Our Town: July and Aug. 2012

July/August 2012

www.everydayvictories.biz

July/August 2012

Our Town Contents Greater North County Chamber of Commerce 8 8 8 9

GNCC to Host 2012 Scholarship Bowl Gregory Insurance Agency Hosts Grand Opening GNCC 2012 Chamber Directory is Now Available Great Turnout at the GNCC Golf Tournament

NorthWest Chamber of Commerce

by Brian Goldman M ayors at the Mingle

10 NWCC Membership Numbers are on the Rise 10 NWCC Mingle at the Mills Fundraiser Offers Great Fun at NASCAR SpeedPark in Hazelwood 11 The View from the Other Side of the Desk 11

Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce 12 13 13 13

VOL 3 / NO 4

Our Town is a Community News

publication. It is published every other month and direct mailed to 7,000 business executives in North and Northwest St. Louis county, plus online circulation.

MHCC Ribbon Cuttings Items Needed for Education Raffle Scholarships Awarded 2013 Community Guide to be Printed in December

North County Incorporated

Online subscriptions are FREE and available at www.mycnews.com

14 NCI Honors Community Leaders Making a Difference in North St. Louis County 15 NCI Requests Nominees for NCI Salutes 30 Leaders in Their Thirties Honor 15 NCI Regional Development Association Receives U.S. Bank Grant 15 NCI 35th Annual Fundraiser

For advertising information please contact: Community News 2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Drive O’Fallon, MO 63366 636.379.1775 www.mycnews.com Publisher Robert Huneke Editor Shelly Schneider Staff Writer DeAnna Massie

P reparedness Planning for Your Business T he Real Skinny on Search Engine Optimization

by Ken Tucker C alendar of Events

5 Tethered to the Smart Phone

by DeAnna Massie

Photographer Ray Rockwell

7 16

Art Director/Creative Design Terrie Dehn, TJD Design Studio Copyright 2012 Huneke Publications, Inc. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of the publisher.

17

3

Our Town

J u l y / A u g u s t 2 012

www.mycnews.com

Delicious Food Business Meetings Luncheons Breakfast

C for De all us Toda y livery, or Full Pickup Servic e

314.2 91.35 15

.Deb www

g.com aterin C e r i ona

Tethered to the Smart Phone Is this the new normal or the beginning of the end for business etiquette?

by DeAnna Massie

Imagine a potential employee walks into

people using cell phones or Blackberries

message that you want to be left alone,

your office for an interview. Before you

during meetings or interviews. These

an unfriendly gesture at best.”

can ask him to have a seat he asks if he

items are like an extension of our arms

could use your power outlet to charge his

now, but it is disrespectful. You’re saying,

cell phone because he’s expecting a text.

‘This message is more important than

Sound far fetched? Dana Wehrli, director

what we are doing right now.’”

of

Career

Services

at

Lindenwood

University, said this incident really happened, and she works diligently to make sure none of her advisees make

Every

professional

has

experienced

some type of smart phone or laptop interruption. Whether you have been pulled from a conversation by your own

In addition to editing resumes and

else’s, you know what it’s like to take a

giving

Wehrli

backseat to technology. Many of us may

organizes an etiquette training session

refuse to put down our Blackberries, but

for Lindenwood students each year.

feel insulted when a colleague begins to

phone, or ignored because of someone advice,

“The goal is to train students how to participate in a formal business dinner,” Wehrli said. “However, we have several professionals from companies like Monsanto and MasterCard attend to

discuss

interview

and

job-hunt

techniques.”

Cell phone and social media usage, Wehrli said, are an important part of that discussion.

“Proper

manners

text during a meeting. If you experience the same contradictory emotions about smart phones and our incessant need to stay connected, you are not alone. Human resource

professionals

and

etiquette

experts are beginning to take a serious look at the situation.

Career

consultant

explained

to

Forbes

decorum

are

essential,” she said. “It’s not unusual to see

Business Etiquette For Dummies, said, on a phone, working on a computer – I think it’s ill manners. It’s very rude.”

In a Huffington Post article by Debra Olivier,

syndicated

columnist

Amy

Alkon does not mince words regarding her opinion about the use of cell phones in public and business situations. “We have become self-centered. Me! Me! Me! Generation rudeness.”

Despite the fact that some employers and etiquette experts find this kind of

behavior

disrespectful,

mobile

device users continue to receive calls and respond to texts or emails during meetings and discussions. What has

Vicky

Oliver

magazine

that

focusing intensely on a mobile device is a way of telling others to back off.

and

the Associated Press, Sue Fox, author of “If you’re doing other work – talking

the same critical error.

interview

In an interview with Stan Gilliland of

caused this shift in behavior? The previous generation would not have dreamed of taking a call or responding in writing to a message in the middle of a business conversation.

