More than 50 years ago, Robert (Bob) Davis, president and CEO, started Jackson Machine & Manufacturing in his garage as a tool and die design business, working with one other part-time employee. In 1999, he moved the business to a facility in Jackson and hired two full-time employees. Just six months later, they had grown to a staff of 30...

Kasten has been focused on building family memories since 1895. From brick and stone for a new home, a fireplace or stove to keep your family warm over the winter, or creating a summer backyard getaway with a pool, hot tub and landscaping, Kasten can help create something beautiful that will last for generations...

Saint Francis Healthcare System now offers transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) with the MitraClip procedure for those experiencing mitral regurgitation (MR). The Structural Heart Team of Saint Francis Healthcare System performed its first MitraClip procedure this week...

Ramsey Branch Subdivision is the first 55-plus active adult community in the Cape Girardeau area, allowing residents to live amongst their peers. This concept, although new to this area, has grown in popularity throughout the country over the past several years...

HD Media Systems was founded in Cape Girardeau in 2006 by Scott Starzinger and Drew Balsman. Over the past 13 years, HD Media Systems has expanded their business with the purchase of Stereo One in Cape and the addition of their newest location in St. Louis...

Are you looking for a local, efficient and easy-to-use solution for processing credit and debit cards at your business? Consider setting up your merchant services with First State Community Bank. First State Community Bank offers a variety of payment solutions, including point-of-sale terminals; Internet, mail or telephone payment acceptance; gift cards; check processing and mobile acceptance...

Downtown is the heart and soul of Cape Girardeau and home to hundreds of unique restaurants, boutiques, museums and more. Over the past several years, our rich history, historic buildings and heritage have been beautifully coupled with innovative technology and modern amenities, allowing start-ups and mom-and-pop businesses the perfect environment to grow and thrive...

Dutch Enterprises, a local plumbing, heating and air conditioning company since 1962, was recently awarded the 2019 President's Award from Carrier, recognizing the company as an outstanding dealer in the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) industry. Chris Janet, director of sales, accepted the award in Huntington Beach, California...

Founded in 1972 as a group of local Lutheran churches’ response to the need for senior care in the area, the Lutheran Home still carries out this mission more than 45 years later. On approximately 37 acres within Cape city limits, the home is one of the most well-established, largest not-for-profit facilities offering skilled care at an affordable price in the Southeast Missouri region. ...

The best defense is a good offense; the best way to keep bugs away is prevention. Advanced Pest Control, established in 1980, can offer protection for your home with a quarterly treatment that takes care of all general bugs. They also offer effective treatments for mosquitoes, flies, bed bugs, brown recluse spiders and termites -- treatments that are bad for bugs and safe for humans and pets. ...

Phillip B. Smith Architect LLC is celebrating 20 years of architectural design service to Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Sikeston and the Southeast Missouri area. We focus on being a local architectural firm with diverse experience in both large and small projects. ...

The mission of the Cape Girardeau Area MAGNET is to foster a strong economic environment resulting in the retention, expansion, creation and attraction of jobs and new investment in the area. The MAGNET serves as the lead organization for area economic development efforts. The organization was established in 1992 as a 501(c)3 not for profit organization...

Gary Stevens and his wife, Debbie, look out onto the shores of Lake of Egypt and count their blessings. “I don’t take anything for granted now,” Gary said. “You appreciate everything and everyone after what we’ve been through.” Gary is a walking “miracle man,” according to many cardiovascular staff at SoutheastHEALTH. The 66-year-old is recovering from major heart surgery after unknowingly suffering a heart attack almost two years...

Sports teach us important lessons. Teamwork, competition and discipline -- all things employers look for in new hires. Does this mean all college athletes make a good hire? No. But athletic director Brady Barke and his team at Southeast Missouri State University have put programs in place to give athletes the best chance to succeed, both during their college career and after they graduate...

Notre Dame Regional High School provides numerous ways for students to be formed by the school's motto: "Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve." The high school is proud to be a STREAM school -- as identified by the National Catholic Education Association -- providing a challenging science, technology, math and arts curriculum through the lens of faith. This designation exemplifies a commitment to teaching both Catholic Church doctrine and living a life representative of Church values...

Google is partnering with the Local Media Association and FTI Consulting in seeking to help chart a future path for local journalism. It selected the Southeast Missourian among 10 newspapers to partner with on the endeavor. Most newspapers involved in the study are large metro newspapers; the Southeast Missourian is the smallest newspaper in the group...

Did you know a venue to hold gatherings large or small does not have to be expensive? No matter if it is a small office meeting, a place to hold off-site interviews, a large group conference or personal events like birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions or wedding receptions, consider the Miner Convention Center as the venue for your next event...

Plaza Tire Service started with a tire changer mounted on the sidewalk outside Plaza Car Wash on Williams Street in Cape Girardeau in 1963, when city codes wouldn't allow the tire changer to be kept there. Founder Vernon 'Pee Wee' Rhodes decided his best opportunity was with tires and converted the car wash to a tire store over a weekend. Today, the family-owned business has grown to include 65 locations in Missouri, southern Illinois, western Kentucky and northeastern Arkansas...

Do you feel you've reached your leadership lid, or do you recognize room for growth? Are you ready to take your leadership to the next level? Excellent! Right here in your own community, Adrienne Ross is qualified to facilitate that step. Ross is a John Maxwell-certified speaker, trainer and coach. Maxwell is the number one leadership expert in the world, and as a member of...

For younger workers, the idea of "conspicuous consumption" is out. It's been replaced by "pretentious production:" going out of the way to showcase their work habits. Social standing isn't about bling anymore. It's about how much you've contributed to the gross domestic product...

Reppert's Office Supplies and Furniture, founded in Anna, Illinois, in 1969, is celebrating 50 years in business, a milestone founded upon reliability, consistency and focusing on customers' needs. "Our employees are our greatest asset, and the Reppert's reputation is fundamental to our strength," says founder Jerry L. Reppert...

Terri Penrod, executive/broker at Realty Executives, believes real estate is more than selling and buying homes; it's about making a lasting difference in people's lives, which she and her company do by staying connected with their buyers after the closing...

The book "Reality-Based Leadership" by Cy Wakeman helped me recognize for years I had been over-managing and under-leading. What do I mean by that? When colleagues would come to me with their imperfect circumstances -- they were short-staffed or they were struggling with broken equipment, a disagreement with a co-worker, unfair compensation practices and the like -- I would immediately go into firefighting mode, systematically extinguishing each smoldering issue. ...

Nestled in Jackson is a business 40 years and three generations in the making. Strickland Engineering began in 1979, when Thomas Strickland recognized the demand for consulting engineering in Southeast Missouri. Mark and Brian Strickland, Tom's sons, have spent most of their engineering careers at the company...

Riverside Roofing is the leader in commercial and industrial roofing experience, providing high-quality, long-lasting roofing systems across the Southeast Missouri region. The company, with combined team experience of 173 years, has completed many local projects, including the Sugar Fire, Kay Jewelers, Great Clips and Saint Francis Medical Healing Arts building in Cape Girardeau; Harbor Freight in Cape Girardeau; Scott City School; Kennett Junior High School; Marquand-Zion School and Alliance Bank in Jackson.. ...

Look around your office. Now, depending on your industry -- and frankly, your position on the proverbial ladder -- the office you see could look quite a few different ways. Is your nearest wall a wall or a cubicle divider? Are there no walls at all? Can you hear the person nearest you? Do you really love "collaborative proximity," or is the truth that you'd probably get more done if people would just leave you alone to focus?...

1. We begin every day in God's word through chapel or student-led small group devotion. 2. Crusaders are required to complete 60 community service hours prior to graduation. 3. Crusaders, on average, earn more than $30,000 in scholarships to attend colleges and universities around the country...

With First Missouri State Bank, you can apply for a mortgage from the comfort of your couch, from a coffee shop or even during your child's naptime. Through the new online mortgage application implemented this past year, it's that easy. First Missouri State Bank knows technology is just one piece of banking, however; when it comes to high-touch service, the bank also ensures customers have friendly, knowledgeable and helpful associates to assist face-to-face in the loan process. ...

