News from the Camber - Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce

Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce
News from the Camber
MAY 2013
Dille & Traxel Architecture, a locally owned business, is celebrating 10
years of serving the Poplar Bluff area. Brett Dille and Ben Traxel have
played a pivotal role over the past 10 years in economic growth of our
region, both professionally and personally. Not only have they designed
many buildings, schools, and banks in our area, they have served on numerous committees and boards, donating hundreds of hours of
work. Ben Traxel was awarded a Vanguard Award on April 26, 2013 by
Three Rivers College for the design and vision of the new Three Rivers
College. Brett, the son of Jim Dille, founder of Dille’s Pharmacy and
Ben Traxel, the son of Dr. William Traxel, longtime Ophthalmologist at
Kneibert Clinic moved off to work and study in Architecture but found
themselves back in Poplar Bluff because of the vision they shared for the
opportunity of growth in their hometown.
Dille & Traxel will be holding an Open House to celebrate their 10th
Anniversary on Thursday, May 30th from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
NEWS FROM THE CAMBER
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Business to Business
Butler County is looking for a business person to
represent our area on the South Central Missouri
Workforce Investment board.
If you are interested please email Steve Halter at
shalter@poplarbluffchamber.org. The WIB meets
quarterly in Winona, Missouri.
To learn more about WIB, please visit
http://scwib/index.php
National Small Business Week comes to St. Louis
Wednesday June 19th. This is FREE to be a part of.
This great event will feature national speakers
talking about issues important to
SMALL BUSINESSES.
To register visit http://www.sba.gov/nsbw
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NEWS FROM THE CAMBER
Gateway to Leadership
Visits Jefferson City
NEWS FROM THE CAMBER
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The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce
As everyone is keenly aware, a large part of the Chamber’s mission is
Economic Development and Tourism. First impressions make a BIG
difference when it comes to people who are first time visitors to our area, whether it is
for vacation, business/family visits or real estate site selection. Also, a well-kept and
“eye appealing” community helps with overall
citizen morale.
We have all read about the recent cutbacks from the Missouri Department of Transportation. We have also never been a community to sit back and wait for the state or
federal government to solve our problems. Although we will continue to work with
MoDot and the City Street Department on addressing issues such as grass cutting and
weed maintenance, we see the need for our business community to step up and help
keep our community looking good at all times! We encourage each business
(especially along business Highway 67/60) to maintain their property adjacent to the
main roadway. Many curbs are in need of constant attention, especially this time of
the year. These areas are the most visible and heaviest traveled by potential first-time
visitors.
The following areas have also been identified as “common grounds” and we ask that
businesses adopt the medians to help MoDot maintain on a regular basis:
-Highway 53/67 intersection
-Median in front of Baldwin GMC/JC Penney (Jim Bailey has agreed to adopt)
-Intersection of Cherry Street/Hwy 67- in front of Walmart
-Area in between Arbys and Walgreens
-Intersection of Hwy 67/60 (Steve Phillips Insurance has agreed to adopt)
-Median in between PBJHS and Auto Zone
-Median in front of O’Reilly & Aldi (Dr. Ben Adkins has agreed to adopt)
-Area between Valley Plaza & First Midwest Bank
-Intersection of Sunset/Hwy 67
-Intersection of Crestwood/Hwy 67
-Intersection of Hwy W/67 (Larry Hillis Dodge has agreed to adopt)
We have also decided to start a “Curb Appeal” Task Force to help identify and address other related issues in our business community. To sign up for this Task Force or to adopt an area, please
contact shalter@poplarbluffchamber.org
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NEWS FROM THE CAMBER
Southern Bank announced that it was included in the 2012 edition of SNL Financial’ s
annual listing of top 100 community banks. Among all publicly-traded community
banks in the United States, Southern Bank’s 2012 performance was ranked eleventh.
Among all public and privately owned community banks in the listing, Southern Bank
was ranked 45th. Southern Bank is a subsidiary of Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc.,
which trades under the ticker “SMBC” on the NASDAQ Global Market. Information
which may be of interest to current or potential investors is available at
http://investors.bankwithsouthern.com.
