North County Thrives Even in Down Economy
Plus: Are You An Informed Investor? Plan Ahead for Your Online Hereafter
September/October 2013
September/October 2013
Our Town Contents 8 C over Story
I grew up in North County in Jennings, Florissant, and Bellefontaine Neighbors. Hard work, an entrepreneurial spirit, family values, and no pretense were hallmarks of the culture that I absorbed. That is why I am so proud, and not totally surprised, at the good news in this issue’s cover story about the economic resilience of North County. When you read the article, you will be impressed with the depth and breadth of the job growth and capitol investments. But also, please read between the lines. The economic growth can be credited to the hard work of our dedicated civic leaders and to the efforts of our uniquely special, regional development organization, North County Inc., and the area’s chambers of commerce.
North County Thrives Even In Down Economy
4 FINANCE Are You an Informed Investor? Know Your Financial Service Providers
6 E xpert Advice Plan Ahead for Your Online Hereafter Asset Protection Lawyer Offers 3 Steps to Take Now By Hillel L. Presser, Esq., MBA
18 The Medical Memo Exercise – Keep Up the Good Work By David Dorsey, MD, Family Medicine, SSM Medical Group Primary Care
19 Calendar of Events County Business Development 10 12 14 16
North County is a special place. Its citizens remain hard working, entrepreneurial, value-based, and without pretense. It is the same place from where I graduated high school and went away to college. In that out-of-town, college, I met other students from other parts of St. Louis who were proud of their area. When I told them I grew up in North County, they would say, “oh, I’m from West County,” or “oh, I’m from South County,” and I would politely think to myself, “oh, that’s too bad.”
Greater North County Chamber of Commerce Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce North County Incorporated, Regional Development Association Northwest Chamber of Commerce
VOL 4 / NO 5
Our Town is a Community News publication. It is published every other month and direct-mailed to 7,150 business executives in North and Northwest St. Louis county, plus online circulation. Online subscriptions are FREE and available at www.mycnews.com 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 - Shannon Cothran Staff Writer - DeAnna Massie Contributing Writer - David Dorsey, MD and Hillel L. Presser, Esq., MBA
Thank you for reading Our Town.
Photographer - Ray Rockwell Art Director/Creative Design - Terrie Dehn, TJD Studio Copyright 2013 Huneke Publications, Inc. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the express written consent of the publisher. ON THE COVER: Pictured from left to right are Clayton Brown, CEO, International Companies and Mark Branstetter, partner, Panattoni Development Company. The men are pictured at the new Aviator Business Park. Ray Rockwell Photography
Robert Huneke Publisher
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FINANCE Are You an Informed Investor?
Know Your Financial Service Providers advice about securities and other investment products and provide ongoing management of investments based on clients’ objectives.
This Informed Investor Advisory is brought to you by the Missouri Investor Protection Center, a member of the North American Securities Administrators Association. For more investor alerts and advisories, visit the NASAA website at www.nasaa.org.
Generally, the term investment adviser refers to a firm rather than an individual; an individual in a firm is known as an investment adviser representative.
Whether you are just starting a retirement fund or need additional help with growing and managing your money, you may benefit from selecting an investment services professional. Finding a person who is knowledgeable, affordable, and trustworthy may be a challenging process. This advisory provides basic information on three types of financial services professionals and their obligations to you as a client: broker-dealer agents, investment adviser representatives, and financial planners. An individual professional can hold any of these three credentials or titles, among others.
adviser, investment consultant, salesperson, or registered representative. Brokers are typically compensated by transaction-based commissions—that is, the client pays a fee every time the broker buys or sells securities on the client’s behalf. Brokers are obligated to make sure the securities they recommend are suitable for clients based upon factors such as the client’s risk tolerance, age, and investment goals. It is possible that brokers may recommend investments that appear suitable but may not be optimal for investors’ objectives. Because of the manner in which they are compensated, it is possible for brokers to have incentives to sell financial products that may not entirely align with clients’ goals.
Broker-Dealer Agents Broker-dealer agents sell securities and other investment products. Generally, the term broker-dealer refers to a firm rather than an individual; an individual in a firm is known as a broker-dealer agent. A broker-dealer agent may be informally referred to as any of the following, among others: broker, stockbroker, financial consultant, financial
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In some instances, an investment adviser is operated by only one person and, in this case, the individual is both the investment adviser and the investment adviser representative. With the distinction sometimes difficult to discern, investment adviser representatives are often commonly referred to as investment advisers. Investment advisers may be referred to by a variety of titles, among others: investment manager, investment counsel, asset manager, wealth manager, or portfolio manager. Clients may grant their advisers discretionary authority to make decisions about investments without prior approval. Investment advisers have a fiduciary responsibility to put clients’ interests ahead of their own when providing investment advice. Because investment advisers give continuous comprehensive investment advice, they are considered to be acting in a fiduciary role; by contrast a broker who serves clients on a transactional basis is not considered to be a fiduciary. Investment advisers typically charge a flat rate or an asset-based fee. The compensation structure must be disclosed to the client.
Financial Planners Financial planners design an overall plan for their clients to save, invest, and manage their money. Planners who provide specific investment advice— such as recommending particular financial products or investments—must be
registered or licensed as investment adviser representatives and are subject to a fiduciary duty. The fee structures charged by financial planners vary greatly and are dependent on whether they are licensed or registered. Financial planners may charge hourly, flat, or asset-based fees, or they could earn commissions based upon the purchase of recommended products. Whether you choose a broker, investment adviser, or financial planner, make sure you verify the person’s registration or license, background, and employment history by contacting your state or provincial securities regulator. Every broker and investment adviser must be properly registered or licensed. Each is assigned a unique identification number by the Central Registration Depository (CRD), a nationwide database jointly maintained by state securities regulators and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). This CRD number corresponds to the associated individual’s information, including employment history, certifications, licenses, registrations, and disciplinary actions.
Background information is available through the Missouri Investor Protection Center. In addition, you may obtain information regarding a broker or investment adviser through FINRA’s BrokerCheck database, available at www.finra.org/investors/toolscalculators/brokercheck or through the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website, www.adviser. info.sec.gov. Financial planners may be certified by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board). A certified financial planner’s background can be checked through a database maintained by the CFP Board available at www.cfp.net.
Questions to ask: • What services do you offer? • What licenses, registrations, qualifications, and experience do you have to offer these services? • Are you a broker, investment adviser, financial planner or any combination thereof? • Can you provide me with your CRD number, and, if not, why not? • Are you required to always act in my best
interest? • Do you have any potential conflicts of interest when providing me with investment advice? • How are you paid? Explain commissions or fees you may charge. These questions are not exhaustive, and the answers will likely raise additional questions you will want answered before you decide to entrust the professional with your money. You may want to ask for the answers in writing. Be suspicious if your investment services provider: • Refuses to provide you with his or her CRD number. • Cannot explain to you how a proposed financial product is intended to make money. • Suggests that you take out a mortgage or reverse mortgage on your home in order to invest. • Recommends that you cash out current holdings (such as life insurance or retirement accounts) to fund other investments. • Ignores your financial objectives. • Pressures you to invest today or tells you to keep the investment secret. OT
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Expert Advice Plan Ahead for Your Online Hereafter
Asset Protection Lawyer Offers 3 Steps to Take Now By Hillel L. Presser, Esq., MBA Now, you really can live forever, but that’s not necessarily a good thing. Many of your online accounts—from automatic bill payments to eBay—may remain active after you pass away, unless you take steps to ensure they don’t, says attorney Hillel Presser, author of Financial Self-Defense.
isn’t left with a virtual nightmare after your passing? Presser offers these tips: • Create a list of all of your accounts, including log-in names, passwords, and answers to any security questions. Ob-
Automatic bill pay, for example, can theoretically keep tapping your bank account long after you’re gone or, at least, until your money is. “It’s important to make sure your online bank and shopping accounts, even your social media, can be closed out, or that your loved ones are authorized to access them,” Presser says. “You may ask, ‘Why would I care if I’m gone?’ I can tell you from experience: because it can create real headaches, and more heartache, for your family.” Bank and shopping accounts will be vulnerable to identity theft, which would affect your estate if someone opens credit cards in your name. You might have valuable intellectual property, like domain names. They may need access to your health records, particularly if you died under questionable circumstances, he says. There’s the sentimental stuff—photos and emails—that your family may want as a remembrance of you, and the libraries of music and ebooks, which may represent a considerable investment on your part. “The problem is, even if you provide a family member with all of your accounts, log-ins and passwords, they may not be legally allowed to access them,” Presser says. “In many cases, they may be violating the accounts’ terms of service or violating federal privacy and computer fraud laws. Some states have laws governing online materials, but they’re different and which of your accounts are covered depends on where the provider is located.” What can you do to ensure your family
come debilitated or die. Under the profile button, click “Account,” scroll down to “Account Management,” and you’ll find instructions for “Control what happens to your account when you stop using Google.” You can select how long the account should be inactive before your plans are set into motion; choose to whom you want to offer content, such as YouTube videos, Gmail, Google+ posts, Blogger and Picasa web albums, or whether it should simply be deleted. • Appoint a digital executor. Perhaps the simplest way to ensure your online life is taken care of is to appoint a digital executor—a techsavvy person who will be willing and able to carry out your wishes. Authorize the person to access your inventory of log-in information and spell out what you want done with each account, whether it’s providing access to loved ones or business partners, or deleting it. The digital world has grown and transformed so rapidly, the law hasn’t kept up, which makes managing your digital afterlife challenging, Presser says.
viously, your list will need to be securely stored. Since you’ll need to update it regularly as you add accounts or change passwords, it will be easiest if you keep the list on your computer in a passwordprotected folder. Some versions of Windows allow you to create protected folders, but you may need to get third-party software to do this, such as free AxCrypt. Remember to create a backup of your list, whether it’s on a jump drive or printed out on paper. Store the backup in a secure place such as a safe deposit box. Do not put password information in your will, which is a public document. • If you have a Google account, set up the new inactive account manager. In May 2013, Google became the first site to give users an option for choosing what becomes of their content if they should be-
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“Until there are more consistent laws and procedures governing this area, it’s best to plan ahead, leave clear instructions and be sure you have a list of accounts where your estate lawyer or a loved one can find it and access it,” he says. “It will make a world of difference to your survivors.” OT Hillel L. Presser’s firm, The Presser Law Firm, P.A., represents individuals and businesses in establishing comprehensive asset protection plans. He is a graduate of Syracuse University’s School of Management and Nova Southeastern University’s law school, and serves on Nova’s President’s Advisory Council. He is a former adjunct faculty member for law at Lynn University. Complimentary copies of Financial Self-Defense are available through www.assetprotectionattorneys.com.
