table of
contents

Welcome New Members 08

Top Investors 09

Fall Events at the Chamber 12

Welcome KCU Dental School 16

Crowder’s Surgical
Technology Program 24

Catalyzing Dreams:
The Creative Learning Alliance 30

Discovering Joplin’s Best
Study Spots 36

ON THE COVER:

Pictured is the new Kansas City University Harry M. Cornell Center for Dental Education, a $65 million state-of-the-art facility where students will begin classes in August.

Cover photo courtesy of Kansas City University.

Chamber Spotlight

Volume 1 | Number 2

Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce

320 East 4th Street

Joplin, MO 64801

417.624.4150 | joplincc.com

This is a Town Square Publications,
formerly MetroMedia (since 1997),
publication created and produced for the
Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.

Copyright © 2023 Town Square Publications

P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006

(847) 427-4905 | tbusby@tspubsdigital.com

www.TownSquarePublications.com

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication. The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce and Town Square assume no responsibility for misinformation. Please contact the Chamber with any additions or corrections. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of the Chamber and Town Square is prohibited.

Chairman, CEO and Publisher | Douglas K. Ray

President and Chief Operating Officer | Scott Stone

Vice President / Director | Scott Ray

Managing Director | David Small

Director of Production | Ryan Moore

Sales | Tammie Easson

Editor | Chris Reardon

Design Project Manager | Sandy King

WELCOME
NEW MEMBERS

JUNE-JULY 2023

Behavioral Health Group (BHG)
Substance Abuse Program/ Behavioral Therapy
2919 East 4th Street
Joplin, MO 64801
417.782.7966
www.bhgrecovery.com
Ms. Lisa McCallister, Program Director
Sponsor: Reggie Powers, JACC

Watson’s Holdings
Consulting and Resources for Music Events and Construction Projects
7841 Drake Drive
Joplin, MO 64804
417.629.6569
Mr. Kyle Tracy, Owner
Sponsor: Reggie Powers, JACC

The Mossy Grove
Event Venue / Music Venue
7841 Drake Drive
Joplin, MO 64804
417.629.6569
Mr. Kyle Tracy, Owner
Sponsor: Reggie Powers, JACC

American Business Systems
Copier & Printer Products / Office Supplies
220 South Main Street
Joplin, MO 64801
417.624.7447
www.ambussys.com
Mr. Byron Pearson, Sales Manager
Sponsor: Reggie Powers, JACC

The Emerald Event Centers
Event Center/ Planning/Banquet & Conference Center
4975 East Zora Street
Joplin, MO 64801
417.499.0069
www.themeraldeventcenters.com
Joe and Hope Szklarski, Owners
Sponsor: Reggie Powers, JACC

Service 4U Construction & Roofing
Construction/ Roofing
Joplin, MO
417.352.1001
www.service4uconst.com
Mr. Steve Finney, Owner
Sponsor: Reggie Powers, JACC

Miller Fence, LLC
Commercial and Residential Fencing
Pierce City, MO
417.850.2448
www.millerfencesllc.com
Mr. Floyd Miller, Owner
Sponsor: Reggie Powers, JACC

Galen Solutions Group

Transportation Logistics/Medical Supplies Transportation

18326 Fairway Oaks Square

Leesburg, VA 20176

417.310.7385

galensoultionsgroup.com

Mr. Kevin Sidenstricker, Marketing & Digital Outreach

Sponsor: Reggie Powers and Doug Hunt, JACC

Missouri Army National Guard

Military

2000 West 32nd Street

Joplin, MO 64804

417.624.0722

moguard.gb.mil

Ms. Kelly Spencer, Recruiter

Sponsor: Reggie Powers, JACC

Spencer Jones Foundation

Nonprofit Organization

2424 East 11th Street

Joplin, MO 64801

417.768.9548

spencerjonesfoundation.org

Ms. Dawn Jones, Founder/President

Sponsor: Reggie Powers, JACC

Tom Franz

Individual Membership

Joplin High School Band Boosters, Inc.

Nonprofit Organization/ Civic Organization

2104 Indiana Avenue

Joplin, MO 64804

254.493.9100

Mr. Christopher Zinn, President

Sponsor: Reggie Powers, JACC

Gypsy’s Daughters Boutique

Resale Store

731 South Maiden Lane

Joplin, MO 64801

417.680.4333

gypsysdaughters.com

Ms. Trisia Buckley, Owner

Sponsor: Reggie Powers, JACC

Safe & Sound: A Sandy Hook Initiative, Inc.

