YOUR CLIENTS LIKE MOST ABOUT YOU? From what Realtors and past clients tell me, it’s that I “say it like it is” and uncover red flags from the beginning, rather than shying away from a potential obstacle.

DOES YOUR TEAM HAVE? Our team really

does find more ways to say yes. We offer competitive rates, low-closing costs, quick credit decisions, and a variety of financing options. As a local bank, we also offer construction loans, bridge loans, portfolio loans, adjustable rate mortgages, physician loans, loans for first-time homebuyers, down payment assistance grants, and Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit.

Laura Brownfield AVP Mortgage Banking Officer, NMLS 468540 Providence Bank Mortgage Center 700 Cherry St., Columbia, MO 573-447-8715 myprovidencebank.com

Zachary Girard Girard Homes LLC WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY? Custom and

semi-custom new residential construction.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR FIRM’S SUCCESS? Our partnership with Jasany Home has greatly contributed to our success. The full-service design experiences our clients receive are unmatched by any other local builder or design firm.

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS? Girard Homes has been building in Columbia for about four years now. We are a family-owned business with three generations of homebuilding experience in several different markets across the country.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING FOR YOUR COMPANY? My

favorite part is being able to watch a client’s dream home come to life. It’s always amazing to watch ideas go from paper to a beautiful home that our clients will be able to enjoy for many years to come. I also get to spend every day working with my family building homes that we are all proud of and passionate about.

WHAT’S AN IMPORTANT LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED FROM THIS LINE OF WORK? The most important lesson is that

homebuilding is an evolving process. With every home we build, we analyze the process and improve on it moving forward.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER YOUR FIRM? We believe that it should not have to be a difficult process to own a new home you love. As a family, our passion is, and always has been, to provide customers with the highest quality homes that allow them to live an easier, healthier, and more energy-efficient lifestyle. In addition, our partnership with Jasany Home allows us to create one of the easiest homebuilding

processes in the area. Providing this additional layer of service brings everything full circle for our clients.

WHAT CHANGES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE AFFECTED YOUR

WHAT PROMPTED YOUR INTEREST IN THIS PROFESSION? I’m a third-generation homebuilder. While growing up, I was fortunate to be able to experience every aspect of homebuilding and have always been fascinated with the business as whole.

INDUSTRY? The addition of various smart

home technologies. While this concept has been floating around for several years, we are finally getting to the point where the technology is affordable enough to make it more realistic for the majority of homebuyers in today’s market.

ANYTHING ELSE? Our in-house, licensed

real estate agents with Boulder Realty help ensure the sale of your old home goes as smoothly as possible, while getting you the highest price and one step closer to moving in to your dream home.

Zachary Girard Girard Homes LLC 3203 Rivington Dr., Columbia, MO 573-825-5200 | GirardLuxeryHomes.com

Landmark Bank Columbia Real Estate Lending Team WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY? We make home loans! We have specialized products that will fit everyone’s needs.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR BANK’S SUCCESS? We are all about

“making Landmarks” and offering a personalized level of service that gives us a competitive edge in our industry.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING FOR YOUR COMPANY? The

best part of being a part of LMB’s RE team is the level of expertise and commitment to our customers. Our customers are people that we see at the grocery store, church, etc., so more than anything, we want the customer experience to be exceptional.

WHAT TYPES OF RELATED SKILLS DOES YOUR TEAM HAVE? We offer very

competitive and aggressive products to help find the right fit for our future homebuyers.

Great customer service is EVERYTHING throughout the home buying process and will always bring customers back to LMB for future home purchases. The home buying process is stressful enough, so we want to ease stress and help the customer feel at home when they are working with one of our experienced LMB RE Lenders.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER YOUR BANK? At Landmark Bank, we care

deeply about delivering the very best customer experience. We strive to make the process easy and seamless for the customer.

From left: Vickie Burks, Damon Volkart, Laura Kogut, Annette Bealmear, Leighanne Lamb, Jeff Brinegar, Paige Harper. *not pictured, Robert Hill

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING IN THIS FIELD? Working at a local

institution where decisions are made locally.

This allows us to be agile and make quick decisions for our customers.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE NEEDING YOUR EXPERTISE?

Give us a call! We have helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable loan officers who can help.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? We know that buying a home is typically the biggest purchase a person

commits to in their lifetime, and we want customers to know that we are there to help guide them throughout the process.

WHAT DO CLIENTS LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR FIRM? Customers like LMB because of

the level of commitment that ensures they have a great customer experience.

WE WANT CUSTOMERS TO KNOW:

We are here for you.

We are experts in our field.

We want the process to be seamless.

We are their hometown lender.

WHAT PROMPTED AN INTEREST IN THIS PROFESSION? There is nothing like making

someone’s dream of buying a home a reality.

This is typically the single biggest investment of a lifetime. It is important that we have an experienced and knowledgeable team to help our customers from beginning to end.

Landmark Bank Columbia Real Estate Lending Team 801 E. Broadway, Columbia, MO 573-499-7333 | LandmarkBank.com

Select Realty Group, LLC Alissa Gerke, Broker/Owner Roz Hakimi, Broker/Salesperson WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY? Residential

sales and listings, with an emphasis on assisting VA buyers.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR FIRM’S SUCCESS? Our success comes not

only from years of experience working as agents, but also from the personalization we offer our clients. We don’t operate with a “big box” company approach. We’re a boutique firm that specializes in taking time to get to know our clients so that we can cater to what they need individually.

WHAT TYPES OF RELATED SKILLS DOES YOUR TEAM HAVE? With years of experience working for VA buyers, we have learned to work with the special requirements needed to best serve our clients that have served our country. We owe it to our veterans to give them the best service possible! We are familiar with the VA loan and appraisal process and are able to look out for red flags that could pose a potential issue with their VA purchase. We have great communication skills and use technology to work remotely with VA buyers that are overseas or out of state. Additionally, we have experience in finding adaptive or specialized housing for disabled veterans.

WHAT’S AN IMPORTANT LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR LINE OF WORK?

A: It is important to keep calm – many things may arise throughout a transaction,

and as a Realtor, my job is to find solutions, work through issues, and help keep the process moving along. Good communication with my clients and all other parties associated with the transaction is important.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER YOUR COMPANY?

A: With our firm, you are not just another number. We truly care about our clients and realize that no matter what stage of life they are in, this is an important decision for them. Many of my clients become friends, and I always treat everyone the same way I would want to be treated. I have valued relationships with industry partners and have the tools and latest technology to benefit my clients. I have served as president of the Women’s Council of Realtors. I also volunteer my time with the Columbia Board of Realtors by serving on different committees.

WHAT CHANGES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE AFFECTED YOUR INDUSTRY THE MOST?

R: Technology has been a huge catalyst for change in our industry.

Everything is now online and at the touch of our fingertips from our smartphones. From accessing our MLS, to using e-signatures, to advertising on social media, we are now able to reach our customers in a whole new way. By implementing this technology, our industry has become more mobile than ever. We are now able to serve our customers on the go and provide them with better service and convenience.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS?

A: Real estate is hard work and can be long hours. It can require creativity, patience, and a lot of communication, but the end results are always worth it. Nothing beats helping a first- time home buyer, a veteran, or empty nesters achieve their dreams.

R: I want people to know what an enjoyable process purchasing or selling a home can be. We strive to always provide a smooth transaction and to leave our clients feeling great about the process. We listen to our clients and try to go above and beyond their expectations.

Select Realty Group, LLC Alissa Gerke, Broker/Owner Roz Hakimi, Broker/Salesperson 573-489-6866 | Owncolumbia.com

Becky Burns Columbia Credit Union WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY OR AREA OF FOCUS? Getting to know our members and helping them find the right product to achieve their goals. We are always thinking outside of the box, thinking about what will benefit them, not what will increase our profit.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR FIRM’S SUCCESS? We create a professional but fun environment for our members. We take the time to get to know them, and we love listening to what is going on in their lives.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING FOR YOUR COMPANY? Helping people reach their

financial goals, and being someone my members can depend on. Working with a team that shares the same views on how we should operate the credit union; members first. I enjoy that we are a smaller establishment, allowing us to feel that we truly are a family.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER

ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? We are not

YOUR COMPANY? We are member-driven.

a stuffy financial institution that looks down on people because they have less than stellar credit or lower income. We enjoy working with all people of different backgrounds and experiences.