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North County Thrives Even In Down Economy Pictured from left to right are Clayton Brown, CEO, International Companies and Mark Branstetter, partner, Panattoni Development Company. The men are pictured at the new Aviator Business Park. Ray Rockwell Photography
By DeAnna Massie
A recent report by PNC Bank seems to indicate bad news for the St. Louis economy. According to the report, “St. Louis’ recovery from recession is lagging even when compared to the thus far underwhelming national pace. The St. Louis market area has several more quarters of weak economic conditions to endure before growth can be expected to pick up in earnest, regardless of developments in the national economic landscape through the remainder of 2013.” The problem with this report is that it looks at a very large area. While growth seems undetectably slow for much of St. Louis, North St. Louis County is thriving. Rebecca Zoll, president/CEO of North County, Inc., the regional development association that promotes community and economic development for North St. Louis County, says businesses in North St. Louis County have a very bright future. According to information her organization collects from several local chambers of commerce, businesses in
North St. Louis are flourishing, and new companies are opening frequently. “Even with the economic climate we have been experiencing the past few years, North County has had some positive job creation, major expansion, investment and even commercial redevelopment,” said Zoll. There is another source of good news for North St. Louis County. Last year North County, Inc. commissioned the research and production of an economic profile from the Public Policy Research Center (PPRC). NCI received grant funding from the U.S. Bank Foundation to help make the project possible. According to the report, the area leads St. Louis in manufacturing jobs and has the largest concentration of industrial and warehouse space in the metropolitan area. PPRC Director Dr. Mark Tranel, a former NCI board chair and executive board member, says it was essential to look at data from North St. Louis Coun-
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ty separately from the rest of the region. “This grew out of the need to respond to the informational needs of the economic development communities and the municipalities. The RCGA (St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association) is able to provide information for other geographies, but specific information for North St. Louis County had never been assembled in such a way.” In addition to recognizing the thriving manufacturing and warehouse industries in North St. Louis County, the Economic Profile also revealed that several other industry sectors thrive in the area. One of the largest is retail. The local retail sector is supported by $762.5 million in retail expenditures that are brought from outside the area and spent at North County establishments. ($78.2 is spent by outside residents in North County restaurants and apparel stores.) The more recent PNC report corroborates this news, stating that the retail sector in St. Louis is hiring faster than the na-
tional average. An obvious example of growth in the retail market is the repurposing of the old Value City Furniture Building on Lindbergh Blvd in Florissant. After the furniture retailor closed, the vacant building was divided and converted into space for several smaller retailers. Popular stores like Petco, Ashley Furniture HomeStore, Five Below, and Ulta have moved in. Michaels, Chipotle and Panda Express have also opened in a nearby building. Bob Russell, Florissant’s director of economic development, told the St. Louis Business Journal that the $10 million project brought in 100 construction jobs and will provide about 150 permanent jobs. “In this economy, we’re happy and thrilled to have this come about,” said Russell. Another example of growth in the retail sector is the redevelopment of the blighted Northwest Plaza in St. Ann. Once known as one of the largest malls in America, the 142-acre space had been abandoned for some time until construction began last year. Renamed the Crossings at Northwest, the complete renovation will include room for a variety of businesses, including restaurants, big box retailers, smaller stores and anchors. One of the first businesses to stake a claim in the new shopping center is Menard’s, one of America’s favorite onestop home stores. Other well-known retailers have signed on, but city of Hazelwood Economic Developer David Cox said the names of the tenants are under wraps for now. In addition to retail space, the Crossings at Northwest will feature spaces designed for professional office firms, high-tech high-density users, call centers, educational users, medical and government entities. According to the Economic Profile on North County, other prosperous sectors in the area are professional, scientific, and technical services; food services; wholesale trade; construction; finance and insurance, and transportation. There are many examples of the growth taking place in these fields. For example, the St. Louis Business Journal reported that Covidien, now known as Mallinckrodt, the pharmaceutical company based in Hazelwood, completed a separation from its mother com-
pany and is now its own publicly traded company. Mallinckrodt expects the change to result in the hiring of several hundred employees over the next 18 months. The company also plans to invest in its manufacturing facility in Maryland Heights. The Journal also reported that, pending tax incentives, Express Scripts Holding Co., is set to expand its headquarters in St. Louis with a new $56 million, 220,000-square-foot building on its North St. Louis County campus. Along with the new building comes approximately 1,500 jobs to be added through 2018. According to another positive report from the St. Louis Business Journal, German-based Schattdecor, a global printer of papers used by the laminate industry, invested $31 million to construct a manufacturing facility in Maryland Heights. More equipment purchases and facility expansions worth an estimated total investment of $47 million are expected through 2017. The St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, formerly St. Louis County Economic Council, reported that Schattdecor created over 100 new jobs and hopes to reach 150 new jobs within five years. In June, Governor Jay Nixon announced that Boeing will be adding an IT center to its Hazelwood campus. 400 new jobs will be created. Governor Nixon stated, “The decision by Boeing to open an information technology center in St. Louis follows news of other major expansions by Monsanto and Ford that were announced this spring, totaling thousands of new career-supporting jobs that continue to power Missouri’s economy.” Governor Nixon also referred to other IT developments in the St. Louis area. Unisys, Express Scripts and Wells Fargo Advisors, among others, have all increased their hiring of IT workers. Another shining example of success in North St. Louis County is World Wide Technology, Inc., which was recently recognized by North County Inc. with the Business Development Award. World Wide Technology, Inc. provides technology and supply chain solutions to the commercial, government and telecom sectors. In 2011 they announced their plans for new headquarters, facility upgrades and workforce expansion over the next five years. With the assistance of the St. Louis Economic Development 9
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Partnership, they developed plans that included both a real estate investment of up to $16 million, and $4 million in personal property tax investment. A new 50,000 square foot headquarters building has recently been completed in Maryland Heights, and 300 new jobs have been created, including 100 at their new headquarters. Of course, the new tenant at the old Ford Motor plant in Hazelwood is another major development for North St. Louis County. CEO Clayton Brown’s International Food Products Corporation is the fire tenant at what is now called Aviator Business Park, , a venture which Mark Branstetter, partner with Panattoni Development Company, is developing. CBS St. Louis reported that the company has a workforce of about 150 people and revenue which, in 2012, topped $351 million. Big businesses and major redevelopments make the headlines, but it’s often the successes experienced by the hundreds of small business owners in North St. Louis County that have the greatest impact. Carolyn Marty, president of Greater North County Chamber of Commerce said, “In the last few years, we’ve seen an increase in the number of entrepreneurs who have joined our Chamber.” Marty points to Popportunities, a gourmet popcorn store opened by Geneva West and her daughter Natalie Pennington in March. “We wanted to something a little unique with our business,” West said. The owners of Popportunities are not alone. A variety of small businesses have cut their ribbons in North County. Max Muscle Sports Nutrition, Marketvolt, Whole Peace Fitness, Ohana Martial Arts and Go Ape, Missouri’s first and only treetop adventure course, are just a few of the dozens of news businesses that have opened this year. If current trends continue, North St. Louis County will continue to lead the St. Louis area in several business sectors. You can read more about these trends and the economic climate of North St. Louis County in the North County Inc. Economic Community Profile at www. northstlouiscounty.com. For more information about the Public Policy Research Center at University of Missouri – St. Louis, visit pprc.umsl.edu. OT
Greater North County Chamber greaternorthcountychamber.com 314.831.3500
GNCC Welcomes New Members
2013 Executive Board Officers Chairwoman – C olleen Hannibal, Crystal Creek Health & Rehabilitation Center Vice Chair – Jon Vogt, Catering To You Secretary – Brice VanSant, Labor Ready Treasurer – Elizabeth Wade, Pulaski Bank Immediate Past Chair – J ulie Berthold, Berthold Carpet Cleaning
2013 Board of Directors Bret Berigan – Christian Hospital Dick Cerame – Paul Cerame Ford Rick Dorsey – Ahlheim & Dorsey LLC Chief Mike Gantner – Black Jack Fire Protection District Rosemary Hodges – SSM DePaul Health Center Ken McGhee – Archway Memorial Chapel Dhari Pearson – Papa Murphy’s Pizza Melissa Rakers – Neighbors Credit Union Craig Szczuka – Falcon Services Inc. Dr. Grayling Tobias – Hazelwood School District
The Greater North County Chamber recently welcomed the following new members: Regions Bank on New Halls Ferry Road, Regions Bank on Shackelford, Mobile Eye Care Solutions, River Trace Townhome Apartments, Our Father’s House, ADT Security, Ad Pages, In Family Hands Home Health Care, Ridge Top Roofing & Siding, Serenity Garden Massage, Children’s Dental Zone, The W Dental Group, Titan LED, Baucom’s Precious Memories Services, Simmons First National Bank, Meridian Waste Services, Deaver’s Sports Bar Restaurant, Bert Heppermann, Aflac—Sharon Ortmeyer, BJC Medical Group, 2BUY-R-SELL, Jamestown Cinema 14, Fifty Five Creative (Graphics and Web Design), Carrollton Bank, Alliance Education for Childhood, Cricket Communications, S-N-S Promotions, Nina’s Closet, Creative Design Gift Shop, Right Handyman Service, World Finance Corporation, TRP Community Resource and Development Corp., On The Run Mobil, Jani-King, Avon—Jamie Cruce, and Country Financial—Lauren Cooper. The Chamber offers many benefits to its members, including networking opportunities at monthly membership luncheons, Business After Hours, Leads Groups, local representation to government, a listing in the Chamber’s print directory, a listing on the Chamber website, referrals, and much more.
Don Zykan – Meridian Waste Services
The Chamber held a ribbon cutting ceremony for new member Mobil On The Run, celebrating the beautiful remodel of the store at 4132 N. Highway 67. Cutting the ribbon is store manager Shelly Gerber, surrounded by staff, the Wallis Company (owners), family, friends and Chamber members.
Staff Carolyn Marty – President/CEO carolyn@greaternorthcountychamber.com Debbie Wright – Marketing Director debbie@greaternorthcountychamber.com Jaime Jenkins – Administrative Assistant jaime@greaternorthcountychamber.com Phone – 314.831.3500 Fax – 314.831.9682 Web – www.greaternorthcountychamber.com
Erik Beishir, St. Louis Community President of Simmons First National Banks, cuts the ribbon at the bank’s grand opening at its facility at 7151 Natural Bridge Road. Joining Beishir are, from left, Sheena Shi, sales manager; Sharon Raiford-Polk, branch manager, and members of the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce.
