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MRH Career Connections
April 30th, 2013
Several chamber member businesses, including the Chamber itself, were honored at the Maplewood Richmond Heights’s Career Connections Appreciation Luncheon on Thursday, April 25th.
Career Connections is a program that connects business professionals and MRH High School Students in varying capacities including internships, job shadowing, and panel discussions. Through the program, students identify and explore career options and connect with professionals currently working in industries for which they have an interest. John Capuano, Director of Career Exploration & Apprenticeship Program, spearheads the program and expressed his excitement with the growth, “Its been incredible to see so many local Maplewood businesses working with staff and students in various capacities. The best part has been watching this program evolve in a way that benefits the MRH and Maplewood community.”
There are many options for businesses wishing to be involved with the program. Experiences can range from a one-time event to a bi-monthly work placements, and everything in between. Those businesses who have been involved thus far have found program to be rewarding. One of the honorees at the luncheon was Carol Mertz, Rampant Interactive who commented “We really enjoy being able to provide a real-world outlook for students interested in our industry. We’ve embraced the opportunities that MRH has given us to both go to the high school to talk directly with the students, as well as invite interested students to experience what it’s like in our office. It’s very inspiring to see young students already excited about their careers, and we really enjoy the opportunity to connect with them as individuals to provide answers about the industry, advice on schooling, and guidance for students in pursuit of similar career paths.”
There were many businesses honored for their involvement including Citizens National Bank, Shop n’ Save, Maplewood Police and Fire Departments, Rampant Interactive, Barron Family Medicine, and more. To find out how your business can be involved with Career Connections, contact John Capuano, Director of Career Exploration & Apprenticeship Program, at john.capuano@mrhschools.net or314.724.4232.
Do’s and Don’ts of Remodeling by Consolidated Design & Construction
April 29th, 2013
- Do check references. Ask reference questions such as: Was the job finished on time? Were there any unexpected extra charges? Was the job site kept clean? Did all of the workmen show respect for the homeowner and the property?
- Do trust gut instinct. The bitterness of a poor job lingers long after the sweet taste of the “good” deal. If you are uncomfortable with the contractor, find someone else. If you don’t understand how something is being done or what materials are being used, ask for an explanation. A good contractor welcomes your question! If there is something that doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t. The time to get it fixed is now, not at the end of the job when it may be too late.
- Do ask about membership in professional, civic, and charitable organizations. While that is not a guarantee of good work, it does indicate if a company is seeking to become more professional and support the community in which it works.
- Do insist upon a certificate of liability insurance and verify workmen’s compensation insurance coverage for every person on the job.
- Do ask if the company is an EPA lead-certified firm. There is a risk of lead exposure, particularly to small children, in any home built prior to 1978. An EPA lead-certified renovator can help minimize that risk.
- Don’t pay ahead or make large advance payments unless needed for special-order materials.
From Dave Dunlap of Consolidated Design & Construction
Cornerstone-Our Strength, By Mary Kausch, Board President
February 1st, 2013
As fellow Maplewood Cornerstones, we come together to create, perpetuate and celebrate the qualities that give our community strength and pride.
We did this at our first-quarter luncheon on January 22 – we packed Schlafly Bottleworks. And it was rocking! More than 80 people participated in this meeting, during whichMarty Corcoran and Rachelle L’Ecuyer,from the City of Maplewood, helped us understand what they do to help build our community’s economy, and build our strength! The City of Maplewood partners with the Chamber of Commerce – this is a team effort. We cannot succeed without each other.
Also at that luncheon, The Post Sports Bar & Grill received its award as Maplewood Business of the Year. I asked Adrian Glass, co-owner of The Post, what he believes led to this award. He said, “It’s the way our managers and employees get involved in this community. They donate. They coach sports leagues. They participate in the chamber. And the list goes on and on.” In other words, they exemplify the Cornerstone qualities that sustain our community.
February is full of chamber activities that will strengthen you and your business: NetWalking each Wednesday at 6:50 a.m., and ribbon-cutting ceremonies on February 6 at Kids In The Middle and on February 19 at HALO Insurance and Benefits Group and Saint Louis Lighting Group to welcome them to our community. Following the ribbon-cutting, Saint Louis Lighting will host a business after hours. Join us also for an intimate, conversational NetLunch on February 27 at Imo’s Pizza.
Your membership packets were mailed a few weeks ago. As you complete your packet, please keep in mind that the chamber is here for you, to help you build and sustain your business. Being an active member in the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce provides you with a Cornerstone – a healthy, long-lasting, economic partnership that gives us all strength.
Let’s keep packing the houses of this community. We are all LocaVores, consuming the food, entertainment, retail wares, business services, products and expertise of our community. In partnership, we all succeed. Our community thrives when we are all actively involved. So, let’s rock Maplewood together!
Giant Steps Stepping Up for the Community, By Betty Berger
January 30th, 2013
“Every other year the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce delivers Maplewood Business Directories to the residents and businesses in their town. This year the Chamber’s director, Jeannine Beck, asked the students of Giant Steps to be their carriers to deliver the Maplewood booklets. A perfect job! Something every student at Giant Steps can do!
Giant Steps students have the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Often people think that people with this disability are only to be served, never serving others! But Giant Steps has been serving others in the community for the last twelve years, whether they are volunteering at the St. Louis Food Bank, baking goodies for the Maplewood Police Officers or Firemen, or selling dog biscuits to donate funds to neglected and abused animals. Betty Berger, the director of the program says, “Service to others fits right into our curriculum. Our students are learning vast skills while preparing for future work and increasing their life skills, not to mention what it does for their self-esteem. When practicing service learning behaviors decrease and abilities rise to the surface!”
During Physical Education classes, Giant Steps students often can be seen outside doing distance walking for exercise, practicing crossing the street, obeying traffic signs, and experiencing the community. Now they walk with an added purpose: representing the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce! Each student carries their own backpack filled with directories and places them at the doors or hands them off to residents. Each student is learning how to carefully place the directories at the door and to be courteous when they meet someone new. When the students return to school after delivering they may look tired but satisfied. Many students have a look of pride on their face and some students say proudly, “I got the job done today!” Surprisingly no one is complaining or refusing to go out with Marhia Wilkenson, their adapted PE teacher and their personal teaching assistant. In fact there has been no resistance at all, even after delivering over 1000 directories!
Marhia reported: ” During all those warmer days the students were very happy to be out in the neighborhood. They are keeping up a good pace and no one wants to return until the last directory in their backpack is delivered!”The Giant Steps students are hoping for more sunny days so they can get back outside and complete their task. Yesterday one student brought his empty backpack to his teacher and said, “Lets go!” Serving the community comes in all shapes and sizes and now in all abilities! ” Betty Berger, Giant Steps of St. Louis
Madosky Chiropractic & Acupuncture Food Drive Success
January 16th, 2013
16th Annual Food Drive at Madosky Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center Best Yet!
The 2012 Annual Holiday Food Drive at Madosky Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center brought in approximately $600 worth of non-perishable foods, making it the most successful yet! Food items were collected through the month of December and were matched by Dr. Madosky. All proceeds were donated to Immaculate Conception Church in Maplewood which hosts the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s food pantry. Thank you for making this year’s food drive a success!
Extra, Extra Chamber News
January 10th, 2013
Liberty Mutual Insurance: Liberty Mutual Insurance representative Clare Hill is our newest member. She can help you with many of your insurance needs: (636) 579-1359.
Maplewood Public Library: From couponing to drawing classes the library has a wide range of opportunities available to you. Click here to see the January schedule.
Cheryl’s Herbs: Aromatherapy 101: Foundations- this is a certification program taught by Cheryl. See the calendar here.
Pitzman’s Co. of Surveyors: Chris Peoples, President of Pitzman’s has been named to the St. Louis Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 list.
Nix Conference & Meeting Management: Kimberly Ritter was the recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for her, and Nix’s, work to fight child sex trafficking. According to Ritter’s LinkedIn Profile Nix Conference & Meeting Management is a global leader in combating human trafficking. Their work in setting up events in various hotels gave them the opportunity to make a difference by creating the first Meeting Planners Code of Conduct to combat child sex trafficking and child pornography that occurs in various hotels across the country.
Madosky Chiropractic and Acupuncture Sponsoring Annual Food Drive
November 14th, 2012
Madosky Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center to sponsor 16th Annual Food Drive
The 2012 holiday season marks the 16th year that Dr. William Madosky is sponsoring his Annual Holiday Food Drive. For the entire month of December you can drop off, any non-perishable food items (i.e. canned meat, fruit, soup, veggies and beans, or dry goods such as cereal, oatmeal and pasta) at the Madosky Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center at 2175 South Big Bend Boulevard, in Richmond Heights, Missouri. There will be a Drop Off Box inside. For every item donated Dr. Madosky will match it one to one! All proceeds to benefit a local food pantry.
Thanks for helping out and Happy Holidays!
Business Directory-Last Chance to verify accuracy
October 1st, 2012
The Maplewood Chamber of Commerce 2013-2014 Business Directory will be going to print on October 19th! Please take a moment to verify the accuracy of your listing in the directory. Your business is listed in both our Service Directory and Alphabetically. Please notify us immediately if you see any errors with your listing.
Check: Business Directory-By Service
Check:Business Directory-Alphabetically
Maplewood Business: Giant Steps of St. Louis
August 27th, 2012
Giant Steps of St. Louis is another great cause who has found their home in the Maplewood Community. Giant Steps is a special education school and therapy center for young people with autism who often times have struggled in larger schools. Their goal is to help students and campers develop to the point where they can attend a general education setting full time or at least as much as possible. 
Giant Steps serves students between the ages of 3-21 years dealing with autism. They have a regular school year and also host a summer camp. This past summer students at the summer camp were able to take near daily trips and adventures to different places where they could learn and be entertained. Campers were able to go swimming, to the Magic House, to an aquarium, to parks, and more. In addition to field trips campers were able to exercise their creativity while coming up with some very skilled art at the school, check out their pictures on facebook here- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Giant-Steps-of-St-Louis/189234331096929?sk=photos_stream.
During the traditional school year student instruction is given in small groups and individual sessions that focus on each individual student’s needs. Student plans include speech, social skills, service learning, music and occupational therapies, and many more programs designed to help autistic children. They learn the skills required to reach goals in math, language, and communications. For the older students they offer Pre-Vocational Instruction.
While Giant Steps is a great cause and a great member of the Maplewood community, they can use some help. They are looking for places where their students can work and volunteer throughout the community. Each student will be assisted by a helper who will help them with their duties. Currently our office is blessed to have an autistic helper who comes in on Thursday afternoons. He helps us to get a lot of work done and always brightens our day.
If you could use a helper at your business or can provide entertainment or a field trip destination for the kids please get in touch with Giant Steps. Their phone number is 932-1051 and their website is athttp://www.giantsteps-stlouis.org/. They are a Variety Children’s Charity of St. Louis organization.
Extra, Extra-Chamber Member News
May 2nd, 2012
Chamber Member News, Events & Other Tidbits
The Wood: Come experience the brand new menu with lots of delicious new items at The Wood! Have kids? Come in Monday-Thursday and kids eat free until 9:00 p.m.!
Event Partners: Has beautiful flower arrangements for Mothers Day beginning at just $35. They have the perfect arrangement for your mom, aunt, grandmother, or any other special woman in your life. Guaranteed on-time arrival, and as a bonus, Event Partners is offering free delivery within Maplewood for employees of Chamber businesses. Check out some of our amazing designs at www.eventpartners-stl.com.
S.Carmody Photography: Is holding a Silpada Open House Party on Wednesday, May 2nd from 5:30-8:30 p.m.! Come enjoy beautiful, handcrafted Sterling Silver Jewelry with no formal presentations – just friends, wine and fabulous jewelry. Please RSVP to 401-8089 or Sarah@CarmodyPhoto.com.
Saint Louis Cellars: Invites you to attend the Aroma Wheel Class on Thursday, May 17th from 5:30-7:00pm. Train for nose with the class all about breaking down the scents you find in your wine, such as cinnamon, chocolate, oak, etc…and drinking wine too, of course! Tickets are $35/person ($25 for Wine Club members) and must be purchased in advance. No refunds. No exchanges. To reserve your spot, call (314) 880-9000.
Maplewood Public Library: Invites you to attend two great events in May. On May 3rd, Past the Pumps and Go Green, will feature a guest speaker from Trailnet from 7-8p.m. in honor of National Biking Month. Later in the month on May 24th from 7-8p.m., the library will feature Pictures in the Dark with a presentation by Brad North, a local photographer. Learn how to capture shots of the great outdoors and the beautiful nighttime sky. You can also check for other programs and services by visiting our website www.maplewood.lib.mo.us or visit our new Facebook page.
Do you have news to share? If you want your company news promoted in the newsletter or on the website, simply send the information in a Microsoft word document, ready for print to director@maplewood-chamber.com.
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