Q1 2017 Catalyst - The Business Magazine

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

IMAGES THAT TELL STORIES...

Top photography studio celebrates 20 years in Lee’s Summit • page 16

1ST QTR 2017

CRYSTAL BALL Community leaders’ predictions for 2017

ALPHABET SOUP Breaking down business development incentives

Visit LSmeansbusiness.net for info

At Your Service...

Subscribing to the belief that tomorrow’s economic growth demands smarter forward thinking (and doing) today, the City of Lee’s Summit introduced the Business and Development Center. A first-of-its-kind, the “concierge service” makes the business and development process a whole lot easier from start to finish.

Maybe that’s why Lee’s Summit’s rating as a “place to conduct business” is now 12.9 times higher than the national average by both entrepreneurs and CEOs. But don’t just take our word for it, come see what we can do for you and your business.

Picture

Life…

You picture a life with financial security. Connect your vision to a real strategy designed to secure your tomorrow. Join us for a confidential consultation to evaluate what your retirement could look like.

Unbiased Advice with Integrity, Transparency & Professionalism Chuck S. Cooper III, CFP®  Senior Vice President – Investments Jon G. Garlow  Financial Advisor 3171 NE Carnegie Dr, Suite B  Lee’s Summit, MO 64064  816-554-5470 www.wfadvisors/cooperwealthmanagement.com Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC  Member FINRA/SIPC CAR-0815-03297

Kicking Off 2017 I’m excited to serve as the chair of the board and reach new heights this year. It’s an opportune time to be a part of the Lee’s Summit Chamber, and the community in general. Lee’s Summit was recently named one of the best places to live by USA Today and the Chamber is eager to keep the momentum moving forward.

As we begin the new year, It’s important to stop and ask the question, “Why are we doing what we’re doing?” Stay focused and keep an end goal in mind when starting a new venture, or even re-thinking an existing one. Be sure to use the Chamber as a resource to guide you along your path. We’ve entered a time when it’s necessary to adapt to new technology and embrace change to enhance business opportunities.

Chamber membership offers value in many different forms. If you’re a start-up business seeking guidance, the Chamber can serve as a resource and get you in touch with the right people to help you. Maybe you’re an individual looking to expand your network and client base at one of the Chamber’s many networking events. The Chamber can help improve your visibility in the business forefront and keep you active in the community at the same time.

The Chamber remains committed to doing all we can to maintain and improve upon the foundation of our thriving business environment. Our active involvement in civic partnerships, legislative issues, committees and various organizations help us keep our members top-of-mind.

I encourage you to make the effort to be visible this year, both personally and professionally. We are an organization of more than 1,000 members and have reached that peak by supporting one another and our community.

Wishing everyone the best for 2017.

Yours Truly,

TYLER MOREHEAD, MOREHEAD AGENCY, LLC 2017 Chamber Chair of the Board CHAMBER STAFF Tim Arbeiter, CEcD President Matt Baird, Director of Business & Governmental Relations Stephanie Kusek, Director of Communications Stacy Needels, Director of Special Events Cathy Young, IOM, Director of Member Services Darla Hall, Advertising Manager Anne Aubuchon, Administrative Assistant Vanessa King Bookkeeper Marilyn Pemberton, Part-time Assistant 4 | CATALYST - THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

1ST QTR 2017

PUBLISHER Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce CHAMBER PRESIDENT Tim Arbeiter, CEcD ADVERTISING MANAGER Darla Hall DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Stephanie Kusek _______________________________ EDITORIAL STAFF Darla Hall Stephanie Kusek _______________________________ CONTRIBUTING WRITERS John Beaudoin, Sheryl Franke, Rick McDowell and Jim McKenna _______________________________ ADVERTISING For advertising information, contact Darla Hall dhall@lschamber.com 816.524.2424 _______________________________ PRESS RELEASES Send to skusek@lschamber.com _______________________________ Cover photo courtesy of Freeland Photography

220 SE MAIN STREET LEE’S SUMMIT, MO 64063 816.524.2424 • LSCHAMBER.COM

You work hard for what you get.

We’re for working hard to protect it.

If you’re in Jackson county, I’m for you.

Wayne Burch – Insurance Specialist (816) 805-7591

We’ve got Missouri covered.

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ANNUAL REPORT • pg. 37 2016 Lee’s Summit Chamber Recap

LANGSFORD’S LEGACY • pg. 24 83 Years of Hometown Service

COVER STORY - FREELAND PHOTOGRAPHY • pg. 16 Celebrating 20 Years of Images That Tell Stories

NEW TO TOWN Jazzy B’s BBQ Fusion LEADERSHIP LESSONS Business Advice from Carl Chinnery LOOKING AHEAD Lee’s Summit Crystal Ball DOING GOOD Lee’s Summit Educational Foundation GET TO KNOW A CEO Meet Julie Kliegl HEALTHY LIFE New Year's Resolutions BUSINESS RESOURCES Development Incentives Explained STAYING RELEVANT Digital Retargeting LEGISLATIVE OUTLOOK Meet Your Local Legislators ECONOMIC UPDATE Record-Breaking Investments

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Smart...

The Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council takes pride in being known as one of the most responsive, resourceful, innovative and collaborative business environments in the Kansas City metro area. Our entire business community shares an enthusiastic and forward-thinking spirit.

It is our pleasure to serve all those with a sincere interest in investing, relocating and expanding their business in Lee’s Summit. We invite you to visit us online to see what we can do for you and your business.

Yours Truly, LEESSUMMIT.ORG | 816.525.6617

New to

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Jazzy B’s Fusion

BBQ Hits the Right Note Brandon Simpson, owner of Jazzy B’s Diner, is a people person. He loves talking to people as much as he loves cooking. He roams his brightly colored restaurant, introduces himself to his customers and then wants to know if this is their first time at his restaurant, what made them stop, and how they like the food. One customer raved about his reuben rolls – the typical ingredients, fried with a crunchy crust – saying, “This may be my first time here but I’ll be back. These are great!”

That concept was the impetus for his journey with food over the next 17-plus years.

Simpson grew up cooking. His mom worked so he was a latchkey kid who experimented with a lot of different foods cooking for his brother and him. “All of our family events revolved around food,” Simpson said. “Ever since I was a kid, I always said I wanted to open a restaurant.”

After school, Simpson managed some restaurants but found out the “corporate aspect of cooking was not my cup of tea.”

The concept of Jazzy B’s first began as an assignment in college at Northwestern Missouri State. His major was Food and Restaurant Management with a minor in Business. For one of his management classes, Simpson came up with the concept of a restaurant with jazz music, a fusion of Cajun and barbecue food, and that “family eating in the backyard together” type of feeling.

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Simpson was a defensive end on the 1998 and 1999 Division II national championship Northwestern Missouri Bearcats team.

Since the football team practiced during holiday breaks, he cooked for a diverse group of guys and learned what people liked and didn’t like.

Though he continued catering, Simpson also moved pianos, did construction, sold to contractors and even sold pianos, which was valuable experience for learning the art of sales. “You’re not just selling the product. You’re selling yourself. So much is based on relationships. You can’t get this kind of knowledge in school,” Simpson said.

After he was laid off from piano sales during the economic downturn, Simpson and his wife, Azure, carefully contemplated

“I want people to know that like fine wine, it’s going to get better and better,”Simpson said. “It’s a place where you can come in and get a smile.”

and discussed what was best for their family. They decided he had to be prepared to get laid off again or go into business for himself.

“You have to have a certain personality to be in business for yourself,” Simpson said. In 2010, he bought a food truck, but didn’t hit the streets with it until 2011. His menu changed drastically throughout the year based on customer feedback.

“There wasn’t a place for food trucks in Kansas City. Cities weren’t ready; they didn’t know how to handle food trucks and street vending. The City and the Health Department only had procedures in place for festivals and fairs, so it was a learning experience for everyone,” Simpson remembers. In the meantime, Simpson started doing events anywhere he could to get his name out there – from Lee’s Summit to Higginsville to Macon, MO and everywhere in-between.

Simpson and a few others started the Kansas City Food Truck Association, trying to brand the industry and establish industry standards. He became a mentor and taught a class at the MidContinent Public Library titled “Food Truck University: How to Start a Food Truck.” He told potential food truck owners that he was not going to glorify the business, that trials and tribulations would happen. “The food industry is all effort and heart with little return,” Simpson said. He gives Mid-Continent Public Library a lot of credit for “excellent resources in helping a start-up business.”

Nevertheless, his passion for cooking kept him going. In 2015, he was on Food Network’s show, BBQ Blitz, with two other chefs.

In 2014, Simpson started looking for a permanent location. He had essentially gone from street vending to a catering business, working lots of private parties, as well as events at Arrowhead and Union Station. People kept asking him when he was going to open a restaurant.

A friend noticed that a place he had originally looked at on Colbern Road was now up for lease. Simpson liked the idea of opening a restaurant in Lee’s Summit – his wife grew up here and his children (Zadon, 10; Zeven, 7; Zavaya, 4) go to school here.

One thing led to another and Jazzy B’s Diner opened in early September 2016. His mom, Debra, and his brother, Curtis, pitched in to help with the opening.

Simpson has stayed true to his early concept of “jazzy” Cajun and barbecue. Popular items include crab cakes, brisket tacos and smoked fried chicken wings, though he also serves the more traditional pulled pork, brisket and pork with apple/jicama slaw. Some of his more creative offerings include the reuben roll, a “drunken shrimp” po’ boy and armadillo eggs, which are jalapeños wrapped in bacon, smoked with brown sugar cream cheese filling.

“I want people to know like fine wine, it’s going to get better and better,” Simpson said. “It’s a place where you can come in and get a smile. We’re wanting this to be the focal point of Lee’s Summit.

We want to put Lee’s Summit and Kansas City on the map for Cajun BBQ.”

1ST QUARTER - 2017 | 9

Lessons

Leadership

a l P c e e ’ h s T , He h O Throughout many careers and an inspiring life, Carl Chinnery, founding partner of Chinnery Evans and Nail, P.C. had astute business advice and life lessons to impart to the participants of the Lee’s Summit Chamber’s Lunch with Leaders. Chinnery has had the good fortune of having a variety of careers, including: real estate attorney, real estate, law practice and family, among others.

After earning a B.A. degree from Beloit College and a J.D. degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Chinnery began work at the Kansas City Life Insurance Company handling mortgage loans for 43 states, a far cry from the trial lawyer he decided he would be after an aptitude test in eighth grade. He was only 29 years old when the CEO of Kansas City Life asked him if he wanted to take over the largest department in the company. Shortly thereafter, the company went to a 4-day work week, prompting Chinnery to open a law office in Lee’s Summit, working Fridays and Saturdays. Since there were only two other lawyers in the town of 16,000 at the time, people started hiring him for legal work that the other attorneys didn’t do. Chinnery was 34 with three kids when he decided to leave Kansas City Life and practice law full-time.

“As luck would have it, the legal practice worked out,” Chinnery recalls. His income doubled every six months for the next two years. After a few years, Chinnery implemented the advice he had learned at an American Bar Association seminar: 1) hire the best possible people you can regardless of the cost and 2) specialize. Once his firm began specializing in estate planning, corporate law and real estate, their finances skyrocketed.

Chinnery’s second career was in real estate. With his friend, Dan Blackwell and another partner, they decided to build on a vacant lot at 2nd and Douglas streets in 1979. It was the first new building in Lee’s Summit in 30 years other than the Dairy Queen. Chinnery’s law firm was there for 35 years. He continued

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to buy land (where the Hobby Lobby is now), built an apartment complex, then eight duplexes, and built a house on a lot at Lake Lotawana. In 1982-1983, the bottom dropped out. They couldn’t sell anything and interest skyrocketed to 18 percent. “If it wasn’t for my law practice, I would have been bankrupt,” Chinnery said.

“It took me 15 years to work my way out. With perseverance and some really good friends, we were able to help each other.”

His third career was working with non-profits. His firm offered legal services to non-profits at no cost. They’ve helped more than130 non-profits – churches, civic clubs, baseball and football associations, etc. “They’ll give back to you as much as you give to them,” Chinnery said.

Chinnery’s lifetime career is his family. He loves being with his wife, Jean, and his kids. When his children were growing up, the family went all over the country participating in competitive sailing, which requires two people to work together. As a result, his family became very close, bonding over water skiing and snow skiing.

In the end, Chinnery emphasizes that you should do what you like to do. He enjoys specializing in his law practice, being with his family, helping non-profits, as well as practicing the sage advice of his mentor, Dr. Theodore Geisel.

Life Lessons and Business Advice: 1. Expect the unexpected.

2. Be aware of your mentors. There are people who can and will help you out.

3. Don’t burn bridges.

4. Perseverance.

5. Specialize.

6. If you want to get involved in the community, help non-profits and it will pay you back.

7. Do what you like to do.

8. At some point, turn things around and mentor others.

Summit Christian Academy Ranked a Top 5 Private School in the Kansas City Area

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Call 816.525.1480 for more information or a personal tour.

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Ahead

Looking

In the crystal ball, I see an emerging Education Ecosystem Initiative in Lee’s Summit that spans pre-K through the graduate level. A movement where all education entities work together in a seamless experience to provide the most comprehensive pipeline of talent in the KC region.

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Steve Arbo, City Manager

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Based upon current and pending investment conversations, it appears that our community will continue to experience positive growth in both the commercial and residential sectors throughout the City. We are committed to the work of the Chamber and other partner organizations as we develop entrepreneurial ecosystems for our next generation of business leaders.

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Dr. Kirk Nooks, MCC-Longview

It is hard to imagine a stronger year for downtown than 2016, but with a number of new businesses and renovations already underway, 2017 promises to be even better. Stronger sales, higher foot traffic and new construction are anticipated in 2017.

Donnie Rodgers, Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street

I see a bright future in store for the Lee’s Summit Chamber in 2017 and beyond. The crystal ball has shown us that our members will be even more involved than they are now. I also envision enhancing our current activities and hosting more business programming, thereby providing even more opportunities for the membership to learn, connect and grow their business or organization.

Tim Arbeiter, Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce 12 | CATALYST - THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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My prediction is that 2017 will be a transition year. The voters have elected a new President and a new Governor which may impact some facets of City operations. Regardless, as elected officials and City staff, we continually strive to effectively and efficiently utilize the financial resources that we receive from the tax payers.

Mayor Randy Rhoads, City of Lee’s Summit

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With the opening of the new Missouri Innovation Campus, we will see expanded higher education programming from UCM and also expanded programs and opportunities in the Summit Technology program that accepts students their junior and senior year from 21 area high schools. The new building also will be UCM Lee’s Summit’s new home. Our career placement rates are consistently above the national average, with many in-demand programs boasting a 100 percent job placement rate.

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Julie Doane, UCM Lee’s Summit

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My 2017 prediction for Lee’s Summit is that the growth and expansion of new investment will continue. We could potentially reach the $1 billion figure again this year.

Rick McDowell, Economic Development Council

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The arts community will create an overall strategic plan and receive increased support from the business community as it realizes the benefits of having a vibrant arts scene in Lee’s Summit.

Ben Martin, Summit Theatre Group

The new Summit Technology Academy/Missouri Innovation Campus is set to open on time in August 2017 and will be a major educational center for years to come. By summer 2017, LSR-7 will complete all the projects of the 2015 no-tax increase bond issue and a new superintendent will lead the LSR-7 District into a bright future.

Dr. Dave Benson, R-7 Interim Superintendent 1ST QUARTER - 2017 | 13

Good

Doing

Lee’s Summit Educational Foundation Helping create philanthropic collaboration and community spirit

Thanks to visionary citizens who helped create the Lee’s Summit Educational Foundation (LSEF) more than two decades ago, students in Lee’s Summit now benefit from incredible community support. Established in 1993 out of the wise recognition that no major school system can grow and excel without a healthy mixture of public and private funds, Lee’s Summit Educational Foundation helps maximize tax payer dollars, leverage limited public funds and create a strong spirit of philanthropy.

The Lee’s Summit Educational Foundation has become a staple here at home, helping create philanthropic collaboration and build community spirit while effectively managing financial resources that promote educational excellence for our kids.

It is a remarkable achievement and a reflection of the deep compassion and care our businesses and residents have for our hometown.

LSEF’s programs directly impact our students. Over the last five years, LSEF has awarded more than $2.6 million to R-7 students and schools through grants, scholarships, classroom technology, and school and student assistance programs. This year alone, 47 PEAK Classroom Grants (Promoting Excellence And Knowledge) ranging from $300 to $3,900 were awarded to Lee’s Summit R-7 teachers in 25 schools across the district. These grants are

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helping provide innovative, creative learning environments for more than 13,000 students in curricular areas of science, math, technology, engineering, language arts, life skills, culinary, prevocational training, art, music and health.

In addition, the Foundation awarded 57 continuing education scholarships to students, and is a multi-year partner with the district on its Connect2Learn one-to-one Chromebook initiative.

Two highly recognized and well-attended events in Lee’s Summit were created by LSEF, and have become highly anticipated annual traditions that help fund these programs: Taste of Lee’s Summit and Race for the Future.

Race for the Future is a local 5K drawing 800-1,000 participants each year. Held the second Saturday morning in October, Race for the Future is a family-friendly community event that celebrates education and learning.

Taste of Lee’s Summit is a celebrated event showcasing local flavors, talents and creations by Lee’s Summit restaurateurs,

artists, entrepreneurs and business owners. More than 600 guests attend this adults-only evening and enjoy sampling delicacies from local restaurants, shopping from hundreds of silent auction items and exciting live auction items.

Being part of Taste of Lee’s Summit through attendance, providing auction items, sponsoring the event or volunteering demonstrates that we are all an integral part of what makes our hometown so special. This year marks the 18th year for Taste of Lee’s Summit, which takes place Saturday, March 4, 2017 at The Pavilion at John Knox Village.

While continually seeking ways to assist today’s students, LSEF also responsibly prepares for student needs in the future through the Excellence for Education Endowment Fund (E3 Fund). Through the E3 Fund, the Foundation is able to accept unrestricted or restricted legacy gifts to help provide lasting impact.