From its 1887 founding as a building and loan association, Southern Bank has grown
to a full-service commercial bank focused on pairing community bank service with
the latest technology in delivering financial services to its valued customers. The bank
operates 18 physical branches in Missouri and Arkansas, and also makes electronic
banking services available through its website at http://www.bankwithsouthern.com.
Southern Bank was selected by SNL Financial based on criteria including its profitability, asset quality, efficiency, and loan growth. This marks the third consecutive year
that Southern Bank has been included in SNL’s annual listing of top community
banks.
“Our consistently strong performance is directly attributable to the quality and expertise of our staff and management team, and I know that without their hard work and
dedication, these results would not be possible,” stated Greg Steffens, President and
CEO of Southern Bank.
At December 31, 2012, Southern Bank reported assets of $764 million; its $613 million
in loan balances represented 13% growth from one year ago. “At a time when some
consumers and small businesses continue to express frustration about availability of
credit, Southern Bank is eager to provide financing to local borrowers,” said Steffens.
SNL Financial is a leading provider of news and data on a number of industries, including banking, financial services, insurance, real estate, energy, and media/
communications. Leading investment banks, investment managers, corporate executives, rating agencies, government agencies, consulting firms, and media rely on SNL
to provide the best possible information on companies in the sectors they cover.
NEWS FROM THE CAMBER
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U.S. Bank has named Matt Henson regional president for U.S. Bank in Southeast Missouri. Henson will succeed Stan Penn, who will retire from a 34-year successful banking career on March 1, 2013. Terry Mills, U.S.
Bank community banking division manager, made the announcement.
Henson will work out of U.S. Bank’s Cape Girardeau office located at 325 North Kings Highway. He will
oversee sales, service operations and credit quality for its 23 offices throughout the area including Cape
Girardeau, Poplar Bluff, Dexter, Farmington, Washington and Union.
“Matt is a 30-year banking veteran who most recently served as senior credit officer for U.S. Bank’s Southeast Missouri region since 2003,” said Mills. “It will be a smooth transition. Under Matt’s leadership, the U.S.
Bank team will continue to be committed to its customers and communities in Southeast Missouri, which is a
great place to live, work, play and raise a family.”
Henson graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape
Girardeau and received his MBA from William Woods University in Fulton. Henson is also a graduate of the
Southwest Graduate School of Banking in Dallas. Prior to joining U.S. Bank, Henson was the market president for Union Planters Bank in Poplar Bluff and served in various capacities at several community banks
prior to working at Union Planters Bank.
Henson is active in the community as a member of Cape Girardeau Rotary Club, Cape Girardeau County Republican Central Committee, Southeast Missouri Pachyderm Club and St. Vincent’s Catholic Church. Henson resides with his family in Cape Girardeau.
“The U.S. Bank team is very happy for Stan, who will pursue his retirement dream -- returning to his
hometown of Ft. Worth, Texas, and opening his own business. U.S. Bank in Southeast Missouri is stronger
and better because of his contributions. We all wish him much success in the next chapter of his life,” said
Mills.
Penn's career at U.S. Bank began in 2001 in the Southern Oregon/Northern California market where he served
as senior lending officer before relocating to Cape Girardeau in 2007 to become the region president. A graduate of the University of Texas, Penn attended graduate school at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth and
completed the Chase Bank Credit School program, the Western Agricultural Banking School at Washington
State University in Pullman, Washington and the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Penn has been involved in numerous civic and charitable organizations, serving as campaign chairperson and
president of the board of directors for the United Way of Southeast Missouri, board member of Old Town
Cape, board member and treasurer of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce and past president of
the Cape Girardeau County Rotary Club.
U.S. Bank operates 23 branches in Southeast Missouri. U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), with $354 billion in assets as of December 31, 2012, is the parent company of U.S. Bank, the 5th largest commercial bank in the
United States. The Company operates 3,084 banking offices in 25 states and 5,065 ATMs and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products
to consumers, businesses and institutions. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at www.usbank.com.
