March: Briefly in the News
Sky Zone Celebrates First Anniversary In January, Columbia’s Sky Zone Trampoline Park marked its first year in business. They offered guests discounted jumping prices in honor of their anniversary. Their available activities, ranging from a ninja warrior course to dodgeball, drew in more than 100,000 visitors in the first year. The trampoline park employs more […]
Bea Litherland Smith, Dean Emerita, MU’s College of Human Environmental Sciences
Job description: Advocate, counselor, dreamer, drudge, planner, cheerleader, manager, yard guy, writer, landlord, sage, taxpayer. Years lived in Columbia: 42 years. I was recruited from North Dakota State University in 1977 to become, at age 36, MU’s youngest dean. I retired in 2002 as the university’s longest-serving dean. Original hometown: Hornick, Iowa. Population 250. Education: […]
Karen M. Miller, Retired, Happy Hour Hostess
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Elizabeth Leiva, Firefighter, Columbia Fire Department
What’s your background? I started in the fire service doing wildland firefighting in the summer of 2008 working for Grayback Forestry Inc. based out of Missoula, Montana. After a couple seasons, I moved back to Missouri. I wanted to continue working in the fire service, so I eventually became a volunteer for the Boone County […]
February: Briefly in the News
Missouri Airbnb Hosts Earned $48 Million in 2018 Airbnb announced that its Missouri host community earned a combined $48 million in supplemental income while welcoming approximately 483,000 guest arrivals to the state in 2018. There are now more than 4,500 Missouri hosts who share their homes via Airbnb, earning about $5,500 annually in supplemental income […]
February: Movers & Shakers
Klingner & Associates P.C. Klingner & Associates P.C. welcomed Harry Bozoian as business development manager and Joseph Bindbeutel as a business development specialist. Both men will find solutions for clients in need of municipal engineering, water resources engineering, environmental engineering, and architecture services throughout the Columbia area. Bindbeutel previously served the Missouri Attorney General’s Office […]
John Glascock, City of Columbia, Interim City Manager
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Jason Gruender, Owner, Liberty Insurance Solutions
1. What’s your background? Born and raised in Columbia, I graduated from Hickman High School in 1998. After earning my electrical engineering degree from MU in 2003, I began in the electrical construction industry and earned my professional engineer’s license in 2009. July 1, 2016, marked the day I began managing Liberty Family Medicine, which […]
February: Closer Look
Good Food Co. When opening her bakery and dessert bar, Good Food Co., in January 2018, owner Jill Rostine knew she wanted to make the best possible treats and create a sense of community among the shop’s patrons. Her baked goods stand out because she uses the highest quality ingredients from local vendors and everything […]
Mike Ireland, Regional President for Central Missouri, The Bank of Missouri
Job description: I oversee regional bank operations and help execute the bank’s strategic plan throughout Central Missouri. I’m also responsible for providing support and guidance to our regional leadership team and community bank presidents. Years lived in Columbia: 19 years. Original hometown: Trenton, Missouri. Throw a rock in Columbia and you’re likely to hit someone […]
January: Briefly in the News
Skylights partners with StoryUP XR SkyLights, an immersive in-flight entertainment company, announced a partnership with Columbia-based StoryUP XR, the makers of meditation channel Healium, to enhance passenger wellness on long-haul flights. Healium is the world’s first immersive media channel designed to combat stress using virtual and augmented reality in conjunction with user biometrics. It offers […]
January: Closer Look
Castaway Yarns Local arts are an important part of Columbia’s culture, and connection is how that culture reinforces itself. Castaway Yarns is a yarn shop that connects a large community of knitters, crocheters, and weavers. These artists use Castaway Yarns to find various types of fibers at different price points. Vickie Spain is a teacher, […]