contents

President’s Message 6

Welcome New Members 8

Top Investors 10

Joplin’s Thriving Food Culture 14

Building Joplin’s Future 24

Long-Standing Members 30

Motive Matters 36

Member Directory 41

Chamber Spotlight

Volume 2 | 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

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 | Mark Sheforgen, Christine Smith

Photos courtesy of Curtis Almeter,
Missouri Southern State University;
Kansas City University; J&B Whittaker Photography

President’s Message

SHARING STORIES OF SUCCESS

On behalf of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce team and Board of Directors, we appreciate your interest in our organization and this publication. As we grow closer to 1,000 members strong, the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce remains the centralized hub that leading businesses and organizations look to for support and leadership. We not only help individual enterprises gain visibility, credibility, and an improved bottom line, but support a regional ecosystem that allows the business community to grow and prosper.

With Chamber Spotlight, we are leaning into a more modern platform to tell Joplin’s story. We are able to champion our members, bring attention to community events, and shine a light on all the great things happening in and around Joplin in a whole new way. Our members, the Chamber, and the Joplin community have many stories to share, and I thank you for taking the time to learn more about Joplin’s extraordinary people who are making this area a fantastic place to live and do business.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

FEBRUARY 2024 - APRIL 2024

20th Place (Bell Management)

Apartment Complex

1920 East 20th Street

Joplin, MO 64804

bellmanage.com/property/20th-place

417.622.3091

Ms. Lauren McRae, Property Manager

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

American Family Care

Health Services

320 South Geneva Avenue, Suite 100

Joplin, MO 64801

afcurgentcare.com

417.526.4232

Thomas Vosicky, Marketing Representative

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Andy Neher Photography

Professional Photography

115 East Grand Avenue

Jasper, MO 64755

andyneherphotography.com

417.438.0894

Mr. Andy Neher & Mrs. Danielle Neher, Owners

Sponsor: Lauren Ferguson, JACC

Arby’s

Fast Food Restaurant

2408 South Range Line Road

Joplin, MO 64801

arbys.com/flynn.com

417.625.1962

Mr. Tantyn Skaggs, General Manager

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

ATG Customs

Engravers / Custom Gifts

2626 East 15th Street

Joplin, MO 64804

757.354.7812

Amy Jones, CEO

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

AZ Professionals LLC

Bookkeeping / Tax Services

4152 East 7th Street

Joplin, MO 64801

417.691.5876

azpros.taxwisemobile.com

Ms. Aidee Zuniga, Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Blue Haven Investments

Real Estate Developers & Investors

212 South Joplin Avenue

Joplin, MO 64801

bhinvestgroup.com

417.434.9313

Ms. Alexis DeRoin, Marketing Strategist

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Boomerangs Beauty Bar

Salon

2722 South Main Street, Suite B1

Joplin, MO 64804

boomerangsbeautybar.com

417.757.1215

Mrs. Terry Wilson, Owner/Stylist

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

The Brush & Blade, LLC

Hair Salon

1027 South Main Street, Suite 101

Joplin, MO 64801

brushandbladejoplin.com

417.621.0392

Ms. Katherine Burr, Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Bug-A-Way Pest Control LLC

Pest Control Services

7414 East 32nd Street

Joplin, MO 64804

bugawaypc.com

417.624.2999

Rorie Hansen, Manager

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

CB Ledgers

Bookkeeping & Tax Services

Webb City, MO 64870

cbledgers.com

303.601.2309

Ms. Courtney Beck, Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Dependable Lawn Care & Landscaping LLC

Landscaping Services / Lawn Care Services

4152 East 7th. Street

Joplin, MO 64801

417.622.6577

lawncarejoplin.com

Mr. Juan Zuniga, Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Edward Scorse

Individual Member

Farmers Insurance – Leesman Agency

Insurance Agency

2021 South Schifferdecker Avenue

Joplin, MO 64801

farmersagent.com/pleesman

417.781.4350

Phillip Leesman, Agency Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Gracefully Managed LLC

Virtual Assistance / Business Management

P.O. Box 508

Columbus, KS 66725

gracefullymanaged.com

620.429.6962

Mrs. Sara Comer, Owner

Sponsor: Doug Hunt and Chandler Grace, JACC

Harlan and Associates LLC

Insurance – Senior Insurance Plans

Joplin, MO, 64801

Facebook

417.674.1727

Ms. Donna Harlan, Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Heartland Concert Band

Volunteer Concert Band / Nonprofit Organization

P.O. Box 4761

Joplin, MO 64803

joplinprints.com/heartlandconcertband

417.438.0166

Mr. Judson Fisher, President

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Hillbilly Outlet

Appliance Store

502 East 7th Street

Joplin, MO 64801

hillbillyoutlet.com

417.291.7460

Mr. Lanny Mosely, Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Home Depot

Home Improvement

3110 East 20th Street

Joplin, MO 64801

www.homedepot.com

417.206.7510

Bill Coleman, Store Manager

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Iconex LLC

Manufacturing Printing Services

3301 Enterprise Avenue

Joplin, MO 64801

417.626.2999

iconex.com

Mr. Trent Coe, Plant Manager

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Joplin Outlaws Baseball Team

Minor League Baseball Team

300 South High Avenue

Joplin, MO 64801

joplinoutlaws.com

785.221.5302

Mr. Matt Perry, President

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Modern Dentistry & Cosmetics

Dentist Office

620 West 32nd Street, Suite C

Joplin, MO 64804

mdco.dental

417.623.8232

Dr. Jacob Hamby, Doctor

Sponsor: Stephanie McGrew, JACC

Morph Dev

Computer Services / Information Technology

112 S. Main Street, Suite 10

Joplin, MO 64801

morphdev.co

417.922.0676

Ms. Cara Pagán, Operations Manager

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Nexus, an OCH Event Center

Event Center

105 South Main Street

Webb City, MO 64870

ocheventcenter.com

417.673.9463

Natalie Taylor-Moore, Director of Business Development

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

RMB Services LLC

Commercial Landscaping Services / Lawn Care Services

4152 East 7th. Street

Joplin, MO 64801

Facebook

417.396.9531

Mr. Roberto Martin, Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Simple Simon’s Pizza

Restaurant

1522 East Broadway Street

Joplin, MO 64801

417.782.0900

simplesimonspizza.com

Amanda and Andy Martin, Owners

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

T-Mobile for Business

Telephone and Internet Communications

6200 Sprint Parkway

Overland Park, KS 66251

t-mobile.com/business/solutions

918.264.9052

Mr. Micah Nedom, Business Development Manager

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Toro Construction

Construction Company

4106 East Zora Street

Webb City, MO 64870

toroconstructionco.com

417.437.4557

Mr. Jesua Castro, Co-Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Urban Escape Salon

Salon / Spa

107 West 2nd Street

Joplin, MO 64801

skyeler-michelle-beauty.square.site

417.434.0033

Ms. Skyeler Frett, Owner

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Whataburger Restaurants, LLC

Fast Food Restaurants

2014 S. Range Line Road

Joplin, MO 64801

918.724.9741

whataburger.com

Ms. Kim Kannarr, Regional Marketing Manager

Sponsor: Chandler Grace, JACC

Wingstop

Fast Food Restaurant

1421 South Range Line Road, Suite 6

Joplin, MO 64801

wingstop.com

417.632.9464

Lyzette Vega, Office Manager

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.

Thank You To Our Top Investors

5-Star Investors

4-Star Investors

3-Star Investors

2-Star Investors

1-Star Investors

JOPLIN’S THRIVING FOOD CULTURE

LOCAL RESTAURANTS GET NATIONAL EXPOSURE

FOOD NETWORK VISITS JOPLIN

The number of exceptional local eateries in Joplin continues to grow and people are taking notice. This April, six Joplin restaurants gained national exposure when they were featured on an episode of the Food Network’s Best Bite in Town.

In this issue, we take a closer look at three of those restaurants, who are all members of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce. While only one of them earned the coveted title, “Best Bite in Town,” they all showcase the best of Joplin’s thriving food scene.

Finn’s is a semi-fine restaurant that features three unique spaces: a cozy room with paneled walls and a crackling stone fireplace; a large, contemporary main room with sparkling chandeliers providing a touch of glam; and a spacious outdoor patio where guests can dine when the weather is warm.

What originally started as an event center five years ago gradually morphed into the multifaceted restaurant and catering business it is today, according to Michelle Ferson, the restaurant’s general manager. Every year, Finn’s adds more offerings, such as the bakery, which creates the signature miniature cupcakes served at the end of each meal.

Finn’s menu is just as varied as is its dining spaces and, like the restaurant itself, continues to evolve. Each week Executive Chef Elijah Spencer and his team create a new feature and, if it becomes popular with the clientele, add it to the menu. While some of the menu items at Finn’s may change, one thing that remains constant is the quality of the food.

“We stay true to our brand, which is fresh, made from scratch,” said Ferson. “We always buy prime beef, and that’s a big thing. There's nobody else around here who does prime beef.”

Finn’s also only serves chicken that is hormone-free, antibiotic-free, and cage-free, which is then brined for 24 hours.

“Everyone loves our chicken sandwich because it's the chicken. It’s the chicken!” said Ferson.

Other popular dishes include the house-made fettuccine, the filet and prime rib steaks, the Tuscan chicken, the walleye dishes, and the fresh, never frozen salmon, which is shipped overnight from a supplier in Florida.

Serving fresh, quality food is only part of Finn’s recipe for success, however. The welcoming way the staff treats their guests is what makes a visit to this restaurant unique, according to Ferson.

“We want you to sit here and enjoy, and we aren't going to rush you,” she said. “Have a drink, have an appetizer, have some conversation. We call it the experience.”

Hungry Monkey’s brick exterior blends in with the other buildings on Joplin’s historic Main Street but its interior, bursting with lively colors, lush tropical plants, and tiki totem poles, instantly transports diners to a faraway island.

“When they stepped through the door, I didn’t want people to feel like they were in Joplin anymore,” said Daniel Campell, owner of Hungry Monkey. “I wanted it to feel like something you would see beachside in Hawaii – like a food truck inside a little spot. A little dystopian feeling, you know?”

Campbell has owned and operated restaurants and bars for the last 20 years. After living in Maui, he moved to Joplin, where he has family.

“I was just kind of living life in the fast lane, so I took an exit,” he said.

Campbell decided to help his parents remodel their house and use Joplin as a base from which he could travel throughout the country. Through his travels, he discovered he liked New York City.

“The New York food scene is just like my thing,” he said. “It’s just like restaurant on top of restaurant. Everywhere you go, they're hustling, they’re trying. You have to be amazing to make it work at a place like that, and I kind of wanted something like that.”

Campbell decided to remain in Joplin and opened Hungry Monkey in March 2023, choosing an old, brick building because it reminded him of the restaurants he had visited in New York. He wanted to introduce island cuisine to this market, but he was not sure how people in this landlocked city would take to it. To his surprise, it took off right away.

Hungry Monkey’s menu is fused with a mix of dishes from Hawaii and the Caribbean. Campbell said he knew poke bowls would do well because there’s nothing like them in Joplin. He was right – poke bowls are some of the restaurant’s most popular items, along with the fish tacos and the kalua pork sandwich, which is “Hawaiian barbecue in a hoagie,” according to Campbell.

“I was just pulling from what I knew and then I just tweaked it to what people would like around here,” he said. “I wanted to bring something a little bit different, share a little bit of home – because Maui is home.”

BEST BITE IN TOWN

He may operate his business from the inside of a mobile kitchen in a trailer, but Marcos Renteria of Ghetto Tacos has earned a permanent spot in the history of the Joplin food scene with his Carnitas Mulitas, the dish that won the title of “Best Bite in Town” on the Food Network show.

“They could have gone somewhere else, but they chose here,” he said. “To be a part of something like that was really special.”

Renteria moved to Joplin in 1997 from California, where over the years, he worked at jobs in restaurants and also opened a mechanic shop and car lot, gaining experience on how to run a business.

“I was not good at selling cars or working on cars,” he said. “It was not my thing.”

So, he thought about what he could do instead.

“I've always worked at restaurants,” he said. “I've been a cook for 25 years, everywhere I could, even at home. Even my kids are like, ‘Dad, we love how you cook. Your cooking is better than Mom's – just don't tell Mom.’”

That is when Renteria decided to make cooking his business.

At that time, there were not any food trucks operating within the Joplin city limits. After repeated visits to City Hall, Renteria became the first business owner to receive a food truck permit. He brought his trailer to a parking lot on Main Street and started serving authentic Mexican food using his family’s recipes, such as his dad’s Birria (a meat stew) and his brother-in-law’s carnitas. He also created his own recipes, such as pico de gallo made with fresh oregano instead of cilantro, and his own marinade for suadero, a brisket dish.

“It's originally from Mexico City,” Renteria said. “Around here, no one does suadero. I want to be different. That's when my ideas work.”

Ghetto Tacos is a growing family business: Carletta, Renteria’s wife, runs Ghetto Tacos Shop, a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Webb City; their daughter manages the trailer on Main Street in Joplin, and Renteria drives an additional food truck to nearby towns in Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

On Taco Tuesdays, Ghetto Tacos’ customers know to meet at the parking lot on Main Street to try the featured meat dish of the week, explained Renteria. If the weather is nice, people will set up lawn chairs so they can eat outside and gather with others in the community.

“The thing I love most about Ghetto Tacos is that when people haven't seen each other for a long time, they meet at the truck,” Renteria said. “They're like, ‘Man, how’ve you been?’ To me, that’s what it's about.”

BUILDING JOPLIN’S FUTURE

LEVERAGING HEALTH CARE & EDUCATION ASSETS

The City of Joplin features a unique intersection of health care and health sciences education that has the community primed for major opportunities, a new report shows.

The recently completed TEConomy report, commissioned by a group of community leaders serving on the Joplin Regional Alliance for Healthcare and Health Sciences, offers a roadmap for leveraging these sectors to spur economic growth and community well-being.

“You have to build on your strengths,” said Travis Stephens, president of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, which played a pivotal role in organizing the initiative. “It just makes so much sense to collaborate and form a plan so that there’s cohesion moving forward.”

The report, produced by TEConomy Partners in Columbus, Ohio, highlights strategic focus areas, including education for health care careers, research and innovation, and advanced health care delivery. The report underscores that if Joplin can better tie together an already robust health care system and the already strong local education of health professionals, while also improving the health of the regional community and workforce, very big things are ahead for the city.

“The arrow is definitely pointing up,” Stephens said.

Dr. Dean Van Galen, president of Missouri Southern State University (MSSU), who first suggested the Joplin Regional Alliance for Healthcare and Health Sciences, agreed, saying, “Joplin has a unique set of assets, and now we have a plan to maximize those assets.”

Bryan Vowels, a member of the Joplin Regional Alliance committee and founding partner and CEO of TrueNorth Wealth & Impact, said that the benefits of executing what the TEConomy report recommends can be far-reaching.

“This is a comprehensive strategy for how we can make Joplin better,” Vowels said, adding that the trickle-down effects such as talent development and retention stand to strengthen the community in the long run. “Speaking as a dad, we want Joplin to be a place where our young people want to come back to live.”

Vowels said the TEConomy firm’s research and analysis was exhaustive and included a full gamut of input.

“They listened to leaders in our community and put together a report that helps all of us to think, ‘How do we make it better and how do we think bigger?’” Vowels said. “As the work begins, if there’s a strong commitment for each sector, we’re going to look back and say this was a great investment in time and money.”

That push toward improvement is already underway, highlighted by developments such as the recent groundbreaking of the 65,000-square-foot Roy Blunt Health Science Innovation Center at MSSU. The new facility will feature a simulation hospital, virtual reality skills lab, and much more. It is one example of the type of cutting-edge health sciences education that is and will increasingly become more available in Joplin.

The community has already enjoyed tremendous recent momentum in that area with the recent opening of the Kansas City University’s medical and dental schools in Joplin. The city now has the highest number of health sciences undergraduates in the state.

The TEConomy report, funded with private contributions and a commitment from the city, suggests a multi-faceted approach to health education, aiming to link educational efforts from middle schools to universities. This educational continuum is vital for developing a health care workforce that can meet future needs. The report also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a healthy workforce to minimize absences and enhance productivity.

“This is a long-term strategy and plan,” Van Galen said. “Some of these initiatives will be implemented in a matter of months, while others will continue for many years.”

The ultimate aim of the plan, Van Galen said, is to “transform Joplin into a national leader,” which should result in more and better jobs and increased wages, along with the attraction of new businesses and residents who are eager to participate in Joplin’s growth and prosperity.

Immediate next steps following the report include securing funding and appointing an executive director to spearhead the implementation of these strategies, which are likely to be supported through private funding initially.

“All of these entities were in a position to grow,” Stephens said of the factors that have led to Joplin’s favorable position. “Health care is going to continue to grow and be more important as the population ages and people live longer. Education is always going to be in high demand. And people are always going to need jobs. So it’s a symbiotic relationship.”

Add it all up, and the future looks incredibly bright.

“It’s a great time to be in Joplin,” Stephens said.

LONG-STANDING MEMBERS

Honoring 340 Years of Membership

In 1917, a group of local businesses joined together to promote the interests of its members and of the growing community. This was the inception of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.

Today, more than 900 Chamber members strive to promote and grow the local economy by connecting with each other through a shared pool of resources, networking, and events. In this issue, we look at four of the Chamber’s long-time members.

In February 2024, Osborn Paper Company moved from its brick building, built in 1926, to a modern facility they share with Lakeland Office Systems, which acquired Osborn Paper Company in 2017.

According to David Tyson, Lakeland’s executive vice president, combining resources with a paper company was a good diversification for Lakeland, an information technology company selling office equipment from brands such as Canon, Sharp, and Lexmark.

“It’s the same customer base,” said Tom Owen, Osborn’s general manager.

Over the decades, Osborn’s offerings expanded to include janitorial, food service, and industrial packaging supplies, and more.

“Anybody who is going to use a copier is going to need to clean their building,” Owen said.

Osborn offers “white glove service” to businesses that utilize high-turn consumables, such as manufacturers, schools, and churches, Tyson explained.

“We can drop by weekly and replenish those items for them so they don’t have to go out and seek and purchase separately,” he said.

In addition to selling supplies, Osborn also provides full-service support and ongoing training, an added value for their customers.

“That’s the goal – to be a partner and not just a retail transaction,” Tyson said.

Osborn also offers space-planning design for offices, helping companies plan and configure their workspace areas. Later this year, Osborn will open a 2,000-square-foot office furniture showroom, making it the only one of its kind in Joplin.

Osborn joined the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce in 1941 and continues to be active in the organization today, participating in and hosting events, such as Business After Hours.

“Joplin’s Chamber is very strong,” Owen said. “They try to support Chamber members out there and I think that’s where a lot of the value goes.”

The Joplin Globe has been a constant source of news and information in the Joplin area since its founding in 1896. At first strictly a print daily paper, The Globe has changed the way it delivers the news as the use of technology grows.

In addition to print, The Globe reaches its readers through its interactive e-edition, social media, mass email, and the paper’s online edition, according to Robin Phelan, editor. Visitors to The Globe’s website can purchase a variety of digital packages, including daily passes, to access the articles in the online edition.

“Our online audience has over 1.5 million page views every single month,” Phelan said. “We’re plugged into the community.”

Being a member of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce since 1946 has helped the paper connect with people, as well, both from a business aspect and from a community aspect.

Reporting what they learn through those community connections is what makes The Globe unique.

“Ninety percent of what you see in the paper – and what’s consumed, especially from the news side – that’s done from the hyperlocal aspect.”

The reason, Phelan explained, is that people can get national news anywhere these days but they seek information about their community.

“They want to know what’s happening down the street,” he said. “They want to know why their property tax bill went up. They’re now learning the process of these things. They want quality of life and they have to learn about quality of life locally. That’s where we come in.”

A long history of local ownership is one of the aspects that makes Parker Mortuary unique in Joplin, according to Chad DeGonia, one of the mortuary’s funeral directors. The business opened in 1931 as Lanpher Mortuary. In 1951, Steve Parker became owner and changed the name.

Over the years, a parking lot and on-site crematory were added onto the property. Ownership of the mortuary has changed, as well; B.J. Goodwin and his wife, Diana, are the current owners. The Goodwins operate several mortuaries and funeral homes in the area, including Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin.

Parker Mortuary offers both cremation and burial services; both can be simple and direct, or can include full-fledged funeral events, according to DeGonia.

“We do our very best to take care of the family but also meet their wishes,” he said. “Sometimes you go above and beyond with things like a custom casket of sorts. We’re still very traditional in a lot of ways but things do obviously grow and you progress the best you can.”

For example, one of the services families often request is using Facebook Live to allow family members and friends unable to attend to view their loved one’s service, DeGonia said.

What has not changed over the years is Parker’s dedicated staff. It is the only mortuary in the area with staff on-site seven days a week to meet with families during the day. When the office is closed, staff is available by telephone 24 hours a day.

Being a member of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce since 1946 has allowed Parker Mortuary to make connections with people, according to DeGonia.

“It’s good relationship-building for us,” he said. “We want to give the best experience so someone’s going to tell somebody else at the Chamber. It’s not just one family that we’re servicing. We’re potentially servicing generations to come.”

In 1923, the accounting firm of Baird, Kurtz & Dobson opened its Joplin office and became a member of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce. In 2022, it merged with Dixon Hughes Goodman and became Forvis Mazars, one of the top ten accounting firms in the country.

Forvis Mazars provides tax and accounting services for companies and individuals, according to Mike Gray, a partner at the firm. The company’s resources have greatly expanded since the merger.

“I was on a call the other day with one of our guys in Atlanta,” Gray said. “They had expertise in some offshore insurance stuff that I know nothing about. I had a client who had some questions about it and this guy was able to answer the questions. From a resource standpoint, I think that’s one of the bigger things.”

The company’s long history of local community involvement has many benefits, as well, according to Gray, including membership in the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.

“I’ve always viewed the Chamber as kind of the face of Joplin, to a certain extent,” he said. “I think if we’re able to help provide assistance to the Chamber, and be part of the Chamber, it gives not only myself but our staff a great opportunity to meet other professionals and be part of the community.”

MOTIVE MATTERS

HOW COLOR CODE TRAINING IS TRANSFORMING PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Van and Tammy Benson understand the challenges that can threaten even loving relationships when the parties involved have varying perspectives.

“At the 25-year mark, our marriage was struggling,” Van Benson shared.

“We loved each other, but we weren’t sure we liked each other,” added Tammy.

It turns out that Van was a Yellow and Tammy a Blue. Yet they did not know that or what different types of personalities even meant, much less anything about associated colors.

Later, friends invited the Bensons to a personality trait event where they learned for the first time about the Color Code theory taught by Dr. Taylor Hartman that identifies a mix of four different colors in each individual along with common characteristics associated with each.

The Bensons experienced a marital breakthrough. Learning what made the other tick, or what “motivated” them, allowed them to better understand how to be empathetic of each other’s positions. They now have been married 47 years.

Four years after their initial experience with Dr. Hartman, Van and Tammy learned more and were certified as Color Code trainers. They then augmented the method with additional relationship-building programs to form their own Motive Matters curriculum. They now help married couples, parents and children, corporate groups, small business staff, church groups, and many other types of organizations, including several in Joplin.

“Understanding motive is what separates what we do,” Van explained. “Most personality tools are based on the way you act currently. What we do is have you take an assessment in a way that best describes how you behaved as a child. We’re looking for that original gift you had, because that’s very stable and stays with you throughout your life.”

Each color represents distinct traits. Red traits include power, leadership, and a strong sense of pragmatism. Blues, like Tammy, prioritize sincerity and depth in relationships, thriving on integrity and authenticity. Yellows, like Van, exude enthusiasm and optimism, often acting as social glue in groups, while Whites bring peace and calm, providing a balancing effect in high-stress situations.

At the completion of the personality assessment, each person is given the percentage breakdown of how they correspond with the four colors. As you might expect, no two blends of colors and their corresponding traits are identical, meaning we are all unique individuals.

“It gets very nuanced,” Tammy said.

With what Motive Matters terms “character,” people can learn to work toward the traits they may not naturally possess, becoming even better versions of themselves. Furthermore, by understanding what motivates them and what motivates those around them, they can build more successful relationships.

“Any color can have a great relationship with any other color if you’re a healthy version of your color and if you’re stretching to build character, having a spirit of empathy that’s driving you to speak the other person’s language,” Van said.

The Bensons shared a powerful story of a man (a Red) who attended a Motive Matters training session and admitted afterward he had been skeptical and dismissive of the idea. At the end of the session, he approached Van with tears in his eyes and talked about his five-year-old son, whom he said was very clearly a White.

“I’m going to go home and treat my son with the respect he deserves,” the man said. “I’m going to stop trying to turn him into me.”

Ryan Melton, president and CEO of Community Support Services, a nonprofit supporting people with developmental disabilities, learned of Motive Matters through Leadership Joplin training, which is the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce’s community leadership training program.

“It opened my eyes to who I really am,” Melton said. “I’m a Yellow and some of the attributes of a Yellow got me in trouble as a kid. In a lot of ways, this was permission for me to be me. It felt liberating in many ways.”

Melton has since hired Motive Matters several times to train different groups he has led. He has used the program to identify various perspectives and to bring them together in ways that make for a greater whole.

“It’s been incredibly valuable for us,” he said.

Joshua Oathout, another Leadership Joplin graduate, applied his Motive Matters training to a team of engineers he leads at the engineering firm OWN, Inc.

“It really helped me understand how to engage with them and where frustrations may be within the team and how we can negate that,” he said.

Ultimately, Motive Matters teaches people how to grow their relationships without abandoning their core identity.

“We don’t want you to completely change who you are,” Tammy said. “We want you to stay true to that core color and core motive that is you.”

To learn more about Motive Matters,
visit www.motivematters.com.