Let’s continue working together to support the vision of excellence in education for our students for the next two decades and beyond. Support our students and our community through the Lee’s Summit Educational Foundation. For more information, please contact Sheryl Franke, director, at 816.986.1015.

SHERYL FRANKE Director Lee’s Summit Educational Foundation

Fun Fact Sheryl and her husband renovate and

“flip” houses and refer to themselves as “The Flippin’ Frankes.”

1ST QUARTER - 2017 | 15

Story

Cover

Freeland Photography, a premier photographic studio in downtown Lee’s Summit, celebrates 20 years

Looking through a Freeland Photography wedding album is almost better than being there in person. The images really do tell a story. The close-ups whisper the details you probably wouldn’t even notice if you had been there. Every lusciously produced photo says, “Isn’t the bride beautiful?,” “Wasn’t the setting surreal?,” or “Doesn’t everyone look happy?,” all the while capturing the uniqueness of each couple’s “happily ever after” nuptials.

The man behind the name on the building, and the camera, is Mike Freeland. He has a long history in the photography business, getting his start working at premier H&H color lab 25 years ago, gaining an understanding of the business’s processes and technical aspects before taking a camera in hand. He hung his sign in Lee’s Summit in 2010. “Our decision to move here was one of our best business decisions,” he said. Freeland Photography celebrates its 20th year in business this year.

Wedding photography isn’t all Freeland Photography does, but it is the area of professional photography they’ve been recognized for mastering. Their Wedding Hall of Fame induction officially designated them as one of the best in the country, and ten different years they’ve been voted one of Kansas City’s top wedding photographers. They provide contemporary, photojournalistic, portraiture and traditional wedding photography, as well as family and individual portraits, and photography for corporate clients.

Interestingly, music also plays a role in who he is and how he operates. As a child, he was a gifted, classically trained pianist who by the age of 9 was performing complex pieces in 16-hands piano programs with multiple grand pianos. He recognizes the same processes at work in playing classical music—the math, physics, rhythm, coordination, heart and creativity to create musicality all factor in to photography.

Mike Freeland

The end result is creative, but just like with music there are patterns and structure to support the beauty of the song.

Freeland Photography Crew

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Freeland has a scientific formula, “recipes,” that support his ability to have a completely blank canvas at each event and still make every wedding unique.

flexible, outfront and in-tune with what customers want, and this is how he continues to lead in a tough, competitive industry.

Freeland is not only a creative type, he is business-minded and reads more business publications than photography.

“We grew our business model from a product base to a service-based business where we get paid for our skills not our prints,” Freeland explains. They also are now known for the photography classes they offer, a great source of revenue, as well as new clients and employees.

“I have a lot of passion for business and studying other successful people,” he says.

He has listened to business podcasts for the past decade, and thoroughly enjoys the Chamber’s “Lunch with Leaders” program, where it’s been confirmed other business leaders “have had to take leaps of faith to grow and diversify their business.”

An innovator, Freeland has always been on the cutting edge of the industry; he’s 18 | CATALYST - THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Freeland doesn’t take credit for all the great photos coming out of his studio; he also employs a full-time staff and has homegrown talent he personally has mentored to develop a team of the best professional photographers in Kansas City. He innovated a system for taking

eager, hard-working individuals with no previous photography experience, who become collaborative coworkers in a light-hearted and playful environment.

Who else prominently displays a portrait of a wedding party running from a T-Rex? (That Pinterest cult image was produced by Amanda Jones.)

“Thanks to our expert retoucher, Traci, our post production has excellent quality with crisp, clean, sharp images that capture exactly what’s there. We present life-like color and lighting, no Photoshop filters,” Freeland said.

Pictures really are worth 1,000 words.

Check out some of the stories Freeland Photography is telling with pictures at FreelandPhotography.com/20years.

Coming Soon!

Freeland talks about his most recent expansion, a partnership in Beck Event Space, opening in 2017.

The Beck Event Space is a combination of diversifying within our knowledge. My wife, Jill, and I are partnering with Scott and Annette Beck, which strengthens Freeland Photography since Scott is also a great photographer. We are using and growing many of our Lee’s Summit business relationships with this event space by partnering with Fossil Forge, The Stanley Event Space and Embrace the Grape to name a few.

How did the idea for the space arise?

After two decades of experience in the weddings industry, we saw a need for an event space in south KC. Partnering with Scott and Annette Beck gave us a way to diversify in the wedding industry for the next 20 years.

What is your vision for the place?

The building is listed as a supporting structure on the historic registry, and we are renovating it according to the National Parks Service’s guidelines to be listed on the registry. It is a 1915 urban brick building. We are using local Lee’s Summit artisan Dave Eames with Fossil Forge to design and build custom lighting, a grand staircase, and a built-in bar that is very industrial.

What will make it special/what are some of the features?

Exposed brick wall, a wide-open 6,000-square-foot ballroom (airplane hangar style and feel), historic windows, a 15-foot sliding carriage door to the front of the building for open-air events. One of our events for 2017 has talked about having a funnel cake truck or the Poppy’s ice cream truck drive inside the building for the event.

What types of events can be hosted there?

Seated corporate events in our ballroom for up to 400, and a second floor that is perfect for less than 50. Our occupancy is expected to be over 500 for standing so it will be great for fundraising events with auction tables. We have partnered with Jane Monroe with Embrace the Grape in Lee’s Summit for our bar service. We also greatly appreciate the King family in Lee’s Summit that have lent support and advice for us regarding opening an event space. The Bliss Bridal Event will be at The Stanley Event Space February 25, 2017 and at The Beck Event Space March 25, 2017.

BeckEventSpace.com | hello@BeckEventSpace.com 210 South Independence Street | Harrisonville, MO 64701 1ST QUARTER - 2017 | 19

CEO

Get to Know a

VIRACOR-IBT Meet CEO Julie Kliegl, the woman behind it all Julie Kliegl has been at the helm of Lee’s Summit-based Viracor-IBT for 18 months.

Under her leadership, the company continues to thrive in its health care industry niche.

Kliegl was attracted to the Viracor-IBT leadership role opportunity because of the company’s unique work. ViracorIBT has become a leading specialty diagnostics laboratory partner in immunology, infectious disease and allergy testing.

“Our company has a specialty focus of lab testing for transplant patients. We provide testing that impacts patients directly,” she said. “Our company created this niche, and has continued to innovate and develop new tests to help transplant patients.” That specific niche focus interested her.

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“The fact that our work makes such an impact on critically ill patients’ lives is one of the most attractive things about coming here,” Kliegl said. “It’s an incredible privilege and responsibility; we feel fortunate to come to work each day knowing what we do really matters.”

She moved here from Boston, where she served as vice president for Boston Heart Diagnostics, a leader in diagnostics and services for cardiovascular disease.

Among her many responsibilities in that role, Kliegl developed and built a strategic human resources function with a competency-based talent development framework, and the company won Boston Globe’s Top Place to Work Award for 2014. Prior to that, she held various leadership roles in sales and operations of increasing responsibility over 15 years at

Quest Diagnostics, the industry’s leading general diagnostics laboratory.

But don’t mistake her recent Boston residence for being an Easterner. Kliegl is a native-born Midwesterner, raised on a farm in Iowa by parents whose families also farmed. “I was raised with great Midwestern values,” she says, though she spent a good portion of her career on the East Coast. “You really can see the differences in the nature of the work force. It’s good to be back where I can relate to the values of the people.

“So many of our associates are extremely passionate, they go the extra mile, come in early and work late, do extra things when there is a case that needs extra attention. I work with phenomenal individuals who help us accomplish the meaningful work we do,” Kliegl said.

Though Kliegl is newer to the company, the rest of the management group has been with Viracor-IBT between five and 15 years, creating a very stable leadership team.

Kliegl’s background as a social scientist means she takes a more people-focused position.

“It’s one of the things I love most about an organization, which is a collection of individuals. I am passionate about discovering what motivates them and excites them, helping an organization optimize itself through its development of its people,” she said. “I want to achieve innovative scientific breakthroughs and financial success. My approach to achieving those goals is through getting people to work together effectively. The key is to surround yourself with super smart people who are fun to work with, who stay at the top of their field and outside developments, and help bring new concepts to market.”

A recent example of Viracor-IBT’s success is obtaining an emergency use authorization from the FDA to develop a Zika virus test to help diagnose that disease and get a better handle on it–an achievement so significant, Missouri U.S. Senator Matt Blunt’s office reached out to congratulate them and inquire more about what Viracor-IBT is doing.

Open 24-hours a day for your business and recreational needs!

Improvements

Underway

• 5,500 ft Runway Fall 2017 • From 30,000 to 60,000 pound aircraft capacity • Plus more!!!!

Outside of the meaningful work in her leadership role at Viracor-IBT, Kliegl says she loves to travel and to cook.

Her son, David Clarkson, is studying at the University of Minnesota, and she also enjoys trying to keep up with him.

