May: Briefly in the News
Women in Transition
The Assistance League of Mid-Missouri announced that True North, its service program that helps women who survive domestic abuse and assault, is now called Women in Transition. Phyllis Stoecklein, vice president of philanthropic services, says Women in Transition is a better name for the program, which focuses on “assisting women as they transition from an abusive or violent situation to a life that is safe, stable, self-sustaining and free from violence.”
Socket offers TV service
Socket is now offering its own digital television service to the Fulton and Millersburg areas. Socket TV is available for customers with the company’s fiber network and is anticipated to be available in Columbia in the future.
Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon
The ninth annual Missouri Credit Union “Miracles for Kids” Radiothon took place March 5 and 6 for University of Missouri Children’s Hospital. This year’s event raised $228,539 in donations.
Centennial Speaker Series
Higher Education Marketing Report recently recognized MU’s Trulaske College of Business for its Centennial Speaker Series under the digital marketing category. The video series included 10 alumni and friends of the college who spoke about the current state of business and future of the industry, according to Trulaske College of Business Dean Joan Gabel.
The series was launched last year as part of the Trulaske College of Business Centennial Celebration, according to a press release.
“We were honored to receive recognition for this project,” Gabel says. “The Centennial Speaker Series was one of the highlights of our yearlong Centennial Celebration, and it pushes the boundaries for how we talk about these topics. We used the latest technology in video editing and social media engagement to provide wide access to these leaders while maximizing engagement with our constituencies.”
Westminster donation
A gift was donated to Westminster College to help elevate the National Churchill Museum to a national and international stage. Dr. Monroe E. Trout and his wife, Sandra, established a professorship of Churchill studies, which will provide the museum with an executive director and resources to help promote the museum.
$1 million gift
A $1 million estate gift was recently given to MU to help create the Center for Applied Theatre and Drama Research in the Department of Theatre in the MU College of Arts and Science. Suzanne Burgoune, a curators’ teaching professor of theater at MU, donated the money in the hopes that the new center will “expand opportunities to use theater techniques as active learning strategies in a number of disciplines and industries.”
Columbia Honda
Frank Fletcher Honda was recently acquired by McLarty Automotive Group, owned by Mark McLarty, and has been renamed Columbia Honda. Stephen Nagel, a mid-Missouri native, will serve as general manager and partner at Columbia Honda after 17 years at AutoNation’s Memphis-based Dobbs Ford dealerships.
“I’m very excited to be back here,” Nagel says. “[The new acquisition is] a chance to expand their footprint. It gives the citizens and the people who live around Columbia options.”
Columbia Honda is the McLarty Automotive Group’s second Honda dealership acquisition in the Midwest in the past six months.
Pela Cura
Elisabeth Trumbower took over as the new owner of Pela Cura Laser & Medical Spa, starting in mid-February. Her father, Dr. William Trumbower, most recently an OB/GYN at Women’s Health Associates Inc., will be phasing into the spa’s integrated wellness clinic and medical spa, working on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for men and women, natural thyroid replacement, nutrition and wellness testing and treatment and other specialized therapies.
“This is one of the fastest-growing trends in the medical sector,” Elisabeth Trumbower says. “We are really excited about it. This has been a dream for my dad and I for 10 years to have a clinic like this together.”
‘Battle of the Brands’
MOSourceLink hosted its first statewide “Battle of the Brands” this year. Forty-one companies entered the bracket-style competition, and a winner will be announced at the end of March. The purpose of the free battle is to “promote and celebrate Missouri entrepreneurship and shine the spotlight on all the businesses that contribute to our state’s character and economy.”
Angel Lane Reconstruction Project
The Angel Lane Reconstruction Project recently won two awards: the Excellence in Paving Award from the Missouri/Kansas Chapter of the American Concrete Pavement Association and Missouri Department of Transportation and a second place award in the Minor Road Overlay category by the Missouri Asphalt Pavement Association.
CoMo for working women
Columbia was recently named the fifth-best medium-size city for working women by NerdWallet, a personal finance site. The rating was based on factors such as women’s median earnings as a percentage of men’s, monthly rent as a percentage of women’s median earnings, difference in labor force participation rate between men and women and the unemployment rate.
“There’s a lot of employment opportunity in general,” says Matt McCormick, president of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
Surgical robots
MU Health Care is the first health system in mid-Missouri to offer robotic minimally invasive surgery. The new Da Vinci Xi Surgical System at University Hospital is one of two surgical systems in Missouri and the only one in central Missouri.
The new Da Vinci robot will be used for minimally invasive surgeries for complex diseases and conditions in colorectal, gynecologic oncology, urology, thoracic, cardiac and other general surgeries.
Green BEAN Delivery
Green BEAN Delivery, the region’s largest online natural and organic grocery delivery service, will deliver fresh groceries right to Columbia residents’ doorsteps. Green BEAN Delivery is a membership-based subscription service with no sign up or membership fee, and delivery is free with a minimum $35 order.