Chamber Business Line April 2009 : Page 2
From The Chamber Chair Being A Business-Friendly Community The Problem: A VERY DIFFICULT ECONOMY; The Solu- tion: BUSINESS Those of us in the busi- ness world know we are all tightening our belts. In general, demand for products and services is way down causing layoffs and cutbacks in most businesses. For the rest of our community, it’s personal. Everyone has friends or family members who have lost their jobs. The Food Bank has experienced an 11% increase in need over the last two months. With sales tax revenues down, the city and county are cutting budgets and making difficult choices. The message is clear. The quality of life we enjoy in Columbia is directly dependent on people having good jobs. When people have good jobs they buy goods and services from local businesses. As our local businesses sell goods and services, they collect sales taxes, pay taxes, generate profits to survive on, make contributions to support our local charities and employ more people, creating more jobs. I feel a growing sense of urgency. I be- lieve we are at a crossroads. We need to do whatever it takes to attract good em- ployers to our community and keep the good employers that we have. The first step is to work to remove ob- stacles that we have placed in the way of businesses. For example, it is ridiculous that a great employer like the Landmark Hospital should face such obstacles in locating here or that the extension of Maguire Boulevard should meet with any opposition. Our city council has been considering even more regulations on construction and business in general. We need to say “Enough”! Let’s focus on being a business- friendly community. Let’s work together 2 to bring in businesses that attract rev- enue from outside sources. Let’s grow our local economy. The next step is to work together to offer shovel ready sites for prospective employ- ers at prices competitive with sites in other communities competing for jobs. These sites must be zoned for business and have all supporting infrastructure in place. The third step is to identify a source of funds to build the infrastructure for these sites and for marketing our community to the world. Our previous philosophy has been that we don’t need to go out and attract business; that our community will sell itself. We can no longer afford to think that way. Other communities with great quality of life are approving sales taxes to be invested in marketing their attributes to prospective employers. Jobs are being created in those communities. To compete, we must do a better job of marketing our many attributes. As a community, we need to acknowledge and take ownership of our problems and opportunities. As the Chamber of Com- merce, we must insist that the community “step up” to the tasks at hand. We can do it if we all get involved. board of directors Executive Committee Chair, Larry Moore, Con-Agg of MO, LLC Chair-Elect, Byron Hill, ABC Laboratories, Inc. Past Chair,Marty Siddall, KOMU-TV8 & CW Treasurer & Finance & Administration Div. Chair, Ben Galloway, Columbia Insurance Group Membership Development Division Chair, Randa Rawlins, Shelter Insurance Companies Community Development Division Chair, Daniel Rothery, Boone Hospital Center Economic Development Division Chair, Carol VanGorp, Columbia Board of REALTORS® Women’s Network Division President, Sherry Waddill, Boone County National Bank President, Don Laird, Columbia Chamber of Commerce Members Andrew Beverley, First National Bank Gerry Blaise, KOMU-TV8 & CW Randall Coil, Coil Construction, Inc. Jill Cox, Boone County National Bank John DeSpain, DeSpain Dermatology Center/ Skintuition Medical Spa Brian Foster, University of Missouri Rollie Hausman, Senior Resource Partners Peggy Kirkpatrick, Central MO Food Bank & Pantry Trish Koetting, Hoss’s Market & Rotisserie Michael Nichols, University of Missouri Melody Parry, Outfront Communications Tom Rose, Rolling Hills Veterinary Hospital, PC Jim Ross, University of Missouri Healthcare Vicki Russell, Columbia Daily Tribune Jim Schatz, Commerce Bank, NA Michelle Schawo, State Farm Insurance Companies Rob Wolverton, R. Anthony Development Group Ex-Officio Members Bob Black, REDI Chairman, Sircal Contracting, Inc. Dr. Gerald Brouder, President, Columbia College Dr. Brady Deaton, Chancellor, MU Bob Gerding, CORE, Gerding, Korte & Chitwood Darwin Hindman, Mayor, City of Columbia Dr. Wendy Libby, President, Stephens College Ken Pearson, Presiding Commissioner, Boone County Dr. Jim Ritter, Superintendent, Columbia Public Schools Bill Watkins, City Manager, City of Columbia board of advisors AmerenUE, Ronald Loesch, Mgr Larry Moore, Con-Agg of MO, LLC 2008-2009 Chair of the Board of Directors P.S. We can take an important step forward on April 7th. It has never been more important for you to get out and vote than it is right now. We have two very important city council seats and a school board election. Please go to the polls and encourage your friends, neighbors, relatives and co-workers to do the same! www.ColumbiaMOChamber.com Boone County National Bank, Steve Erdel, Pres/CEO Boone Electric Cooperative, Todd Culley, GM/CEO Boone Hospital Center, Daniel Rothery, Pres The Callaway Bank, Gary Meyerpeter, Sr VP City of Columbia, Bill Watkins, City Mgr City Water & Light, John D. Glascock Columbia Insurance Group, Bob Wagner, Pres & CEO Col. Public Schools, Jim Ritter, Superintendent Columbia Ready Mix, Alan Barnes, GM Columbia Regional Hospital, Keri Simon, Exec. Dir. Commerce Bank, NA, Teresa Maledy, Pres Express Personnel Services, Michelle Ishmael, Owner First Natl Bank & Trust Co, Sabrina McDonnell, Pres Immvac, Inc., Kevin Sprouse, VP of Operations The Insurance Group, Charles Digges, Jr., Pres Isle of Capri Casino, Cindy Neff, Gen Sales Mgr Jeffrey E. Smith Cos., Jeffrey Smith, Pres/CEO Joe Machens Ford, Gary Drewing, Pres/GM KMIZ-TV, KQFX-TV, KZOU-TV, ABC 17 Stormtrack 24/7, Randy Wright, GM KOMU 8, Marty Siddall, GM Mediacom, Bryan Gann, Dir. Area Operations Missouri Credit Union, Hal James, Pres/CEO Missouri Employers Mutual, Dennis Smith, Pres/CEO Premier Bank, Steven Smith, President Regions Bank, Shannan Muller, Reg. Mktg. Coord. Shafer, Kline & Warren, Inc., Wayne Whitehead Shelter Insurance Companies, David Moore, CEO State Farm Insurance Cos., Michael Staloch, VP of Op UMB Bank, NA, Craig McGonagle, President University of MO Healthcare, James Ross, Exec. Dir. University of Missouri, Brady Deaton, Chancellor William Woods University, Terry Culver, Director Word Marketing, Tony Richards, Sr. Partner/CEO chamber staff Don Laird, President Connie Barringhaus, Information Specialist Tina Bernskoetter, Director Government Affairs Victoria Brees, Director Program Development Michelle Earhart, Director Financial Services Liz Glockhoff, Director Women’s Network Andrea Jira, Director Membership Emily Poore, Director Communication Services Kristi Ray, Executive Vice President Sherry Wohlgemuth, Director Special Projects contact us 300 South Providence Road •PO Box 1016 Columbia, Missouri 65205-1016 phone: 573.874.1132 •fax: 573.443.3986 e-mail: admin@ColumbiaMOChamber.com www.ColumbiaMOChamber.com April 2009
Publication List