Viracor-IBT’s location in Lee’s Summit is a great benefit, according to Kliegl. “We are a proud member of the Lee’s Summit community. We’re so fortunate that there is such a talented and committed workforce here. It’s part of what’s made our company successful in the past, and will continue to help us going forward.”

Municipal Airport 2751 NE Douglas Street LSairport.net | 969.1800 1ST QUARTER - 2017 | 21

Networking

Photos

HOLIDAY RECEPTION • Holiday Reception Chair Cynda Rader presents Linda Burgess and Jama Edlund with If Not For Grace Ministries a check for the monetary donations collected by members at the reception.

CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON • Greer Cannady was the lucky winner of an autographed football from the Kansas City Chiefs’ Kendall Gammon at the November luncheon.

HOLIDAY RECEPTION • Laura Maxwell and Michele Spilker had fun posing in the photo booth at the Chamber’s Holiday Reception held at the Longview Mansion.

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BREAKFAST FOR CHAMPIONS Melissa Clogston and Jane Monroe took a second to pose for a photo at Breakfast for Champions, a celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week in November.

CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON • Outgoing committee chairs were recognized at the December luncheon for all of their hard work throughout the year.

816.525.4555

CHAMBER AFTER HOURS • Joey Zarrillo, Leon Schumacher and Carson Graff gathered for a photo while networking at the Chamber After Hours at Henry’s Antiques & Tea Room.

1ST QUARTER - 2017 | 23

Focused

Community

N.B. Langsford

Langsford legacy lives on FOR generations Nearly 83 years ago, N.B. Langsford was tirelessly working on his businesses in Lee’s Summit.

Therefore, Langsford-Cox grew up around the funeral home business and in what she called “the core” of Lee’s Summit.

Between his insurance company and Langsford Flower Shop, not to mention his numerous community activities around a town that was still positioned in the center of what is modern-day downtown Lee’s Summit, N.B. was the busy man about town.

“Everybody lived in the core,” Langsford-Cox said from her office in the Langsford Funeral Home. Surrounded by photos of the original home, business and hearses dating back to the 1940s and 50s, she takes an enormous amount of pride in remembering and preserving the history of the family business even as the industry has faced tremendous changes over the decades.

The last thing you might expect then, is that N.B. would have taken a huge risk and opened Langsford Funeral Home in 1934, especially considering three other funeral homes were already operating in town at that time.

But that’s what he did. And today, the oldest family business in Lee’s Summit remains in downtown Lee’s Summit.

Langsford Funeral Home started in a brick home at 1 NW Douglas Street, a home that still stands today. Just a year later in 1935, N.B. purchased land and a home at Third and Jefferson streets, where he lived with his family upstairs while maintaining the family business on the main floor. It was an arrangement that current owners, Brad Cox and Sandy Langsford-Cox, say was common at the time.

N.B.’s son, Buck, and his wife Barbara, Sandy’s father and mother, became partners in the business in the late 1950s.

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“My mom and dad were both born right on Green Street down here,” Langsford-Cox said. “And my grandpa, he started this business and had a shining personality. Everybody loved him.”

Sandy said she was always struck with the positive stories of N.B., a member of the board for Farmers Trust Bank and active in his church and many organizations, and of her father, Buck, who took over the family business. N.B. retired from the business in the 1970s.

“My dad and my grandpa gave and gave to the community,” she said.

On top of running the funeral home, Buck also owned the only ambulance in town and was charged with responding to car accidents and other emergencies. It was a 24/7 lifestyle in the

Brad Cox & Sandy Langsford-Cox

Langsford family. The funeral home phone rang at the family home and “time off” from work wasn’t an option.

“I was on-call every night, even as a child,” Langsford-Cox said.

The middle of five girls in the family, Sandy worked in another family business, Langsford Development, as an adult. It wasn’t until 1999 that she and Brad Cox, married in 1998, bought out 100 percent of the business and took over day-to-day operations of the funeral home.

Prior to that, Langsford-Cox had started helping out around the funeral home back in 1996. She shadowed Buck for one full year, seven days a week, getting herself educated on every aspect of the business.

“Side by side, seven days a week, I had to learn it all,” she recalls.

“When it came to business, my father was no-nonsense.”

An emotional business by its very nature, Sandy said she learned every aspect from Buck, from embalming to services to comforting families.

“I am always struck by how intimate this business really is.

We’re seeing people on what is the worst day of their lives,” Brad Cox said. “To impart dignity on someone’s most treasured possession. That is never forgotten inside this building.”

think when you work in this business long enough, you harden to it, get used to it. You don’t. Ever. Sometimes you just sit and cry with the family.”

Cox, who moved to Lee’s Summit in 1986, left the film and television industry in 2000 to take over Langsford Development, giving Sandy full-time duties at the funeral home.

Since then, they have raised five children and run three family businesses – Langsford Funeral Home, Langsford Development and Langsford Pre-Arrangement – as well as starting two more businesses, The Emaline Ballroom in 2006 and Five Petals Floral in 2011.

“Brad brought a fresh set of eyes into the businesses,” Langsford-Cox said. “He cuts through the middle and brings a whole new perspective.”

Funerals and funeral homes, like any industry, are in constant change and transition. From traditional organ music, the increase in cremation requests to how we define the day; for example, many are calling the event a “celebration of life” instead of a funeral.

Sandy said Buck was vital in helping her understand what those daily feelings would mean.

“We’re faced with how we incorporate the changes while the fundamentals really never change in this industry,” Cox said. “I have to give her dad, Buck, a lot of credit. He was very gracious to give us the fundamentals but also very gracious to let us try some new things.”

“The emotion of all of it, my dad helped me through the transition of how to deal with it,” Langsford-Cox said. “People

Added Langsford-Cox, “It meant the world to me when dad entrusted me to take over the business.”

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Focused

Community

For a family whose lineage goes all the way back to H.C. Drysten, the first chairman of Lee’s Summit–a title that preceded the traditional Mayor designation–the notions of humanity and dignity haven’t been lost over 83-plus years in business.

And to fulfill those promises every day in an emotionally grueling business, Cox and Langsford-Cox agree, it takes family.

“The key to a successful, family-owned business is family support,” Langsford-Cox said, noting her eldest son Jeremy is now working day-to-day in the family business.

JOHN BEAUDOIN President KC Communications & Media Matters

Fun Fact John played an English bobby during his

college’s production of “Angel Street.”

Only after driving two hours did his parents discover he had no speaking lines.

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“Everyone has to be all in,” Cox added.

Langsford-Cox hopes to keep Langsford Funeral Home and all their businesses family-owned and familyoperated well into the future. It’s important to her and Brad, because Lee’s Summit is important to them.

“This community’s been good to us,” she said. “Like my dad and grandpa, we try to give back in many ways because that’s just the right thing to do.”

Life

Healthy

New Year's RESOLUTIONS

Catalyst asked Chamber members to give their best advice for beginning 2017 with a fresh attitude, inspiration and motivation.

Celebrate the Little Things

Remember to Breathe

The new year brings renewed attention to good health — but big resolutions don’t have to be major changes to be meaningful. Remember to celebrate the little steps toward healthy living! It’s easier to stay on track when you have support along the way.

In 2017, we’re asking community leaders to tag their health-related posts #HealthyLeesSummit. It’s an easy way for all of us to find local points of support and keep the inspiration flowing.

Did you know that stress-related illness causes over six times the number of days off work than all non-lethal illnesses and accidents combined?

Exercise, yoga and meditation are all good skills to combat stress, and are much healthier than junk food, alcohol or drugs. Just remember to breathe.

GREATER LEE'S SUMMIT HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION

SAGE NORBURY Summit Acupuncture Services

Be Giving, Be Grateful Be Giving. Be Grateful. Be Inspired. How are you going to show up in life? It’s a pretty big question and the answer not only affects the people you connect with each day, but it also affects YOU.

Set Goals Instead of making another New Year's Resolution, this year set a goal. Goals should be 1) achievable 2) specific and 3) have a timeline for success. An example would be "I will lose 15pounds in three months by losing 5 pounds each month. I will walk at least two miles a day on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Plus, I will eat at least one fruit and two vegetables five days a week." Make it fit your schedule.

JUDY SCHMOEGER Anytime Fitness

Be Giving: give more than you receive.

Be Grateful: for every person, experience, surroundings and this earth.

Be Inspired: keep your eyes and heart open to moments of awe, big and small, which may carry you forward to your bigger greatness.

LORI WORTH reVibe Yoga + Wellness

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Resources

Business

An alphabet soup of incentive possibilities in Lee's summit TIF, TDD, CID, NID – the incentive packages available to developers and business owners to spur and promote economic development in Lee’s Summit can be a veritable alphabet soup of legal terms, and sometimes, confusion.

Cue the City of Lee’s Summit’s adoption in 2015 of the Economic Development Incentive Policy – a step-by-step guide defining best practices, matrices, targeted outcomes and areas that should benefit developers, development, jobs and tax base as a result of such incentives.

Both Assistant City Manager Mark Dunning and City of Lee’s Summit Finance Director Conrad Lamb call the policy a game-changer that reinserts Lee’s Summit into the development discussion, locally and regionally.

Examples of successful and progressing TIFs (Tax Increment Financing), TDDs

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(Transportation Development Districts) and other programs can be found in all corners of Lee’s Summit, from the Chapel Ridge TIF/TDD which is about to pay itself off – an incentive that brought about the paving of Ralph Powell Road and construction of the Strother Interchange – to the Summit Fair CID, which helped pay for landscaping improvements in and around the shopping site.

Even massive improvements like the Blackwell Interchange have been the result of successful and responsible use of TIF, in this case the East 50 Highway TIF. “Some of these improvements, we wouldn’t have them but for the TIF,” said Lamb from the Economic Development offices on the ground floor of City Hall.

“TIF is not tax abatement.”

The magnitude of the improvements, notes Dunning, is what drives the type of

Summit Fair

incentives the City may consider based on a number of factors on the development side.

In addition to TIFs and TDDs, the City incentive policy also points to opportunities for Community Improvement Districts (CIDs) and Neighborhood Improvement Districts (NIDs). A CID was added to retail tax in downtown Lee’s Summit in 2015, tacking on an additional penny to most retail purchases; these funds are managed and distributed by a CID board for improvements and other needs in the central business district.

The City also will tactically consider incentives such as Chapter 100 (Industrial Development Bonds) and Chapter 353 (Urban Redevelopment Corporations), Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority (LCRA) projects, such as Licata’s Flowers in downtown Lee’s Summit, and

Village at View High

What is Tax Increment Financing? other sales tax reimbursements or site-specific incentives.

A shining example of a Chapter 100 project is the Summit Technology Center which, in 1998, was 1 million square feet of minimal manufacturing.

A $100 million Chapter 100 agreement put the deed of the building into the hands of the City, which immediately leased it back to Summit Technology, allowing them to spend the money on improvements to the building. Today, the center houses dozens of businesses and thousands of jobs, ranging from high-tech to health care.

More recently, Cerner Corporation was given a 50 percent abatement on Chapter 100 for real estate and personal property.

“And once again, we make an empty building usable and create 1,500 jobs,” Lamb said.

Dunning said vital components to encouraging economic development in Lee’s Summit revolve around the city’s ability to help remove impediments and extraordinary costs while encouraging re-investment in areas to keep them thriving. The City’s incentive policy has outlined these areas for targeted development: downtown, Douglas/Tudor, I-470 North, Lee’s Summit Airport near Strother/Lakewood, I-470 Chipman/Colbern, View High corridor, Missouri 291 North corridor, South 291 to the county line and the U.S. 50 Highway corridor.

The incentive experts have a lot to do with the successes in Lee’s Summit, Dunning said. “We really have to tip our hat to people like Conrad and David Bushek,” Dunning said. “On TIFs, we don’t back these bonds (as was done at Bass Pro in

TIF is an economic development tool which provides a means for local governments to finance the redevelopment of designated areas determined to be blighted or conservation areas (near blight), or economic development areas. TIF allows future increases in real property and economic activities taxes to be captured to fund the redevelopment.

What is a Community Improvement District?

A CID is a separate political subdivision with the power to levy a sales tax or special assessment or real property tax, or not for profit organization that can be created to issue bonds, levy taxes and apply special assessments to finance public improvements, public services or blight removal. CIDs can finance a broader variety of improvements and undertake various public services.

What is a Transportation Development District?

Like a CID, a TDD operates as a separate political subdivision that may be created for the purpose of issuing bonds, levying taxes, and applying special assessments to finance transportation-related improvements. By Missouri statute, a TDD may fund, promote, plan, design, construct, improve, maintain or operate such transportation-related projects.

What is a Neighborhood Improvement District?

An NID may be created in an area desiring certain public-use improvements that are paid for by special assessments to property owners in the area in which the improvements are made. The kinds of projects that can be financed through an NID must be for facilities used by the public, and must confer a benefit on property within the NID.

What is Chapter 100/Chapter 353?

Chapter 100 bonds may be used to provide a tax abatement for real and personal property. Eligible revenues and financial tools include: personal property abatement, real property tax abatement (a PILOT – payment in lieu of tax – may be required) and sales tax exemption. Chapter 353 allows for tax abatement of incremental real property taxes provided as an incentive for the clearance, re-planning, reconstruction, or rehabilitation of blighted areas.

What is the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority?

LCRA enables municipalities to curb urban blight and encourage redevelopment of real property. Authority has the power to acquire and dispose of both real and personal property by purchase, lease, eminent domain, grant, bequest, devise or gift. Authority has the power to issue taxable or taxexempt bonds to fund any of its corporate purposes. Property tax abatement and bonds issued to finance redevelopment/ blight remediation are used here.

Downtown Lee’s Summit

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Independence). We always ask ourselves, ‘What is the partnership and the desired end result?’”

Lee’s Summit Taxing Districts Transportation Development District Douglas Square (1%) Douglas Station (1%) Summit Woods (1%) Chapel Ridge (.5%) New Longview (1%) Raintree Lake Village (1%) Community Improvement District (all 1%) Raintree 150 Center, Summit Fair, Langsford Plaza, I-470 Business Center, Downtown Lee’s Summit, Todd George Marketplace, Ritter Plaza

For Lee’s Summit, that result is development, redevelopment, securing tax base and infrastructure. So much so, Lamb can quote a staggering number on cue.

“We’ve paid for over $100 million in public infrastructure from TIFs since 1987,” he said.

Another example? The SummitWoods TIF, which terminated in 2013.

Before that shopping center was erected, sales tax leakage in Lee’s Summit was at 150 percent.

“Look at how SummitWoods changed this city,” Dunning noted.

There are currently five TIFs (Chapel Ridge/Strother, Ritter Plaza, Summit Fair/Summit Place, East 50 Highway and Longview), six TDDs and six CIDs active in Lee’s Summit. Dunning and Lamb agree that the risk assessments are done in a responsible manner, too.

“If we’re going to take something forward, we always ask, ‘What are we achieving with this project?’” Dunning said.

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Relevant

Staying

Digital Retargeting: Maximizing Your Conversion & ROI Since digital advertising is a growing part of community branding’s strategic marketing arsenal, I want to provide a better understanding of just what we’re doing and why. Also, I hope my explanation helps remove any of the “creepiness” associated with this technology.

So, here it goes…retargeting is an online marketing tool allowing you to keep your advertising in front of potential customers, even after they’ve left your website.

According to estimates, only two percent of website visitors actually convert to buyers on their first visit. Retargeting allows the marketer to get a do-over, or two or three, with the 98 percent who did not purchase a product or service on their first visit.

Retargeting relies on a technology that serves your advertising message over and over again to that 98 percent who previously visited your site and, for whatever reason, moved on to other websites. For the marketer, retargeting is a tool allowing them to maximize their exposure among those who are already familiar with their brand by way of an earlier encounter.

How does it work?

1. A potential customer visits your website.

2. For one reason or another, they leave without taking action, i.e., buying your product or service.

3. That same potential customer begins surfing the web. As they do, they are served up another one of your digital display ads.

4. They click on the ad because they’re already aware of your business, product or service from an earlier exposure when they visited your website.

5. This time they take the desired action – they buy your product or service – increasing your conversion and ROI substantially.

Here’s a real-life example: Recently, I was shopping for a certain brand of shoes online (Born). I was called to dinner so I logged off my iPad. Later that evening, while checking on some baseball scores, the good folks at Born found me. Just like magic, a Born shoe ad appeared on my screen. The ad served as a reminder that I hadn’t purchased the shoes earlier in the evening before I rushed off to dinner. I was still very much interested in buying a new pair of shoes so I clicked on their ad. Three days later a pair of Born shoes were delivered to my front door.

Hope this helps everyone sleep better at night.

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Outlook

Legislative

MISSOURI

MEET YOUR LOCAL LEGISLATORS

What would you like accomplished during Governor-Elect Greitens’ first 100 days?

What would you like accomplished during Governor-Elect Greitens’ first 100 days?

In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue the state is currently facing?

I would like to see legislation that could have significant economic impact on Missouri.

Particularly, his proposed budget prioritizes job creation policies. I’d also like to see labor and education reforms previously vetoed.

Make Missouri a business-friendly state to both work and live.

We need to become a Right-to-Work state, legislate for some common sense tort reform so employers are not forced to spend so much defending against lawsuits, and finally, the legislature should weed out ineffective and costly rules discouraging entrepreneurs.

In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue the state is currently facing?

Entitlement spending is growing at an unsustainable rate. The legislature is going to have to enact solutions to curb spending and increase economic development.

Missouri ranks 42nd in the nation for job creation. What can we expect to see during the 2017 session to help reverse this trend?

Despite Republican super majorities in both chambers, pro-business legislation was constantly vetoed by our current Governor.

With the Governor-Elect, I hope to pass economic development policies making Missouri a Right-to-Work state.

Rep. Mike Cierpiot District 30 32 | CATALYST - THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

As an experienced state legislator, what piece of advice would you offer GovernorElect Greitens?

First and foremost, I would tell him to learn what not to do and, secondly, be a presence at the Capitol. Lead by example by meeting with legislators and be informed of all that is going on.

