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].
Central Bank of Boone County (CBBC) dedicated a new sculpture at its Eighth Street entrance on Friday, April 28, 2023 at 10 a.m. with a Columbia Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. The sculpture was installed the week of April 24 by artist Pontus Willfors. Willfors was chosen from over 120 artists during a nationwide selection process.
“With the assistance of an excellent selection committee,” said Senior Vice President Mary Wilkerson, “we have chosen a piece that will reflect Central Bank’s commitment to our community. We certainly hope it is cherished and enjoyed as much as ‘People” was over the years.”
In addition to bank leaders, members of the selection committee included retired bank president Bo Fraser, architect Robbie Price and art curator Diana Moxon. Central Bank of Boone County has a long history of supporting the arts and certainly continues that tradition with this installation.
Central Bank of Boone County is a division of The Central Trust Bank. The Central Trust Bank is headquartered in Jefferson City, Missouri, and has been serving businesses and customers since 1902. The bank is built on a strong foundation of people, community service, and technology. The Central Trust Bank is a $20 billion Missouri state-chartered trust company with more than 250 locations in 78 communities. For more information, visit centralbank.net. For more information on this specific topic, contact Mary Wilkerson at 573-874-8534 or [email protected].
Anderson Engineering is changing its name to OWN effective April 12, 2023 and rebranding to celebrate and unleash the power of its successful business culture built on 100 percent employee ownership. The rebranding builds upon the firm’s significant growth over the past few years, with staff expanding from 70 to 230 employees across ten offices including six in Columbia, and its share price doubling twice.
“Our new name grew out of the idea that our greatest asset is our ability to tap into the power of true employee ownership and deliver creative problem-solving and service that goes beyond the expected,” said Jerrod Hogan, PLS, Chief Executive Officer of OWN. “We focus on the vital relationship between passionate engineers, their entrepreneurial drive, and the responsibility they share together as owners. Building on that success, the shift to OWN felt natural. Regardless of the project, scope, or location, the OWN team adds above and beyond value at every turn. We call this, “Engineering beyond.”
OWN serves the commercial, healthcare, education, residential, industrial, hospitality and sports, and entertainment sectors, as well as the federal/military, state, county, municipal, transportation and utility sectors. Licensed to operate in more than 40 states, OWN’s core services include Civil and Structural Engineering, Land Surveying, Field Services, and related subdisciplines.
Headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, OWN operates five other Missouri offices in Joplin, Monett, Carthage, Kansas City, and Columbia along with offices in Rogers, Arkansas and three Florida markets including Pensacola, Destin, and Milton. OWN is opening an additional office in Overland Park, Kansas this summer.
The Columbia office has supported numerous projects around central Missouri with civil and structural engineering services since it was established in 2018, including the Kirk Building renovation at Truman State University, the new athletic complex at Warrensburg High School and an annual pavement evaluation and maintenance program for the National Nuclear Safety Administration.
Founded in 1954 as the Tri-Lakes Concrete Company, the firm has undergone several name changes over the years, and has operated as Anderson Engineering since 1977. In 1998, it became employee owned. The idea of employee ownership is not new to engineering, but OWN celebrates several differences.
Though many firms are employee-owned, often the majority of shares are owned by executives and many times the ESOP is a small percentage of the ownership structure. OWN is a 100% ESOP, owned 100% by employees, equitably. Most firms in the engineering space are named after the service they perform, or after founders that may no longer be involved. OWN defies that convention by placing its prime differentiator – its employee owners – squarely at the center of its prime real estate: its name.
“Our firm builds futures for our clients, our partners, and the communities we serve. And everyone knows when the stakes are high, you ask to see the owner…we just happen to have 230 of them and counting,” said Hogan. “Our first principle is that ‘Owners do it Better.’ We’ve structured the firm in a way that respects, trusts, and empowers our employee-owners to do what’s best for our clients. This bears itself out in a culture built on responsiveness, creative problem solving, mutual success, and having a little fun along the way. To us – it’s more than a business structure or a tagline; it’s a culture we’re so committed to that we’ve staked our name on it.”
“Our team works on everything from buildings to bridges to ballfields,” Hogan added. “Our work and track record have always spoken for themselves. And as for culture – we put people at the center of everything we do. The team is beyond excited for this new chapter and how we’re positioned for growth and expansion.”
May is a busy month of great, free financial education at ProsperU! This program of Central Bank of Boone County empowers people to achieve financial success through educational programs, workshops and 1:1 sessions. Register at www.centralbank.net/prosperu.
Central Bank of Boone County is proud to recognize Katie Griffith, Classic Director, was honored with the Dorothy Jacob Customer Service Award at the Central Bank of Boone County (CBBC) Annual Consumer Banking Awards last week. The award is presented to someone who exemplifies customer service from the heart, a trait exemplified by the late Dorothy Jacob who spent more than 50 years at the bank and was the first female bank officer in Columbia.
“She listens to people, gives financial advice when they ask her for it, knows the names of their children and grandchildren, remembers the ‘little things’ that endear her to the Classic members,” said Mary Diblasi, Vice President of Relationship Banking.
Central Bank of Boone County is a division of The Central Trust Bank. The Central Trust Bank is headquartered in Jefferson City, Missouri, and has been serving businesses and customers since 1902. The bank is built on a strong foundation of people, community service, and technology. The Central Trust Bank is a $20 billion Missouri state-chartered trust company with more than 250 locations in 78 communities. For more information, visit centralbank.net. For more information on this specific topic, contact Mary Wilkerson at 573-874-8534 or [email protected].
MAAD Creative Offers Discount to Chamber Members
MAAD Creative is offering a 20% discount to all Columbia Chamber Members on all print publications – Relocating Magazine, Marketplace Magazine & the Add Sheet. In addition, we have a special promotion for radio advertising on 93.1 Jack FM! Please take advantage of this promotion NOW and contact Brandon Banks at 573-875-4000.