Winter2017

THE MAGAZINE OF THE MISSOURI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
WINTER 2017
Looking
Ahead
Governor Greitens
Talks Year Two
SPECIAL REPORT
Missouri 2030 Progress
Giving Back
Fabick Cat Strives to Serve
DRIVING 65
Rebuilding A Critical Highway

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The 2017 Leadership Missouri class
tested their limits on October 19 at
Venture Out in Columbia. Shown
here is class member Scott Patrick,
Warrensburg R-VI School District
superintendent. The 2018 class is now
accepting applications at
mochamber.com/leadershipmissouri.
JANET PRENGER
Missouri Business, Winter 2017,
(USPS No. 354880, ISSN 0540-4428)
is published quarterly by the
Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
PO Box 149, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
Periodical postage paid at Jefferson City, MO
and additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: Send address changes to:
Missouri Business
PO Box 149
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0149
Daniel P. Mehan
President and CEO
Karen Buschmann
Vice President of Communications and Strategic Initiatives
Jacob Luecke
Director of Communications
Shawna Scott
Content Specialist
Janet Prenger
Graphic Design and Photography
Andy Atzenweiler
Advertising Director
Andrea Mongler & Sarah Steinman
Copy Editors
MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
1

13 16
46
5
13
16
18
23
33
35
37
46
BUILDING
MISSOURI
Business
and Policy
The O’Fallon Chamber earns a
major honor, Attorney General Josh
Hawley fights human trafficking
and the St. Louis Arch remodel
enters a new phase.
Rebuilding 65
How MoDOT and Millstone Weber
rebuilt a critical section of one of
southwest Missouri’s busiest roads
in record time.
Giving Back
As Fabick Cat celebrated 100 years
in business this year, the company
planned a special surprise to give
back to its community.
Year 2
The 2016 election of Gov. Eric
Greitens stunned many. Now
entering his second year in
office, Greitens reflects on the
successes of his first year and the
work yet to come.
2030 Progress
This special section delves into the
significant progress the Missouri
Chamber has made toward the goals
of the Missouri 2030 strategic plan.
HR Update
Is your business doing enough to
make opportunities accessible to the
disabled workforce?
Legal Issues
A Missouri Supreme Court case
highlights one of the lingering
problems with Missouri’s legal
system.
Focus on Growth
Did you know that Missouri thrives
in nurturing startups? Read the
reasons why Missouri is doing
better than most in this important
area.
90 Years of
Missouri Business
The construction of Bagnell Dam
was a historic feat of engineering.
Look back at the project that
created, at the time, the nation’s
largest man-made lake.
2 MISSOURI BUSINESS

OUR VIEW
We are building something here
By Daniel P. Mehan
This summer I had the pleasure of serving on the
Governor’s Innovation Task Force. It was an honor to be
chosen by Gov. Eric Greitens to work alongside many of
our state’s most creative business minds.
Our task force was charged with finding ways to bolster
economic innovation and help startups thrive in Missouri. We
hosted workshop meetings across the state. We studied what
other states are doing and looked for ways to utilize Missouri’s
existing assets in new, exciting ways.
We completed our work in early September and delivered
a report to Gov. Greitens that included more than 30
recommendations for the governor and state lawmakers to
consider.
You can read the whole report on our website, mochamber.
com, but here are a few highlights.
We suggested that Missouri could set up a formal statewide
system to connect entrepreneurs with experienced mentors.
We recommended ways to spur startup growth in rural areas.
We put forward several workforce training ideas, including
the commonsense suggestion that our state should promote
entrepreneurship as a mainstream career choice that young
people should consider pursuing.
However, the most headline-grabbing suggestion was our
plan to establish a Missouri innovation fund that would be used
to bolster our most promising startups.
This fund is innovative because it isn’t reliant on a big, new
(read unrealistic) appropriation from an annually cash-strapped
state budget. Rather, we designed this fund to use existing state
resources in a new way. It would take advantage of our state’s
AAA credit rating to help attract institutional and privatesector
investors and other capital — in essence multiplying the
amount of capital our state has available to invest in early-stage
companies.
Ideas like this have me excited for Missouri. There is a new
energy in our state.
Innovative new ideas are taking root here, and we are finally
starting to overcome some of our longest-held barriers to growth
and prosperity. Regulatory issues are beginning to ease. Our legal
climate has dramatically improved. We have a renewed focus
on addressing our workforce and transportation issues. I’m also
seeing a state that’s more willing to leave regional differences
behind and unite behind common goals that will raise us all.
This is exactly what we hoped to accomplish when we
launched Missouri 2030 almost three years ago. The progress
we’ve seen validates our idea that strong business leadership
can move our state forward and position us to compete globally.
See our special section detailing our Missouri 2030 progress
beginning on page 23.
I also want to thank Gov. Greitens for his outstanding work
during his first year in office. He has brought an infectious
energy to Missouri. He has the will to rebuild our state and do it
as quickly as possible. He also understands that his supporting
team is essential to his success, and the team his administration
has assembled has intellectual firepower unlike anything I’ve
ever seen in the governor’s office.
Gov. Greitens is also a strong supporter of our work with
Missouri 2030, and his fingerprints are all over the progress
we’ve made. Read our story with the governor on page 18.
The easiest way to describe it is that we are building something
here in Missouri. While there is still more work to do, we are
bullish on Missouri – and we hope you are too.
Daniel P. Mehan is president and
CEO of the Missouri Chamber of
Commerce and Industry
MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
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4 MISSOURI BUSINESS

YOUR VIEW
DATA DIVE
Many Missourians are stuck with slow internet
ow loading. Content is buffering. Please wait.
No matter how you put it, many Missouri communities
Nare stuck in the slow lane of a fast-paced, connected
economy.
Data from the Federal Communications Commission shows
that 20 percent of Missouri residents don’t have access to quality
broadband. Only seven states have a higher percentage of residents
who lack access to broadband.
Just two of Missouri’s neighboring states, Arkansas and
Oklahoma, fare worse when it comes to broadband access.
Illinois is our strongest-performing neighboring state, with
only 9 percent of its residents lacking broadband. All of this
data is visualized on the Missouri Chamber’s 2030 Dashboard at
mochamber.com/dashboard (for 20 percent of you, be prepared
to wait as the page loads).
While slow-loading websites may seem like an insignificant
problem, there’s evidence that slow internet can hurt a region’s
economy.
A study by the World Bank showed that countries saw their
GDPs rise an average of 1.3 percent for every 10 percent of their
residents that gained broadband.
Many times that growth comes from the expansion of small
businesses.
“The applications enabled by the internet are especially
Broadband access
compared to Missouri
Better
Same
Worse
important for small businesses and rural communities because
they have become crucial platforms for innovation in health
care, education, entrepreneurship and communications,”
said Darrell West, vice president and director of governance
studies and the founding director of the Center for Technology
Innovation at the Brookings Institution. “High-speed, universal
broadband furthers productivity and generates powerful new
efficiencies and economies of scale.”
Internet speed and reliability has also become a crucial part
of economic development, and job creation projects are often
steered away from communities that lack high-speed access.
A 2011 article in Site Selection magazine said that for
businesses researching where to bring new jobs, broadband
internet is rising to the level of electric, gas, water and other
common utilities.
According to the article, “corporate site selectors expect
broadband. It is not a perk or special benefit. For communities,
it is a critical piece of infrastructure for attracting new capital
investment.”
See the full dashboard:
mochamber.com/dashboard
BROADBAND ARTICLE DIDN’T CONNECT
I am writing to voice my disappointment regarding an article
in the July edition of Missouri Business. The article, “Many
Missourians are stuck with slow internet,” discusses access to
broadband service in Missouri relative to other states. While it is
fair to acknowledge the gap in broadband access in certain rural
areas of Missouri, the article did not seek to discuss or explore
why that may be the case.
The article pointed out the perceived deficiencies in the
services provided by Missouri’s broadband providers without
giving them the opportunity to present their viewpoint. Had you
done that, those providers would have discussed the challenges
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MOBIZ-July17.indd 8
6/12/17 1:15 PM
SUPPORT FOR ROCK ISLAND TRAIL
RESPONDING TO “MISSOURI LOVES THE
GREAT OUTDOORS” COLUMN
Well said! When visiting any Missouri state park, you will
notice a lot of out-of-staters. We rented a cabin at Bennett
Spring State Park in June and met folks from several other states.
Too often we take for granted the beauty of Missouri and our
wonderful state parks and conservation areas.
-Greg Harris
I heartily support the creation of this trail. It is a win-win for
Missouri.
-Jeanette Sage
The Rock Island Trail would be a huge boost to many small
communities — as well as larger ones — across the state of
Missouri. Joining a loop with the Katy Trail would create a
world-class tourism destination. Economic growth would
ensue for towns that embrace the trail. There are a number of
testimonials.
-Marge Lumpe
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE STORIES IN THIS ISSUE OF MISSOURI
BUSINESS MAGAZINE?
Send us your view: publications@mochamber.com
MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
5

BUSINESS
& POLICY NEWS
INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER ASSOCIATION HONORS
O’FALLON CHAMBER
The O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce & Industries has been named the 2017 Chamber
of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE).
O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce & Industries President and CEO Erin Williams,
along with Director of Member Engagement Nina DeAngelo and Chairwoman of the
Board Brenda Lowder, accepted the award July 18 at ACCE’s annual convention in
Nashville, Tennessee.
“Being recognized as the Chamber of the Year by ACCE is an incredible honor and
accomplishment,” Williams said. “This award is the highest honor that we could
receive. The members of the O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce & Industries deserve to
feel incredibly proud of what we have been able to accomplish together. Through their
ideas, hard work and collaborative mind-set, our organization offers strong, relevant
programming, which strengthens our businesses and community. Personally, to say I
am honored to be part of this organization is a huge understatement.”
This year’s competition drew numerous entries from chambers throughout the
United States and Canada. To ensure the fairest competition, applicants are grouped
into five categories based on annual revenue, membership, area population and several
other factors.
O’FALLON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES
6 MISSOURI BUSINESS

FIGHTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING WITH ATTORNEY
GENERAL JOSH HAWLEY
The Missouri business community is taking a stand against human trafficking.
On Sept. 26, Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley and the Missouri Chamber of
Commerce and Industry announced the formation of a new business council to help
educate companies about this problem and empower them to take action.
During the announcement, which took place at the Missouri Chamber office
in Jefferson City, Hawley called human trafficking “modern-day slavery.” He
said research shows that many human trafficking patrons are making illegal
arrangements during work hours and using work resources.
“Our goal is to help every business in this state take a bold stand against trafficking,”
Hawley said. “To say that trafficking will not happen in their business, it will not
happen during business hours, it will not happen using business resources.”
His office will soon have training resources, including short videos, available for
any business or individual seeking to inform themselves about the signs of human
trafficking and what steps they can take to end it.
“We hope that this effort will help equip Missourians all across our state and in
every industry and walk of life to better identify and act if they witness possible
human trafficking anywhere,” he said.
Daniel P. Mehan, president and CEO of the Missouri Chamber, said the business
community supports this effort.
“We focus on uniting the business community behind a common message, and
this is one we need to unite behind,” he said. “At the end of the day, if you look at
Missouri 2030 and our goals for the future, it’s about making our quality of life better
in Missouri for all Missourians. So we are thrilled to join this program.”
Cheryl Norton, president of Missouri American Water, said the education and
information about human trafficking will be very helpful at her business.
“I have almost 700 employees who are out every day facing customers and seeing
what goes on … and believe me, they see a lot,” she said. “I want to give them the tools
that they need to understand what they are seeing and be able to act on that.”
PANIK, ARNOLD JOIN THE
MISSOURI CHAMBER
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
TEAM
Matthew Panik and Justin Arnold
have joined the Missouri Chamber of
Commerce and Industry to help lead the
chamber’s advocacy efforts.
Panik will serve as
the Missouri Chamber’s
vice president of
governmental affairs,
helping continue the
Missouri Chamber’s
long-standing mission
of protecting and advancing Missouri
business. His work will focus on economic
development, taxation, regulation and
labor issues.
Arnold joins the
Missouri Chamber
staff as the general
counsel. His advocacy
work will focus on
civil justice, health
care, human resources,
energy, agribusiness and ethics issues. In
addition to working with the Missouri
General Assembly, Arnold will help
lead the work of the Missouri Chamber
Legal Foundation, which gives the state’s
business community a voice as legal
decisions are made and judicial precedent
is set in Missouri.
The two new governmental affairs staff
members join Ryan Stauffer, director of
workforce and education policy, who
specializes in education, workforce and
transportation issues.
Both Panik and Arnold bring valuable
experience to the Missouri Chamber.
Most recently, Panik served as the chief
of staff for Missouri State Treasurer Eric
Schmitt. Before that, he led the staff in
Schmitt’s Missouri Senate office. Panik
graduated from the Saint Louis University
School of Law. He also has a Bachelor of
Arts degree in political science from the
University of Dayton.
Arnold brings valuable legal
experience to the Missouri Chamber.
Most recently, he served as an associate
attorney with Maune Raichle Hartley
French & Mudd LLC. Arnold graduated
from the Saint Louis University School of
Law and also has a political science degree
from Westminster College.
MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
7

BUSINESS
& POLICY NEWS
ST. LOUIS GATEWAY ARCH PARK REIMAGINED BY
CITYARCHRIVER PROJECT
Before
With 2 to 3.5 million people flocking to the Gateway Arch in St. Louis every year,
this famous National Historic Landmark and its surrounding area have massive
economic impact for the region. The CityArchRiver Project, designed by the prestigious
architecture firm Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates to renovate and expand the
parks and museums around the Arch, is expected to increase that impact, bringing a
staggering added $367 million to the economy as well as 4,400 permanent jobs.
These dynamic designs have been steadily coming to life since construction started
in 2013. Most recently, Kiener Plaza reopened this May and boasts a playground, event
lawn, several fountains, and over 140 new trees.
Renovations to the Museum of Westward Expansion are currently under way and
estimated to be completed in the summer of 2018. Other elements of this extensive
project include 11 acres of new green space, bicycle trails, performance venues, children’s
play areas and easily accessible parking. And for the first time in its history, the Gateway
Arch’s grounds will be connected by a continuous, stair-free greenway, all the way
from the Old Courthouse to the Mississippi riverfront. Visitors will enjoy exploring all
that the freshly beautified and redesigned areas have to offer for years to come.
8 MISSOURI BUSINESS

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9

DATA DIVE // 49TH IN THE NATION? A CLOSER LOOK AT MISSOURI’S LATEST LEGAL CLIMATE RANKING
State Legal Climate
Compared to Missouri
Better
Worse
In mid-September, the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal
Reform released its latest ranking of state legal climates,
placing Missouri 49th in the nation. This is a drop from
2015, when our state ranked 42nd in the nation. Only
Louisiana now ranks lower than Missouri, according to the
latest report.
Right now you might be asking yourself: “Didn’t our
governor and state legislature just enact several new laws to
fix this problem? And is Missouri really that bad? ”
The answers are yes, they did, and yes, we were that bad —
but we likely aren’t any more.
To come up with its ranking, the Institute for Legal Reform
surveyed senior business executives on their experiences
with state legal environments. Collectively, these executives
said Missouri was the worst state in the nation in regard to
making sure lawsuits have a connection to where they are
filed. They also said our state was one of the worst for judges’
competence and impartiality as well as the fairness of juries.
While that sounds bad, it’s important to note that this
latest ranking does not reflect the very recent progress
Missouri has made toward addressing legal climate issues. In
fact, the Institute for Legal Reform specifically pointed this
out when it released this latest ranking.
“The survey was in the field in the spring before the
new reforms passed, and therefore reflects Missouri’s longrunning
problems with its lawsuit climate rather than the
positive impact of its new laws,” according to the report from
the Institute for Legal Reform.
The report also labeled Missouri’s legal climate as being
in a “state of transition” and said additional reforms in the
works are giving Missouri optimism that its ranking will
improve in future surveys.
So while 49th doesn’t look good, there are reasons to think
things might improve the next time the Institute for Legal
Reform releases a ranking. Until then, here are some of the
legal reforms passed into law in Missouri this year:
• House Bill 153, which raises expert witness standards in
Missouri and helps stop junk evidence from influencing
court decisions.
• Senate Bill 31, which allows courts to consider whether
a plaintiff’s losses have been covered or reduced through
other sources and helps stop trial attorneys from
overstating damages to trigger windfall-sized awards.
• Senate Bill 43, which reforms Missouri’s employment
law standards while ensuring that businesses engaging
in the unacceptable act of discrimination are held
accountable.
• Senate Bill 66, which fixes the Missouri Supreme Court’s
2014 Templemire decision and raises the standard
of proof in workers’ compensation discrimination
lawsuits.
For more information about how Missouri compares to
other states in important business issues, use the Missouri
2030 Dashboard.
See the full dashboard:
mochamber.com/dashboard
10 MISSOURI BUSINESS

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11

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12 MISSOURI BUSINESS

Rebuilding 65
Planned closures speed repairs
to vital southwest highway
By Jacob Luecke
JANET PRENGER
The busiest stretch of road in
Springfield carries nearly 70,000
vehicles each day.
But today — a Wednesday in mid-
August — the only machine operating in
the northbound lanes of Highway 65 is a
50-ton excavator.
The machine’s hydraulic arm lifts
shattered pavement and metal mesh,
hoisting them into a nearby dump truck.
After 45 years of use, the heavily traveled
roadway here is worn out and broken.
“It was built in 1972. That’s when they
put it down,” said Don Saiko, project
manager for the Missouri Department of
Transportation. “There were areas where
we were getting concrete that was popping
out. There were potholes. So we thought,
‘Let’s go ahead and do something.’”
On this day, highway workers from
Millstone Weber, the contractor for this
nearly $8 million project, are thinly spread
across the nearly milelong worksite.
At one end is the excavator and a unique
machine called the Badger Breaker, which
was brought in from Wisconsin. With a
top speed of 5 miles per hour, the Badger
Breaker creeps down the highway as its
rows of hydraulic hammers, weighing
up to 1 ton each, smash 10-inch-thick
pavement into rubble.
At the other end is a concrete paver,
a broad contraption that stands 12 feet
over the roadway and is wide enough to
pave two lanes of traffic at once. It’s idle
at the moment; paving happens at night
on this job.
Nearby, Millstone Weber workers
prepare for that night’s paving by placing
steel dowel bars every 15 feet, where the
joints in the pavement will meet.
These are all standard sights on a
modern highway rebuild job. But what’s
unusual here is the lack of adjacent traffic.
There are no orange cones dividing the
job site from passing cars that have been
merged into a single lane.
Instead, sections of road that are under
construction are closed and cars are
ushered completely off the highway and
onto bypass routes.
MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
13

