10 Missouri firms named rising stars of 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Ten companies from around Missouri have won a Rising Star Award from the University of Missouri Extension Business Development Program (BDP)’s Missouri Small Business Technology & Development Centers (MO SBTDC), a statewide network of business counselors.

“Small businesses like these 10 exceptional firms are the true engine of economic growth in Missouri,” said Chris Bouchard, MO SBTDC state director. “These individuals work hard every day to bring opportunity and prosperity to their community, and this award is just a small measure of recognition for their outstanding efforts.”

Each firm was selected by a rigorous process that included a firm’s exceptionalism, the difference it makes in the community, its economic impact in terms of sales and jobs and how MO SBTDC counselors helped the firm achieve its goals.

In addition to the award, each business will receive a legislative proclamation honoring the firm for its contribution to the economic development of the state of Missouri.

The 2016 Rising Stars are:

• Power Process & Industrial, LLC, Marceline, owned by Rob Chowning and counseled by Matt Trussell and Rebecca Lobina. PPI is a full service mechanical contractor for the maintenance and modification of existing fossil power generating plants, ethanol plants, renewable paper mills, chemical plants, petroleum refining industries, food and beverage services.

• Concrete Pier System, LLC, Hunnewell, co-owned by Joe and Debbie Timbrook, counseled by Charles Holland, Carolyn Chrisman and John Woodson. Concrete Pier System manufactures construction components for pole barns that can extend the life of a pole to 100 years or more.

• Mid Coast Modern, Kansas City, owned by Matt Bramlette and counseled by Rebecca Gubbels. Mid Coast Modern is an innovative retailer supporting the modern hand-crafted arts movement.

• Twister Sports LLC, Warrensburg, owned by Danielle Johnson and Angie Fritsch and counseled by Kelly Dyer. Twister Sports offers instruction in cheerleading, dance, tumbling, gymnastics and martial arts for children as young as 18 months through adult.

• Pulse Medical Staffing, LLC, Columbia, owned by Dan Latham and counseled by Virginia Wilson. Pulse Medical Staffing provides temporary medical staffing to hospitals, clinics, physician offices, surgery centers, radiology centers, rehabilitation centers and nursing homes nationwide.

• Silgan Plastic Food Containers Corp., Union, President Robert McCoy. Counselors: Pablo Arroyo, Collin Bunch, Sandra Marin, Jackie Rasmussen, Larry Dill and students from the University of Missouri Trulaske College of Business. Silgan Plastic Food Containers manufactures plastic containers for the food industry, has secured approximately 70 percent U.S. market share and has enormous overseas potential.

• Innovet, Inc., St. Louis, owned by Charlie McCarty. Counselors: Lynette Watson, Kevin Wilson and Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (MO PTAC) counselors Millie Miller-Hoover and Carolyn Jones. Innovet, a service-disabled, veteran-owned general contractor founded by decorated Vietnam War veteran McCarty, is a telecommunications and electrical contracting company serving both commercial and government clients. MO PTAC is a BDP program that assists businesses — including small, disadvantaged, veteran- and women owned firms —obtain good federal, state and local government contracts.

• Stronghold Data, L.L.C., Joplin, owned by James and Tami Richards and counseled by Lisa Robinson and Ken Surbrugg. Stronghold Data is an enterprise-level provider of storage, servers, endpoint devices, virtualized infrastructure and managed services that provides complete solutions for IT problems from an ultra-secure cave beneath the city.

• Lew’s, Springfield, owned by Lynne Reeves and Gary Remensnyder. Counselors: Isabel Eisenhauer, Chrystal Irons, Michele Granger and Lacey Berry. Lew’s designs, manufactures and distributes old-school and innovative fishing rods, reels and combination fishing products.

• Bollinger County Co-op, Marble Hill, owned by Bollinger County Cooperative members. Counselor: Richard Proffer. The Bollinger County Co-op sells and leases agricultural products, livestock and agricultural operations in Bollinger, Wayne, Madison and Stoddard counties ranging from feed manufactured in-house to renting farm implements.

The MO SBTDC helps transform Missouri businesses from concept through start up, growth and expansion. MO SBTDC counselors are located statewide providing education and individualized assistance on a variety of business management issues.

From 2013 through 2015, the BDP assisted thousands of Missouri firms create or retain 24,180 jobs, increase sales by $439 million, acquire new investments of $419.6 million and win government contracts of $1.4 billion. The BDP is a solid return on investment, creating $119 of economic impact for every $1 invested and creating one job for every $930 in total funding.

For more information on how the BDP can make your company a rising star, visit missouribusiness.net to find the center nearest you.