Anne Churchill
Owner, AnnaBelle Events & Rentals
Age: 25
For Anne Churchill, event planning is about more than a great party. When it’s done right, it’s an effective way to give back to the community.
For every corporate or civic event AnnaBelle Events & Rentals plans, some portion of the proceeds is put back into Columbia. A perfect example of that, she says, is the Coaches for Kids golf tournament. Planners expect to bring in about $70,000 in proceeds that will stay in this area. “In the future, I look forward to meeting with local nonprofits and finding ways I can better increase their proceeds,” she says.
For Churchill, it’s important to be involved in the community in a variety of ways. She currently sits on the boards of the Community Foundation of Central Missouri and the New Century Fund. She is also involved with the Ellis Fischel Gala and the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
Churchill was raised in Columbia and still lives with her family in close nearby. She started and finished her schooling at Columbia College but spent her junior year at DePaul University in Chicago, where she worked at Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears. It was in Chicago that she discovered her passion for event planning.
When she’s not busy with work, Churchill can be found spending time with her boyfriend and their families. Although their careers keep the couple occupied most of the time, they also enjoy movies and documentaries and spending time outdoors.
Travis Tucker
Owner and operator, Bleu Restaurant and Wine Bar
Age: 32
Raised in a small farm town in Missouri, Travis Tucker knows the importance of local, quality food and inspiring those around him to do the same.
Since graduating from the University of Missouri in 2002, Tucker managed some of Columbia’s fine-dining restaurants, including Addison’s and Sophia’s, and is now the owner of Bleu Restaurant & Wine Bar.
With his experience working cattle and gardening alongside his mother and grandmother as a child, Tucker says he was taught the value of homegrown food. He wants to instill the importance of building relationships with local farmers and growers.
Tucker’s hope is to share this knowledge with his staff, co-workers and customers to encourage healthy eating habits, quality food and sustainability in the community. “It starts with teaching our children that food is a process and does not start in a cellophane package,” he says.
Tucker stays involved in the community by promoting social and dining etiquette to college and graduate students. For the past five years, Tucker has been proud to instruct etiquette dinners for students from the MU School of Business, Veterinary Medicine, School of Medicine and the Asian Affairs Center. Tucker is also an active member of First Presbyterian Church and serves on the board of trustees and is an active member of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, with his business sponsoring the Chamber for several events each year.
Tucker and his wife, Liz, have been married for seven years. They have two children, Wade and Georgia, with whom they enjoy digging up worms and spending time outdoors.
In his free time, Tucker enjoys cooking, traveling and spending time with family back on the farm. “I still enjoy working the cattle with my dad while teaching my son about life on the farm,” he says.
Erik Morse
Talent acquisition specialist, VA Mortgage Center
Age: 30
To say that Erik Morse is involved in the community is putting it mildly. He’s worked for the Family Counseling Center, Heart of Missouri United Way, the Community Impact Advisory Council, the Chamber of Commerce EPIC executive committee, the Resource Campaign and CORE 20 and has volunteered with Stand By Me and served as sergeant at arms with the Rotary Club-Northwest.
Morse is currently working toward positive change for Columbia through his involvement in the Heart of Missouri United Way’s Community Impact Model. The goal, he says, is to help create lasting changes in people’s lives by addressing the underlying elements that are the building blocks for successful lives and communities: education, income, health and safety. He believes that in a caring community such as Columbia, these positive changes are possible.
“Many organizations do a great job addressing needs in our community, and now we have a way to approach the root source of some of these needs,” Morse says. “With this effort, we are committed to ending generational poverty, closing achievement gaps in schools and addressing health concerns.”
Morse and his wife, Andrea, celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary in October. The two met at a concert at The Blue Note, and live music is still a big part of their lives. Oliver, their 2-year-old son, sometimes gets to go along, too.
Morse is an avid bicyclist and often takes part in weekend group rides. He also enjoys long, organized endurance rides, including the Show Me 100 and the MS 150, to help in fundraising efforts. Some of his best fun, though, is when he and Andrea attach a trailer to their bikes and tote Oliver along on treks to Rocheport or Cooper’s Landing.
Michele Spry
President, Midway Electric Inc.
Age: 34
A lifelong Boone County native and 1994 Hickman High School graduate, Michele Spry gained on-the-job experience that landed her current position as president of Midway Electric Inc.
Midway Electric was created in 2001, and Spry came to the business full time in 2006. Spry’s responsibilities include human resources, payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, advertising and public relations. The company became a woman-owned business in 2008 when Spry was named president.
Spry has been a member of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce since 2006 and has been a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador since 2008. In 2009, Spry was named Ambassador of the Year, and Midway Electric was named Columbia Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year.
Spry takes pride in involvement with the community, especially having Midway Electric become Partners in Education with her former grade school, Midway Heights Elementary. Feeling strongly about mentoring and being a good role model for kids, Spry says: “ These young people are the future of our country and tomorrow’s business leaders. It’s so important to bridge the gap from our generation to the new generation.”
Spry is also involved in Junior Achievement of Mississippi Valley Inc. and teaches “Our Community” as a five-part class to second-graders; Women’s Network; Missouri Deca; Women with Wings; and the Central Missouri Humane Society. She also donates time and other resources to many more organizations.
Spry and her husband and high school sweetheart, Brandon Spry, own five businesses. When the couple isn’t busy working, they enjoy traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Kerrie Bloss
Program director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri
Age: 38
Kerrie Bloss is responsible for overseeing programming for 1,300 children in three counties, but that is only the beginning of her involvement in the Columbia community.
“I truly believe in serving and giving back to the community you live in,” she says. “And whatever it is that I’m doing, I give 110 percent. If I think I might not be able to give that, I’ll turn a project down.”
Bloss is rarely without a project. During the summer, it might be serving lunch to those who are less fortunate. During the holidays, she can often be found ringing bells to collect donations for the Salvation Army. She’s also involved with RAIN of Central Missouri, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the Rotary Club, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and Women’s Network.
Bloss suggests that Columbia could benefit from a nonprofit education program for business leaders that introduces them to the network of agencies available to assist members of the community. Often, employers are unaware of the services that are made available, she says. “Educating employers on those services would help them empower their employees, especially those earning a living wage, which could help relieve some of the employees’ stress and result in longevity with the company.”
Originally from St. Joseph, Bloss moved to Columbia in 1997 with no job or place to live. She stayed with friends while getting settled, and within a month she had a place to live, roommates and a job at Charter Behavioral Health Systems.
Bloss says she enjoys all that Columbia has to offer: its festivals, live music and locally owned restaurants and shops. Her other pastimes include going to wineries, traveling, reading, watching movies, spending time with family and friends and her “secret life of sweepstaking.”
Brendon Steenbergen
Director of development for annual giving, Columbia College
Age: 34
Uninspired by the static fundraising websites he found at most schools, Brendon Steenbergen took it upon himself to change the way the financial supporters of Columbia College think about charitable donations.
Steenbergen’s ideas received media attention this January after launching the site that gave backers a new way of doing business. Donors can “shop” the website and help the school pay for specific items.
Benefactors might want to donate $5 or more toward new clinical supplies for the nursing program, for example. Or they could opt to purchase a certain number of bricks to be used for new construction. Steenbergen then made it to the newspapers again in spring by using the college’s new website to collect donations to send military care packages overseas.
Steenbergen is a graduate of the University of Missouri and holds a master’s degree in public affairs and a bachelor’s in graphic design. His community involvement includes work with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the PedNet Coalition Fundraising Committee and the Alzheimer’s Association Mid-Missouri Chapter. In 2010, he was a guest speaker at the National Partnership for Philanthropic Planning Conference in Washington, D.C.
Columbia is home to the whole Steenbergen family, with the exception of his sister, whose husband serves in the Army. For recreation, he enjoys piloting his airplane, traveling and visiting Columbia’s parks with his girlfriend and chocolate Labrador, Dexter.
For Steenbergen, the best part of Columbia, in addition to its excellent restaurants, events, parks, schools and businesses, is its residents. The lifeblood of the town is the energy created by the diverse assortment of personalities. “I try to do my part by engaging, volunteering and adding to that energy,” he says. “And I also try to spread the word to those I meet to draw more great people.”
Kellie Ann Christie
Major gift officer, University of Missouri Health Care
Age: 36
Kelly Ann Christie wants the world to know that charitable giving never goes out of style.
Since being hired as the Thompson Center for Autism’s first major gift officer in 2006, Christie has assisted her organization in raising an average $500,000 annually to support programming and building funds. A large portion of that was a result of a fundraiser she initiated called “The Model Citizen Fashion Show,” which now brings in more than $100,000 each year.
Within the community, she has done work for the Mizzou Alumni Association, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the Assistance League of Mid-Missouri, the City of Columbia Office of Cultural Affairs and the Special Olympics of Missouri. Christie holds a degree in animal science from the University of Missouri.
Christie would make Columbia a better place to live by addressing the issue of childhood obesity. It’s a national problem, she says, and it exists right here at home. “We could begin to reduce these rates by providing more support for Columbia Public Schools, especially if legislators would begin offering incentives to promote healthier eating and physical activity during school hours,” she says. “This can be achieved in many ways, from providing healthier options for free and reduced lunch program to giving credit hours for participation in sports teams and marching band.”
Newlyweds this September, Christie and her husband, Derek Coats, share their home with their 4-year-old dog, Rudy, and 11-year-old cat, Lizzie. Although Christie stays plenty busy juggling her position at the Thompson Center with another part-time job, she occasionally finds time to enjoy running, walking her dog, visiting with friends and spending time with family. And, she adds, she adores MU sports and does her best to attend every football and basketball game.
Kris Farmer
Chief marketing officer, VA Mortgage Center
Age: 34
With more than 620 employees, offices in 17 states and annual loan volume more than $1.5 billion, VA Mortgage Center.com has become the nation’s largest dedicated VA lender.
Since February 2009, Kris Farmer has been responsible for the company’s online and offline marketing efforts. VA Mortgage Center.com’s world-class marketing team works in all areas of marketing including SEO, SEM, print, email, social media, conversion, branding and public relations. Farmer is also working with the executive team at VAMC to form an employee-driven charitable fund, Veterans United Foundation, which will commence in October.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in multimedia with an emphasis in e-commerce from the University of Advancing Technology, Farmer gained his professional marketing experience with Razorgator and TickCo Premium Seating before joining VAMC. Farmer was the senior director of e-commerce at Razorgator, the third largest ticketing provider in the secondary ticket market, which gave him the responsibility of running the company’s marketing team. At TickCo, Farmer was also in charge of the company’s marketing efforts and online presence.
“The greatest thing about working at VA Mortgage Center is that there are so many opportunities to get involved with various community efforts,” Farmer says. He’s passionate about working with Coyote Hill and says it is “close to his heart.” According to Farmer, VAMC and employees support United Way, Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Bog Sisters and Dream Factory. Being an Army veteran, he’s an avid worker with military charities as well. Farmer is involved nationally with military veteran organizations such as Fisher House, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Hire Heroes USA and Homes for Our Troops, and VAMC runs a military scholarship program.
Living in Columbia with his two daughters, 7-year-old Paige and 3-year-old Maddie, Farmer enjoys tea parties, playing with Barbies and wearing pink. Overall in his spare time, Farmer enjoys time with his girls and “being Dad.”
John Fabsits
Director of development and marketing, Boy Scouts of America
Age: 29
In his position, John Fabsits supports the mission and vision of the 10,000 youth and adult members of the Boy Scouts of America Great Rivers Council. He helps plan a comprehensive development program, including their donation campaign, annual popcorn product sales and special events such as sports tournaments to support the scouts’ funding needs in the 33 counties of the Great River Council.
During his tenure, Fabsits has increased the scouts’ annual giving campaign by 18 percent, in part through a one-day fundraising breakfast he implemented, which nets more than $60,000. He was also able to increase youth membership by 27 percent, trained adult leaders by 29 percent and annual popcorn sales by 56 percent.
Fabsits says he is always open to getting involved with civic and philanthropic organizations. He is a graduate of Leadership Columbia and the U.S. Leadership Academy and is involved with groups including the Columbia Chamber of Commerce EPIC Committee, the Columbia Jaycees, the Northwest Rotary Club, the Missouri Western State University Alumni Association and the Hugh O’Brian Youth Foundation. Since college graduation, he has remained involved with the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and serves as both a local adviser to the University of Missouri chapter and as a regional volunteer who assists chapters throughout Missouri.
Outside the office, Fabsits most enjoys traveling with his girlfriend of four years and visiting offbeat attractions such as the world’s largest ball of twine, the largest rocking chair and the world’s largest pencil. Their goal is to visit every “world’s largest” in the Midwest. Rummaging through thrift stores is another hobby. Fabsits is currently working on the restoration of a vintage Coca-Cola machine and a set of seats rescued from the Missouri Theatre prior to renovation. Hiking, biking and camping along Columbia’s many trails are also on his list of fun recreational activities.
Columbia is a great place to live, Fabsits says, but a recreational teen center that offers late-night and weekend programming would be a great benefit for the younger population. They need a place where they can have fun yet be safe. “I think if the local nonprofits, the business community and the city of Columbia all worked together, that’s something that could be accomplished,” he says. “It would give the kids something fun and positive and help keep them out of trouble.”
Freddy Spencer
Owner, Century 21 Advantage
Age: 36
From the time Freddy Spencer first started work at 18 years old, his employers quickly saw him as a leader.
Soon after being hired at his first job at Walmart’s Tire & Lube Express, Spencer took the initiative to enter the company’s management training program. It wasn’t long before he was rewarded with his first supervisor position. In two years, he had been promoted to lead a larger store. And by 2000, his efforts helped earn his store the coveted Store of the Year Award. Within three years, Spencer was running Walmart’s eighth most profitable auto department in the country.
Spencer is now the owner and operator of Century 21 Advantage real estate agency in Columbia. He bought the company in 2007 and started with 14 agents. Today, the company employs more than 70 agents and is recognized as the largest, most productive Century 21 office in Missouri.
In real estate, Spencer has found professional fulfillment in assisting Columbia’s residents in finding the right home. “I love what I do, and I’m not nearly done,” he says. “Thanks to our agents, we have created a very friendly working environment and are always open to new ideas and change. I truly believe this is what sets us apart from other real estate firms and what has contributed to our continued growth.”
Away from work, Spencer enjoys life at his small farm north of Columbia, where he fishes, rides four-wheelers and works on the tractor. Whenever possible, one of his favorite getaways is a motorcycle trip with friends through the Boston Mountains in Arkansas. His most valued moments, though, are spent with his wife, Jessica, and their children, Emma and Paxton, living and playing on the family farm.
Kris Bezenek
Structural team leader, Trabue, Hansen & Hinshaw Inc.
Age: 35
Since joining Trabue, Hansen & Hinshaw Inc. in 2001, engineer Kris Bezenek has served clients as both a designer and project coordinator, meeting their needs in terms of quality and finances.
Columbia residents may recognize some of the larger, well-known projects he has been a part of: the Gateway Panel Manufacturing facility in St. Charles; the Lindberg Tunnel at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis; new United States prisons in Marion, Ill., and Jefferson City; the expansion of Harrah’s Casino Hotel in St. Charles; and the new St. Louis Mills Mall.
Bezenek donates his talents to the community by working with an earthquake and natural disaster volunteer program called the Missouri Structural Assessment and Visual Evaluation of Buildings and Vertical Structures Coalition. He is also involved with the Boone County Building Code Board of Appeals, the Emerging Professionals in Columbia Executive Committee, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Network and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mid-Missouri, where he is a continual volunteer.
Originally from Columbia, Bezenek returned home after graduating from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Melody, and is a loving parent to their basset hound, Bo. When he’s away from the office, he enjoys golfing, spending time at Lake of the Ozarks and MU sports.
J. Kate Grant
Chief financial officer, Fresh Ideas Food Service Management
Age: 37
Kate Grant joined the team of Fresh Ideas Food Service Management with the goal of strengthening the company’s financial roots.
Economic growth is her passion, she says. With financial success, companies and communities can better address problem areas. They can begin to provide educational funding, which is linked with crime reduction. “Finding a plan for long-term, sustainable growth is necessary to provide future generations with a place where they can play, learn, live and work,” she says.
In March of 2010, Grant joined Fresh Ideas as chief financial officer. Headquartered in Columbia, the company strives to provide quality ingredients to campuses throughout the Midwest. As CFO, Grant is responsible for all the financial procedures, overseeing corporate administrative activities and serving as a member of the Executive Leadership Team. She is a University of Missouri graduate and holds a minor in Japanese language from Southern Illinois University.
