CEO Magazine

Lasting Legacies: Booches, American Shoe, L.C. Betz

Legacy and family businesses are rare. They not only survive the ups and downs of business cycles, but they keep their doors open and customers keep coming in for lifetimes, sometimes for three or four generations. Three local legacy businesses — Booches, American Shoe and L.C. Betz Associates have become part of the business fabric […]

The State of Entrepreneurial Affairs

Nearly a dozen young businesspeople representing Columbia’s current entrepreneurial class sat down for the spring CEO Roundtable at the Broadway Hotel. Each is in the throes of developing, launching or day-to-day operation of a startup, and they all have unique yet somehow similar stories to tell. ||| The recent State of the Union Address from […]

Ukatsu: More Than Fun And Videogames

Joe Chee and Ben Brooks are co-owners of Ukatsu, a Columbia business that is not at all what it seems to be. The dozen large-screen computer stations lining the walls of their business at 1413 Grindstone Plaza Drive give it the appearance of a high-tech video arcade. A weightlifting station along one wall is a […]

Michael Urban and Harold’s Doughnuts: A Recipe for Success

It takes just the right ingredients to make the 16 varieties of doughnuts on the menu of Harold’s Doughnuts. And it takes just the right combination of skills and personality traits to make a successful business out of the same dough. This January, three years after Michael Urban opened Harold’s Doughnuts on 9th Street, he […]

Great Gift Ideas

For those who are shopping for the person who already has everything, we’ve compiled a list of local gifts that might just help you out this holiday season. Or send this list to someone who might be trying to buy for you.   [Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”247″ gal_title=”CEO Winter 2017 Shopping”]

Making SMART Goals For Next Year

Have you ever tried an escape room? You know, the tiny rooms that groups of friends willingly lock themselves into in hopes of sniffing out clues, solving thought-provoking puzzles, and beating the hour-long clock in order to eventually break themselves free? These rooms are typically littered with frustratingly unspecific hints, making them very challenging. At […]

Five Women, Four Businesses, One Trend

There is no single profile that fits all female business owners. Why should there be? Business knows no gender. It’s a trait that springs from the mind, spirit and experience. The five women who are profiled in this issue of CEO do have one thing in common: they are part of a growing trend. Today, […]

attitude

Hiring for Attitude

Whenever you’re sifting through resumes to hire for a new position, it’s often tough to weigh candidates who are more experienced and qualified against those who have a great attitude but not as many years in the profession. Hiring for attitude over experience is a strategy that smart companies employ, and more often than not, […]

Neuner

Simple Starts

Photos by L.G. Patterson Admittedly, Clayton Neuner may be a little green when it comes to business, but that hasn’t stopped him from establishing a small startup and learning as he goes. At 18, this Columbia native’s venture began to manifest in a Father Tolton Regional Catholic High School art class when he asked his […]

The Right Fit

Photos by L.G. Patterson Columbia’s human resource professionals use every tool at their disposal to best fill positions and retain employees for their companies and organizations. In August, a group sat down to lunch at the CEO Roundtable to discuss Columbia’s job market and the challenges and opportunities they face. Inside Columbia Publisher Fred Parry, […]

Economic Development in Missouri

Every day, Missouri is engaged in a global competition for jobs, business expansions and relocations, and private sector investment in our economy. In the 21st Century, businesses can locate nearly anywhere in the world, and we want Missouri to be their first choice. We compete in a variety of ways: by recruiting new businesses to […]

Meet Your Baker

Photos by L.G. Patterson From Pinterest to Etsy, consumers are on the lookout for unique art to brighten up their homes — and their party menus. Many of these consumers take notice of true craftsmanship, and are willing to pay a little more for a job well done rather than take on the risk of […]

Doheny

Wonder Woman

It’s been said that the entire universe is contained in a single atom, but for Bea Doheny, the weight and wonder of the cosmos can be found on her wrist instead. As the owner and founder of the jewelry line AstronoBEAds, Doheny sits at the intersection of many realms: fashion and science, student and entrepreneur, […]

employee

Boost Employee Morale

Every employer wants his or her team to work well together. Working toward a shared goal is one of the best ways to encourage bonding between your employees. And sometimes, you just have to kick back and have fun to really get people to open up. From fun to competitive, and at a variety of […]

CEO

Keeping The Pipeline Full

photos by L.G. Patterson Warmer weather is conducive to the construction of new buildings, roads and infrastructure, and the stakeholders coming together for the summer CEO roundtable at the Broadway Hotel are the designers, builders and growers of the Columbia community. Inside Columbia Publisher Fred Parry welcomes the group to the luncheon that features Broadway […]

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 […]

team

Team Building

The team’s the thing. Although nothing can replace excellent management skills and a respectful work environment, more and more companies are getting their employees out of the office and into team building experiences. Their aim is to create strong teams, composed of people who trust each other and who enjoy working together. But before deciding […]

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 […]

Leader

How To Be A Better Leader

Not all managers are great leaders. Some have the strengths to lead and rally employees while others are stronger when systematically executing plans. The key to being an effective manager is to recognize your strengths and weaknesses and use them accordingly. Business thrives when there is a balance between these two personality traits. While you […]

Quick

Quick Lane Opens In Columbia

Photos by L.G. Patterson A new service center that can assist with all makes and models of vehicles opened mid-January. Quick Lane is associated with Ford dealerships but technicians can work on all makes and models. Quick Lane is one of the fastest growing franchises in the United States. Jim Rollin, who came to Columbia […]