CEO Roundtable w. Fred Parry

Columbia Parks and Recreation oversees 3,800 acres of parkland, 79 parks and 62 miles of trails. It also has 56 playgrounds. Gabe Huffington has served as Columbia Parks and Recreation director for three years and has worked for the department for 17 years. Mr. Huffington grew up in southwest Missouri’s Buffalo. He joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Mr. Huffington emphasizes that safety is the biggest priority for the department, and he discussed this month’s chaotic double shooting at Cosmo Park. Mr. Huffington tells listeners that the department currently has one park ranger and they’re working to hire three additional rangers. He also confirms there are 13 flock cameras installed at various Columbia parks. Columbia Parks and Recreation now has 87 full-time employees. Mr. Huffington also discussed the recent dedication of the Perche creek trail and the upcoming dedication of the new Cosmo bike trail on May 22. He also updated listeners on the Easter Sunday tornado damage in Cosmo park and LA Nickell golf course. About 50 trees had significant damage. Mr. Huffington also updated listeners on the Columbia sports fieldhouse and on the former Boone County fairgrounds. Mr. Parry and Mr. Huffington also updated listeners on efforts to create facilities that support sports tourism:

Pope Francis’ funeral is scheduled for Saturday. He died this week at the age of 88. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe is a Roman Catholic and a parishioner at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Jefferson City. Governor Kehoe joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Missouri”, telling listeners that the Pope’s death is sad for all Catholics. Governor Kehoe describes Francis as the “People’s Pope”, noting he’s requested a simple burial. Governor Kehoe hopes the next Pope will be someone who connects with our youth and can keep young people in the church:

Columbia Regional Airport’s (COU) manager is optimistic about the restoration of passenger air service between Columbia and Denver. COU staff members have been working with airlines to try to restore air service to Denver. Columbia has received a $1-million federal grant for the restoration or reinstatement of air service to Denver. That grant was from the U-S Department of Transportation. Columbia Regional Airport manager Michael Parks spoke to host Fred Parry Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Mr. Parks tells listeners he sees United Airlines returning to Columbia. “You know Denver was very successful prior to COVID coming in. You know we were even looking at adding a second Denver route. That was flying on the 50-passenger jet is what we currently had with United Airlines. I do see United coming back,” Mr. Parks tells host Parry. Parks also says it is hard to get an additional flight. American Airlines currently offers daily flights from Columbia to both Chicago and Dallas/Fort Worth. Mr. Parks also discussed enplanement and flight numbers and how they compare to numbers before the COVID pandemic. Mr. Parks says that 2019 was the busiest year ever at COU, saying 135,000 passengers departed Columbia Regional Airport that year. United Airlines was still offering flights in 2019. COVID happened in 2020. “Fast forward to last year, we just went over 100,000 passengers flying out, So 200,000 passengers for the year. With that, that’s only American Airlines,” Mr. Parks says. Parks has worked at Columbia Regional Airport for 25 years. He has 12 employees in public safety and another ten in maintenance/administration. Michael Parks grew up in the small rural town of Whiting, Iowa. That’s where part of the movie “Children of the Corn” was filmed. Fred and Mr. Parks also discussed road improvements near the airport:

Columbia-based Boone Health says it continues to accept all commercial Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance plans. While negotiations continue, Anthem and Columbia-based MU Health Care have still not reached an agreement. Boone Health president Brady Dubois addressed the issue Saturday morning in-studio on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. Mr. Dubois tells listeners he doesn’t know any details about MU Health Care’s negotiations with Anthem and did not comment on those negotiations. Mr. Dubois emphasizes that Boone Health continues to accept all commercial Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance plans. “What we’re focused on is how do we make sure that folks want to receive health care locally that they’re able to access in-network providers, in-network health care,” Mr. Dubois tells listeners. He also says Boone Health is working to absorb patients into its Boone medical clinics and also affiliated providers like Missouri Cancer Associates or Columbia Orthopaedic Group. Mr. Dubois says they are working hard to absorb capacity to make sure people stay in-network. Host Fred Parry and President Dubois also discussed retiring Stephens College president Dianne Lynch’s departure from the Boone board, and Mr. Dubois updated listeners on how the Stephens nursing program partnership is progressing. Mr. Dubois says Boone Health serves residents in 26 counties, and that the 392-bed Boone Hospital has 360 medical staff members. He says there are also 160 employed providers. Mr. Dubois grew up in both Texas and Louisiana, and he also served in the U.S. Navy for eight years. He tells listeners that he falls more in love with his staff members everyday, praising their dedication and hard work. Mr. Dubois also served previously as a health care executive in northwest Missouri’s St. Joseph and at the Detroit medical center:

Motorists on Paris road can see the new multi-million dollar community center being built near Sylvan and Towne in northeast Columbia’s Whitegate neighborhood, which has high poverty. United Community Builders is building the 22,500 square foot facility, which will be called the Beacon of Light. Senior Bishop and executive director Damian Dean and new development director Rochara Knight of United Community Builders joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. United Community Builders is an offshoot of United Community Cathedral church. Bishop Dean tells listeners that church’s mission is to build and release capable people. He grew up in north St. Louis and came to Columbia to attend Mizzou. Ms. Knight is from Moberly, which is about 35 miles north of Columbia. Bishop Dean expects the Beacon of Light to open in early fall, weather permitting. He says the center’s purpose will be to inspire and to educate people to achieve in life, adding that northeast Columbia has been a resource desert. The Whitegate neighborhood has many children, and there’s no playground for two miles. He also credits donors for helping raise money for the center. “We will have a regulation-size high school gymnasium … basketball court. We’re really thankful for (former Mizzou basketball star) Laurence Bowers and (former Shelter Insurance chief executive officer) Matt Moore and (former Columbia Insurance Group chief executive officer) Gary Thompson for really pushing us during the capital campaign to get a regulation-sized gym,” Bishop Dean tells listeners. He says the center will also have a community room for the public to use, adding that the center will be open Monday-Saturday. Bishop Dean also emphasizes the importance of respect for authority as well as the importance of integrity, honesty and a work ethic. He says United Community Builders gets its funding from individual donors, business owners and grants:

Columbia’s My Life Clinic at Providence and Wilkes started as Open Arms pregnancy center in 1992. It aims to support women and families experiencing an unexpected or unsupported pregnancy. They offer services such as pregnancy testing and ultrasound services. Their website also says they provide prenatal and parenting education on pregnancy, baby care, health, birth, parenting, budgeting, and more. My Life Clinic executive director Cassidy Teter joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” to discuss My Life. Ms. Teter tells listeners that 98 percent of their support comes from the local community, from businesses, churches and individuals. My Life Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. Ms. Teter grew up in the Kansas City suburb of Liberty. She graduated from Liberty high school and attended Dallas Baptist University on a tennis scholarship. She transferred to Mizzou in Columbia her junior year, earning a degree in biology. Ms. Teter tells listeners that she wanted to help women and children, adding that her mother taught her the value of life. After graduating from Mizzou, Cassidy worked at University Hospital in Columbia and volunteered at My Life. Host Fred Parry praises Ms. Teter for how she connects with the community:

The Boone County Recorder of Deeds office is a critical one that is often overlooked. You will visit Boone County Recorder of Deeds Bob Nolte's office when you get married, if you're refinancing a house, for some land transfers and for military discharge paperwork. Mr. Nolte joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable". Mr. Nolte earned his bachelor's degree in history from New York State's Binghamton University and earned his master's degree in education administration from USC. He worked in the Mizzou Athletics department under then-Athletic Director Mike Alden in the compliance office and served as director of compliance too. Mr. Nolte praises Mr. Alden, describing him as a great leader and adding that he has a photographic memory with names. One of the issues Mr. Nolte raised awareness about during the interview is deed fraud, which he describes as "any type of transferring ownership illegally," He says it can take numerous different methods. While Mr. Nolte says there have been no examples of residential deed fraud in Boone County, he wants everyone to be aware of the issue and to know about it. Mr. Nolte brought up Graceland in Memphis. A woman from southern Missouri's Stone County pleaded guilty in February to federal charges for trying to defraud Elvis Presley’s family of millions of dollars and to steal the family’s ownership interest in Graceland in Memphis.

Mr. Parry and Recorder of Deeds Nolte also discussed senior real estate applications and REAL ID during the interview. Starting in May, every air traveler 18 and older will be required to present a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or ID card or another ID form accepted by TSA to board federally-regulated domestic flights. Mr. Nolte also discussed the good working relationship that the various Boone County elected officials have:

The longtime president of the nation’s second oldest women’s college is in her final few months before she retires. Longtime Stephens College president Dianne Lynch is finishing her 16th and final year as president at Stephens in Columbia, which was founded in 1833. She joined host Fred Parry in-studio this weekend on 939 the Eagle’s "CEO Roundtable" and tells listeners that Stephens has an incredibly rich, consistent history of being first in innovating around education, teaching and learning. She also says it’s important to have new leadership after 16 years, including fresh ideas. One of the things she’s most proud of during her 16 years is the millions of dollars that have been poured into campus improvements. That includes roof work, air conditioning work and windows. Stephens has invested more than $13-million in campus improvements in the past three years. President Lynch is also proud that the chapel has been restored. Stephens’ enrollment numbers are solid: they welcomed their largest undergraduate class in a decade this past fall, with its fall class up 60 percent from the fall of 2023. President Lynch will be moving back to Vermont, and will miss Columbia. She describes it as the friendliest community, and will miss her favorite spots like Murry’s, the Heidelberg and Ragtag. It’s no secret that President Lynch’s favorite food is the onion rings and dinner salads at Murry’s. She also addressed the sensitive issue of downtown Columbia’s security during the one-hour interview. President Lynch describes downtown Columbia as vibrant and awesome, adding that it’s 95 percent safe. There’s one other note about President Lynch that will be part of her legacy: she secured the largest gift in Stephens’ history: a $2.5 million annual donation in perpetuity, effective doubling Stephens’ endowment”

A prominent businessman who founded Midway USA in Boone County 48 years ago is serving again as its chief executive officer. Larry Potterfield joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Midway USA is a shooting, hunting, outdoor and fishing internet retailer, and has about 350 employees. Mr. Potterfield tells listeners that he suffered a stroke in August and was on the floor for about two hours before his wife found him. He says while he speaks a little slower and has a small speech impediment, he’s back at work and is serving again as chief executive officer. Mr. Potterfield says he can still fish and hunt, two things he loves. Mr. Potterfield says he’ll remain as chief executive officer until the new one is hired, adding that the company generally promotes from within. Midway USA’s massive 400,000 square foot distribution center is at 40 and Route J near Rocheport, and anyone who’s driven in that area has seen a two-story brick and limestone building going up called the Roosevelt building, which will house Midway USA’s administration. Mr. Potterfield says he was in the new building last week taking publicity photos and that drywall is going in upstairs. He expects the building to open in November. “We will move in all through the summer. The last move-in date is the first week in November, and there will be no construction people on-crew anywhere the 10th of November,” Mr. Potterfield tells listeners. Columbia-based Coil Construction is handling the massive project. Potterfield praises Randy Coil and his company, saying they do a great job. Midway USA is a private, family business. Mr. Potterfield grew up on a farm in northeast Missouri’s Marion County, near Hannibal. He grew up in Ely. Longtime mid-Missourians will remember that Midway USA started as Ely Arms. Mr. Potterfield is also big on trees and spends top dollars for Midway USA’s landscaping. He’s told 939 the Eagle that the landscaping budget alone at Midway USA is $1.3 million:

Columbia’s city council will hear a presentation Monday at city hall on the convention center feasibility study. It’s an issue that has been discussed in Columbia for about 30 years. The feasibility study discussion will take place Monday at 5 pm at city hall, during the council’s pre-meeting. Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) director Amy Schneider will be presenting that report, and she joined host Fred Parry in-studio this weekend on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” to discuss the issue. The report she will summarize is 131 pages. A company best known as CSL, Conventions, Sports and Leisure International, was retained by CVB to conduct the nine-month feasibility study for the potential development of a convention center in Columbia. The 131-page report notes Columbia’s population is growing at nearly four times the rate of the state of Missouri. Columbia currently offers about 3,600 hotel rooms, and the report notes there are only two hotels downtown. The report says Columbia attracts 1.7 million visitors annually, generating 3.8 million visit nights and more than $615-million dollars in visitor spending. The report also says that to capture 90 percent of the potential event market, a convention center in Columbia would require 13,000 square foot ballroom and 8,800 square feet of meeting space. The report also discusses the issue of funding. Ms. Schneider tells listeners this is about economic development through tourism. She also notes Columbia is missing some of the larger conventions. “Columbia is really good at the small to mid-size meetings, those 50 to 350 size meetings. If they get any bigger than that, the Wyndham Executive Center, they’ve changed flags now, they’re really one of the only places you can hold those larger meetings,” she tells listeners. Amy Schneider grew up in northeast Missouri’s Shelbina, where her father owned a feed and fertilizer store. Her first job was cleaning that store, and she also was a waitress at Shelbina’s popular Skyway Café, which was best known for its biscuits and gravy. She says she’s always wanted to work in hospitality. She and Mr. Parry also discussed this weekend’s busy schedule with True/False and Missouri state high school wrestling championships. They also discussed the 2026 World Cup in Kansas City and what that will mean for Columbia: