Passion for Pizza - Columbia Business Times

6 September 18, 2010 Columbia Business Times | ColumbiaBusinessTimes.com
AGE: Mike: 31; Monica: 30
YEARS LIVED IN MID-MISSOURI: Mike: 12; Monica: 23
COuPLES YOu SHOULD KNOW
Mike Pitts
Project Planner, Kliethermes Homes and Remodeling Inc.
Monica Pitts
Co-owner and Chief Creative Director, MayeCreate Design
ORIGINAL HOMETOWN: Mike: Springfield, Mo.; Monica: Moved down the grain belt, starting in Kenmare,
N.D., stopped by Ames, Iowa, and made it to Columbia in 1987.
EDUCATION: Mike: Springfield Central High Class of ’97; graduated in 2002 from MU with a B.A. from
the business school, emphasis in real estate and finance. Monica: Rock Bridge High Class of ’98,
graduated in 2003 from MU with a B.S. in agriculture.
JOB DESCRIPTION: Mike: I am a custom home and remodeling consultant and sales representative. I help
families plan their custom homes and improve existing homes through remodeling. Monica: I think
of Mike and myself as creative consultants. Mike’s creative consulting just happens to be a bit more
concrete. I guide small to medium-sized businesses through the process of designing websites and
marketing materials. Some days I oversee the creative process, and on others I actually design.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Mike: I’m a member of the Chamber of Commerce
Government Affairs Committee, City of Columbia Bicycle and Pedestrian
Commission, Metro Rotary and Ronald McDonald House Maintenance
Committee. I also am a member of Core 20 and volunteer for a variety
of service projects with local nonprofits. Last year we helped the Boys
and Girls Club, the Food Bank, Family Counseling Center and the
PET project, to name a few. Monica: Does it count that I pick up after
my dogs when we’re on walks? I am a Chamber of Commerce and
Columbia WIN member. MayeCreate donates design services to
various nonprofit organizations. I tag along as Mike’s chaperone to
his numerous community functions.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: Monica: I’ve always been an artsy fartsy,
entrepreneurial sort. I guess those two things don’t usually go
together. Out of college, I took an internship designing a website,
then my dad offered me a job with the family business, Tranquility
Internet Services, to develop our Web design department. I later
look a job for a local marketing company then ventured off to start
MayeCreate Design in 2005. I’m still trucking along as a small-business
owner and create fun jewelry out of fabric, beads and clay to
peddle at local craft shows. Mike: I spent several years as a residential
loan officer in Columbia after graduating. The past four, I was
co-owner of Ultra Mortgage Group. Around the time Monica and
I got married, I had a desire to change jobs and had the opportunity
to work for Kliethermes Homes and Remodeling. This past
August was two years, and I’ve enjoyed every day.
A COLUMBIA BUSINESSPERSON I ADMIRE AND WHY: Mike: I think I
have to list three: Richard King of The Blue Note; my boss, Dan
Kliethermes; and my wife, Monica. Collectively they share passion
for what they do and have created amazing businesses that
have helped and inspired people in our community. Richard
and Dan have been a great source of knowledge when I was a
business owner. Obviously I’m a big fan of Monica; I don’t know
where to start! Monica: I have to jump on the Richard King bandwagon
and add Cathy Atkins of Savant Business Solutions to the
list. These two business owners have helped guide me through the
circus of being a small-business owner. When I worked for Richard
though college, he taught me how to be a good employee. I’m not saying
I loved it when he yelled at me for transferring him a bad phone call, but
kettler
I learned so much from watching him run his business. Cathy asks me
the hardest questions; her whole job is to ask people hard questions, and
she makes people think about their business and how to make it better.
jennifer by
She has high expectations for her students, and she has those same high
expectations for herself. photo