Wehrli

“That’s like acting like you’re in an

believes the immediacy of texts, email

isolation tank,” she said. “It sends a

and tweets has caused this disconnect.

Continued On Page 6

5

Our Town

J u l y / A u g u s t 2 012

Continued From Page 5

“There’s a kind of shorthand now, a lack

tweet about the content so that those

texting. The way media is used is

of formal communication. Common

who did not attend can follow the

determined

courtesy has gone by the wayside,”

conversation. Others think it’s very

Behaviors become acceptable because

she said.

rude and unprofessional to be focused

of implicit and explicit intuitions users

on

have developed through interactions

Are

administrators

doing

anything

about the problem?

“An employer has never asked me about mobile device policy,” said Beth QuickAndrews. Quick-Andrews is the Chapter Administrator for the St. Louis chapter

your

phone

instead

of

being

with

fully present.”

For example, several states’ senate houses have banned the use of cell phones and laptops on the floor. Some allow their use, but restrict Internet connectivity.

by

their

idioms

friends,

of

practice.

family

and

coworkers. In other words, today’s young professionals may text during a meeting because they have consistently engaged in this behavior with their family and peers without consequence.

of the Human Resource Management

Quick-Andrews and others think the

Association, an affiliate of the Society

gap between these two ideologies is a

For Human Resource Management. She

generational one. Young, early-career

“It depends on the profession you are in,”

said employers have policies regarding

professionals rely on email and texting

says Quick-Andrews.

the use of social media, but generally

to communicate. They are tethered to

do not regulate cell phone or laptop

their smart phones and don’t mind that

usage. That may be because they don’t

others are, too. “Old school” professionals

really see the use of mobile devices as a

(like seasoned state senators) value more

problem at all.

face-to-face interaction and undivided

“There of

are

thought,”

basically

two

schools

Quick-Andrews

said.

attention.

Professor

Some companies will be accepting and even

encouraging

during

meetings

of

multi-tasking

and

conversations.

Others will consider the behavior rude.

Know your audience. Etiquette experts advise: if in doubt, err on the side of

Ilana

Gershon

decided

to

“Some people have no problem with

explore what led to the wide-spread

multitasking. For example, at some

social acceptance of what some label

professional conferences, the presenters

as poor behavior. In her book The Breakup 2.0: Disconnecting over

encourage attendees to

Does it matter which team you choose?

New Media, she explains that the new generation has a very different “media ideology” about email

and

caution and put the phone away.

Business etiquette can be tricky to navigate, especially when it comes to mobile devices and social media.

Technology has progressed faster than related

social

paradigms

can

catch

up. The simple fact is, no one knows the rules because they haven’t been established. More time has to pass for everyone to get on the same page about what is and isn’t acceptable behavior.

It’s not a strict formula, Quick-Andrews said. Courtesy is about common sense.

“Connectivity has changed,” she said. “We have to redefine what it means. There are a lot of benefits to our use of mobile devices. It’s a way of making our communication more vibrant, more expansive.

We have social media and electronic

communication

in

addition to face-to-face interaction.

Sometimes it’s very productive to be able to stay connected. However, you have to be respectful of the person in front of you. You have to be present. It’s good to unplug.”

END 6

Our Town

J u l y / A u g u s t 2 012

Preparedness Planning for Your Business Information from ready.gov Businesses can do much to prepare for the impact of the many hazards they face in today’s world including natural hazards like floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and widespread serious illness such as the H1N1 flu virus pandemic. Human-caused hazards include accidents, acts of violence by people and acts of terrorism. Examples of technology-related hazards are the failure or malfunction of systems, equipment or software.

Ready Business will assist businesses in developing a preparedness program by providing tools to create a plan that addresses the impact of many hazards.

This website and its tools utilize an “all hazards approach” and follows the program elements within National Fire Protection Association 1600, Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs.

NFPA 1600 is an American National Standard and has been adopted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

have

- Employ about half of all private sector employees

• Insurance is only a partial solution. It does not cover all losses and it will not replace customers.

- Have generated 65 percent of net new jobs over the past 17 years

who can a plan.

demonstrate

they

• Many disasters — natural or humanca us ed — m ay ove rw he lm t he resources of even the largest public agencies. Or they may not be able to reach every facility in time.

• News travels fast and perceptions often differ from reality. Businesses need to reach out to customers and other stakeholders quickly.

• An Ad Council survey reported that nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of respondents said they do not have an emergency plan in place for their business.

• According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses: - R epresent 99.7 percent of all employer firms

- Made up 97.5 percent of all identified exporters.

How much should be invested in a preparedness program depends upon many factors. Regulations establish minimum requirements and beyond these minimums each business needs to determine how much risk it can tolerate. Many risks cannot be insured, so a preparedness program may be the only means of managing those risks. Some risks can be reduced by investing in loss prevention programs, protection systems and equipment. An understanding of the likelihood and severity of risk and the costs to reduce risk is needed to make decisions.

For more information, and to obtain details on all five steps, please visit ready.gov.

END

Th e five st eps i n d evel opi ng a p reparedness progra m a re: Program Management, Planning, Implementation, Testing and Exercises and Program Improvement.

The preparedness program is built on a foundation of management leadership, commitment and financial su p p ort . Wit hout ma na gemen t commitment and financial support, it will be difficult to build the program, maintain resources and keep the program up-to-date.

www.IMSbarter.com

It is impo rtant t o i nves t i n a preparedness program. The following are good reasons: • Up to 40 percent of businesses affected by a natural or human-caused disaster never reopen. (Source: Insurance Information Institute) • Customers expect delivery of products or services on time. If there is a significant delay, customers may go to a competitor.

• Larger businesses are asking their suppliers about preparedness. They want to be sure that their supply chain is not interrupted. Failure to implement a preparedness program risks losing business to competitors

You’ll Come for the Friendship

You’ll Stay for the Music

The Villa at Riverwood offers more fun-filled activities than any other community. And those activities create a sense of camaraderie in a home-like atmosphere. The Villa at Riverwood has something for everyone. We’ll keep your mind and body active with games, live entertainment, day trips, or just enjoy your privacy. You will never be bored or lonely here! #1 Pratt Place Florissant, MO 63031 314.839.5000

Carolyn Marty

Greater North County Chamber to Host 2012 Scholarship Bowl The Greater North County Chamber of Commerce will sponsor its 2012 Scholarship Bowl on Wednesday, August 1. The event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at AMF Dick Weber Lanes, 4575 Washington St. in Florissant.

The proceeds from the Scholarship Bowl fund the chamber’s scholarship program, which annually awards scholarships to area high school seniors. The following students each received a $1,000 scholarship this year: Carolina Cruz, Hazelwood West High School; Lia Hanenburg, Hazelwood West High School; Travis Johnson, McCluer-South-Berkeley High School; Nicholas Nemerguth, Trinity Catholic

GNCC President

High School; Ennis Randle, Riverview Gardens Senior High School; and Mia Watkins, Crossroads College Preparatory School.

The cost is $25 per person, which includes three games, shoes, drinks and food.

Greater North 2012 Chamber Directory is Now Available

Sponsorships are available: Strike Sponsor, $300, includes a team of six players; Drink Sponsor, $150; Lane Sponsor, $100 and Frame Sponsor, $75.

All sponsors receive signage and a listing in the program.

For more information, call the chamber office at 314.831.3500 or visit greaternorthcountychamber.com

The Greater North County Chamber of Commerce recently published its 2012 Member Directory.

Gregory Insurance Agency Hosts Grand Opening Rose and Michael Gregory of the Gregory Insurance Agency cut the ribbon during the recent grand opening celebration of their new business at 12765 New Halls Ferry Rd. in Florissant. Joining them in

The 48-page directory includes a listing for each of the chamber’s more than 400 members. The directory makes it easy for fellow members and the community

the celebration were several members of the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce. For more information on the Gregory Insurance Agency, call 314.837.4854.

to “Shop Chamber First” when looking for services or products. It’s a great resource to use when you’re looking to do business locally.

The directory also contains a list of organizations and service clubs in the Greater North County Chamber service area,

Photo by Debbie Wright

which

Neighbors, Florissant, Old

includes Black

Bellefontaine

Jack,

Hazelwood,

Jamestown,

Spanish

Ferguson, Jennings, Lake

and

surrounding areas of unincorporated St. Louis County.

For free copies of the directory, please call the chamber office at 314.831.3500.

8

Our Town

J u l y / A u g u s t 2 012

More than 100 golfers enjoyed a beautiful day and great golfing at the 2012 Greater North County Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament. The event was held on June 8 at the Golf Club of Florissant.

Co-Title Sponsors of the tournament were Commercial Bank and Lutheran Senior Services at Hidden Lake.

Players enjoyed competing in several events,

including

Hole-in-One

the

Ford

Challenge,

Escape

sponsored

by Paul Cerame Auto Group; Closest to the Pin, sponsored by Nimmons Wealth Management; Closest to the Line, sponsored by Handyman True Value Hardware; and Putting Contest, sponsored by Gettemeier’s Bar & Grill.

They also enjoyed drinks on the course, sponsored by The Villa at Riverwood; and

dinner

courtesy

of

Longhorn

Steakhouse.

The winners of the “A” Flight were: Al Heinermann, Shannon Hawkins, David Bahrenburg and Tom Jacobsmeyer.

The winners of the “B” Flight were: Dr. John Boain, Dr. Kennith Link, Dan Northup and Mark Bretz.

The winner of our first annual Mayor’s Challenge was Mayor James Knowles III with the city of Ferguson. This will be a traveling trophy and will be awarded annually at our golf tournament.

Corporate sponsors included American Eagle Credit Union, Christian Hospital, Crystal Creek Health & Rehabilitation Center,

IESI

Waste

and

Recycling

Systems, Labor Ready, Mississippi Valley Roofing, Pirrone’s Pizzeria, SSM DePaul Health Center, The Bridge at Florissant, US Bank, Waste Management and Zykan Family Partnership.

9

Our Town

J u l y / A u g u s t 2 012

Greater North County Chamber of Commerce | greaternorthcountychamber.com | 314.831.3500

Great Turnout at the Greater North County Chamber Golf Tournament

Northwest Chamber of Commerce Membership Numbers are on the Rise The Northwest Chamber of Commerce

visitors are always welcome. Please note,

welcomed 25 new members in May

the chamber meetings have been filling

and June, and there are more prospects

up quickly. Spaces cannot be guaranteed

for July. Members are excited about

for those that do not pre-register.

the growth and have started to spread the word. If you are interested in attending a networking or membership meeting

for

a

visit,

northwestchamber.com

please and

visit

register

The Northwest Chamber is proud to welcome the new members who joined in May and June and look forward to welcoming more this year.

your attendance. Meetings are held the second Thursday of each month and 2012 May new members left to right are pictured with Chairman of the Board Jerry Hart from Valley Industries.

Myra Aucoin Rowan and Bill Adams from NSC Diversified, Barb Krug and Joanie Lang

Northwest Chamber’s Mingle at the Mills Fundraiser Offers Great Fun at NASCAR SpeedPark in Hazelwood St. Louis Mills is the place to be for racing excitement, chicken wings and a car cruise

with Valenti’s Market & Catering, Alice Vierck from Legal Shield.

2012 June new members are pictured with Chairman of the Board Jerry Hart from Valley Industries. Kim Henson from Circle of Marketing, Hal Loewenstein with CREATRAC, Holly Meyer from Glass America, Amanda Holmes from Mobile Eye Care Solutions, Todd Abolt from St. Ann Assisted Living Center.

10

Our Town

J u l y / A u g u s t 2 012

Mark Your Calendars for the 9th Annual Mingle at the Mills. The event will be held from 4 to 10 p.m. on Friday, September 14. Experience the thrill of speed as the Northwest Chamber of Commerce, with NASCAR SpeedPark,

Come out and enjoy this fast-paced outdoor, family-friendly event featuring go-kart races, a chicken wing cook-off, a car cruise, live music, and delicious food and beverages. Those who love the competitive atmosphere of racing may sign up as a charity race driver and try to win up to $500 for their favorite charity. Fifty percent of the entry fees collected for each race will go to the winner’s charity of choice, totaling up to $500. (A portion of the race entry fees, Mayor’s Challenge Cup raffle, and event sales will benefit area charities, the Chamber Scholarship Fund and the Northwest Chamber of Commerce.)

Individuals may also have fun racing their family members, friends, and business associates in several Challenge Cup Go-Kart Races. These races take place in between the Charity Go-Kart Races for a small entry fee. Fields of 10 drivers compete in each heat for a chance to earn a spot in the Challenge Cup Final Race held at the end of the night’s events with a great prize for the winner. Participants may race multiple times in the Charity Go-Kart Races.

The grand finale will be the running of the 9th Annual Mayor’s Challenge Cup. This is a 20-lap, go-kart race that pits mayors representing many North St. Louis County communities against each other. The race is scheduled to begin at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Admission to the Mingle at the Mills is free and open to the public. It’s a fun, family event that generates a lot of excitement while the races are running. For more information, contact the Northwest Chamber of Commerce at 314.291.2131 or visit northwestchamber.com.

The View from the Other Side of the Desk

by Brian Goldman I started as a member of the Northwest Chamber of Commerce in March 1999.

I was a regular member and started to get involved when one of the longtime board members, Bette O’Keefe (God rest her soul), came in to my store and told me that I had to be on the Golf Committee. I wound up serving on the board of directors for nine years, working or chairing every special event the chamber held, eventually working my way up to become Chairman of the Board. I have been in the chamber office hundreds of times over the years, but always sat on the visitor’s side of the desk.

The view is a lot different now that I am sitting in the driver’s seat on the other side of the desk. Everyone out there who has been a member of a chamber, volunteered on a chamber committee, or sat on the board of directors thinks he or she knows how the chamber works. I can tell you firsthand there is so much more to this than you realize.