If you had a magic wand and could magically solve an issue, what would it be?

Generate more revenue for the state.

What is the most rewarding part of being an elected official?

When someone comes up to me and says, “Hello, you don’t know me but I want to thank you for representing me and standing up for issues that directly affect me.”

Rep. Gary Cross District 35

If you had a magic wand and could magically solve an issue, what would it be?

I would ensure every student has the opportunity to obtain an education to find a rewarding job in today’s increasingly competitive environment. This will require changes to the educational system as the status quo continues to consign American students to a lower status worldwide.

Tell us something fun that many people wouldn’t know about you.

My husband and I love to travel. We have been to Europe, the Middle East and just got back from Asia.

Rep. Rebecca Roeber District 34

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Missouri ranks 42nd in the nation for job creation. What can we expect to see during the 2017 session to help reverse this trend?

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We will pass Right to Work and tort reform.

These measures will help us compete in the state market for job creators.

If you had a magic wand and could magically solve an issue, what would it be?

I would put things in place that would: A. discourage negative advertising in campaigning, B. give voters an opportunity to vote for candidates who most represent their values, and C. ensure we have candidates who go into office with a majority mandate. I will be filing a bill to facilitate these goals by a voting method called “instant runoff voting.”

Tell us something fun that many people wouldn’t know about you.

My wife and I started a homeschool robotics team of 40+ students in 2008 that has won two national championships and continues to win regional championships.

Rep.-Elect Dan Stacy District 31

To reserve tickets, email LScares@rediscovermh.org.

1ST QUARTER - 2017 | 33

202571

676 SE Bayberry Ln Lee’s Summit jeffsilver@allstate.com

Update

Economic

Lee’s Summit Eyes More Record-Breaking Investment in 2017 Lee’s Summit celebrated a new high watermark for economic growth in 2016, with more than $1 billion invested over a twoyear period. The public and private spending encompassed new and expanded buildings, infrastructure and residential construction permits.

The high quality of Lee’s Summit schools, restaurants and housing–along with a focused community branding and advertising campaign–is helping draw national and regional attention to our community, which is on target to hit 100,000 residents in the next five years.

And as successful as the past two years have been, the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council is expecting an equally prolific 2017. If all currently proposed projects are approved, the city is poised to again reach $1 billion in investments, which are primarily clustered geographically around three general industries: tourism/lifestyle on the city’s west side; industrial/ mixed-use development on the south side; and technologyrelated projects on the north side.

“West Side Story” Kicks Into High Gear The next wave of investment includes a half-billion dollars along the View High corridor, including $215 million for Phase One of the sprawling Paragon Star regional soccer complex and retail village, the $225 million Village at View High mixed-use project and the $50 million New Longview commercial district, which includes a new B&B Theatre.

With Cerner’s new world headquarters campus taking shape seven miles away in south Kansas City, Lee’s Summit anticipates that the broad array of new residential, retail and restaurant development will drive population growth and help attract future residents.

In planning for new growth and increased vehicular traffic in the View High corridor, a regional Transportation Development District is being created that will provide funding for necessary improvements at the View High and I-470 interchange. The TDD will be of benefit to existing and proposed neighborhood and developments within the View High corridor.

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South Side Commercial Development Flexes Muscle Lee’s Summit approved a landmark development agreement with Westcott Investment Group in 2016, enabling the City to finally compete for critical commercial and industrial projects.

The Grove at Lee’s Summit calls for more than 1 million square feet of mixed-use office, warehouse and light industrial space in south Lee’s Summit on 83 acres at M-291 Highway and U.S. 50 Highway. Construction on an initial 200,000 square feet of speculative space is expected to begin in the summer of 2017 with completion targeted for 2019.

The Grove will change the game for Lee’s Summit when it comes to commercial relocations and expansions, as the LSEDC already is receiving strong interest from companies considering a location there. The Grove is an important piece of the city’s economic development puzzle, considering the fact that the city missed out on submitting proposals for more than a dozen projects over the past year simply due to a lack of available industrial sites.

In addition, the state of Missouri and City of Lee’s Summit have invested a total of $18 million to improve roads and bridges near the development site, including the realignment of the southbound interchange at M-291 Highway and U.S. 50 Highway and the new Bailey Road Bridge.

Additional provisions of the development agreement include financial guarantees for construction and infrastructure timelines as well as the donation of two acres within the site plan to the City for a new EMS location for a fire station.

The Grove will complement existing manufacturers that announced or completed expansions in 2016. High Tech Solutions LLC, a manufacturer of aerospace machined components and assemblies, is investing more than $14 million over five years in a new building and equipment. The expansion at 1440 SE Broadway Dr. is being financed in party through a city tax abatement incentive issued through the Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority.

In addition, JCI Industries, Inc., a leading supplier of industrial pumps, motors and other equipment, opened a newly expanded production facility in 2016 and announced plans to invest millions in upgraded machinery including new forklifts, cranes and lathes.

Tech Investment Powers Thriving “Summit Corridor” New multi-family, hotel, retail and office projects announced in 2016 added momentum to the thriving Summit Corridor near Chipman and Ward roads on the north side of Lee’s Summit.

The tech-heavy area anchored by the Summit Technology Campus booked an estimated $200 million in new investment, including the $85 million Summit Orchards mixed-use project, $50 million Missouri Innovation Campus, $55 million in new retail development and a $10 million Holiday Inn Express set to open in 2017.

JCI Industries

If all currently proposed projects are approved, the city is poised to again reach $1 billion in investments...

The new development activity arrived just months after Cerner announced it would invest more than $500 million in a new data center at Summit Technology Campus. The investment, along with the expected 2017 opening of the Missouri Innovation Campus, is helping attract a wide variety of spinoff development and retail activity.

Just south of I-470, the corridor straddles U.S. 50 Highway and is home to retail “power centers” SummitWoods and Summit Fair, along with the new Summit Orchards mixed-use project. Developed by Townsend Capital and in conjunction with NorthPoint Development and RED Development, Summit Orchards includes 250,000 square feet of new retail space and the 310-unit Summit Square Residences, which opened in 2016. New retail announcements and expansions in the area include Dick’s Sporting Goods, H&M and Sam’s Club.

Steve Rich, vice president of Townsend Capital, has applauded the city’s financial support of development in the Summit Tech corridor and said more projects and investment are on the horizon.

It’s well known that Lee’s Summit is one of the fastest growing communities in Missouri, and based on all the investment and development activity on the books and in the pipeline, the LSEDC is ready to help the city take its game to the next level in 2017 and beyond.

35 | CATALYST - THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Paragon Star Groundbreaking Ceremony

RICK MCDOWELL President Lee’s Summit Economic Dev. Council

Fun Fact

Rick played on the Babe Ruth Baseball League Missouri State Championship team.

1ST QUARTER - 2017 | 35

CALENDAR OF

EVENTS RIBBON CUTTING-DSB SERVICES, LLC 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17 110 SW 2nd Street, Ste. B SUNNY SIDE UP BREAKFAST 7:15-9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20 The Emaline Ballroom Sponsor: Summit Bank of Kansas City Reservations required OPERATION THANK YOU! 8 a.m.-5 p.m. January 23-27 Time to start delivering the 2017 Membership Directories!

CHAMBER BEFORE HOURS 7:30-8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24 Location & Sponsor: Downtown Lee's Summit Main Street, 13 SE Third St. RIBBON CUTTING-SYLVAN LEARNING 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 27 1184 NE Douglas, Lee’s Summit RIBBON CUTTING-LIDDLE SPORTS AND APPAREL 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31 100 NE Tudor Road, Ste. 111 CHAMBER 101: GET PLUGGED IN 3:30-5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 Paradise Park, 1021 NE Colbern Rd. RECESS FOR SUCCESS 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7 John Knox Village-Manhattan Room Speaker: Robin Todd, Mindful Momentum Topic: Simple, mindful practices that can help your business succeed

36 | CATALYST - THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

CHAMBER AFTER HOURS 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9 Sponsor & Location: HSMC Orizon, 3550 NE Ralph Powell Road

CHAMBER AFTER HOURS 4:30-6 p.m. Thursday, March 9 Sponsor & Location: Freeland Photography, 320 SE Douglas St.

RIBBON CUTTINGCOMMUNITYAMERICA CREDIT UNION 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15 1720 SE Blue Parkway

RIBBON CUTTING-THE GODDARD SCHOOL 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 14 1000 SW Longview Park Drive

CHAMBER MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17 The Aspen Room at the Stanley, 308 SE Douglas St. Sponsor: Great American Bank Reservations required CHAMBER BEFORE HOURS 7:30-8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28 Training For Warriors Lee's Summit, 1737 NE Rice Rd. RECESS FOR SUCCESS 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 7 John Knox Village-Manhattan Room Tech Panel: Clint Haynes, NextGen Wealth; Ben Seidel, Igniting Business LLC; John Leek, NetStandard Inc. Topic: Today's Technology Hurdles SPRING JOB FAIR 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, March 8 MCC Longview-Recreation Center, 500 SW Longview Road Top employers recruiting for full-time, part-time & internship positions in all industries. Open to the public

CHAMBER BEFORE HOURS 7:30-8:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 28 Sponsor & Location: All My Heart Bridal, 1551 NE Douglas St. CHAMBER MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON-TRULY THE BEST TOP 3 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 29 The Pavilion at John Knox Village Sponsor: Osborne Global Investments, Inc. Join us for the announcement of the top 3 nominees for the Truly the Best Awards.

Reservations required

Registering for events is easy at LSchamber.com! Click the event you wish to attend and log in with your member ID. Don’t know your password or aren’t a member? Call 816.524.2424 for help.

LEE’S SUMMIT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

220 SE MAIN STREET • LEE’S SUMMIT, MO 64063 • 816.524.2424 • LSCHAMBER.COM

Annual Report

Chamber

2016 has come and gone and we certainly can say this past year was anything but dull. One thing that has not, and will not, change is that the Lee’s Summit Chamber strives to be the champion of business, providing networking and advocacy, along with professional development and business promotion. With that mission in mind, we launched new avenues to connect members to the surrounding business community.

One of the new initiatives launched this year was Business Field Trips, a program designed to drive members into other member businesses to go behind the scenes of day-to-day operations and learn more about the business. In addition, the Chamber successfully debuted the Chamber Challenge, which brought members together for an afternoon of friendly competition (and bragging rights). I’m pleased to say our events and publications continue to grow in an effort to showcase you, our members.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

To keep things exciting, we experienced a period of transition. We said farewell to long-time leader Nancy Bruns, who sailed off into retirement in June after 16 years as president of the Chamber. Staff then welcomed Tim Arbeiter to the team from Cape Girardeau, who brought lots of energy and hit the ground running.

The excitement escalates as our 5-star accredited Chamber continues building programs to elevate our members by keeping you connected to relevant resources and leadership in the community. Popular programs such as Lunch with Leaders and Leadership Lee’s Summit encourage collaboration and development of strong relationships among our 1,000 members.

I’d like to offer a sincere note of appreciation to our community partners, board of directors, members and staff who have made this year great. I appreciate the opportunity and am honored to have served as the chair of such an ambitious business organization.

I look forward to the bright future of our Chamber and can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2017. Thanks for joining me in building relationships and making memories…God’s Blessings!

Yours Truly,

Vicky Cundiff, 2016 Chair of the Board Weed Man

BOARD MEMBERS Stacey Brodersen

Lesley McKeone

John Brown

Dr. Matt Niewald

Susan Coffman

Ben Seidel

Jon Garlow

Matt Sogard

Trisha Goodale

Kelly Spencer

Clint Haynes

Molly Wichman

Coffelt Land Title

Hollis + Miller Architects Lee’s Summit CARES

Tyler Morehead

Morehead Agency, LLC - Chair Elect

Rosalie Newkirk

HSMC Orizon - Treasurer

Wells Fargo Advisors Busey Home Mortgage NextGen Wealth

Kim Klockenga John Knox Village

Mike Maksin

Spilker McKeone & Nelson PC Matt A. Niewald, DDS Igniting Business Lee’s Summit Medical Center Security Bank

Life Transformations Personal Training

Jeremy Wood

Cinematic Visions

N2 Publishing

Joe Stasi

Saint Luke’s East Hospital- Chair Emeritus

Tim Denker

Denker Law Firm - Vice Chair

EX-OFFICIO Steve Arbo

Dr. Kirk Nooks

Carl Chinnery, Legal

Mayor Randy Rhoads

City of Lee’s Summit Chinnery Evans & Nail P.C.

Dr. Dave Benson R-7 School District

Colleen Sliffe

Cushman & Wakefield- Vice Chair

Terry Trafton Vice Chair

MCC-Longview

City of Lee’s Summit

2016 COMMITTEES & TASK FORCES The Chamber multiplies the effectiveness of businesses within the community by providing structure, volunteer leadership, professional staff and full-time office operation to implement an effective business organization that meets the needs of our growing community. Committee volunteers have the opportunity to share and create new ideas, while also learning more about the business community to which they belong. The following committees, councils and task forces carried out the work of the Chamber:

Ambassador Committee

Health Care Committee

Annual Gala Task Force

Chair: Chrissy Graheck Objective: recruit and mentor new members and develop awareness of the Chamber in the community.

Chair: Robin McCain Objective: study health care issues impacting the community and provide an annual Health Fair and Health Care Directory to all households in Lee's Summit.

Objective: develop theme, organize and solicit donations for the auction held each year at the Annual Gala in January.

Business Development Council Chair: Jeff Driskill Objective: monitor and fulfill the educational and training needs of small businesses.

Education Committee Chair: Laura Maxwell Objective: promote business partnerships with the education community, choose five annual scholarship recipients, host a welcome breakfast for new R-7 teachers and select the recipient for the R-7 Teacher of the Year award.

Governmental Relations Committee Chair: Terry Trafton Objective: study local, state and federal legislative issues of interest to businesses and prepare legislative priorities.

This committee plans annual trips to Jefferson City and Washington, D.C. to visit legislators, attend forums on special issues and elections and meet with legislators during session.

Membership Committee Chair: Alan Mais Objective: make contact calls to existing members and lead efforts to retain current members of the Chamber.

Oktoberfest Committee Chair: Kristi Johnson-Ware Objective: plan the annual fall festival, scheduled for the last full weekend in September.

Golf Task Force Chair: Angie Miller Objective: coordinate the annual Chamber Golf Classic tournament held each year during the summer.

Holiday Reception Task Force Chair: Cynda Rader Objective: plan and organize the Holiday Reception held on the first Wednesday in December.

Visitors Council Chair: Jon Ellis Objective: identify and develop Lee’s Summit’s unique features for the purpose of tourism development and marketing.

Young Professionals Committee Chair: Ashley Nowell Objective: provide networking opportunities for members ages 21-35.

The CYPs gather monthly to network, learn about the business community and engage in community service projects.

1ST QUARTER - 2017 | 39

Annual Report

Chamber

CHAMBER MEMBER AWARD RECIPIENTS TIM DENKER Mentor of the Year

JAN SUMNER Volunteer of the Year

JOEY ZARRILLO Steve Gouldsmith New Member of the Year

Jan Sumner, an individual member, has consistently volunteered for the Health Care Committee, Golf Task Force, as well as the Gala Task Force and Operation Thank You. She will serve as chair of the Ambassador Committee in 2017. Sumner attends almost every event and ribbon cutting and mentors new members.

Sumner recruited four new members in 2016.

Joey Zarrillo, co-owner of Money Mailer of Jackson County, jumped right in and attends a variety of Chamber events, including ribbon cuttings, Recess for Success, Before Hours, After Hours, Business Field Trips and monthly luncheons. He’s served as a ribbon-cutting emcee, recruited new members and served as a mentor. Zarrillo will co-chair the Membership Committee in 2017.

Amberlynn Isaacs, a family law attorney with Short, Borth & Thilges Attorneys at Law PC, is a 2016 graduate of Leadership Lee’s Summit. She serves on the Oktoberfest committee, actively participating in the inaugural Grape Stomp sub-committee.

Isaacs attends Young Professional events, the Annual Gala and went to Jefferson City for Legislative Day in 2016. Isaacs also serves AMBERLYNN ISAACS on the Annual Gala and Golf Task Forces.

Steve Gouldsmith New Member of the Year

40 | CATALYST - THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Tim Denker, attorney with Denker Law Firm, has mentored many new members and is always willing to take on new mentees.

Denker was appointed to the board of directors in 2015 and now serves on the Executive Committee. He has been involved in many committees including Young Professionals, Business Development, Governmental Relations and Legislative and also graduated Leadership Lee’s Summit.

Mike Maksin, area director of N2 Publishing in Lakewood, recruited 9.5 new members into the Chamber in 2016, giving him top honors in the 2016 Chairman’s Club. Not only is he present at nearly every Chamber event, he serves on multiple committees and the board of directors. He also participates in the golf tournament and Leadership Lee’s Summit, and serves as a mentor.

MIKE MAKSIN Bob Glaser Ambassador of the Year

CRAIG HARRIS Lifetime Member

Craig Harris, retired owner of Beacon Press, was a faithful luncheon attendee and member of the Business Development Council for many years. In addition, Beacon Press was a true partner to the Chamber, often donating printing, providing quick turnaround on supplies and storage of printed materials. Beacon Press sponsored events and received many nominations for the Truly the Best Business of the Year Awards.

2016 RIBBON CUTTING CELEBRATIONS @Jolly’s A Better Choice Preschool, LLC All My Heart Bridal Andy’s Frozen Custard AtWork Personnel Services Brain Builders Pediatric Therapy, LLC Budget Blinds of Lee’s Summit Carey Law Firm LLC Carl Chinnery Nature Trail at Unity Denker Law Firm, LLC

Diagnostic Imaging Centers’ 3D Mammography Coach Downtown Lee’s Summit Main Street Evergreen Home Companion, LLC Funtastic Balloon Creations Good Life Yoga and Tea If Not For Grace Ministries Jazzy B’s Diner JG Contracting, LLC KC Communications & Media Matters

2016 PARTNERSHIPS

2016 HALL OF FAME In 2006, the Chamber established the annual “Hall of Fame” Award.

The criteria for this award includes being a member of the Lee’s Summit Chamber for a minimum of 10 years, showing continuous active involvement through financial and volunteer support and being respected throughout the community. Each recipient has had a significant positive impact and has consistently exemplified the philosophy, value and mission of the Chamber.

The Chamber welcomes Spilker McKeone & Nelson PC! Spilker McKeone & Nelson PC, certified public accountants licensed to practice in Missouri and Kansas, has been a member of the Chamber since the company's inception in 1999.

Both the business and the individual partners have remained very active with the Chamber. A bronze partner of the Chamber, the business has sponsored Lunch with Leaders, Breakfast for Champions, the Golf Classic and Cocktails & Caddies. They generously donate their time and resources for Chamber events and can be seen at most events. Michele and Lesley have both served on the board of directors, and the partners also have graduated Leadership Lee’s Summit.

Thank you to the following businesses who invested in the Chamber through the partnership program.

GOLD

Great Southern Bank Humana Health Plan, Inc. KCP&L Reinhart Foodservice Saint Luke’s East Hospital Tingle Flooring

SILVER

Bank of Lee’s Summit Central Bank of the Midwest Discover Vision Centers Door Systems, Inc. ENT Associates of Greater Kansas City HSMC Orizon, LLC John Knox Village Lee’s Summit Dodge Chrysler Jeep Lee’s Summit Medical Center Paradise Park, Inc. Second Nature Outdoor Living & Landscaping Sprint University of Central Missouri Lee’s Summit Walmart Weed Man Zoetis

BRONZE

Michele Spilker, Lesley McKeone, Leigh Ann Nelson

KC Home Medical Supply Law Offices of Jonathan R. Whitehead Lee’s Summit Family Care-Lakewood Marble Slab Creamery & Great American Cookies Marco’s Pizza Sahara Mediterranean Cuisine Saint Luke’s Health System Convenient Care Clinic Scott E. Thomas & Daughter Photography Sebella’s Fire

Summit Park Church Synergy Chiropractic Terra Health & Wellness Market The Dotted Chair The Exit Room The Eye Station The Junkluggers The Law Office of Lisa A. Hansen LLC Third Street Social UPS Store #6685

B Positively Promoting U, inc.

Bank Midwest Bank of Kansas City Digital Marketing Inc. First Federal Bank Greater Lee’s Summit Healthcare Foundation Hollis + Miller Architects Kansas City Star KC Metro Insurance Agency, Inc. Lakewood Counseling TMC Lee’s Summit Journal Longview Funeral Home & Cemetery Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys Missouri Central Credit Union Parker Swearngin LLP Rodney Loesch CFP–Waddell & Reed Simmons First National Bank Spilker McKeone & Nelson PC Steppin’ Out–The Studio Summit Bank of Kansas City Technology Plus, Inc. The Wilson Group University of Kansas Edwards Campus 1ST QUARTER - 2017 | 41

Annual Report

Chamber

Record-Breaking Gala

New President Introduced

Longtime Leader Retires

Bringing experience in economic development, civic engagement, legislative issues, tourism and more, Arbeiter hit the ground running and jumped into learning about Lee’s Summit. From meeting with community partners to heavy lifting at Oktoberfest, he’s worked to keep the momentum moving forward and carry the Chamber to new levels.

In January 2016, the Chamber’s Annual Gala set records for both attendance and revenue. The Venetian Carnivale event entertained with stilt walkers, living statues and live music, along with the traditional silent and live auctions, awards and program. The auction brought in more than double the revenue expected, thanks to our members’ generous donations.

The Gala also sold out for the first time in years and attendees had a blast dancing the night away. What an incredible way to kick off the year!

After more than 15 years with the organization, President Nancy Bruns retired in June 2016. Under Bruns' tenure, the organization gained financial stability and operates debt-free with a $1.2 million budget, employing seven full-time and two part-time employees. Membership has doubled to 1,000 members and continues to attract businesses to the area. Bruns oversaw the inception of community marketing, depot renovations, special publications and the Chamber’s 5-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber.

In honor of her retirement, Bruns was “toasted and roasted” at a retirement bash held at The Aspen Room at The Stanley. The event drew hundreds of Chamber members and community leaders and featured lots of laughs.

Business Field Trips

The Chamber introduced a new program called Business Field Trips...Who Knew? in 2016. The program is designed to drive traffic into businesses while providing educational and entertaining hands-on experiences for members. The field trips give members a look at the behind-thescenes operations of local businesses. The first year included trips to Frontier Justice, Powell Gardens, Sunset Trails Stables and Unity Village. Members have thoroughly enjoyed the new program, and the Chamber looks forward to expanding it in the future.

42 | CATALYST - THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Following Nancy Bruns’ retirement, the board of directors announced Tim Arbeiter as the new president to lead the organization. Arbeiter had served as vice president of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce for ten years prior to coming to Lee’s Summit.

Chamber Challenge Debut

In April, the Chamber debuted the Chamber Challenge, a new event featuring an afternoon of fun activities and friendly competition between members. Like an adult field day, members competed in tug of war, relay races, dodgeball, sand volleyball and more. The inaugural event included 14 teams, a BBQ and sunshine, and the Chamber is hoping to grow the event even more next year.

2016 CHAIRMAN’S CLUB In 2013, the Chamber Board of Directors established a new reward program for members. Called the “Chairman’s Club,” any Chamber member becomes eligible after recruiting a minimum of five new members each calendar year. Each of them, along with a spouse or significant other, will be invited to a special dinner at the end of each year with the Chair of the Board and the Chamber President.

Congratulations to the following members: • • • • •

Vicky Cundiff, Weed Man Jon Garlow, Wells Fargo Advisors Bob Glaser, Summit Bank of Kansas City Clint Haynes, NextGen Wealth Mike Maksin, N2 Publishing

2016 FINANCIALS $42,083

$211,140 $49,322

$193,804

$211,140

$42,083

$429,601

$11,406 $49,322 $11,406 $94,895

$193,804 $429,601

$94,895

$63,044

$27,686

$24,021

$63,044

$27,686 $17,694

INCOME $1,182,846

$24,021

EXPENSES $1,130,870

$17,694

$183,149

$192,084 $192,084

$183,149

$562,643 $562,643

$247,144 $247,144

Annual Dinner 5%

Oktoberfest 16%

Community Marketing 21%

GNA Revenue 16%

Membership Misc. Events36% 2% Misc. Events 2%

Administrative 45%

Oktoberfest 8%

Golf 1%

Annual Dinner 2% Community Marketing 18%

Oktoberfest 8% 4% Membership

Administrative 45% GolfOperating 1% 16% Misc. Events 2%

Community Marketing 18%

Membership 4%

Annual Dinner 2%

Membership 36%

Golf 4%

Annual DinnerMarketing 5% OktoberfestGNA 16% Revenue Golf16% 4% Community 21%

Operating 16%

Misc. Events 2%

LEADERSHIP CLASS OF 2016 The Leadership Lee’s Summit program, sponsored by the Lee’s Summit Chamber, graduated 25 students in 2016. The students completed nine months of leadership training, community service hours and a class project as part of their requirement.

• Brian Austerman, Lee’s Summit Fire Department • Gail Benne, John Knox Village • Ebony Bowman, MCC-Longview • Steve Casey, Lee’s Summit Parks & Recreation • Amanda Crocker, Lee’s Summit Sunrise Rotary • Adel Dgheim, Central Bank of the Midwest • Tiffany Douglas, Lead Bank • Trisha Drape, Community Buying Group • William Gibson, Down to Earth Services • Amberlynn Isaacs, Short, Borth & Thilges Attorneys • Stephanie Kusek, Lee’s Summit Chamber • Scott Landregan, Lakewood Counseling TMC • Fred Lane, City of Lee’s Summit • Mark Liebig, Lee’s Summit Police Department • Ed Lipowicz, Flooring & More/Rotary Club of LS • Christopher McQueen, TPP Certified Public Accountants, LLC • Angie Miller, NBKC Bank/Rotary Club of LS • Brianne Miller, Great Southern Bank • Stacy Needels, Lee’s Summit Chamber • Glenna Osborn, Missouri Central Credit Union • Jessica Roach, Lee’s Summit Medical Center • Lu Ann Ross, Hillcrest Transitional Housing • David Shackelford, Commerce Bank • Mark Steinbeck, Saint Luke’s East Hospital • Tendai Zinyemba, TMC Lakewood

2016 TRULY THE BEST BUSINESS OF THE YEAR WINNERS Four local businesses were recipients of the Lee’s Summit Chamber Truly the Best Business of the Year awards at the monthly membership luncheon on May 20, 2016.

THE FOUR AWARD WINNERS ARE: •

Rachel House Pregnancy Resource Centers (not for profit)

•

Dana Arth, CPA (five or less employees)

•

Bodies Health & Fitness (6-20 employees)

•

City of Lee’s Summit (more than 20 employees) 1ST QUARTER - 2017 | 43

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