Nonprofit Organization

6031 North Main Street Road – Box #368

Webb City, MO 64870

417.438.4887

safeandsoundschools.org

Ms. Kim Vann, Deputy Director

Sponsor: Reggie Powers and Doug Hunt, JACC

Distinctive Designs a Division of Mills Property Group

Shopping Center

1651 West 7th Street

Joplin, MO 64801

417.844.0325

Mr. Jon Jehle, General Manager

Sponsor: Reggie Powers, JACC

The Chamber’s Board of Directors and staff are pleased to welcome our newest Chamber Members.
Please keep these and all Members in mind when looking for goods and services.

Invite your clients or vendors to join the Chamber. Contact Reggie Powers at 417.624.4150 or reggie@joplincc.com.

WELCOME KCU DENTAL SCHOOL

JOPLIN BECOMES SMALLEST U.S. CITY WITH BOTH MEDICAL AND DENTAL SCHOOLS

by Marc Sheforge

With the opening of Kansas City University’s new state-of-the-art College of Dental Medicine, Joplin has become the smallest city in America with both a medical and dental school. Yet, that fact is trivial compared to the impact that the new $65-million facility is expected to have on the local economy, health care industry, and overall quality of life in the area.

“When we looked at the 125-mile radius around Joplin, every county—every one of them—within that circle was a dental-health-professional-shortage area as determined by the federal government,” said Dr. Marc Hahn, Kansas City University’s (KCU) president and CEO. “And because of that, we decided to start addressing the oral health needs of our region from our Joplin campus. No one is really focusing on rural oral health. Joplin makes sense.”

The new 100,000-square-foot dental school officially opened in late June, and the first class of 80 students began their coursework in August. After completing the four-year accredited program, graduates will be certified to begin practicing dentistry.

KCU’s latest addition in Joplin complements their local medical school, which opened in 2017 on the site of the former St. John’s Regional Medical Center. The new dental education and clinical space sits next to the College of Osteopathic Medicine and the two programs will collaborate on some core curriculum and lab space.

Dr. Linda Niessen, dean of KCU’s College of Dental Medicine, said sharing resources and classwork with the medical students will uniquely position the dental students to better serve the areas where they will ultimately practice.

“We’ve designed our curriculum so that our dental students can become comfortable working with their medical colleagues and their behavioral health colleagues,” Niessen said. “If they are providing dental care in a rural area, they may diagnose patients with various medical conditions. We want our students to be able to provide their patients with kindness, caring, and compassion.”

Niessen said not only is Joplin now the smallest community with both a medical and dental school, but the new dental college features amenities unavailable anywhere else.

The new facility includes a 68,000-square-foot Oral Health Center with 92 dental chairs for students to practice caring for patients. Additionally, there is a 27,000-square-foot Dental Education Center for classroom space. The school features the latest technology, including 3D X-ray machines, 3D printers, and a virtual simulation dental lab.

“Not only is it state of the art, but I would be willing to say it is the most modern and technologically advanced dental school in the United States,” Niessen said.

Hahn said the new school was also purposefully created to address needs that were identified throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was designed in the post-pandemic time with a focus on health and safety,” he said. “It was designed for air handling and isolation to make sure there wasn’t any transmission of disease. Not only will it be a dental school, but it will be one of the finest dental schools in the nation, if not the world.”

Half of the incoming 80 dental students are from the four-state area. For those graduates who intend to practice throughout the state and region, there will be significant job opportunities. In addition to the aforementioned shortage of dentists in the immediate Joplin area, Hahn said the state of Missouri currently has a need for 700 dentists.

Beyond securing employment, graduating dentists will also have the chance to improve the lives of citizens, particularly in rural areas that suffer the greatest dentist shortages, Hahn added. According to the American Dental Association, there are only about 30 dentists per 100,000 residents in rural areas compared to 65 dentists for that population in urban areas, nationwide.

“The rural oral health needs are so great,” Hahn said. “There are oral health conditions that directly impact physical health and well-being. Periodontal disease can worsen diabetes, can exacerbate hypertension, can exacerbate coronary artery disease. We’re finding there are so many dental conditions that, left unchecked, can worsen the overall health of an individual. The other thing is that sometimes people can’t get a job if they are missing all their front teeth. Not only is it overall health but it’s the ability for people to be able to provide for themselves.”

Hahn said before the new KCU dental school opened, there were only two dental schools in Missouri, one in Oklahoma, one in Kansas, and none in Arkansas.

“We know if we want to impact access to care, we’ve got to try to establish a pipeline of students from the region for the region,” he said.

Niessen applauded Joplin’s leadership in recognizing the importance of adding a dental school. She said funding for the facility was a collaborative effort between KCU and the community.

“In essence, our dental school is the community’s dental school,” she said.

Hahn noted the school’s tremendous economic impact, which the community has already experienced, as well as the effects that the dental school will have in the future. He said the project has directly and indirectly supported more than 400 jobs, with more than 80 percent of the construction contracted from the city or region. Construction also brought more than $800,000 in tax revenue to the community. Overall, KCU’s Joplin campus is expected to have an economic impact of almost $120 million annually and is estimated to support nearly 1,000 jobs directly or indirectly, Hahn added.

“I’m so proud to be part of the Joplin community,” he said. “We look forward to impacting the health and well-being—as well as the economics—of this community.”

For more information about KCU’s College of Dental Medicine, visit
www.kansascity.edu.

Crowder’s Surgical Technology Program

Filling a need for regional hospitals

by Marc Sheforge

For graduates of Crowder College’s new Surgical Technology Program in Joplin, finding work has not been an issue.

“Almost every one of our students was able to find a position because the demand is so high right now,” said Melissa Smith, director of Crowder College’s Advanced Training & Technology Center in Joplin. “The past couple years, the regional hospitals have been contacting Crowder because there is such a need for surgical technicians.”

In response to that demand, Crowder started the Surgical Technology Program in Joplin in 2022 and graduated its first class of 15 at the end of last semester. Smith said job opportunities abound for those graduates, with positions starting at $18 an hour regularly available. Future students are quickly taking notice.

“This year, we filled our surg tech program two weeks after enrollment opened,” she said. “Students are really excited, and hospitals are encouraging their employees to come to Crowder for the program and training.”

Smith said she expects the program, which can accommodate 20 students at a time, to be fully accredited by the end of this year. Students will have the option of completing an associate degree with their surgical technology accredited certification with just two years of coursework.

After that, they will be qualified to assist in operating rooms in a range of capacities that include, providing tools and instruments for the surgeon throughout a procedure, counting and keeping track of all instruments, and maintaining a sterile operating environment.

Crystal Meadowcroft is an instructor for the new program and has extensive experience working as a surgical technician. She applauded the first class of students for their resilience as the school worked to establish the new program. She said the first group of graduates is uniquely prepared for real life in an operating room.

“They were so flexible,” Meadowcroft said of the students. “They rolled with all the punches. And being in an OR, you have to be flexible. I tell them, ‘This is how it is.’ They have to learn different personalities, the roles they will have to play, and how to handle stressful situations.”

Meadowcroft said the new Surgical Technology Program is providing a great resource for the community as hospitals and medical centers throughout the region have faced shortages in qualified personnel. She said the Crowder curriculum is tailored to provide students with a range of specialties, better preparing them for whichever type of surgical technician work might be available.

“I talk to them a lot about specialties,” Meadowcroft said. “You want to be versatile. You want to be able to do much of everything so that in your career, if you want to go to another hospital, you’ve done these other specialties. You’re more apt to get the job than someone who can only do one or two.”

Smith said students can complete the Surgical Technology Program associate degree for about $15,000.

“That’s the beauty of Crowder College,” she said. “We are an affordable option for students.”

Crowder’s Joplin footprint is in their Advanced Training & Technology Center at 420 Grand Avenue. The college rents that space from the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce. To add the Surgical Technology Program, the school needed to rent more space in that building and was able to do so with the sponsorship of Mercy Hospital. Additionally, local and area hospitals have contributed tables, gowns, gloves, medical cabinets, and other supplies to equip the new lab and surgical tech classroom.

“Our partners are just incredible,” Smith said. “We couldn’t have been as successful without them.”

So far, the new program has been very well received by employers.

“The 100 percent placement upon graduation speaks for itself,” she said. “Employers have been so welcoming and supportive. And we have more than 15 partners who have said they would love for our students to do their clinicals in their hospital. There has been an outpouring of support.”

To learn more about Crowder College’s Surgical Technology Program, including how to apply, visit www.Crowder.edu.

CATALYZING DREAMS

THE CREATIVE LEARNING ALLIANCE

by Marc Sheforge

In a temporary home on Main Street in downtown Joplin, the Creative Learning Alliance is weaving an extraordinary tapestry of education and exploration for the next generation. Their mission is to offer STEAM-related opportunities to area kids, who may otherwise miss out on the wonders of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics.

“It’s about the kids and providing the chance for them to explore career opportunities that they may not even know exist,” said Audie Dennis, board president of the nonprofit. “There are a lot of kids out there who aren’t able to go to Kansas City, Tulsa, Springfield, or even northwest Arkansas…and discovery centers they have. They deserve every bit of the same opportunity as everyone else. We want to open a whole new world to them that’s going to ultimately help the entire community.”

The Creative Learning Alliance was born out of the Vision Joplin 2022 project when community leaders came together in 2017 to brainstorm ideas for where they envisioned Joplin to be in five years.

Following that planning session, the Creative Learning Alliance was formed in 2018 with the goal of establishing a full-time science center in Joplin. COVID-19 stalled the progress of those plans but in March 2022, the Alliance began hosting monthly gatherings in downtown Joplin to expose kids to hands-on STEAM-related activities.

“I like to call them play shops because there’s no work involved,” said Neely Myers, the Creative Learning Alliance’s executive director.

Myers, who joined the organization in April 2022, said the monthly play shops have included a variety of themes, such as robotics, an explosion lab, space exploration, green screen technology, drones, and even a full-sized pinhole camera kids could walk into so that they could understand how it works.

“Whatever the theme is, it’s about exploring the science of that theme,” Myers said. “If you try to explain a camera to a child, it’s one thing. If you show them, it’s a whole different thing.”

While the play shops continue to be successful and very well received, both Dennis and Myers said the creation of a full-time science center remains the goal. They are in the process of identifying possible existing buildings and considering new construction. Once they can identify a total cost, they can begin the fundraising process. Plans call for an opening by 2025.

Dennis said several businesses have already expressed interest in supporting the project. Many people understand the far-reaching benefits this type of facility can bring to Joplin, he added.

“Ultimately, this is going to help our employers in terms of employee recruitment,” he said. “One of the things potential employees want to know is ‘what’s the quality of life there?’ If we can show them a science center, it’s just going to make it easier to recruit and retain employees in those types of science, engineering, and math careers that we’re talking about.”

A science center would also deliver other economic impacts locally as it would attract visitors to the community and help to produce a more skilled workforce.

In the short time the Creative Learning Alliance has been hosting events, Myers has already seen an incredible impact.

“The way that the brain learns at its core is by doing,” she said. “Traditional education has limits in terms of what can be accomplished during a school day. We recognize the importance of traditional education, obviously, but we want to bring that hands-on learning in a way that maybe doesn’t fit into the traditional school day.”

Myers used the example of a weighted table that is used at the Creative Learning Alliance is to teach counterbalance.

“When you try to just explain counterbalance to a ten-year-old, it may or may not make sense,” she said. “But if you show them, that lightbulb is going to click on, and what I love about that moment is that it opens up a whole new world of questions from the kiddos.”

Myers talked about the opportunities this kind of curriculum provides for children who would not otherwise have access.

“We recently had a young lady in our lab who has an incredible mind but just doesn’t have the ability within her personal life to access the sorts of things like what we have in our lab,” she said. “And at 11 years old, she solved the three most difficult puzzles we have in less than ten minutes. So what we started talking to her about is the ways she could use that in an engineering or architecture career. And these are dreams she didn’t even know she had.”

To learn more about the Creative Learning Alliance, including donation opportunities, visit
www.creativelearningalliance.org.

Discovering Joplin’s Best Study Spots

by Alyssa Brown

Finding the perfect spot to work is essential for students and professionals. Since coffee is often the best friend of a tired student (or just a tired person), coffee shops are ideal for filling up on caffeine while hitting the books. If you’re looking for the perfect study spot, look no further than these local Joplin favorites.