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NEWS FROM THE CAMBER
What’s the process for applying for an SBA loan?
Applying for an SBA loan may seem daunting. Luckily, the process actually begins and ends with a
visit to your local bank. After all, the bank, not the SBA, provides the actual loan. You’ll deal faceto-face with your loan officer – not the federal government. And, if you are properly prepared and
your bank is an SBA Preferred Lender, the process can move quickly.
Preferred Lenders provide expertise in the various SBA programs and regulations. They have unilateral power to make credit decisions on behalf of the SBA, and the loan application is done on
bank paperwork, rather than on the SBA’s, speeding the process by weeks. The approved Preferred
Lender loan goes to the SBA only for an eligibility review, which may take as little as a few days.
You can expedite the process by compiling an application package before you visit your loan officer. In general, the package should include a brief history of your business, the purpose of the
loan, three years of financial statements, a list of your existing debt and your projections of income,
expenses and cash flow. Making sure the information is accurate and organized will show your
ability to community professionally.
Regardless of the type of SBA loan you qualify for, your local banker will answer your questions
and help you to take the next step to your business’s success.
The Poplar Bluff Historic Depot Restoration Corporation has
received a transportation enhancement grant through MoDot in
the amount of $252,224 for restoring the historic railroad steps
that have been a part of Poplar Bluff history since their construction in 1910. However, the Depot Corporation must raise
approximately $64,000 in matching funds.
You can send your
contribution to:
Poplar Bluff Historic
Depot Restoration
Corporation
PO Box 33
Poplar Bluff, Missouri
63901
Thanks to the many contributors the matching funds have
been met! However, contributions are still needed to
continue to move forward!! No contribution is too small.
The committee would like to send out a big THANK YOU!
to all that have contributed and those that will continue to
contribute from here on out.
For more contact Shirley Davenport at 573-686-2836,
(davenport@tcmax.net) or Jim Chrisman at 573-300-9303.
NEWS FROM THE CAMBER
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Three Rivers’ continuing efforts to meet the needs of both area residents and
employers have resulted in another record-breaking spring enrollment. The college
started the semester with 4,310 students taking 46,280 credit hours, an increase of 2%
in headcount and 8% in credit hours over last spring’s record-setting enrollment. This
growth is the result of the college’s commitment to serving Southeast Missouri. They
are taking our services to where we have identified needs. Three Rivers has been
working aggressively to fill the huge need for flexible, effective higher education in
Southeast Missouri.
When Devin Stephenson, president of Three Rivers College in southeastern Missouri pulls out the Winston Churchill quote, “Never, never, never, never, never give up,” he’s not kidding. Since arriving at the
Poplar Bluff-based community college four years ago, he’s opened a new campus in Dexter, started talks
to open another, and expanded enrollment college wide by 51 percent. To support this growth, Stephenson lobbied hard for a tobacco tax on the November ballot. It failed 51 percent to 49 percent. But the result did little to deter him. Instead Stephenson changed tack, inviting all 80 freshmen state legislators to
tour the campus. He wanted to show the lawmakers what they were getting for their money— and how
much more the college could do with adequate resources.
“We are underfunded; we are your best bang for the buck; and we are the future of this state,” he tells
legislators.
“We are the engine that will turn this state around with job creation.” But there’s a caveat: “Decisionmakers have to empower us and provide us with resources,” he says. Stephenson says it’s up to community college leaders to “show legislators the revolution the college creates in the lives of our students.”
On his tour, he introduces visitors to four students. One went from earning $13 an hour as a pharmacy
tech to $37 an hour as an ICU nurse. The strategy is yielding promise, if not results. The state community
college association is in the process of lobbying to increase the share of capital bonding funds received
by community colleges from 15 percent to 40 percent, or 50 percent, commensurate with the 50 percent of
Missourians who attend two-year institutions. “I feel like an evangelist, sharing the good news of the
community college,” Stephenson says. “You share our success stories and you talk about disparity in
funding, and the legislators—the light comes on and they get it. We’re getting a lot of, ‘We’re with you.
