Jack Wax

Focusing on Forward

The best time to begin a new position as CEO of a major hospital probably isn’t in the midst of a pandemic. But that didn’t stop Troy Greer from starting work on Sept. 1 as the new CEO of Boone Hospital Center (BHC). Although he’s new to mid-Missouri as well, he already seems comfortable and […]

Sawdust Studios Owners Columbia MO

Sawdust Studios Opens Its Doors

Sawdust Studios, located at 2207 Nelwood, just off Route B and Vandiver Drive, is introducing Columbians of all ages and skill levels to the rewards of woodworking in a friendly environment.

Working with Wood

Starting as a complete amateur six years ago, Jeff Glenn had no tools, no workshop and no background in woodworking. What he did have was a desire to learn how to craft furniture. And that is exactly what he did — out of oak, cherry and walnut. Glenn has progressed, project by project, to become […]

On Par for Steady Growth

During the 35 years that Tim and Toby Rost have been growing their business, they have taken their company from a small mom-and-pop landscape service to a sophisticated cluster of interrelated companies. Visitors to Superior Garden Center, located on 15 acres just outside Midway, would be surprised at the range of enterprises that the couple […]

A Tasty Business Expands

Changes are brewing at Camacho Coffee, a roasting and distribution business owned by Jesse Walters and Megan Meier-Walters. The business is expanding and will be moving early this fall to a new location at Copperstone Plaza, behind Addison’s on Vawter School Road. Currently, Camacho roasts and packages its coffee in a commercial kitchen it shares […]

Watts Up with E-Bikes?

E-bikes (electric bikes) are everywhere. More people are riding them along the streets and trails of Columbia than ever before. But it’s a hidden trend. Spotting an e-bike on the move is tough because e-bikes look just about the same as standard pedal-powered bicycles. Their motors are all but invisible — completely silent and built […]

Notes from My Bunker

Because I am not a healthcare worker, I am at home, safe. Because I am retired, I do not have to spend time in public settings, possibly exposing myself to the coronavirus. I am appreciative though worried about every person who is working at grocery stores, drug stores and other places that provide us the […]

A Novel Approach to Hastening Healing

Bluetail Medical Group is an unlikely name for a medical practice. And just as its name sets it apart from other more conventionally named groups, so does its focus. At the Columbia clinic, located on West Broadway, the focus is on regenerative therapy, an evolving branch of medicine that more and more patients are choosing. […]

Museum Hopping in Mid-Missouri

Whether you are looking for diversion on a rainy afternoon or a deeper appreciation of local culture and history, you won’t need to hop on a plane to Chicago or New York for a first-rate museum experience. The best thing about mid-Missouri’s many museums isn’t that it takes only a quick drive to find one. […]

Five People to Watch in 2020

Everyone can make a difference in the lives of the people they know and care for. But some people are in a position where they can make a difference in the lives of thousands. Columbia is fortunate to be home to a diverse group of civic, educational and business leaders who are building a better […]

Preparing for Takeoff

A new day and a new terminal are coming for the tens of thousands of people who fly into or out of the Columbia Regional Airport each year. In November, the Columbia City Council unanimously gave its approval for the design/build method of construction for Phase 1 of the airport’s proposed terminal. Phase 1 will […]

Adventure Calls

Here’s an exercise that can help you learn about yourself without going through years of psychoanalysis. Pick up a pen and paper, and as quickly as possible make a list of things you’d like to do or places you’d like to see before you’re not physically able. If nothing comes to mind within 30 seconds, […]

Choreographed Lives

Marie Robertson and her twin sister, Maggie Dethrow, are dancing their way through life — with grace and style. Dance is how they’ve made their living. Dance connects them to hundreds of Columbia’s children and adults. And dance is a love they’ve shared since they were girls, growing up together in Newport, Rhode Island. The […]

Renew Missouri

James Owen is in the midst of a busy afternoon at the Columbia headquarters of Renew Missouri. Yesterday, he was in Springfield. Tomorrow, he’ll be in Kansas City. As he sits before his desktop computer, his iPhone watch begins to vibrate. He apologizes for the interruption, glances at the name of the caller, then resumes […]

Insuring Shelter’s Future

There is something reassuring about Matt Moore’s presence. Maybe it’s the steady, calm tone of his voice. Maybe it’s his thoughtful demeanor or his old-style manner of making a guest feel at home. He’s formal, dressed in his ironed white shirt and tie, but not stiff. At age 63, he radiates contentment with his lot […]

Step Into Style and Back In Time

Like a movie-set built for a 1940s Hollywood film, the Chatol House and Gardens (pronounced Sha-tall) in Centralia preserves the look and feel of another era. Guests passing through its doors find themselves stepping back to a time when movie screens were lit with scenes of glamour and elegance. Unlike the Hollywood fantasies, The Chatol […]

Motorcycle Mamas

Romana Mack is Roaring Ahead A Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 weighs 591 pounds. Romana Mack does not. Although she is in no way intimidated by her Harley, she takes a cautious, commonsense approach to riding. After all, she’s not one of those people who were born to be wild. It wasn’t until she was approaching […]

Saddlebred Supporter

It could be said that Anna Marie Knipp is a horse-tradin’, horse-ridin’, cart-pullin’ pony driver. But among the upper echelons of American Saddlebred enthusiasts, Knipp is better known as a sophisticated equine breeder, businesswoman and competitor. As owner of High Spirits Farm, just south of Columbia, she continues a longtime Boone County tradition of breeding […]

Gary Ward

On the way to his third-floor office, Gary Ward steps with an even, determined pace across the star-patterned floor tiles of Jesse Hall. It’s 8 a.m., and he has just finished his morning workout. His day started three hours earlier as he answered some emails and texts at home. In another 13 hours, he’ll put […]

John Ott Builds the Future from Columbia’s Past

John Ott is giving a new life to a Columbia building that housed an old funeral home. Located on the corner of Ninth and Walnut streets, Parker Funeral Home is being transformed into an events center with seating for 450 people and standing room for receptions of as many as 600. Ott will add the […]