contents

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS 8

THANK YOU TO OUR TOP INVESTORS 10

JOPLIN’S GOLF COMMUNITY 14

HACKETT HOT WINGS 22

AMERICAN RAMP COMPANY 28

JOPLIN FAMILY YMCA 34

MEMBER LISTINGS 41

Chamber Spotlight

Volume 2 | Number 3

Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce

320 East 4th Street

Joplin, MO 64801

417.624.4150 | joplincc.com

This is a Town Square Publications

publication created and produced for the

Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.

Copyright © 2024 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 Chamber 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

Director of Operations | Joseph Nugara

Sales | Tammie Easson

Editor | Chris Reardon

Project Manager | Sandy King

Contributing Writers
Angela Harrington, Mark Sheforgen

ON THE COVER:

Joplin and the surrounding area have many options available to develop your golf skills and enjoy the camaraderie and community this fantastic sport has to offer.

WELCOME
NEW MEMBERS

MAY 2024 - JULY 2024

4 State Brokers, LLC

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages

203 North Broadway Street

Pittsburgh, KS 66762

417.499.5307

www.4statebrokers.com

Dale Clark & Blake Onstot, Owners

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

ALLO Fiber

Communications

330 South 21st Street

Lincoln, NE 68510

402.480.6550

allocommunications.com

Ms. Sophie Bolubasz, Billing Representative

Sponsor: Lauren Ferguson, JACC

Bedrock Bookkeeping, LLC

Bookkeeping

Joplin, MO 64804

417.572.4611

www.bedrockbookkeeping.net

Austin Rose, Founder/CEO

Sponsor: Doug Hunt, JACC

Bellchip LLC

Glass - Automotive

Webb City, MO

417.291.6612

Facebook

Keigan Bellis, Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Chaos Brewing Company, LLC

Brewhouse / Restaurant / Meeting Rooms

112 South Main Street

Joplin, MO 64801

417.499.5307

chaosbrewing.beer

Dale Clark, Jr., Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Cheeky Fun Joplin

Face Painting & Party Entertainment

Joplin, MO 64804

417.291.2681

Facebook

Tabatha Carter, Owner

Sponsor: Doug Hunt, JACC

Christine’s Vineyard

Winery / Event Venue

25696 Mulberry Road

Webb City, MO 64870

417.499.3912

www.christinesvineyard.com

Benjamin & Janette Cade, Owners

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Countryside Flowers

Florist / Venue

424 South Joplin Avenue

Joplin, MO 64801

417.781.3719

www.countrysideflowers.biz

Bailee Bland, General Manager / Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Crazy Llama Coffee

Coffee Shop

415 West 32nd Street

Joplin, MO 64804

417.540.7999

crazyllamacoffee.com

Randy Miller, Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Creek Valley Storage

Storage Facility

4288 West 32nd Street

Joplin, MO 64804

417.706.8122

www.creekvalleystorage.com

Brian Schnelle, Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Derailed Commodity

Flooring / Furniture Store

3001 South Range Line Road

Joplin, MO 64804

417.781.6616

www.derailedcommodity.com

Joe Shockley, General Manager

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

ESmith Insurance Agency LLC

Insurance Residential/Commercial

1531 West 32nd Street, Suite 207

Joplin, MO 64804

417.616.3056

americannational.com/wps/
portal/agent?s=elizabeth
smith-653181&_gl=1*agyra3*_ga*MjA2MTA5M

Elizabeth Smith, Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Flatline Contracting LLC

Contractor

2419 East State Hwy 76

Anderson, MO 64831

417.312.4899

flatlinecontracting.com

Mr. Triston Vandergrift, Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Frequency Marketing

Marketing Company

2021 Schifferdecker Avenue

Joplin, MO 64804

417.291.6886

www.frequencymarketingteam.com

Taylor Brown, Owner

Sponsor: Lauren Ferguson, JACC

GO Sports Therapy

Physical Therapy Clinic

1227 North Range Line Road

Joplin, MO. 64801

www.gosportstherapy.com

Amy Goddard, President/Owner

Sponsor: Doug Hunt, JACC

Home Depot

Home Improvement

3110 East 20th Street

Joplin, MO 64801

417.206.7510

homedepot.com

Bill Coleman, Store Manager

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Honor and Hope

Nonprofit Organization to Help Stillbirth and Infant Loss Families

Loma Linda, MO 64804

417.438.5215

honorandhope.org

Ms. Audrey Borok and Priscilla Simon, Co-Founders

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

iProtect Services

Retail – Phone Repair

1901 East 32nd Street, Suite 14

Joplin, MO 64804

417.499.4441

iprotectservices.com

Ms. Alisha Scott, Marketing Director

Sponsor: Lauren Ferguson, JACC

Kinetic Design & Development

Architects, Planners & Architectural Illustrators

2215 West Chesterfield Blvd., Suite 01

Springfield, MO 65807

417.530.4321

www.kineticdd.com

Mr. Mike Hayward, Business Development Officer

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Local Color Art Gallery

Art Gallery / Art Dealer

1027 South Main Street

Joplin, MO 64801

417.553.0835

localcolorartgalleryjoplin.com

Ms. Ginger Copland, Board Member

Sponsor: Lauren Ferguson, JACC

Love’s Travel Stops

Travel Center / Truck Stop / Fuel

4013 Highway 43

Joplin, MO 64804

417.206.0684

loves.com

Louis Niewald, General Manager

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

MC Plumbing

Plumbing Services Commercial / Residential

117 West McCord Street

Neosho, MO 64850

417.454.0323

Facebook

Abraham Laughlin, Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Ohana Aina Flower Farm

Florist & Florist Supplies

7548 East 20th Street

Joplin, MO 64801

Mrs. Anne Shaffer, Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

People Link Staffing Solutions

Employment Agency

1329 East 32nd Street, Suites 8-9

Joplin, MO 64804

417.623.2900

peoplelinkstaffing.com

Mrs. Amber Bainbridge, Branch Manager

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

PepsiCo

Beverage Distributors

7911 East 24th Street

Joplin, MO 64804

417.623.4969

pepsico.com

Mr. Justin Howard, Sales District Leader

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Predictive Maintenance Technologies

Manufacturing Supplemental Support

914 East 17th Street

Columbus, NE 68601

417.763.5657

mvpmt.com

Mike Wallace, Director of Sales

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Red Wing Shoe Store

Shoes / Retail – Specialty

2914 East 32nd Street, Suite 106

Joplin, MO 64804

417.782.1135

www.redwingshoes.com

Carrie Hopkins, Manager

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Reliable Lawn Care Services

Lawn Care Services

Baxter Springs, KS 66713

620.762.0532

Bob Hessee, Owner

Sponsor: Lisa Crouch, State Farm Insurance and Doug Hunt, JACC

Rolled Up Printing

Printing Services

619 South Schifferdecker Avenue

Joplin, MO 64801

rolledupprinting.com

Mr. Barry Brown, Primary Contact

Sponsor: Lauren Ferguson, JACC

Roof Masters Remodeling & Solar

Roofing, Solar installation

409 East 7th Street

Joplin, MO 64801

417.726.5226

roofmastersremodeling.com

Ms. Katharine Grieser, Office Manager

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Security Finance Corporation

Tax Preparation / Bookkeeping

1901 East 32nd Street, Suite 6

Joplin, MO 64804

417.624.6933

securityfinance.com

Brandon Morvant, Branch Manager

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

SHINE Joplin

Opportunities Provider for Adults with Developmental Disabilities

P.O. Box 5021

Joplin, MO 64803

417.621.5471

shinejoplin.org

Ms. Heather Winsett, CEO

Sponsor: Lauren Ferguson, JACC

Smoothie King 1622

Health Food / Restaurant

2202 South Range Line Road

Joplin, MO 64804

417.317.5087

smoothieking.com

Mr. Parker Wright, Manager

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Spectrum Paint

Paint Wholesaler / Store

1230 East 7th Street

Joplin, MO 64801

417.612.3101

spectrumpaint.com

Jamie Newberry, Account Manager

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Tee Time

Golf Course / Outdoor Entertainment / Restaurant and Bar

520 East Broadway Old Route 66

Webb City, MO 64870

417.392.3338

playteetime.com

Mr. Justin Thomas, Sales Manager

Sponsor: Lauren Ferguson, JACC

The Social Sip

Mobile Bar / Rental Services

Joplin, MO 64804

417.629.7443

www.thesocialsipllc.net

Sarah Peavler, Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

The Vine Lutheran Church

Church

2722 South Main Street

Joplin, MO 64804

417.499.8508

vinelutheran.com

Mr. Jordan Bence, Pastor

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Wild Range Associates LLC

Tax Service / Accounting Services

1715 South Madison Street, Suite K

Webb City, MO 64870

417.660.3118

www.wildrange.co

Weston Rea, Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, 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 Chandler Grace at 417.624.4150.

JOPLIN’S GOLF COMMUNITY

TEEING UP VARIETY

ANYTIME GOLF SUITES

Located in historic downtown Joplin, Anytime Golf Suites is the go-to location for indoor practice and skill development. As a 24-hour, private, members-only facility, you can hone your shot using state-of-the-art simulators without an audience or bring friends and family to make an event out of playtime. It does not matter if it is cold outside, raining, or more than a hundred degrees as you will be teeing off in comfort.

Beyond the suites, Anytime Golf Suites also specializes in bringing the game to your location, at your house or office, by offering a variety of products at every price point, even if space restrictions have been a barrier. Low ceilings, lack of space, and budget restrictions are all easily worked around.

Owner Brent LaVigne opened the business in June 2022 and has since branched out to include golf simulator and equipment sales and installation, which has made practicing as accessible as possible. The company motto explains the philosophy best: “Practice better inside. Play better outside.”

To find out how to join or for more information about products and services, check out their website at anytimegolfsuites.com.

Tee Time Entertainment

As the newest member of the Joplin golf scene, Tee Time Entertainment is poised and ready to provide a fun and relaxed atmosphere to hit some balls and hang out with friends. Their new 215-yard driving range is paired with four pickleball courts; a drink shack that offers beer, wine, specialty cocktails, and espresso; and more. They also have snacks such as nachos, wings, sliders, and flatbreads to keep guests fueled up for fun.

Tee Time Entertainment’s co-owner Kellen Grantham has been playing golf since he was a child. Introduced to the sport by his parents, he and his business partner, Jonathan Johnson, are excited to see more young people getting active by enjoying all the benefits that golf brings. This propels them to their next goal: to open ten locations in ten years. The second location is slated for Lake of the Ozarks and will potentially open by spring or summer of 2026.

Tee Time Entertainment is also available for hosting corporate events and gatherings of all kinds. See their website for more info at playteetime.com.

EAGLE CREEK GOLF COURSE

Affiliated with Downstream Casino Resort since 2008, Eagle Creek Golf Course is located just three miles from the resort. This 18-hole championship course is comprised of beautiful fairways and lovely mature trees, making it a fantastic environment to enjoy the outdoors while getting some exercise and mingling with friends.

Open to the public, Eagle Creek Golf Course offers individual, corporate, and family memberships. Laura Rawlins, senior director of golf, said this “hidden gem” is open to all. Golf lessons are available and a pro shop on site makes getting what you need a breeze. They have something for everyone, in every price range, including custom clubs and bags. Thanks to a bar and grill on site, there is no need to venture elsewhere to grab a snack or drink.

The driving range and putting green are great for working on overall skills and fine-tuning. For full course play, golfers will enjoy the newly GPS-enabled golf carts with features such as course mapping, distance management, and player tracking. This type of technology can aid players and is the newest way to modernize the game. In addition, during the winter months, October through April, an indoor golf simulator is available to keep your game up-to-par.

For information about their banquet facility, golf lessons, dress code, and much more, visit their website at downstreamcasino.com/golf.

SCHIFFERDECKER GOLF COURSE

Located on Route 66, Schifferdecker Golf Course is a year-round, par 71, 18-hole course complete with a clubhouse and pro shop. Golf pro Austin Shipman said they have completed many renovations and are listening to the community to always make improvements.

As host to many golf tournaments throughout the year, the course is ready for everyone at every skill level, from first-time players to professional-level athletes, and from youth through seniors. Onsite lessons are geared to help players improve their form and swing mechanics, learn to use the right clubs, lower their overall scores, and drive the ball to its intended location. Shipman started playing when he was just eight or nine years old and his passion for the sport only continues to grow. He is ready to assist anyone who wants to improve their game.

Annual passes are available, and for cold or inclement weather, the golf simulator located in the clubhouse can be reserved. Visit their website for more details at joplingolf.org.

TWIN HILLS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

The roots of this location go all the way back to 1911 when they opened under the name Oak Hills with nine holes and only 25 members. The name was changed to Twin Hills Golf and Country Club in 1947 and by then the course had been increased to 18 holes. As a member-owned club, there is a distinct effort to preserve their rich traditions by providing family-oriented social and recreational experiences. They offer individual, family, corporate, and social memberships.

This championship course was designed to appeal to all levels of experience thanks to the yardage range and five sets of tees to choose from. They also offer a multi-level targeted driving range, large putting green, short game practice area, locker rooms, and a full-service golf pro shop. Lance Allen, general manager and head golf pro, said, “We have the best greens in the area and the nicest and friendliest staff.”

Many tournaments and events are held at Twin Hills throughout the year, such as the Roper Honda AAGA event, which brings hundreds of people to the Joplin area; the Harvest Moon couples event; the Ladies Conference, and many others. In addition to golf, they have tennis and pickleball courts, a seasonal swimming pool, dining options, concerts in the summer, live music some weekends, and a reservable event venue. The clubhouse is a beautiful venue for your next meeting or event and is available to both members and non-members.

Membership information, venue planning, and answers to questions can be found at twinhillsgolf.net.

Joplin has a large golf community and many options on how to learn, practice, and enjoy this historical, social, and entertaining sport. No matter whether you are new to golf or have been playing all your life, you owe it to yourself to check out some, or all, of these locations. Bring a friend, or a group, and make a memory. It will be a swinging good time!

HACKETT HOT WINGS

THE ONLY WINGS BETTER ARE ON AN ANGEL

Hackett Hot Wings is an easily identifiable staple of the downtown Joplin community and a draw to the area for miles around.

Located at 520 South Main Street, on historic Route 66, a placard on the outside of the building tells the story of how this landmark restaurant got its start. The concept took shape while the owners, Floyd and Jacqueline Hackett, were residing in Memphis, Tennessee.

While visiting relatives in Joplin, they discovered there was no place in town to get hot wings. Seeing a need in the community, they became fired up and ready to “wing it,” Jacqueline said. They brought the spice and the soul of Memphis’ Beale Street with them.

The Hacketts soon outgrew their first location on Broadway Street and moved downtown in 2008, and since then have continued to expand. They now have multiple dining areas as well as private meeting spaces. The menu has grown, the staff has increased, and the community has benefited.

Floyd Hackett’s passion for wings is contagious. The sauces and rubs he has created are unique and addictive to the connoisseur. Even Jacqueline has gotten in on the flavor creations. Their best selling and most popular flavor, Hot and Honey, is a co-creation in which Jacqueline blended two sauces Floyd had created, and the magic that is Hot and Honey was born.

In 2023 Hackett Hot Wings was featured in America’s Best Restaurants and has received many other awards over the years. The Hacketts have no fear when it comes to any chain competitors because they know they offer something unique and special to the Joplin area. After more than two decades, their enthusiasm has only continued to grow.

“I get so excited about how blessed we are, and to have Joplin welcome us,” Jacqueline Hackett said. “They are so loving. We couldn’t have done any of this without the support of the surrounding area. It’s been a great experience.”

Upon entering Hackett Hot Wings, visitors will be immersed in the scent of delicious food and embraced by the warm and friendly atmosphere. Brick walls and gas lamp-style lighting help to set the stage for a fun and tasty experience. Whether seated in one of the two downstairs dining areas or upstairs in the reservable space, diners are transported to Memphis by smell, taste, vision, and sound, as blues and R&B music soothe the stresses of the day.

In addition to hot wings, Hackett Hot Wings offers a diverse selection of dinners and sandwiches, sides, appetizers, salads, and desserts. Catfish, pulled pork, burgers, and cauliflower wings are all great choices. If you are looking for a sandwich, chicken, pork chop, or cod might really hit the spot. Side items such as hushpuppies, fried green beans, fried okra, or corn nuggets are exciting options. Add that to the more well known and exceptionally delicious sides of seasoned fries or veggies, onion rings, mac-n-cheese, potato salad, or coleslaw, and create your own tasty combination of flavors.

The appetizers on the menu are diverse, from fried options such as mushrooms, green beans, dill pickles, and cauliflower, to beef or pulled pork nachos, pulled pork fries and loaded fries, and even sweet potato puffs served with powdered sugar and caramel sauce.

If a sweet treat is what your soul cries out for, a slice of cheesecake, plain or lemon Italian, or chocolate cake should satisfy your craving. Then again, maybe some banana pudding or a scoop of ice cream with caramel, strawberry, or chocolate sauce is more your speed.

Due in part to the longevity of their presence in Joplin, Hackett Hot Wings has earned a place in the hearts and the history of the community.

“The people that we serve now, when we were on Broadway, they were in high school,” Jacqueline Hackett said. “Now they are here with their families having baby showers and rehearsal dinners, and it’s just a generational place.”

When asked about their plans for the future, Jacqueline said, “We are looking forward to many more years serving the Joplin community.”

The motto says it all: Hackett Hot Wings, the only wings better, are on an angel.

To learn more, including reserving space, catering and shipping, visit hacketthotwings.com.

FROM GARAGE TO GLOBAL LEADER

HOW AMERICAN RAMP COMPANY PUTS JOPLIN ON THE MAP

While not every local resident knows, Joplin is number one in the world when it comes to the design, construction, and installation of skate parks, bike parks, and pump tracks.

You know those parks with all the cool ramps, halfpipes, rails, and curves that can be found in communities all around the world? Well, a large number of those parks come from right here in Joplin at American Ramp Company.

“We do more skate and bike projects than any other company in the world,” said American Ramp Company co-owner and CEO John Hunter. “A skate or bike park could be a project that’s a simple $50,000 ramp or skills park, all the way up to a multimillion-dollar regional site where we’re there for six months. We really cover the entire gamut.”

American Ramp Company installs between 150 and 180 unique projects each year and is in various stages of project development with as many as 1,000 jobs at a time, according to Hunter. The company, founded in 1998, has grown to employ about 150 people.

Yet many Joplin residents do not even know the business, near South McKinley Avenue and West 6th Street, is here.

“For a long time, we’ve just kept our heads down and been really busy,” Hunter said. “Most of the customers we’re working with are all over the world and we’ve done very little work close to our hometown. A lot of people in Joplin haven’t heard of us. But obviously, since we’ve grown, we’ve had more employees and we’ve started to recognize that we need to invest in our community and be involved.”

Nathan Bemo founded American Ramp Company 26 years ago just as an extension of his longtime passion for skateboarding.

“He started literally out of his garage, making ramps and selling them to individuals,” Hunter said about his business partner. “And then a town was like, ‘Hey, we need a skate park.’ He realized that skate parks were becoming a regular part of town or city recreation plans.”

The business grew to include larger and more involved plans and builds. Then came the addition of bike parks, bicycle playgrounds, and pump tracks. Now the operation employs traveling crews that are deployed anywhere, all headquartered in Joplin.

“The cool thing is we’ll be working in a community, we’ll get to know the local user group, and we’ll have people there saying, ‘Hey, how do I get a job?’” Hunter said. “We’ve picked up quite a few people from the communities we’ve worked in.”

American Ramp Company sets itself apart and has grown to be a leader in their industry because they offer customized, full-service solutions that address every stage of a project.

“Just really being a turnkey resource is probably our biggest differentiator,” Hunter said. “From the very beginning of the process, all the way through to marketing the park or telling the story to the community, that’s probably our biggest separator.”

Hunter, who came onboard at American Ramp Company 16 years ago, said building this business in Joplin has many advantages, not the least of which is a sense of pride, loyalty, and familiarity. All three owners have Joplin ties dating back to at least their college years.

“We’re proud to be from Joplin,” Hunter said. “There’s a really great labor force here, a lot of good technical schools around, and just a hardworking, gritty, get-it-done kind of labor force that exists in the Joplin area.”

Hunter said being centrally located also affords some logistical advantages, including for shipping times, crew deployment, and other operating costs. Yet the secret ingredient to such successful growth has been the people, he said.

“The things that matter to us are that we have really great people who care about what they do,” Hunter said. “And we’re focused on taking care of them.”

To learn more about American Ramp Company, visit www.americanrampcompany.com.

JOPLIN FAMILY YMCA

COMMUNITY CORNERSTONE FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY

Few local institutions are as enduring as the Joplin Family YMCA, where, since 1891, residents have gone not just to exercise but also to connect with each other.

“Everyone here knows the Y,” said Rene Snyder, Joplin Family YMCA marketing director. “It’s been a part of this community for so long. It’s the Y. You know what to expect.”

It is that familiarity, combined with affordable rates and a diverse selection of services, that Snyder said makes this Y more of a community hub than just a local gym.

“Even our CEO has been here for 30-plus years, and everyone knows him by just one name — Cookie,” Snyder said of longtime YMCA leader Juan “Cookie” Estrada.

While there is, of course, the full suite of fitness-related activities you would expect to find at a YMCA, a standout feature at the Joplin location is its comprehensive childcare programs. These include summer, winter, and spring break camps, as well as an after-school program held on-site at local schools, providing crucial support for working parents.

Additionally, the YMCA offers a free child-watch service for children aged three months to 12 years while parents are working out.

“We’re one of the very few gyms in town that offers child-watch, which is included in a family membership,” Snyder said.

The YMCA’s heated indoor pool is another favorite feature among its roughly 7,000 members. A current lifeguard and instructor shortage has created some challenges and required the consolidation of some of the aquatics programming, according to Snyder. Yet that has also led to some unlikely social opportunities that underscore the YMCA’s importance as a community gathering place, she added.

“We had a couple of 80-year-old ladies from Neosho a couple of years ago who took swim lessons in the same class with four- and five-year-olds,” Snyder said. “It was a hoot. They just ate it up.”

Joplin Family YMCA members also enjoy access to free fitness classes of both the aquatic and dry variety, each designed to cater to different levels of strength and health. There is a multi-use gym, an indoor track, weights, cardio equipment, and much more. There are multiple tiers of membership available, starting at just $27 per month.

One hidden benefit to a YMCA membership is that it is good at every YMCA location around the country, Snyder explained. She said tourists and people visiting Joplin for work regularly visit the local location.

Yet you do not need to be a YMCA member to take advantage of all that the organization has to offer. Youth sports are a big part of the Joplin Family YMCA’s programming, and community members are welcome to sign up for leagues and instruction even if they do not have a YMCA membership.

For example, the NFL-affiliated YMCA flag football league that started in Joplin last year has been wildly popular, Snyder said. The Joplin league is sponsored by the Kansas City Chiefs and each player gets a red-and-gold reversible uniform.

“It’s a great partnership that we’re really excited about,” Snyder said. “Their mission falls in line with that of the YMCA. The Chiefs provide us with the footballs and the kids just love it.”

The program could lead to other pro-sports affiliations, Snyder suggested.

“Apparently, within this same program, there’s also Major League Baseball,” she said. “So we’ll see about that.”

A community stalwart for more than 130 years, the Joplin Family YMCA is well positioned to continue that tradition far into the future, Snyder believes.

“Things are looking great,” she said. ”We’ve got a very strong group of leaders. And the community partnerships that we have are so, so strong.”

Visit the Joplin Family YMCA at
3404 W. McIntosh Cir Dr, or go to joplinfamilyy.org to learn more.