Greater North County Chamber of Commerce 420 W. Washington Florissant, MO 63031
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‘Bowling for Scholarship Dollars’ a Huge Success The energy inside the bowling center was charged with excitement as 129 bowlers hit the lanes to raise money for the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce’s Scholarship Fund. The August 7 event at AMF Dick Weber Lanes in Florissant raised over $5,000 for the chamber’s scholarship fund. The proceeds are used to award scholarships to high school seniors who live in the Chamber’s service area. To date, the Chamber has awarded $46,000 in scholarships. For the second year in a row, team ITS Computers bowled their way to first place, beating out 21 other teams. Not to be slighted, Neighbors Credit Union also proudly stepped up to the alley to accept their last-place trophies.
Proceeds from the Scholarship Bowl go toward scholarships for high school seniors. Pictured are Lauralyn Rosenberger, a graduate from Hazelwood West High School who was a past recipient of a Chamber Scholarship, her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Steven Rosenberger and Carolyn Marty, president of the Chamber.
Greater North County Chamber to Host Trivia Night September 14 | JFK Community Center, 315 Howdershell in Florissant. The tropical-themed event, hosted by Kevin Carbery, will start at 7pm. Doors will open at 6pm. Cost is $20 per person ($160 for a table of eight). Beer and soft drinks are included. A prize for best “Tropical Themed” table will be awarded. Sponsorships are available, including Presenting Sponsors, $250, and Round Sponsors, $50. For more information, contact the Chamber office at 314.831.3500 or visit www.GreaterNorthCountyChamber.com.
The Partners in Education Committee and the Chamber wants to thank everyone who helped make this event a success. Thanks to our Strike Sponsors: ITS Computers, Life Care Center of Florissant, Pulaski Bank, The Lipton Group, Hazelwood School District, Stygar Florissant Chapel and Cremation Services, Neighbors Credit Union, Incarnate Word Academy, Emerson Family YMCA, Zykan Family Partnership, Valley Industries and SSM DePaul Health Center; Lane Sponsors: Paul Cerame Auto Group, AT&T Communications, Inc., North County Christian School, Catering to You Banquet Center, Trinity Catholic High School, Ferguson-Florissant School District, Attorney JoAnn Donovan, City
Team ITS Computers finishes in first place at the Chamber’s Scholarship Bowl.
of Florissant, White Auto Body, St. Catherine Retirement Community, Christian Hospital, Northwest HealthCare and Village North Retirement Community & Health Center; Frame Sponsors: Lutheran Senior Services at Hidden Lake and Ferguson-Florissant School District; Drink Sponsor: St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley; Pizza Sponsor: McClain Chiropractic Health & Injury; and Trophy Sponsor: Trophy World. A special thanks goes to Sister Karl Mary Winkelmann, president of Trinity Catholic High School, for helping the staff with registration, and to Dr. Tobias Grayling, superintendent of the Hazelwood School District, for joining his teams of bowlers on the lanes.
Team members from Neighbors Credit Union proudly display their last-place trophies.
2013-14 GNCC Chamber Directory Now Available The Greater North County Chamber of Commerce recently published its 20132014 Member Directory.
sant, Hazelwood, Jennings, Old Jamestown, Spanish Lake and surrounding areas of unincorporated St. Louis County.
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 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.
Free copies of the Directory can be picked up at the Chamber office at 420 W. Washington in Florissant.
The Directory also contains a listing of organizations and service clubs in the Greater North County Chamber service area, which includes Bellefontaine Neighbors, Black Jack, Ferguson, Floris-
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For more information, call the Chamber office at 314.831.3500. OT
Carolyn Marty GNCC President
Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce mhcc.com 314.576.6603
MHCC Announces 2013 Business Expo Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce and Wingate by Wyndham will present their annual Business Expo on Wednesday, October 9 at Hollywood Casino. Set-up begins at 9am and the doors will open 10am – 2pm. The cost for a booth at the expo is $200 for members and $300 for nonmembers. The fee includes a 6” skirted table, two lunches, an email banner advertisement, and a mention in quarterly directory. Please note: no electricity will be provided for the booths. There is no charge to attend the Business Expo, but box lunches will be available for purchase. To register or get more information, visit www.MHCC.com or call 314.576.6603.
1st Annual Duck Race & Chicken Wing Competition The Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce held its 1st Annual Duck Race & Chicken Wing Competition on Thursday, August 8 at the Maryland Heights Centre. The event benefited the Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce & Charitable Partner March of Dimes. The plastic ducks were poured into the lazy river at Aquaport for a race to the finish line. Winner Jack Schafluetzel (and daughter Ella) held the winning duck number, receiving a $500
cash prize. Inside the Centre, restaurants sold food and chicken wings throughout the evening. Maryland Yards received the most People’s Choice votes for best chicken wings served at the event. Maryland Heights’ Mayor Moeller presented them the “Wing to the City” at the awards ceremony at the conclusion of the event. With games, music and raffles...an evening of fun was had by all! Thank you to all that participated!
Left to right- Don Hart (Co-Owner Maryland Yards) Missy Matthews (Co-Owner Maryland Yards) and Mayor Moeller from the city of Maryland Heights
September Luncheon
Join the Maryland Heights Chamber for Lunch and Networking DATE
September 11, 2013 PLACE
Orlando’s Catering and Special Events located at 2050 Dorsett Village Join us for a chance to win an iPad mini. Call the Chamber office for more details. 12
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Go Ape Opens in Creve Coeur Park
Go Ape, Missouri’s first and only treetop adventure course, is located within beautiful upper Creve Coeur Park in Maryland Heights. The course blends beautifully within the landscape of the Creve Coeur park, one of the most visited parks in St. Louis County. The course is made up of 39 exciting rope ladders that connect cross-
ings like the Double Stirrups, Talloires Crossing, Flying Carpet and Spider’s Web. There are also two Tarzan swings and five zip lines. Overall, there are five individual sections within the course. Each section takes you higher into the forest canopy and finishes with a zip line with expansive views. Zip Lines #3 and #5 are both 400 feet long and Zip
Line #4 is the first skateboard zip in the region. The entire course consists of over 2,624 feet worth of zip lines and obstacles, providing a treetop adventure that is one of a kind in Missouri! The entrance to Go Ape is off Dorsett Road near the intersection of Dorsett Road and Marine Avenue.
The Member One card The Member One card is exclusively for Maryland Heights Chamber members. This is our way of giving back to our members! Each time a member visits an event their Member One card will be punched. After all 12 squares are punched; the member is entered into a drawing for a grand prize at the Holiday Gala. OT
Sherry Huibonhoa Executive Director
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North County Incorporated, Regional Development Association northstlouiscounty.com 314.895.6241
Area Leaders Celebrate North County Inc.’s Anniversary To commemorate North County Incorporated’s (NCI) service to the community, NCI recently hosted an Anniversary celebration at Hendel’s Market Café & Piano Bar. At a sold-out event on Sunday, July 21, more than 70 business, civic, and community leaders enjoyed an elegant dinner with wine pairing and silent auction. Chef Nathan Bennett’s culinary creations were a hit with the crowd and even the most discriminating foodies were impressed. Fine wines
from South America around the Argentina area were paired with each course by sommelier Christy Rayfield from A. Bommarito Wines. “I’m proud to support North County, Inc.’s Anniversary Fundraiser because local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future. Let’s continue to strengthen the economic base of our
community by supporting North County businesses,” states Senator Gina Walsh, one of the guests to attend the event. “This is such a fun evening filled with great food and friends from North County; each year it gets better, and as our guests leave they are asking ‘when is the next one…sign me up; I’ll be here’. It is the kind of event you love to host because everyone has a good time,” said Rebecca Zoll, NCI president/CEO.
Photos provided by Karen McKay and Timothy Zoll
NCI and Hendel’s Staff preparing for the festivities.
NCCU’s Dr. Rance Thomas and UMSL’s Chancellor Tom George are ready for the party.
State Representative Keith English chatting with Karen McKay.
City of Bellefontaine Neighbors’ Alderman Anthony Smith and wife Clara. 14
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September/October 2013
US Bank’s Scott Schneider and wife Noreen arrive for the celebration.
SSM Health Care’s Kim Bakker and husband Mark Wiley
UMSL’s Betty Van Umm and husband Stanley Schechter
NCI Salute 30 Leaders in Their 30’s
Kim and Karen Besserman looking forward to trying some of the fine wines with dinner
Join us for the reception and luncheon
Boyle Law Firm Attorney Patrick Boyle and wife Jane with Rep. Keith English
Friday, September, 27 Norwood Hills Country Club 11:30am
Delmar Garden’s Cathy Bono and guests look over the auction items.
Reservations required Tickets are $40 per person For more information, call 314.895.6241 or visit
Jan Gantner along with husband Chief Mike Gantner, Black Jack Fire Protection District, Senator Gina Walsh with her daughter Michaela. 15
Our Town
September/October 2013
Photo by Kent Miller Photography
www.NorthStLouisCounty.com
Rebecca Zoll NCI President & CEO
Northwest Chamber of Commerce northwestchamber.com 314.291.2131
Membership Still Going and Growing
2013 Executive Board Officers Chairman – Steve Hewkin, Hewkin Auto Body Vice Chair – Tammy Durbin with Kelly Services Vice Chair – Dr. Mike Fulton, Pattonville School District Vice Chair – Amy Smith, Favazza and Associates Secretary – Christine Cole, US Bank Bellerieve Treasurer – Fletcher Wells II, St. Johns Bank & Trust Immediate Past-Chair – Jerry Hart, Valley Industries
2013 Board of Directors Dr. Chris Kilbride – Ritenour School District T. R. Carr – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
It’s a very exciting time to be a member of the Northwest Chamber of Commerce, but it’s even more exciting to be a new member. As you can see from the new member pictures taken at the June, July, and August meetings, we are still growing at an amazing pace. Yesterday was a huge milestone for the NWCC, as we received our 100th New Member of the year. It was our pleasure to welcome Natalie Marchbanks with Skyline/Gateway Exhibits & Services into our Chamber family. With the Chamber business expo coming up, having a tradeshow specialist in the Chamber should be a great fit. Wait—hold on a second ….. what’s that, Tina? …… the St. Charles Chill minor league hockey team just joined? Well, I guess we’re now at 101 new members. Wow, I love this job!
Mike Stein – Alro Heating & Cooling Chief Terry Milam – City of St. John Chief Don Hood – City of Bridgeton
June new members photo by McCarty Photography
Chief Tom Jackson – City of Ferguson Mayor James McGee – City of Vinita Park Barry Herring – CMIT Solutions
JUNE
Sarah Wells – ONEWAY Construction Paul Rose – Charter Business Steve Krazl – US Bank Bridgeton Bob Aubuchon – City of Hazelwood Tony Lamantia – Allied Waste Bob Baker – US Foods Kim Bakker – SSM DePaul Health Center Naomi Francis – Master Events Kevin Hall – Bommarito of Hazelwood Melanie Wiginton – T&L Tree Service Harry Lively – Simploy James Marcellino – Enterprise Holdings
JULY
Staff Brian Goldman – President/CEO brian@northwestchamber.com Tina Herrmann – Office Manger tina@northwestchamber.com Jessica Young – Admin. Assistant Jessica@northwestchamber.com Phone - 314.291.2131 Fax - 314.291.2153 Web www.northwestchamber.com
AUGUST
Northwest Chamber of Commerce 8944 St. Charles Rock Rd. Third Floor St. Louis, MO 63114 Unless otherwise noted, all photo credits are to McCarthy Photography
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Our Town
September/October 2013
Would You Hire This Person For A Day?!?!?
Each month, anyone who throws a business card in a basket at the Chamber membership meeting or sends an email that reads “You’re Hired” is eligible for the drawing with this prize: I, Brian, will come to work there for a day. This month’s winner (and we use that term loosely) was ONEWAY Construction. I started the day at the office in Earth City, meeting up with Sarah Wells (business development manager). I put on my ONEWAY Construction shirt, and we were off to a networking event at Mimi’s Café in Chesterfield. After the networking was done, Sarah went to the counter and bought two bags of muffins, which I assumed were for the office, but they were actually for our next stop. We dropped in on one of the many insurance agents that provide leads for Sarah. I learned that you don’t need an appointment if you are as sweet as her and you bring treats. (I would never get through the door as I would have eaten the muffins before I got there). Once we
were back on the road, we headed back to the office for a little desk time and a staff meeting. When you walk into the office, you know that you have entered a very busy company. I counted 11 people on the way from the front door to Sarah’s desk. Ten of the 11 people were on the phones talking to clients, adjusters, work crews, and even the EPA. You can tell that these people enjoy being a part of this company. The fearless leader of this group is Tony Lanzone. He is a family man first and foremost, and, if you work there, you are family. He buys lunch for the Monday staff meetings for everyone — as long as you get your order in by 11. He takes care of them because they take care of him. We left the office and went to inspect a roof that they were concerned about in St. Ann. I think the test was if I didn’t fall through the roof, it was judged strong enough. When we got back to the office, there was a discussion between three or four of the employees who didn’t want Tony to sign a contract that day, because they wanted to make sure it was going to be the best deal. They all started calling, texting, and blowing up his phone to tell him not to sign anything. Obviously, he is the owner and can do what he wants, but his staff looks out for him as much as he looks out for them. It was great to see a staff that cares so much about the
60’s-Themed Business Expo Thursday, October 3 | Orlando’s in Maryland Heights This year’s event features a 60’s theme, so vendors who dress up themselves and their booths will be entered into a special drawing. The Business Expo will also feature the Taste of the Chamber, so visitors can taste the finest Northwest Chamber member restaurants have to offer. There is a $100 booth fee for members and a $500 fee for nonmembers. New members get a booth for free! Vendor set begins at 8:30am and the expo kicks off at 10am. After breakdown at 4pm, the crowd will head a half mile down the road to Rooks Gameday for happy hour. Visit www.NorthwestChamber.com. or call 314.291.2131 to register or get more information.
15th Annual Chili Dog Tournament
company and the man that they work for. They say they are a faith-based company that is family-owned, but everyone that works there is part of the family. Next time you, your friends, or your family has a construction project, do it the right way and call ONEWAY.
Roofer
Duck Dynasty me, courtesy of a ONEWAY employee
A Night Under The Stars Friday, September 6 | Syberg’s The Northwest Chamber’s Young Professionals Division, along with sponsor Bolt Restoration, will present this very special evening of music, food and fun from 7 – 11pm featuring a live DJ, open bar, and heavy appetizers. Tickets are $30. To order tickets, visit www.NorthwestChamber.com. OT
Friday, November 1 | Golf Club of Florissant Registration starts at 10am, and the shotgun start is at 11am. The cost for the four-person scramble event is $300 per team or $75 per golfer. The registration fee includes 18 holes of golf with a cart, a box lunch and a hot dog and chili dinner. Players can also compete in skins and contests and enter raffles. For more information or to register, visit www.NorthwestChamber.com or call 314.291.2131.
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Our Town
September/October 2013
Brian Goldman President/CEO
Exercise – Keep Up the Good Work By David Dorsey, MD, Family Medicine, SSM Medical Group Primary Care I know you’ve heard it before: exercise is good for you. But current research indicates that you need regular exercise, just like you need a balanced diet, to maintain optimal health. This is a perfect time to make or renew your commitment to give your body the exercise it needs. Health care professionals may sound like a broken record when it comes to urging people to exercise. So let me tell you something you may not know: New research indicates that once you begin an exercise plan, it is important to stick with it on a consistent basis. Two researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia recently published a study in the Journal of the Physiological Society. Their research involved rats, however, their findings give us some important clues about our own bodies. In fact, many physiological functions in rats are very similar to those of hu-
mans, so it is instructive to review this new work. The MU scientists put their subjects on a regular exercise regimen for three weeks and then allowed them to be sedentary for a couple of days. They found that even in such a short time period, the rats were not able to use insulin as efficiently as they had while they were exercising on a regular basis. Why is this important? Because the body’s inability to efficiently use insulin is related to increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, obesity and high blood pressure. Insulin allows glucose, or blood sugar, to be converted into energy by our muscles. Regularly exercised muscles use insulin to facilitate a transfer of glucose from the blood to the muscle tissue in a very efficient manner. It appears that when a muscle has not been exercised, it uses less insulin, and glucose consumption slows as a result. This means that the glucose stays in the bloodstream lon-
att.com
ger, which is not optimal for good health. It is not possible to draw definite conclusions about human health based on a single study involving animals, however, it is safe to say that this study adds to the growing body of research pointing to the benefits of regular exercise. There are so many good reasons to engage in physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day—it improves mood, alleviates fatigue, burns calories and cuts the risk of cardiovascular disease. A simple walking program can offer all these benefits while giving you the chance to enjoy the beautiful fall weather. Don’t miss the season’s invitation of sunshine and cool breezes. Go take a walk! OT Dr. David Dorsey is a board certified family medicine physician with SSM Medical Group Primary Care located on the DePaul Health Center campus. To schedule an appointment, please call 314.209.5100.
3 NWCC Lunch Networking, 11:30am – 12:30pm, Syberg’s off Dorsett 4 NWCC YPD-Young Professionals Division Networking Group, 11:30am – 1pm, T.G.I. Friday’s Restaurant at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Bridgeton 5 NWCC Networking Happy Hour, 4:30 – 6:30pm, Rooks Gameday 5 MHCC Breakfast Club, 7:30 – 9am, Residence Inn Westport 6 NWCC Young Professionals “A Night Under The Stars” 6 – 11pm, Syberg’s off Dorsett 6 11th Annual Complete Auto Body & Repair Golf Scramble, 7:30am, Golf Club of Florissant 9 First Annual Valley Industries Golf Outing, 11:30am, Spencer T. Olin Golf Course 9 GNCC Red Cross Blood Drive, 10am – 2pm, Greater North County Chamber Office 10 NWCC Tuesday Morning Coffee & Networking, 8:30 – 9:30am, Holiday Inn 10 NWCC Business Marketing Seminar, 9 – 10:30am, Electro Savings Credit Union
11 MHCC Luncheon, 11:30 am – 1 pm, Orlando’s Catering and
Special Events 12 MHCC CEC Reception, 5 – 7pm, City of Maryland Heights 12 NWCC Membership Meeting, 11:15am – 1pm, Stegton Banquet Center 12 NWCC Networking Happy Hour, 4:30 – 6:30pm, Rooks Gameday 13 NWCC Lunch & Learn, Tradeshow 101, 11:30am – 1pm, NWCC office 14 GNCC Trivia Night, 7 – 11pm, JFK Community Center, 315 Howdershell Rd. 17 NWCC Lunch Networking, 11:30am – 12:30pm, Syberg’s off Dorsett 18 NWCC 49’ers Breakfast Networking, 8 – 9:30am, Location TBD 19 NWCC Networking Happy Hour, 4:30 – 6:30pm, Rooks Gameday 19 MHCC Breakfast Club, 7:30 – 9am, Wingate By Wyndham 19 MHCC Business After Hours, 4:30 – 6:30pm, Patrick’s Restaurant & Sports Bar 24 NWCC Tuesday Morning Coffee & Networking, 8:30 – 9:30am, Holiday Inn 26 NWCC Networking Happy Hour, 4:30 – 6:30pm, Rooks Gameday 27 NWCC WIN-Women In Networking, 11:30am – 1:00pm, Syberg’s off Dorsett 27 NCI Salutes 30 Leaders in their Thirties, 11:30am – 1pm, Norwood Hills Country Club
October 1 NWCC Lunch Networking, 11:30am – 12:30pm, Syberg’s off Dorsett
2 NWCC YPD-Young Professionals Division Networking Group, 11:30am – 1pm, T.G.I. Friday’s Restaurant at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Bridgeton 3 NWCC Networking Happy Hour, 4:30 – 6:30pm, Rooks Gameday 3 NWCC Business Expo, 10am – 4 pm, Orlando Event Center 3 MHCC Breakfast Club, 7:30 – 9am, Residence Inn Westport 8 NWCC Tuesday Morning Coffee & Networking, 8:30 – 9:30am, Holiday Inn 9 SCORE Seminar, 9:30 – 11am, Electro Savings Credit Union 9 MHCC Luncheon, 11:30 am – 1 pm, Hollywood Casino & Hotel 10 NWCC Membership Meeting, 11:15am – 1pm, Syberg’s off Dorsett
10 NWCC Networking Happy Hour, 4:30 – 6:30pm, Rooks Gameday
15 NWCC Lunch Networking, 11:30am – 12:30pm, Syberg’s
CALENDAR of Events
September
off Dorsett
16 NWCC 49’ers Breakfast Networking, 8 – 9:30am, Location TBD
16 GNCC Luncheon, 11:30am – 1pm, Catering to You Banquet Center
17 MHCC Breakfast Club, 7:30 – 9am, Wingate By Wyndham
17 NWCC Networking Happy Hour, 4:30 – 6:30pm, Rooks Gameday
22 NWCC Tuesday Morning Coffee & Networking, 8:30 – 9:30am, Holiday Inn
24 Small Business Tax Seminar, 9 – 10:30am, Electro Savings Credit Union
24 NWCC Networking Happy Hour, 4:30 – 6:30pm, Rooks Gameday
25 NWCC WIN-Women In Networking, 11:30am – 1:00pm, Syberg’s off Dorsett
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sound • Auricula Pe • 4D Ultra r Th y r lv e g r era Su ic S c i t o b py urg • Ro 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 A. Werner, MD, FACOG; Angela L. Cartwright, DO, FACOG; Ashley A. Ryan, MD; Michelle Koester, WHNP; Anne Venegoni, WHNP
• 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.