“There are multiple reasons to do
this. It’s more efficient. Safer. We can
work faster,” said Brandon Bates, project
manager with Millstone Weber. “Just
the safety aspect of it is a big one. The
other night it was really foggy. If we were
actually working next to traffic in the fog,
that always makes me nervous.”
Because of the lack of traffic, Bates said,
the work on Highway 65 more closely
resembled an airport runway project than
a typical road rebuild.
Brandon Bates, project manager with
Millstone Weber
“That’s kind of how we looked at it,”
he said. “Because on an airport runway
you shut it down, you don’t have planes
flying in.”
Closing the highway greatly sped up
the work. If the state would have opted
for using partial closures or working only
at night, the project could have lasted up
to two years. But as it stands, the contract
between the state and Millstone Weber
gave the company just over two months
to complete the work. The company
would actually finish the project 11
days early and collect a $500,000 bonus
for getting the job done at least 10 days
ahead of schedule.
“We’ve had a great partnership with
Millstone Weber,” said Angela Eden,
senior communications specialist with the
Missouri Department of Transportation.
“They have done exactly what they said
they were going to do, and we were able
to communicate that to drivers.”
But closing the highway came with risks.
Along with Interstate 44, Highway
65 is the economic artery of southwest
Missouri. It carries local commuters to
work in Springfield each day. It’s a crucial
truck shipping route. It’s the main path
into Branson tourist destinations. It’s
heavily used by students at Missouri State
University and other local colleges.
“Logistically speaking, its capacity to
handle increased use is absolutely one of
the most important fixtures in our ability
to ensure businesses see this as a viable
place to locate or expand,” said Matt
Morrow, president of the Springfield Area
Chamber of Commerce.
Early on, many local stakeholders were
concerned about how they would be
impacted by the closure, said Eden. The
Missouri Department of Transportation
hosted meetings around the district to
get support for closing sections of the
highway so that it could be fixed sooner.
“It was evident they evaluated input and
shaped the project based on minimizing
impact to travel while also being as
time- and cost-efficient as possible,” said
Morrow. “There was a concerted effort
to communicate with the region during
each construction phase regarding the
schedule, impact to travel and alternate
routes — that included a dedicated project
website and social media campaign.”
Transportation department planners
provided detours and worked with a
traffic consultant on traffic signal timing.
The firm provided signal timing plans
to more efficiently operate signals. Also,
temporary signals were added in three
strategic locations to usher highway
travelers through and keep traffic moving.
JANET PRENGER
14 MISSOURI BUSINESS

In addition, the department developed
an extensive communications campaign
to keep local motorists and visitors
informed about what to expect as
different sections of the highway closed
and reopened.
The closures ended on Aug. 27 when
state transportation leaders sent an alert
notifying area drivers that all lanes of
Highway 65 were now open — with some
nighttime lane and ramp closures still to
come as the contractor finished up the
project.
Despite the early concerns, the project
went smoothly and the new lanes are
ready for another 40-plus years of traffic.
“I think it went very well,” said Saiko.
“People I talk to say they’re surprised how
quick it went. That was our intent.”
Eden agreed.
“For having 70,000 cars a day on this
route, the number of complaints we’ve
had probably I could list on my one hand,”
she said.
The project went so well that the
state is now planning a similar effort to
rebuild another busy section of Highway
65 in 2019.
Don Saiko, project
manager for MoDOT
PHOTO: MILLSTONE WEBER
JANET PRENGER
ARE YOU LOCATED NEAR SPRINGFIELD OR DID YOU TRAVEL ON HIGHWAY 65
DURING THIS PROJECT? LET US KNOW YOUR VIEW ON THIS ROAD REMODEL.
MillstoneWeber.com
Send us your view: publications@mochamber.com
MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
15

GIVING
BACK
For 100 years, service has been the story at Fabick Cat
By Jacob Luecke
If something big is taking shape
in Missouri, it’s a safe bet that
Fabick Cat is part of the effort.
In the regions Fabick serves,
the company’s dealerships are
synonymous with the Caterpillar
brand of heavy equipment.
Machines from the company
helped build the Gateway Arch.
They aided the construction of
Bagnell Dam at the Lake of the
Ozarks. They even helped make
Missouri the crossroads of the
nation as the interstate highway
system was developed.
This year, the company is marking
its 100th year in business. With
37 locations in four states, Fabick
Cat has grown tremendously since
it was founded by John Fabick Sr.
However, even with all the changes
over the years, the company remains
committed to the motto established
by Fabick Sr. at the very start: “To
ever serve our customers better.”
Current company president Jeré
Fabick said the motto “is as true
today as it was when my grandfather
coined that phrase in 1917.”
In the early years, the company
was known for selling brands
now regarded as antiques, such
as Cletrac Tractors and C.L. Best
Tractors.
In 1921, a merger led to the
creation of the Caterpillar brand.
However, at the outset, the newly
formed Caterpillar company chose
a competitor of Fabick to sell its
tractors.
To fight being frozen out, John
Fabick introduced his own line
of equipment, Allwork Tractors.
This move convinced Caterpillar
to reverse its decision and name
Fabick its exclusive St. Louis dealer.
The ensuing decades were a
time of expansion for the business
as the economy developed and
technology advanced.
In 1972, the company moved
its headquarters to Fenton, where
it remains today. Another pivotal
moment happened in 1982 when
then-president Joe Fabick was
chosen by Caterpillar to lead
the Fabco Inc. dealerships in
Wisconsin and upper Michigan.
With experienced Fabick leaders
at the helm, Fabick Cat and Fabco
thrived in their respective regions.
Then a 2015 merger brought the
companies together — the Fabick
company was united and larger
than ever.
Today, the company remains
under strong family leadership.
“It is such an honor and privilege
to be a member of the fifth
generation and be a part of this
legacy,” said Kelli Fabick, a pricing
analyst at the company.
While several members of the
Fabick family continue to serve
in leadership roles, the company
gives much of the credit for its
success to its staff.
“It doesn’t matter whether you
have seven employees or 1,500
like we do now, it’s all about
great people,” said current CEO
Doug Fabick.
John Fabick IV, senior vice
president, said the employees are
like members of the family.
“They just need to be
acknowledged because I just can’t
say enough about how much they
mean to myself and the rest of the
Fabick family,” he said.
Now, 100 years after its founding,
Fabick Cat remains an important
member of the Missouri business
community and a critical part
of many of the biggest building
projects happening around
Missouri and the nation. The
Missouri Chamber of Commerce
and Industry honored Fabick as
the 2017 Champion of Enterprise
during the Missouri Business
Awards, held Nov. 16 at Busch
Stadium in St. Louis.
FABICK CAT
16 MISSOURI BUSINESS

A visit from Vice President Mike
Pence this year also underscored
the company’s importance.
“Hardworking men and women
like you are the ones that make
companies like this grow,” Pence
said during his visit. “You are
the strength in the American
economy, and you’re going to lead
an American comeback.”
But, as always, the heart of the
Fabick story is rooted in service.
During a special event in August
marking its centennial, the
company stunned six local St.
Louis charitable organizations by
donating $100,000 to each group,
for a total of $600,000 donated in
one day.
“Since 1917 our motto has always
been ‘To ever serve our customers
better.’ To this day, these words
remain the foundation of our
success,” said Doug Fabick.
FABICK CAT
SEND A MESSAGE OF CONGRATULATIONS TO FABICK AS THIS LONGSTANDING
MISSOURI COMPANY MARKS 100 YEARS IN BUSINESS.
fabickcat.com
Send us your view: publications@mochamber.com
MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
17

2
Governor Eric Greitens
talks progress and challenges
By Jacob Luecke
In September of 2015, Eric Greitens turned
heads in Missouri when he stood in a
St. Louis suburb and announced he was
running for governor.
“We need a political outsider to move Missouri
forward,” he said that day, drawing a contrast
to “the career politicians and lobbyists who are
ruining our state.”
At the time, Greitens was an experienced leader
with a rising profile. Yet he was also a political novice
entering a field of established, well-known Missouri
politicians — the mainstays of the Missouri political
scene. Over the ensuing months, Greitens would
stun them all by winning the Republican primary
and then the general election.
As he took his oath of office in January, Greitens
promised that things were about to change in
Jefferson City.
“I answer to the people. I come as an outsider, to
do the people’s work,” he said. “And I know that the
people do not expect miracles, but they do expect
results — and we will deliver.”
WILLIAM GREENBLATT
18 MISSOURI BUSINESS

WILLIAM GREENBLATT
By summer, the new governor had delivered
a right-to-work law and reforms to Missouri’s
litigation climate, among other legislative victories.
While there have been challenges, he has presided
over an overall strong economic year in the state,
with continuing growth and some positive trends in
business expansion.
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry
honored the governor’s work by presenting him the
Man in the Arena award during the 2017 Missouri
Business Awards held in November at Busch Stadium
in St. Louis.
Earlier, in September, Greitens met with Missouri
business leaders in St. Louis to talk about the progress
that has been made during his first year in office. He
also looked ahead at what’s coming in year two.
Below are some excerpts from this discussion.
ON THE SIGNS HE SEES THAT HIS EARLY
EFFORTS ARE MOVING THE NEEDLE:
“Here are just a few things we look at. Since we
took office, the State of Missouri has now moved
up nine places in the rankings of best states to do
business in America. Nine places. Since we came
into office, we now have more jobs in Missouri than
any time in Missouri history. Since we took office,
we have been outpacing the nation in job growth. So
this is working. It’s getting results. It has been fun.
What you see across the economy is that people in
the State of Missouri are investing again. They’re
investing in Missouri again.”
ON HIS APPROACH TO
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
“Sometimes people think that economic
development is about having the governor and the
leader of the Department of Economic Development
go out and hunt these big white whales who are
going to make major investments here and turn
things around. And we are going to compete, and we
are competing internationally.
“But what’s true around economic development is
the same thing that’s true in any businesses, which is
that most of your growth comes from your existing
customers. So what we want to do in Missouri is
to make sure that we are making this a great place
for businesses already in Missouri to continue to
invest. When you really break the numbers down,
what was happening in Missouri was that there
were businesses located here that when they chose
to invest, they were choosing to invest outside of
Missouri.
“What’s changed since we’ve come into office
is that now those businesses are investing with
confidence here in the State of Missouri. That helps
explain a lot of the change and the good results that
we’ve seen thus far.”
MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
19