Student Discount: No
Wifi Spot: Yes
Website: beardedladyroasters.com

Bearded Lady Roasters is on a mission to prevent everyone from drinking bad coffee. They proudly roast their own coffee beans, serving up classic favorites as well as special, seasonal drinks.

With friendly staff and a relaxed atmosphere, Bearded Lady is perfect for students who need to catch up on homework, those who need to catch up on their emails, and friends just looking to catch up with each other.

Try this: Side Car (espresso shot with cappuccino or cortado)

Pair it with: Classic No-Bake Cookie from their neighbor, Frosted Cakerie

Student Discount: Yes
Wifi Spot: Yes
Website: the-clay-cup-a-coffee-pottery.business.site

The Clay Cup offers a unique twist for coffee lovers: each customer who orders a drink onsite enjoys their coffee in a handcrafted, ceramic mug. And if they like the cup, they can purchase it.

In 2023, The Clay Cup expanded into Joplin and moved in with one of Joplin’s favorite cookie dealers, Coley’s Cookies. Pop in for your favorite drink and enjoy the quiet ambiance along with a sweet treat from Coley’s.

Try this: London Fog made with loose-leaf tea

Pair it with: Blueberry Scone from Coley’s Cookies

Student Discount: Yes
Wifi Spot: Yes
Website: joplinavenuecoffeecompany.com

Joplin Avenue Coffee Co. is a local favorite with its laid-back, rainy-day atmosphere. Their menu offers a rotating mix of seasonal items and a diverse range of specialty coffees, smoothies, and teas.

The shop’s event space is popular for study groups and professional meetings as well as open mic nights, poetry readings, and improv performances.

Try this: Downtown Dublin (vanilla latte with Irish cream)

Pair it with: Cinnamon roll

Student Discount: No
Wifi Spot: Yes
Website: joplingreenhouse.com

One part plant nursery, one part coffeehouse, Joplin Greenhouse & The Coffee Shop is a trendy choice for study groups and business professionals thanks to its unique atmosphere.

They offer the basic coffee staples along with specialty drinks and unique breakfast, lunch, and dessert options. The staff sources ingredients from local farms and small businesses to create their menu’s unique flavors. Take advantage of the natural surroundings to find your focus and inspiration, or a new plant for your collection.

Try this: Ozark Stinger (signature latte with honey)

Pair it with: The BAE Sandwich (bacon, avocado, egg, and cheese sandwich served on sourdough)

Student Discount: No
Wifi Spot: Yes
Website: zinc.coffee

Offering a clean, modern feel, Zinc is meticulous in their coffee preparation so that each customer can enjoy their experience from start to finish. Their community-driven approach includes offering excellent customer service and hosting community events in their gathering spaces.

Whether you’re looking to try something new or stick to your usual order, Zinc has got you covered with classics like espressos and cappuccinos as well as newer options like the trendy matcha latte.

Try this: Americano

Pair it with: Double-Chocolate Cookie

Student Discount: No
Wifi Spot: Yes
Website: starbucks.com

No coffee shop list would be complete without Starbucks. Its consistent quality and familiarity provides a reliable option for students across three different locations in Joplin.

Their menu has all of the familiar favorites, including hot and iced coffees, teas, snacks, and bakery treats. Settle into the conducive atmosphere with your regular drink order and find your focus as you study, work, or simply relax.

Try this: Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew

Pair it with: Chocolate Croissant

Studying at home or joining a group at the library? Check out these drive-through and local coffee roaster options.

Facebook: facebook.com/CUPOJOEJOPLINMO

Swing through Cup O Joe, a veteran-owned coffee drive-through, on your way to a study session and enjoy their friendly, speedy customer service as well as a unique military motif. Pair your favorite drink with a breakfast item like biscuits and gravy or a bagel on your way to class or your next study group.

Try this: Iced Caramel Macchiato

Pair it with: Cinnamon Crunch Muffin

Website: shop.ogahpahcoffee.com

An Indigenous-owned brand, O-Gah-Pah Coffee Roasters is operated by the local Quapaw Nation. Roasted, tested, and packaged locally, their products are available online or in local stores across the area. They’re perfect for staying in for a study night or for a cup of at-home coffee before school or work.

Try this: Tribal Soul Blend