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chamber of commerce

Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

FOCUSFOCUSVolume No. 33 Issue No. 11 November 2019

Congratulations go out to this year’s Large Business of the Year – Walmart and Small Business of the Year – Comfort Inn.

“The Chamber really appreciates the impact these two businesses have on our local economy,” Chamber President Jared Taylor said. “Not only do they provide needed services in our community, but the jobs they provide and the involvement both have in community programs makes a positive impact on our area. We’re very thankful for their investment in Bolivar.”

Awards are given based on growth, innovation, stability and community service. Categories are determined by number of employees. Any chamber business in good standing is eligible for nomination, provided they have not received the award for at least five years prior.

2019 Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce Large Business of the Year- Walmart.Left to right, Citizens Memorial Healthcare Chief Operating Officer Jeff Miller, 2018 Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce Large Business winner; Walmart General Manager Chris Asby, Walmart Assistant Manager Kristen Smith, Walmart Claims Manager Nancy Sapp, Walmart Assistant Manager Brandy Sanders, Walmart Assistant Manager Kaslyn Alexander and Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce 2019 President Jared Taylor.

2019 Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year - Comfort Inn. Left to right, OakStar Bank Community President Kelly Parson, 2018 Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce Small Business winner; Comfort Inn owners Naiya and Shanil Patel and Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce 2019 President Jared Taylor.

Congratulations 2019 Businesses of the Year!

FOCUSFocus is the Chamber’s news link with its membership, reporting on Chamber action involved in building a better community.

Phone: 417.326.4118Email: info@bolivarchamber.com

Join the ChamBer…Pass it onDo you know of a business that could benefit from a Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce membership? Encourage them to join; invite them to a meeting; forward the newsletter to them.

Christmas Parade deC. 14; deadline to enter is deC. 11Hurry, there’s still time to be in Bolivar’s annual Christmas parade, Saturday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m.

“You have plenty of time to enter the parade and get creative with a float,” Chamber Vice President Bobbie McKnight said. “Floats, vehicles, walkers, horses, bands – put an entry in, join the fun and get some great publicity for your business. It’s free to enter and you might even win a prize.”

This year’s theme is “Christmas Through the Years.” Prizes are awarded for the top four floats. For questions or to enter, please contact the Chamber at info@bolivarchamber.com.

memBershiP meeting November 14, 2019

Continued on next Page...

Welcome and Introductions – Jared Taylor, Chamber of Commerce President, call to order 12:25

• Thanked everyone for coming, review 2019 and roll out 2020

Recognition of Corporate and Executive Partners

• Listed corporate and executive partners, asked all in attendance to stand

• Will have corporate and executive breakfast in December rather than lunch, will send out invites, if interested in joining at higher level reach out to board or staff

Recognition of board members

• Asked all current board members in attendance to come forward for recognition

• Mila Chernioglo at Citizens Memorial Hospital, 3rd year

• Kim Segui at OakStar Bank, 1st year

• Jenny Fields at Cole & Fields LLC, 1st year

• Bobbie McKnight at Mary Kay, 2nd year

• Tony Berry at Bolivar Schools, 1st year

• Sean Patel at Comfort Inn, 1st year

• Meilani Conley at Southwest Baptist University, 1st year

Program

• 2019 Chamber review video – postponed due to technical problems

• Linda Bunch

o The Marketing Bunch contracted by Chamber to manage and market chamber, video will show some of the things we accomplished and the numbers

o Exist to serve our members, if not for members and partners, we would not be able to do what we do

o 266 members, 37 new members, 4% increase in 2019

Biggest section of membership is 1-10 employees 60%

Corporate and executive partners are the backbone

o Education, networking, publicity, resource

o Strong partners with community organizations, city, county, schools, healthcare

o Dues keep office open

Through Nov. 1 distributed 300 community info packets

Phone and office visits – nearly 2,000

o Membership listed on website and Bolivar Area Living Guides

o Lots of questions received in office – chamber members referred first

o Community questions, answer or forward to appropriate place

o Give out many maps, phone books, history of Simon Bolivar

o This spring received grant from Missouri Job Center, fund job fair, work with Bolivar Industrial Development Alliance, etc.

o Try to not be everything to everybody, be good to partner and support

Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce

2019 Board Members

PresidentJared Taylor

Mid-Missouri Bank

Vice PresidentBobbie McKnight

Mary Kay

SecretaryMila Chernioglo

CMH Neurology Clinic

TreasurerMartha Meza

Mid-Missouri Bank

Scott KirchhoffCitizens Memorial

Healthcare

Josh BakerQuality

Fire Extinguisher

Tiffany PhillipsCounty of Polk

Jennifer FieldsCole & Fields, LLC

Kim SeguiOakStar Bank

Darin Peterson Century 21

Peterson Real Estate

Dr. Tony BerryBolivar R-1 Schools

Meilani Conley Southwest Baptist

University

Sean PatelComfort Inn

minutes Continued from Previous Page... Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce Newsletter

Want to work with community and business

o Fortunate to have a good board, lot of active members

o Chamber membership costs an average of 50 cents per day, great investment

• Played 2019 Chamber review video

o Thanks to Lexi Berry, The Marketing Bunch intern, for making the video

• 2019 Small Business of the Year presented by Kelly Parson of OakStar Bank – 2018 recipient

o Thanked Chamber for allowing OakStar to be small business for 2018

o Always need to look for the future, privilege to announce next

o This business has six full time, five part time, been in operation for 14 years, employs people invested in community; supports SBU and Bolivar Schools, Lucas Oil events, Silo Ridge events; community outreach big part of company culture; management gives back to community and employees; provides services to local businesses and families and travelers; comfortable place to rest and relax

o Congratulations to Comfort Inn and Sean Patel for Small Business of the Year

o Sean Patel

Thank you to those who voted, believed in us, thanked board members, really live by the motto of giving back to the community, most of revenue is from community

• 2019 Large Business of the Year presented by Jeff Miller of Citizens Memorial Hospital – 2018 recipient

o Congratulated small business

o One of favorite quotes – “show me anyone who has won an award, and I’ll show you someone who has great sacrifice”

o No one receives recognition without having great sacrifice

o This business has been in Bolivar for 47 years; customers include every demographic, employs 159 full time and 168 part time; over 35 employees with over 25 years of service; turnover below corporate average; variety of products at everyday low prices; goal is to save customers money; involved in chamber and local events; donated over $15,000 to local community betterment projects each year; group of employees committed to excellent service

o Congratulations to Walmart and Chris Asby and his team

Chris Asby

• Grew up in Bolivar, started working at Walmart at 19 years old, always supports everyone to move up, moved around a little but had chance to come back to Bolivar, sought to get more involved in community, open to more community events, happy to offer online grocery, will have remodel next year and add a bunch of new stuff

• Adjourn at 1:04 p.m.

Congratulations to the businesses of the year! Join them in the annual Bolivar Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 14

Encouraged Member Networking/Dismissal

Board member Jenny Fields hands out candy to children of all ages during Bolivar’s annual trick or treat on the square.

FROM YOUR CHAMBER

final 2019 networking@noon lunCh is deC. 12, new Board memBers to Be announCedMark it on your calendar and bring others with you to the final 2019 Networking@Noon lunch, Thursday, Dec. 12 in the CMH Community Rooms. The Bolivar Area Community Foundation will award community grants to local not-for-profit agencies. New chamber board members and officers will be announced.

“The chamber has experienced one of the best and busiest years for our community, chamber andmembers,” Chamber president Jared Taylor said. “Thank you to everyone who worked to make Bolivar a better place to live, work and play. Please make plans to attend this meeting, get acquainted and updated with other members, share what’s going on at your business and learn from our speakers. It’s worth your time.”

The optional lunch is $6. Corporate and executive partners are reminded to use their complimentary meal tickets.

winners from Christmas oPen house Cash in Congratulations to Thelma Cowden, Patsy Smith-Schuepbach, Amy McCallister, Verna Johnson and Makenna Cotter, who each won $100 in Chamber Christmas Cash from the annual Christmas Open House, Nov 8-9. They may purchase items with their Christmas cash at any of the open house businesses and vendors.

Their entries were randomly drawn from more than 5,000 entries in this year’s Christmas Open House and Christmas Open House Showcase. Visitors could enter at each of the nearly 50 participating businesses and two dozen independent sales vendors at the showcase held at the Bolivar Christian Church.

“It was a great turnout and kickoff to the local Christmas shopping season,” Chamber Vice President and event committee chair Bobbie McKnight said. “This event brings shoppers into our community and benefits participating businesses during and after the event. Working together, these businesses attracted thousands of visitors and shoppers to Bolivar. Thank you!”