Grant’s recent community involvement has been with the Score Against Hunger Campaign Committee, working with the Missouri Tigers Football Team and the Food Banks of Central Missouri to feed families in need. She also helped to raise more than $500,000 for the Hallsville Football Kickoff Committee to establish a new football program for middle school and high school students. She also gives of her time to the Hallsville Optimist Club, Hallsville Schools, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and the Women’s Network.
Grant lives with her family on acreage in northern Boone County. When she’s not at work, her favorite activities include waterskiing on Truman Lake, reading, jogging, home improvement projects, being outdoors, spending time with family and training her yellow Labrador puppy, Maclin.
Warren Hoover
Owner, Dubtizzle social media management
Age: 32
While searching for his place in the business world, Warren Hoover has kissed his fair share of proverbial frogs. But with his new online company, Dubtizzle, he’s found true love.
After graduating college, Hoover got involved with the mortgage business and worked for a variety of companies. None, though, were the right fit. What he did learn is that he wanted to run his own business.
In 2010, he launched Dubtizzle, a social media management, local search and mobile marketing company created to help businesses build their online presence and brand recognition in a cost-effective manner. Within the past year, Hoover has been able to assist several local businesses and organizations on the charitable level. Last month, Dubtizzle helped build exposure for a benefit event to cover unexpected medical costs for an employee at the Holiday Inn Executive Center. “I’ve never been in a position to help others this way, and I love that I am now,” Hoover says. “That’s how I know I’m doing what I should be.”
Born in Brookfield, Hoover spent most of his childhood years growing up in St. Louis and Clovis, Calif. In January 1999, he transferred from Fresno State University to the University of Missouri, where he played baseball until graduating in 2002. He loved Columbia so much, he stayed.
Hoover and his wife, Becky, have two daughters, Britney and Sydney, as well as two dogs: Mac, a black Labrador, and Minnie, a Chihuahua. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and training and competing in triathlon events. He is a member of the Columbia Multisport Club and serves on the board of the MU Varsity M Association.
Susanne Bylund
Chief operating officer, Pure
Age: 32
All the way from Sweden, Susanne Bylund has made the United States home as chief operating officer of Pure, part of the AdVentures family of companies.
With a background in law and business from Lund University in Sweden, Bylund has worked in Austria, Taiwan and Spain. After receiving her work permit in March 2009, she was offered the position at Pure. Pure is one of seven companies AdVentures has founded, acquired two and exited two, under owner Brent Beshore since its start in 2007. After growth of 6534 percent in just three years, AdVentures was ranked 28th on Inc.’s 500 list in financial services for 2011.
Having worked across continents, Bylund says, “Everyone who wants to can and will change their situation given the right tools.” Bylund and her husband work with many globally present organizations aspiring to empower individuals through education, particularly financial and economic knowledge to teach people to grow through self-help. AdVentures/Pure has an intern program that allows students at the University of Missouri to gain real work experiences to make them better equipped to enter the world of business and “helps them grow as both individuals and professionals,” Bylund says.
As part of her work at AdVentures/Pure, Bylund has been responsible for the United Way charitable campaign for the past two years. In her efforts helping those in less fortunate situations and getting them back on their feet, Bylund has volunteered at the Food Bank and Ronald McDonald House. Bylund is also a member of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and Women’s Network.
Bylund moved to the U.S. after her husband, Per Bylund, was accepted into MU’s economic Ph.D. program. Bylund enjoys the outdoors as well as traveling. She and her husband frequently visit the Columbia restaurant and concert scene and enjoy live music and shows.
Alexandra Wharton
Vice president of marketing and community, Newsy.com
Age: 38
As journalism rapidly evolves in the face of the Internet and mobile technology, Alexandra Wharton, vice president of marketing and community at Newsy.com, undoubtedly stands at the forefront of change.
When Wharton’s not teaching budding journalists at the University of Missouri how to develop an audience, she’s developing her own audience for Newsy.com’s multisource video news service.
Using a combination of social media, public relations and advertising, Wharton works across various platforms to reach the public. No stranger to journalism, she previously worked as a senior reporter at Revenue Magazine as well as an editor and content manager at Montgomery Research, both in San Francisco. Her duties included everything from writing feature stories, to reporting breaking news, to heavily editing content, aiding in the development of the look and feel of books and websites and maintaining relationships with industry professionals.
Yet, Wharton’s specialties don’t end with journalism; she’s held lead marketing positions at companies such as MarchFirst, USWeb, Cybernautics and The Well. Her accomplishments range from promoting the world’s first online community; to launching pivotal software; to gaining experience in account management; to executing campaigns for Apple, Dell and Levi’s.
Before her success in California, Wharton attended both Tulane University and Newcomb College. She held an internship at Gambit, New Orleans’ weekly alternative newspaper. She also contributed to The Hullabaloo, Tulane University’s newspaper.
As a teacher and Newsy.com’s co-founder, Wharton says she wants to “help grow Columbia’s startup community by nurturing and mentoring young talent, especially young women.” She hopes to “continue to develop a thriving downtown and promote Columbia’s many cultural events.”
When not working, Wharton enjoys married life, Ragtag Cinema, the MKT Trail and the Social Media Club.
Camren Cross
Recreation supervisor, city of Columbia
Age: 35
Camren Cross has been a busy man since joining the city of Columbia in 2004.
In the past seven years, he has helped develop numerous programs, including the Boone County Hoppers Double Dutch/Jump Rope Team, Lil’ Lady Bulldogs Dance & Cheer Group and the Sho-Me Sho-Stoppers Hip Hop Dance Team. He also brought the NFL Punt, Pass & Kick Competition to Columbia and founded the Blue Thunder Track Club, which he also coaches.
Before moving to Columbia, Cross worked with the Pulaski County Special School District in Little Rock, Ark., as well as Charter Behavioral Health Systems in Fayetteville, Ark. He holds a bachelor’s degree in education and therapeutic recreation with a minor in psychology from the University of Arkansas, where he also enjoyed his college years as a football player.
Cross says he still loves sports in all forms: watching them, participating in them and coaching them. Working with his track team takes up most of his time; he trains with the students for year-round outdoor, cross country and off-season indoor events. Coaching that team, he says, is more than a hobby. They’ve become like family, too.
In Cross’s spare time, he enjoys watching movies, golfing, playing video games and biking on Columbia’s great trails.
Some of Cross’s goals are to develop youth groups and help students discover their passions in life. Once that happens, he says, children find a positive outlet for their energy. And that decreases the risk of kids finding themselves in unsafe situations.
“Having a place to belong, like being in a youth group, is a great way to help kids avoid negative situations,” Cross says. “Safe and positively occupied kids equals a win for Columbia.”
Mark P. Richardson
Investments and retirement planning, senior vice president and sales manager, The Bank of Missouri
Age: 34
From a small town in southern California, Mark Richardson followed love to the Midwest. Richardson is a 2005 University of Missouri graduate with a master’s of business administration and a bachelor’s in political science from California State University at Long Beach.
Since 2005, Richardson has worked his way to senior vice president and sales manager in investments and retirement planning for The Bank of Missouri. Along with his work at The Bank of Missouri, Richardson is a guest speaker, lecturer and panelist at the MU College of Business and School of Law.
Richardson holds a special interest in mentoring young people and believes the encouragement and experiences learned from mentoring can help better Columbia. “Young people need someone to see their potential and believe they can accomplish great things,” says Richardson, who hopes to become a vocal advocate for mentoring and the long-term impact it can have on Columbia’s community.
Aside from aiding students in the College of Business and School of Law at MU, Richardson has been involved in many community organizations including: Big Brothers Big Sisters; American Red Cross, Boone County chapter; and EFree Church of Columbia as treasurer, finance committee, capital campaign co-chair and instructor of Master Your Money and a financial stewardship class. He’s also served as a coach and mentor in DECA and helped two students from Hickman High School place first in districts, second in state and top 10 nationally.
Richardson has been married to his wife, Christina, for 10 years, and they have four children: Riley, Reese, Claire and Sadie. Richardson loves playing with his children and spending time with his wife and family or playing a game of golf, basketball, tennis or racquetball with friends. He also enjoys public speaking and teaching others about money management and financial planning.
Amanda Barnes
Director of communication services, Columbia Chamber of Commerce; personal trainer, Activities and Recreation Center
Age: 38
There is an old saying that it takes a village to raise a child. Amanda Barnes believes it takes a community to encourage healthy lifestyles.
Returned to the Midwest after more than 10 years in California, Barnes has found herself as busy as ever. As director of communication services at the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, she oversees all communication, publications, advertising, media relations, social networking and website updates. She is also lead coordinator for the Junior Leadership Columbia program.
Barnes quickly became involved in community service and was recently appointed as community liaison for the Susan G. Komen Mid-Missouri Chapter of Race for the Cure. She is also the newly appointed vendor liaison for the Roots N Blues N BBQ Steering Committee, tasked with building business relationships and promoting Columbia as a city that loves music, the arts and good food.
But the job that is perhaps closest to her heart is her role as personal trainer and instructor at the ARC (Activities and Recreation Center). As part of that work, she has started a group called She Runs Columbia, a “wellness social organization” created to inspire women to run and walk for better health.
She Runs Columbia is Barnes’ way of encouraging healthier lifestyles. “I would love to see businesses reward active lifestyles with discounts for riding a bike or walking to their business,” she says. “Another idea would be to create a ‘regular runner’ punch card that encourages runners to achieve goals and turn those punches into discounts or prizes at participating businesses.”
Now a homeowner for the first time, Barnes has been busy with fix-up projects, decorating and entertaining. A “foodie” and wine-lover at heart, she loves nothing more than to prepare a good meal and celebrate with friends and family.
Michael Mills Menser Jr.
Owner, Menser & Company/Buchroeder’s Fine Jewelers
Age: 28
Mills Menser is a multifaceted business owner. In 2007, he purchased the family business, Menser & Company/Buchroeder’s Fine Jewelers, from his father. Since then, Menser has increased company sales more than 35 percent, in part through the development of the store’s new online sales division.
Sensing eminent change in the economic forecast, he established Columbia’s Diamond Banc in 2008 as a location that purchases diamonds and gold and offers short-term loans to the public. Since the opening of a second Diamond Banc in Jefferson City in 2009, both locations have experienced success and growth. He is also the principal of Menser Enterprises, which includes three downtown apartment units, and the co-owner of On the Rocks bar downtown.
Menser believes Columbia could benefit from a larger variety of businesses in The District. More diverse and large-volume retailers would bring in more revenue that would, in turn, help Columbia as a whole. “I would work to make Columbia more attractive for startup businesses and national corporations by working directly with City Council, residents and voter education programs to encourage the revision of development/tax policies,” he says.
A graduate of Rock Bridge High School and Columbia College, Menser completed the Leadership Columbia Program in 2007. He is a member of the Downtown Association and the Chamber of Commerce and a frequent participant in the “Teacher for a Day” program at the University of Missouri.
Voted one of Columbia’s “most eligible bachelors” by Columbia Home & Lifestyle in years past, Menser bid farewell to that status this February when he married Suzanne Wendling. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time on the golf course, traveling and visiting with family and friends.
Tim Weiss
Director of sales, Les Bourgeois Vineyards
Age: 26
He knows it’s a little unusual, but Tim Weiss thrives on the pressure of responsibility.
As director of sales at Les Bourgeois Vineyards, Weiss oversees wholesale operations throughout Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and Louisiana. The weight of that responsibility is what makes him dig down deep and work hard as a professional. That’s because it’s not just the sales that grow—he grows with it.
“Working for a business that has built itself from nothing to an industry leader is great,” he says. “With Les Bourgeois, we are able to try things other companies may never even consider, and we know our CEO, Curtis Bourgeois, is supporting those decisions.” In the five years of Weiss’ tenure, sales figures have steadily increased.
Weiss holds a master’s degree in business administration from William Woods University and through Les Bourgeois’ charitable giving is regularly involved with groups such as the Boys & Girls Club of America, MDA Lockup, the Ronald McDonald House, Boy Scouts of America and the Columbia Art League Concert Series. He is also a member of the Missouri Department of Agriculture Wine & Grape Board.
In large part, Weiss says Columbia is “on the right track.” His suggestion for improvement is a focused effort to encourage local shopping and dining. “A large portion of Columbia’s growth has come from chain and out-of-state companies,” he says. “Keeping more of Columbia’s dollars in Columbia would help us take better care of local needs.”
With a father who served in the Army for 25 years, Weiss and his family have lived all over the world and within recent years have settled in Columbia. Focused on creating a healthy lifestyle, Weiss finds relaxation in hours spent at the gym, skiing, hiking and lots of hours bicycling on the Katy Trail.