April Member News - Columbia, Missouri Chamber of Commerce

Member News is a monthly blog post dedicated to sharing Chamber members’ upcoming events or major news. If you have something to share, email the Chamber’s Director of Communications and Marketing, Caitlin Ferguson, at [email protected].

New, non profit arts Chamber Member offers discounts, details for upcoming events

Mareck Center for Dance, a proud new member of the Columbia Chamber is an organization that transforms our community through the joy of dance by providing exceptional performances, professional education, and unique outreach programs.

Mareck Dance: LIVE! is their next show. Happening April 7 and 8 at the beautiful Missouri Theatre. Featuring both live dance and live music, it includes premieres of new work from Columbia’s professional contemporary ballet company, acclaimed and original compositions from local musicians including Tom Andes and Travis McFarlane.

In celebration of their chamber membership, Mareck Center for Dance would like to invite you to the performance and take advantage of a special promotional ticket offer! Buy Three. Get one free. Use promo code: FourthFree at Concertseries.org. The value of one regularly priced ticket will be reduced evenly across four tickets of the same value. Restrictions may apply.

Chamber members are encouraged to save the date. Dancing with Missouri Stars, a benefit for Mareck Center for Dance, returns May 11. This is one of the premier social events of the year. It is also Mareck Center for Dance’s annual flagship fundraiser that brings local celebrity dancers and high-spirited theatrics together in a mid-Missouri edition of the popular TV show. Learn more at https://mareckcenterfordance.org/events/dancing-with-the-missouri-stars/.

Columbia Farmers Market kicks off its 43rd season on Saturday, April 1st, from 8 am-12 pm, located at Columbia’s Agriculture Park (1769 West Ash Street). The Market transitions to its spring hours, 8 am-12 pm, on April 1, welcoming many returning and new vendors, bringing fresh produce, meat, farm-fresh eggs, cheeses, honey, cut flowers, plants, artisan items, and more. Live music from Tex Carroll. Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture will be offering free kids’ activities.

To celebrate the Kickoff, Columbia Parks and Recreation, along with the City of Columbia’s TreeKeepers volunteer group, the City’s Tree Board, Columbia Farmers Market and University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry, the annual Arbor Day tree giveaway will take place, alongside the Market. The giveaway will start at 8 a.m. and lasts until seedlings are gone. The giveaway table will be located near the east entrance of the Market.

Columbia Farmers Market, a not-for-profit, is a year-round producer-only farmers market in Columbia, Missouri. As a producer-only market, everything sold is grown or made by the farmers and artisans who help sustain our mid-Missouri region. Open since 1980, the Market is the largest in mid-Missouri with over 80 vendors who provide a diverse offering of locally grown agricultural and artisan products from within 50 miles of Columbia. In 2022, the market saw the best year in its 42 years of being open, breaking all records. It was voted as the #2 Farmers Market in the Nation, and #1 in Missouri, by American Farmland Trust. It had the highest number of customers ever visiting the market, with over 196,000 shoppers in 2022. The vendors sold over $3,700,000 in locally grown and produced items in 2022, a 12% increase from 2021. CFM dispensed $111,940 in food incentives funds, such as SNAP/WIC matching and a Produce Prescription Program, and another $59,521in SNAP funds. For more information about the success of CFM in 2022, view its annual report.

The market offers a unique gathering space for the mid-Missouri community, where people come together to shop with their local producers, connect with their neighbors, learn about local agriculture, and eat delicious, nutritious food! Columbia Farmers Market strives to be an accessible, inclusive resource where our next generation of producers can utilize our programming and the expertise of our other members. As one customer stated, “I have lived in several places, and CFM is the most innovative and largest market I’ve patronized. Kudos to the team. Especially appreciate the tokens – more $ in farmers’ pockets is a good thing!”

For more information, please contact Corrina Smith at [email protected] or 573-823-6889. For more information about the tree giveaway, call Parks and Recreation at 573-874-7460.

Ongoing Commitment to Service Earns Matthew Schuchard, CENTURY 21 Access, 2022 Quality Service Pinnacle Award

Steve Fleischer, broker/owner of CENTURY 21 Access announced today that Century 21 Real Estate LLC recently recognized sales affiliate Matthew Schuchard with the CENTURY 21 2022 Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award.