“One of the things that’s changed, and I can feel it changing
now, is that we’re bringing people together in the same room
who often hadn’t been in the same room.”
ON THE FUTURE OF
RIGHT-TO-WORK IN MISSOURI:
“I’m proud of the fact that we got right-to-work
done. I’m proud of the fact that we signed it. But in
order for us to be a right-to-work state, we’re all going
to have to get engaged. It’s important for our leaders
in business and our community leaders to let people
know what they think.
“If Missourians know that their business and
community leaders believe that it’s important for us
to be a right-to-work state, it makes it easy for them
to go out and to make the case to their friends and to
their family and to their colleagues.
“I was up in Chicago recently — just one quick
aside — and I met with the consulate general from
Japan and the consulate general from Korea. I
also met with a number of site selectors and was
talking with them about all of the reforms that we
put in place in Missouri and the way we’re moving
Missouri forward.
“Every single one of them had the exact same
message: ‘Missouri is now on the list.’
“We’re now on the list to compete for business
around the country. Before this we didn’t even make
the list.
“That doesn’t mean we’re going to win every
competition, but now we’re at least involved in the
competition. For us to maintain this momentum,
we have to continue to get this message out about
what it’s going to take for us to continue to have a
thriving and prosperous economy here in the State
of Missouri.”
ON HOW MISSOURI SHOULD MOVE
FORWARD WITH REGULATORY REFORM:
“One of the things we discovered when we came
into office was that the State of Missouri has 113,000
regulations. That’s a total of 7.5 million words. It’s the
equivalent of 40 dictionaries. If you have 10 weeks to
spare, that’s how long it would take you to actually
read all of the regulations in the State of Missouri. So
what we did was when we came into office, the very
first week in office, we put an immediate freeze on all
new regulations. At the same time what we did is we
signed an executive order to say that the government
of the State of Missouri was going to do a complete
review of every new regulation that’s on the books.
“Now one of the things that I’m really, really
proud of is the way that our team looks at models
of excellence around the country. So what we did
next was we studied how other states successfully
reformed their regulations so that we could do this
right in the State of Missouri. We’re still, obviously,
in the middle of the regulatory review process. But
at this point right now in early September, Missouri
has already, through nomoredtape.com and through
grass-roots efforts reaching out to business leaders
and the public across the State of Missouri, we have
already received more public comments about the
regulatory environment in Missouri than almost
every other state that’s done this combined.
“So we’re doing this really well. I think what we’re
seeing is if we reach out to people, we ask them to
get engaged, they will step up. They’ll step forward
and join us. But what people in Missouri have been
hungry for is to have a team of people who will ask
them to get involved. Now we’re asking them and
people are stepping forward.”
JANET PRENGER
20 MISSOURI BUSINESS

ON HIS APPROACH TO IMPROVING
MISSOURI’S WORKFORCE:
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF
UNITING MISSOURI:
WILLIAM GREENBLATT
“Many businesses in Missouri, when asked to
identify their top one, two or three issues, workforce
is going to be in those top three. But a lot of other
states, especially in the southeastern part of the
United States, have done a fantastic job at figuring
out how to work with and welcome companies
and at the same time provide them with the skilled
workforce that they need.
“In Missouri what’s happened is that when
companies have expanded, they’ve had to go out
and find for themselves a community college, a
technical college, a partner who they could work
with to make sure they had the kind of workforce
that they needed. If they couldn’t figure that out,
then they were out of luck.
“So what’s happening now is that our Department
of Economic Development, again following the
model of states that have done this the best in the
country, is going to become a one-stop shop so that
when companies are excited about coming to work
here in the State of Missouri and we know that they
need a skilled workforce, we are going to be able to
work with them to make sure that they’re going to
have the skilled workforce that they need.”
HOW HAS GOV. GREITENS DONE DURING HIS FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE? WHAT
ARE YOUR HOPES FOR YEAR TWO?
“One of the things that is striking in Missouri is
that — and I noticed this when I was campaigning
— when you go to every corner of the state, every
corner of the state would be talking about that
corner of the state.
“One of the things that’s changed, and I can feel
it changing now, is that we’re bringing people
together in the same room who often hadn’t been
in the same room.
“So we’ve got the chief operating officer of the
Danforth Plant Science Center sitting next to the
economic developer from West Plains recognizing
that St. Louis and Tel Aviv are the two world-leading
centers for agriculture technology. Recognizing
that agriculture is still the No. 1 industry here in
the State of Missouri and figuring out ways that
they can work together. I’m really excited about the
way that we’re helping to connect and unite people
in the State of Missouri.”
governor.mo.gov
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MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
21

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22 MISSOURI BUSINESS

SPECIAL REPORT
Progress!
Two years ago, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry
launched an ambitious 15-year strategic plan to position our
state as a global economic leader. We called it Missouri 2030:
An Agenda to Lead. Missouri 2030 is informed by Gallup research and
input from more than 1,000 Missouri business leaders. It is structured
around four key drivers: Preparing the Workforce, Competing for Jobs,
Connecting through Infrastructure and Uniting the Business Community.
What follows is an early progress report on our work toward the goals
of Missouri 2030. To learn more about Missouri 2030, visit mo2030.com.
MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
23

Accomplishments:
Uniting the Business Community
BRINGING TOGETHER MISSOURI’S
BUSINESS COMMUNITY
Fragmentation has become the norm
for Missouri. The divide and dissent
between our political parties, urban and
rural communities, and special interests
create friction that greatly slows progress
on statewide needs such as education,
infrastructure and business climate. If
Missouri is going to take action to be more
competitive, the business community
must lead on these critical issues. We
must look for alignment between elected
officials and the policies that we believe
are necessary to grow the economy.
That’s why the Missouri Chamber
worked with Gallup to survey more than
1,000 Missouri CEOs and business leaders
to find out what they believed were
the biggest challenges facing Missouri
employers. Gallup also asked what they
believed Missouri policymakers should
do to fix these problems.
Missouri 2030 is built on that input.
More important, the plan continues
to be guided by Missouri’s business
community. Hundreds of Missouri’s
most influential employers, both big and
small, are involved in the plan, by either
providing financial support or expertise
or serving on one of our issue alliances.
EDUCATING VOTERS AND CANDIDATES ON
THE ISSUES THAT MATTER
Before the 2016 election, we shared
the plan with candidates and voters and
measured support based on candidates’
commitment to workforce, infrastructure
and competitiveness policy.
“
The Missouri Chamber Foundation is providing the leadership and direction our state needs to
compete through Missouri 2030. The implementation of a clear, data-driven, long-term plan
is critical to the future of our state. The Missouri Chamber’s investment in Missouri 2030 is
already making a difference.
– Dennis Vinson, Owner
Signature Packaging and Paper
CASEY BUCKMAN
24 MISSOURI BUSINESS

CASEY BUCKMAN
Our investment in the Money Trail
online tracking system of labor and trial
attorney political contributions helped
voters identify candidates taking large
contributions from these anti-business
special interests.
After years of electing legislators who
blocked labor and tort reforms, voters
elected a new slate of lawmakers who
would finally break the logjam on these
issues.
MEASURING OUR PROGRESS
We’ve launched an interactive, online
Missouri 2030 Dashboard to measure progress
with our plan through key metrics
and economic success. The Dashboard
is designed to provide clear metrics,
transparency and accountability on
more than 30 different economic areas.
It is updated as data becomes available
and is accessible 24/7. By measuring our
progress in these key areas, we will hold
policymakers accountable.
“I want to thank the Missouri Chamber for stepping up with
the Missouri 2030 strategic plan. They are the ones who
can provide the research and pull the whole state together.
We need to make sure we are speaking loudly and
clearly for the business community because if we don’t,
who will?
BUILDING SUPPORT IN COMMUNITIES
ACROSS THE STATE
The Missouri Chamber Federation is a
partnership created to unify the business
community’s voice in the Capitol in
Jefferson City and in Washington, D.C.
The Missouri Chamber Federation
is a network of Missouri’s strongest
chambers of commerce that provides
grassroots support on issues that
align with local priorities. Through
”
– Lara Vermillion, President
Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce
this program, all federation member
employers that have 10 employees or
fewer automatically become a member
of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce
and Industry. Currently, more than 100
chambers of commerce are a part of the
Missouri Chamber Federation. Together
we represent more than 75,000 Missouri
employers.
MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
25