Founded in 1983 by Richard Cuba, Cuba Financial Group has become a nationally-recognized financial planning and wealth management firm. What was once a small business operated out of his family home 35 years ago has grown to include six team members that manage more than nine figures in client assets across more than a dozen states...

Like any up-and-comer, like you, like all of us, I fantasize about working at Google. Facebook might be great, too. So might any architect's office, if every single photo in "AD" can be trusted. Speaking at least about the tech companies, their campuses are sprawling utopias for those with $6,000 leases and fixed-gear bicycles. They look like all the best images from Pinterest were printed out and then conjured into three dimensions by some Stanford-educated magician...

At CPU, staying progressive and adaptive to market needs is built into our nature. For more than 40 years, we've focused on building trust with clients and providing the best products and services. We've remained at the forefront of technology as business needs continue to grow and evolve...

Crystal Gosche, staff member at Alpha 3 Medical Equipment, a medical equipment supply store located in Cape Girardeau, achieved certification as a fitter for mastectomy prosthetics. With Gosche's certification, Alpha 3 is one of the only facilities in the region to have two certified fitters on staff...

It's true: the U.S. Navy Blue Angels® are coming to Cape Girardeau again for the first time in nearly a decade. The 16-member volunteer team of top-notch veteran aviators and a host of additional support members will perform at the 2019 Regional Air Festival, May 18-19, at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport...

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Southeast Missouri State University's Economic and Business Engagement Center was recently honored with the "Center Most Innovative Award" from the University of Missouri Extension Business Development Program (BDP). One aspect of the center's innovation is the implementation of GrowthWheel, a tool developed by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs, designed to help businesses prioritize...

As president of MRV Banks Cape Girardeau Market, Robbie Guard doesn't just live and work in this community, he is actively involved in its success. Guard serves as an elected Cape Girardeau City Council member and is involved in several other boards and organizations, including Cape Girardeau Area MAGNET, the Missouri Bankers Association Political Strikeforce Team, the Cape Chamber and Lions Clubs International...

Shopping, tastings, demonstrations, classes and DIY workshops are just some of the fun in store for women who attend the flourish Ladies Night Out on Thursday, May 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau. Hosted by flourish Women's Magazine, this one-night-only event will feature a vendor market of local artisans, retailers, small businesses and organizations, main stage demonstrations and entertainment, and scheduled workshops and classes...

In December 2017, the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport brought you direct flights to Chicago for the first time, flying more than 8,800 passengers on these new flights. This year, the airport brings you a third roundtrip flight daily Monday through Friday, with two roundtrips on weekends. The added flights began in January 2019...

Dr. Jim Dufek, professor of mass media at Southeast Missouri State University, was recently honored with the Silver Medal Award by the Cape Girardeau Chapter of the American Advertising Federation (AAF). According to the AAF website, the honor was established in 1959 "to recognize men and women who have made outstanding contributions to advertising and who have been active in furthering the industry's standards, creative excellence and responsibility in areas of social concern."...

We all know: in 2013, the cast and crew of "Gone Girl" graced the streets, bars and riverfront of Cape Girardeau for six weeks. Here in Cape Girardeau, the film's economic impact looked like this: 116 Missourians employed. More than 7,000 hotel room nights. More than $7 million contributed to the local economy, prior to the film's opening...

LaCroix Health Center, LLC offers full-body chiropractic care at affordable cash pricing. In addition, Dr. Scott B. Smith, chiropractic physician with 22 years of industry experience, is a certified medical examiner for same-day DOT examinations. He also offers services for pre-employment functional testing and drug and alcohol on-site testing...

Staying in business for more than 127 years is hard. Really hard. But, thanks to our great customers in the communities we serve and our entire team, we've grown from one bank known as The Bank of Perryville to more than 30 locations across Missouri...

When Carly Bowles, CPA at SEMO CPA Company, was in college, her mentor pushed her to do more than she ever thought she could, despite her own reservations. She credits this mentor/mentee relationship with helping her achieve her dream of becoming a CPA, which she now lives on a day-to-day basis...

When I was seven years old, my mom took my comic books away. The last straw was my friend John Lohr and I putting on capes and jumping from the top of the refrigerator across the room to the kitchen sink. Lord knows how neither of us broke a leg. The shenanigans weren't done, however. We had a hallway in the house that was just narrow enough for my younger brother and I to climb to the top of the 10-foot ceiling, wedged between the two walls,...

For Kevin Fles, Financial Advisor at Montgomery Bank, financial advising is all about a personal connection and building relationships with his clients. From advising them on how to invest their money to learning about their family, Kevin views each client individually...

You might have read organizational consultant, author and speaker Simon Sinek's books or listened to his speech about "the why," defined as the purpose or core belief that motivates someone to do something. For insurance professional Marc Harris, "the why" is helping guys become the husbands, fathers and leaders they were meant to be. ...

Vital to the culture of a community are its not-for-profits and charities. These organizations help lift up the needy, provide support to the afflicted, commemorate the past, elevate well-being, brighten the mundane, open new possibilities and entertain. Much of their work relies on volunteers and outside financial help. And businesses, through providing volunteers, donations, sponsorships, strategic assistance and more, help these organizations and the communities they serve, thrive...

Practicing theater basics and putting on a performance. Learning the fundamentals of baseball while playing on Notre Dame’s high school field. Making tie dye shirts, programming robots, scoring stream-bed life in a creek. These are just a few of the possibilities for your child this summer at Notre Dame Regional High School’s summer camps...

Good cause marketing requires you to keep it simple, be authentic and engage with your customer. More for-profit companies in Southeast Missouri are marketing their business or product to benefit a nonprofit charity in support of a social cause. Few get it right. Here are key components among those who do:...

For better or worse, smartphones are the tools of choice, and the technology is ubiquitous with personal and professional responsibilities. Here are three apps to consider: Work in a collaborative space? Or maybe you're part of a thought-leadership group with counterparts around the country. Slack keeps the conversation going, tracks who says what and streamlines the sharing process without having dozens (or more) individual conversations...

As a lifelong learner of leadership, I was not disappointed when one of my police officers gifted me with "Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win," written by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. Willink and Babin are former Navy Seals who honed their leadership skills on the streets of Ramadi during the Iraq War and now bring the lessons they learned to the business world...

Having a mentor in the business world can help young professionals navigate new situations, make connections within the community and have a sounding board for their ideas and questions. Being a mentor has its benefits, too: it's a chance to pass on the skills and lessons you've gained throughout your career and look at topics with fresh perspective, while helping a young professional better the community through their own gifts and skills...

Recruiters Websites, a local web design and development company, named Matt McKenzie its web design and experience manager. The company has also expanded its marketing services with the addition of Emily Blattel, marketing manager, and Sarah Shanahan, social media coordinator. ...

Giving students one-on-one encouragement as they learn to read through the Read to Succeed program. Providing a food pantry and tutoring program at the middle school. Funding an after-school bus at the junior high so students can stay after school to participate in extracurricular activities that can help keep them engaged in school. ...

It's generally true: grand gestures of kindness beget grand gestures of kindness. When Jim Eddleman, Vietnam veteran and native of Perryville, Missouri, donated his three-generation, 47-acre family farm to found Missouri's National Veterans Memorial in 2017, he kept only one acre for his and his wife Charlene's house. To him, his donation is a way to keep a promise he made to himself in 1968 while fighting in the Vietnam War...

In the process of researching for my book, I found a lot of inspiration in Robert D. Putnam's "Bowling Alone." This book chronicles how and why we said good-bye to the American culture made familiar by the mid-twentieth century. Change is inevitable, and I find it exhilarating. So, to my delight, Putnam also takes a look at the hows and the whys of the cultures we built in place of our foremothers' and forefathers'...

It's all a day on the job at the Show Me Center: doubleheader SEMO basketball games followed the next night by a 6,000-seat sold-out Kane Brown concert, followed the next afternoon by another doubleheader. A crew of 55 to 60 people will carry out the conversions of the arena. During these events, the Show Me Center will be in operation for 72 hours...

The following stories may or may not appear in a future edition of B Magazine: With creditors circling overhead, Sears stuns the entire world by announcing the no-profit company will be converted into a not-for-profit organization. The CEO of Sears says, "We haven't turned a profit since 2010, so transforming into a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization will be a piece of cake. ...

Congratulations! You found a house in your price range and are imagining all the ways you could renovate it to feel like your own, the perfect home that matches your needs, lifestyle and decorating sense. The only problem? The down payment and closing costs eat into the money you could be using to fix up your new home...

Congratulations! You landed your first job and you’re settling in, putting your knowledge, skills and creativity to use in the ways you’ve always dreamed about. Believe it or not, now it’s time to start planning for retirement. It’s important to take some time to imagine how you want your life to look when you are in your 50s, 60s and beyond, and to put pencil to paper to see how much money that lifestyle will realistically cost. ...

Saxony Lutheran High School exists to center students on Christ and God’s Word, to strive for excellence in all phases of education and to prepare students for a life of Christian discipleship using God’s Word as their guide. It’s their mission. And they do it really well...

In many ways, a building is only as good as its roof. Matching the proper roof system with the needs of your building and its geographic location will create the building’s overall aesthetic, decrease the stress put on the building by inclement weather and increase its heating and cooling efficiency, saving you money...

High school can be a difficult four years: it’s a time of many firsts, a time of understanding who you are and who you might become, a time when adolescents make choices that will impact the trajectory of their lives. Where do you want your child to spend these formative four years?...

It’s a current trend in roofing: because of Americans’ growing awareness of and concern for climate change, people are jumping on the band wagon to install white reflective roof systems, known as Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO). However, one roofing system does not fit all; for some building needs and geographic locations, ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) may be the better solution...

“It’s a niche market,” says Micky McQuade, owner and CEO of Vintage Software in Jackson, Missouri, “so it took awhile to take off.” But for a company that started as a hobby, turned into a side gig and has grown into a full time business with over forty employees, it is not hard to see that this niche market is now soaring, and it’s flying straight out of Southeast Missouri...

Cape Girardeau deputy city manager Molly Mehner describes public-private partnerships as integral to city services and targeted economic development in the future: “Cities have to look at different ways of doing things. Resources are more limited. We have less revenue to work with, but we have to provide the same level of service or more. So how do we accomplish that? I think you’re going to start to see not just Cape Girardeau but other cities looking more and more towards the private sector.”...

Southeast Missouri State University unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) major Brigham Haase is mapping the wetlands of Missouri using drone technology. He calls this a “one-of-a-kind undergraduate research project” that began in Scott City, Missouri, with additional locations to follow. Haase and his fellow UAS students are paving the way for a future in the unmanned aircraft systems industry and mechatronics, where they say the sky’s the limit...

Cape Girardeau has its first hackathon happening July 19-21, 2019. At it, coders, nurses, designers — anyone with an interest in improving health care for our community — will be available to come together to create innovative, technology-based health care solutions for the chance to win $50,000 in cash prizes. It’s an event that’s part of a civ tech movement happening across the country...

We can do this. Cape and small communities are reaching out to bridge the gap between the demand for tech workers, attracting higher paying jobs and the opportunity for Missourians to train up. Those who embrace change know: the first leg of the journey is uphill. While the numbers are not pretty, the problem to solve is clear...

What’s next in automation as Missouri minimum wage increases? Missouri’s minimum wage will increase to $8.60 per hour in January, thanks to the voter-approved Proposition B that appeared on the November ballot. The increase is part of a four-year escalator that will raise the minimum wage to $12/hour in 2023 for non-exempt employees...

Many read “Tech” and feel excluded. Today, technology seems synonymous with coder languages, apps, AI and smart gadgets. Some would-be entrepreneurs wonder if the world of innovation left them behind long ago. But you know, I bet every generation feels this way. ...

Too often we link the words “innovation” and “technology” as if you can’t have one without the other. But there are plenty of examples where innovation is taking place and technology has little or no impact. Consider the Request for Proposal Process (RFP) that the City of Cape Girardeau has used for various projects. ...

Mike Marshall, Sikeston Area Regional Chamber of Commerce and Area Economic Development Corporation president and CEO, spoke Oct. 31 to the Delta Grassroots Caucus (DGC) in the Arkansas State Capitol Rotunda on the future designation of Highways 60 and 67 to Interstate 57 from Little Rock, Arkansas, to Sikeston, Missouri. ...

In 2016 when the Castor River flooded, the Cape Girardeau Fire Department provided a safer solution to search and rescue efforts: drones. It was the first use of drones by the department, proposed by Fire Chief Rick Ennis. Using a drone, the department was able to create a safe travel route to rescue a victim; with it, they could see how the water was moving, the extent of the damage and potential hazards...

In 1962, the future was Jane Jetson, feeding her cartoon family with her automatic — albeit, gargantuan — dinner-making machine. She tapped a few buttons and in short order, the meal appeared, hot and ready. That future, as it turns out, was not so far off. Tap a few buttons today on a smartphone, and you can have a meal or the ingredients for one brought directly to you. Delivery and pickup services are changing the way people eat — and fast...

Who would have thought that Cape Girardeau would become a hotbed for startup companies? This curmudgeon never saw it coming, that's for sure. Tech companies are now lining the Broadway corridor hoping to grab a little of that sweet, sweet startup funding...

Think Dirty Think Dirty is the easiest way to learn about the potentially toxic ingredients in your cosmetics and personal care products. Just scan the product barcode, and Think Dirty will give you easy-to-understand info on the product, track dirty ingredients and shop for cleaner options...

It’s true: for thousands of years, trees have grown naturally. Without synthetic fertilizer. Without the meddling of people. Without chemicals. Instead, this is how we’ve gotten forests: leaves fall off trees. Microbes in soil break the leaves down. They turn into organic matter, which turns into phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium and other nutrients needed for plants to grow. The soil is healthy and does what it’s supposed to do: nurture life...

More than 20 years ago, a school invited Steve Hamra in for lunch, to observe the children eating the produce he grew. It was the first time Hamra, president and founder of Amanzi Farms in Sikeston, Missouri, realized the impact nutritious produce can make...

No matter if you have just started saving for your future or you are preparing for retirement, market volatility is an issue that can make investors fearful. The important thing to remember, however, is that it is often a normal part of the stock market cycle...

Enter to learn, leave to serve. It’s the mission at Notre Dame Regional High School, where students are viewed as whole people, and education is for the mind, body and soul. It’s this holistic approach to teaching that allows students to fulfill the school’s mission — and their own — in impressive ways...

It’s been a while (Christmas, at least,) since the whole family was in one room together, and you’re starting to miss your uncle’s quirky jokes and the way your grandma’s eyes crinkle up at the sides when she tells a story. With the summer months fast approaching, call them up and let them know it’s time to break out the old home videos, crock pots and matching t-shirts for a mid-year reunion. ...

Networking is the number one unwritten rule of success in business. While some people are naturals at it, others understandably struggle. The Cape Chamber recognizes the importance of offering networking opportunities for our members to establish and strengthen relationships. Every month we have two foundational eventsthat are both free to our membership and recognized as tremendous networking gatherings...

Turn on the television, search the web, talk to a co-worker, the message seems the same. Just in time for Christmas, we may be in a “Scrooge Market”. People are fearful right now, and the markets show it. With the Dow, S&P, and Nasdaq selling off the highs of earlier this year, we are seeing investor anxiety at levels not seen in some time...

Are you tired of earning low or no interest on the money in your checking account? Are you looking for a checking account with high interest rates that will actually work for you? Look no further than Montgomery Bank’s eGold Checking Account, which rewards you with 3.01% APY on balances up through $15,000 when you satisfy the monthly qualifications and have a real estate or commercial loan with Montgomery Bank...

CENTURY 21 Ashland Realty opened a new office at 3125 E. Jackson Blvd in Jackson, Missouri, Sept. 5. CENTURY 21 Ashland Realty is an independently owned and operated franchise affiliate of CENTURY 21 Real Estate LLC, which is comprised of approximately 8,000 independently owned and operated franchised broker offices in 80 countries and territories worldwide...

By Maryann Reese, RN, DHA, MHA, FACHE President and Chief Executive Officer, Saint Francis Healthcare System What does a Leapfrog ‘A’ score mean to our community? An ‘A’ is hard to achieve and is only given out to the best hospitals in the nation for safety and quality. ...

