*Energy Stars*Homeowners tap incentives to increase home energy efficiency.
For a young company growing at hyper-speed, Pure Marketing and Media had an inauspicious start.
About 18 months ago, Brent Beshore and Erik LaPaglia were meeting for lattes at the Coffee Zone to exchange business advice. Beshore was taking a break from graduate studies and running a new company, Event Solutions, that orchestrates events, while LaPaglia was working as a regional marketing agent for Mediacom’s advertising and sales division, OnMedia.
Some of Event Solutions’ clients had asked Beshore if he would like to also act as their marketing and advertising agency. Beshore had been declining such offers, but then he received a proposal from a big client that he could not pass up. Beshore wondered what to do next. LaPaglia advised him to buy into an existing marketing and advertising agency.
While on her way to see “Hello, Dolly!” at the Lyceum Theatre in Arrow Rock, Sheila Scott from Jefferson City stopped in Columbia to grab some lunch and to check out the merchandise at Upscale Resale.
Four years ago, she stepped into the store on West Broadway for the first time on a friend’s recommendations. Now, she stops by almost every time she is in Columbia.
With 30 years of economic development experience and previous work with major universities, James Michael “Mike” Brooks started his new job as the city’s economic development director and president of REDI Inc. in mid-July.
Brooks will be paid an annual salary of $120,000 and receive performance-based compensation if specific economic development objectives are met. The objectives include planning and executing strategies for attracting new businesses and encouraging startup companies as well as expanding and retaining existing businesses.
*Plumbing for New Career*Career Center expands, gears classes toward practical job training
After Duane Burghard moved from Chicago in 1983 to attend MU, he quickly realized he belonged in Columbia. In one week, he started college, joined the Navy reserves and met his wife Mara in church.
Burghard eventually founded The MacXprts Network. The business, located in the Village of Cherry Hill, is now one of the nation’s largest Apple dealerships.
*Business Profile*Moresource, a human resources service company, turns 15
While the financial crisis is making it harder for businesses to borrow money, lending backed…