26 MISSOURI BUSINESS
CASEY BUCKMAN

Accomplishments:
Policy
For many years, Missouri has been
stuck in a state of almost. The big reforms,
the ones needed to truly chart a new
course for Missouri, tended to come up
just short — blocked by a governor’s veto,
a filibuster or a failed override vote.
It’s no surprise, then, that some of our
state’s biggest job growth opportunities
were meeting a similar fate — almost but
not quite.
In 2017, things changed. Missouri
voters and a united business community
sent a staunchly pro-jobs governor to
Jefferson City alongside record numbers
of business-friendly legislators who
were empowered to act on several longneglected
priorities. Guided by the
research and policy recommendations
within Missouri 2030, the Missouri business
community was poised for results.
Many of the bills passed this year
relate directly to the goals of the Missouri
Chamber’s Missouri 2030 plan.
FINDING A TRANSPORTATION
FUNDING SOLUTION
Missouri’s transportation system remains
in need of a new investment strategy. To
continue this discussion, the legislature
passed a resolution to set up a task force
that will study the condition of Missouri’s
transportation system and offer funding
recommendations by Jan. 1, 2018.
REFORMING EMPLOYMENT LAW
Senate Bill 43, sponsored by Sen. Gary
Romine, a Republican from Farmington,
was signed into law and provides a longawaited
response to a series of Missouri
Supreme Court decisions that lowered
the bar in employment discrimination
cases and opened the door to frivolous
lawsuits against businesses. For a decade,
the court-constructed standard has made
Missouri one of the easiest places in
the country to sue a company and win.
Trial lawyers profited by exploiting this
situation, which forced businesses into a
defensive posture and stunted their ability
to make necessary personnel decisions
to address workplace problems. Senate
Bill 43 fixes this problem while ensuring
that businesses engaging in the
unacceptable act of discrimination are
held accountable.
FIXING COLLATERAL SOURCE
One new law approved in 2017 will allow
courts to consider whether a plaintiff’s
losses have been covered or reduced
through other sources such as insurance,
workers’ compensation or adjusted hospital
billing. Senate Bill 31, sponsored by Sen. Ed
Emery, a Republican from Lamar, will stop
plaintiffs from using inflated damages to
trigger windfall-sized awards.
RAISING EXPERT WITNESS STANDARDS
Another important bill passed into
law will stop junk evidence from
influencing court decisions. House
Bill 153 was sponsored by Rep. Kevin
Corlew, a Republican from Kansas City.
It provides the same high standards for
trial evidence that are currently required
in federal courts and most other states.
Called the Daubert standard, it ensures
that only evidence deemed relevant,
reliable and provided by qualified
individuals will be admitted as expert
testimony.
REDUCING WORKERS’
COMPENSATION LIABILITY
Another new law will correct two
costly Missouri Supreme Court rulings
that relate to the workers’ compensation
system. Senate Bill 66, sponsored by
Sen. Dave Schatz, a Republican from
Sullivan, fixes the Supreme Court’s
2014 Templemire decision, raising
the standard of proof in workers’
compensation discrimination suits. It
also establishes a fair, logical endpoint
for temporary workers’ compensation
benefits. The bill will help safeguard the
employer-funded workers’ compensation
system from frivolous benefits claims
and excessive litigation.
“The outstanding work by the Missouri Chamber to unite the business community’s focus
to push lawmakers on improving the legal climate in Missouri was truly remarkable. In
particular, the passage of common-sense tort reforms will result in significant savings
for Missouri businesses from the reduction and avoidance of frivolous employment
litigation. It will save my own company millions of dollars annually, which will ultimately
benefit all of our customers in Missouri.
– John Sondag, President
AT&T Missouri
”
MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
27

ENDING THE DELIVERY FEE TAX
Delivery fees will no longer be subject
to sales tax under a new law sponsored by
Sen. Will Kraus, a Republican from Lee’s
Summit. Before 2015, sales tax had never
been assessed on delivery fees. But a court
ruling that year gave the state the goahead
to begin taxing deliveries. Senate
Bill 16 will prohibit the Department
of Revenue from assessing sales tax on
delivery fees.
ENSURING A CONSISTENT MINIMUM WAGE
In addition, lawmakers passed a law
responding to a minimum wage hike
in St. Louis. House Bills 1194/1193
will pre-empt and nullify all local laws
establishing minimum wage rates higher
than Missouri’s state minimum wage.
The legislation was sponsored by Rep.
Dan Shaul, a Republican from Imperial,
and Rep. Jason Chipman, a Republican
from St. James.
BRINGING RIGHT-TO-WORK TO MISSOURI
The General Assembly made quick
progress on right-to-work, and Senate Bill
19 was signed into law in early February.
Sen. Dan Brown, a Republican from Rolla,
sponsored the bill. While the bill passed
easily this year, it was an accomplishment
decades in the making. The Missouri
Chamber has been advocating for rightto-work
since 1952.
FUNDING MISSOURI SCHOOLS
Lawmakers achieved a major success
when they wrote a state budget that
prioritizes education in a way we’ve never
seen. Budget writers chose to fully fund
the state’s K-12 foundation formula. This
decision aligns directly with an action
item included in the Missouri 2030 plan.
Fully funding the foundation formula
also triggers additional state investment
in early childhood education.
“The recent change to the way
workers’ compensation law is
interpreted under the Templemire
decision caused a significant
challenge for businesses
all over Missouri. We’re grateful
to the legislature for addressing
workers’ compensation reform
this session and establishing
a more equitable environment
for all parties. Treating each of
our co-workers in a way that is
respectful and fair is essential
to our company, and the return
to the unbiased standard that
Missouri has used for nearly 40
years will provide both protection
for Missouri workers and
predictability for employers.
– Denise Silvey, Manager of
Human Resources
Paul Mueller Co.
Vice Chairman for Public Affairs,
Springfield Area Chamber of
Commerce Board of Directors
”CASEY BUCKMAN
28 MISSOURI BUSINESS

IMPROVING WORKFORCE TRAINING
In addition, the legislature passed
House Bill 93 to improve access to
the popular Missouri Works Training
program. The law also establishes four
adult high schools in the state. Roughly
500,000 adult Missourians don’t have
high school diplomas, making it difficult
for them to get jobs and leading to a high
rate of reliance on public assistance.
Establishing adult high schools will give
these Missourians a second chance at
attaining a high school diploma. House
Bill 93 was sponsored by Rep. Jeanie
Lauer, a Republican from Blue Springs.
PROVIDING STABILITY AND CERTAINTY TO
UTILITIES AND COMMUNITIES
Through House Bill 451, lawmakers
clarified a section of the law so that once
a statute is put in effect for a city, county
or political subdivision, that law remains
in effect even if the population of the
area rises or falls. A legal challenge could
have jeopardized hundreds of Missouri
statutes, making this clarification
necessary. The law provides stability
for businesses, schools, fire districts and
local governments that depend upon
population-based statutes to guide
operations.
ENSURING EASE OF TRAVEL
The legislature passed a law to put the
state in compliance with federal REAL
ID standards. The bill will help ensure
Missourians will continue to be able to
use a driver’s license to board planes. This
bill was sponsored by Rep. Kevin Corlew,
a Republican from Kansas City.
CASEY BUCKMAN
“As Gallup identified through Missouri 2030 research, Missouri companies need certainty on
what laws apply when making decisions on investment, jobs and growth. House Bill 451 creates
stability in Missouri by clarifying that cities, counties and political subdivisions cannot ‘fall out’
of a population-based law once it applies to them. This was needed legislation, not just for
businesses but for schools, fire districts and local governments who rely on population-based
statutes for revenue and authority.
– Cheryl Norton, President
Missouri American Water
MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
29

Accomplishments:
PROGRAMS
We realize that not all of the changes
Missouri needs can be accomplished
through policy. Missouri 2030: An Agenda to
Lead also funds programs that support
portions of the plan, and significant
advances have been made through
several of these programs.
CARNEGIE STEM EXCELLENCE
PATHWAY PROGRAM
The Missouri Chamber Foundation is
the statewide provider of the Carnegie
STEM Excellence Pathway program.
In this role, we are leading the effort
to provide Missouri school districts
with training, resources and ongoing
support to create and implement longterm
strategic plans to improve STEM
education. This year, the Missouri
Chamber Foundation concluded a series
of 12 regional workshops and one-on-one
interactions with school administrators
across the state with strong impact that
includes:
• Helping implement sustainable
STEM education improvement
models in more than 150 Missouri
public, private and charter school
districts serving 441,000 students;
• Providing more than 1,800 K-12
education professionals with quality
STEM professional development
workshops;
• Building stronger relationships across
Missouri’s STEM network, allowing
greater sharing of best practices.
“Being a Scholar means that
”
you worked really hard in
school and you did everything
you could to prepare yourself
for the future.
– Rylie Veik
30 MISSOURI BUSINESS
Show-Me Scholar and
Rolla High School Student

DREAM IT. DO IT.
The Missouri Chamber showcases
manufacturing careers by facilitating
Dream It. Do It. programs in the state.
Dream It. Do It. is a national, grassroots
effort aimed at improving the way
people perceive manufacturing jobs
and recruiting the next-generation
of manufacturing workforce. As the
statewide facilitator of Dream It. Do
It., the Missouri Chamber promotes
and facilitates activities that increase
awareness of the abundant opportunities
in manufacturing and technology fields.
The Missouri Chamber’s work with
Dream It. Do It. includes several programs
and services:
• Manufacturing Day - Every year we
celebrate manufacturing in Missouri
and across the country.
• Regional hubs - Through these hubs
we empower communities with
resources to address local workforce
needs.
• Show-Me Manufacturing Video
Competition - Students are challenged
to create videos answering the question
“What’s so cool about manufacturing?”
This year we reached 30,722 people
with our campaign. Seventy-five
percent were between the ages of 13
and 17. This is a 50 percent increase
over last year.
SHOW-ME SCHOLARS
The Missouri Chamber’s Show-Me
Scholars initiative is a program built
around a course of study that encourages
students to take more demanding classes
in high school. Business mentors from
the local community provide guidance to
students to encourage them to strive to do
more in high school by taking the Show-
Me Scholars curriculum. The curriculum
provides an education that better prepares
students to enter a technical school, a
community college, a university or the
workforce.
The Missouri Chamber Foundation
awarded hundreds of students – a record
number – with Show-Me Scholars honors
during local graduation ceremonies
around the state. Thanks to support by
AT&T, we added five $1,000 scholarships
to be awarded to students participating in
the Show-Me Scholars program.
ENTREPRENEUR SUPPORT
THROUGH SBTDC
Our partnership with the Small
Business & Technology Development
Centers (SBTDC) also continues to grow
as we add more businesses and training
sessions to our workload. Last year, the
Missouri Chamber Foundation provided
consultation to more than 150 startup
and expanding companies, conducted
more than 50 classes, and held more than
50 one-on-one consultations with small
businesses.
IS CLOSER
THAN IT SEEMS.
Let’s work together to make Missouri a global economic leader.
LEARN MORE ATTEND AN EVENT MAKE A PLEDGE
Contact Karen Buschmann:
573.643.3511, kbuschmann@mochamber.com
www.mo2030.com
MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
31

Transforming
vehicles and the
future of mobility.
Magna works with leading automakers to
push the boundaries of technology, backing
innovative thinking with world-class
manufacturing and engineering processes.
Magna innovations travel millions of miles
each day.
Where will they take you next?
What has a chamber
done for you lately?
Stood up for you in city hall.
Welcomed new residents to your area
– and recommended your business.
Worked to bring a new
factory to your city.
Made your downtown look beautiful.
Organized a networking event – and invited you.
Every day, chambers are making a difference.
Connect with your chamber at ccemo.org/directory
32 MISSOURI BUSINESS

HR UPDATE
People with disabilities make up a
valuable, untapped workforce
By Kat Cunningham
After years of sustained economic
growth, unemployment is now
reaching near rock-bottom levels. In
Missouri, unemployment is approximately
4 percent. This is something we should
celebrate. We want to have abundant jobs
and opportunities for workers.
However, we also need to recognize that
today’s economic opportunities are not
equally shared among all workers. One
area of concern is that the unemployment
rate for people with disabilities is more
than double the rate of unemployment
among nondisabled workers.
A report this summer from the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics showed
that while the unemployment rate for
nondisabled workers continued to fall
in 2016, the rate for disabled people held
steady at 10.5 percent. Disabled workers
simply are not finding the same access to
jobs as everyone else.
Having too few occupational options
for disabled people is a problem in our
society. But as with many problems, we
can find opportunities as we work toward
addressing them.
Last month — National Disability
Employment Awareness Month — I
helped launch a new effort in my region to
address this problem. We formed the Mid-
Missouri Business Leadership Network in
an area covering eight counties, including
Boone County, where my business resides.
This new network will bring tools and
programs into our region from the United
States Business Leadership Network, a
national organization that focuses on
disability inclusion in the workplace,
supply chain and marketplace. This
national organization currently has more
than 130 corporate partners spanning
the technology, health care, financial,
transportation, entertainment and retail
industries.
Our new mid-Missouri network is
one of nearly 50 similar groups now
established in regions across the country.
I am excited to start promoting new
tools such as the Disability Equality
Index, a confidential benchmarking tool
that helps businesses understand their
strengths and shortcomings in regard
to how inclusive they are of people
with disabilities. We will also promote
a certification program for businesses
owned by people with disabilities.
Today, it’s easy to see the opportunity
in this endeavor. With such low
unemployment, businesses are having to
search hard for viable candidates for open
positions. Disabled people could provide
a valuable, untapped workforce for many
of these positions.
However, the real goal here is to help
communities and businesses do a better
job of making opportunities accessible
to people with disabilities so that the
gap between unemployment levels can
begin to disappear — no matter what is
happening in the economy.
If your business is in mid-Missouri
and you want to get involved in our new
business leadership network, please
let me know. I would also be happy to
share my knowledge on this topic with
anyone in another part of the state who
would like to set up a similar group in
their community.
Let’s work together and make Missouri
a leader in this area.
Kat Cunningham
is president of
Moresource Inc.
Contact
Moresource at
573-443-1234.
MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
33

Missouri Chamber
federati n
MISSOURI CHAMBER FOUNDATION
A NEW APPROACH TO MEDICAL
PLANS FOR SMALL EMPLOYERS
As today’s small businesses continue to search for cost-saving health
health coverage options, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry
and the Missouri Chamber Federation have taken action to help.
We have teamed up with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri
to create a new health program that can lead to more rate stability and
is a smart solution that offers potential savings for groups with 50 or
fewer eligible employees.
This new self-funded medical offering is a multiple employer welfare
arrangement, often called a MEWA, enabling smaller employers to
join together to share in the overall claims risk.
THIS INNOVATIVE ALTERNATIVE OFFERS:
• Competitive medically underwritten rates
• Fixed, predictable monthly payment
• A variety of plan designs, including 10 PPO
and three HSA options
• Anthem’s Blue Access, Blue Access Choice, Blue
Preferred networks and Traditional Open formulary
• Coverage for claims run-out / terminal
liability coverage
Visit mochamber.com/MEWA to learn more and receive a quick cost estimate.
You can also contact any of the participating broker agencies below.
SINCE 1885
cornerstoneinsurancegroup.com craneagency.com croleyinsurance.com myedbenefits.com
877-908-8989 800-264-8722 888-830-3520 417-889-6345
TIGadvisors.com/SmallEmployers jwterrill.com ollisakersarney.com
800-752-3376 800-279-7728 800-637-7309
sonusbenefits.com stitzinsurance.com wallstreetins.com winter-dent.com
888-468-6893 314-821-1946 573-636-3222 573-634-2122
The descriptions of products and services are intended as general information for members of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Missouri Chamber Federation, and
members of the member Chambers that comprise the Missouri Chamber Federation. The information contained herein is not intended, targeted, or marketed for use by the general public.
34 MISSOURI BUSINESS

LEGAL ISSUES
Missouri Supreme Court case highlights
the need for venue and joinder reform
By Justin Arnold
On Sept. 12 the Missouri Supreme
Court, in a decision written by
Judge Brent Powell, ruled against
Abbott Laboratories and upheld nearly $40
million in damages to a Minnesota plaintiff
in a case tried in the City of St. Louis.
Very brief background: The case,
involving Minnesota plaintiff Maddison
Schmidt, alleged product liability injuries
from the drug Depakote, manufactured
and marketed by Abbott Laboratories.
All of the plaintiff’s claims occurred in
Minnesota. Schmidt filed the case in
St. Louis along with (among other outof-state
plaintiffs) four St. Louis City
plaintiffs who claimed similar injuries
from Depakote. One important note:
Personal jurisdiction was waived by
Abbott Laboratories, and therefore the
recent Bristol-Myers Squibb decision by
the U.S. Supreme Court was not discussed
and was not applicable.
The Missouri Supreme Court upheld a
verdict of $15 million in compensatory
damages and $23 million in punitive
damages (the punitive damages and
failure-to-warn claims were decided
under Minnesota law).
The decision: While the case has some
nuances, the big takeaway is that it turns
on the current state of venue/joinder in the
State of Missouri. The Minnesota plaintiff
was joined with St. Louis residents in order
to satisfy the current venue requirements
set forth in section 508.010 of the Missouri
Revised Statutes. Had the case with the
Minnesota plaintiff been filed by itself in
St. Louis City, venue would not have been
proper, as Abbott Labs has its registered
agent in St. Louis County. Under the
current venue/joinder regime in the state
of Missouri, an out-of-state plaintiff need
not independently show venue is proper
as for each individual plaintiff. The
plaintiffs established venue by joining
the Minnesota plaintiff with plaintiffs
alleging injuries that occurred in St. Louis
City. Under Supreme Court Rule 84.13(b),
failing to transfer venue or sever claims
requires a showing of prejudice that
materially affects the outcome of the
action. While the case was separated
for trial and tried separately from the St.
Louis City claims, the Supreme Court
found that leaving the case in St. Louis
City did not rise to that level of prejudice
required under 84.13.
Here is why it matters: First, the finding
is troubling and highlights the almostinsurmountable
burden a business faces
in trying to overcome the requirement
to show it was prejudiced by the failure
to transfer or sever the claims. Second, if
the current venue and joinder statutes are
not fixed in the 2018 legislative session,
awards such as the one in this case could
continue. While the recent personal
jurisdiction jurisprudence will further
limit cases brought and adjudicated in St.
Louis City, the venue and joinder statutes
still leave a wide-open hole for trial
attorneys to funnel out-of-state cases into
the City of St. Louis. One solution is to
amend sections 507.040 and 507.050 of the
Missouri Revised Statutes to require that
each individual plaintiff joined in a single
action show that personal jurisdiction is
proper for each defendant and that proper
venue is established for each defendant
independent of claims against any other
defendant. In addition, the venue statute
in 508.010 must be amended to include
language that the venue for each plaintiff
and each defendant cannot be established
simply by joinder or intervention. Similar
legislation was proposed in the 2017
legislation session, and misjoinder/venue
legislation is expected to be filed in the
2018 session. Venue and joinder reform
would fix this problem and should be a
top priority.
Justin Arnold
is the General
Counsel for
Missouri
Chamber of
Commerce and
Industry
MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
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36 MISSOURI BUSINESS

