CEO Roundtable w. Fred Parry

Columbia and Boone County have seen some big economic wins in recent years. They include Schneider Electric’s $73-million expansion at their plant on Route B, EquipmentShare building its $100-million new headquarters near Columbia's I-70 Lake of the Woods exit and a $92-million improvement project from Kraft-Heinz at their hot dog plant on Columbia’s Waco road. Columbia REDI president Paul Eisenstein discussed their successes, new flights coming to COU, the COLT railroad and numerous other topics this weekend on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." He joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour:

Columbia-based Socket has recapitalized their company and brought in new majority owners to raise money. Socket president Carson Coffman emphasizes that the original shareholders are still owners and are active in the company. The new majority owners are Charlotte-based Pamlico Capital and Oak Hill Capital. Mr. Coffman and Socket Fiber executive chairman Jim Gleason joined host Fred Parry Saturday in-studio for the hour on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Mr. Coffman tells listeners that Socket needed another $250-million to grow the way they wanted to. He says Socket has added staff, with the new arrangement. “I think we’ve added 75 people already in the first year and we’ll be up over 300 by the end of this year,” he tells listeners. He says the infusion of cash has allowed Socket to build in Missouri towns like Webb City, Odessa and Oak Grove:

Orant Charities of Africa aims to make sustainable impacts in Malawi by supporting women and communities in programs ranging from health care to water and sanitation to education to the environment. Orant Charities says clean water is scarce in Malawi and they work to bring water to villages there. Orant Charities of Africa founder Michael Tenny, chairman Tom Brennan and board member Lynda Baumgartner of Rocheport joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." They also discussed how you can help and Orant's connection to Columbia:

Boone County Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick is bullish on Boone County, from the hundreds of millions of dollars being spent on I-70 improvements to the Midway interchange growth to company expansions. Commissioner Kendrick joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable":

UM System President Dr. Mun Choi and the UM Board of Curators say Mizzou's $250-million Memorial Stadium football project will elevate the fan experience. President Choi joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable" program. They discussed Memorial Stadium, the north end zone project and numerous other topics. "When you see the north end zone from the road on Stadium, it looks huge. Wait until you see it from the field. It's immense," President Choi tells listeners. The massive project is expected to be completed by the start of football season. Memorial Stadium is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Mizzou football coach Eliah Drinkwitz has predicted the the fan experience at Faurot will be enhanced by further enclosing the stadium’s north end. President Choi also says the planned new 20-megawatt NextGen MURR in south Columbia will be the largest single project at any university in the nation. He discusses that in-detail during the interview and also discusses higher education funding in Jefferson City:

Columbia College’s new president says his main priority has been listening and learning, since he started on March 1. Dr. Toby Arquette joined Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." Dr. Arquette has started the process of working with faculty, staff, students and the board to co-create the next chapter for Columbia College, which is celebrating its 175th anniversary this year. Columbia College has about 8,000 students between in-person and online learning. President Arquette tells listeners that higher education needs to collaborate more. He has met recently with new Stephens College president Dr. Shannon Lundeen and plans to meet in May with UM System president Dr. Mun Choi:

While Columbia/Boone County is seeing cranes and construction equipment across town, there is still a lot of poverty. Love Columbia says one in five Columbia residents are living in poverty and struggle to make ends meet. Housing costs are a challenge for many as well. Jane Williams, who co-founded Love Columbia 18 years ago, joined Fred Parry in-studio for the hour on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." She tells listeners that Columbia has been seeing about a 20 percent poverty rate:

A growing company that crafts premium meat snacks has opened a 300,000 square foot production plant in mid-Missouri’s Mexico. Western Smokehouse Partners’ plant is located in the former Soft Surroundings in Mexico. Western Smokehouse Partners chief executive officer Matt Bormann, a Mizzou graduate, joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Mr. Bormann tells listeners that the company invested $60-million in the Mexico plant. It is the largest of the company’s eight plants:

MU Health Care is the second-largest employer in Columbia/Boone County, according to 2025 statistics from Columbia Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI). MU Health Care chief executive officer Ric Ransom and chief medical officer Ambulatory care Dr. Laura Morris joined Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable”. Mr. Ransom says MU Health Care has about 8,300 employees, along with another 1,000 physicians. Ransom says in net patient service revenue was about $2.5 billion in 2025. MU Health Care supports legislation that would allow the UM Curators and MU Health Care to acquire, purchase, manage or sell hospitals/medical facilities in 25 counties. Ransom explained why that’s important during the interview. “As we look at other hospitals in that 25-county area that are struggling and interested in partnering or maybe becoming part of the health care system, more growth brings with it the risk that there would be an antitrust objection or hurdle to partnering or acquiring another hospital,” he tells listeners. There is opposition to that bill from veteran State Rep. Kent Haden (R-Mexico), who would rather MU Health Care reopen closed hospitals in Mexico, Fulton and Boonville. Ransom also tells listeners that Columbia’s Keene Street medical center, formerly Columbia Regional Hospital, will be more and more an ambulatory and specialty care lab. Dr. Morris, who is also a family practice physician in Fulton, discussed the importance of providing health care in Callaway County. She grew up in mid-Missouri’s Holts Summit and also emphasizes the importance of good internet in rural Missouri. She praises Callabyte Technology and the internet they provide in Callaway County for telemedicine and other uses:

This weekend’s edition of 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” features the 19-year-old owner of a Columbia start-up company called Great Shine Exteriors. Kellan Mugisha’s company cleans windows and gutters, provides power washing and installs Christmas lights. Mugisha joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the program. Parry praises Kellan’s work ethic and the quality of his work. Kellan Mugisha was born and raised in Rwanda and came to the United States when he was 11. He tells listeners there were better education opportunities here and that he attended the Mexico Military Academy in Audrain County. Mr. Parry notes there is a growing population in Columbia from Rwanda, in part due to the civil war there during the 1990s. Mugisha says he is grateful to own his company and doesn’t like to work for other people. He credits his father and mother for his work ethic:

Columbia-based Sara Fougere Catering has earned three straight first-place “Best of Columbia” awards from the readers of Zimmer’s “Inside Columbia” magazine. Sara grew up on a cattle farm in western Missouri’s rural Richmond and earned her degree in food science from the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR). Sara Fougere joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Fred describes small business as the heartbeat of our community and praises Sara’s business, her professionalism and her work ethic. Sara Fougere Catering has been in business for 22 years. Sara tells listeners that it’s hard work and that she is blessed to do it. She once did an Eclipse event with 800 people and enjoys cooking beef. She also shared some of her favorite foods from Columbia-area restaurants:

Columbia’s first female police chief has focused on recruitment and retention as chief. CPD was more than 40 officers short when Jill Schlude was sworn-in as police chief in December 2023. They currently have about 14 vacancies. Chief Schlude joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable”. One of main issues Fred and the chief discussed was violent crime and crime statistics in Columbia. Chief Schlude tells listeners that violent crime has been trending downward for several years. “It went down eight percent from 23 to 24. It went down 15 percent from 22 to 23. It went down six percent from 21 to 22 and then this past year from 24 to 25 it went down one percent," Chief Schlude tells listeners. But with several high-profile incidents in January alone, Chief Schlude admits some Columbia residents don’t feel safe. Staffing levels are another issue that was discussed during the interview. Chief Schlude notes CPD has 254 full-time positions, 185 of which are sworn positions. There are currently 14 officer vacancies. She also notes CPD has 69 professional staff members, which are non-police staff. Chief Schlude notes that while Springfield Missouri has about 40,000 more residents than Columbia, they have twice as many officers. Fred and the chief also discussed juvenile crime during the interview:

Boone County’s sheriff is proud of the brand-new $20-million sheriff’s office regional training center. Last weekend’s grand opening celebration drew several hundred people. The 50,000 square feet facility includes a 160-seat training room, a 100-yard indoor gun range, classrooms and a driving simulator. It will also provide classes and specialized training for current and prospective officers and deputies 48 weeks a year. Sheriff Dwayne Carey joined host Fred Parry live-in studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Sheriff Carey is the longest-serving sheriff in county history. The sheriff tells listeners that he’s mandating two hours a month for defensive tactics training for his staff. He also now has a full-time defense tactics instructor. “And the idea behind this is to get everyone proficient and comfortable with laying their hands on people and not having to use force that isn’t optically good,” Sheriff Carey says. Sheriff Carey also addressed overcrowding in the Boone County jail, noting they now house more than 200 Boone County inmates in other county jails. He also says there are currently 32 inmates charged with murder housed in the Boone County jail:

“Missouri Independent” deputy editor Rudi Keller is the dean of the Missouri Capitol Press Corps in Jefferson City. The 65-year-old Keller joined host Fred Parry for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. They spoke in-detail about Missouri’s budget, the Chiefs, friction between Republicans and Democrats in the Missouri Senate and about news media coverage of state government in Jefferson City. Rudi’s main focus for the Missouri Independent is the state budget, although he handles day-to-day legislative coverage as well. He tells listeners that the Missouri Independent is doing a service to keep Missourians informed. Mr. Keller also addressed “Missouri Times” publisher Scott Faughn’s recent purchase of the “Jefferson City News-Tribune”, the “Fulton Sun” and the “California Democrat”, adding that revenue in newspapers now is almost nonexistent. Rudi addressed the friction as well in the Missouri Senate between the two parties and says 2025 was a watershed year. He also addressed the Chiefs’ planned move to Kansas with a new domed stadium there. Mr. Keller earned his degree from the University of Missouri and did two stints at the “Columbia Daily Tribune”, one from 1987-1999 and the second from 2010-2020, when he left to join the new “Missouri Independent.” Rudi’s coverage of Moberly’s Mamtek scandal was one of the biggest stories he covered early in that second stint. Rudi Keller and host Parry also discussed Rudi’s recent marriage. Missouri Supreme Court Judge Paul Wilson performed the ceremony:

The retired Landmark Bank chairman who has studied economic trends in Columbia/Boone County for 38 years says the decision by Central Bank to go public is a smart move. Former Landmark Bank chairman Jeff MacLellan joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. “What they’ve done is they now have access to capital markets. And for a bank to grow you really need, particularly if you’re going to grow quite a bit, you need access to capital markets. And if you look at their performance over time, they’ve always done really well,” Mr. MacLellan tells Fred Parry, who asked him what he means by capital markets. Mr. MacLellan tells listeners he is referring to stock. Mr. MacLellan also discussed Columbia’s economy since he arrived in 1987 and says it’s been resilient. The biggest change he’s noticed is Columbia’s population. “When I came here in 1987, the population was about 67,000. And today it’s somewhere north of 131,000. So the town hasn’t quite doubled but almost. I mean it’s really close,” he says. Mr. MacLellan tells listeners that the common denominator for that growth is the University of Missouri. He and Fred also discussed Jefferson City’s population, crime in Columbia, the real estate market and other topics during the interview. He says Columbia Board of Realtor numbers show the average days on market for a home in Columbia last year was 32 and that it’s now 38 days. Jeff MacLellan was born and raised in Mexico City, before he enrolled at the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri at the age of 14 and graduated from there. He remains on the board of directors at Missouri Military Academy and says it’s a great facility. After serving in Guam in the U.S. armed forces during the Vietnam war, he earned multiple degrees from SMU in Dallas, a campus known as “The Hilltop”:

A company headquartered in mid-Missouri’s Holts Summit has been named by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the nation for nine straight years. The company is PFS Brands, the parent company of Champs Chicken, Hangar 54 Pizza and Cooper’s Express. Company founder and chief executive officer Shawn Burcham joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” The company credits its rapid growth to a company culture that thrives on making retailers successful. Mr. Burcham tells listeners that his company has a concept that can grow across the country. He credits hiring great people for the company’s success, emphasizing the importance of integrity. “We service 42, 43 states now. The only states we’re not in is the far northeast sector and Hawaii,” Burcham says. He notes the company’s humble beginnings, noting Champs Chicken started selling chicken breading out of a garage in southwest Missouri’s Willard. Mr. Burcham says Champs Chicken now sells in about 400 locations. While Burcham was born in Columbia, he grew up in southeast Missouri’s Farmington. He describes Farmington as a great town and a great place to grow up. He earned his college degree from Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State University) in Springfield. Mr. Burcham got his start in the food business as an intern at Mid-America Dairymen in Springfield, now known as Dairy Farmers of America:

Columbia-based Impact Support Services describes itself as a leading provider for residents with disabilities in Boone County. They strive to be the best provider in all services offered. Impact Support Services says studies show that workers who have disabilities are more likely to stay in jobs longer, reducing high turnover costs. Impact Support Services executive director Don Lafferty joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. Mr. Lafferty grew up in northwest Missouri’s Trenton, a town of about 5,600 in Grundy County. He earned a degree from what was then called Central Missouri State in Warrensburg. Impact Support Services used to be called Alternative Community Training. Mr. Lafferty started with the organization in 1992, working as a direct support professional (DSP). He says Impact Support Services has a staff of about 250 employees, noting about 200 of them are direct support professionals:

Columbia’s Center for Urban Agriculture (CCUA) is a nonprofit organization that aims to connect people to food, agriculture, farms and gardens. CCUA executive director Billy Polansky joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” CCUA houses the popular Columbia Farmers’ Market building, which holds 100 vendors. Mr. Polansky updated listeners on construction projects at the Agriculture Park, saying the welcome center is expected to open in April. The food grown at the CCUA is donated to the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri. CCUA donates about 50,000 pounds of fresh, nutritious produce each year. Mr. Polansky discussed their numerous gardens as well, including the popular garden at Columbia’s Kilgore’s pharmacy. They also discussed the Food Forest at the park, which is part forest and part fruit orchard. Mr. Polansky also updated listeners on Columbia’s Henry Kirklin home:

The Columbia Orthopaedic Group (COG) has grown a lot from its humble beginnings in a small house on Broadway in 1965. It is now located 60 years later in an 80,000 square feet facility on Keene. COG surgeon and vice president Dr. Shawn Sahota joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Dr. Sahota emphasizes that the needs of the patient come first at Columbia Orthopaedic Group. COG has specialized physicians and staff dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and prevention of injuries and diseases of the muscles, bones, joints and soft tissue. Dr. Sahota tells listeners that COG has 28 orthopedic surgeons, ten anesthesia providers, three pain management physicians and 15 athletic trainers. Host Fred Parry describes Dr. Sahota as a “hometown boy.” While Shawn was born in North Carolina, he grew up in Columbia and graduated from Rock Bridge high school and from Mizzou with a degree in biology. He went to the Mayo Clinic for Medical School and did five years at Northwestern in Chicago. Mr. Parry and Dr. Sahota also discuss COG’s relationship with Boone Hospital, the sports medicine field and the surge in pickleball in Columbia

A co-founder of a Columbia-based organization that serves pregnant women and new mothers in need describes itself as a “maternity home on steroids.” St. Raymond’s Society co-founders Mike Hentges and Steve Smith joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable”, along with Super Start preschool director Abby Skiles. Their facility is at the former Ronald McDonald House near Keene in Columbia. Abby Skiles, who grew up in Festus, runs the preschool and says they partner with parents. Abby provided listeners with a virtual tour during the interview, saying Super Start preschool has eight classrooms: an infant and toddler side and a side for two-year-olds and preschool children. Mike Hentges grew up in Jefferson City and graduated from the University of Missouri. He worked in the lawn and landscaping business in the Columbia area for 25 years before he co-founded the St. Raymond’s Society. Steve Smith grew up in Rolla and spent 43 years in the insurance business before co-founding the organization. All three guests also spoke about what the future holds for their organization:

The founder of new Columbia start-up company Be There Immersive came to Columbia in 1992 to work for Datastorm Technologies on Lemone Industrial drive. Businessman Eric Margheim joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” to discuss Be There Immersive, which uses virtual reality as a storytelling device. Mr. Margheim grew up in rural Illinois in a farming community near the Wisconsin border. He discussed the innovation behind his company and Columbia’s entrepreneurial environment during the interview. Mr. Margheim also offers advice to other entrepreneurs. Fred and Eric and discussed how big Datastorm was at one time:

A veteran Missouri lawmaker will be in his eighth and final year in the Missouri House in January. State Rep. Dave Griffith (R-Jefferson City) joined hosts Randy Tobler and Stephanie Bell live this morning on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Missouri," Rep. Griffith is a longtime Missouri House Veterans Committee chair and tells listeners that he'll be focusing on bills that he hasn't been able to pass in seven previous years. The big one is his 100 percent disabled veteran bill, which is bipartisan. He's hopeful it can get across the finish line in 2026:

