Pickleman`s marketed as franchise opportunity

Transcription

Volume 15
Issue 14
February 7, 2009

Pickleman’s marketed as franchise opportunity
Sandwich maker Brandon Sterr, right, shares a laugh with Nikki Stritzel, the owner's wife, and their daughter, Audrey, during Pickleman's lunch rush.
5
13
18
Candidate
Orientation
Council candidates
learn ins and outs of
city government
MU's Budget
Nixon's higher
education funding
plan attracts
Republican ire
Addy Award Winners
Woodruff Sweitzer
takes home gold
(Story begins on Page 7)
Ad strategies scrutinized during downturn
By Jacob Barker
All Super Bowl party guests in
Columbia got a taste of Les Bourgeois
Vineyards whether they bought a bottle
or not. The Rocheport winemaker aired
the first television commercial of its
new ad campaign during the big game,
kicking off an expanded marketing
budget geared toward grabbing market
share during the economic downturn.
“For 2009, it’s all about touching
new people and letting them know
about what we’ve got to offer, right
here in their backyard,” Les Bourgeois
Marketing Director Rachel Mills said.
“There’s no better way to reach out than
the Super Bowl.”
The commercial showed workers
making wine and patrons drinking
wine at the Blufftop Bistro. It displayed
the slogan, “Stay warm this winter with
Les Bourgeois.”
Although national advertisements
for America’s biggest TV event of the
year still carried multi-million-dollar
price tags, overall advertising expenditures nationally have declined for the
first time in years as consumers and
businesses alike tighten their wallets.
The declines, however, are not across
the board. Television and Internet
advertising expenditures continue to
increase even as placement prices have
dropped, but newspapers and radio are
taking a hit at the national level.
In Columbia, media outlets are
working more closely with businesses
to craft marketing agreements, and
businesses are seeing ad dollars stretch
further than usual.
(continued on Page 22)
PRST STD
U.S. Postage
SPECIAL SECTION
Permit #353
Columbia, MO
Marketing &
Promotions
PAID
See Page 22
1
$ 50
photo by jennifer kettler
www.columbiabusinesstimes.com
2
February 7, 2009 Columbia Business Times | ColumbiaBusinessTimes.com
14
26
34
People You
Should Know:
Chris Stevens
Meet BCNB's
relationship
banking guru,
an art and music
aficionado
Promotional
Products
Local companies
feed customer
fondness for free
stuff
Video Gaming
The number of
women playing
video games is
increasing
Accountable MARKeting.............................. 23
Ace Pumps................................................... 21
Arysta Life Science.................................. 19,21
Axiom...................................................... 21,22
BCNB................................................... 4,14,21
Bleu Restaurant and Wine Bar................ 19,21
Bradley Marketing................................... 20,21
Callaway Bank................................................ 4
Central Trust & Investment Company............ 4
Cherry Street Artisan.................................... 19
Columbia Daily Tribune................. 10,11,14,25
Commerce Bank............................................. 4
Country Club of Missouri............................. 10
D&H Drugstore............................................. 21
Dave Griggs Flooring America..................... 17
Diamond Pet Foods..................................... 19
Enginet Technologies................................... 16
First National Bank....................................... 16
Glen Martin................................................... 21
House of Brokers Realty.............................. 16
KMIZ............................................................. 22
KT Diamond Jewelers.................................. 21
Landmark Hospital...................................... 5,6
Learfield Communications........................... 21
Les Bourgeois........................................... 1,22
MBS Textbook Exchange............................. 10
Mid America Harley Davidson...................... 21
Missouri Contemporary Ballet Company..... 21
Nanoparticle Biochemistry Inc..................... 16
OnMedia.................................................. 19,21
Pickleman's........................................... 1,7,8,9
Plaza Dental................................................. 21
Pure Marketing & Media................ 20,21,22,23
R.Anthony Development.............................. 16
Research Center for Human-Animal
Interaction.................................................... 16
Sass and Fras............................................... 17
Shelter Insurance......................................... 26
Socket............................................................ 4
Southside Pizza............................................ 20
Sub Shop........................................................ 9
The Bank of Missouri...................................... 4
Thumper Entertainment................................ 21
Tint by Toalson............................................. 23
True Media Services..................................... 22
VANGEL........................................................ 23
Visionworks Marketing &
Communications................................ 21,27,32
White Dog Promotions............................ 26,27
Williams-Keepers LLC.................................... 4
Woodruff Sweitzer......................... 18,20,21,22
Word Marketing......................................... 4,21
Alley A Realty............................................... 13
Atterberry Auction & Realty.......................... 34
Boone County National Bank....................... 36
Boys & Girls Club......................................... 12
Business Conference & Showcase................ 7
CenturyTel.................................................... 32
City of Columbia Parks & Recreation........... 31
City of Columbia Rolloff &
Commercial Waste Services........................ 34
City of Columbia Water & Light.................... 23
Columbia Turf................................................. 5
Commerce Bank........................................... 25
Corporate Identi-T's..................................... 15
Delta Systems.............................................. 12
First National Bank......................................... 2
Hawthorn Bank............................................... 3
Instant Imprints............................................... 8
KFRU Morning Meeting................................ 30
McAdams' LTD............................................. 24
Midwest CompuTech................................... 28
Moresource.................................................. 33
Paul Land—Plaza Real Estate
Commercial Division..................................... 31
Personalized Computers................................ 9
Pro Fitness................................................... 17
Recycled Office Solutions.............................. 8
Room 38 Restaurant & Lounge.................... 29
Shelter Bank................................................. 16
Shelter Insurance—Mike Messer &
Mike Hatchett............................................... 21
Shelter Office Plaza........................................ 4
Socket Internet............................................... 6
Stephens College—Performing Arts ........... 26
Tiger Hotel—Events & Catering.................... 22
Towner Communication Systems................. 22
Visionworks.................................................. 20
Waddell & Reed............................................ 27
Williams Keepers—Raymond James........... 17
Willie Smith's Magic Services...................... 31
editor@
businesstimescompany.
com
Columbia’s business leaders also heard
an optimistic economic message last week
from Scott Colbert, the director of fixed
income with Commerce Bank in Saint
Louis.
Colbert, who has investment responsibilities for more than $7 billion in fixed income
assets and is highly regarded in the financial
community, said predicting the future of
the national economy is guesswork. But his
best guesses are that the stock market has
hit bottom and the economy will rebound
in July.
During a similar presentation one year
ago, Colbert said the country was entering a
recession. He acknowledged this year that,
“we didn’t predict it would be this bad.”
Then he cautioned, “The gloom and
doomers have been right more than the
optimists.” And he added that there is a
slight chance that the country would enter
a mild depression. (He put the chance at 20
percent).
Colbert said he doesn’t recommend
“jumping in (the stock market) with both
feet,” but told audience members that he
believes there are stocks worth investing in.
His tips are to invest in municipal and
corporate bonds and listed a few stocks he
likes, including General Electric, Hewlett
Packard and Visa.
But on a cautionary note, here’s what
happened to the stocks he picked last year:
Cisco fell from close to $25 a share to about
$15.60 currently. Sallie Mae fell from $20 to
$11.25, Microsoft dropped from $29 to about
$18 and GE plummeted from $35 to $11.50.
(573) 499-1830 | (573) 499-1831 fax
editor@businesstimescompany.com
Chris Harrison | General Manager | Ext.1010
David Reed | Group Editor | Ext.1013
Cody Moore | Graphic Designer
Alisha Moreland | Graphic Designer
Betsy Bell | Creative Marketing Director
Jennifer Kettler | Photo Editor | 573-529-1789
Cindy Sheridan | Operations Manager
Becky Beul | Marketing Representative
Claire McNett | Marketing Representative
Joe Schmitter | Marketing Representative
Writers in this issue: Jacob Barker, Heath Hooper,
Christen Jackson, Jordan Milne, Mary Paulsell, Jason
Rosenbaum, Sean Spence,
Columnists in this issue: Al Germond, Mike Martin,
Lili Vianello, Larry Schuster, Tom Schauwecker
The Columbia Business Times is published every other Saturday by
The Business Times Co.
2001 Corporate Place, Suite 100, Columbia, Mo 65202.
(573) 499-1830.
Copyright The Business Times Co., 2008. All rights reserved. Reproduction
or use of any editorial or graphic content without the express written
permission of the publisher is prohibited.
Third-class postage paid at Columbia, Mo.
The annual subscription rate is $39.95 for 26 issues.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT:
The Columbia Business Times strives to be Columbia’s leading source for
timely and comprehensive news coverage of the local business community.
This publication is dedicated to being the most relevant and useful vehicle
for the exchange of information and ideas among Columbia’s business
professionals.
David Reed
At the beginning of every month, Barbara
Bremer from the city Finance Department
sends us an e-mail that lists all of the new
business licenses issued during the previous
month. The list for January was 19 pages
long and includes 38 general businesses in
the city (see Page 33).
Careful readers will recognize that as an
unusually large number. We usually place a
brief story about a new business above the
list of newly licensed businesses, but this
one was so long it took up the whole page.
There are a few new bars and restaurants
that have opened in Columbia, along with
a dance studio, a beauty salon, two used
car dealerships, a bank branch, a scooter
showroom, a shoe store, a tax preparation
service and two dozen more. Then there’s
a multitude of home-based businesses and
contractors from outside the city.
Aren’t we in a recession? Aren’t people
supposed to be putting their dreams on
hold until we know when the economy will
rebound?
Doug Stritzel, the owner of Pickleman’s
restaurants in Columbia, is also counting
on the entrepreneurial spirit to kick in this
year.
As Sean Spence reported in the story that
begins on Page 7, Stritzel hopes to open two
or three Pickleman’s franchises in Missouri’s
biggest cities by the end of 2009.
“This next year and a half should be
a great time for franchising businesses to
really take off simply because you have a lot
of mid-level and senior-level executive that
are going to get laid off,” he said.
3
editor's welcome
4
people on the move
Ferrugia
Ropp
Williams
Stevens
Hoecker
Mavel
Johnson
Upendrani
Hirings
Socket, a telephone and Internet service provider, has hired two employees at its corporate
headquarters in Columbia. Alan Flandreau is
Socket’s newest outside engineer, and Tiana
Stratman is a marketing representative.
Flandreau’s primary duties include installing
and testing equipment at customer sites as well
as troubleshooting phone, data and equipment
issues. Originally from St. Louis, Flandreau
graduated from the University of Missouri-St.
Louis with a bachelor’s degree in business
administration. Stratman’s duties include planning and executing events, managing Socket’s
non-profit partnership program and coordinating advertising throughout Missouri. Born
and raised in Rolla, she graduated from the
University of Missouri-Columbia in 2007 with a
bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Commerce Bank, Central Missouri Region,
has hired Gianina Beusan as a retail banking
officer and branch manager for the company’s
Business Loop Banking Center. She is responsible
for business development and customer service
related to the branch’s banking and lending
services for consumers and small businesses.
Beusan has more than 10 years of banking experience and has a bachelor’s of science degree in
business administration.
Jamie Ferrugia has joined The Callaway
Bank as a senior vice president and wealth management officer. He will work closely with the
trust officer to manage the investments of trust
customers while also being available to manage
individuals’ asset portfolios. Following graduation from Fulton High School, Ferrugia earned
his undergraduate degree from the University of
Alabama. Prior to joining the bank, he worked
previously at Waddell & Reed, Merrill Lynch,
Ferrell Companies, W.P. Carey & Company, E.F.
Hutton and Morgan Stanley.
The Bank of Missouri has hired Mary Ropp
as banking relationship manager. In her position, she will be responsible for enhancing
relationships with current clients and building
relationships with new clients. Prior to moving
to Columbia, Ropp was a banker with JPMorgan
Chase in Michigan.
Central Trust & Investment Company hired
Mark T. Williams as senior portfolio manager
in the Columbia market. With more than 20
years in the financial services industry, Williams
Mountjoy
will work with individual and business clients
to create customized portfolios. Prior to his
appointment with Central Trust & Investment
Company, Williams worked as a financial adviser
for Piper Jaffray/UBS Wealth Management US.
He was also a security analyst, portfolio manager and director of research at Invista Capital
Management. Williams holds a master’s degree
in business administration, a law degree from
Drake University and a bachelor’s of science
degree from State University of New York.
Promotions
Boone County National Bank has promoted
Chris Stevens to director of sales, relationship
banking. Stevens has been with BCNB for 10
years and has progressed from assistant director
of educational finance to vice-president relationship manager to his new position. Stevens
graduated from the University of Missouri with
bachelor’s degrees in communications and art
history.
Boone County National Bank appointed
Michelle Mountjoy as consumer banking manager at the Smiley Lane Bank. Mountjoy, who
has five years of financial service experience,
oversees the staff of the bank and works with
consumers and local businesses to meet all their
financial needs. She previously worked at UMB
Bank, where she was a vice president, and at
Word Marketing, where she was vice president
of business development. She graduated from
the University of Missouri with a bachelor’s
degree in marketing.
Williams-Keepers LLC announced that 13 of
the firm’s associates earned promotions effective Jan. 1. Amanda Gaither was promoted
from senior II to supervisor, Julie Majors was
promoted from senior II to supervisor, Kelly
Schwartze, CPA, was promoted from senior II
to supervisor, Nathan Alexander was promoted
from staff II to senior I, Rhonda Bowne, CPA was
promoted from staff II to senior I and Suzanne
Fuller was promoted from staff II to senior I.
Bridget Geisendorfer was promoted from staff
II to senior I, Heather Holtschneider was promoted from staff II to senior I, Sarah Hooper,
CPA, was promoted from staff II to senior I,
Brad Langan was promoted from staff I to staff
II, Jessica Lehmen, CPA was promoted from
staff I to staff II, Nick Mestres was promoted
from staff I to staff II and Megan Toalson, CPA,
was promoted from staff I to staff II.
photos by jennifer kettler
Candidates for upcoming City Council races
got their first taste of the time commitment they
will face if elected. The trio showed up last
Saturday morning for what City Manager Bill
Watkins said should be a two-hour orientation
on the city’s functions and responsibilities. It
took longer, of course.
Allan Sharrock and Jason Thornhill, who are
vying for the Second Ward seat that is being
vacated by 18-year incumbent Chris Janku, and
Rod Robison, who is challenging three-year
incumbent Barbara Hoppe for the Sixth Ward
seat, listened to presentations by department
directors on their functions and activities. The
city staff also briefed the candidates on important issues the council will most likely deal with
this year. The election will be held April 7.
Orientation lasted three hours, and candidates were offered the opportunity to ask questions. They mostly took notes so they could
later revisit what they couldn’t absorb during
the barrage of information. The staff provided
PowerPoint slides and a casual setting while
cracking the occasional joke and making lighthearted quips about how the city operates and
who on staff they would really need to listen to.
“Nobody’s afraid of Bill [Watkins], but
everybody’s afraid of Carol,” City Counselor
Fred Boeckmann told the candidates, referring
jokingly to Carol Rhodes, who works in the city
manager’s office. “If she tells you to do something, you better do it.”
Watkins contributed occasionally during the
presentations. For instance, Watkins informed
the candidates that the Water and Light and
Public Works departments could possibly lose
up to 25 percent of their staffs, many in supervisory positions, to retirement soon. According to
Watkins and Interim Police Chief Tom Dresner,
department transparency and accountability
are also ongoing concerns among citizens. And
of course, the economic downturn will make a
new council member’s first experience with the
budget process a challenge.
“Next year, the budget is going to look like
holy heck,” Watkins said, reflecting the anticipated sharp reductions in sales tax revenue.
The three candidates have indicated their
desire to focus on economic development and
job creation, reflecting the perception among
many in the business community that Columbia
is sometimes unaccommodating to business
interests. v
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Allan Sharrock is running for the Second Ward council seat.
A business community litmus test
The CBT asked the three newly filed candidates for City Council how they would have
voted on three development projects important
to business interests in Columbia. Second Ward
Rep. Chris Janku, who is not seeking re-election,
voted in favor of each of the proposals outlined
below, and Sixth Ward Rep. Barbara Hoppe
voted against each of them.
Although the City Council eventually
approved the Crosscreek Center development
plan last August, it was initially voted down
because of opposition from nearby neighborhood associations. In March, the City Council
voted 4-3 to deny a request by Stadium 63
Properties to include a car dealership in the
74-acre development at Stadium Boulevard and
U.S. 63, prompting a mediation process among
the developer and neighborhood associations.
In May 2008, City Council voted 5-2 to rezone
land at Old 63 and Alfred Street from residential
to office to allow Landmark Hospital to build an
acute care center there. Nearby residents voiced
concern that the hospital would diminish the
historic character of their neighborhood and that
the owner, who also owns parcels surrounding
the hospital site, would seek to have those zoned
for commercial use in the future.
The extension of Maguire Boulevard, a
road running parallel with Lemone Industrial
Boulevard, was another issue that barely won
council approval. The 4-3 vote in June to extend
Maguire to the future Stadium Boulevard extension was designed to alleviate traffic conges(continued on Page 6)
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By Jacob Barker
5
Council candidates get crash
course in city business
6
Rod Robison is challenging Sixth Ward incumbent Barbara Hoppe.
Jason Thornhill is a candidate for the Second Ward city council seat.
Community litmus test ... continued from Page 5
tion in Concorde Office and Industrial Plaza, located on the east
side of U.S. 63. Opponents were concerned about the cost of the
project and construction runoff damaging the streams in southeast Columbia.
Second Ward candidate Allan Sharrock said he would have
voted yes on the Crosscreek plan in March. Sharrock added that
he would have liked to see the plan gain approval sooner. He also
said he would have supported the Landmark Hospital rezoning
but refused to comment on the Maguire Boulevard extension
because he was not familiar with the public sentiment on both
sides of the issue.
Sharrock said if elected he will focus on job creation, particularly efforts to attract corporations offering high-paying jobs,
which would in turn help reduce crime. He added that Columbia
needs to recognize that it is competing with other municipalities
offering more attractive business incentives. “Those who snooze,
lose,” he said.
Sharrock’s opponent for the Second Ward seat, Justin
Thornhill, said he would have voted against the initial Crosscreek
plan, citing the public disapproval of the project. But he said that
he would have voted for both the Landmark rezoning and the
Maguire Boulevard extension.
Like Sharrock, Thornhill is a strong proponent of job growth
and economic development. Specifically, Thornhill said he
would focus on fostering collaboration between the Chamber of
Commerce, REDI and other business organizations.
Rod Robison, who is challenging Barbara Hoppe for her Sixth
Ward seat, said he supported the Crosscreek development from
the beginning. He said nearby residents need to understand that
“you’re going to get commercial development” on the intersection of a U.S. highway and major roadway. Robison also said he
would have voted yes for Landmark rezoning and the Maguire
extension, citing the “dangerous” conditions created by the traffic
congestion in the industrial park. v
7
business profile | pickleman's
By Sean Spence
Doug Stritzel and his wife, Nikki, at the Pickleman's downtown location.
Consider the facts: Two sandwich shops—Quiznos
and W.G. Grinders—closed recently downtown. Two
others are among the nation’s most successful franchises, Subway and Jimmy John’s. We’re in the midst
of a national recession.
And still, Doug Stritzel, who opened his second
Pickleman’s on Broadway less than a year ago, isn’t
just thinking about how to survive. He believes his restaurant is America’s next great franchise opportunity.
Stritzel created the concept for the restaurant from
scratch, relying on four years as the second in command to Jimmy John’s founder and CEO Jimmy John
Liautaud and another four years as operating partner
of a Wendy’s franchise.
“One of the biggest advantages I have is that I’ve
been on both sides of the business as both a franchisor
and a franchisee,” Stritzel said. “I know what it takes
to make this business work.”
Stritzel opened the first Pickleman’s in southeastern Columbia on Old 63 in 2005 and the second
restaurant is approaching its one-year anniversary.
He has 50 to 55 employees, depending on the season,
including three who have been with him since the
beginning and intend to make Pickleman’s a career.
Stritzel hopes to open two or three Pickleman’s
franchises in Missouri’s biggest cities by the end of
2009. “This next year and a half should be a great time
for franchising businesses to really take off simply
because you have a lot of mid-level and senior-level
executives that are going to get laid off,” he said.
“These are the kind of people that might have a
quarter million or more available, have the skills and
are looking for something to do.
Pickleman’s marketed as franchise opportunity
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Pickleman's owner Doug Stritzel shows a trainee how to put the pizza toppings on properly.
Business Profile—Pickleman's ... continued from Page 7
He says he’s “pretty confident” a franchise
will open up in six to nine months in Springfield,
and “we have a couple of parties interested in
doing some franchising in St. Louis; then perhaps there will be somebody in Kansas City.”
Stritzel said that the biggest obstacle is getting
someone to invest in building his or her own resKieren Drapeau works the cashier during Pickleman's
lunch rush at their downtown location.
taurant. The cost of opening a Pickleman’s franchise will be between $200,000 and $250,000.
“For some people that’s a big, big deal,” he
said. “In the restaurant franchising business,
that’s less than a Jimmy John’s, less than a
Quiznos and far less than a lot of other franchise
companies. I think it’s a pretty good bargain.”
Lincoln or Omaha, Nebraska, where they want
to do the whole city, it’s a great deal for them.”
Alan Skouby, who teaches at the University
of Missouri’s Trulaske College of Business, said
that the real benefits of franchising come when a
critical mass of restaurants is reached, and that
it will take a while for Pickleman’s to reach that
point.
“I’m not sure what the number is when
critical mass is reached, but it is probably more
than 10,” Skouby said. “At that point, it will be
easier to get financing, name recognition will be
a bigger factor, and they’ll be able to take greater
advantage of cooperative advertising and buying
power.”
John Dupuy, former owner of Columbia’s
Ninth Street Deli and now an investor in two
Quiznos locations, thinks that Pickleman’s could
go national. “It's possible,” he said. “They certainly started the stores in a way that is reproducible. The restaurant trade is a tough one, but
he certainly has a shot.”
A bit of a sandwich aficionado, Dupuy is a fan
of Pickleman’s. “I rotate between Pickleman’s,
Quiznos and Sub Shop, depending on mood,”
Dupuy said, offering his off-the-cuff review.
“Pickleman’s is lighter and fresher tasting.
Subshop is more meaty. Quiznos does the beef
sandwiches best.”
Stritzel knows there are no guarantees that
his franchise dreams will be realized. “But in my
opinion, success is a lock as long as you follow
the process,” he said. “You’ve got to roll your
sleeves up and make it work.”
Pickleman's
1106 E Broadway | Columbia, Mo. | 573-875-2400
2513 Old 63 S | Columbia, Mo. | 573-886-2300
www.picklemans.com
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Pickleman’s has advantages over comparable
franchises such as Subway, Jimmy John’s and
Quiznos, he said, including the quality of the
food and marketing materials.
“We spent the last six months really working
on the infrastructure, making sure the franchisee
will have the marketing materials they need to
look professional in whatever environment in
which they choose to open,” Stritzel said.
“My food pictures are real food. It’s not a
doctored up thing,” he said. “When you see the
picture, that’s really what the food looks like
contrary to what you see with a lot of companies
with big marketing budgets.”
Stritzel also touted a variety of business practices that customers won’t see but that can make
a big difference for owners.
For example, as franchisees join the
Pickleman’s organization, Stritzel said he will
do something almost unheard of in restaurant
franchising. Because of bulk buying, chain stores
typically get large rebates from their vendors,
ranging from thousands to millions of dollars
in a single year for larger chains. Stritzel said
that, unlike other franchisors, he will share those
rebates with his franchisees.
Stritzel also said that he’s committed to
straight talk with potential franchisors about
where Pickleman’s might be viable.
“Pickleman’s will do well in any larger market
or any college town, and I’m not opposed to
doing that now,” he said. “What I am opposed
to is a single operator who wants to open
somewhere like Boise, Idaho, in the middle of
nowhere, because it would be too costly to give
them support, and they would be starting with
not a lot of name brand recognition.”
“If there’s someone that’s interested in doing
a three- to five-store deal in Austin, Texas, or
9
10 February 7, 2009 Columbia Business Times | ColumbiaBusinessTimes.com
voices
From the Roundtable
Power Brokers should engage in constructive, not destructive, activity
Al Germond
Al Germond is the
host of the “Columbia
Business Times Sunday
Morning Roundtable”
every Sunday at 8:15
a.m. on kfru. He can be
reached at
algermond@gmail.com.
County View
One of the most intriguing mysteries within
any community is figuring out who has the
clout to get things done. Every community has
a small contingent of Power Brokers, private
citizens who have the ability to get things done
because of one or more factors—their possessions, positions, experience in the community
and just plain raw gravitas.
They operate best out of the limelight such
as inside a private country club at a meeting
that excludes the media.
That happened to be the setting for a recent
luncheon arranged and hosted by Bob Pugh,
CEO of MBS Textbook Exchange and a former
mayor who would be on everyone’s list of
Columbia Power Brokers.
The gathering of former mayors and city
managers at Country Club of Missouri, an
annual tradition it turns out, was a private
party that violated not a single rule or regulation. The luncheon, nonetheless, piques the
community's curiosity about what transpired
between a group of Power Brokers. The
gathering took on the perception of a covert
operation when information surfaced that the
guest list included two public officials—the sitting mayor and city manager—and a speaker
advocating an amendment to the city charter,
along with the publisher of the Columbia Daily
Tribune, and excluded other representatives of
the Fourth Estate.
The details emerged because the bandwidth
of communications has expanded dizzyingly
into the Internet blogosphere, a daily stream of
commentary and criticism that has increased
exponentially.
The conversations are healthy, if not a little
discomforting, and at times exaggerated. They
reflect a genuine concern about a community
poised to graduate from a small to a mediumsized city of a hundred grand in population
when the next federal census is taken 15 months
from now.
Pugh’s luncheon addressed the topic of
amending the city charter to allow City Council
members to be paid for their services. The subtext is that business community leaders want
the City Council to have more members who
are pro-business and fewer who are perceived
to be anti-development.
Mike Martin, on his Columbia Heartbeat
blog, revealed details of the private conversations. Power Brokers in attendance have denied
allegations that they plotted to rid the council
of “activist” members such as Karl Skala, who
represents the Third Ward.
Unrelated to Pugh's gathering, though
coincidentally circulated, was a quartet of letters between Skala and Chamber of Commerce
Chairman Larry Moore, who asked Skala to
withdraw from the Chamber's Governmental
Affairs Committee.
If there ever was a time someone should
have slept on a letter before putting it in the
mail, this would have been it.
Moore wrote that he received numerous
complaints that Skala’s participation on the
committee was disruptive—basically because
he talked too much. Skala refused to withdraw
or become a listener only, with no voting or
speaking privileges.
The complaints should have been resolved
internally thus avoiding an ugly trail of communications that likely alienated Skala—and
perhaps colleagues on the council—from the
business community. The most embarrassing
point was when Skala quoted to Moore the
Chamber’s description of the role of the
Government Affairs Committee: “to develop
cooperative relationships with organizations
and to establish and nurture positive relationships with local, state and national elected
officials.”
Skala troubles the Power Brokers because
he is "progressive" in a still undefined sense,
perhaps a trifle odd, occasionally obstreperous
and only rarely the patsy to their aims. Basking
in retirement, he has the luxury of time to
devote as many hours as he pleases to looking
out for the interests of his ward as well as the
city at large.
Maybe some of us in the business community don't care for the policies or ideas of a particular elected official, but that hardly justifies
engaging in destructive activity.
Business folk can get elected if they and
their supporters stop stewing about the other
side and focus on making themselves more
attractive—thus electable—to the constituents
of a given ward or district. They also can get
things done through open communications
rather than behind closed doors at a country
club.
The facts pertaining to property tax valuations in Boone County
Mushrooms are kept in the dark, covered
with manure and one hopes they grow. This
article will cast light on the laws governing
property taxation in Missouri and shed the
manure spread by the ill-informed with hope
that knowledge grows.
Real property tax classifications and effective
tax rates
Tom Schauwecker
Tom Schauwecker has
been the Boone County
assessor for 20 years.
His e-mail address
is TSchauwecker@
boonecountymo.org
There are three sub-classifications of real
property defined in Missouri law: agricultural,
residential and commercial. The effective tax
rate for agricultural property is about 0.70 percent, residential is nearly 1.2 percent, commercial is approximately 2.2 percent. Agricultural
property valued at $100,000 would incur an
annual tax liability of $700. Residential property with a market value of $100,000 is liable for
$1,200 each year. Commercial real estate having
a market value of $100,000 would result in a tax
bill of $2,200. Missouri voters gave the General
Assembly a blank check in August of 1982. A
constitutional amendment overwhelmingly
approved by Missourians resulted in three dramatically different tax bills for properties with
identical valuations.
*Agricultural land is an exception to the fair
market value basis of valuation and taxation.
Agricultural land valuation is based upon a
“use value” established by the University of
Property Tax Classification
Missouri College of Agriculture and approved
by the Missouri General Assembly. The State
Tax Commission of Missouri publishes and
defines eight soil grades, which range in “use
value” from $30 per acre to $985 per acre.
Property taxes average from $2 to $5 per acre
for agricultural land in Boone County. Few,
if any, states enjoy a lower rate of taxation on
agricultural land than Missouri.
Agricultural land and “billionaire tax breaks”
There is a 133-acre vacant tract of land located
on the southeast corner of Nifong Boulevard
and Sinclair Road near Mill Creek Elementary
School. The City of Columbia by ordinance
zoned this property as A-1 Agricultural upon
annexation. A portion of this tract lies within
the 50-year flood plain.The property tax classification is agricultural. The “use value” based
upon soil, subject to periodic flooding, slope
and cover is $300 per acre. A review of case
law indicates that the current classification and
valuation are appropriate.
Land in transition and “developers not paying
fair share”
Missouri statutory and case law bestow
favorable property tax status on all vacant land.
Missouri law was amended in 1994 and states
that filing of subdivision plat shall not affect
Market Value
Tax
Effective Tax Rate
Agricultural
100,000*
$700
0.70%
Residential
100,000
$1,200
1.20%
Commercial
100,000
$2,200
2.20%
the tax classification or increase the appraised
value. All contiguous lots and lands for which
a plat has been filed shall be combined and
valued as a single parcel if no improvements
have been made to such lots or lands.
There is a time value to money. A dollar
today is worth more than a dollar received
a year or two from now. There is an ample
supply of vacant commercial and industrial
land in our local market. State law requires the
assessor to consider current supply, demand
and the absorption period of vacant tracts with
unknown potential in the valuation process.
Recent deeds in lieu of foreclosure indicate the
speculative bubble for vacant land in Boone
County may have burst.
Regional Economic Development Inc. has
identified the No. 1 “shovel ready” site as
the vacant 103 acres located on the northeast
corner of Providence Road and Southampton
Drive near Rock Bridge High School. The
City of Columbia by ordinance has zoned
this parcel as O-1 Office. The infrastructure is
super adequate. Sewer, gas, electric, water and
streets are in place and complete. This parcel
was subject to appeal at the Missouri State Tax
Commission. The property tax classification
of agricultural was deemed to be appropriate.
The valuation was reduced from $10,000 to
$8,500 per acre in a ruling by the State Tax
Commission of Missouri. This decision was
rendered shortly after the voters of Columbia
approved the lease/purchase of Stephens Lake
for $61,242 per acre. The tax commission decision set a precedent for the valuation and classification of commercially zoned tracts of land
with unknown potential.
Citizen Journalist
Troubles in The Village
Mike Martin
Columbia resident
and science journalist
Mike Martin earned
a master’s degree in
business administration
from the University
of Washington, with
a concentration in
entrepreneurship and
innovation. He can
be reached at Mike.
martin@weeklyscientist.
com
About a year ago, at a meeting of the North
Central Columbia Neighborhood Association, I
challenged association President Linda Rootes’
support for a “troubled youth shelter” planned
across from Hickman High School.
Ardently advocating a so-called “overlay
ordinance” that would mandate neighborhood
design standards and ban so-called “undesirable” activities—including halfway houses—
Rootes nonetheless supported the shelter.
A member of the neighborhood association since 2002, I agreed with neighbors who
opposed the proposed six-plex as a striking
deviation from nearby single-family homes.
And with drug dealers and the now infamous
“crime house” at 802 Wilkes operating with
impunity nearby, it was a questionable environment for troubled kids.
But Rootes refused dissent and shut down
the discussion. I walked out of the meeting
and have only returned a handful of times at
the urging of friends. It’s become too painful
to watch—a personality-based leadership
crisis that could harm one of Columbia’s great
neighborhoods.
In the Beginning
Soap Box
The story of this association starts with a
scrappy group of neighbors who, 15 or so years
ago, decided to fight back. Reeling for decades
from failed segregation and the poverty it
caused, North Central Columbia—now known
as The Village—fought crime, decay, slumlords,
and City Hall apathy with little organization
and even less political clout.
Enter sometime mayoral candidate John
Clark, a bear of a man whose often overbearing
style was exactly what the troubles ordered.
The duo of Clark and his equally outspoken
partner Mrs. Rootes, in a word, worked.
Armed with a law degree and a mind for the
kind of minutiae that ties unthinking bureaucracies in Gordian knots, Clark countered the
siege. With Rootes and a newly constituted
neighborhood association, he raised money,
published a newsletter, fired off letters to errant
landlords, butted heads with code violators,
shined the Neighborhood Watch light on drug
dealers and rode City Hall until it got tired of
having the neighborhood association on its
back.
In many ways, John Clark and Linda Rootes
wrote the book on organizing substantive,
effective neighborhood associations.
But their efforts have become a mixed success
story of late, largely because they catalyzed so
much progress that the neighborhood outgrew
their leadership. In conflict with Rootes, Clark
stepped down and hasn’t attended a meeting
in more than a year. President for the past two
years, Rootes has brought imperiousness to the
job at precisely the time when debate, coalition
building and new ideas are in critical demand.
Troubling Trio
Under Rootes’ leadership, the neighborhood and its association have suffered a trio of
stunning defeats.
Just last month, after going through tens
of thousands of dollars in donations and tax
credits, the association, in partnership with
Central Missouri Community Action, lost the
historic Heibel March Drugstore, a 10-year
renovation project returned in worse repair to
its original owner, City Hall.
At a weekly meeting of renovation coordinators that included Rootes and retired Stephens
College drama professor Peter Byger, “tempers
ran high as committee members spent much of
the session sniping at each other,” the Columbia
Daily Tribune reported in 2007.
“‘You’ve been antagonistic to everything
I’ve put on the table,’ Byger told Rootes, his
voice rising.” Acknowledging “dysfunction,”
Rootes told the Tribune, “We have a lot of organizational issues. Nobody knows who’s in
charge here.”
The Shoe Factor
Deciding they no longer wanted to worry
about who was in charge, half the north central neighborhood—the business half—angrily
seceded, forming the Shoe Factory District in
October.
After donating money to North Central
Columbia Neighborhood Association for the
overlay’s preparation, neighborhood booster
Tom Atkins later condemned his firm’s surprise appearance on that list of forbidden
enterprises.
Atkins said he felt betrayed.
Ironically, it wouldn’t matter. At last month’s
neighborhood association meeting came the
third shocker: The overlay ordinance—another
10-year project—appears all but kaput. To
neighborhood association board member Amir
Ziv, the overlay’s sudden death signaled a time
to get back to basics like crime and slumlords.
“We have someone killed in Douglass Park,
we have gunshots fired off on Fairview Street
in the afternoon, and we don't have time to talk
about any of this,” Ziv e-mailed association
members after the meeting.
“I am not interested in using our less than
two hours each month for venting,” Rootes
responded.
Gov. Nixon: only the gullible will buy your budget
Larry Schuster
Larry Schuster is a
former city councilman
and political observer.
Gov. Jay Nixon: call me crazy, cynical or cantankerous, but please, do not try to dupe me
with a smug sound byte proposing to protect
the University of Missouri from budget cuts if
the curators agree to freeze tuition rates.
My goodness fella, do you really think that
we taxpayers are that gullible? The reality is
that the state has a revenue shortfall, and the
latest projection is close to $300 million. You
know it. Even the most disinterested is well
aware. No institution as large as the University
of Missouri should even remotely entertain the
notion they can strike a deal to avoid sharing
the burden of current fiscal constraints.
Government activities from top to bottom
in all areas should be scrutinized and not only
during this budget cycle. In all honesty, we
should be preparing for round two next year.
Do we really believe that as a state we can
borrow ourselves out of the current calamity
or fund ongoing programs with resources that
allow only one dip at the well? Missourians, as
you have noted, are a proud, independent and
pugnacious lot. We did not earn the moniker
“The Show Me State” by accident. Some folks
may lament the good-’nuff attitude of many
Missourians, but in so doing they ignore the root
of this attitude. We understand a few of life’s
immutable facts. There is never enough money
for all of our benevolent notions. Life throws a
mean curve ball, and Old Man Murphy is alive
and well.
In the midst of this, it is therefore either
deplorable to propose “favoritism” with parts
of state government over others or a bald-faced
lie to suggest that cutting a new Ellis Fischel
Cancer Center, the MU Agro Forestry Center
in New Franklin or the MU Extension program
is not a cut to the higher education budget.
Birthing new programs at this time is most
certainly irresponsible or, at a minimum, ill
advised in the face of the decisions necessary at
this time. The same is true regarding the expansion of programs that encourage citizens to
rely on the government rather than their own
ingenuity, hard work and general good sense.
I do not want any funds cut from the university. However, it is just not practical to start or
expand programs.
Should I not expect fundamental honesty
from those entrusted with the sacred duties of
public office as so sworn in the oath of those
offices? We are adults. Do not patronize, politicize or play one-upmanship with the future of
our great state.
Look at the state budget honestly and assess
the money truly available for use in the next
budget.
Ask each of us to share the burden. Do not
saddle us with the grim inevitability of future
program cuts that grow from hopeful notions
that money will materialize to sustain programs
started with single-source funds.
Divvy up the funds among the various
agencies of government to the best of your
ability devoid of political ambition, rhetoric
and rancor.
Stand above the fray. Allow those in charge
of roads, health care, education, law enforcement, etc. to determine the best manner in
which to serve Missourians.
Do not give raises to your policy team and
then claim you lead by example by reducing
that budget because you have fewer people. Do
both; employ fewer advisors at the same rate of
pay as their predecessors. This is integrity.
Meddling at the program level earned the
legislature the last couple of years a black eye.
We Missourians expect leadership. Do not hand
us more of the same tied with a different color
bow.
If the federal government is going to try
to “borrow” us back to a sound economy, use
those funds for capital projects. Dollars spent
in the construction industry bolster activity
throughout the economy and instill confidence
in the future.
Lead with the certainty that sound, fundamental, middle-class values bear as much fruit
as brighter tomorrows. Do not mortgage the
future, polarize the electorate or neglect the call
of forthright governance.
voices
Voices—Schauwecker ... continued from Page 10
Voices—Martin ... continued from Page 11
Subsidized housing and “the $700 duplex”
Obama Time?
“The methodology set forth in Maryville Properties
v. Nelson, as modified by the Western District Court
of Appeals, is the correct methodology to determine
market value of subsidized properties.” Boone County
negotiated a settlement that is 10 percent higher than
valuation prescribed by case law. The developer is a
Boone County resident.
The State Tax Commission of Missouri and “school
funding deficits”
The Missouri State Tax Commission is charged
with the responsibility of monitoring the assessment
accuracy in each of the 114 counties and the city of
St. Louis. A biennial Assessment Ratio Study is used
to accomplish this oversight function in Missouri.
Residential, commercial and agricultural properties
are subject to review. The tax commission has certified to the Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education for 20 consecutive years that Boone County
valuations are accurate as prescribed by law. Local
school districts receive about 80 cents or 80 percent of
every property tax dollar we pay. The assessed valuation of Boone County was $650 million in 1989. Last
year the total assessed valuation of Boone County was
$2.2 billion. Need I say more?
Reassessment 2009 and “Homeowners spoil for
fight over taxes”
Market is down. Assessments stay up. These headlines
were printed above the fold on the Metro page of the
St. Louis Post Dispatch on Jan. 25, 2009. Not a day
goes by that I am not asked when I’m “going to lower
taxes.” Missouri assessors will make difficult decisions this year in the midst of a turbulent real estate
market. The Missouri General Assembly amended a
10 percent usury limit during the late 1970s. Mortgage
rates exceeded this threshold and Missouri markets
were frozen, nothing sold. We survived 16.25 percent
interest rates on one-year adjustable rate mortgages in
1982. Federal income tax reform dramatically altered
the demand for multi-family housing in 1987. No one
has experience with current market conditions. We are
carefully analyzing sales in the fourth quarter of 2008
and the first quarter of 2009 before we decide what
changes are appropriate this year.
Tax Increment Financing and “blight”
A local government may declare an area “blighted”
and freeze property taxes paid by developers at predevelopment levels. Any new or “incremental” property tax revenue from improvements is diverted to
help pay off bonds issued at the start of the project.
Half of new sales, utility and earnings taxes generated
by the project may also be used to pay off infrastructure. TIFs expire after 23 years. The Columbia City
Council passed a resolution authorizing the use of this
“economic development tool” in the Central Business
District.
The Cordish Co. developed the Power and Light
District in Kansas City, Mo., utilizing a TIF in 2008.
Cordish is contesting the property taxes for its entertainment district. Last year the Jackson County assessor’s office placed a value of $61 million on the Power
and Light buildings. Cordish filed a lawsuit Dec. 31,
2008, claiming its property was worth only $12 million, not $61 million. Kansas City taxpayers will make
up the difference if revenues fall short of debt service
requirements. How does Columbia avoid this risk?
