Latest news with #TravisStephens
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Joplin Chamber celebrates individuals, community at 108th Annual Banquet
The disco theme was on bright display Thursday night as 495 Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce members and guests gathered at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center at Missouri Southern State University for the chamber's 108th annual banquet. 'We are here tonight to celebrate our members and our community and all the positive things happening, all the accomplishments, all the milestones achieved, just all around good work being done in the community,' said Joplin Chamber President and CEO Travis Stephens. 'The most important part of it is the fact that we are convening 500 business leaders and influencers all under one roof. That type of engagement and connection just leads to conversations and more ideas and people getting together and saying, 'Let's talk about some other ideas, let's go to lunch, let's meet at your office.'' Some in attendance reached deep into their closets to celebrate the disco era of the 1970s and 1980s, which was the theme for the event. Emma Ball, with Jordan CPA in Carthage, attended with her husband, Matthew Ball, and both pulled out the glitter and polyester. 'I loved it,' Matthew said. 'I'm all about getting the opportunity to dress up and experience something new because I love it.' 'It's really fun to pull things we already have and get out your party clothes,' Emma added. 'I just threw in a bunch of glitter, plus I have a 15-year-old daughter, so I asked her to help me put my hair up and all that. This was fun.' Some of the loudest applause of the night was reserved for the Outstanding Citizen of the Year who was described by presenter Craig Tankersly, with Southwest Missouri Bank, as 'a true community leader whose efforts transcend traditional civic engagement," and someone who embodies what it means to be a community champion. Curt Carr, of Joplin Greenhouse and The Coffee Shop, said he was surprised when his name was announced. 'I'm in shock but there's a lot of gratitude,' Carr said immediately after the banquet. 'I'm very grateful to the people who submitted this nomination for me. I'm very grateful for the committee that I'm in and grateful for the staff I work with every day. They make it pleasurable for me to come to work. There are so many leaders in this area and they need an avenue to be recognized. The chamber does that well I think." The original Joplin Greenhouse and The Coffee Shop is at 2820 E. 32nd St. The greenhouse opened in 2001, and the coffee shop opened in 2018. In December, a second location, Bloom, opened at 218 S. Main St. in Joplin. Joplin Greenhouse and The Coffee Shop has announced plans for a third location, this one in Diamond. It will be along Missouri Highway 59 at 17920 Aspen Road in Diamond, on the same property as Joplin Greenhouse's mum fields. Other awards • Danae Taylor, Freeman Health System, was recognized as the Young Professional of the Year. • Josh Howard, of Happy Trees Table Co., received the Joseph Newman Rising Star Award. • Richard Huskey was named Ambassador of the Year. • Travis Keller, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, received the Spirit Award. Business awards The Business of the Year awards recognize the importance of small businesses and nonprofit organizations and the impact they have on the local economy, job growth, and the creation of new products and services. • 50 employees or fewer: Binky Guy Textiles. • More than 51 employees: American Ramp Co. • Nonprofit category: Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Missouri.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce celebrates 108th annual banquet
JOPLIN, Mo. — Around 500 people are 'stayin' alive' at the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet. Thursday night (4/10) was the 108th edition. It took place inside the Leggett and Platt Athletic Center at Missouri Southern. The theme this year: Disco! Each year, it's the largest gathering of community and business leaders in the Joplin area. Awards were given to chamber members, and covered a number of different categories. This event celebrates not only its members, but their achievements over the past year. 'It's an opportunity for us to recognize those businesses that are going above and beyond and giving back to the community, adding character and quality of place to this community. We just want to recognize and celebrate that,' said Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Travis Stephens. The Business of the Year Awards program recognizes the importance of small businesses and nonprofit organizations and the impact they have on our local economy, job growth, and the creation of new products and services. One – 50 Employee(s) CategoryBinky Guy Textiles 51+ Employees CategoryAmerican Ramp Company Non-Profit CategoryBoys & Girls Club of Southwest Missouri Each year, one outstanding citizen is selected based on their commitment to the community. Curt Carr, Joplin Greenhouse & The Coffee Shop The Young Professional of the Year Award recognizes a Joplin Chamber member under 40 who displays a commitment to the Chamber's YPN Program and who is a leader in their organization and the community. Danae Taylor, Freeman Health System The Rising Star Award is awarded to a young and growing small business that is less than three years old and is introducing a new product, service, or model of doing business to the marketplace and is well on their way to achieving success in their industry. Josh Howard, Happy Trees Table Co. New this year, the Ambassador of the Year Award recognizes a member of the Chamber's Ambassador program who has gone above and beyond the call of duty. Richard Huskey, Southwest Missouri Bank The Spirit Award recognizes a Chamber member who exemplifies selfless dedication and enduring support to the mission of the Chamber. Recipients of this award go out of their way to encourage and inspire their peers to follow their example and demonstrate a personal commitment to the success of Chamber programming. Travis Keller, Lamar Outdoor Advertising KOAM-TV — 50 Years of Membership The Leads Group program acts as an entire sales team for member businesses. The groups track their shared and closed business. Awards are given to the top performers of each group as well as the overall, top-performing Leads Group. Leads Group One Top Performer: Gina Langston, Joplin SchoolsLeads Group Two Top Performer: Austin Rose, Bedrock Bookkeeping, Group Three Top Performer: Lisa Crouch, State Farm Insurance – Grant Deardorff AgencyLeads Group Four Top Performer: Theresa Burwick, Behavioral Health GroupTop Performing Leads Group: Leads Group One, Chaired by Shawn Patterson of Bug Zero Pest Services and co-chaired by Phillip Leesman of Farmers Insurance – Leesman Agency Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Joplin, Carthage chambers changing how they meet with state lawmakers
Eggs and Issues has been a traditional event for five area communities for decades, but chambers in Joplin and Carthage are changing things up this year. Joplin Travis Stephens, president of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, said Joplin chamber members told the organization that they thought the old format, at which several area lawmakers each talked for a few minutes, had become stale and that they wanted something different. 'In Joplin, what we wanted to do, there are six legislators we always have there, the five local state representatives and the senator," Stephens said. 'We wanted, instead of meeting with all of them together sharing an hour and a half of time, we wanted to really give them that quality engagement with our members.' Stephens said the Joplin chamber will host four events with two lawmakers at two of the events and one lawmaker at two of the events. All events will be held at the chamber office, 320 E. Fourth St. They are scheduled for 9:30 to 11 a.m. on four Fridays — March 7, March 14, April 4 and April 11. Stephens said which lawmaker will attend which meeting is still to be determined. People can get more information or register for the events at Carthage The Carthage Chamber of Commerce decided to meet with state Rep. Cathy Jo Loy, R-Carthage, and state Sen. Jill Carthage, R-Granby, in a more informal roundtable setting recently. Carthage's first event was Jan. 31, and it will hold a followup event sometime in June after the legislative session is over. About 60 to 70 people attended. Chamber President Julie Reams previously told the Globe that the new Carthage Stakeholder Legislative Review is Carthage's replacement for the traditional Eggs and Issues event. 'After many conversations with local chambers that partner on that for the months until May, it just wasn't becoming effective,' Reams told the Carthage City Council last month. 'We decided we're all doing our own thing in making that shift and focusing on our leaders that make those decisions for us in Jefferson City.' Webb City, Carl Junction Chambers in Webb City and Carl Junction are teaming up to hold a more traditional Eggs and Issues event at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 28, at the Route 66 Event Center, 21 S. Webb St. Sydney Crider, membership and marketing director at the Webb City Chamber, said their members liked the Eggs and Issues format. 'So we got together with Carl Junction chamber, and we talked to them about what date would be good, and we got with some of the legislators and talked to them about dates,' Crider said. 'We're inviting all the legislators we would have invited, regularly including House Reps. Bob Bromley, Ben Baker, Lane Roberts, Ann Kelley and Sen. Jill Carter.' People will need to contact the chamber at to make reservations. Neosho Neosho is also sticking with the Eggs and Issues format with an event scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, at Crowder College. Chamber CEO Lauri Lyerla said the Neosho Eggs and Issues event is traditionally held in May after the legislative session wraps up. 'The one thing that's always a little different about ours, and that's why we are not changing it this year, because ours is always after the session is over. The lawmakers are really able to give an update about what was done and where they ended up," she said. Lyerla said the chamber will invite lawmakers from across the area to the event. To make a reservation closer to May 20, people can go to