Patsy Smith-Scheupbach and Makenna Cotter are excited to be among this year’s Christmas Cash winners. Congratulations to all five!

The Bolivar area ChamBer of CommerCe WelComes our NeWesT memBers:

Bug Zero Inc.311 N. Waverly Ave., Springfield

417-831-7378 • bugzero.com

Renewal by Andersen3045 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield417-268-9301 • renewalbyandersen.com

Abundant Life Fitness121B S. Main Ave., Bolivar

417-414-0467 • abundantlifefit.com

H & H New Creations115 N. Main Ave., Bolivar

417-422-3559 • hhnewcreations.com

Remedies Salon & Co.104 N. Dunnegan Ave., Bolivar • 417-777-0844

Hickory County Farmers Mutual Insurance Company

2346 Polk St. • Hermitage • 417-745-6722hickorycountyfarmersmutual.com

light the Park kiCks off 16th YearNow in its sixteenth year, Bolivar’s premier annual drive through light display will open Nov. 29 and continue nightly from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 30 in Dunnegan Memorial Park.

Light displays are provided by area businesses and organizations. There is no charge to drive through the park, but donations are accepted at the gate to benefit local charities.

“A very special thank you goes out to the many organizations and businesses who donate andprovide displays,” Chamber Treasurer and event volunteer Martha Meza said. “Light the Park is a holiday tradition for many families as well as a benefit for so many local causes. It brings literally thousands of visitors to our community to view the lights. It’s valued on many levels.”

theParkLight

2019

FROM YOUR CHAMBER

Thank you 2018 officers:• President Jared Taylor• Vice-President Bobbie McKnight• Secretary Mila Chernioglo• Treasurer Martha Meza

thank You ChamBer Board

Upcoming EventsSaturday, Nov. 23

Light the Park set up8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Dunnegan Memorial Park

Thursday-Friday, Nov. 28-29Chamber office closed

for Thanksgiving holiday

Friday, Nov. 29Light the Park begins6 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly

Dunnegan Memorial Park

Thursday, Dec. 12Networking@Noon

12 p.m. — CMH Community Room #2

Saturday, Dec. 14Bolivar Christmas parade

2 p.m. — Line up at Southwest Baptist University

The Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce is guided under the supervision of a voluntary board of directors. As the year ends, several of our outstanding members will

rotate off the board. Our sincere thanks for their commitment the past three years.

Thank you retiring board members:• President Jared Taylor, Mid-Missouri Bank• Secretary Mila Chernioglo, CMH Neurology Clinic• Treasurer Martha Meza, Mid-Missouri Bank• Scott Kirchhoff, Citizens Memorial Healthcare

Thank you returning board members:• Vice-President Bobbie McKnight, Mary Kay• Josh Baker, Quality Fire Extinguisher• Tiffany Phillips, Polk County• Kim Segui, OakStar Bank• Darin Peterson, Century 21 Peterson Real Estate• Dr. Tony Berry, Bolivar R-1 Schools• Meilani Conley, Southwest Baptist University• Sean Patel, Comfort Inn

Thank you returning board advisor: • Randy Boulware, Advanced Auto Body

Please remember to attend the Dec. 12Networking@Noon to meet new board members for 2020-22 as well as announcement of the 2020 new officers.

Plan ahead: leadershiP training availaBle through leadershiP Bolivar in 2021Plan ahead for the chamber’s bi-annual 12-week leadership development training. The next session will begin in January 2021. Weekly programs give participants a knowledgeable understanding of their community, familiarizes them with community opportunities, needs and resources and better acquaints them with city, county and state government.

Tuition for the course, materials and meals is $300 per person, employed by a chamber member.

“This is a very small investment to make in yourself or an employee,” said Jared Taylor, graduate of Leadership Bolivar. “I grew up in Bolivar but I learned so much more about our community while also gaining some very valuable leadership skills. I highly recommend Leadership Bolivar. It just makes you a better leader, business person and community member.”

Information is available by emailing info@bolivarchamber.com.

Support Your Fellow Chamber Members.Thanks to the Chamber Corporate Partner Businesses.

Commitment, Service & Dedication to Polk County

www.commercebank.com

Hometown proud.Community focused.

“Big” bank technology.5 location convenience.

BankOfBolivar.comUltimateBankAccounts.com

180 N. Davis Drive • Bolivar, Mo 65613417.326.3799