“Tax collectors and the prostitutes”
Some perceptions never change. In ancient times
a tax collector was aligned with the enemy or occupying force. Tax collectors cheated people of their
money. Prostitutes and tax collectors were considered
public sinners. You can view my “sins” on the Parcel
Information Viewer found on the assessor’s home
page located at www.showmeboone.com .
The North Central Columbia Neighborhood
Association should take a page from Barack Obama’s
book: It’s time for change.
In the president’s case, change apparently means
returning to basics by rebuilding roads, bridges and
schools.
In North Central’s case, change should mean
persistent letters that got a one-time neighborhood
repository of spent condoms, burned drug spoons and
empty whiskey bottles fenced, posted and cleaned.
It should mean fundraising drives, membership
outreach and helping low-income neighbors get rid of
household hazards.
Today, change at the North Central association
should mean working with the new Shoe Factory
association and other central city groups such as the
First Ward Ambassadors and Ridgeway neighborhood
to address crises like the spike in violence at Douglass
Park.
As the best-located neighborhood in the city but
working with what association member Sid Sullivan
insightfully termed “a housing stock mostly in the
code enforcement stage rather than the urban renewal
stage,” North Central faces unique challenges.
A neighborhood association should be an instrument of “organic” urban renewal, fighting blight and
crime from within, but also supporting the arts; encouraging forward-thinking entrepreneurs like the Atkins
family, John Ott, Brian Pape and Mark Timberlake;
and communicating with the larger public through
newsletters and the giant Village neighborhood online
listserv.
It’s time for North Central to start saying, “Yes,
We Can” again. If America can do it, so can one great
Columbia neighborhood.
By Jason Rosenbaum
Gov. Jay Nixon’s proposals for funding higher education, which will now be considered by the House
Budget Committee, elicited enthusiasm from the
local legislative delegation but some skepticism from
Republicans who control the General Assembly.
Before introducing his budget at the end of January,
Nixon traveled around the state, including to the
Reynolds Alumni Center at the University of Missouri,
to tout a plan that would make no cuts in state funding
for the colleges and universities in exchange for a
tuition freeze.
"The leaders of Missouri's four-year public institutions have spent the past few weeks carefully
reviewing the budget and planning for our future,"
Nixon said on Jan. 21. "We know that a highly trained
work force is vital if we're going to turn this economy
around."
With state revenues down because of the recession,
the University of Missouri has planned for deep cuts
in funding for the budget that starts July 1. Shortly
before Nixon’s visit, Forsee complied with a state
government directive by asking department heads to
prepare scenarios for funding cuts ranging from 15 to
25 percent.
Nixon’s proposal was enthusiastically endorsed by
UM System President Gary Forsee, who attended the
news conference. Also present were three members
of the Columbia delegation: state Sen. Kurt Schaefer,
R-Columbia; state Rep. Chris Kelly, D-Columbia; and
state Rep. Mary Still, D-Columbia.
"For the university's part, we commit to being
great stewards of the state's resources," Forsee said.
"We want to be sure that we'll be able to heighten the
accountability that should be [in line with the economic times]."
Nixon used a great deal of his State of the State
address to delineate the expansion or creation of several higher education programs. For instance, Nixon
is calling for a boost to the state's A+ Program, which
allows high school students who tutor and earn a certain grade point average at eligible schools to go to a
vocational or junior college tuition-free. Nixon wants
to provide a chance for students in the program to go
to a four-year college or university for free as well.
"It builds upon our current A+ Schools Program,
which allows students at eligible high schools to
get their two-year degrees at community colleges
tuition-free," Nixon said in his address. "The Missouri
Promise allows those students who take advantage of
A+ scholarships to continue at a Missouri public college or university and complete their four-year degree
debt free."
Nixon also brought back a revamped version of
the "Preparing to Care" initiative. The measure, which
would cost roughly $40 million, is aimed at creating
space at colleges and universities to train health care
professionals. This year, the plan has been re-branded
as the "Caring for Missourians" plan.
"Right now, we have far too many jobs in health
care that we can't fill right here in Missouri because we
can't find people with the right skills," Nixon said. "We
need nurses, pharmacy workers and rural health care
workers. Filling those positions is critical to both our
economy and our health care system."
Democrats generally were enthused with Nixon's
proposals. Kelly, for instance, let out an excited yelp
when Nixon announced he was reintroducing the
Preparing for Missourians initiative. Although Rep.
Stephen Webber, D-Columbia, said a funding freeze
was "not ideal," he added it was the best option for the
current budget situation.
Kelly said he was especially pleased with Nixon's
relationship with Forsee. After Nixon's speech, Forsee
released a long statement praising the governor for a
"clear commitment to investing in public higher education, and his belief that education is vital to advancing
Missouri's economy, creating jobs and preparing students for a globally competitive workplace."
"I'm incredibly encouraged," Kelly said. "It's interesting to see what a difference it makes when you have
a governor who graduated from [MU]."
Some Republicans were receptive to some of
Nixon's proposals. Schaefer said he would support
getting funds for the Caring for Missourians Program.
He also said there were a lot of members of the General
Assembly who would want to see the tuition plan
implemented.
Senate Appropriations Chairman Gary Nodler,
R-Joplin, also found something to like in the tuitionfreeze proposal. "I'm not guaranteeing that we can and
will do it," he said. "But yes, I think it's possible. And
yes, I think it's a good idea."
But some Republicans were less positive about
Nixon's agenda and approach.
For instance, members of House Republican
leadership—including House Speaker Ron Richard,
R-Joplin, and House Higher Education Committee
Chairman Gayle Kingery, R-Poplar Bluff—said they
were not happy that Nixon didn't consult with them
before announcing his tuition freeze.
And some Senate Republicans said they were concerned about how Nixon was predicating nearly $800
million within his budget with funds from a pending
federal stimulus package.
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Nixon’s college funding plan gets mixed reviews
people you should know
Chris Stevens
Director of Sales for Relationship Banking
Boone County National Bank
AGE: 41
JOB DESCRIPTION: I lead the sales and development efforts of our Relationship Banking Department. Relationship banking is designed
to provide a high level of customer service to our valued clients. Relationship banking houses some of our most seasoned and
knowledgeable customer service representatives, each one having an area of expertise.
YEARS LIVED IN COLUMBIA: 24
ORIGINAL HOMETOWN: Hammond, Louisiana
EDUCATION: Bachelor of Science in Speech Communication and Art History
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Right now I am president of the University Club, president of the Arts and Science Alumni Organization,
on the board of Mizzou Alumni Association and have recently become involved with the Farmer’s Market Pavilion Project. I
recently finished a 10-year stint on the Cultural Affairs Commission. I have been fortunate to get involved with many things that
I am passionate
about.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: After working eight years in the media business with the Columbia Daily
Tribune and KBXR radio, I moved to Boone County National Bank’s student loan department. After
three years working with colleges all across the state, I moved to the Relationship Banking department
and have been here for almost eight years. My emphasis is acting as a “private banker” with a
concentration on faculty, staff and administrators at the University of Missouri.
A COLUMBIA BUSINESSPERSON I ADMIRE AND WHY: I realize that this technically doesn’t answer your
question. However, after 24 years in Columbia, there are many people that have shaped my career,
influenced me or I just look up to for their passion for Columbia. Here is the short list: Dan Scotten,
Marie Hunter, Bo Fraser, John Ott, Fred Parry, John Bailey, Chris Marks, Connie Martin, Arnie
Fagan, Richard King and Jerry Dethrow. I also have to put in a plug for my wife, Jennifer Perlow.
I am proud of what she and a few others are doing to further the arts in Columbia.
WHY I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT MY JOB: As cliché as this may sound, I enjoy helping people attain
their dreams. Whether it’s a new house or car, sending a child to college, remodeling a kitchen
or just setting up a savings plan, I have truly enjoyed being there to help. I try to never say
no. If anything, I try my best to offer alternative solutions to whatever the situation may be.
IF I WEREN’T DOING THIS FOR A LIVING, I WOULD BE…either running a resort hotel in a tropical
location or acting as a scout for a major record label.
BIGGEST CAREER OBSTACLE I’VE OVERCOME AND HOW: Realizing I am a banker. This was not
in my career plan in college. In fact, I had to take my mom to my office and show her
the name plate on my desk before she would believe that I actually worked at a
bank.
A FAVORITE RECENT PROJECT: I am looking forward to the Farmer’s Market
Pavilion Project. I love our farmer’s market. I have visited farmer’s markets all
over the country. Although ours may not be as large as some, it still has one of
the most diverse product offerings I have seen. Having a permanent, covered
facility will only make it better for all of Columbia.
WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS PROFESSION: Bankers are not as boring as
everyone may think. The old days of a stodgy banker are over. Even the look
of banks will continue to evolve into a more retail-oriented, customer-friendly
atmosphere. Competition for banking has grown tremendously, not just
with more banks, but with many non-banking institutions offering banking
products like home loans and CDs. Traditional banks have had to reinvent
themselves to become more customer-friendly.
WHAT I DO FOR FUN: I am kind of a music fanatic. I spend a lot of time
reading blogs and magazines trying to find the greatest new music. It’s
amazing what is out there that you have never heard of. I wish they made a bigger
iPod to hold all of my findings. Suggested reading: “1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You
Die” by Tom Moon.
FAMILY: My wife, Jennifer, two children, Clayton 13 and Charlotte 7, a cat and a dog.
FAVORITE PLACE IN COLUMBIA: I know this will sound like a blatant plug, but my favorite place is PS:
Gallery. I often make my wife put me on the schedule to work Sundays. I put on some great tunes
and walk around the gallery making up stories about my favorite paintings, or I try to come up
with a song to fit each piece.
ACCOMPLISHMENT I’M MOST PROUD OF: I am very proud of the gallery. When we opened, we wanted
to be more than just the gallery. We wanted to be an interactive part of the community. I am
proud of the artists we have shown and the respect we have given to them and their work. I
have also been pleased to be able to use the gallery for special showings and fundraisers. From
the CARE Gallery, Thompson Center for Autism, Hickman High School Honors Class and
many more, we have been able to utilize the gallery to show the work of those less fortunate
and raise awareness for their causes. Of course the trick is, in order to keep the doors open, we
need to sell the work of the artists we represent.
MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW THAT I: have toured just about every Civil War battlefield in the country.
As a child, we didn’t go to Disney World or the beach. We toured Bull Run, Gettysburg,
Manassas and many others. I hated it as a kid but now have a much greater appreciation for this
time of American history. v
photo by jennifer kettler
By Christen Jackson
If Congress passes President Barack Obama’s
stimulus package, the Missouri Department of
Transportation could receive an infusion of one-time
cash that would enable the department to immediately undertake projects across the state.
MoDOT has already selected 34 projects that could
be awarded within 180 days of passage of the federal
stimulus legislation. The projects, which would total
approximately $510 million, would create 14,000 jobs
and would have an estimated $2.4 billion impact on
Missouri’s economy, according to MoDOT.
Boone County is on the list of communities to benefit. MoDOT would like to build a railroad bridge over
U.S. 63, north of Route B, in Columbia. The total cost
of the project would be approximately $9 million.
"We stand ready to quickly deliver 34 transportation improvements that would mean jobs, increased
safety and a better quality of life for Missourians,"
said Pete Rahn, director of the Missouri Department
of Transportation. "These are much-needed projects
that will benefit Missouri citizens."
Mitch Skove of Columbia’s Planning and
Development Department said the department was
contacted around Jan. 20 about possible federal
stimulus money that could fund road improvements around Columbia. Two projects were added
as proposed amendments to the Columbia Area
Transportation Study Organization’s Transportation
Improvement Plan at the request of MoDOT. CATSO's
technical committee approved the amendments and
recommended their approval by the coordinating
committee, which will meet Feb. 26.
One of the projects would be resurfacing 19 miles of
Route Z from State Route 124 to I-70 for an estimated
cost of $1.045 million. The other road improvement
project added to the list would resurface the 4.8-mile
stretch of I-70 Drive Southeast from U.S. 63 to the
Route Z interchange for around $264,000.
In addition, three amendments were added to
CATSO’s transit section that would improve bus
service in Columbia. If the stimulus money funds the
projects, 20 new bus shelters will be built and rundown bus-stop benches will be replaced for an estimated $151,050. The transit system would also receive
$15,600 to fund data collection and analysis on the
system’s use and service.
MoDOT said that given addition funds beyond
‘We stand ready to quickly deliver
34 transportation improvements
that would mean jobs, increased
safety and a better quality of life for
Missourians’
—Pete Rahn
$510 million, significant portions of four additional
highway projects totaling roughly $290 million could
be underway in 2009.
Rahn said federal funding for infrastructure projects would have a ripple effect. It could create jobs
for road builders and designers, demand for related
supplies and services, as well as further economic
development around the improvements.
"The job creation will go beyond just those building
the projects," Rahn said. "Suppliers, retailer, restaurants, hotels and other businesses will benefit."
In addition, MoDOT would be prepared to undertake $137 million of work on Interstates 70, 44, 55, 35
and 29. Approximately $60 million would go toward
fixing the states lettered routes in rural Missouri. The
rest would be used on a variety of transportation projects across the state.
According to MoDOT, 17 of the proposed projects
are already part of the state’s five-year construction
program but would be sped up, some by up to four
years. Projects would then be added to the statewide
construction program to replace those that were accelerated. The other 17 are new projects that have been
identified as regional priorities and on which environmental work and preliminary design are already
under way.
Ongoing Problem
Adequate funding for the transportation department has been a long-time problem. Transportation
professionals, lawmakers and MoDOT all say that the
federal stimulus package would be a huge boost for
Missouri’s transportation system, but it is one-time
only funding.
In 2008, the Missouri Transportation Alliance was
formed in order to look for long-range answers to
transportation funding problems. The non-partisan
group is made up of representatives from the business
community, business and labor organizations, and
local leaders.
On its Web site (missouritransportation.org) the
group says it is "working collaboratively with Missouri
citizens, public officials, local leaders, and transportation advocates, will focus on assessing regional needs
and priorities to create a statewide vision that will
meet the needs of the citizens of Missouri for the next
decade."
Local projects targeted for federal stimulus funding
Legislature—MU Funding ... continued from Page 13
"It was a good speech for people who are bad at math," said
Senate Majority Leader Kevin Engler, R-Farmington. “If you don't
listen to the details, it's really good. But when you start listening
to the details and you look at the budget, it balances only if there's
$800 million coming from the federal government."
Nodler said he was concerned about paying for programs
needing funding each year, such as the A+ Program or an eligibility expansion in the state's Medicaid program, with stimulus
money.
"You don't want (the federal stimulus plan) to be like a shot of
heroin that causes a dependency and causes withdrawal," Nodler
said.
Additionally, the Caring for Missourians plan faces steep
opposition from powerful lawmakers. Last year, the previous
iteration of the plan was taken out of Gov. Matt Blunt's budget.
Nodler, then-House Speaker Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, and
House Budget Chairman Allen Icet, R-Wildwood, opposed the
measure.
Icet expressed doubt last week that the plan would find favor
in an even tougher budgetary climate.
"I think it's fair to say that any new decision item—unless we
can find a program that could pay for (it)—I think for the most
part is dead on arrival," Icet said. "It's just not fiscally prudent to
do something like that." v
POTM ... continued from Page 4
Achievements
Three Columbia-area businesses—Enginet Technologies Inc.,
operated by Allen Mavel, Nanoparticle Biochem Inc., directed by
Rebecca Johnson and the Research Center for Human-Animal
Interaction, operated by Anandhi Upendrani—were among 20
outstanding small businesses in Missouri honored by members of
the General Assembly Jan. 28 at a business showcase in Jefferson
City. The event, sponsored by the Missouri Small Business &
Technology Development Centers and the Missouri Procurement
Technical Assistance Centers, highlighted the achievements of
some of the two programs’ top-performing clients.
Enginet Technologies focuses on the development of software
used for the efficient creation and placement of assessment questionnaires and surveys for a variety of uses. Nanoparticle Biochem
conducts research and development on an array of products that
encompass nanoparticle-based agents for biocompatible, antimicrobial and diagnostic and therapeutic medicine applications.
The Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction studies the
mutual benefits of human/animal bond relationships.
Matthew Ravosa, University of Missouri professor and
director of graduate studies in pathology and anatomical sciences,
was recently elected as a fellow of the American Association for
the Advancement of Science, the world’s largest general scientific society. Ravosa will be recognized as a fellow Feb. 14 during
the AAAS annual meeting in Chicago. He was one of 15 individuals nationwide appointed to the organization’s section on
anthropology.
Partnerships
The R. Anthony sales team recently joined forces with House
of Brokers Realty. In her new role, Christi Wolverton will serve
as a real estate agent for House of Brokers while Rob Wolverton
will continue to focus on development and other properties.
The Wolvertons developed neighborhoods such as Bellwood,
Madison Park, Auburn Hills and The Cascades.
Retirements
B.W. “Perk” Hoecker retired from First National Bank and its
holding company, The Landrum Company, on Jan. 30. Hoecker
joined First National Bank in October 1998 as Executive Vice
President and head of retail banking. He then led the consumer
loans division of the bank until 2004, when he took over the
company’s real estate acquisition and development function full
time.
Hoecker started his banking career in 1972 in St. Louis as a
commercial mortgage banker and held various lending and management jobs for Mercantile Bank, which is now US Bank. In 1985,
he returned to Columbia as the regional president of what is now
Bank of America. Hoecker retired from Bank of America in June
1996. v
Chaired by Bill McKenna, former chairman of the Missouri
Highways and Transportation Commission and former president
pro tem of the Missouri Senate, the group recently completed a
series of educational meetings around the state and has plans for
other meetings in the coming months.
Dave Griggs, of Dave Griggs Flooring America in Columbia,
and Bob Robuck, of Central Bank in Jefferson City are serving
as district chairs for Central Missouri on MoTA’s Statewide
Stakeholders Central Committee.
McKenna has said that MoTA will work to secure extensive
public input from citizens across Missouri regarding current and
future concerns and challenges for Missouri's transportation
system. That input will provide the basis for MoTA to develop and
recommend a long-term comprehensive transportation vision.
At a news conference Feb. 4, Rahn outlined the ongoing challenges faced by MoDOT due to declining transportation revenues
as people drive less and make fewer vehicle purchases. While the
proposed stimulus package would allow the department to fund
some projects it would have had to wait on otherwise, it does not
address the “slide in transportation funding the state is facing.”
The good news is Missouri’s roads have improved over the
last five years. The approval of Amendment 3 in 2004 by Missouri
voters redirected highway user funds to MoDOT, which allowed
the department to finance more infrastructure maintenance such
as smoothing roads, installing larger signs and painting wider
stripes. That brought the percentage of roads deemed to be in
“good condition” up from 44 percent in 2003 to 83 percent today,
Rahn said.
The bad news is Amendment 3 funding ends in 2009, and
McKenna said that “will significantly reduce the amount of
funding available for maintenance and repair of our current
system and leave virtually no new money for Missouri’s transportation needs beyond our current system." v
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Baby product business
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Local micro-business Sass and Fras was given an honorable
mention in the “most innovative” category by StartupNation, an
entrepreneur community and resource center, in its Home-based
100 contest.
StartupNation recognizes the most innovative, successful and
creative home-based businesses in its yearly contest.
Sass and Fras, owned and operated by Jennifer Albin, offers
the “baby bloak,” a mix between a coat and a blanket that is car
seat safe. Rather than put a bulky coat between the baby and the
car seat, the bloak goes over the baby and the car seat straps. It
resembles a cloak; it has a hood and no arm-holes and keeps the
baby warm and comfortable.
Albin developed the patent-pending concept herself and sells
the bloaks through her Web site, thebabybloak.com. v
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Legislature—Transportation ... continued from Page 15
ADDY Awards 2008
The Mid-Missouri Advertising Fe
The winners earned a chance to
Federation. The mid-Missouri group of
networking and advocacy for creators, bu
Arysta LifeScience-Midas Campaign
Gold ADDY Award and Best of Show ADDY
Woodruff Sweitzer
Category: Mixed Multiple Media, national
consumer
Contributors: Justin White, associate creative director; Greg Beers, copywriter; Jeff Lowe, group director;
Lori Kruger, account manager; Steve Sweitzer, creative
director; Jori Rose, production manager; Chris Canipe,
production artist; Michael Head, production artist;
Gaige Iaron, production artist
Judges comments: “Great consistent design and strong
compelling benefit.”
ederation presented the local Addy Awards on Feb. 6 at Cherry Street Artisan.
o compete in regional and national competition presented by the American Advertising
advertising professionals was started in 1994 to create an opportunity for education,
uyers and sellers of advertising, design, public relations, printing and media.
:34
PM
12
2
f1
4o
Cherry Street Artisan
Gold ADDY Award and Best of Television
OnMedia
Category: Television, local TV
Contributors: Jay Pelzer, commercial producer
Judges comments: “Great footage.” “Excellent music-visual editing.”
True/False Film Festival Campaign
Judges’ Certificate of Merit
Boxcar Films
Category: Advertising for the Arts & Sciences,
Arts TV Spot and Arts Campaign
Contributors: Nathan Truesdell, director, cinematographer and editor;
David Wilson, producer; Brock Williams, executive producer
Bleu Restaurant and Wine Bar
Gold ADDY Award and Best of Web
Pure Marketing & Media
Category: Interactive Media, Web Site, Consumer Flash
Contributors: Zach Fisher, lead Web design; David Anderson, art direction
Judges comments: “Well Done – Organized & Imagery.” “Site gives good
indication of brand.”
Diamond Packaging
Gold Addy Award and Best of Print
Woodruff Sweitzer
Category: Sales Promotion, Packaging Campaign
Advertiser: Diamond Pet Foods for Del’s Feed & Farm
Contributors: Justin White, associate creative director; Gaige
Larson, production artist; Steve Sweitzer, creative director;
Brenna Naufel, account executive, Ken Jacobsen, illustrator; Jori
Rose, production manager; Scott Kington, account supervisor
Judges comments: “Great appeal to dog owners.” “Excellent use
of color, from logo throughout.” “Consistent look from bag to
bag while giving them a subtle change for the consumer.”
True/False Film Festival Program
Gold ADDY Award and Judge’s Choice
Category: Advertising for the Arts & Sciences; Arts Brochure
Contributors: Chris Canipe, graphics coordinator; Mary Nguyen,
graphic designer; Gaige Larson, graphic designer; David Wilson
& Paul Sturtz, co-directors
Southside “Pizza Investigator”
Gold ADDY Award and Best of Radio
Bradley Marketing
Category: Radio, local radio campaign
Contributors: Tom Bradley, writer/producer
Beetle Invasion
Learfield Communications
Advertiser: Department of
Entomology,
Purdue University
Category: Radio, Local Radio
A World Without Corn
Advertiser: Iowa Corn Growers
Association
Category: Radio, National Radio
Campaign
Rain “Numbers
Advertiser: Missouri Rain
Category: Local Television
Contributors: Eric Mousel,
motion graphics animator; David
Anderson, art direction; Kim
Sherman, art direction.
Tiger Checking
Woodruff Sweitzer
Advertiser: Boone County
National Bank
Contributors: Justin White, assoc.
creative director; Mark Swanson,
assoc. creative director; Steve
Sweitzer, creative director; Pam
Ogles, account manager; Nicole
Thieret, account coordinator; Jori
Rose, production manager
Plaza Dental-Cheese
OnMedia
Advertiser: Plaza Dental
Contributors: Michelle Cropp,
director of sales; Jay Pelzer,
commercial producer
Rebus
Axiom-An Identity Company
Advertiser: Downtown Optimist
Tree Lot
Contributors: Paula Elias, creative;
Ken Leija, creative; Max Wheeler,
after effects
Columbia Youth Community
Coalition
OnMedia
Advertiser: Columbia Youth
Community Coalition
Campaign
Contributors: Becky Markt,
director of Youth
Communtiy Coalition; Jay Pelzer,
commercial producer
Thumper Festival Poster
Woodruff Sweitzer
Advertiser: Thumper
Entertainment
Category: Advertising for the Arts
& Sciences
Contributors: Steve Sweitzer,
creative director; Brian McGeorge,
senior art director; Jori Rose,
production manager; David Spear,
illustration
Big 12 Sportsmanship PSA
Woodruff Sweitzer
Advertiser: Big 12 Conference
Category: Public Service,
Television
Contributors: Justin White,
associate creative director; Greg
Beers, copywriter; Steve Sweitzer,
creative director; Lori Kruger,
account manager; Scott Kington,
account supervisor
Glen Martin Logo
Woodruff Sweitzer
Advertiser: Glen Martin
Category: Elements of Advertising,
Logo
Contributors: Brian McGeorge,
senior graphic designer; Steve
Sweitzer, creative director; Cynthia
Kotovsky, account executive
Silver ADDY Award winners
Glen Martin Brochure
Woodruff Sweitzer
Advertiser: Glen Martin
Category: Collateral Material,
Brochure
Basketball Media Guide
Woodruff Sweitzer
Advertiser: University of MissouriAthletics
Category: Collateral MaterialBrochure
Ace Pumps
Woodruff Sweitzer
Advertiser: Ace Pumps
Category: Consumer/Trade
Campaign
flushafterflush.com
Woodruff Sweitzer
Advertiser: Arysta LifeScience
Category: Interactive MediaConsumer Web Site
KT Diamond Jewelers Web Site
Visionworks Marketing &
Communications
Advertiser: KT Diamond Jewelers
Category: Interactive MediaConsumer Web Site
Mid America Harley “One
Minute Life Stories”
Bradley Marketing
Advertiser: Mid-America Harley
Davidson
Category: Local Radio Campaign
“Unrealistic Expectations-Baby
Talk”
Advertiser: Children’s Trust Fund
of Missouri
Category: National Radio
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Poster
Woodruff Sweitzer
Advertiser: Thumper
Entertainment
Category: Arts-Poster
D & H Drugstore “Psychic
Pharmacists”
Advertiser: D & H Drugstore
Dancing with the Stars
Woodruff Sweitzer
Advertiser: Missouri
Contemporary Ballet Company
Category: Advertising for Arts &
Sciences-Poster
You Get Us
Word Marketing
Advertiser: Capitol Chrysler
Campaign
No Worries TV
Woodruff Sweitzer
Advertiser: Western Financial
Group
Category: National TV, Consumer
Services
Bleu Restaurant and Wine Bar
Advertiser: Bleu Restaurant and
Wine Bar
Category: Mixed Media, Local
Consumer
Arysta PrePare
Woodruff Sweitzer
Advertiser: Arysta LifeScience
Category: Advertising for Arts &
Sciences
Christmas Cookies
Advertiser: Iowa Kidsnet
Category: Public Service-Radio
D & H Drugstore, Diabetes PSA
Advertiser: D & H Drugstore
Category: Public Service,
Television
Sugar Invite
Sugar, A Woodruff Sweitzer
Company
Category: Industry Self Promotion
Category: Industry Self Promotion
Platte County Logo
Woodruff Sweitzer
Advertiser: Platte County
Economic Development Council
Category: Elements of
Advertising-Logo
Cinematography Project
Advertiser: Pure Marketing &
Media
Category: Elements of
Advertising-Cinematography
Gold ADDY Award winners
Marketing Market ... continued from Page 1
Some businesses, such as Les Bourgeois, are increasing budgets to steal market share while others
are focusing their strategy and maintaining a consistent presence. Although local businesses vary in their
marketing responses to the downturn, marketing
and advertising agencies have noticed one constant:
Clients are scrutinizing their ad budgets to make sure
they’re using dollars effectively.
“When things were more footloose, marketing
got sloppy,” Paula Elias, president of Axiom, said.
“The economy should serve as a warning sign, but it
shouldn’t dictate everything we do. It should make us
stronger, smarter marketers.”
Clients are being more thoughtful about their advertising strategies, Elias said, and this often results in
a shift from mass media to more targeted advertising.
“People are not focusing as much on the radio, TV
and print spending of yesteryear,” she said. “They’re
spending the same amount. It’s just shifting.”
According to TNS Media Intelligence, a company
that measures U.S. ad spending, advertising dollars
declined by 1.7 percent in the first three quarters of
2008 compared with the same nine months of 2007.
Print and radio are the mediums that dragged that
number down, with newspapers declining by 10 percent and radio by almost 9 percent, while TV and the
Internet posted modest increases.
London-based ZenithOptimedia, a company that
tracks global advertising expenditures, projects total
U.S. advertising dollars to drop by 6.2 percent in 2009,
by far the largest globally. Although the company also
sees modest increases in TV spending and healthy in-
Projected percentage of advertising spending, by medium
Source: ZenithOptimedia
SPECIAL SECTION | marketing & promotion
2008
2009
creases in online spending, it projects large declines in
print and radio advertising.
A buyer’s market
“There is no doubt that contracting advertising
budgets are indicative of the slowing economy, and
advertisers are looking for media outlets to work
harder for a smaller percentage of the buy,” said Jack
Miller, owner and president of True Media Services.
“This coupled with the trend of marketing dollars migrating from traditional media to Internet, cable and
2010
2011
more demographically targeted media is making it a
challenge for mass media.”
As a result, media outlets have become “more aggressive in their pricing strategies,” according to Terry
Woodruff, president of Woodruff Sweitzer.
“It is definitely a buyer’s market,” KMIZ Sales
Director Mark Hotchkiss said. “Rates are certainly
more affordable than last year with all of the political
activity driving things.”
Although the Columbia market has not been
nearly as affected as the national market, many busi-
Source: ZenithOptimedia
Projected North American advertising expenditures, in millions
2008
2009
nesses and media companies have noticed a
slight decline in advertising prices as well as
more flexibility demonstrated by media outlet
sales representatives. And
every business has at least
paused to make sure its
marketing budget is being
used effectively, advertising executives said. They
emphasize that there is
no universal strategy —
each business has its own
response to the new eco- Jack Miller
nomic conditions.
“Now is a hell of a time
to pick up market share,”
Brent Beshore, owner and
CEO of Pure Marketing
and Media, said. One of
his company’s clients
is Les Bourgeois, which
has increased its advertising budget, focusing
on TV ads and online
media. According to Les Terry Woodruff
Bourgeois’ marketing director, Pure Marketing is
also producing a cinematic profile for the company
to be used for its Web site,
on-site promotions and
new media pushes.
Pure Marketing itself
has benefited from the
downturn; revenue over
the last three months
has increased 40 percent, Mike Vangel
Beshore said. Clients have
been attracted by its expertise in new media
such as social networking and video branding,
he said. And the business, which had only two
employees at the beginning of 2008, has hired 10
more over the course of the year. Now the company has around 30 clients, Beshore said. But
like any advertiser, he said all his clients are different in their approach to marketing, with some
increasing advertising in certain mediums and
decreasing in others.
Most advertising firms have noticed little
change in their clients’ marketing budgets. It’s
just not a good idea to reduce your presence
2010
2011
in the marketplace, they noted. Businesses are
loathe to reduce their advertising budgets at any
time, and many advertisers say a more effective
message is needed in a recession because potential
customers are more careful about the purchases
they make.
“Even in this tough
economic
environment,
successful business people are doing what they
always do but perhaps
Paula Elias
with a little more focus,”
Mike Vangel, president of
VANGEL, said. “They are
taking a hard look at what
they’ve done in the past to
make sure it’s still working. Every recession, and
I’ve seen a couple now,
good businesspeople have
the discipline to maintain
their marketing focus.”
Carl Toalson, of Tint
Brent Beshore
By Toalson, is one of the
business owners who has
tried to focus his spending
rather than reduce it. Even
though his window-tinting
business has been affected
by Columbia’s decline in
new home construction,
Toalson said he’s kept his
ad dollars in television.
“I learned a long time
ago you want to stay conLili Vianello
stant,” he said. “We try to
budget the same amount every month.”
Guerilla marketing
But it’s also the little things business owners
do that can make a difference. Toalson’s advertising consultant, Accountable MARKeting owner
Mark Dahl, is a big proponent of free, innovative
marketing.
“Sometimes it’s as simple as putting business
cards on complementary businesses’ counters,”
Dahl said. In fact, that’s usually the first thing
Dahl suggests to his clients.
Source: TNS Media Intelligence
U.S. ad spending, % change in Q-1/Q-3 of 2008 compared with same period in 2007
Toalson keeps up a rapport with managers of furniture stores around town and leaves a supply of business cards in their stores. Someone who buys a new
piece of furniture might also want to have his or her
house’s windows tinted to keep the new furniture
from fading, Dahl said.
“It’s not something we could rely on 100 percent,
but it’s gotten us jobs we wouldn’t have gotten in the
past,” Toalson said. And why not, he said, it’s free.
Dahl said though the results aren’t quick and obvious from these so-called guerilla-marketing tactics,
it’s a time investment that could yield results well into
the future. Once the economy settles down, he said,
customers need to have your business in mind when
they do make their purchase. Maintaining a presence
on traditional media is no longer enough, he said.
“The truth is, mass media is not what it was 15, 20
years ago,” Dahl said.
Terry Woodruff at Woodruff Sweitzer has seen his
larger, national clients take this advice much more
quickly than smaller companies. Interactive advertis-
ing is the most attractive marketing to consumers right
now, he said. He has noticed that his clients haven’t
had their normal advertising budget increase this year,
but there is still an ongoing shift to new media.
“Most of our customers’ advertising has been shifting from traditional media with print probably taking
the biggest hit,” he said.
Buchroeder’s Jewelers is buying very little print
advertising in newspapers these days but is improving its Web site and shifting more of its advertising
budget to new media, President Mills Menser said.
The company’s bread and butter is engagement rings,
and that generation is very active online, he added.
But Brian Steffens, executive director of the National
Newspaper Association and associate professor at
the MU School of Journalism, said that though larger
newspaper chains and metros are hurting right now,
there will always be a need for papers to advertise
goods and services that everyone needs. Newspapers
have 200 years of experience, he said, and the judge
is still out on the Internet’s effectiveness in growing
business and driving shoppers to physical stores.
“I feel that lots of stuff that goes to the Internet is
going there because it’s sexy,” he said. “They’re just
going because everyone is.”
In small markets, often the only truly local news
outlet is the community paper, he said. And here in
Columbia, people love their news.
“There is a media appetite here,” Steffens said.
“There was an uproar when they mentioned cutting
back the Missourian even though it’s a second paper
and much smaller than the Tribune.”
Vicki Russell, associate publisher of the Columbia
Daily Tribune, said that while certain advertising sectors have softened, the newspaper has not adjusted
Promotional products feed
customer fondness for ‘free stuff’
By Jordan Milne
Shelter Insurance agent Nancy Allison wants
to become a household name in Columbia, with
a little help from Kammie Teter at White Dog
Promotions.
To promote Allison and the company’s life
insurance policy for children, Teter designed a
refrigerator magnet that can be used as a photo
frame and has a pop-out growth chart.
“The more you can put your name in front of
people, the better,” Allison, who’s been a Shelter
agent for 35 years, said. “My goal is to be on every refrigerator in Columbia.”
Teter has provided a slew of other promotional projects for Allison, including pens, pull-apart
key chains, golfing divot tools, insurance card
holders, business card magnets, embroidered
baby bibs and beverage insulators that are better
known as koozie cups.
“People love giveaways and free stuff,”
Allison said. “And in the insurance business, my
clients don’t walk away with a big screen TV. All
we have is a promise that we’ll be there when
something bad happens.”
The largest single display of promotional
products in town can be perused at the annual
Columbia Chamber of Commerce Business
Conference & Showcase, which is being held
March 17 at the Holiday Inn Select Executive
Center. Allison’s products will be there, as
will giveaways from Grossmann Promotional
Products, which is owned by Larry Grossmann.
Although the most popular giveaways are
pens, sticky notes and business card magnets,
Teter said the promotional product business “is
so much more than pens and mugs. It’s really
anything you want to advertise your business.
Promotional products are an excellent way to
reach people, whether they come into the store
or it’s through direct mail. With radio and TV
you pay for a mass distribution, and that works
better for some businesses than others.”
Grossmann said that stainless steel and aluminum drink wear are on the rise since the BPA
in plastics has been cited as a carcinogenic. He
will be at the Business Conference and Showcase
giving away biodegradable insulated mugs.
“Recently I’ve seen a real increase in the
amount of eco-friendly products available and
I’m trying to educate my clients,” said Teter.
“Bamboo clothing is big, as well as shirts made
with recycled water bottles and items made with
recycled tires.”
Both Teter and Grossmann also said solarpowered items have become very popular, and
Teter said last year’s big item was a calculator
that runs on liquids poured into a reservoir.
Kammie Teter of White Dog Promotions named her business after her dog Doc.
rates downward. The MU hiring freeze and slow business growth
have had an impact on job-opening classifieds, and retail store
closures such as Circuit City’s have also been noticeable, Russell
said. But the newspaper is preparing to launch a new online product that will have a strong free advertising component for every
business in Boone County, Russell said.
“When times get tough, you have to look for ways to help local
business,” she said.
White Dog Promotions products.
“The price of traditional media has continued
to increase, while the price of promotional products has decreased,” Grossmann said. “There
are surveys out there that prove you can create a
brand, put it on a promotional product and have
better response.”
Grossmann started the promotional product
company in the mid-1980s and, after a hiatus,
brought it back again in 2007, the year he sold
the ADD Sheet, a company he founded in 1971.
The store in the Forum Shopping Center has a
15,000-square-foot showroom, one of the largest
in the region, according to Grossmann.
“As promotional product counselors our job
has changed in that today we find a solution that
is at the right place at the right time,” Grossmann
said. “There are many more products these days
to be more specific in the solution. If we’re looking for a solution that’s (a promotional product
placed) on the desk top, we have thousands of
items; if it’s a solution in the home, we have tens
of thousands of items; for the cell phone, we
have hundreds of items.”
Teter started White Dog Promotions (www.
whitedogpromos.com) in 2005 and has been
working out of her home. But she said that her
basement “is overflowing,” so she intends to
open a showroom on March 2 at 4603 John Garry
Dr., across from Rock Bridge High School. v
A healthy mix of media
Even Woodruff, whose company often stresses the advantages
of online marketing, said mass media advertising should rebound
as the economy corrects. But he said that clients who have shifted
more of their budgets to the Internet and see results could keep
their dollars there.
“Traditional media is still needed to launch new products and
services,” Woodruff said. “You still need to reach the masses.”
Vangel also said that good advertising will always rely on a
healthy mix of media.
“I don’t see any radical shifts coming,” he said. “Are people
using the Web more? Yes. But is there a Holy Grail of advertising?
I don’t think so.”
Savvy companies are always tweaking their message and
placement to find what works, Vangel said, economic downturn
or not.
Lili Vianello, president of Visionworks Marketing &
Communications, said the main advice she’s giving clients right
now is “don’t get caught up in the hype,” but don’t be reckless
either.
“Keep your head and manage expectations — double digit increases are a few years off,” she said. “It’s fine to think twice about
not making an expenditure, but don’t be ruled by fear.” v
Companies can survive, even thrive, during a recession
By Mary Paulsell
Recently, I heard two series of local radio ads that I
found refreshing.
One is for a siding company and another for an
HVAC firm. They send a similar message: “We’re trying to keep our business going until things get better.
Call us now for special deals and even better customer
service. We want to keep our guys working.”
It’s unfortunate that the economy has required these
firms and others to develop such direct messages, but
I personally like that directness. These companies are
making no secret of the fact that times are tough right
now, particularly for folks in their business, but they
are intent on surviving it through a blend of optimism,
determination and very hard work. And they are reflecting one of the tried-and-true strategies for marketing during a recession: Keep talking, and when things
improve, you’ll still be standing while your competitors may have thrown in the towel.
I was fascinated by a list I found the other day of
the companies that had actually started or thrived
during past recessionary periods. The leaders of these
firms saw a market opportunity and capitalized on it
— good advice for prospective and existing business
owners regardless of the economy’s health.
In 1957, during the Eisenhower recession, Hyatt
Corporation launched its first hotel at the Los Angeles
International Airport while Burger King, a fledgling
start-up at the time, introduced its signature Whopper.
Another success story from that same year was the
opening of the first International House of Pancakes.
In 1958, Jim Henson started creating his Muppet characters and launched an entertainment empire. In 1959,
Pronto Markets, a series of convenience stores, first
opened. Now the company is known as Trader Joe’s.
LexisNexis started as a government contractor during the 1973 oil crisis. Seven years later, a little-known
I was fascinated by a list I found
the other day of the companies
that had actually started or
thrived during past recessionary
periods. The leaders of these
firms saw a market opportunity
and capitalized on it.
station called Cable Network News launched during
the 1980 downturn, followed one year later by MTV,
which added a new brand of entertainment for young
people.
Although it was launched in early 2001, Wikipedia
really took off following the attacks of Sept. 11, possibly as a result of us cocooning more around our computers. And Hewlett-Packard Development Company
was born from a $538 investment in a garage in Palo
Alto at the end of the Great Depression.
The lesson here is that survival — even prosperity
and growth — is possible. One component of that survival may very well be a more sophisticated marketing approach.
What can you do to turn tough times into times of
opportunity?
Research. This is the time when you need more information — not less — about how your customers are
responding to the recessionary times. What are they
buying? What is the new price point? Are they negotiating more? Customers are more likely to go with
tried-and-true products at times like these than they
are to try new items or services.
The comfort of the familiar. In uncertain times, we
want to be in familiar places with familiar people doing familiar things. So market what you can to enhance
the comforts of home and family.
Hold the line. When your competitors are cutting
back, you need to maintain your strategy. You can gain
more market share without increasing your marketing
investment above what you had budgeted originally.
We want the assurance of known brands and vendors,
and because we’re spending more time watching television, you can likely count on more of us seeing your
promotion.
Try to maintain the frequency of your advertising,
but reduce the length of spots from 30 seconds to 15
if you must. Substitute radio for television. Augment
with direct-mail marketing that makes a greater
impact.