Hojung Kim and Alex Tavares share their thoughts at Codefi’s November Meet the Member event A physical device that teaches children with vision impairments how to read independently. A meal-sharing app that connects people within a city, inviting them into each other’s homes and to each other’s tables...

Area Development Magazine, a national site selection publication, listed talent attraction and retention as the third most important factor in the site selection process for new businesses. Availability of skilled workers trailed only highway accessibility and labor costs as the most important factors in locating a new business facility. ...

Make Your Money Work For You: Montgomery Cash Back Checking Account You know: you work hard for your money, and it’s important to keep your money working hard for you after you earn it. While checking accounts are usually not the most lucrative investment tool, they are a necessity for the money you use in your daily transactions, and it’s important to ensure you have one that is making the most of your money...

What are intrapreneurs, and how are they good for your organization? In the last several years, the term “intrapreneurs” has become more widely known. Intrapreneurs are employees within an organization who are not likely to start their own enterprise, but who apply the essential principles of entrepreneurship to their positions in the business...

The Midwest is often referred to as “God’s Country,” and as those who live here can attest, it’s for good reasons. Whether it is the friendly people, beautiful scenery or pace of life, there is a higher power present in this area of the country. Midwesterners value family, friendship and hard work. ...

Did you know more than 11 percent of the private sector workforce in Cape Girardeau County is employed in the field of manufacturing? Almost 4,000 people work in more than 180 manufacturing facilities in our county. In 2017, the average weekly wage for these jobs was a little more than $1,000, accounting for more than 203 million dollars in payroll. That’s a lot of buying power and a significant piece of our local economy...

The holidays are for living the moments that will be memorialized in photographs, experiencing the stories we will tell to our children and grandchildren and creating traditions with family members that will be passed down for generations to come. With Christmas and Thanksgiving right around the corner, start planning now to help your guests feel welcome and wanting to stay in your home by creating a cozy ambiance. ...

Sherm Smith Jr., owner of Smith Auctions, LLC, is in the business of bringing people together. He does it through collecting, consigning and auctioning collector cars from across the Midwest, storing them in his warehouse in Dexter, Missouri. It’s intergenerational, he says, and stretches across cultural barriers...

Take the drive north on State Highway 72, pass acres of farmland and, eventually, Meadow Heights High School, and you’ll run into a business producing custom wood products and shipping around the globe. There’s no sign up on this early October day; the couple, Jon and Debbie Ortmann, have just moved to the new location in Patton, Missouri. It’s a 9,000-square-foot white and green barnhouse where they make custom wood products...

Jack Rickard cobbled together his first electric car in 2008. “Went 94 miles an hour on the first test drive and 110 miles on the first charge,” he recalls. “And that’s when I got pissed.” The successful test, he says, only made him wonder why on earth there weren’t more electric cars being produced. ...

Many very smart, successful entrepreneurs are all about reducing risk, testing the business concept on the side, keeping their day job and turning a hobby into a little bit of extra income. In a word, they have a side hustle. This isn’t just the big, massive success stories from Silicon Valley like Warby Parker, where all the founders kept their regular jobs for several months while starting a business that sells glasses online; I found more and more entrepreneurs in our own Southeast Missouri backyard that had steady jobs while exploring their own business opportunity in the evenings and on weekends.. ...

There is something about the Midwest: we are hardworking. We know what it means to treat someone well. We are situated centrally, hearing multiple perspectives. They’re qualities people on the coasts are seeking in business, which Gary Rust II and Jeff Rawson discuss here in “Made in Southeast Missouri.”...

The Midwest matters. And those living on the coasts in cities with a population greater than a million don’t get it — yet. The Millennials do. Smaller communities, mostly in the Midwest, have been called the forgotten 100 million, first labeled as #altmiddle by USC Annenberg researcher Lisa Pecot-Hebert at SXSW...

At B Magazine, we're all about providing value-added, non-coastal, business-oriented content. Below you will find a selection of quality business ideas handpicked from the recesses of Martha's brain during recent stints in the shower. With the right financial backing, smart leadership and a little luck, any of these concepts could find success in Southeast Missouri...