“The Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award is an integral part of our brand’s commitment to excellence and recognizes Matthew Schuchard’s dedication to making each and every client interaction memorable and worth celebrating,” said Michael Miedler, president and CEO, Century 21 Real Estate.

The annual award is based on results from the CENTURY 21 Quality Service Survey (QSS) which is e-mailed to consumers immediately after the purchase or sale of a home. To earn the CENTURY 21 Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award, an agent must receive completed customer surveys for at least 80 percent of their transactions surveyed from January 1 – December 31, with an average survey score of at least 95 percent or better for two consecutive years.

“Matthew Schuchard provides their clients with the expertise and local market knowledge to help guide them along their individual real estate journey and provides confidence during what is often the most significant purchase of their lifetime,” said Steve Fleischer, broker/owner of CENTURY 21 Access.

“The power of the CENTURY 21 brand rests on the shoulders of the relentless sales professionals like Matthew Schuchard who always strives to deliver 121% for each and every client they serve,” said Miedler. “We are thrilled to recognize them for their amazing work and commitment to delivering the extraordinary experience that homebuyers, sellers and property investors deserve in their real estate journey.”

Matthew Schuchard will receive a customized glass trophy, in addition to being recognized at the CENTURY 21 Global Conference.

CENTURY 21 Access is a full-service brokerage located at 1301 Vandiver Suite N. For more information, please contact Steve Fleischer or [email protected].

Burrell’s Art of Being ME exhibit at the Missouri Capitol focused on mental health
Lt. Governor Kehoe and C.J. Davis punctuated the week-long exhibit with remarks

Officials from a variety of behavioral health organizations gathered in the rotunda of the Missouri state Capitol on March 9 to view photos and stories from nearly 30 people, all Missourians, living with mental health conditions.

The traveling exhibit, called the Art of Being ME, was invited to stop at the Capitol after Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe and his wife, Claudia, viewed it in Springfield last year.

Speaking from the House Alcove that morning C.J. Davis, CEO of Brightli, Inc., the parent company of Burrell Behavioral Health, thanked the lieutenant governor and guests from the Missouri legislature, the Missouri Commission for Mental Health, the Missouri Department of Mental Health, and more.

Davis explained how the Burrell Foundation, in collaboration with artist Randy Bacon, created an exhibit that features a diverse array of individuals who give a candid account of mental health and substance use challenges they have faced.

Joining Davis, Lt. Gov. Kehoe talked about the impact of the art being displayed has made. He remarked that many people had reached out to him this week in appreciation of having the exhibit in the Capitol. He noted how comments like that are how we crush the stigma around mental health; that it’s okay to talk about mental health.

Burrell Foundation’s Art of Being ME mental health exhibit went on display March 6 and was open to the public through the March 10.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for The Cycle of Success Training Program on April 4

On April 4, the community is invited to join leadership from the Cycle of Success Training (COST) Program, Moberly Area Community College in Columbia, and Columbia Chamber of Commerce at 5:30 p.m. for a Ribbon Cutting ceremony at Parkade Plaza, 601 Business Loop 70 W, Ste 216 signifying the inception of the COST program, a premier supportive services program designed to equip individuals for career opportunities and connect them to employers.

This partnership between The Cycle of Success Training Program and Moberly Area Community College will reinforce the importance of having alternative education options that focus on strengthening and empowering prospective and current employees in today’s workforce.

Individuals who register for the 6-week curriculum, will participate in workshops focused on enhancing their life and social skills, and networking sessions that prepare participants for employee readiness, recruitment and/or retention. Participants will also be introduced to educational and training institutions.

“When social inequities create disparities that lead to poverty and other community concerns, there is a dire need to reverse negative effects upon disadvantaged individuals, churches, community-based organizations (CBOs), and corporations,” Dr. Lester Woods, Jr., founder of the Cycle of Success Training Program”. By offering these workshops that educate and share resources, and we are bridging relational gaps between participants, CBOs and corporations that may address social inequities, through education and employment.”

The sessions will be held weekly on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30-8 p.m. There is no cost to register!