939 the Eagle's Mike Murphy of Comobuz reports a major investor fight is impacting Columbia-based EquipmentShare. Murphy reports a former board member is suing, claiming that the Schlacks family made insider deals and pushed him out to keep him quiet. Murphy quotes EquipmentShare as calling the claims bogus. Mike Murphy joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable" to discuss the lawsuit and numerous other issues. Mike Murphy tells listeners that court documents reveal a lot of details in this case. Mike also discussed a lawsuit filed in Jefferson City by hotel owners over the seven percent lodging tax:

Job Point in Columbia was founded 60 years in 1965 by the Cosmopolitan Club. It started by helping people with disabilities and began as Advent Enterprises. Job Point president John Scalise joined Fred Parry in-studio for 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." Job Point aims to become Boone County's first public charter school. Mr. Scalise discussed that and Job Point's history on the Roundtable. John is a Columbia native who was born at Boone Hospital and graduated from Hickman high school. He's worked at places like Lily Pad Laundry, ShowBiz Pizza, Nowell's, Gerbes, MUPC and the Holidome. He's excited about the planned charter school:

Historic William Woods University in mid-Missouri’s Fulton has an acting president. Former UPS executive Romaine Seguin worked at UPS for 38 years before retiring in 2021. She graduated from what was then William Woods College, earning a full scholarship and pitching on the softball team. The acting president joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” to discuss her role and her priorities. Romaine Seguin grew up in St. Louis and graduated from Hazelwood East high school in Florissant. After graduating from William Woods, she started at UPS unloading trucks at 3:30 in the morning and loved that job. She worked her way up in management at UPS, moving nine times and doing two stints in Europe. She praises the institution and the outstanding education students receive at William Woods:

American Outdoor Brands, Kraft Heinz and EquipmentShare are just of the few of the companies that have utilized Chapter 100 bonds in Columbia/Boone County for major job projects over the years. Columbia Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI) president Paul Eisenstein joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable" program. Mr. Eisenstein tells listeners that there's been $750-million in new investment in Columbia/Boone County in the past 20 years, thanks to Chapter 100. Mr. Eisenstein also discussed air service at Columbia Regional Airport during the one-hour interview, including the return of United Airlines to COU and the popular daily Denver flight. Paul grew up in the St. Louis area and earned degrees from both St. Louis University and Washington University. He worked for the state Department of Economic Development (DED) in Jefferson City for about eight years before taking the REDI job seven months ago:

You noticed another visible law enforcement presence in downtown Columbia this weekend. It’s the second straight weekend of additional law enforcement downtown, following late September’s deadly triple shooting that killed a Stephens College senior nursing student. City manager De’Carlon Seewood discussed downtown safety and crime in-studio with host Fred Parry Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” They also discussed the Columbia Chamber’s recent leadership visit to Columbia South Carolina, which Mayor Barbara Buffaloe and Mr. Seewood attended. Downtown safety and crime were key issues discussed on the trip. “It kind of reinforced that a lot of things that we’re dealing with, they have been dealing with. And they’re probably two or three years ahead of us. But it’s lessons learned and you can see some of the things that they’ve done that worked and some of the things they’ve done that didn’t work,” Mr. Seewood tells listeners. He and Fred Parry also discussed the horrific 2019 murder of a USC student in South Carolina who was kidnapped and stabbed more than 100 times and killed after she thought she was getting into her Uber. They also discussed Columbia recycling and the new budget:

Last weekend’s deadly triple shooting in downtown Columbia and UM System President Dr. Mun Choi’s Monday press conference on downtown crime have dominated news headlines in mid-Missouri since the shooting. Networks of Mid-Missouri general manager Curtis Varns joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” on Saturday. One of the main topics was Channel 17’s coverage of the deadly shooting and what has happened since. Mr. Varns notes the murder victim, Stephens College senior nursing student Aiyanna Williams, was well-known in the community. Curtis notes ABC-17 interviewed her three years ago at Battle’s graduation. Mr. Varns also says President Choi’s press conference on crime generated major headlines. President Choi says crime downtown is at a crisis point. CPD is temporarily reassigning a patrol sergeant to focus full-time on overnight downtown operations. Police chief Jill Schlude says that on most Friday and Saturday nights, nearly half of CPD’s on-duty officers are reallocated downtown. Chief Schlude says CPD plans to reestablish a dedicated downtown unit in the summer of 2026. The chief says the deadly triple shooting marks the fourth, fifth and sixth uninvolved bystanders struck by gunfire downtown since March 2024. She also says violent crime is disproportionately higher downtown compared to previous years. Host Parry and Mr. Varns discussed that in-detail. Curtis Varns grew up in rural western Missouri’s Drexel, a town of about 950 residents. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and was hired as KMIZ assignment editor in 1995 by then-news director Teresa Snow. KMIZ will celebrate its 54th anniversary in December: it went on-air in 1971. KQFX, MeTV and KZOU are also part of the Networks of Mid-Missouri. Mr. Varns also discussed KMIZ’s coverage of Mizzou Sports and the Kansas City Chiefs, and discussed his relationship with the Columbia Area Career Center:

Columbia pastor Christopher Kurtz is a local pastor at Anthem church on Paris road. He also is an entrepreneur and an innovator who is involved with what is known as the Pillar Project. Pastor Kurtz joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. Pastor Kurtz works with many college students in the Columbia area and tells listeners that there is a growing hunger now for college students and others to attend church. He says some are attending church for the first time ever, while others are attending for the first time in 30 years. Pastor Kurtz grew up in rural northwest Missouri’s Trenton, a town of about 5,600 in Grundy County. Trenton is best known for its Main Street and for excellent hunting/fishing in the area. Most of Pastor Kurtz’s family live in northwest Missouri’s Jamesport, and many are Amish. He emphasizes the importance of education, noting his parents only finished eighth grade. He and host Parry also discussed details about the Pillar project, the topic of school choice and his life as a father:

Former Mizzou quarterback Alex Demczak of Columbia is a best-selling author and speaker. He’s the co-author of a book called “The Sale” with Jon Gordon. Mr. Demczak joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. Mr. Demczak tells listeners that the book is about leading with integrity. He grew up in Illinois and walked-on at Mizzou, where he played for then-Coach Gary Pinkel for four years. Mr. Demczak describes that time as an amazing experience. He and host Parry also discussed communication tips and strategies and talked about Alex’s speaker school as well. Mr. Demczak graduated from Mizzou with a degree in communication and a minor in business:

Monday marks the end of a 16-year era in the Columbia area for the Central Missouri Honor Flight (CMHF). Their final flight to Washington leaves Lambert Field in St. Louis early Monday morning. The CMHF has flown about 5,500 veterans to Washington in 16 years to reflect at their memorials. The first flight was in 2009. Central Missouri Honor Flight director Steve Paulsell joined Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Mr. Paulsell tells listeners that this is sad. He also tells listeners that the CMHF had many veterans and little money in 2009. “Now we find ourselves 16 years later where we’ve got money but we don’t have veterans. We normally take anywhere from 75 to 95 veterans on a flight and I haven’t been able to do that. In fact this flight’s not totally full,” Mr. Paulsell tells listeners. There will be about 120 people on Monday’s charter flight from St. Louis Lambert. They’ll leave Columbia’s Courtyard by Marriot at 1:15 on Monday morning and will bus to Lambert. Mr. Paulsell says 74 are Vietnam-era veterans, one is a Korean War veteran and the rest of caregivers and staff. He thanks Zimmer Radio and our listeners, the numerous businesses that have donated over the years and volunteers who have worked countless hours. The final Central Missouri Honor Flight radiothon with 939 the Eagle and Zimmer in 2023 raised about $127,000. Mr. Parry interviewed CMHF director Paulsell on the second and third segments of the show. He also interviewed two Mizzou students with “Columbia for Christ” for the first segment about an event happening Wednesday on Mizzou’s Traditions Plaza. One student is a Mizzou track athlete and the other is from Bridgeton and says the Holy Spirit led him to Mizzou:

Missouri's special session on congressional redistricting and initiative petition changes continues Monday in Jefferson City. Award-winning reporter Rudi Keller of the "Missouri Independent" newspaper joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable" program. They discussed the special session in-detail, including the impact of new congressional maps on Boone County and on the debate over IP reform. They discussed the issue of property tax reform as well. One of the other main issues they discussed was the work the Independent is doing and newspapers that have reduced or eliminated their Missouri Capitol coverage. Mr. Keller notes the "Springfield News-Leader" no longer has a bureau in Jefferson City and says the "St. Louis Post-Dispatch" and "Kansas City Star" now have one-person bureaus. Mr. Keller served two stints at the "Columbia Daily Tribune" before joining the Independent. He and host Fred Parry also discussed the late former "Columbia Daily Tribune" publisher Hank Waters:

Missouri's special session in Jefferson City is underway on congressional redistricting and initiative petition reforms changes. Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O'Laughlin (R-Shelbina) was live on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Missouri". She tells hosts Randy Tobler and Stephanie Bell that Missouri's Constitution has become a dumping ground for progressive causes and that IP reform is needed. She also says the Senate will start work on the special session on Wednesday and should vote on the bills next Friday:

Boone County's presiding commissioner expects construction of the new multi-million dollar Boone County Sheriff's regional law enforcement training center in Columbia to be done by fall. Commissioner Kip Kendrick joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable" program. “They’re in there putting up drywall now and I think really starting to finish out the interior. The expected completion is they’re hoping for the end of October, which is good," Kendrick tells listeners. Commissioner Kendrick expects the sheriff's Department to be in there by early January, with classes starting then too. The new facility will provide an all-in-one training center for law enforcement and first responders in Boone County, as well as those who serve statewide. Commissioner Kendrick also addressed numerous other topics during the one-hour interview with host Parry, including the public safety childcare center, the recent housing study, budget preparations and an update on tornado sirens:

The median home price in Columbia in July was $352,000. While that's down from June's record high of $375,000, it's still a price many residents cannot afford. Columbia Board of Realtors chief executive officer Brian Toohey joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." Mr. Toohey tells listeners that you can still find some entry-level homes in Columbia with two bathrooms and a two-car garage for under $300,000, but Toohey thinks you might not see that much longer. He discusses the soaring costs of construction materials. Mr. Toohey also says inventory levels have improved and are the best he's seen in a long time. He also says weather has been brutal for homebuilders this year, with snow/ice in January and rain and storms all spring followed by extreme heat. Mr. Toohey grew up in St. Louis and met his wife in Columbia. She is a homebuilder. Toohey also ran for a Columbia city council seat several years ago:

The Columbia Housing Authority (CHA) has served thousands of the most vulnerable residents in Columbia/Boone County since being created in 1956. The CHA was formally established by city ordinance 69 years ago. Columbia Housing Authority chief executive officer Randy Cole joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." They tackled numerous issues, including Thursday's big groundbreaking ceremony for the Park Avenue project. CHA will demolish 70 aging units that date to 1964 and will replace them with 79 brand-new units that are energy-efficient. “There’s 70 units down there on three blocks, where we’re going to be demolishing them, taking them all the way to the ground. And we’re going to be replacing them with new, nice affordable housing," Mr. Cole tells listeners. Host Parry and Mr. Cole also discussed the Kinney Point project at Garth and Sexton, which is a 34-unit development. They also discussed Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe's veto of funding for improvements at Columbia's Paquin Tower apartments. Randy Cole grew up in western Missouri's Liberty, a Kansas City suburb. He started on a baseball scholarship at Iowa's Graceland University and finished his undergraduate degree at Mizzou and also earned a master's degree from Mizzou and remained in Columbia after college. Mr. Cole serves at the will of the five CHA commissioners, who are appointed by the mayor:

Approximately 70 Columbia-area business leaders and elected officials will travel to Columbia, South Carolina from September 30 through October 2 for the annual leadership visit. Columbia Chamber of Commerce president Matt McCormick joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable”. While the Columbia/Boone County contingent is expected to visit the University of South Carolina, Williams-Brice Stadium and other destinations, Mr. McCormick tells listeners there are other things there that grab his attention. “They’re doing some really cool things around downtown safety. They just did a convention center feasibility study and building (a) convention center. Revitalization of some of their streets,” Mr. McCormick tells listeners. Columbia is South Carolina’s capital city. Other popular destinations people visit there are the University of South Carolina and Riverbanks zoo and garden. The Columbia Missouri Chamber of Commerce has about 1,000 members representing about 50,000 employees in Columbia and the region. Mr. McCormack and Mr. Parry also discussed numerous other topics, including the growing homeless population in downtown Columbia and near Flatbranch park. They also highlighted the Chamber’s workforce development initiatives, which McCormack says involves a shortage of employees. “And so for us it’s everything from retention to recruitment. Upskilling is a lot of it. You know taking the great work that Job Point does and then how can we continue to build on top of things like that,” he tells listeners. Matt McCormick was born in Texas and graduated from Stephen F. Austin. He’s now been in Columbia for 13 years:

Voters in Columbia/Boone County will cast ballots Tuesday on Proposition 1, which involves exempting senior citizens from increases in property taxes. Former State Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville) is urging voters to vote yes on Tuesday, saying this is a full freeze to include bond levies. She joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” and discussed Proposition One. Former Rep. Toalson Reisch says seniors deserve a break on their property taxes. Meantime, voters in Columbia’s second ward will be filling a vacant council seat. Former second ward Councilwoman Lisa Meyer resigned in May for health reasons, so that seat has been vacant for more than two months. Businessman Ken Rice is running against activist Vera Elwood. The second ward includes the Belwood, Park DeVille, Parkade and Vanderveen neighborhoods along with some retirement homes. While Mr. Rice gives city manager De’Carlon Seewood a grade a “D”, he adds that the council gets in Mr. Seewood’s way. Mr. Rice also describes the Office of Violence Prevention as a breath of fresh air. Mr. Rice also joined host Fred Parry. They also tackled the issues of homelessness, public safety and Columbia Utilities:

New Stephens College president Dr. Shannon Lundeen describes Columbia, Missouri as “college town USA.” She is the 25th president at Stephens, which is the nation’s second-oldest women’s college. Dr. Lundeen joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” and outlined her immediate priorities, which include transparency and a culture of trust. “And you can’t do that without listening first. So and I value expertise from my senior leadership team. I need expertise and I value differing points of view,” Dr. Lundeen tells listeners. She notes there are only 31 brick-and-mortar women’s colleges left in the nation, and says that number gives Stephens an edge. She talked about her first impressions of Columbia and of Stephens College, including the beautiful buildings on campus. Something else a few blocks away grabbed Dr. Lundeen’s attention and impressed her immediately. “For being in, you know, college town USA, one of the last things that you would expect is that you walk three blocks from academic buildings on campus and all of a sudden you’re at an 18-acre horse facility, equestrian facility,” she says. She praises Stephens’ award-winning equestrian field. Dr. Lundeen emphasizes she has an open-door policy and wants her students to have hands-on learning, regardless of what career field they are pursuing. She also spoke in-detail about what the local business community can do to help Stephens reach its full potential: she says mentorships and internships are key. Dr. Lundeen began her position on June 1. She was born in Lake Forest, Illinois, which is near Lake Michigan. She graduated from Colgate and has held numerous jobs across the nation, most recently in Denver. Dr. Lundeen and Mr. Parry also discussed potential opportunities for collaboration with Mizzou and Columbia College:

Best-selling author John Hall of Columbia touts Columbia, Missouri at the numerous speaking engagements he does nationwide. Mr. Hall joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday to discuss his best-selling book "Top of Mind" and numerous other topics. Mr. Hall admits not all executives he meets at events know where Columbia, Missouri is. “When you say I’m from Columbia, Missouri or I’m from Columbia, they’re like oh South Carolina. You’re like no … they’re like oh the country. They’re like no. You’re like …and I’m a huge, huge Columbia, Missouri advocate. So I honestly took it as a personal responsibility to advocate for this beautiful, wonderful city," Hall tells listeners. Mr. Hall also discussed development and real estate during the one-hour interview and says he's bullish on real estate in Columbia. Host Parry describes John Hall as a serial entrepreneur. Mr. Hall began his career in Columbia, with real estate and student housing. He's also an advisor to companies like Relevance and Calendar:

Mizzou’s athletic director has been on the job in Columbia for 14 months. Laird Veatch joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. They discussed numerous issues, including the $250-million Memorial Stadium improvement project, the north end zone project and name, image and likeness (NIL). Mizzou officials say the stadium project will elevate the fan experience at Faurot and will solidify Mizzou’s competitive standing in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The project is scheduled to be done in 2026, which will be Memorial Stadium’s 100th anniversary. Laird Veatch tells listeners that NIL is an opportunity for Mizzou. He also spoke in-detail about the north end zone project and says the greatest moment in Mizzou sports history is when the university entered the SEC in 2012. “I’m sure at the time it was a little controversial and people struggled with it. There has been no move that’s happened for this place that’s impacted us more. And you think about now where we’re at and where we would be if we hadn’t. I mean it’s a dramatic platform to be on,” Mr. Veatch tells listeners. Mr. Veatch grew up in Manhattan, Kansas and played football for Coach Bill Snyder at Kansas State. He’s spent time at Kansas State, Iowa State, Missouri, Memphis, and with Learfield. Mr. Veatch praises UM System President Dr. Mun Choi, saying is great to work with and gets athletics. He also says Mizzou volleyball should get more attention from fans:

Former manager for Columbia’s Water and Light department discussing transmission lines, renewable energy and sneaky financial practices

The high-profile 1976 disappearance and murder of a Columbia waitress is the focus of a new book called “The Life of a Murder.” The book is written by retired Boone County Judge Gary Oxenhandler, who presided over Johnny Wright’s murder trial. Wright was able to avoid detection for more than three decades before being captured in Georgia and eventually convicted of second degree murder for waitress Rebecca “Becky” Doisy’s death. Wright died of apparent natural causes at the maximum-security Jefferson City Correctional Center in 2015. Judge Oxenhandler retired from the bench in 2016, after he reached the mandatory retirement age of 70. He joined host Fred Parry Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable”, telling listeners that Becky Doisy was from the St. Louis area and a Mizzou student who worked at Ernie’s, especially on the weekends. He says she was well-liked and had a large circle of friends. Becky Doisy was a 1971 graduate of Kirkwood high school. Oxenhandler says one of the first things he did before writing the book is contact the Disciplinary Commission for Judges and Attorneys and ask if he could do this. They told him yes, noting he’s not a judge anymore. He tells listeners that they also advised him to say retired Judge Gary Oxenhandler rather than Judge Oxenhandler. The retired judge introduces readers to each of the key players from a first-person perspective and emphasizes there are many things about the Johnny Wright case that he didn’t know when he presided over the trial. “I found in the records three other women that Johnny Wright had attacked. That would never … the only … I never heard anything about that in getting. Now had the state … the state was aware of it, and the defense was aware of it. But there has to be more of a connection than these events. And … but I learned about it afterwards,” Oxenhandler tells host Parry. Gary Oxenhandler grew up in the St. Louis suburb of University City, coming to Columbia to attend college in 1965. He was drafted into the U.S. military and finished law school at Mizzou. Then-Missouri Governor Bob Holden (D) appointed Gary Oxenhandler to the bench in 2002. Oxenhandler was re-elected twice and served as presiding judge in Boone County for three years. He presided over about 250 jury trials, including the Wright case. Ernie’s Steakhouse is mentioned several times in the book and during Fred’s interview. Judge Oxenhandler’s book is currently available at Skylark bookshop in downtown Columbia and will be available on Amazon in a few weeks. Gary Oxenhandler is also a former Columbia Chamber of Commerce president. He and his wife Janet will celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary this week:

Columbia-based Scout and Nimble has a national presence. It’s an e-commerce site that Jesse and Sam Bodine founded to sell furniture and home décor across the country. Jesse grew up in southwest Missouri’s Springfield and earned a nursing degree in college but followed her passion for furniture and home décor. Sam grew up in St. Louis and attended college in Columbia, where he met Jesse. The name Scout and Nimble is a tribute to Jesse Bodine’s grandmother, who was known as “Yai-Yai.” Jesse says her grandmother exemplified perseverance, determination and grit. The Scout and Nimble website was launched in 2014. Jesse and Sam joined host Fred Parry Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable”. Fred also tackled proposed trade tariffs with them and the most significant challenges furnishing companies are facing today. Jesse and Sam also discussed the Scout House:

The Columbia Board of Realtors says the median home sold price in Boone County in April was about $309,000. The Board of Realtors says the median home price in Columbia was down in April 13 percent to $313,000. Local homebuilder Orie Hemme of Hemme Construction joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” to discuss home prices, inventory and work Hemme is doing in other communities. Mr. Hemme says they just received their first eight building permits for Amberton Place, which will be built next to Valley View Gardens. He tells listeners that Hemme will be building 118 homes near West Gibbs road. “And it’s all focused on more affordable, attainable housing. So we call it cottage-style,” Mr. Hemme tells listeners. Hemme Construction is currently building homes in Old Hawthorne and in the Glades, and they’ve built 135 houses in Nursery Heights. Orie Hemme also says remodeling is getting more popular and is about half of Hemme’s business now. He says they have a full remodel division now at Hemme Construction. Orie Hemme grew up in Columbia and was part of the first graduating class at Fr. Tolton high school. He graduated with a business degree from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. The 29-year-old Hemme has worked for his father for about seven years. Mr. Hemme also notes that while Hemme Construction has traditionally been known as homebuilders building custom homes, they also have rental properties. He and Mr. Parry also discussed the growing popularity of building homes in towns like Hallsville, Ashland, Centralia and Boonville:

Columbia's Brook Harlan is one of five chef instructors at the Columbia Area Career Center (CACC). Six of his students have won national championships in culinary over the years, along with three in baking. Mr. Harlan joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable" to discuss the program. Mr. Harlan and others will be taking 15 students to Atlanta soon to compete for national championships again. Mr. Harlan grew up in Columbia, attending Grant elementary, West Middle School and Rock Bridge high school. Harlan originally wanted to be a professional skateboarder or professional baseball player when growing up, but chose food. He starred on the "Food Network" and was one of eight finalists on a popular show show in 2005. His resume is impressive: he's worked at the old Glenn's in Columbia and at Katy Station, and also spent time at Commander's Palace in New Orleans, considered to be one of the best restaurants in the South. He's a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Mr. Harlan tells listeners the competition in these national championships is intense and says about 80 or so CPS students a year either go into culinary work or to college for further preparation:

Columbia-based Shelter Insurance is one of the ten largest employers in Columbia/Boone County, with about 13-hundred employees here and a $98-million payroll at their Columbia headquarters. Shelter Insurance president and chief executive officer Rockne Corbin joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. Mr. Corbin tells listeners that annual revenues for Shelter, for the entire company, are $3.7 billion. Mr. Parry and Mr. Corbin tackled numerous topics during Saturday’s interview, including the numerous tornadoes and storms this spring in Missouri and the Midwest. Mr. Corbin says the hot spots for tornadoes ten years ago would have been Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. He says it’s now Missouri, Arkansas and Kentucky. Mr. Corbin grew up in Jefferson City and graduated from JC. He graduated from Central Missouri State in Warrensburg before serving four years in the U-S Army. Mr. Corbin began his career with Shelter as a claims adjuster and climbed many roofs after storms, describing that time as a foundational experience. Shelter opened its doors in 1946 as MFA Mutual Insurance. They now operate in 21 states, have Shelter Life and also own a lot of real estate, including the Gerbes building near their Columbia headquarters. Education, health care and insurance have traditionally been the three main pillars of Columbia’s economy. That’s still the case in many ways today with Shelter. Mr. Parry and Mr. Corbin also discussed a few lighter subjects like the upcoming Shelter Fountain celebration and the return of the concerts in the gardens. Those concerts ran for 43 seasons until the COVID pandemic. The concerts returned last Sunday after a five-year hiatus:

Columbia-based Boone Electric Cooperative has about 30,000 members in Boone as well as Audrain, Callaway, Howard, Monroe and Randolph counties. Boone Electric Cooperative was incorporated in June 1936 during the Great Depression. It was Missouri’s first rural electric cooperative. By 1937, they served 140 members in rural Boone County. Boone Electric general manager and chief executive officer Todd Culley joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. Mr. Culley tells listeners that Boone Electric now has about 30,000 members and 36,000 meters, saying they are primarily a distribution cooperative. Boone Electric have nine directors. It was formed during the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Some old-timers still use the term REA today. Boone Electric now has 3,200 miles of distribution lines, with 1,400 of those underground. Mr. Culley grew up in Boone County, Indiana, a rural area north of Indianapolis. He tells listeners that Boone Electric has always had a national reputation. Mr. Culley has been in the position for about 18 years. He replaced Roger Clark and Bob Alderson before him. Mr. Alderson served as Boone Electric’s chief executive officer from 1977 to 2000, one of the longest-serving CEOs in Boone Electric history. Mr. Parry and Mr. Culley also discussed the June 18 food truck frenzy during the one-hour interview. The food truck frenzy will take place at Boone Electric headquarters on Rangeline:

Longtime UM System president Dr. Mun Choi is currently in his ninth year in the position. He also serves as the Mizzou chancellor. President Choi started in his position in March 2017. He joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. While the Missouri House’s Friday budget vote eliminated $50-million for NextGen MURR, the final budget approved by Missouri lawmakers on Friday includes a three percent overall increase for Mizzou. President Choi praises Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe (R), telling listeners that the governor will do wonderful things by supporting higher education. President Choi and Mr. Parry spoke in-detail about the ceremonial agreement to partner with a consortium to build a new 20-megawatt state-of-the-art research reactor near south Columbia’s Discovery Ridge. President Choi says NextGen MURR will allow Mizzou to lead the nation in producing critical medical isotopes. The new reactor is expected to take eight to ten years to complete. Mizzou is partnering with a consortium that includes Hyundai Engineering America and the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) for the design and licensing of the new reactor. President Choi says there is a positive attitude at the university and also a positive perception about Mizzou by the public. President Choi also updated listeners on the massive $250-million Memorial Stadium improvement project at Mizzou in Columbia. President Choi says it will preserve the stadium’s tradition-rich elements while embracing a vibrant future. Mizzou officials envision about 160,000 square feet of new construction, including 98,000 square feet that will be enclosed as part of new premium seating areas:

The Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture (CCUA) started in 2008. Its mission is feeding and educating our community. CCUA executive director Billy Polansky joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. Mr. Polansky tells listeners that the CCUA aims to connect people with agriculture and their food. The CCUA also helps get young people interested in farming and it grows food for the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri. Mr. Polansky updated listeners on the status of the welcome center at the Agriculture Park, saying the lowest of four bids was about $4.7 million. “It’s an 11,000 square foot building. It’s going to have office space, a commercial kitchen, event space and a resource library as well,” Mr. Polansky tells listeners. He notes that when people go to the park, they’re unsure if they can even be there, saying this will be a “front door” for the park. People will be able to take a tour by going into the welcome center, and they’ll also be able to sign up for CCUA programs. Mr. Polansky also updated listeners Saturday on the “food as medicine” and produce prescription programs. The ten-acre Columbia agriculture park is open year-round for you to enjoy. The park includes production fields, a food forest and a greenhouse: