KFRU Business Spotlight

KFRU Business Spotlight -- July 12th and July 13th, 2025.  Boone County Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick joins us to talk about the Senior Property Tax Freeze.  While the county has put in place a process for freezing property taxes for Seniors (62+), Boone County voters will see be voting again on the "freeze" in the August 5th election.  In fact, for most, this will be the only item on the ballot.  Kip talk...

KFRU Business Spotlight -- July 5th and 6th, 2025.  John Lyman, the President of the Columbia School Board, joins us to talk Columbia Public Schools business.  Dr Jeff Klein started his term as Superintendent on July 1st.  We talk expectations for the new school leader.  We also talk about other recent school business happening lately, including school security. We also play an edited Encore interview with City ...

KFRU Business Spotlight - June 28th and June 29th, 2025.  Matt McCormick, President of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce joins us this week.  The annual Chamber year-end celebration and awards ceremony was held last week.  Matt brings us up-to-date with the winner's list.  We also discuss the latest on the I-70 upgrade.  And, we talk about workforce development and how local area businesses will be affected ...

KFRU Business Spotlight - June 21st and 22nd, 2025.  Michelle Snodderley joins us to bring us up-to-date with things at True North of Columbia.  Michelle talks about all the services provided for victims of domestic and sexual violence.  She also checks in on a special open house event for the grand opening of their Advocacy Center set for Thursday, June 26th.  Also on the show this week is Brian Toohey, the CEO...

KFRU Business Spotlight - June 14th and June 15th, 2025.  Joining us this week is D'Markus Thomas-Brown, the administrator of the City of Columbia's Office of Violence Prevention.  D'Markus brings us up to date on this new office in the City Manager's Office.  We talk about how the office came about and how he feels his skills and experience fit the goals and the job description for the office.  the Office of Vi...

KFRU Business Spotlight -- June 7th-8th, 2025.  This week D'Andre Thompson, the administrator of the City of Columbia's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, joins us.  D'Andre talks about the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and what it brings to the City of Columbia.  He gives great information on the function of the office, along with definitions of each prong of the DEI office's focus.  The off...

KFRU Business Spotlight - May 31st- June 1st, 2025.  Nick Knoth joins us to talk city council, the special election for the 2nd Ward city council seat coming in August and more city business.  We also touch on the upcoming legislative session for the Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate.  Nick discusses his new COMO Vanguard newsletter where -- as reporter and editor -- he recaps each Columbia City C...

KFRU Business Spotlight -- May 24th-May 25th, 2025.  Gregg Bush, 50th District State Representative joins us to talk about his "freshman" year in the Missouri House of Representatives.  Gregg gives us a great perspective of how the day-to-day business of the Missouri House works and the challenges of being in the minority party.  He gives us insight into relationships he made on both sides of the aisle and talked abo...

KFRU Business Spotlight - May 10th and 11th, 2025.  Suzette Waters from the Columbia School Board joins us to bring us up to date on CPS School Board activities.  Suzette was reelected to a second term in the April Municipal election and we get her thoughts on that experience.  We also talk about the "Lunch for Learners" fundraising project that has enjoyed a resurgence in recent weeks, including the announcement of ...

KFRU Business Spotlight -- May 3rd and 4th, 2025. This week we replay conversations from KFRU's Columbia Morning with David Gaines with the folks from the 4 finalist businesses for the Columbia Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Award. We talk with leaders from Taylor's Commercial Grounds Maintenance, Show Me Bar-B-Q Sauce, Eclipse Catering and Manor Roofing and Restoration.  Small Business Week kicks off on Monday...

KFRU Business Spotlight -- April 26th-27th, 2025.  City of Columbia Fourth Ward City Councilman Nick Foster joins us to talk about recycling plans for residents following an EF-1 tornado destroying the Columbia Recycling Center last Sunday evening. After a pause was announced on the pickup of recyclable materials, City staffers have now moved forward with a plan to resume pickup of recycling on normally scheduled days.  T...

KFRU Business Spotlight -- April 19th - 20th, 2025.  Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude joins us to talk about the Columbia Police Department. We discuss the two shots fired incidents last weekend in Columbia's Cosmo Park which included over 100 shots being fired while a crowd of over 1,000 was in the park at 10:30 pm Saturday night.  Two were seriously injured in the incident.  A few hours later, in the early mornin...

The KFRU Business Spotlight -- April 12th-13th, 2025.  Nick Knoth of Transfr, joins us to talk about the latest municipal election.  We get Nick's thoughts on the election and dig into the campaigns from his perspective as a governmental affairs expert and as a former Columbia City Councilman. What approach does this group of council members take to solving the problems facing the city of Columbia?  Nick and I discus...

KFRU Business Spotlight -- April 4th, 2025.   This week, Matt McCormick, President of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce joins us to talk about the upcoming Quarterly Membership Breakfast that leads into the opening of the Business In Motion Expo on Thursday, April 17th.  We also cover the 2025 Small Business Week activities. The open house/ribbon cuttings for each finalists are now scheduled for the first week of May....

KFRU Business Spotlight -- March 15th and 16th, 2025.  This week we focus on the Columbia STEM Alliance.  Bill Moore, retired from 3M and the President of the Alliance's Board of Director and Dave Nichols, Senior Project Director for Emery Sapp and Sons and a director join us to break down the Columbia STEM Alliance.  They focus on helping staff and educators create learning experiences for Columbia and central Misso...

KFRU Business Spotlight -- March 8th and 9th, 2025.  Matt Nichols, the President of the Columbia Police Officer's Association joins us this week. We cover a lot of territory including a positive conversation about the Columbia Police Department's new CPD Academy.  We also talk about how the CPOA went about their endorsements for candidates for Mayor and City Council, moving to a more "pro-active" approach for the 2025 ele...

KFRU Business Spotlight -- March 1st and 2nd, 2025.  This week Don Waterman, Fifth Ward councilman on the Columbia City Council, joins us to talk about the special council meeting held on February 27th to discuss possibilities of new taxes to help fund the Council priorities moving forward.  The meeting, part of the planning process for the 2026  fiscal yar budget, was set in early January 2025, ahead of a report on ...

KFRU Business Spotlight -- February 22nd and 23rd, 2025.  This week we talk with Jonathan Seppo from Andrea Lyn Events about their upcoming Heart of Missouri Women's Show Kickoff. Find out everything that is scheduled for this exciting event to be held on March 7th, 2025.  We also talk about  "Bags 'N Wags" which is an event for you and your dogs.  And find out more about the COMO Wedding Experience and this yea...

KFRU Business Spotlight -- February 15th and16th, 2025.  Matt Stephens, the Deputy Chief of the Columbia Missouri Police Department joins us this week to talk about the latest internal affairs report shared with Columbia citizens early this week.  We also talk about the latest numbers in the recruiting process and the latest update that includes an advertising program to reach potential candidates.  We also talk abou...