There are the members that show up once a month for a meeting and have no idea the amount of planning that goes into that luncheon to make sure it runs smoothly. I guess that is the best compliment that our office can get is that everything ran smoothly (if only they could see us running around like maniacs the night before).

Another thing that is different for me is the amount of bosses that I have.

Besides the fact that every member of the chamber is technically my boss, we

have a 24-person board of directors that I report to, plus a chairman of the board.

While we are at it, I have an amazing office manager that has forgotten more about this job than I will ever know, and on paper I supervise her, but in reality I definitely work for her. So that whole President/CEO title they gave me really doesn’t mean a whole lot.

I always took pride in the fact that I can multitask and have a lot of projects going on at the same time. The chamber office is one big multitasking project, and it changes every day and sometimes every hour. Tina (my real boss) and I have a plan of things we want/need to do every day. Then the phone rings and we need to do this, or now we need to do that, or go meet this member, or drop off a new member packet or … it is not a job that you can say, “ I will get to that when I finish this.”

One of the things that I love the most about this job is the fact that I get to, wait, what was that? One of the board members is on the phone? O.K., I can talk to them for a minute, what? A member here to see me, O.K. let me just, What? I have to go the ribbon cutting now? But I have to finish my article for the Our Town Magazine. The deadline is today and I want to make sure I get the part about ... well, I have a member (boss) here to talk, a board member (boss), on the phone, and Tina (office manager / boss) is sending me to a ribbon cutting.

I will have to fill you in on more behind the scenes at the Northwest Chamber another time.

Mayors at the Mingle The Mayor’s Cup Challenge Race is a big hit at Mingle at the Mills. Pictured standing are the mayors who participated in 2011. Michael Schneider from Overland, Lee Taylor from St. John, Lawrence (Butch) Besmer from Woodson Terrace, John Gwaltney from Edmundson, James McGee from Vinita Park, Matt Robinson from Hazelwood, and Conrad Bowers from Bridgeton. Kneeling are racers representing mayors from more North St. Louis County municipalities.

11

Our Town

J u l y / A u g u s t 2 012

Northwest Chamber of Commerce | northwestchamber.com | 314.291.2131

provides drivers the chance to race the go-karts on the Family 500 Track at St. Louis Mills in Hazelwood.

Kim Braddy MHCC President

MHCC Ribbon Cuttings Glickert Chiropractic & Nutrition Center Glickert Chiropractic & Nutrition Center is committed to providing you with the highest quality chiropractic care. They are dedicated to helping people get out of pain quickly, and keep them out of pain. They are located at 2108 Schuetz Road, Maryland Heights. To learn more, visit glickertchiropractic.com

Electro Savings Credit Union “Experience the Difference” was the theme of Electro Savings Credit Union’s grand re-opening celebration held at its Maryland Heights branch on May 24. The celebration included a ribbon cutting with the Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce to commemorate the completion of renovations to the branch, located at 1805 Craigshire Dr. Please visit ElectroSavings.com to learn more about the credit union.

12

Our Town

J u l y / A u g u s t 2 012

The Maryland Heights Chamber of

Pattonville High School; Kara Smiley,

Commerce continued its tradition of

Parkway

The Maryland Heights Chamber of

supporting academic achievement by

Anthony Henderson, Parkway North

Commerce

awarding college scholarships totaling

High School (not pictured.) Three of

$9,500 to six graduating seniors. Winners

the scholarships were made possible

were David Lindsay, Pattonville High

through matching funds contributed

School;

by Ranken Jordan, a Pediatric Specialty

Philanthropic

is in need of raffle items.

Committee Education

Raffles are held at luncheons, and there is a monthly raffle, too. Any items or services donated are welcome. Every raffle dollar sold goes to the Education

Scholarships Awarded

Kristen

Hanna,

Pattonville

High School; Shawna Lawson, Parkway

Hospital,

North High School; Jessica Hohenstein,

Weber Inc.

North

High

Edward

Jones

School;

and

and

Fred

Foundation, which provides scholarships to local students. For more information, or to make a donation, please contact the Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce office at 314.576.6603.

Also,

throughout

the

summer

the

chamber will collect school items to donate to local schools. Please bring items such as crayons, safety scissors, glue, colored pencils, etc. to the chamber office or any summer chamber event.

2013 Community Guide to be Printed in December The Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce will print the 2013 Community Guide in December.

The guide will be a one-stop shop for residents seeking local services and products. Because the guide will direct consumers toward chamber member businesses, appearing in the guide is an excellent way to advertise your business to potential customers. For 2013 rates and information and to get your name in the book, log on to mhcc.com.

In January, this publication will be distributed to 17,000 businesses and residents.

