August: Closer Look
Tropical Smoothie Cafe Eating out just got healthier. Tropical Smoothie Café’s menu has 25 smoothies and a list of healthy additives, like vitamin C and whey protein. The restaurant not only offers smoothies, but they have a full menu of food, including flatbreads, sandwiches, and bowls—all made to order with fresh ingredients. “It’s what separates […]
Officer Keisha Edwards, School Resource Officer, Columbia Police Department
1. What’s your background? I’m originally from Chicago. I moved to Missouri to attend college at Lincoln University in Jefferson City and graduated with a bachelor’s in criminal justice. I’ve been a Columbia police officer since 2002 and a school resource officer at Rock Bridge High School since 2011. I have a 23-year-old son, and […]
Joe Bechtold, owner, Midway Properties
Job description: Entrepreneur. Years lived in Columbia/Mid-Missouri: I was born and raised in Columbia, but I spent the 1990s in Australia. Original hometown: Columbia. Education: A Bachelor of Science in business administration from MU. Favorite volunteer/community activity: I enjoy working out with friends in the Columbia Multisport Club [a local triathlon club] and look forward […]
July: Closer Look
Deck Medic Deck Medic is a family operated professional wood restoration company that refinishes wood surfaces. Deck Medic has crews in Columbia and Jefferson City currently, and the business hopes to add additional crews to the Lake of the Ozarks area. Deck Medic doesn’t build decks; they perform outdoor wood restorations and do minor repairs […]
Matt Hayes, owner, BrightStar Care of Mid-Missouri
1. What’s your background? My wife and I were both hospital corpsmen in the U.S. Navy for six years, which is where we met. Following my time in the service, I completed my bachelor’s degree in clinical laboratory science and worked in a hospital laboratory for the next five years in various departments like the […]
July: Movers & Shakers
Loretta Schouten The Youth Empowerment Zone Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Loretta Schouten has been selected as the organization’s new executive director. Schouten has more than 15 years of nonprofit experience including fundraising and administration. She has a passion for working with churches, business owners, city leaders, and schools to address the […]
July: Briefly in the News
Second Fuzzy’s Location Fuzzy’s Taco Shop opened a second location in Columbia on June 11. The 3,500-square-foot fast casual restaurant located at 205 E. Nifong Blvd. is the sixth Fuzzy’s built, owned, and operated by Scott Bonner. Fuzzy’s newest Columbia location will feature a welcoming and laid-back ambience, highlighted by the eclectic and colorful décor […]
Unleashed: For the Love of Cats
Foster homes give kittens a second chance. With the hot nights of summer upon us, cats all over Missouri desperately need homes. Many of them find one through Second Chance, the shelter and foster program founded in 1985 to help rehome unwanted animals in Mid-Missouri. Animals end up in Second Chance either as strays or […]
Trey Davis, President, Missouri Energy Development Association
Job description: Organized in 2003, MEDA is the association of Missouri’s investor-owned utilities and their strategic partners. Our members serve nearly 3.5 million customers, invest over $1 billion in the state annually, and employ over 10,000 people while providing the electric and natural gas services integral to the safety and prosperity of Missourians. My team […]
June: Movers and Shakers
Missouri Employers Mutual Tim Griswold has joined Missouri Employers Mutual as a talent development manager. Griswold comes to MEM from Accenture, in Houston, where he worked as a management consultant. Also, Kate Stull joined MEM as a marketing strategist. Stull previously worked at Columbia Insurance Group, where she served as a marketing communications specialist. Lastly, […]
Clyde Bentley, Associate Professor of Journalism Emeritus, University of Missouri
1. What’s your background? I grew up in a blue-collar family in Redding, CA, where my dad was a mailman and my mom was a waitress. Both had their educations sidelined by World War II, so they insisted I study and go to college. I went to the local community college (where I met Cecile, […]
June: Closer Look
Roo Storage RooStorage.com is a neighborhood friendly online platform that connects those with available space in their home such as a garage, spare bedroom, or basement to those in need of storage. Roo Storage allows those with the space to passively earn income with little to no time hindrance and those who are seeking storage […]