We’re ready to start developing a strategy.’ ” Stephenson is hopeful but also pragmatic, hewing close to
another axiom: The proof is in the pudding. “It’s good to know people and to network, but nothing takes
the place of hard work,” he says. “So we just don’t give up. This is a battle worth fighting, and we have
to do this for us to move forward.”
NEWS FROM THE CAMBER
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2013 Ag Expo
January 18th
Sunrise Homecare
February 19th
Hanger Clinic
April 3rd
Poplar Bluff Regional
Medical Center
January 18th
Jump Inn
February 26th
Redneck Racks & Reels
April 19th
Verizon Wireless - Z Wireless
May 6th
Old School Beauty Tattoos, Body
Piercing and Boutique
February 1st
The UPS Store Printing
& Graphics
March 22nd
Amanda’s Suite 1
May 2nd
Exotic Grill
May 17th
NEWS FROM THE CAMBER
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The next First Friday Coffee
will be
Friday, June 7th
8:30-9:30 a.m.
at
Schultz Surveying & Engineering
located at 4800 West Blvd.
NEWS FROM THE CAMBER
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Upcoming Events
January - March 2013
May 30th
Dille & Traxel 10th Anniversary
Open House
406 Hwy PP
May 31st
Ribbon Cutting for Poplar Bluff
Farmers Market
400 South Main St.
June 1st
Narvel Felts in Concert
Rodgers Theater
June 2nd
Michael English in Concert
June 6th
Industrial Outing
June 7th
Chamber's First Friday Coffee
Rodgers Theater
Ozark Ridge Golf
Course
Shultz Engineering
& Surveying
June 21st-23rd
Neil Simon Barefoot in the Park Rodgers Theater
June 28th - 30th Neil Simon Barefoot in the Park Rodgers Theater
Rivermist Assisted
July 2nd
Chamber's First Friday Coffee Living
July 27th
Jim Stafford in Concert
Rodgers Theater
For more information on these events and others log onto our website,
www.PoplarBluffChamber.org
NEWS FROM THE CAMBER
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The Greater Poplar Bluff Area
Chamber of Commerce
is proud to recognize our
TIME HONORED MEMBERS.
These members renewed their
investment January 1st - April 30th.
40-60 Years
Commerce Bank
General Baptist Headquarters
Meek's Building Center
Missouri Natral Gas Company
Municipal Utilities & City Cable
Smith & Company
Southern Bank
US Bank
Whitworth Gift Chest Jewelers
30-39 Years
Casey's Plumbing
Dan's Trophies and Awards
Drury Inn
Edmundson, Richardson, Innes & Warren
James Markel Attorney at Law
21-29 Years
Aldi, Inc.
American Cancer Society
Bill & Gene's Rental Center
Bluff City Ice
Buffington Brothers Heating & Cooling
Coffman & Company
Dorris Plumbing & Mechanical, Inc.
First United Methodist Church
Hefner Furniture & Appliance
Larry Hillis Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Jim Wolpers
Mid-Continent Steel and Wire
Nelson Tractor & Equipment
21-29 Years Cont.
Pearl Vision
Poplar Bluff R-1 School District
River Mist Assisted Living
Starting USA Corporation
Susan McVey State Farm Insurance
10-20 Years
AT&T
All Media Services
Allen Wellness Center
Ashely Furniture Home Store
Black River Medical Center
Boys & Girls Club of Poplar Bluff
Brown Window, Inc.
Butler County Health Department
Butler County Muscle Therapy Clinic
Camelot RV Campground
Castello's Restaurant
Cedargate (Midwest Healthcare, LLC)
Decota Electric Supply
Dairel L. Denton, Jr. & Associates
Fellowship General Baptist Church
Gilmore Tire Center, Inc.
Charles Hampton & Son Construction, Inc.
Margaret Harwell Art Museum
Health First/IPA, LLC
Hobbs Nursery & Greenhouse
Home Care Equipment
John Scott Attorney at Law
Judge John Howard Bloodworth
NEWS FROM THE CAMBER
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Time Honored Members
10-20 Years (Cont.)