The first week will include two “Kick-off” meetings in order to provide introductions and collect pre-survey information. The second and third weeks will include workshops focused on “Finding Your Purpose”, “Writing Your Vision”, “Finishing What You Started” and “Leaving a Legacy”. The fourth and fifth weeks will entail life skills and social skills sessions, with an emphasis on Communication and Interpersonal Skills, Emotional Intelligence, Problem Solving and Critical Thinking. The final week will include networking sessions with employers.

This program is sponsored by The Source Summit Global.

For more information about the Cycle of Success Training Program, visit thesourcesummitglobal.com or email us at [email protected].

Rock the Community and Job Point invite you to their “Rock the Workforce” 2nd annual Job & Resource Fair. This event will be held on Tuesday, April 18 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Reichmann Indoor Pavilion at Stevens Lake Park, 2300 E Walnut St. For more information, email [email protected].

William Woods University invites the community to a ribbon cutting for their Center for Equine Medicine on April 14 at 4 p.m. Enjoy a reception with drinks and light appetizers while exploring our facilities and experiencing student-led tours.

RSVP to [email protected].

ProsperU class schedule includes Spanish language class this month

ProsperU, a program of Central Bank of Boone County, provides financial education classes both in person and online. As always, these classes are free and open to the public. Class information and registration is at centralbank.net/prosperu.

Date and Time	Class	Location
Tuesday, April 4 6:00 p.m.	Leveraging LinkedIn Today’s job market demands a lot more than the old paper resume. Learn how to make LinkedIn your personal marketer to get your profile noticed and interact effectively.	ProsperU Classroom 7^th and Broadway
Thursday, April 6 6:00 p.m.	Home Buying: Using a Realtor What, exactly, does a realtor do? Are they working for you when you buy or when you sell? Find out the best way to work with a Realtor when you’re ready to buy.	ProsperU Classroom 7^th and Broadway
Wednesday, April 12 6:00 p.m.	Beginner’s Guide to Investing Investing doesn’t have to be complicated if you know where to start. Find out the best way to get started and the pitfalls to avoid.	Zoom Online Class
Lunes, 17 de Abril 2023 6:00 p.m.	Tú y tu Crédito Es importante tener buen crédito, pero ¿Sabes cómo puedes obtenerlo? Y, si lo has estropeado, ¿Cómo lo arreglas? Aprende los ABC de un buen crédito.	Prosper U oficinas en 7th y Broadway
Tuesday, April 18 Noon	Financing Your Small Business You might be surprised at the many ways people fund their new business ventures. Whatever method you choose, learn how to be prepared for a sound financial future for your business.	ProsperU Classroom 7^th and Broadway
Tuesday, April 25 6:00 p.m.	College Planning 101 Whether college is years away or right around the corner, it pays to learn everything you can about finding the right one and then getting the right tools to pay for it.	Zoom Online Class
Thursday, April 27 Noon	Managing Your Money as a Couple There’s your money and their money and our money? Financial issues can really affect a healthy relationship. Learn the best strategies for moving ahead as a financial couple.	Zoom Online Class

That’s What She Said Columbia – get your tickets now to the inaugural show on Saturday, April 15th

Don’t forget to buy your ticket for the inaugural production of That’s What She Said Columbia, presented by Accounting Plus on Saturday, April 15^th at 7 p.m. at the Missouri Theatre. The She Said Project’s annual performance will celebrate the impact of women in our community and provide a platform for their powerful, personal stories.

Each That’s What She Said show features speakers who are contributing to the community in unique ways, with a wide range of identities, professional backgrounds, and life experiences. The inaugural That’s What She Said Columbia will feature the following local women:

Dr. Tashel Bordere
Mayor Barbara Buffaloe
Taylor Freeman
Natasha Harris
Mary Anne McCollum
Dr. Nicole Monnier
Valerie Ninichuck
Mary Ratliff
Dr. Meredith Shaw
Jina Yoo

Tickets are on sale now for $40 (plus taxes & fees). Your ticket to the show also includes a complimentary wine, beer, or cider along with popcorn for you to enjoy upon your arrival at the Missouri Theatre. 25% of ticket sales will benefit our nonprofit partner, True North of Columbia.