FOCUS ON GROWTH
New study: Missouri thrives
in nurturing startups
By Rebecca Lobina
Missouri has the second-best
survival rate for startups
in the entire country! This
announcement was just made based on
a study conducted in August 2017 by GO
Banking Rates. When you consider that
according to Forbes, 90 percent of all
startups fail and that Missouri startups tend
to succeed, that begs the question: Why
are Missouri startups surviving at much
greater rates than the rest of the country?
There are multiple reasons for this.
Missouri has the seventh-lowest cost
of living in the country. That’s extremely
helpful when you’re looking at overall
expenses for operating a business,
purchasing real estate, etc. When overhead
is lower, cash flow is better.
Missouri is also ahead of the curve when
it comes to entrepreneurial support. The
state offers an innovation fund to support
entrepreneurship efforts. In addition,
according to PitchBook data, Missouri
has more business incubators in its metro
areas than all other Midwest states except
Illinois. Incubators increase the success
rate of businesses because they generally
offer reduced rent; shared employees;
shared space and/or equipment; access to
research through universities; and easy
access to support such as mentors, advisers
and established business networks.
The Small Business Development
Centers (SBDCs) are an essential piece
of the puzzle when it comes to startups
surviving. While there are SBDCs
throughout the entire U.S. and its
territories, the Missouri SBDC has a special
designation as an SBTDC, where the T
stands for technology. This is a unique
certification that only a handful of SBDCs
have achieved. It means that our SBTDC
offers not only essential assistance with
business plans, financial analysis, finding
financing, market research and more but
also specific technology development and
commercialization assistance by helping
with intellectual property, proposal
preparation, applications for research
grant funds, introductions to investors and
evaluation of the commercial feasibility
of a new technology. The more services
entrepreneurs can receive, the better
prepared they are to succeed.
On March 24, 2017, U.S. senators Jim
Risch and Jeanne Shaheen stated before the
Senate: “SBDCs are successful because they
provide the services of a large consulting
firm on a locally scaled level in areas that
may go unnoticed by other programs.
They provide tailored, individualized
attention to over 450,000 entrepreneurs a
year, which resulted in $6.9 billion in new
sales in 2015 … aided in the creation of
over 100,000 jobs, and the small businesses
they serve averaged a growth rate…
nearly eight times the national average.”
Missouri’s SBTDC consistently meets its
national goals set by the United States
Small Business Administration. With that
kind of support, it’s no wonder Missouri
startups are succeeding.
Ultimately, Missouri has figured out the
trifecta for startup success:
1. Offer multiple support resources,
2. Offer funding opportunities for
high-tech, high-growth potential
startups, and
3. Keep your cost of living low.
Those efforts combined have created
a formula of success and survival for
Missouri startups.
Rebecca Lobina
at lobina@
nwmissouri.edu
or 816-364-4105
MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
37

BUSINESS
CONNECTIONS
Manufacturing Day
Statewide
On October 6, Manufacturing Day, factories threw open their
doors for thousands of middle and high school students across
the state to demonstrate that modern manufacturing is anything
but dark, dirty and dangerous.
Businesses in plastics, metalwork, automotive parts and
even fried chicken hosted events at their facilities to debunk
old manufacturing stereotypes and showcase a variety of highskill,
high-paying jobs as future career paths for youth. Students
got up close and personal with cutting-edge technology and
manufacturing operations, many of them for the first time.
“Before, I thought of factories as being a place where
it’s really smoky and people are really sad and it’s not like
anything that you’d want to be in,” said David Pirozhnik, a
student at Missouri Military Academy. “But now that I come
here, everyone’s happy, they’re working together. It’s like a
huge team and like a family.”
Discover
Amalfi
38 MISSOURI BUSINESS

Time Traveler revealed
Silver Dollar City, Branson
SILVER DOLLAR CITY
The new rollercoaster at Silver Dollar City will take
riders for a spin of historical proportions.
When the park’s Time Traveler coaster opens this
coming spring, it will be the world’s fastest, steepest
and tallest complete-circuit spinning rollercoaster.
The ride is a $26 million investment for the park, it’s
biggest ever project.
The ride was revealed during a ceremony on August
16 that was live streamed on Facebook to viewers around
the world. During the presentation, Brad Thomas,
president of Silver Dollar City Attractions, said that
Time Traveler is a forward-looking project to position
the park—and the community—for the future.
“We love our past. We Love Branson’s past,”
Thomas said. “But we are so incredibly excited about
the future of this community and we are incredibly
excited about the future of Ozark Mountain country.
We believe there are more reasons for people to visit
Branson today than ever in the past.”
March 17-25, 2018
$
3,099
From Galli’s Isles in front of Positano to the Emerald
Grotto near Conca dei Marini, Italy’s Amalfi Coast will
captivate you with its warmth and beauty. Join the
Missouri Chamber on this journey of a lifetime!
Full details: mochamber.com/amalfi-coast-rome Contact Tammy Long: tlong@mochamber.com MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
or 573.634.3511
39

BUSINESS
CONNECTIONS
Wonders of Wildlife National Museum opening
Springfield
After nine years in the making, Johnny Morris’ Wonders
of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium in Springfield
has finally opened its doors to the public. The largest
immersive wildlife experience in the world celebrated its
grand opening on September 21 with a gala and ribboncutting
ceremony graced by several famous guests
including former Presidents Jimmy Carter and George W.
Bush. The museum, adjacent to the Bass Pro Shops National
Headquarters, features a 1.5 million-gallon aquarium
adventure, an impressive collection of record-setting game
animals, and 35,000 live fish, mammals, reptiles and birds.
BASS PRO SHOPS
Advertise your
event here!
40 MISSOURI BUSINESS

Leadership Visions
Jefferson City
JANET PRENGER
Chamber leaders from across
Missouri gathered at Central Bank
in Jefferson City on August 28 for
a day of professional development
and legislative goal setting.
During the event, attendees
heard from Ted Abernathy, a North
Carolina-based economist, who has
worked closely with the Missouri
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
on the Missouri 2030 strategic
plan. Mick Fleming, president of
the Association of Chamber of
Commerce Executives, also spoke to
the group.
In addition, local chamber
leaders set their Missouri Chamber
Federation policy agenda for the
upcoming 2018 Missouri Legislative
Session.
Showcase your event in our spring issue with an
eye-catching ribbon advertisement. Limited space available.
Contact Andy Atzenweiler for details:
andy@mochamber.com, 816-210-7713
MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
41

THE MAGAZINE OF THE MISSOURI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
JANUARY 2017
Celebrate!
Inside the party at
Silver Dollar City
Missouri’s 8 Fastest
Growing Companies
90 Years of
Missouri Business
Be a part of it
Missouri Business magazine has the perfect audience
for business-to-business sales. More than 60,000
company leaders pick up each issue. Nearly 90 percent
of these readers say they are purchasing decision
makers at their businesses.
Contact Andy to learn more about advertising:
andy@mochamber.com or 816.210.7713
Champion Members
PINNACLE
Ameren
Anheuser Busch
Companies, LLC
AT&T
BJC HealthCare
Drury Inns, Inc.
Edward Jones
Mallinckrodt
Pharmaceuticals
Pinnacle
Entertainment, Inc.
Spire Missouri, Inc.
CORNERSTONE
Advantage Capital
Partners
Altria Client
Services, LLC
American Railcar
Industries
Anthem Blue Cross
and Blue Shield
Bank of America
Merrill Lynch
Black & Veatch
BNSF Railway Company
Boehringer Ingelheim
Vetmedica
The Boeing Company
Bryan Cave
Burns & McDonnell
Centene Corporation
CenturyLink
Cerner Corporation
The Children’s
Mercy Hospital
The Doe Run Company
Eldorado Resorts, Inc.
Emerson
Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
Equifax Workforce
Solutions
Express Scripts
Ford Motor Company
General Mills
General Motors
Company
H&R Block
Hallmark Cards, Inc.
HNTB Corporation
Holcim
HTH Companies, Inc.
Hunt Midwest
Enterprises
Husch Blackwell LLP
J.E. Dunn Construction
Group, Inc.
John Deere
Johnson Controls, Inc -
Power Solutions
Kansas City Southern
Kawasaki Motors
Manufacturing
Corporation USA
KCP&L
Lathrop & Gage LLP
Leggett & Platt, Inc.
Lockton, Inc.
MasterCard Worldwide
Mercy
Missouri American
Water
MissouriCare
Monsanto Company
Nestle Purina
PetCare Company
Orscheln Industries
Owner-Operator
Independent Drivers
Association
Peabody Energy
Pfizer, Inc.
Polsinelli PC
Reinsurance Group of
America, Inc.
Republic Services
Rockwood Group
Saint Luke’s
Health System
Silgan Dispensing
Systems
Silver Dollar City
Attractions
Smithfield Foods
State Farm Insurance
Companies
Tyson Foods, Inc.
Union Pacific Railroad
Company
University of Central
Missouri
Walmart Stores, Inc.
World Wide
Technology, Inc.
INVESTORS
Alstom
Altec Industries, Inc.
American Multispecialty
Group, Inc.
Archer Daniels
Midland Company
Ascension Senior Living
Atkins, Inc.
Automobile Club of
Missouri
Aviation Technical
Services
Bass Pro Shops
Bayer
Caesars
Entertainment, Inc.
Cargill
Catalent Pharma
Solutions, Inc.
Charter
Communications, Inc.
Church & Dwight
Co., Inc.
Clean Line Energy
Partners LLC
Comcast
Commerce Bank
ConAgra Frozen
Food Company
The Cornerstone
Insurance Group
CoxHealth
EFCO, a Pella Company
Empire District –
A Liberty Utilities
Company
Enel Green Power
North America, Inc.
Faultless Laundry
Company
Fred Weber, Inc.
Full Employment
Council, Inc.
General Electric
Company
Government Employees
Health Association
Guesa USA LLC
Hollywood Casino
St. Louis
Hussmann Corporation
K.R.M. Inc. - 54th Street
Grill & Bar
Kansas City Life
Insurance Company
Koch Companies
Public Sector LLC
Littler Mendelson, PC
Maritz
Medical Transportation
Management
Nike Air Manufacturing
Innovation
OCCI-Osage
Constructors, Inc.
PAR Electrical
Contractors, Inc.
Procter & Gamble Paper
Products Company
Safety National
Casualty Corporation
Saint Louis University
Scholastic, Inc.
Shelter Mutual
Insurance Company
Shook, Hardy &
Bacon LLP
Southwest Airlines
Sporlan Valve, Division
of Parker Hannifin
SRC Holdings
Corporation
Sunnen Products
Company
Thompson Coburn LLP
Triumph Foods LLC
True Manufacturing, Inc.
Unilever United
States, Inc.
University of Missouri
UPS
Veterans United
Home Loans
Vi-Jon, Inc.
Walsworth Publishing
Company, Inc.
Watlow Electric
Western Missouri
Medical Center
WestRock
Worlds of Fun
Champion Members include many of Missouri’s strongest, most influential businesses. Membership in this elite group has its privileges — invitations to exclusive events, special recognition in
all Chamber publications, and the opportunity to serve on key committees and councils. Members help shape public policy that impacts business. For more information, contact Linda Gipson at
42 MISSOURI BUSINESS
lgipson@mochamber.com or 573.634.3511.

MILESTONES
Cape Girardeau Area
Chamber of Commerce marks
70 years of membership
The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce is the lead
advocate for business in its region and serves as a catalyst
for a vibrant southeast Missouri economy.
The chamber formed in 1888. Some of the chamber’s earliest
successes included convincing the Frisco Railroad to open a line
to the city and bringing International Shoe Company jobs to the
growing community.
In 2005, the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce
was named the Missouri Chamber of the Year by the Missouri
Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Even as it nears its 130th
anniversary, this chamber continues to play a vital role in its
community by helping spur economic development, drive
business networking and organize popular community events
in its region.
NEW MEMBERS
Affinity Gaming
Alstom
American Response Vehicles
Ascension Senior Living
Atkins, Inc.
Black Rain Ordnance
Branco Enterprises, Inc.
Cameron Area Chamber
of Commerce
Cook Vetter Doerhoff &
Landwehr, P.C.
Crown Packaging
Elite Survival Systems
Equipment Share
Fishtech Group, LLC
Hydra Sponge Company
Intercon Chemical Co.
Interval Settlement Solutions
KC Artistic Concrete
Lawson Chamber of Commerce
Lowe Boats
Old Missouri Bank
Ozark Chamber of Commerce
Pro Circuit, Inc.
Seligman Greater Area
Chamber of Commerce
Silgan Dispensing Systems
Sonus Benefits
Southern Boone Chamber of
Commerce
SSM Health
Stitz & Associates, Inc.
The Cornerstone
Insurance Group
Trilogy Analytical
Laboratory/R-biopharm, Inc.
West St. Louis County
Chamber of Commerce
70
YEARS
55
YEARS
45
YEARS
35
YEARS
25
YEARS
15
YEARS
5
YEARS
Butler Area Chamber of Commerce
Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce
Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce
Bayer
Emerson
Northwest Chamber of Commerce
Johnson Controls, Inc. – Power Solutions
Ellington Chamber of Commerce
H.W. Herrell Distributing Company
Eldon Chamber of Commerce
Transchemical, Inc.
Durvet, Inc.
Wiese Planning & Engineering
Six Flags, St. Louis
Delta Dental of Missouri
Webb City Area Chamber of Commerce
Champion Brands, LLC
Danuser Machine Company, Inc.
Johnson Controls
Meridian One Corporation/1-800-Members
Prestige Powers
60
YEARS
50
YEARS
40
YEARS
30
YEARS
EnerSys, Inc.
Footwear Unlimited, Inc.
Missouri State High School Activities Association
Obermoeller, Inc.
20
YEARS
Bass Pro Shops
MADA-Missouri Automobile Dealers Association
Missouri Cable Telecommunications Association
Precision Machined Parts, Inc.
White River Valley Electric
CFS Engineers
International Food Products Corporation
JRI Industries
Lamar Advertising, Inc.
Richardson Communications Group
Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce
Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce
Tank Components Industries
Wagner Logistics
10
YEARS
MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
43

ONLY 1 PERCENT OF MISSOURIANS
ARE IN JEFFERSON CITY.
WE ARE THE
1 PERCENT.
LET US FILL YOU IN.
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44 MISSOURI BUSINESS

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45

90 YEARS OF MISSOURI BUSINESS
1927-2017
When we built the
Lake of the Ozarks
By Shawna Scott
It is the year 1931, and the Union Electric
Co. has just completed the construction
of the massive Bagnell Dam on the Osage
River.
“It stands as a monument to the courage
and vision of men, an awe-inspiring
engineering triumph, impressive and
majestic through its 2543 feet of length,”
the June 1931 issue of our magazine
marveled.
Union Electric, now known as Ameren
Missouri, began building the dam in
August 1929 and finished in only two
years. It is a concrete gravity dam, which
means its weight is enough to overcome
the lateral force of the water pressing
against it. The cost was about $30 million
— more than $430 million in today’s
money.
“Ordinarily the Osage is a sleepy and
friendly stream but capable of raging
destructive fury when in flood,” the author
wrote. The ambitious undertaking to
harness that energy was “the first large step
in Missouri water power development.”
Beforehand, the river was studied for
more than two years to determine its
maximum and minimum flows as well as
the geologic formation. Researchers found
“a free basin with little or no seepage,” a
nearly perfect location.
An average of 3,000 people at a time
were employed to work on the dam. To
accommodate them, a “model town of five
to six thousand population was established
at the dam to provide facilities,” the article
stated. Railways, houses, dorms, dining
halls, stores, a school, a jail and a hospital
were among the facilities built to support
the massive construction efforts.
The article noted the fun fact that “a
world’s record for concrete pouring was
made at Osage when 5,082 cubic yards of
concrete was poured in a single 24-hour
day.” It’s no wonder the dam was so swiftly
completed.
Another interesting tidbit from the
original story is its mention of the use of
aerial photography. What is considered
a normal, inexpensive process now was
a remarkable and innovative technology
in the ’30s. To locate the most direct line
through the Ozarks’ mountains and forests,
“the airplane rendered a new and helpful
service,” the author wrote. “Photographic
surveys for the transmission lines were
made by aerial cameras from five thousand
feet in the air.”
The dam was named after Bagnell,
Missouri, a town that preceded it. The town
itself was named after William Bagnell, a
railroad man who platted it back in 1883.
“In the average year the initial Osage
plant will deliver over (400 million)
kilowatt hours of electric energy to St.
Louis, Rivermines, and points on the
Union Electric inter-connected system,”
which was the equivalent of 270,000
“Out in the blue hills of the
beautiful Ozark country, rich in
romance, steeped in legends
and brave deeds of its hardy
pioneers — one of America’s
most delightful corners, with
its swift rivers and vast caverns
— the Union Electric Light
and Power Company has just
completed the building of the
colossal Osage Hydro-Electric
Development.”
- Missouri Business magazine,
June 1931
MISSOURI BUSINESS MAGAZINE
46 MISSOURI BUSINESS

tons of coal, according to the article. The
impressive final structure had a capacity
“ten times that of the total water power in
the state in 1929.”
Since then, upgrades to the dam have
boosted output to 500 million kilowatthours
per year, or enough to power
42,000 average households. And with the
launch of an 18-month, $52 million dam
maintenance project this spring, Ameren
plans to ensure that the dam remains in top
condition for decades to come. The project
is the largest and most visible work done
on the site in over 30 years and includes
new post-tension anchors to further secure
the dam to the bedrock, added concrete
between the highway piers to add weight
and some fresh concrete overlay to replace
weathered concrete.
Though the dam was constructed
primarily for energy production, it also
greatly aided in “flood control on the lower
Osage, where high water has in the past
been a serious menace.” The creation of
the 92-mile Lake of the Ozarks was another
rich opportunity. The lake boasts 1,100
miles of shoreline, which is longer than
the coastline of the state of California, and
at the time it was the largest manmade
lake in the U.S.
The lake “is a distinct addition to the
playgrounds of Missouri and of the United
States. It will afford the pleasures of scenic
grandeur and aquatic sports for which
Missourians now travel hundreds of miles
to enjoy,” the 1931 article predicted.
And it was right — today the lake area
is bustling with businesses and tourists.
Every year between Memorial Day and
Labor Day, it attracts approximately 3.5
million visitors.
“Power attracts industry,” the article
concluded. “A lazy river has been put to
work for the benefit of mankind.”
MISSOURI BUSINESS MAGAZINE
MOBIZMAGAZINE.COM
47

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