KAJACS Contractors, Inc.
L&M Manufacturing Co.
La Boutique
Minit Print, Inc.
Nordyne, Inc.
Office Depot
People's Community State Bank
Pinkston Excavating
Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center
Progressive Farm Credit Services
Quality Choice Hearing Aid Center
Quentin Duff, Agent - Poplar Bluff Realty, Inc.
Republic Services, Inc.
Rick Brittingham, Agent - Poplar Bluff Realty, Inc.
Rick's 66
River Radio
SMTS
Sam and Judy Giambelluca
Schultz Surveying & Engineering, Inc.
Three Rivers Endowment Trust
US Army Corps of Engineers
John O. Wood, Psy.D.
5-9 Years
A-1 Backflow
Bluff Honda
Bluff Travel Agency
Bootheel Parts & Equipment Rentals
Buddy Strack, Finacial Advisor - Morgan Stanley
Con-Way Freight Central
David Craig Ministries
Donut House
Edward Jones - Brian Taylor
Emergency Medical Professionals of MO
Enterprise Rent A Car
Habitat for Humanity
Hardy Billington
Heritage Title Company
Holiday Inn/Comfort Inn/Super 8 Hotel
Kissinger & Kirkman Investment Centre
Living Word Baptist Church
Long John Silvers/A&W
McCormack Networks/Ellington Telecom
5-9 Years (Cont.)
Morgan Stanley
Nancy Abernathy, Agent - Morgan Stanley
Northside Nutrition Center
Oakdale Care Center
Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission
Petsway
Sacred Heart School
Saint Francis Healthcare System
Southeast Insulation and Home Improvement
Sterling Bank
The Claudia Foundation
Tim Heuiser, Financial Advisor - Morgan Stanley
Tonya Carter, Agent - Coldwell Banker Ruth Holloway
Realty
Steve Walsh
West Properties
Williamsville Stone Company
1-4 Years
Agee Fellowship Church
Animal Welfare Alliance
B&R Cleaning
Bits N Bytes Technologies
Boy Scouts of America
Breathe Easy Poplar Bluff
Butler County Title Company, LLC
C&S Septic Services, LLC
Cane Creed Sod Farm
Child Care Aware of Southern Missouri
Craig Heisserer State Farm
Grace Christian Fellowship
Hucks
Indian Hills Winery
MACO Management/Oak Grove Apartments
Ozark Family Resource Agency
Ozark Gymsports
PennyWise Enterprise, LLC
Persons Vending
Plaza Tire Service, Inc.
Poplar Bluff Elks Lodge #2452
Poplar Bluff Rehabilitation
Prime Plus Investments, LLC
Rednecks Racks & Reels
Robertson Inc. Bridge & Grading
NEWS FROM THE CAMBER
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Time Honored Members
1-4 Years (Cont.)
Robison Associates, LLC
Rowland Family Dentistry
Scurity Finance
Staffmark
Strubinger's Bakery & Café
Sunkissed Tanning
Superior Plumbing & Mechanical LLC
The Branding Iron BBQ
The Landing & Rosecliff Lodge
The Spa of Poplar Bluff
Three Rivers Shrine Club
Vietnam Veterans of America - Chapter 1056
Thank you for
supporting the Chamber
and the greater
Poplar Bluff area!
Page 15
NEWS FROM THE CAMBER
Welcome to the Chamber!!
Belle Ame Catering
Black River Public Radio
Brandon Woolard, Agent - Modern Woodmen of America
Designing Women Foundation
Gary Rush Concrete Solutions & Restoration, LLC
Gill Family Properties, LLC
Old School Beauty Tattoos, Body Piercing & Boutique
Poplar Bluff Outdoor Power Equipment
Regional Insurance Solutions
Rob’s Flowers / Scrapbooks From The Heart
Shular Trash Service
S-N-T Taxidermy
The Dance Studio
The UPS Store Printing & Graphics
Verizon Wireless - Z Wireless
Walgreens
Will Miller Flowers & Gifts / The Wild West Western Store