13

Our Town

J u l y / A u g u s t 2 012

Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce | mhcc.com | 314.576.6603

Items Needed for Education Raffle

Rebecca Zoll, NCI President & CEO Photo by Kent Miller Photography

North County Incorporated Honors Community Leaders Making a Difference in North St. Louis County Public Service Awards were presented to outstanding individuals, elected, appointed, or employed by a public body whose long-time service has had a positive impact on the community and/or public body they serve. Dr. Cheryl Compton, superintendent of the Ritenour School District; Brian Fletcher, former mayor, city of Ferguson; Ann Gibbons, Hazelwood School District Board member; and Mayor Monica Huddleston, city of Greendale were this year’s Public Service Award recipients.

Front row, left to right: Shelly Beckemeier (Express Scripts), Kim Braddy (Maryland Heights Chamber), Dr. Cheryl Compton (Ritenour School District), Ann Gibbons (Hazelwood School Dist.), Jerrilyn Eberhart (City of Berkeley), Back row, left to right: Mayor Monica Huddleston (City of Greendale), Brian Fletcher (Ferguson), Ron McMullen (Christian Hospital), Hubert H. Hoosman, Jr. (Vantage Credit Union), Joe Bohnenkemper (Jennings Do-Dads), Ken Smith (Old Jamestown Assoc.), Rod Nunn (St. Louis Community College Workforce Solutions Group), Patty Gould (2011 NCI Board Chair, Pattonville School Dist.), Lillie Dumas (Commerce Bank).

As part of the organization’s 35th Annual Breakfast celebration, North County Incorporated (NCI) recognized several area leaders for making a significant positive impact in North County. At a sold-out event on Friday, May 18, more than 550 business, civic, and community leaders gathered to honor this year’s award recipients.

Lillie Dumas received the prestigious Elmer Belsha Leadership Award. This award is presented annually to an individual who has made a long-term commitment to NCI and the North County region, and has had a positive impact on the community and/or public body that they serve.

Employed by Commerce Bank for 29 years, Dumas is currently the Vice President and Branch Manager of the Florissant branch located on

Lindbergh. Dumas became a North County Inc. board member in 2004 and became part of the Executive Board in 2006. Currently, Dumas is NCI’s Membership Committee Chair.

NCI’s Business Development Awards were presented to those whose efforts have positively affected the economic development and business climate of the North County area. These awards were presented to Express Scripts, Northwest HealthCare, and St. Louis Community College-Corporate College.

NCI’s Community Development Awards were presented to those whose efforts positively benefit youth, residents, civic organizations, or others through selfless acts. Kim Braddy, the Jennings Do-Dads and Ken Smith were chosen for this award.

14

Our Town

J u l y / A u g u s t 2 012

Special Recognition Awards were presented to outstanding individuals who, through their business and volunteer services, exemplify leadership and service to the North County community, are dedicated to helping others, and improving the business environment and/or lives of those they serve. Jerrilyn Eberhart and Hubert H. Hoosman were honored with this award.

NCI’s 35th Annual Breakfast presenting sponsors were: HDR and SSM DePaul Health Center. The corporate plus sponsors for this event were: Bommarito of Hazelwood, Nissan, Honda, Volkswagen and Ford; St. Louis Community College Florissant Valley; U.S. Bank and Walmart. And the corporate sponsors for this event were: Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers; Christian Hospital; Commerce Bank; Community News; Favazza & Associates, LLC; Firestone; Johnny Londoff Chevrolet; NorthPark Partners; SSM Rehabilitation Hospital; St. Louis County; and St. Louis County Economic Council.

North County Inc. (NCI), along with

professional, excels at his/her company,

at the NCI Salutes 30 Leaders in their

media partners Community News and

is a committed volunteer who uses his/

Thirties reception and luncheon. The

Gateway Television News Network, are

her leadership skills for the betterment

public is invited to attend this event

seeking nominations for this year’s

of a civic or charity organization, is

at

NCI Salutes 30 Leaders in their Thirties

a municipal employee who, through

21 at Norwood Hills Country Club.

campaign.

proactive

Reservations are required. The cost

The 2012 NCI Salutes 30

involvement,

is

helping

11:30

a.m.

on

Friday,

September

Leaders in their Thirties campaign

create a more livable community, or

is $40 per person.

will recognize leaders who are making

an

become

interested in sponsoring this event

a significant positive impact on North

successful and is giving back to North

and supporting North County’s young

County through their profession and/

County. To nominate someone, please

leaders,

or community involvement and are in

call NCI for a nomination form or

available.

their thirties.

visit

reservations,

Nominees are in their thirties and work and/or live in North County.

Each

nominee

is

an

outstanding

entrepreneur

who

has

NorthStLouisCounty.com.

All

packages

are

To make a nomination, or

sponsor

this

event

contact the NCI office at 314.895.6241 or

2012.

visit NorthStLouisCounty.com.

The 30 leaders chosen will be honored

North County Incorporated, Regional

“U.S.

Development Association’s Chairwoman

partner and supporter of the regional

Sandy

President/CEO

development work that North County

Rebecca Zoll, accepted a $10,000 check

Inc. does on behalf of the businesses and

from U.S. Bank’s Scott Schneider at the

communities that we serve throughout

organization’s 35th Annual Breakfast

North County,” Zoll said. “We want to

& Awards Reception on May 18.

This

thank the U.S. Bank Foundation for

grant from the U.S. Bank Foundation

their continued support of our economic

will be used to launch our new Business

development initiatives.”

and

sponsorship

nominations are required by July 16,

North County Inc., Regional Development Association Receives U.S. Bank Grant Weber,

If a company is

Bank

has

been

a

long-time

Retention Program for North St. Louis

NCI 35th Anniversary Fundraiser Date

July 22, 2012

Place

Hendel’s Market Café and Piano Bar

599 St. Denis Street in Florissant

Time

5:30 p.m.

Celebration and Silent Auction

6 p.m.

Five-Course Dinner with Wine Pairing

County.

Cost

US Bank presents $10,000 grant to NCI. Pictured from left to right are: NCI Board Chair Sandy Weber, NCI President/ CEO Rebecca Zoll and U.S. Bank’s Scott Schneider.

$85 per person North County Incorporated will host its 35th Anniversary Fundraiser on July 22. The event will feature an elegant five-course dinner with wine pairing and silent auction.

Chef Nathan Bennett will prepare the meal and a wine pairing expert will be present to advise diners.

There is room for only 80 attendees.

Make your reservation soon.

Registration is available online and at the chamber office. For more information call 314.895.6241.

Cocktail attire is required.

15

Our Town

J u l y / A u g u s t 2 012

North County Incorporated, Regional Development Association | northstlouiscounty.com | 314.895.6241

NCI Requests Nominees for NCI Salutes 30 Leaders in Their Thirties Honor

The Real Skinny on Search Engine Optimization

by Ken Tucker Ken Tucker is the founder of Changescape Web (www. changescapeweb. com), a company focused on helping businesses grow through effective online marketing and website design.

Most small business owners I talk to want to develop a website for one primary reason – to improve their ability to be found online. This is referred to as Search Engine optimization (SEO).

Let me say this right up front – SEO is hard work. It’s not easy nor cheap. And it is constantly changing.

We’ve all receive the spam emails and the unsolicited phone calls from vendors promising to get your business on the first page of the search engine results. These are almost always hollow promises.

There are four effective ways I know to improve findability online: Local Search, Organic Search, Social Media, and Paid Ads. To determine the right mix and strategy for your business you first need to focus on your business goals and objectives. It is important to understand the pros and cons of each of the four ways.

Local Search: Establishing a Name, Address and Phone Number (NAP) on websites that display search results based on the location of the business.

If your business is local, this is the most important thing you can do for short-term and long-term results.

Claiming you “place” on these websites is very important so you can ensure the

information is accurate and you can update it. You can also optimize these types of sites.

The challenge with Local Search is that there are hundreds of these sites on the Web. It can be time consuming so I recommend using a NAP management tool. The most important sites are Google + Local (formerly Google Places), Yahoo Local, and Bing Business Portal.

Don’t forget about smart phone apps designed to help find local businesses.

When someone searches the Web for “plumber Hazelwood MO” these Local Search sites show results on a map of the business listing along with reviews of the business.

Organic Search: These are the efforts you put into your website to make it more findable. Site architecture, page URLs, page title, header tags, alt tags, keyword rich anchor text, the content on each page – are some of the criteria search engines use to index a Web page. Note: Google uses more than 200 criteria.

Content is king for organic search.

Every page gives your website an opportunity to be found for a specific search phrase. So having more Web pages is a very important factor. This as an investment for the future findability of your website.

It is estimated that Google assigns about 25 percent of the search rank weight based on the content and design of your website. The remaining 75 percent comes from other websites linking to a page on your website. Not all links carry the same weight. Search engines look at the authority and relevance of the website that links to your website.

Note: Your website linking to another website does not help your website be more findable.

Organic Search efforts can take several months to show benefits, but they continue to provide value as long as the Web pages are on your website. This is the most cost effective strategy over the long haul, and it is the only strategy that you own and control.

Social Media: Sites like Facebook, Twitter, Google+ LinkedIn, YouTube, Foursquare, and Pinterest have become extremely important in making it easier to find your business online. Social Media sites are online destinations, where people spend as much or more time than they do watching television. Since people are spending more and more time on these sites, having your business found via these sites has become a great source… driving people to your social media profile or your website. I’ll address social media in more detail in another article.

Continued On Page 18

16

Our Town

J u l y / A u g u s t 2 012

Calendar of Events July 3

NWCC Lunch Networking, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Syberg’s Restaurant

July 10

NWCC Tuesday Morning Coffee & Networking, 7:30 - 8:30 a.m., Corner Coffee House

July 17

NWCC Lunch Networking, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Syberg’s Restaurant

July 18

Greater North County Chamber Membership Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Debonaire Banquet Center & Catering

July 24

NWCC Tuesday Morning Coffee & Networking, 7:30 - 8:30 a.m., Corner Coffee House

August 1

Greater North County Chamber Scholarship Bowl, 6 - 9 p.m., AMF Dick Weber Lanes

August 1

MHCC New Member Orientation, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m., Wingate by Wyndham St. Louis/Riverport

August 2

MHCC Breakfast Club Networking, 7:30 – 9 a.m., DJ’s Deli

August 7

NWCC Lunch Networking, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Syberg’s Restaurant

August 8

MHCC Member Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Dave & Buster’s

August 14

NWCC Tuesday Morning Coffee & Networking, 7:30 - 8:30 a.m., Corner Coffee House

August 15

Greater North County Chamber Membership Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Location TBA.

August 16

MHCC Breakfast Club Networking, 7:30 – 9 a.m., DJ’s Deli

August 21

NWCC Lunch Networking, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Syberg’s Restaurant

August 21

MHCC Business After Hours, 5 – 7 p.m., Hooter’s

August 28

NWCC Tuesday Morning Coffee & Networking, 7:30 - 8:30 a.m., Corner Coffee House

www.jeffowens-insurance.com

www.cn-video.com

att.com

Continued From Page 16

Paid Ads: Advertising on search engines or social media sites can be a great way to drive short-term results. Setting up ads is relatively easy and can begin driving results within hours or days.

www.stcharlesconventioncenter.com

Paid ads can be costly and to optimize their performance they need to be managed, so you can’t just create an ad and forget it to keep it performing effectively. Also consider whether the type of ads you are running show up on mobile devices. Ads and websites

that you pay to be listed on only work as long as you continue to pay for them, whereas an organic effort builds assets that continue to add value over time.

People are using the Web to find what they are looking for, so being able to find your business online is critical. Before you choose an approach, work with an expert who can help you understand the pros and cons of each approach as it relates to your business. One size does not fit all. END

Service Is Our Business We can find you the best coverage at a competitive price and provide the service to take care of all the details.

Moellering & Niehoff INSURANCE

Auto • Home • Health • Life • Business

314.831.8080

Call now for a FREE quote.

Ron Peach Since 1942

www.rhf.org www.gibsonprinting.com

Welcome To Whirlpool速 Home Appliances

KEEVEN APPLIANCE Sales Service Parts 90 Days Same As Cash

Family owned & operated since 1955 FLORISSANT 3350 Parker Rd. 314-837-2723 ST. CHARLES 1976 Old Hwy 94 S. 636-949-2555

commercebank.com

ssmdrs.com

Presorted Std US Postage

PAID

St. Louis, MO Permit 2828

und • Auricula Pe 4D Ultraso • r Th y r lv e g era Sur ic S c i t o b Ro py urg • g n i g a ery • Gy necologic Care • Im

2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Drive O’Fallon, MO 63366

GENESIS OB/GYN Obstetrics and Gynecology Our Services • Comprehensive OB/GYN care from the adolescent’s first gynecologic exam through the challenges of menopause.

• daVinci Robotic assisted Hysterectomy procedures.

• Diagnosis and management of HPV related diseases, including abnormal PAP smears, inoffice treatment of pre-cancerous conditions of the cervix, and administration of the new HPV vaccine for prevention of cervical cancer.

• Pelvic and obstetrical ultrasounds performed in our office by a certified ultrasound technician including 3D. • ISCD certified bone density testing and osteoporosis counseling.

Left to right: Caroline Werner - MD, FACOG, Angela L. Cartwright - DO, FACOG, Anne Piche-Radley - MD, FACOG, Chris Gilmer - Nurse Practitioner, Ann Venegoni - Nurse Practitioner, Sharon Latham - Nurse Practitioner

• In-office laboratory for blood drawing and urinalysis.

• Family planning including birth control pills, patches and ring, in-office procedures IUDs (Mirena and Paraguard), Implanon, outpatient procedure including tubal ligation.

• Treatment of uterine fibroids, treatment of ovarian cysts, evaluation of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), sexually transmitted infection screening and treatment, vaginal infections and testing and treatment of abnormal pap smears.

Hospital Affiliations • DePaul Health Center • St. John’s Mercy Medical Center • Missouri Baptist Medical Center A Division of

12266 DePaul Drive, Suite 200 Bridgeton, MO 63044

314.291.2975 www.genesis.com Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Closed on Saturday and Sunday Early morning & evening hours available.