Customer Service » Lili Vianello
10 money-saving (and
inexpensive) tips for a
better booth experience
How to build a better
exhibition booth
It’s here — that time of year when business- ers. Once you establish why you are exhibiting,
es gather their crews, pack up everything they it will be easier to identify key messages and acown and head down to some cavernous hall to tivities for your booth.
Your booth should have an appealing envisell their wares to thronging crowds of targeted
ronment. Keep it simple and clean. Don’t bring
shoppers. Expo season is officially upon us.
It’s not uncommon for companies to pay for in everything from your office or showroom just
a booth, throw together banners and brochures, to fill your booth or try to show every product
you carry. The goal
grab the nearest inis to have it warm
tern to stick in the
and inviting, not
booth and hope for
One key to long-term success
cluttered.
the best. But, there
Who you are,
is a better way. To
from trade shows that is often
what you stand for
get maximum return
and how you appear
on your investment,
overlooked is prompt follow-up.
to do business is vivspend a little time
Showcase exhibitors often miss
idly on display in
planning.
First, ask yourself:
important leads because they have your booth. Within
seconds of seeing
Why are you exhibitno lead development strategy.
your booth, visitors
ing? The reasons vary
will begin to see in
from show to show
your exhibit a story
and from company to
company. Is your goal to generate leads or make about your corporate culture, personality and
sales? Perhaps you hope to establish credibility capabilities. Within minutes, your company’s
or increase awareness of your company, product image will be evaluated and mentally compared
or service. You may be introducing a new prod- against other displays and competitors both
uct or service, recruiting staff or merely working on and off the showroom floor. The environto reinforce relationships with existing custom(continued on Page 32)
1
#
2
#
3
#
Do not scrimp on graphics. Use professionally designed signage and promotional pieces. Cutting
costs in this area can actually cost you money.
Put your best salespeople in your booth. It is a waste
of money to do otherwise.
If you do not have branded shirts, have your employees dress similarly — in black shirts and khaki
pants, for example. This way they will look like a
team without the extra expense of a uniform.
4
#
5
#
Don’t pay extra money for gimmicky themes. Keep
your booth’s theme simple. Remember, it’s a reflection of you and your business.
Everything looks better with light. You do not need
large, powerful overhead lights. Smaller spotlights
can show off specific items of importance. Light
also gives your booth a warm, welcoming feeling that invites people in. Additional lighting can increase awareness
of your exhibit by 30–50 percent. www.exhibitoronline.com
SPECIAL SECTION
Focus ... continued from Page 28
Value and reliability. With less money to spend, customers are
looking for the best value, even if it includes fewer bells and
whistles. Push multipurpose products. Stress reliability, durability, safety and consistently high performance.
Image and brand. Although the temptation may be to drop to
lower-priced lines, avoid it. You want to maintain your brand and
your image of supplying high-quality goods and services. You’ll
want to retain that position when things improve.
Promotions. Of course, we’re all looking for the best deal, but that
doesn’t necessarily mean you should lower prices. Instead, offer
temporary and special promotions, offer more quantity discounts,
and extend credit to some of your best customers.
Face time. Now is the time to spend more time with your customers. Assure them that you will survive these challenging times,
that you will not sacrifice quality and that you will not cut corners. Emphasize to your customers that their loyalty to you is not
misplaced.
Measure it. Ensure that you have some system for tracking the
effectiveness of your marketing efforts. Your tactics must be measurable. If they are not, revisit your marketing strategy.
Deepen the relationship. It’s probably more practical in a downturn to enhance your relationship with existing customers than it
is to find new customers. Because they know you, they will turn
to you for information, service and the best products. They are
less likely to gamble on a source with which they are unfamiliar.
So cater to them. Market to them. Ask them what they need and
want.
Think ahead. Even when things are going well, think of what you
could cut if you had to. Then do it. You may decide to print materials in-house rather than outsource it. Reduce your travel budget
by holding virtual meetings. Establish clear goals.
The good news is that once you have followed all of these
guidelines, you will have a more efficient and effective marketing
operation. Good times or bad, you will have built a system that
serves you and your customers well. v
Vanguard Jazz Orchestra
performing at Mo Theatre
Bob Brookmeyer
The multi-tiered centerpiece of the “We Always Swing” Jazz
Series, an event supported by the National Endowment for the
Arts, takes place in Columbia on Feb. 17-18.
The 16-piece Vanguard Jazz Orchestra from New York City will
perform on Feb. 18 at the Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts.
The performance by one of the nation’s most highly regarded big
bands incorporates a world premiere commission conducted by
Bob Brookmeyer.
Brookmeyer and Dan Morgenstern, who have both received
the Jazz Masters title from the NEA, will participate in a pair of
public forums on Feb. 17 in MU’s Whitmore Recital Hall.
Columbia’s Jazz Series (www.wealwaysswing.org) is now in
its 14th year and is one of only 12 recipients in the country to receive a NEA Jazz Masters Live matching grant. v
Deeds of Trust more than $250,000
$2,900,000,000*
YRC INC
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK
LT 4 CONCORDE EAST PLAT 1
*National Refinancing
$3,200,000
G2 ENTERPRISES LLC
FIRST NATIONAL BANK & TRUST CO
LT 110 CROSSCREEK CENTER PLAT 1
$2,500,000
1031 EXCHANGOR INC
PROVIDENCE BANK
LT 1 PT FF ANDERSON’S ADD
$1,758,000
WARNKEN PROPERTIES VI LLC
CENTRAL TRUST BANK THE
STR 18-48-12 //SW
$575,000
ELM BUILDING PARTNERSHIP LLP
HAWTHORN BANK
LT 35 PT COLUMBIA
$417,000
ABRAMOVITZ-ELWING TRUST
BOONE COUNTY NATIONAL BANK
STR 2-47-12 /NE SUR BK/PG: 954/386
FF PT TR B/ TR
$417,000
KUHNS, CRAIG A& JULIE K
MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS INC
LT 32 THORNBROOK PLAT NO 1
$417,000
FORREST, BRIAN K & MELANIE D
STIFEL BANK & TRUST
$415,150
FLEMING, MATTHEW & PAULA
$415,000
GARMAN, DAVID W & CAROL J
MID AMERICA MORTGAGE SERVICES INC
STR 32-49-13 /NE/NW
$415,000
SCOTT, LOUIS D & VICKY
STR 31-48-11 /W/NE SUR BK/PG:
1772/628 AC 10.000
$410,000
FOOTE, BRYAN
$390,000
POTTER, JOHN S & CHERYL L
CENTRAL BANK OF LAKE OZARKS
LT 26 BROOKFIELD ESTATES PLAT 3
$385,650
POPE, LARRY & KRISTA
$383,000
COOK FAMILY TRUST
STR 30-48-11 /NE SUR BK/PG:
1561/27 AC 12.090
$381,000
PERKEY, RODNEY & CHRISTINA
BANK OF MISSOURI THE
STR 19-48-11 /SW
$380,000
BRASELTON, FREDRICK D & DIANE M
STR 6-47-13 /N SUR BK/PG: 1118/856
FF TRACT 24D
$376,000
MOLLER, CHAD T & SHERRY L
LT 15 STRATFORD CHASE
$371,000
THAKKAR, ANUP & NEELA
PREMIER BANK
STR 20-51-13 /W/SW SUR BK/PG:
3142/88 AC 29.880
$288,000
RAETZ, JEFFREY W & JUDY R
LT 168 HERITAGE ESTATES PLAT
NO 1
$362,500
HASSEMER, MARK & ELAINE
LT 102 HINKSON RIDGE PLAT 1
$285,400
LAZINGER, MAXWELL LAZINGER
CARPE DIEM TRUST THE
LT 211 SPRING CREEK PLAT 2
$360,000
TANZEY, S STEVEN & LAURA A
NO 1
$285,000
JOHNSON, LENWORTH N &
PATRICIA J
LT 1064 HIGHLANDS PLAT 10A
$330,000
WASHER, GLENN A & KAREN E
MISSOURI CREDIT UNION
$285,000
ISENHART, RONALD G JR & SHERYL D
FIRST FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION
LT 3 BLACKBERRY BEND SUB PLAT 1
$325,600
FULLER, MELINDA A & CHRISTOPHER
$281,000
BRODERSEN, MATTHEW & KARLA
MISSOURI CREDIT UNION
STR 24-49-14 /SE
$314,400
REED, CHRISTOPHER S & JENNIFER D
CALLAWAY BANK THE
STR 27-49-14 /SW SUR BK/PG:
903/320 AC 10.02
$312,000
KIRBY, JOHN S & ELIZABETH J
LT 1443 HIGHLANDS PLAT 14-A
$312,000
KIRBY, ELIZABETH J
LT 1443 HIGHLANDS PLAT 14-A
$311,500
OVERTON, KEITH & JENNIFER
STR 29-49-14 /NW/SW
$311,000
JENNE, MATTHEW D & MELINDA J
U S BANK
LT 16 WOODRAIL SUB PLAT 8
$308,100
MAGSAMEN, RONALD J
LT 56 BEDFORD WALK PLAT 8
$304,950
MILYO, JEFFREY D & LYNN K
$304,500
COEN, WILLIAM & JOETTA
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF AUDRAIN COUNTY
LT 202 BLUFF CREEK ESTATES PLAT
2-A
$300,000
HAKE, MATTHEW THOMAS & KAY
ELCAN
LT 1422 HIGHLANDS PLAT 14-B THE
$300,000
GENTRY, ERIC G
NO 1
$300,000
STRIEGEL, RUTH A
NO 1
$290,000
TIMBROOK, DANIEL A & ASLISHA M
F & M BANK & TRUST CO
$277,100
DUNCAN, DRUE W & ELIZABETH S
METLIFE BANK
$276,000
BECKER, MARY C & MARY R
STR 13-47-13 /NW SUR BK/PG:
1527/545 AC 3.500
$272,000
WARD, GARY & SANDRA
HAWTHORN BANK
LT 32 BLUEGRASS SOUTH ESTATES
$271,000
SINGLETON, EDWARD & LORA
NELSON
$270,000
BALL, KRISTOFER & KARRI
U S BANK
LT 105 CASCADES PLAT 1 THE
$269,050
KESPOHL, CHRISTOPHER L & JESSICA M
JEFFERSON BANK OF MISSOURI
LT 107 WEST LAWN SUBDIVISION
PLAT 2
$259,182
MCKENZIE, RYAN N & AMY N
PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE
INC
LT 229 WESTCLIFF PLAT 2
$256,000
VROOMAN, ANDREW C & GERRI L
AMTRUST BANK
LT 102 CASCADES PLAT 1 THE
$253,900
NEIL, JULIE A & TRAVIS K
LT 68 LONGVIEW SUB PLAT 1
$251,275
LINDELL, EVERETT & EVELYN
MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS INC
LT 100 LAKE WOODRAIL SUB PLAT 8
$250,000
BONDERER, AUGUST B & MELISSA K
STR 30-46-12 /E/NW
PUBLIC RECORD
Vianello ... continued from Page 29
ment you create should reinforce what you want
attendees to walk away knowing about your
company and their experience with you.
Everything in the booth should be a reflection
of the image you have built for your business,
including the personnel who staff it. According
to The Center for Exhibit Industry Research, 80
percent of what visitors remember most about
their visit to a trade show booth is their interaction with the exhibit staff. This is why it is essential to provide comprehensive training for your
exhibit team before the show. Tell your booth
personnel why this particular show was chosen and its role in the firm’s marketing strategy.
Other things to share:
• The specific selling goals for the show
• Why they were selected to make this a successful show
• The kinds of people likely to arrive, and the
names of specific target prospects
• Features and benefits of products on display
— especially the solutions those products have
provided to current customers
• How to answer the most common questions
• Knowledge about competitors — particularly
those at the show
One key to long-term success from trade
shows that is often overlooked is prompt followup. Showcase exhibitors often miss important
leads because they have no lead development
strategy. According to CEIR, as many as 80 per-
cent of trade show leads never receive any form
of follow-up at all.
So create a plan for following up on leads before attending the show. Discuss with your team
the qualifications of ideal prospects. Your staff
should be able to easily identify qualified leads
and differentiate them from those on which they
should not spend a lot of time. Designate exactly
who will follow up on leads and how it will be
done. Write and prepare all follow-up letters and
information packets ahead of time so they can
be sent as soon as you return to the office. Plan
to pick up the phone, mail letters or information
or set an appointment within a few days of the
event. Given the cost of entry fees, the cost of
developing a great exhibit and the manpower
expense to run it, immediate lead follow-up is
just good business sense.
After the show, assess how well you attained
each of your pre-show goals. Make decisions
for future show participation. Will you exhibit
again? Was your booth in a good location? What
changes in strategy are indicated? Keep a file
of your observations and decisions. It will help
you as you decide which shows are worthy of
a return visit and what exhibit tactics are worth
trying again. v
Lili Vianello is President of Visionworks
Marketing & Communications, a Columbia-based
full-service advertising, marketing and public relations firm. Contributions to this article were made
by Visionworks staff members. Visit them online at
www.visionworks.com.
6
#
Use fabric to create your environment. Wrap lightweight structures with material, drape tables and
pedestals and/or use fabric for a backdrop. This is
an inexpensive way to add color and texture to your booth.
7
#
Partner with another business to provide the elements you need for your booth. Use their furniture,
carpet, plants or a flat-screen TV, and offer them signage in your booth in return.
8
#
Don’t fill your booth with papers that are just going to get tossed out later. Limit literature and giveaways to potential customers that are sincerely interested in your business. Give potential customers a place
to sign up for more information, then follow up and/or send
something to them at a later date.
9
#
Use recycled materials. Update your past displays
by adding on to them, covering them with a different material or using them differently. Also look
into recycled carpet, paneling and other materials to create a
one-of-a-kind look. Make use of existing marketing materials such as television or radio spots. Play them in the background for interest and reinforcement of your product/service. Look for a used trade show display instead of buying
new. A good place to start is www.findstuff.com.
10
#
Think ahead when ordering display items for
your booth. Will you be able to use them later
in your office or showroom?
Licenses issued in January,
includes ownership changes
A Better Insurance Agency
Jeffrey S. O’Rourke
573-289-7840
111 E. Broadway, Ste. 221
Insurance sales
Bach-Yager Funeral Chapel
John W. Bach, III
573-441-2932
1610 N. Garth Ave.
Funeral home
Ballroom Academy of Columbia
Amanda Jean Buchanan
3910 Peachtree Dr.
Ballroom dancing
Bu Ting Xi Kung Fu Academy
Gregory N. Butler
573-489-9150
315 N. Eighth St.
Martial arts instruction
Carlito’s Cabo
Sara Y. Hvaco
573-443-6370
12 E. Business Loop 70
Restaurant
Cash N-A Flash
Leigh Borage
573-449-2400
1408 I-70 Drive Southwest, Ste.
106
Cash advances and income tax
preparation
Cherry Street Artisan/Parkade
Laurie E. McAllister
573-817-3274
601 Business Loop 70W
Coffee kiosk
Columbia Condo Management,
LLC
Sarah Jo Melchert
573-446-6825
1412 I-70 Drive Southwest, Ste. 4
Condo management
Direct Freight/Trucker Search
Jonathan Paul Gabrielson
573-442-6114
409 Building 4, Vandiver Dr., Ste.
204
Freight load matching and trucker
resumes
Dunn Bros Coffee
Andrew Brian Vercelli
573-446-4122
1412 Forum Blvd., Ste. 135
Coffee shop
EZ Loan Services
Joseph L. Rotunda
512-314-3465
212 E. Business Loop 70
Payday and consumer loans
Gumball Galleria, Inc.
Richard N. Savaiano
785-836-3346
2300 Bernadette Dr.
Candy vending
Hudson Hair Studio
Trisa Lynn Hudson
573-443-0158
3711 Santiago Dr.
Beauty salon
Tiger Zou, LLC
Paul E. Stephenson
573-268-6423
3200 Penn Terrace, Ste. 121
Pub and grill
JJ’s Cafe, LLC
James E. Clayborn
573-682-0657
Restaurant
Triple Loop Housewares, LLC
Holly E. Smith-Berry
573-442-2742
2201 Chapel Plaza Ct., Ste. 104
Sales, marketing and logistics
Kobe Japanese Steak House
Simon & JJE Corp.
573-441-2341
2531 Broadway Bluffs Dr.
Restaurant and bar
Verlin Uptergrove Agency
Verlin Uptergrove
573-445-4680
2000 Forum Blvd., Ste. 2
Insurance agency
Mexico Finns & Feathers, LLC
Theresa Ridgway
3302 Broadway Business Park
Ct., Ste. H
Pet store
Walk-In Tubs of Mid-Missouri
Joshua M. Hill
573-234-2005
1603 Chapel Hill Rd., Ste. 103
Medical equipment
Paysmart, LLC
Walter Capell
573-445-5535
3400 Buttonwood Dr., Ste. B
Payroll company
Webgate, LLC
Jakub Sarnecki
573-819-0707
3315 Berrywood Dr., Ste. 103
Website design
Providence Bank
Providence Bank
573-442-6023
8 N. Fifth St.
Bank
Wild Bird Center
Bruce R. Bynam
573-449-8777
2300 Bernadette Dr.
Retail backyard birding store
Rick’s Taxi
Rickey Carl Lacy
1120 Wilkes Blvd.
Taxi service
Women’s Shoe Outlet
Andrea C. Evans
573-777-6999
Retail Shoes
Schrader Automotive
James M. Schrader
573-449-6680
1000 Big Bear Blvd., Ste. B
Auto repair
Shelter Enterprises, LLC
Shelter Insurance Companies
573-214-4735
1817 W. Broadway
Real estate management
Spirit of Missouri Elite
Tricia Scholes
573-442-8677
3906 Peachtree Dr., Ste. A
Cheer and gymnastic instruction
Studio 209
Cheryl L. Freeman
601 Business Loop 70W, Ste. 209
Beauty salon
The Flying Cow Construction
Co.
Michael J. Keevins
573-489-0185
903 University Ave.
General contractor
The State Group Industrial
The State Group Industrial
573-814-0882
6700 Stephens Station Rd., Ste.
107
Electrical construction supervision
NEW BUSINESS page sponsored by:
1 Affordable Insurance Agency
Dan Burks
573-449-1995
1106 I-70 Drive Southwest
Insurance agency
63 Auto Sales
Moez B. Aschi
573-449-5544
922 Business Loop 70E
Used auto sales
Ingredient Columbia, LLC
Kent A. Coxe
573-442-1502
304 S. Ninth St., Ste. 101
Restaurant and bar
Mustard Seed Fair Trade, Inc.
Jessica Ann Linneman
573-449-6166
25 S. Ninth St.
Handcrafted items
Tin Can Tavern & Grille
Tin Can Columbia, LLC
220 S. Eighth St.
Restaurant and bar
Vespa of Columbia
Steven J. Tuchschmidt
573-424-9482
823 E. Broadway
Retail scooter shop
NEW BUSINESS LICENSES
Video gaming fascination, from
female perspective
By Heath Hooper
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The “boys only” atmosphere of video game
culture is quickly vanishing.
Although men still tend to be regarded as the
biggest demographic for gamers, the pastime has
been opened up to everyone by new devices and
modes of play. And though recent developments
have brought new women into the fold, many
say there’s always been room for both genders.
Nearly 40 percent of video game players
are female, and they’re spending an average
of 7.4 hours a week playing, according to the
Entertainment Software Association.
Jessica Donahoe, 24, an assistant manager at a
local game store, has been a gamer for years.
“I got a Super Nintendo for my 10th birthday, and Super Mario was a fantastic game,” she
said. “It was something that I was good at, that
was entertaining and that gave me something to
talk about with other kids my age.”
Donahoe says she’s not a stereotypical female
gamer. “I have systems other than the Wii and
the DS, which I think is what most people think
of when they hear that someone is female and a
gamer,” she said, referring to the Nintendo console and handheld systems.
While she is a fan of the DS, her favorite system is Microsoft’s Xbox 360.
“It seems to have the most games and the
greatest variety of games,” she said. “More of
the Triple-A titles come out exclusive to 360. The
online service is second to none.”
A system like the Wii tends to appeal to a
more casual player with more games consisting
of a series of mini-games that can be played in
short bursts.
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Donahoe
said. “It’s just not where my tastes run.”
Donahoe said the gaming experience tends to
split more along experience lines than gender.
“I think that new gamers tend to be the ones
that Nintendo is going for and what they’re making products to appeal to, and that once people
have been involved with video games for a little
while they start to seek out a richer experience,
something more equivalent to watching a movie
or reading a book,” she said.
Donahoe prefers role-playing games, action
titles and first-person shooters like “Call of Duty
4,” where players take on the role of modernday soldiers. For casual experiences, she prefers
puzzle games like “Luxor,” “Bejeweled” and
“Puzzle Quest,” which combine both role playing and puzzle elements.
Massively multiplayer online role-playing
games, which Donahoe said have very broad
appeal, have been a major factor in getting more
women into gaming.
Of the 300 pre-orders at her store for the latest
installment of the “World of Warcraft” franchise,
a fantasy online role-playing game with millions
of devoted players, almost half were from female players.
“The only customers that I know that are maniacs about the game (are) all female, hundred
percent,” she said.
Video games go mainstream
An annual survey by the video game
industry’s trade industry released in
July found that women age 18 or older
represent a significantly greater portion of
the game-playing population (33 percent)
than boys age 17 or younger (18 percent)
Other major findings:
65 percent of American households play
computer and video games; 38 percent
of American homes have a video game
console; the average game player is 35
years old; one out of four gamers are
over age 50; 41 percent of Americans
expect to purchase one or more games
this year.The new research also shows
how involved parents are in the way
their children buy, rent and play games:
94 percent of parents are present when
games are purchased or rented; 88
percent of parents report always or
sometimes monitoring the games their
children play; and 63 percent of parents
believe games are a positive part of their
children’s lives.
Source: Entertainment Software
Association, The 2008 Essential Facts
About the Computer and Video Game
Industry
A Whole New World
Emily Holt, 29, was one of those customers.
She and her husband, Jerry, joined hundreds
of fans lined up at midnight on a chilly November
night to be among the first to purchase the third
expansion of the game, in which players create
fantasy characters to do battle with other human
and computer characters.
Holt, a stay-at-home mom, has been playing
the game since 2005.
“For me it was either join my husband or
hate the game and hate him playing it,” she said.
“And I loved it. As soon as I started playing I
was like, ‘Why have I not been playing this the
whole time?’”
It’s not an unusual starting point for women
gamers, Donahoe said: women getting into gaming because their partners play, Donahoe said.
Donahoe herself got into the first-person
shooter “Call of Duty 4,” where players take
on the role of a modern-day soldier, by watching her boyfriend. By the time she started playing multiplayer on her own, she knew all of the
game’s maps and strategies.
Her frustration with her husband for ignoring
her soon became frustration with him for taking
up all the household computer time. Buying a
second computer solved that problem.
“I dumped $1,600 to stop the marital feud,”
Jerry said.
“And it’s been bliss ever since,” Emily
replied.
Photo by Jennifer Kettler
On the DS, Sharp is a fan of role-playing and
life-simulation games such as “Harvest Moon” and
“Animal Crossing” along with old favorites like
“Tetris.” But it’s the system’s more user-friendly titles
like “brain-training” and puzzle games, which are
drawing in the new players, which Sharp said is a
positive development.
But social acceptability brings its own issues, she
said. Sharp said she disliked game companies’ use of
body-image hang-ups, for instance, to promote exercise titles.
“I find that a little insulting,” Sharp said. “I think
it’s pretty unfortunate.”
More than just a game.
Donahoe said she is looking forward to the increased abilities of systems, such as the Xbox 360’s
partnership with Netflix, which will allow people
with both Xbox Live and Netflix to download movies
to their systems.
It’s partly the
social
aspects
that are drawing more people
to the gaming
world, at least
in terms of the
changes Donahoe
has seen over the
past 14 years.
“More people
are
involved,”
she said. There’s
no longer as
much of a stigma
attached to being
a gamer. Older
generations are
more willing to
give games a fair
hearing.
Sharp
advised those curious about video
games to just to
get out there and
play.
“Don’t
be
afraid to play kid
games; don’t be
afraid to explore
different things
you think might
be silly,” Sharp said.
For new players shy about picking up a controller for fear of not excelling, Donahoe suggested starting out with something non-competitive such as the
quirky hit “Katamari Damacy” or a game that can be
played cooperatively.
“Learn as much as you can before you try something, and have a good footing on which to start,” she
said. Ask questions, either from a gamer in their lives
or from video game store employees, and embrace not
knowing.
As Sharp puts it: “It’s all about trying it out, seeing
what you’re good at, seeing what you like.” v
The Wii has been successful in bringing new gamHolt came to gaming relatively late in life, starting after she graduated from high school. “I think my ers into the fold, Winter said.
“My mom is even playing,” she said. “My grandma
boyfriend at the time was playing Everquest,” another
online role-playing game, she said. “It looked fun, and bought one to do exercise. We have family get-togethers, and they’re bowling on Wii.”
I made a character, and I just got into it.”
The ease of accessibility and play has made it an
“World of Warcraft’s” social aspect pulls her in, she
said, and she feels obligated to play when other mem- easy point of entry, Winter said.
Michelle Sharp, 24, said she doesn’t necessarily debers of her online team are playing.
Holt, who plays when her 1- and 3-year-old chil- fine herself as a gamer. But the University of Missouri
dren are snoozing, said the game is a soothing ending student, who also works at a game store, said the term
now certainly applies across genders.
to pressure-filled days.
“It’s more socially acceptable for women to be gam“I put my kids to bed, and it’s my time,” she said.
“It’s an excellent escape from a day of diapers and ers,” Sharp said.
Sharp said she used to watch her step-siblings play
screaming.”
Stephanie Winter, 19, and Cristina Johnson, 20, when she was little but didn’t game much between
both students at the University of Missouri, were her days playing Mario on her Super Nintendo and
also at the November release. Both have been playing her current Nintendo DS and 360.
She started slowly getting back into gaming,
games since they were children: Winter started out on
the Sega Genesis while Johnson played both Nintendo playing fighting games with her boyfriend. It was
and
computer
games.
Winter
and
Johnson
agreed
the gender gap
had been largely
bridged in gaming. Growing up,
the pair said games
were largely something boys played.
“But I played
with the boys, so
it didn’t matter,”
Winter said. “I
think the boys like
to think that it’s still
the boys club.”
Both play all
female
characters in “World of
Warcraft.”
“I tried one
(male character),”
Johnson said, but
she didn’t like the
way the character
shaped up. Getting
hit on by other female characters was
also awkward, she
added.
Roughly a third Caitlin Whiting’s WOW chararacter, “Red Light,” visits the “Valley of Wisdom” in the city of “Orgrimmar.”
of their guild, or online team, is female, and the women tend to play more a far cry from her high school gaming experiences,
than the men, they said. Johnson said she appreciated where her then-boyfriend ignored Sharp while playthe fact she could play a female warrior without deal- ing Playstation 2. “He wasn’t very nice anyway,” she
said.
ing with bias.
Getting beyond her high school experiences, Sharp
picked up an Xbox 360 after discovering her love of
Family-Friendly
Gaming has become much more mainstream these music games like “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band.”
“I like games that I can play with other people,” she
days, Holt said, which she attributes both to MMORPGs
said of her preferences.
and a generation that grew up with games.
Sharp also had a Wii but got rid of it. “Most of the
The new generation of hardware has also had an
games
that were on it, I just wasn’t interested in,” she
impact, she said.
In addition to their computers, Holt said the family said.
But that’s not true of Nintendo’s other system, the
also owns a Wii. “I play Wii Fit,” Holt said. “Not so
much for the game aspect but for the exercise aspect.” take-along DS. “I could play it for hours, but I’m trying to do my homework,” she says of the handheld
system.

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