CEO Roundtable w. Fred Parry

Columbia College’s new president says his main priority has been listening and learning, since he started on March 1.

Dr. Toby Arquette joined Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." Dr. Arquette has started the process of working with faculty, staff, students and the board to co-create the next chapter for Columbia College, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year. Columbia College has about 8,000 students between in-person and online learning. President Arquette tells listeners that higher education needs to collaborate more. He has met recently with new Stephens College president Dr. Shannon Lundeen and plans to meet in May with UM System president Dr. Mun Choi:

While Columbia/Boone County is seeing cranes and construction equipment across town, there is still a lot of poverty. Love Columbia says one in five Columbia residents are living in poverty and struggle to make ends meet. Housing costs are a challenge for many as well. Jane Williams, who co-founded Love Columbia 18 years ago, joined Fred Parry in-studio for the hour on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." She tells listeners that Columbia has been seeing about a 20 percent poverty rate:

A growing company that crafts premium meat snacks has opened a 300,000 square foot production plant in mid-Missouri’s Mexico. Western Smokehouse Partners’ plant is located in the former Soft Surroundings in Mexico. Western Smokehouse Partners chief executive officer Matt Bormann, a Mizzou graduate, joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Mr. Bormann tells listeners that the company invested $60-million in the Mexico plant. It is the largest of the company’s eight plants:

MU Health Care is the second-largest employer in Columbia/Boone County, according to 2025 statistics from Columbia Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI). MU Health Care chief executive officer Ric Ransom and chief medical officer Ambulatory care Dr. Laura Morris joined Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable”. Mr. Ransom says MU Health Care has about 8,300 employees, along with another 1,000 physicians. Ransom says in net patient service revenue was about $2.5 billion in 2025. MU Health Care supports legislation that would allow the UM Curators and MU Health Care to acquire, purchase, manage or sell hospitals/medical facilities in 25 counties. Ransom explained why that’s important during the interview. “As we look at other hospitals in that 25-county area that are struggling and interested in partnering or maybe becoming part of the health care system, more growth brings with it the risk that there would be an antitrust objection or hurdle to partnering or acquiring another hospital,” he tells listeners. There is opposition to that bill from veteran State Rep. Kent Haden (R-Mexico), who would rather MU Health Care reopen closed hospitals in Mexico, Fulton and Boonville. Ransom also tells listeners that Columbia’s Keene Street medical center, formerly Columbia Regional Hospital, will be more and more an ambulatory and specialty care lab. Dr. Morris, who is also a family practice physician in Fulton, discussed the importance of providing health care in Callaway County. She grew up in mid-Missouri’s Holts Summit and also emphasizes the importance of good internet in rural Missouri. She praises Callabyte Technology and the internet they provide in Callaway County for telemedicine and other uses:

This weekend’s edition of 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” features the 19-year-old owner of a Columbia start-up company called Great Shine Exteriors. Kellan Mugisha’s company cleans windows and gutters, provides power washing and installs Christmas lights. Mugisha joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the program. Parry praises Kellan’s work ethic and the quality of his work. Kellan Mugisha was born and raised in Rwanda and came to the United States when he was 11. He tells listeners there were better education opportunities here and that he attended the Mexico Military Academy in Audrain County. Mr. Parry notes there is a growing population in Columbia from Rwanda, in part due to the civil war there during the 1990s. Mugisha says he is grateful to own his company and doesn’t like to work for other people. He credits his father and mother for his work ethic:

Columbia-based Sara Fougere Catering has earned three straight first-place “Best of Columbia” awards from the readers of Zimmer’s “Inside Columbia” magazine. Sara grew up on a cattle farm in western Missouri’s rural Richmond and earned her degree in food science from the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR). Sara Fougere joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Fred describes small business as the heartbeat of our community and praises Sara’s business, her professionalism and her work ethic. Sara Fougere Catering has been in business for 22 years. Sara tells listeners that it’s hard work and that she is blessed to do it. She once did an Eclipse event with 800 people and enjoys cooking beef. She also shared some of her favorite foods from Columbia-area restaurants:

939 the Eagle's Mike Murphy is also the publisher of Comobuz.com. He launched Comobuz three years ago. Mike joined 939 the Eagle's Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on the "CEO Roundtable" program and they tackled numerous topics, including a proposed one percent sales and use tax in Columbia for public safety, the transmission line issue and the recently-approved pedestrian safety ordinance. They also previewed April's Columbia school board election. Fred Parry describes Comobuz as the number one source for news and information in mid-Missouri:

Columbia’s first female police chief has focused on recruitment and retention as chief. CPD was more than 40 officers short when Jill Schlude was sworn-in as police chief in December 2023. They currently have about 14 vacancies. Chief Schlude joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable”. One of main issues Fred and the chief discussed was violent crime and crime statistics in Columbia. Chief Schlude tells listeners that violent crime has been trending downward for several years. “It went down eight percent from 23 to 24. It went down 15 percent from 22 to 23. It went down six percent from 21 to 22 and then this past year from 24 to 25 it went down one percent," Chief Schlude tells listeners. But with several high-profile incidents in January alone, Chief Schlude admits some Columbia residents don’t feel safe. Staffing levels are another issue that was discussed during the interview. Chief Schlude notes CPD has 254 full-time positions, 185 of which are sworn positions. There are currently 14 officer vacancies. She also notes CPD has 69 professional staff members, which are non-police staff. Chief Schlude notes that while Springfield Missouri has about 40,000 more residents than Columbia, they have twice as many officers. Fred and the chief also discussed juvenile crime during the interview:

Boone County’s sheriff is proud of the brand-new $20-million sheriff’s office regional training center. Last weekend’s grand opening celebration drew several hundred people. The 50,000 square feet facility includes a 160-seat training room, a 100-yard indoor gun range, classrooms and a driving simulator. It will also provide classes and specialized training for current and prospective officers and deputies 48 weeks a year. Sheriff Dwayne Carey joined host Fred Parry live-in studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Sheriff Carey is the longest-serving sheriff in county history. The sheriff tells listeners that he’s mandating two hours a month for defensive tactics training for his staff. He also now has a full-time defense tactics instructor. “And the idea behind this is to get everyone proficient and comfortable with laying their hands on people and not having to use force that isn’t optically good,” Sheriff Carey says. Sheriff Carey also addressed overcrowding in the Boone County jail, noting they now house more than 200 Boone County inmates in other county jails. He also says there are currently 32 inmates charged with murder housed in the Boone County jail:

“Missouri Independent” deputy editor Rudi Keller is the dean of the Missouri Capitol Press Corps in Jefferson City. The 65-year-old Keller joined host Fred Parry for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. They spoke in-detail about Missouri’s budget, the Chiefs, friction between Republicans and Democrats in the Missouri Senate and about news media coverage of state government in Jefferson City. Rudi’s main focus for the Missouri Independent is the state budget, although he handles day-to-day legislative coverage as well. He tells listeners that the Missouri Independent is doing a service to keep Missourians informed. Mr. Keller also addressed “Missouri Times” publisher Scott Faughn’s recent purchase of the “Jefferson City News-Tribune”, the “Fulton Sun” and the “California Democrat”, adding that revenue in newspapers now is almost nonexistent. Rudi addressed the friction as well in the Missouri Senate between the two parties and says 2025 was a watershed year. He also addressed the Chiefs’ planned move to Kansas with a new domed stadium there. Mr. Keller earned his degree from the University of Missouri and did two stints at the “Columbia Daily Tribune”, one from 1987-1999 and the second from 2010-2020, when he left to join the new “Missouri Independent.” Rudi’s coverage of Moberly’s Mamtek scandal was one of the biggest stories he covered early in that second stint. Rudi Keller and host Parry also discussed Rudi’s recent marriage. Missouri Supreme Court Judge Paul Wilson performed the ceremony: