Inside Columbia

realty

The Face of Commercial Realty

During his 30 years with Plaza Commercial Realty, Paul Land has seen dramatic changes in the industry. Throughout them all, the company has remained committed to its goal: to be recognized as the single source provider of relevant information and the favored counselor of commercial real estate in the Central Missouri area. “We want to […]

Mutrux

The Face of Full-Service Auto Care

Mutrux Automotive is a longtime Columbia fixture. Cindy and Ross Mutrux’s family owned and operated shop offers full service at the islands, alignments, oil and lubrications, state inspections, brake service and A/C and all types of repair. Cindy attributes its success to the loyal customers who walk through the doors every day. She says, “Our […]

Herzing

The Face of Quality Roofing Repair

Owner Larry Herzing, at Fortified’s helm for a year, has 18 years of experience in the roofing and siding industry. He was previously one of the owners of Manor Roofing and Restoration. In founding Fortified Roofing & Siding, Herzing wanted to create a company where people were treated like family. He wanted to be able […]

Spieler-Winn

The Face of Residential Realty

Realtor Leslie Spieler-Winn has been with House of Brokers for nearly three years, learning the ropes of the residential realty business from her mother, Audrey Spieler. Spieler-Winn joined her mother after her father passed, and says of her mother, “Man, I’ve got big shoes to fill!” The business works with clients to get their homes […]

Auto

The Face of Seamless Auto Repair

Carol Miller has been at the wheel of Central Missouri Auto Body for 35 years. The collision repair business is well established in the Columbia community. Miller credits her parents for her success. She says they “instilled honesty, integrity and compassion.” She feels these traits spill over into successful working relationships with customers, vendors and […]

CCA

The Face of Inspiring Education

Rebekah Jouret is entering her second year as principal of Christian Chapel Academy, while Early Education Director Courtney Turberville is entering her fourth. CCA provides year-round nurturing care for infants to two-year-olds, three-year-olds through eighth grade, and a summer program for three-year-olds through fifth grade. All offer part-time and full-time options. Both women share a […]

Hamrah

The Face of Catering

Benjamin Hamrah, of Peachtree Catering, was basically born into the business. His parents ran multiple food service businesses throughout his childhood and he followed in their footsteps. He attributes his success to his parents, saying his father taught him everything he knows about the food industry and running a business, while his mother taught him […]

glasses

The Face of Better Vision

For 50 years, Columbia Eye Consultants Optometry has been providing comprehensive eye care including contact lenses, glasses, treatment of eye disease, pediatric eye care, low vision and general eye care. The recent addition of Nathan Hesemann, MD added general ophthalmology and cataract surgery to their services. The doctors enjoy helping patients maintain a lifetime of […]

Caledon

The Face of Full Service Marketing

Nelly Roach, president, and J. Michael Roach, creative director, of Caledon Virtual, were both raised by strong families that valued hard work and personal relationships, two things that factor into their business daily. As a full service marketing agency, the Roaches identify under-served niches within their passions and interests to off their services to business […]

EcoWater

The Face of Clean Water Solutions

For Joel and Pam Mietzner, EcoWater Systems is a family busieness. Joel started working for his father at age 13 at his dad’s EcoWater dealership in Kankakee, IL. After Joel moved to Jefferson City, Missouri in 1983, he began working for Nelson Perry at the EcoWater location there as a service worker. In 1998, opportunity […]

technology

The Face of Technology Services

Elizabeth Lowry, Chief Executive Officer of Professional Technologies, is fascinated by the power of emerging technology. With everyday wireless services, drone technology, artificial intelligence, data analytics and digital identity, business processes are changing every day. Lowry is interested in helping Columbia businesses use these technologies to become more successful and profitable. As a one-stop service […]

Berry

Farewell Chuck Berry

“Poetry is my life’s blood,” Chuck Berry said, on meeting Columbia Public Schools’ Linda Harlan, circa 1991. The best way to end this tribute is to begin at the end: Chuck Berry’s appearance in Columbia in 2009, an outdoor performance on Ninth Street — his last local show of seven, since 1993. Columbia Public Schools […]

Knot News

Kelly Jefferson, of Columbia, and andrew george, of Kansas City, were married on June 11, 2016, at Columbia Country Club. Kelly graduated from Hickman High School in 2013, and received her bachelor’s degree in financial counseling from the University of Missouri in May 2017. Andrew graduated from Staley High School in 2013, and will receive […]

airport

COU Reaches New Heights

December 31, 2007 – (Columbia Mo) – Columbia Regional Airport – CLOSED. As a result of continued declines in passenger numbers and the inability to secure a reliable air service provider, the City of Columbia will close Columbia Regional Airport effective immediately. This was a headline and story that almost was. At the height of […]

Maddox

Beth Maddox: Trading Paths – From MD to GC

Photos by L.G. Patterson Had Beth Maddox followed her college career path, she’d be wearing a white lab coat with a stethoscope draped around her neck. She’d probably be a resident physician at a local hospital preparing to become a board-certified member of Columbia’s vast medical community. Her name would be embroidered across the pocket […]

lamb

“Your Eyes Close With My Dreams”

photos by Scott Patrick Myers Photography Michelle Richmond and Jordan Lamb exchanged wedding vows October 1, 2016, in a clearing surrounded by woods. A nearby log cabin provided the couple with a quiet place for a “first look.” Rather than having groomsmen and bridesmaids, everyone in attendance were attendants. Michelle and Jordan met through mutual […]

Three Shoe Styles To Try This Summer

Warm weather naturally makes us want to wear lighter outfits, and this includes shoes. Sure, flip-flops might be your go-to, but admit it, they’re not the best solution for all day wear. Read on to learn what three summer shoe styles, under $100, Arches Footwear recommends you consider. We’ve also helped you out with an […]

chickens

CoMo Loves Backyard Chickens

Photos by L.G. Patterson With the quality of our food becoming less and less assured, health conscious individuals are considering alternatives to the food supply their families are consuming. Many urban dwellers have introduced vegetable gardens in their backyards. Some are going a step further by starting their own flock of chickens. YUMMY AND HEALTHIER […]

deck

Deck Redux

A distant howl pierces through the darkness. Christi peaks her head out of the sliding door in the kitchen to call for the family dog, Pepper. The night falls silent. Concerned that Pepper has found herself following her nose into a neighbor’s yard, Christi heads outside to the porch to call her in. Under her […]

Schuyler

Fairy Tale Wedding Comes True

photos by  Moonshadow Studio photography Kristen Elizabeth Cassidy and Schuyler Paul Blevins were wed October 8, 2016, in a ceremony straight out of a Disney fairytale. Kristen had been planning details of the day since she was a child, but she didn’t know then that Prince Charming would turn out to be the boy she […]