Every decision we make is made by asking the question, “Is this in the best interest of our member and the membership as a whole?”

WHAT PROMPTED YOUR INTEREST IN THIS PROFESSION? I found this industry by

WHAT DO YOUR CLIENTS LIKE MOST

luck. I never expected that I would feel this much compassion for what I do. It feels great when you can see the impact and life improvements that you can create for a member.

ABOUT YOUR FIRM/YOU? We give every

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE NEEDING YOUR

member a personalized experience. It is our goal to get to know our members so as soon as they walk in the door we can greet them by name. We want them to feel like part of the credit union family, instead of an account number. Our members also love that we are extremely fast when it comes to our loans. We can have a decision on a loan application within an hour and complete the loan the same day!

Becky Burns Columbia Credit Union

EXPERTISE? All you must do is ask and

310 E. Walnut St.

be honest. Never feel intimidated to talk to us about your financial wellbeing. We are here for our members and can relate to the struggles you face.

Columbia, MO 573-256-2500 comomoneypeople.com

Jenny LorenzRudkin ABR, SRS, PSA RE/MAX Boone Realty

WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY OR AREA OF FOCUS? Residential real estate.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER YOUR COMPANY? I treat every client’s

transaction as if it were my own. I am passionate about paving a path for my clients through a process that is often stressful, emotional, and filled with potential risks.

I recently made a commitment to donate 10 percent of my commissions to the local homeless veteran’s shelter, Welcome Home.

Every time a client of mine purchases or sells a home, another homeless veteran gets one step closer to obtaining a home of their own. I choose to honor our veterans’ service by supporting Welcome Home’s efforts of providing food, shelter, and a path to home ownership. The only way I can provide that support is by way of my own happy clients.

Any home I help a client purchase or sell, earns my official Honor Home TM designation.

WHAT CHANGES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE AFFECTED YOUR INDUSTRY THE MOST? The availability and promotion of property information and listings via online access. It has completely changed the way the home buying/selling process works.

Most of those changes are beneficial, but some changes bring additional risks.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE NEEDING YOUR EXPERTISE?

If you are unsure about something, ask. There is no such thing as a dumb question. I also believe it is important for clients to prepare early for the possibility of purchasing or

selling a property. Don’t wait until you need to buy or sell a home to begin the process, because that is when you will make pressureinduced decisions.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? I want people to know

that regardless of the size of home they wish to purchase or sell, I understand it is one of the most important processes they will go through in life. I take that very seriously. I don’t measure my success by the size or number

of homes I sell. I measure my success by the satisfaction level of my clients.

ANYTHING ELSE? I was born and raised on

a farm in a small community about 30 miles west of Columbia, but I have always worked in Columbia. I have vast knowledge of not only Columbia’s market, but also the rural smallcommunity markets that surround Columbia.

I respect what drives some people to seek the excitement and convenience of Columbia, and why others want the peace and quiet of less populated areas.

Jenny Lorenz-Rudkin, ABR, SRS, PSA RE/MAX Boone Realty 33 E. Broadway, Ste. 200, Columbia, MO 573-864-9092 Cell | 573-256-3192 jenny@lorenz-rudkin.com | lorenz-rudkin.com Each Office Independently Owned and Operated

Bill and Shannon Kasmann Owners, Kasmann Insurance Agency WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY OR AREA OF FOCUS? We specialize in business, property,

and casualty insurance but also offer all lines of insurance including life and long-term care policies.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR AGENCY’S SUCCESS? Relationships.

Relationships with our customers and with quality insurance companies in which clients place their trust. Companies like Auto-Owners Insurance Co. Our agency has one of the longest continuous agent relationships with AutoOwners in Missouri beginning in 1956, 62 years ago. This brings stability for our customers knowing their agent and insurance company will be there when they are needed.

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS? Our team has years of industry experience. The Kasmann Insurance Agency, a third-generation independent agency, is celebrating its 95th year of serving the Mid Missouri area!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING FOR YOUR COMPANY? Because

we see our clients so often and through all stages of their lives, we build lasting relationships. We really get to know our clients: when they have kids, buy a new house, or start a new career. It makes our jobs so enjoyable when we get to visit with folks about everything, not just insurance.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER YOUR COMPANY? We represent multiple companies. It’s not only about finding competitive pricing, but also making sure our clients are adequately protected. Then, we periodically review our clients’ coverage through all the changes in their lives and businesses.

WHAT PROMPTED YOUR INTEREST IN THIS PROFESSION? After graduating from

the University of Missouri, becoming an agent in 1978 was a natural decision for Bill since he was following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather before him. Bill’s sister, Shannon, joined the agency in 1998 after moving back to Columbia to be closer to family.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING IN THIS FIELD? Our father, Bill Sr., and grandfather, Norris Sampson, both promoted a strong sense of community, and we’re proud to carry on this value through our family agency

in many ways. We have the opportunity to help the members of our community with risk management to make sure they have the necessary coverages combined with the best value and service.

WHAT DO YOUR CLIENTS LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR FIRM/YOU? We’ve been on the same corner for almost 50 years, and while some of the faces have changed, the values have stayed the same. Our reputation as a third-generation insurance agency that has been in business for 95 years proves our steadfast commitment to our customers, our companies, and our community.

Bill Kasmann and Shannon Kasmann Owners, Kasmann Insurance Agency 116 N. Garth Ave. 573-442-1105 | Kasmanninsurance.com

John Hansman Hansman Custom Homes

tear things apart and put them back together and build stuff. In high school and college, I worked part-time in construction and loved it. I worked hard at learning the trade and all the aspects of the building process and

WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY? Custom

eventually started my own business.

homes, as well as spec homes in Columbia and the surrounding areas.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN

ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? Hansman

IN THIS BUSINESS? Hansman Custom

Custom Homes is a local, hands on

Homes has been building in Columbia and the surrounding area for over 15 years.

company. Every one of our homes has our

WHAT TYPES OF RELATED SKILLS DOES YOUR TEAM HAVE? We pride

ourselves on being a husband and wife team.

The rest of our team consists of independent suppliers and subcontractors who have been working with us for over 10 years.

WHAT PROMPTED YOUR INTEREST IN THIS PROFESSION? I’ve always liked to

Monica Hansman, REALTOR RE/MAX Boone Realty

WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY? I offer a plethora of information to buyers and sellers regarding market data, market analysis, and general information when it comes to living and working in Columbia.

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS? I have worked in several

different areas over the years that pertain to the real estate field and have been a licensed REALTOR for the past 12 years.

WHAT TYPES OF RELATED SKILLS DO YOU HAVE? Prior to obtaining my real estate

Each Office Independently Owned and Operated

license, I worked at Central Bank of Boone County in the commercial lending department.

The knowledge I gained from working there has been an asset to my real estate career. I also

personal logo stamped in the driveway. We realize our name and reputation are on the line and we are focused on exceeding the needs of our customers.

John Hansman

Hansman Custom Homes 9900 Creekland Dr. 573-673-8135 hansmancustomhomes.com

recently obtained my Seller’s Representative Specialist designation to enhance my skills.

WHAT PROMPTED YOUR INTEREST IN THIS PROFESSION? I was working my

way up the corporate ladder when I met my husband who is a residential home builder, and he encouraged me to obtain my real estate license. It was a perfect fit, and we have been working side by side for the past 12 years.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE NEEDING YOUR EXPERTISE?

FSBO’s (For Sale by Owner) are becoming more popular as the number of home buyers and sellers are a newer generation and have grown up with the ability to gain knowledge at the tips of their fingers. I cannot stress enough the importance of using a REALTOR for your real estate transactions.

Monica Hansman, REALTOR

RE/MAX Boone Realty 33 E. Broadway, Ste. 200 573-864-3269 | monicahansman.com

Darren Adams

fashion hard work along with our personal touch and specialized marketing plan.

Adams Realty

WHAT’S AN IMPORTANT LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT THIS WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY? We are a

family owned business that focuses on all real estate: farms, commercial, residential, even starting new developments.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR FIRM’S SUCCESS? Hard work and respect

of others. My father, Randy Adams, started the company while working third shift at the local factory, AB Chance Co., here in Centralia. His extra hard work and dedication to each client helped build the foundation of our business. I have carried this on since taking over after my father fell ill.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER YOUR COMPANY? The integrity of our

company is unquestionable. We believe in old

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR FIRM’S SUCCESS? We believe

in taking care of our employees, for they are the driving force of our business. Our company consists of Jody Robinson, Daniel Mathews, and John Messey.

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS? Darren

Darren Adams and David Peavler

Designed Innovations, LLC

WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY? We do it all from

developing a raw piece of land, turn-key new construction, complete gut remodel, and even cleaning your gutters! There truly is no job too big or too small.

and I began building homes in 1999 but started our first partnership in 2003. In 2006, we formed Designed Innovations, LLC. WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER YOUR COMPANY? We

feel we offer high-end, quality work at a very affordable price. We take extra time to walk clients through the process and have weekly site meetings.

WHAT PROMPTED YOUR INTEREST IN THIS PROFESSION?

We enjoy being able to see progress. It’s

PARTICULAR LINE OF WORK? If you

continually do the right thing, it all works out.

Always be honest WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE NEEDING YOUR EXPERTISE?

There is a lack of inventory out there, and it is important that we get your home on the market in the best possible condition and at a marketable price. If you’re a buyer, learning from you what is most important to you, and then getting you pre-qualified with one of our trusted lenders. Then it’s time to find your dream home!

Darren Adams, Adams Realty

109 W. Highway 22, Centralia, MO 573-819-1518 | Adams-realty.com office@adams-realty.com

always been interesting to take a raw piece of land and make a subdivision.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING IN THIS FIELD?

Seeing the smile on a client’s face when the project is done.

Darren Adams and David Peavler Designed Innovations, LLC 109 W. Highway 22 Centralia, MO 573-682-5193 /DesignedInnovations

Daniel S. Simon & Timothy R. Gerding Evans & Dixon, LLC WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY OR AREA OF FOCUS? The Columbia office focuses on business law and services. We help clients all over the region buy and sell businesses and real estate, engage in other commercial transactions, plan their estates, file and defend commercial litigation. Our law partners and associate attorneys in other offices handle more acute areas like labor and intellectual property law.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR FIRM’S SUCCESS?

D: Three words: service, loyalty, and results.

Tim and I strive to provide the best service possible, and our clients appreciate our loyalty and results.

WHAT PROMPTED YOUR INTEREST IN THIS PROFESSION?

D: Mrs. Divelbiss. I have known since 8th grade that I would be a lawyer when I grew up. It was then that my civics teacher, Mrs. Divelbiss, wrote in my yearbook, “When you become a lawyer, I will be your first client.”

Although she may have been teasing me, since I was always debating and standing up for the rights of my classmates, being a lawyer made sense and gave me the answer to the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up.”.

T: I have always had an insatiable desire to help solve problems for other people and businesses. I enjoy strategizing the path

toward resolving whatever issue the client is facing. The bigger the challenge, the more I am driven to tackle it. The law oftentimes comes with huge challenges, both positive and negative, for our clients.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE NEEDING YOUR EXPERTISE?

D: Be prepared when you meet with your lawyer. We only have so much time and we charge by the hour. You need your lawyer to have time to get to know you and your issue.

The better prepared you are, the more effective and efficient we can be.

EVANS & DIXON

l.l.c.

T: Our “roll up our sleeves” approach whether it be helping a client on a new business venture, dealing with fallout from fractions among business owners, or enforcing our clients’ rights in a courtroom and always with an aim toward financial efficiency for the client.

at torne ys at l aw

T: I generally recommend talking to more than one lawyer about whatever it is you need help with. We like you to feel, and know, that we are the best fit for you.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS?

D: Although our names are not on the door, this is Tim’s and my firm, and we are local.

T: At the risk of sounding boastful, we are just plain good at what we do. We have been around and can deal with almost anything that comes up.

Daniel S. Simon & Timothy R. Gerding Evans & Dixon, LLC 501 Cherry St., Ste. 200 573-777-8823 | Evans-dixon.com

Denise Payne Weichert, Realtors-First Tier

WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY? Residential,

investment properties, and small farms.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR FIRM’S SUCCESS? Persistence and

customer service.

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS? 14 years.

WHAT TYPES OF RELATED SKILLS DOES YOUR TEAM HAVE? My team has a wide range of skills, from investment properties to farms. We also know what it takes to make a home market ready - from complimentary staging services to drone footage; we do it all!

WHAT’S AN IMPORTANT LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR LINE OF WORK? Always keep an open mind. There may be a solution that you haven’t thought about, so don’t think in a box.

I also have a house flipping business, I know project prices, which helps the seller know their budget right off the bat.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? We are a full-service real

WHAT CHANGES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE AFFECTED YOUR INDUSTRY THE MOST? Lending: the qualifications for a buyer and some loan programs. The housing market is always changing.

WHAT PROMPTED YOUR INTEREST IN

estate team. Not only will we be with you from the beginning of your real estate adventure, but long after. Currently, we are offering all our clients a spring cleanout pickup. We pick up your items for donation and deliver them to the proper organization. Last summer we held a catered BBQ. We want to have long-term relationships with our clients.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE NEEDING YOUR EXPERTISE?

Don’t hesitate to call anytime. You may be months away from selling your home, but preparations can take a while and we want you to make the right improvements. Buying a home can also take a while, and you may change your mind a time or two.

WHAT DO YOUR CLIENTS LIKE MOST ABOUT YOU? My listening skills. I was

selected as the 2017 Reader’s Choice Best Real Estate Agent in Columbia and most voters mentioned my listening and problemsolving skills.

THIS PROFESSION? My interest began

when I owned a painting and wallpaper hanging business. We helped a lot of families prepare their home for the sales market and it was fun. When I switched over to being a Realtor, I had a lot of knowledge on how to do the projects reasonably and right. Now that

Denise Payne Weichert, Realtors-First Tier 3700 Monterey Dr., Ste. A, Columbia, MO 573-777-7274 | DenisePayne.com

Susan Hart Huebert Builders, Inc. WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY OR AREA OF FOCUS? We focus on commercial

general contracting.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR FIRM’S SUCCESS? We pride ourselves on

paying attention to the small details, which can make a big difference on a construction project.

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS? We have been in business

since October 1988. This year marks our 30year anniversary!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING FOR YOUR COMPANY? My

favorite part is meeting the business owners in our community and helping to solve their space issues as they continue to grow.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER YOUR COMPANY? We provide quality

construction with personalized attention at a reasonable price.

WHAT CHANGES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE AFFECTED YOUR INDUSTRY THE MOST? Our industry is

suffering from a lack of qualified trained workers. It is difficult to recruit young men and women into the construction trades, even though it is a good career path for many people. When I started 28 years ago, we had many multiple generations of families working in the trades and promoting the trades to their children. We rarely see that today.

projects I have been a part of during my years.

We never build the same thing twice. I also love the process of sitting down with the client, reviewing their plans, and then seeing the plan come into reality. There is a great sense of accomplishment when the ribbon cutting occurs.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE NEEDING YOUR EXPERTISE?

Make sure you are comfortable with the people you will be working with during the project. It takes a great deal of teamwork to

turn a two-dimensional drawing into a threedimensional object.

ANYTHING ELSE? Our company’s

philosophy is one of being an active part of our community. We have supported many community projects over the years such as Art in the Park, Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival (stop by the Front Porch Stage and see our work), Habitat for Humanity, and the Chamber of Commerce, to name a few.

We believe in giving of both our time and financial support.

WHAT PROMPTED YOUR INTEREST IN THIS PROFESSION? I was in public

accounting and ready to move over to industry. Wayne Huebert had just started Huebert Builders, I knew I wanted to be a part of a startup small business, and the opportunity presented itself.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING IN THIS FIELD? The variety of

Susan Hart Huebert Builders, Inc 3407 Berrywood Dr., Ste. 201, Columbia, MO 573-449-4996 | huebertbuilders.com

Veronica Baker White Oak Custom Homes and Design WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY? Designing

and building custom homes, remodeling, as well as interior design.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR FIRM’S SUCCESS? Our ability to work closely with our clients, envision their ideas, and make them a reality. Communication is key! We keep clients up to date on everything related to their project.

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS? Our team has over 20

years of experience.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING FOR YOUR COMPANY? I love not only meeting so

many different types of clients but with that comes many different types of projects. And with each one, we get to make someone’s dreams come true.

WHAT TYPES OF RELATED SKILLS DOES YOUR TEAM HAVE? As a company dedicated to providing premier customer service, it is important to us to deliver unparalleled workmanship on each and every assignment. We strive to make your custom home building experience an experience you will never forget – in a good way! Our team works with clients every step of the way to make sure they get exactly what they want.

We will not leave a job until it is finished to their complete satisfaction.

WHAT’S AN IMPORTANT LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR LINE OF WORK? Being

able to provide our clients with the full package of designing, building, and decorating their spaces is what sets us apart from most others in our field.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER YOUR FIRM? We not only build

relationships with our clients, but we work so closely with them over the length of their project, we find we also build strong friendships along the way. Our clients become their own unique page in the book of our business and our lives.

WHAT PROMPTED YOUR INTEREST IN THIS PROFESSION? I’ve always had an interest in interior design. Once I met

my husband, who had been in construction for years, we started bouncing ideas off of one another and fell into something much different than our competitors.

WHAT DO YOUR CLIENTS LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR FIRM? They really

appreciate our ability to not only listen to their ideas, but to also make them a reality with constant communication between both client and designers.

Showroom coming soon to Columbia area!

Veronica Baker White Oak Custom Homes and Design 105 W. Fifth St., Fulton, MO 800-818-2531 WhiteOakCustoms.com

Sarah Bernard Sarah Bernard Realty Team WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY? My team and

I specialize in vacation homes at Innsbrook Resort, just 75 miles east of Columbia and in luxury homes in St. Louis.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR FIRM’S SUCCESS? I have been a property owner at Innsbrook Resort for nearly 15 years and have had a successful vacation rental business at the resort for a decade. We have the inside scoop not only on Innsbrook Resort, but also a deep understanding of what it takes to own and manage vacation properties anywhere in the world.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER YOUR COMPANY? We are an independent

real estate company, not employed by Innsbrook Resort, which gives us an opportunity to be very objective. Based on a buyer’s needs, if we feel that Innsbrook is not the right place for their vacation getaway, we work with them to find just the right home.

WHAT CHANGES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE AFFECTED YOUR INDUSTRY THE MOST? The growth of Airbnb, VRBO, and other home rental sites has been a boon for our business as people realize that a second home can also generate income.

We also provide consulting to help individuals start their own vacation rental businesses.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? Don’t assume that vacation homes are for the rich and elite.

There are getaway homes in literally all price ranges and to fit any need.

WHAT PROMPTED YOUR INTEREST IN THIS PROFESSION? For me, owning

a weekend getaway was probably the best

decision I ever made. Our kids still call the lake their “happy place.” Being able to help individuals and families find their own happy place brings me tremendous joy.

nothing is missed in the sale process. A vacation home is often a dream come true for our clients and a significant investment, and we take that very seriously.

WHAT’S AN IMPORTANT LESSON YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR

WHAT DO YOUR CLIENTS LIKE MOST

LINE OF WORK? Every real estate transaction

smart, fun, and energetic -- we are in the vacation real estate business, what’s not to love about that? I also believe that our clients love our team approach. You don’t just get me -- you get all of us.

is unique; there are literally no two deals that mirror each other. So, we have to be constantly learning, honing our skills, and being the eyes and ears for our clients to make sure that

ABOUT YOUR FIRM? We are friendly,

Sarah Bernard Realty Team 10333 Clayton Rd., St. Louis, MO 314-780-9070 sarahbernardrealestate.com

Angelique Hunter Weichert, Realtors-First Tier WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING FOR YOUR COMPANY? Weichert, Realtors First-Tier

is a wonderful company to work for. The ongoing training is priceless, especially for a new agent as myself. I have learned so much in the past year and contribute it mostly to Jessica Kempf, who is an amazing teacher and Broker.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER YOUR FIRM? Weichert, Realtors-First Tier has been in Columbia for over 10 years and has helped close almost 7,000 transactions in the mid-Missouri area. Our primary focus is always our client. We go the extra mile to make sure our clients’ interests are represented, and that they are informed along the way of the purchase or sale of their home. With the power and resources of a national brand like Weichert, paired with local expertise and knowledge, we are the best choice in helping someone buy or sell their home.

WHAT PROMPTED YOUR INTEREST IN THIS PROFESSION? This interest

actually began as a student in high school.

I remember my economics teacher talked about real estate and how fun it can be.

I have always wanted get my license, but having children and other obligations took priority. I am now in a good place in my life to devote a lot of time and energy to this wonderful career.

professional photographer, which helps in the real estate business. I often photograph my clients’ homes and other agents’ listings, as well.

ANYTHING ELSE? I have four awesome

children. Three are in college and my youngest is in ninth grade. I have been involved with Forum Christian Church for

the past nine years. I enjoy my life group, The Caring People single moms group, and my Impact Bible study group. It is a blessing to be a part of an active growing church.

In my spare time you can find me going to the movies, exploring a new restaurant in town, or just hanging out with my friends and family.

ABOUT BEING IN THIS FIELD? I would

Angelique Hunter Weichert, Realtors-First Tier

have to say meeting new people, and finding out about their lives and where they have come from. I really enjoy doing open houses as these are a great way to meet new families moving into Columbia. I am also a

3700 Monterey Dr., Ste. A Columbia, MO 573-355-2900 Office: 573-256-8601

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART

independently owned and operated

Jody Graff Land & Habitat Specialist, Trophy Properties and Auction WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY? I assist

buyers and sellers of recreational waterfowl and whitetail hunting properties. I specialize in waterfowl hunting properties in the areas around Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Fountain Grove Conservation Area, Grand Pass Conservation Area, and the Missouri River corridor.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR FIRM’S SUCCESS? We have experienced,

full-time agents that have areas of expertise such as forestry, agriculture, wildlife management, outfitting, and fisheries. At TPA, the passion for conservation and the hunting heritage spill over into our character and performance as agents.

WHAT TYPES OF RELATED SKILLS DO YOU HAVE? I have been operating a wildlife

management company, Graff Habitat LLC, for 10 years. I work closely with more than 30 absentee landowners and duck clubs on over 6,000 acres in northern Missouri to develop a long-term, strategic vision and reach their development goals.

WHAT PROMPTED YOUR INTEREST IN THIS PROFESSION? I have been immersed in wildlife conservation and developing turnkey hunting farms, so helping people buy and sell their rural properties was a very natural progression. This “labor of love” has been undoubtedly the most rewarding part of my professional career. I’m blessed to live out my dream job, which includes hunting more than 100 days each year!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING IN THIS FIELD? It’s rewarding

to identify existing attributes of a farm, identify development potential, and connect clients who are looking for that specific kind of hunting opportunity. I get to meet new

people with similar passions for conservation and stewardship.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? From a

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE NEEDING YOUR EXPERTISE?

Identifying what kind of hunting opportunity you are looking for, your budget, and a general location makes buying your dream property easier. As a seller, selecting an agent with my expertise to prepare your property to sell and market it for its best and highest use can bring a premium.

buyer’s perspective, my background in assisting clients develop their property provides unmatched guidance when searching for their dream farm. For sellers, my perspective enables them to work with a professional who can analyze the current condition, see the potential development opportunity, and market their property for its best and highest use.

Jody Graff Land & Habitat Specialist, Trophy Properties and Auction 15480 Clayton Road, #101, Ballwin, MO 855-573-5263 x703 Trophypa.com

Kurt Hollenberg United Country Real Estate &

United Farm and Ranch Management

WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY? Land

Investment/Commercial Real Estate Sales and Farm Management. President of the MO chapter of Realtors® Land Institute. Licensed real estate broker in Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa and Kansas HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS? I’ve been a realtor for 22 years and 12 years as broker/owner. The United Country Real Estate franchise has been in business since 1925 and United Farm and Ranch Management (UFarm) has served landowners throughout the Midwest for over 85 years.

WHAT TYPES OF RELATED SKILLS DOES YOUR TEAM HAVE? We offer traditional and auction real estate sales, as well as land management consulting that assists with the many aspects of ownership. Examples include general operations, commodity marketing, negotiations, cash flow analysis, or completion of conservation plans.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS?

Out of 500+ United Country Real Estate locations, our Columbia office has ranked in the top 5 offices in sales volume each year for the past 8 years. Most recently in 2017, we were ranked #4. Our sales history includes tracts of all sizes and types including row crop, pasture, development, and recreational. Our partnership with United Farm elevates our services to an even higher level of customer service.

Kurt Hollenberg

their investment and helping buyers find that certain property that “checks all their boxes”.

Broker/Owner & Accredited Land Consultant United Country Real Estate United Farm and Ranch Management 573-474-8205 MissouriLandAndHome.com | Ufarm.com

Chuck Bowman

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT YOUR CAREER? Helping owners maximize

President, Monarch Title Company, Inc.

WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY? Real estate

title insurance and settlement closings.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR FIRM’S SUCCESS? Exemplary customer

service and always being available to handle questions and making sure our work schedules and processes meet the customer’s needs.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER

YOUR BUSINESS? That we care about doing the right job, the right way, the first time, and that we have an interest in protecting our customer’s greatest asset. We do everything needed on a day to day basis to be compliant with all regulations to assure our customers that we meet the highest standards in our industry.

WHAT DO YOUR CLIENTS LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR FIRM? Our clients appreciate

our follow-up and communication to ensure the closing process is seamless and done correctly, and the fact that we own up to our day to day responsibilities to ensure the job is completed with the best interest of all parties involved.

YOUR COMPANY? We have put a lot of

time and effort to ensure our customers, and the community, that we meet the highest standard in our profession. We were one of the first companies in Missouri to become third party certified in American Land Title Industry Best Practices.

Chuck Bowman

President, Monarch Title Company, Inc. 111 E. Broadway, Ste. 100 Columbia, MO 573-441-0725 | monarchtitle.com

Carrie Spicer, Realtor Heath Higgins Team of Expert Advisors WHAT IS YOUR SPECIALTY OR AREA OF FOCUS? I assist sellers by evaluating their home and making suggestions/improvements so the property is market ready. I focus on listing properties in Columbia, Jefferson City, and all areas in between.

TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR FIRM’S SUCCESS? Customer satisfaction

is the driving force behind everything we do, paired with creative marketing, determination, and online presence. The devil is in the details, and we strive to make sure everything is taken care of so the clients have a positive experience with a successful result. We offer creative programs such as our “Move Up” program. It’s about getting results fast, for top dollar, with the least amount of hassle to our clients.

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS? Personally 3 years. My broker, Heath Higgins, has been successful in real estate 18 years with a combined 70+ Years of Real Estate Experience on our Team!

relationships with the community leaders and human resources directors in the Columbia/ Jefferson City business community. I am very active in the Columbia and Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce, and I gained great knowledge and relationships in the 2012 Columbia Leadership Program.

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER YOUR COMPANY? Our reputation and track

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING FOR YOUR COMPANY? I am a

people pleaser with success in mind. I am always up for the challenge! I am highly motivated with a strong work ethic, professionalism, and creativity. I love to change gears quickly to get the job done. My broker, Heath Higgins, brings great value to my success with his 18 years of experience in the real estate industry.

WHAT TYPES OF RELATED SKILLS DO YOU HAVE? I am not just your typical realtor.

My degree is in marketing. Prior to entering into the real estate world, I worked for 19 years in the hospitality industry. I opened the Courtyard by Marriott in Columbia in 2005. I started as the director of sales and marketing and spent the first seven years building strong

record! We are more than just experienced, we are dependable and timely in responding to our clients’ needs and achieving their goals. Our results tell our story.

WHAT CHANGES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE AFFECTED YOUR INDUSTRY THE MOST? The Internet and ease with which

consumers can get information. However that cannot replace the Experience and Expertise of getting Homes Sold.

WHAT PROMPTED YOUR INTEREST IN THIS PROFESSION? My grandmother was a

broker in the Kansas City area for 30 years, and I grew up watching her success. I always had a desire to follow in her foot-steps.

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS? At the risk of sounds boastful, we are just plain good at what we do.

We have been around, we have seen almost everything that can come up and dealt with it. Also- Who else is going to Guarantee to Buy your home!

WHAT DO YOUR CLIENTS LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR FIRM/YOU? Our enthusiasm,

professionalism, honesty, and quick results!

We are upfront and lay everything on the table.

We also offer an easy exit guarantee. If you don’t like us and we don’t do everything we say we are going to do you can fire us!

Carrie Spicer, Realtor Heath Higgins Team of Expert Advisors 2810 S. Ten Mile Dr., Jefferson City, MO 573-690-6195 | carrie@heathhiggins.com

All seminars are offered free of charge to Chamber members and the public Space is limited and registration is required for the Award Celebration Reception To register for the reception or for more information: www.ColumbiaMOChamber.com

ALL BUSINES SM

Small Business Week

SO

F TH

E YEAR

8

Columbia Chamber of Commerce

Small Business Week Kick-Off… Monday, April 30, 7:30 a.m., Williams-Keepers LLC [2005 W Broadway] Meet the Small Business of the Year finalists while enjoying a continental breakfast

2 0 1 8

C O L U M B I A

C H A M B E R

O F

C O M M E R C E

Buchroeders Jewelers… Monday, April 30, 4 pm, 1021 E Broadway Since 1896, Buchroeders has been mid-Missouri’s place to get engaged. Our dedicated staff prides themselves on providing white glove service at wholesale prices. Customers can expect cutting-edge jewelry design technology, low prices on designer names and a friendly face at Buchroeders. President Mills Menser will talk about building and maintaining customer relationships in the digital age.

Ragtag Film Society… Tuesday, May 1, Noon, 10 Hitt St. Ragtag Film Society is a movie-loving, community-minded non-profit serving independent film to audiences both locally and globally. We are comprised of two creative endeavors: Ragtag Cinema & True/False Film Fest. Ragtag, a year-round art house cinema, exhibits current and archival films in a cozy setting featuring unique concessions. True/False, a four-day festival in the beginning of March, showcases the newest and most compelling nonfiction film accompanied by live music and immersive art installations.

Kilgore’s Respiratory Services… Tuesday, May 1, 4 pm,

NEW LOCATION

1815 Chapel Hill, Suite 210

Daytime Sleepiness, Snoring, Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Depression, and Heart Disease are just a few of the signs that you may have Sleep Apnea. Almost 30% of the population have Sleep Apnea, and treating Sleep Apnea can alleviate many of these symptoms. Come find out if you may have Sleep Apnea and how you might be tested for FREE. If you are a C-pap/Bi-Pap user already, see the latest masks, machines, and accessories available.

The Connection Exchange LLC… Wednesday, May 2, 2 pm, Chamber “Better communities through better connections!” Cara Owings and Jennifer Schenck founded The Connection Exchange just three years ago based on the passions of Entrepreneurship, Community, Mentoring and Relationship-based Sales. The Connection Exchange loves helping new and established businesses and organizations make the beneficial connections they need to succeed! This event will be all about connections - come enjoy a champagne toast and refreshments while #weconnectyou!

Inside The Lines… Wednesday, May 2, 5 pm, 100 E Texas Ave. “Transforming workspaces for success!” Founded in 2000, Inside The Lines has become Columbia’s premiere resource for transforming ordinary work spaces into healthy and attractive, built for success environments. We love thinking ‘outside the box’ and coming up with innovative, value-driven solutions for our clients.

Come see how we can help make your workspace fun because that’s what we do!

S M A L L

B U S I N E S S

O F

T H E

Y E A R

F I N A L I S T S

The 2018 Small Business of the Year Award Reception… May 3, 4–7 p.m., The Roof [1111 E Broadway] Celebrate the finalists and award winner. Registration is required and limited, please register at ColumbiaMOChamber.com PRESENTING SPONSOR

GOLD SPONSORS • Veterans United Home Loans • Missouri Employers Mutual • FASTSIGNS MEDIA SPONSORS • The Business Times Company • The Columbia Missourian RECEPTION PRESENTING SPONSOR • Central Bank of Boone County RECEPTION LOCATION SPONSOR • The Broadway – A Doubletree by Hilton RECEPTION FOOD & BEVERAGE SPONSOR • Columbia Insurance Group AWARD VIDEO • The Evoke Group AWARD SPONSOR • Midway Electric, Inc. RECEPTION DOOR PRIZE SPONSORS • Serenity Valley Winery • Residence Inn by Marriott • KMOS-TV

We salute women who... stay calm under pressure have a sense of purpose focus on the next step are willing to learn overcome obstacles are visionaries exude confidence build relationships operate with integrity (left to right)

support other women

Kari Vogt Financial Planner Polly Reynolds, CPA, CTFA Vice President & Trust Officer Jenny Hayes Account Administrator

You’re sure to like the women at The Trust Company as they embody these attributes and more.

See us for your investment portfolio, trusts, estates, and wealth management.

4210 Philips Farm Road, Suite 109 I Columbia, MO 65201 I thetrustco.com I 573.876.7000 I Toll Free 800.285.7878 This is a Trust Representative Office.

Why residential building costs in Columbia continue to increase.

BY M EG A N W HI T E H E A D | P H OTO G R A P H Y BY A N TH O N Y J I N S O N 90 MAY 2018

Andrew Kummerfeld and Tori Messenger of the Home Builder's Association of Columbia discuss the issues facing local builders.

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 91

92 MAY 2018

GROWTH MEANS PROGRESS; progress is what we all hope to achieve in business, personal development, and in life in general. But with progress comes cost.

We see that quite clearly when businesses and real estate expand.

This progress comes with needs: space, people, materials, etc. In order to grow, we have to pay a specified price, and when those costs increase, progress can be hard. This was a concern brought forward by the city’s development and real estate community when the City of Columbia adopted new energy efficiency rules in 2014 and was back at the forefront of discussion with the assessment in recent years that Columbia has the highest cost of living in the state of Missouri (with an estimated cost increase per home of $7,000 between 2007 and 2015, says Brian Toohey, CEO of the Columbia Board of Realtors), beating out both the St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas.

PERMIT COSTS The reasons for the high cost of living are both national and local.

In Columbia, “building permits are roughly two to three percent of the cost of homes and seem to be increasing,” writes Andrew Kummerfeld, owner of Kummerfeld Homes. “The new energy code guidelines have further increased the cost of building despite long payback periods to the homeowner. For instance, one new guideline could potentially increase the cost of a $200,000 home by more than $6,000 while the energy savings would not be realized for over 30 years. When you combine the new energy efficiency codes with permit fees, the cost is substantial — over six percent of the total cost of a home.”

Along with these fees, there are new development codes, passed last year, that will potentially affect residential home costs. “We don’t know what additional costs those are going to add yet,” says Toohey.

“With the additional costs associated with the new codes dealing with sensitive areas — steep slopes, tree preservation, the number of entrances you have to have per number of lots decreasing from one per 99 to one per 30 — costs will continue to be added.”

“The former president of the Columbia Board of Realtors, Jim Meyer, wrote a letter to the city before they developed the new development code estimating what it would do to the cost of new homes because of some of the restrictions on land use,” says Tori Messenger, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Columbia. “His estimate was that it would drive up the cost of a singlefamily residence between $40,000 and $50,000 per home.”

Kummerfeld expands: “Stormwater quality, tree preservation, and land development fees to the city are all costs that have risen recently.

New developments in the city must preserve 25 percent of the original land in tree preservation. Further rules on developing land with a steep grade, the amount of entrances per number of lots, the length of cul-de-sacs, and more means that the yield per acre is lower.”

All of this boils down to more land needing to be purchased today for the same number of lots than was necessary only a few years ago.

COST OF MATERIALS It’s been an erratic, dangerous year for weather. Between hurricanes, forest fires, and snow in what we used to think of as spring, the climate has disrupted the rhythm of our lives and, hence, of our economy.

Along with the immediate effects of the terrible weather (damage to COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 93

both property and people), we are now seeing one of the long-term effects: an increased cost of lumber.

“The wildfires in California and the hurricanes in Texas and Florida — when those types of disasters hit, it drives up the costs of materials,” says Toohey. “Because when it comes to rebuilding those areas, you automatically see a price increase.”

In addition to lost materials from fires and hurricanes, another issue has recently come to attention. “The newest development we’ve heard from one of our members [in February] is a beetle that’s rapidly eating wood,” says Messenger. “There are whole forests being devoured.”

Increasing material costs are seen by builders first and harshly, eventually trickling

down to potential home buyers. Doug Muzzy, owner of Muzzy Builders Inc., says, “It’s a sticker shock for [builders] how much the pricing of everything keeps going up and up.

Some of the tariffs have affected aluminum and steel products, as well . . . the tariffs battle has cut the supply, so supply and demand have driven the costs up. We’re pretty consistently seeing notices from many of our suppliers that prices will continue to go up.”

“The price of two-by-fours has increased 34 percent from 2016,” writes Kummerfeld.

“Waferboard is up 41.5 percent from 2016, and all materials in general are up 12 to 13 percent from 2016.”

While some of this increase is associated with the aftermath of natural disasters, it can also be attributed to a duty tax implemented

LABOR SHORTAGES

IT’S A STICKER SHOCK FOR

Another problem seen on a national level is a lack of available labor. “The consensus among tradesmen is they cannot find experienced, reliable help,” writes Kummerfeld. “Nearly every subcontractor I know is trying to hire experienced workers. The jobs are there; the labor pool is not.”

The problem this creates is two-fold, according to Kummerfeld. “When there aren’t enough tradesmen to meet the demand for their services, it takes longer to build a home,” he writes. “The result is higher holding costs for the builder as he pays interest on the home while waiting for the tradesmen to show up.

Additionally, this situation may influence builders to reduce the amount of homes they build, reducing the supply of new homes, which can further cause the price of new homes to increase.”

However, there is a silver lining here. There is increasing talk and collaboration among Columbia educators, realtors, and builders to cultivate the talent pool for building labor on a local level.

“There’s a huge talent shortage,” says Messenger. “Members of the HBA met with Columbia Public Schools and the Career Center to develop internship programs. We’re trying to figure out how to bridge the gap between the labor shortage and the talent and try to home grow some of our own.”

[BUILDERS], HOW MUCH THE

THE PLACE TO BE

PRICING OF EVERYTHING KEEPS GOING UP AND UP...WE’RE PRETTY CONSISTENTLY SEEING NOTICES FROM MANY OF OUR SUPPLIERS THAT PRICES WILL CONTINUE TO GO UP." 94 MAY 2018

on lumber from Canada and oil price increases, Kummerfeld writes. He also warns that, due to this, we will continue to see increases in residential home costs.

While an increased cost of buying a home is not ideal, and certainly not hoped for, there is a cause for this that reflects well on our city: supply and demand. The more people want to live in Columbia, the higher costs are going to become.

“The other side of the coin is that, while we are seeing costs being driven up, Columbia has been a pretty affordable place to acquire real estate and spend money to develop lots,” Muzzy says. Prices go up, in part, “because Columbia is a great place to live. So we’re going to continue drawing people to the community.

I expect to see very consistent growth. Supply and demand always affects costs.” CBT

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IN FOCUS

IF YOU BUILD IT

Can the city’s community land trust make homes more affordable?

BY JODIE JACKSON JR COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 97

IN FOCUS

R

andy Cole makes snaking motions with his hands and arms to illustrate the zig-zag path the Columbia Community Land Trust has trekked in the quest to begin putting a dent in the city’s affordable housing crisis.

“It wasn’t a straight line,” Cole jokes. And it has been lonely at times, as well as challenging, to convince apprehensive city and business leaders and builders that publicly-subsidizing new home construction will make the homes affordable not only now, but in the future. The ripple from that effort should also lessen the need for future social services as more families and neighborhoods discover affordability and stability.

Here’s how it works: The land trust — a nonprofit subsidiary of the city, in this case — owns the land into perpetuity, as a steward, and the cost of home construction is reduced by a city subsidy and grants, and the home is financed with a low-interest loan. A $110,000 home’s cost can be lowered to $85,000 or less through the process, making a mortgage affordable to a family that earns $30,000 a year.

The buyer earns equity from the payments and the land trust maintains ownership of the land. If the buyer sells the house — a process the land trust facilitates — the affordability is built-in because the new buyer is purchasing only the home.

The goal is “permanent affordability” and “home ownership opportunities for families that otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford housing,” Cole says.

FINDING PARTNERS Seven homes planned for development or already under construction off Lynn Street in central Columbia are the “beta testing” for the CCLT, which Cole oversees as an extension of his post as the city’s housing programs supervisor. The CCLT is building four homes; nonprofits Habitat for Humanity, Job Point, and Central

Missouri Community Action are also each building homes.

Cole’s “hard sell” for the CCLT initiative to local builders and real estate agents isn’t as daunting now as it was at first. He had to quell fears that the subsidized but quality-built homes wouldn’t depress overall building projects or diminish the price of comparable homes. Not all the challenges have abated, but the early steps of putting a board in place and developing a business plan and a longterm strategy have helped the CCLT defuse any tension.

Indeed, the zigs and zags from 2008, when the land trust concept was first introduced, to 2015, when the CCLT purchased its first properties, has brought in some unlikely allies, including one city to the west (and we’ll whisper when we say this): Lawrence, Kansas. Die-hard Mizzou fans may commence jeering, though land trust officials — especially Cole and Providence Bank Vice President Eric Morrison — offer glowing credit to the Jayhawk city for setting an enviable example of how a community land trust works.

“We had a bank that thought this was a good idea,” Cole says. “Eric [Morrison] was key to this being successful.” Providence Bank is financing up to 80 percent of the land trust’s four Lynn Street home builds.

“The city did a nice job of reaching out to cities that had done this,” Morrison says. “The land trust model really works, but you need a financing model from the private sector . . . [the partnership] moved this from the ‘talking about this forever’ stage to the ‘doing something about it’ stage.”

Morrison, who is also chairman of the chamber’s Leadership Columbia, was introduced to the land trust concept three years ago and immediately bought in to the idea.

“We really love the concept to provide investment and share in our community,” he says. “One, we’re building affordable housing stock.

The CCLT came about thanks to a combination of forces, one of the first being the city’s 2008 Affordable Housing Policy Task Force Report and a 2015 Affordable Housing Symposium Report. The CCLT began building homes in central Columbia’s Lynn Street area last year.

The CCLT was incorporated on November 3, 2016 and held its first board meeting on January 10, 2017, approving by-laws and establishing the CCLT as a new organization. For more information about the Columbia Community Land trust, visit comolandtrust.com.

98 MAY 2018

B u i l d i n g N ew Af fo rd a b l e H o u s i n g Two, there’s a real value to our public funds going to their highest and best use.” That bears repeating, he thinks: The public funds — tax dollars — that provide assistance from local and federal programs to build the home and buy the home stay with the home.

The CCLT story only happened, though, because of what Cole calls “an astounding need.” So let’s rewind to review and quantify this affordable housing crisis.

DEEP DIVE Consider: the average rent in Columbia is $805 a month, Cole says. A single-earner family — 40 percent of whom are headed by single mothers earning $25,000 or less annually — will pay more than 40 percent of income on housing costs. Any amount over 30 percent is considered “housing cost burdened” by the government. Some 4,000 Columbia families, nearly 60 percent of the city’s renters, pay more than 30 percent of income on housing. Many have housing costs that exceed 50 percent of income.

“You can see real quickly how someone can be housing cost burdened,” Cole says. “And people in the worst situations don’t have a choice” except to pay burdensome amounts of their income for housing. “They’re really struggling to get by.”

The burden isn’t exclusive to renters. Local data shows that 3,500 families with mortgages are also housing cost burdened.

The burden often contributes to other problems, from inability to pay for health care — especially preventive services — to child care needs and transportation issues.

Morrison says the local land trust model is aspiring to the benchmarks already set by CMCA, Job Point, Habitat for Humanity, and other long-standing community partners that are successfully building affordable housing stock while simultaneously helping lift individuals and families out of poverty.

Cole doesn’t believe it’s possible to overstate the reverberating community benefits of what’s starting with the Lynn Street developments. The seven homes being built will increase the Lynn Street home ownership rate by 25 to 30 percent, and the neighborhood offered enthusiastic support and interest in the initiative.

As a result of neighborhood meetings, Cole said the city decided to put in a stormwater

“People instinctively say, ‘Gee whiz, seven homes? What kind of a dent can you possibly make?’ Well, we can either keep talking about it or we can do something about it that gets us way down the road trying to address affordable housing.”

– Eric Morrison

bioretention cell between Sexton and Lynn streets that will have “a dramatic impact” on addressing storm drainage issues for adjoining neighborhoods as well as the Lynn Street developments. “Resources attract resources,” Cole says, noting that the city’s water and light and public works departments worked together to underground electric and phone lines in the area as well.

Morrison thinks that a future aim for building 10 to 12 land trust homes a year is “a very realistic and sustainable goal.” That capacity could create a need for a nonprofit separate from the city to manage the organization, but there’s no rush to move ahead that quickly, Cole says, even though a housing burdened community that has talked about the affordable housing issue for several years might want to “hurry up and build yesterday.”

“This is something we can’t get out over our skis on until we know we can get it right,” Cole says.

Cole said the next area of development — three large lots for 12 homes in the central city — could soon gain some momentum.

Cole points to the potential economic impact when making the pitch for that site: Those lots currently generate $336 in real estate taxes.

With 12 homes, the real estate tax payments would be at least $12,000. “Over 10 years, that’s a huge impact,” he says.

For now, the CCLT is seven homes, “a great first springboard,” as Morrison calls it.

“People instinctively say, ‘Gee whiz, seven homes? What kind of dent can you make?’”

Morrison says. “Well, we can either keep talking about it or we can do something that gets us way down the road trying to address affordable housing.” CBT

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 99

olumbia Region al A

by C irp red or we o t P

TOP

CBT’s

OF THE

TOWN 2017

TOP PLACE TO WORK – 1-25 EMPLOYEES

TOP ARCHITECT

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TOP ACCOUNTING SERVICE

1st Place: Columbia Eye Consultants 2nd Place: Caledon Virtual

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1st Place: True Media 2nd Place: Visionworks Marketing Group

1st Place: Williams-Keepers LLC 2005 W. Broadway, Columbia 573-442-6171, williamskeepers.com

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TOP COFFEE MEETING LOCATION 1st Place: Kaldi’s Coffee 2nd Place: The Grind Coffee House 2nd Place: EasyPC IT & Computer Repair

TOP NATIONAL PRESENCE 1st Place: True/False Film Fest 2nd Place: Veterans United Home Loans

TOP CATERER 1st Place: Bleu Events 2nd Place: Hoss’s Market 1010 Club Village Dr., Columbia 573-815-9711, hosssmarket.com

TOP WEB DEVELOPER 1st Place: Hoot Design Co. 2nd Place: Delta Systems

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1st Place: Crockett Engineering 2nd Place: McClure Engineering Co.

1st Place: GFI Digital 2nd Place: CoMo Connection Exchange

2nd Place: Columbia Insurance Group

TOP OFFICE DIGS

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2nd Place: Accounting Plus

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of Boone County

of Boone County

STR 34-50 -11 //S

LT 9 Steeplechase Estates

LT 1004 Oak Forest Plat 10

SUR BK/PG: 4754/21

Plat No. 1

& Beth Margaret Central Bank

AC 20 FF Tract 1 $503,358

$2,495,224

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Annual Co 1320 | NO (855) 233-

109 North Keene Street Columbia, MO 65201 (573) 443-2007 www.solsticeatcolumbia.com

102 MAY 2018

Mizzou Fanatics LLC

$875,000

Wabash Arms

Hawthorn Bank

Gessling, Heather

of Columbia LLC

LT C5 Newtown

& Kendall

Hawthorn Bank

Subdivision

Hawthorn Bank

Final Plat BLK 4

STR 26-49-14 //E

$2,070,000

$817,600

Tinsely & Baker Unlimited

Williams, Michael D

LLC & Liberty Partners

& Jennifer D

Bank of Missouri THE

Commerce Bank

LT 339 Thornbrook Plat

LT 2A2 Stoney Creek Plat

LT 509 Old

No. 10

No. 2

Hawthorne Plat 5

$2,000,000

$780,000

Rojas Moreno, Christian

O T A Properties LLC

French, Donald B

A

First State

Integrity First Bank

Midland States Bank

Community Bank

LT 204 Gates at

LT 101 Yorktown

Old Hawthorne Plat

Condominiums

No. 2

$1,605,750

$750,000

Hurdle Investments LLC

AMW Investment

Central Bank of Boone

Properties LLC

County

Landmark Bank

549 deeds of trust

LT 320 Creeks Edge Plat

LT 1A Sidra Sub Plat

were issued between

No. 3

No. 3

3/19 and 4/9 CBT

LT 1 Athens Subdivision Plat 1 $450,000

Lewis, William S Central Bank of Boone County

$362,000

LT 4A Highlands Plat 3 $258,000

Bollinger, Stephen & Katherine Landmark Bank LT 667 Arcadia Plat 6

Economic Index

New Business Licenses MAY 2018

LABOR

HOUSING FEBRUARY 2018

UNITED STATES Labor force: 161,494,000

Total single-family home sales:

Employment: 154,403,000

119

Unemployment: 7,091,000

Existing single-family home

Rate: 4.4 percent

sales: 103 New construction single-

MISSOURI

family home sales: 16

Labor force: 3,034,691

Single-family homes average

Employment: 2,913,939

listing sold price: $226,154

Unemployment: 120,752

Single-family homes median

Rate: 4 percent

sold price: $184,900

Allstar Cuts

Dive Bar

601 W. Business Loop 70

1116 E. Business Loop 70

573-442-3115

573-818-4968

Barber and salon shop

Bar

Appleton &

E&K of Central

Sons Enterprises

Missouri INC

503 E. Nifong Blvd.

398 Dix Rd.

573-219-1562

316-267-8914

General contractor

Commercial construction

Single-family homes active

Bright Diamond Maids

BOONE COUNTY

listings on market: 646

2901 W. Henley Dr.

Labor force: 97,391

Single-family homes average

573-814-8957

Employment: 94,819

days on market: 69

Cleaning

Unemployment: 2,572

Single-family homes pending

Rate: 2.6 percent

listings on market: 195

Campus Barbershop

1205 University Ave. COLUMBIA

573-443-7057

UTILITIES

Barber shop

Unemployment: 1,681

WATER

CC’s City Broiler

Rate: 2.5 percent

March 2018: 49,144

— CC’s Butcher

Labor force: 66,474 Employment: 64,793

March 2017: 48,618 Change #: 526

CONSTRUCTION

Change %: 1.082

MARCH 2018

Number of customers receiving service on April 1,

Residential building permits: 67

2018: 49,172

Value of residential building

1401 Forum Blvd.

573-445-7772 Retail meat Columbia Culinary

Hillary’s Healing Hands LLC

1083 South Roseta Ave. 573-808-3432 Massage therapy in home and mobile

Hudson Hawk Barber & Shop

30 S. Ninth St. 417-799-3636 Barber shop and business office

KC Construction

Tours LLC

1902 Old US Hwy 40 E.

2105 Bay Brook Dr.

704-657-5097

573-268-6087

Light construction,

Tourism service

painting, tile, decks, fences

permits: $9,634,351

ELECTRIC

Commercial building permits: 15

March 2018: 50,203

Value of commercial building

March 2017: 49,624

permits: $16,225,298

Change #: 579

Commercial additions/

Change %: 1.167

Culver’s

Superior Transitions LLC

alterations: 17

Number of customers

2520 Broadway Bluffs

1511 Timber Creek Dr.

Value of commercial additions/

receiving service on April 1.

573-239-8786

573-239-2182

alterations: $2,147,096

2018: 50,209

Fast food franchise

Staffing agency

CBT

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 103

ADVERTISER INDEX ACCOUNTING PLUS...................................................................................................107 ACHIEVE BALANCE.................................................................................................... 95 ADAMS REALTY.............................................................................................................78 ANTHONY JINSON PHOTOGRAPHY......................................................................13 AOS.................................................................................................................................... 42 ATKINS, INC.................................................................................................................... 38 BMW OF COLUMBIA...................................................................................................... 5 BOESSEN UNDERGROUND...................................................................................... 44 CHAMBER OF COMMERCE...................................................................................... 88 CITY OF COLUMBIA WATER & LIGHT.....................................................................9 COIL CONSTRUCTION................................................................................................40 COLUMBIA ART LEAGUE........................................................................................... 14 COLUMBIA CREDIT UNION.......................................................................................74 COLUMBIA EDP............................................................................................................. 96 COMMERCE BANK........................................................................................................37 D & M SOUND..................................................................................................................32 DOGMASTER DISTILLERY........................................................................................ 46 DOWNTOWN APPLIANCE........................................................................................ 95 EDWARD JONES - KATHY LOU NEALE.............................................................. 24 ESI COMMUNICATIONS.............................................................................................. 34 EVANS & DIXON, LLC.................................................................................................. 79 FIRST MIDWEST BANK.............................................................................................. 44 FIRST STATE COMMUNITY BANK.......................................................................... 95 GAINES CAR DETAILING............................................................................................32 GFI DIGITAL....................................................................................................................... 3 GIRARD HOMES............................................................................................................ 70 HANSMAN CUSTOM HOMES....................................................................................77 HAWTHORN BANK.....................................................................................................108 HEART OF MISSOURI UNITED WAY..............................................................10 & 11 HUEBERT BUILDERS, INC.......................................................................................... 81 JENNING'S PREMIUM MEATS.................................................................................. 42 KASMANN INSURANCE AGENCY...........................................................................76 LANDMARK BANK.................................................................................................2 & 71 MEDIACOM........................................................................................................................12

104 MAY 2018

MERCEDES OF COLUMBIA..........................................................................................8 MIDWAY GOLF & GAMES........................................................................................... 14 MONARCH TITLE COMPANY................................................................................... 86 NATHAN JONES LAW................................................................................................. 96 NAUGHT NAUGHT INSURANCE AGENCY.......................................................... 96 PEDNET...............................................................................................................................6 PERSONAL TOUCH CLEANING SERVICE........................................................... 46 PROVIDENCE BANK.................................................................................................... 69 PWARCHITECTS, INC.................................................................................................. 68 QUALITY DRYWALL CONSTRUCTION.................................................................67 RE/MAX BOONE REALTY JENNY LORENZ RUDKIN......................................75 RE/MAX KAREN HARNED........................................................................................ 66 REALTY EXECUTIVES- HEATH HIGGINS......................................................4 & 87 RESTORATION EYECARE......................................................................................... 24 SARAH BERNARD REAL ESTATE.......................................................................... 83 SELECT REALTY GROUP - ALISSA GERKE...............................................72 & 73 SILVERBALL....................................................................................................................... 7 SOCKET............................................................................................................................ 20 SOLSTICE SENIOR LIVING.......................................................................................102 ST. LOUIS RESURFACING........................................................................................... 18 STANGE LAW FIRM.................................................................................................... 104 STONEY CREEK INN.....................................................................................................37 SUPERIOR GARDEN CENTER/ROST LANDSCAPE......................................... 16 THE BROADWAY HOTEL...........................................................................................40 THE TRUST COMPANY............................................................................................... 89 TIGERS COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION................................................................... 16 TROPHY PROPERTIES & AUCTION....................................................................... 85 UNITED COUNTRY REAL ESTATE......................................................................... 86 UNIVERSITY CLUB.......................................................................................................101 WEICHERT REALTY: ANGELIQUE HUNTER...................................................... 84 WEICHERT REALTY: DENISE PAYNE.................................................................... 80 WHITE OAK DESIGNS................................................................................................. 82 WILSON'S FITNESS..................................................................................................... 48

B U SINESS • P EOP L E • VOIC ES • FY I

BY T H E N U M BER S

47.7% Homeownership rate in Columbia

16

Source: Data USA

69

Number of new-construction single-family homes sold in Boone County in February 2018

Single-family homes average days on market in Boone County in February 2018

Source: Columbia Board of Realtors

Source: Columbia Board of Realtors

2,202

646

Number of single-family homes sold in Boone County in 2017

Single-family active listings on market in Boone County for February 2018

Source: Columbia Board of Realtors

$175,900

Source: Columbia Board of Realtors

Median property value in Columbia Source: Data USA

COLUMBIABUSINESSTIMES.COM 105

B U SINESS • P EOP L E • VOIC ES • FY I

T H I S OR T H AT

PAUL LAND Owner, Plaza Commercial Realty

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