CHAMBER FLASH. A review of Thursday, July 19th. Start Up Business of the Year: Pita Pit. Business of the Year. (<15 Employees): Awesome Blossoms

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1 CHAMBER FLASH Creating opportunities that drive commerce and promote business. July 27, 2018 A review of Thursday, July 19th Start Up Business of the Year: Pita Pit Business of the Year (<15 Employees): Awesome Blossoms Business of the Year (>15 Employees): Quarry City Savings & Loan Chamber Member of the Year: Greg Hall First Annual Glazebrook Community Partner of the Year: Scott Holmberg Friends of Kenneth and Marian Glazebrook spoke about the two before the award was given. A mural was displayed at the Annual Awards in honor of the Glazebrooks who gave donation to many Warrensburg organizations.

2 Chamber honors members, community partners Sue Sterling, Staff writer The Daily-Star Journal Jul 23, 2018 WARRENSBURG The Chamber of Commerce honored members and community partners during the annual awards program and social held Thursday night in the James C. Kirkpatrick Library atrium on the University of Central Missouri campus. A sold-out crowd applauded award winners, including a standing ovation for Scott Holmberg, executive director of the Johnson County Board of Services, who received the First Annual Glazebrook Community Partner of the Year award for his work in envisioning, initiating and raising funds for the inclusive playground to be built at Cave Hollow Park. The award is named for longtime Warrensburg residents and community supporters Kenneth and Marian Glazebrook, whose legacy included donations to many organizations, including the Chamber, Western Missouri Medical Center Foundation and the Warrensburg Parks and Recreation Department. In presenting the award, outgoing Chairwoman Emeritus Sharri Carter said the award is based on leadership, involvement, influence and how an individual impacts the community. Holmberg s passion was the driving force for the successful fund drive, she said. It was amazing to see the community get excited about a project that was sparked and led by his passion and a large initial donation. He is a treasure for our community, she said. The Business of the Year Award for a business with fewer than 15 employees went to Awesome Blossoms, owned by Gina Carlyle and Jennifer DeBacker. In making the presentation, Carter said the owners renovated a historic downtown building, created new jobs and recently expanded the flower shop to an adjacent building. The owners and employees are very engaged in events throughout the community and were instrumental in the downtown revitalization efforts, she said. Quarry City received the Business of the Year Award for a business with more than 15 employees. In business for 128 years, Quarry City has grown from a few family employees to their current 16 employees, Carter said, moving from a small space downtown to the new location that provides all of today s banking conveniences. The business has received numerous awards and certificates from area groups they supported, Carter said, and recently was recognized as a lender for the guaranteed loan program by the Missouri USDA Rural Development and a Homes for Heroes lender affiliate. The Start-Up Business of the Year Award went to Pita Pit, owned by Dustin and Angie Fritsch and Justin and Danielle Johnston, who revived a business that had been closed for a time, making some renovations, hiring new staff and providing a service that has rave reviews and a large fan base throughout the community, Carter said. The business also has been very involved in the community, she said, with fundraisers and promotions for local charities and catering large-scale events for the Chamber, Whiteman Air Force Base and the University of Missouri. Greg Hall received the Chamber Member of the Year Award for Carter said Hall attended a vast amount of Chamber events, co-chaired the Membership Committee and volunteered at ribbon cuttings and other Chamber activities. Hall is very approachable and down-to-earth, she said, and is involved with many other community organizations, and far exceeds expectations in leadership, volunteer work, mentoring and seeking ways to improve our community. Carter presented certificates of appreciation to Jeremy Van Wey and Jamie Brisbin for their participation in Chamber events during the past year. Outgoing Chamber members were recognized and new Chamber Chairman Jeremy VanWey and board members Amber Biesemeyer, Dustin Fritsch, Toni Houx, Andy Kohl and Darinda Reberry were installed. Shaffer and Check provided pre-dinner and interlude music for the event. Taylor said the social was a great event recognizing successful and growing businesses, dedicated community leaders and a family, Mr. and Mrs. Glazebrook. It was an honor serving with the outgoing board members who have helped lead the Chamber the past year, and I look forward to another great year with the new board members. The night s entertainment, provided by the Warrensburg Community Theatre group, revolved around a murder mystery plot with audience participation. Guests were asked to work with tablemates as a team and follow clues provided in the script to identify who killed actress Amanda Devoe, chosen to star in Director Eddie Lemons new movie, The Librarian, and also killed Lemons. One table correctly identified the killer as Billie Burton, a casting agent who claimed that Devoe destroyed her business and that Lemons stole her script and then refused to pay her blackmail.

3 Jamie Brisbin and Jeremy VanWey were awarded certificates for most attended at Chamber events. Sharri Carter was thanked for her time as Chamber Chair and is now in the role of Chair Emeritus. Goodbye and Thank You to these Board Members. Jeff Florida Scott Patrick Not pictured: Jeff Franklin WELCOME to the new Board Members! Steve Fox Jeremy VanWey was sworn in as the new Chamber Chair. New board members: Amber Biesemeyer, Toni Houx, Darinda Reberry, Andy Kohl and Dustin Fritsch were sworn in by new Chamber Chair, Jeremy VanWey. Thank You To Our Event Sponsors

4 The Chamber would like to thank the Warrensburg Community Theatre for their great job with our Murder Mystery dinner. $5 of each ticket sold for the event was donated to the Warrensburg Community Theatre. For more information on this organization, visit or

5 Thank You To Our Featured Sponsors Steve farr Kathleen Brandt Thank You To Our Friends of the Chamber ANN & JIM HOUX Click on each logo for information about the state and national Chambers of Commerce: