Maplewood Chamber of Commerce

Business Name: V Three Studios LLC- Architecture + Interactive

How did you choose Maplewood as a location for your business?We were looking for a bigger office in several areas around St Louis and Maplewood was at the top of our list due to the neighborhood feel and creative culture.  The two things that sealed the deal for us was our friends Chris and Greg (Wellbody on Sutton) leading us to a vacancy on Sutton and the welcoming embrace we received from Rachelle from the City of Maplewood.   

You specialize in re-imaging communication spaces and have worked on a variety of projects from radio studios to the Danforth Gallery at the St. Louis Art Museum. What project are you the most proud of and why? It’s impossible to pick one.  That’s like asking which of my children I am most proud of.  We are most proud of the projects that the client in the end says this space is everything we wanted and even more than we imagined.  WCBS in SoHo NY was special to us for it’s heritage as the first all news station in the US started by Edward R Morrow in the WWII era. The Harvey Digital Media Center at Washington University’s Danforth University Center is awesome in that we got an opportunity to bring all the experience we have gained around the country working for the top Media & Communication companies back to our hometown and a cutting edge institution.   

In addition to architecture V Three does interactive projects including websites and digital media. What are some projects that you have worked on? We have built sites for client such as the Austin brewery Thirsty Planet and apps for clients such as the AIA St Louis Chapter.  We are currently developing an app for them that will highlight the historic significance of many buildings downtown.

 According to the Small Business Monthly article you started out  in 2010 with no startup money and one project from a personal relationship and now you have a six person team and have worked on some really cool projects. What has been your biggest challenge in growing your business and what have you done to overcome it? 

We boot strapped it for the first two years and looking back I am not sure how we did it.  We often felt like a cat that had used 6 of its 9 lives.  We now have a line of credit in place to fuel our growth.  We have been very fortunate in this Design & Construction climate to have grown every year we have been in business.   

What is your favorite Maplewood destination outside of work? We often hang at The Post or Schlafly for our meetings.  My family loves the fish taco’s at Maya Cafe.  Home Wine Kitchen rocks as well.  For me personally as a guitar player the most dangerous place in Maplewood is Eddie’s guitars.  Nate and his guys are top notch and have the best inventory in town. 

V Three Studios’ Website

Company name: Earth First Solar

 What aspects of the solar industry are you involved in? We do everything from commercial and residential solar electric panels to the solar flood lights, attic fans, garden lights and solar tubes.

How long have you been in the industry? 3 years.

How long have you been in Maplewood? The Crown Vision Center Maplewood location opened its doors to patients in March of 2012, but the Crown Vision Center name has been in the St. Louis Community for over 50 years.

How Active is Crown Vision Center in the Maplewood Community? What are your plans to be active in the community in 2013? Crown Vision Center is still fairly new to the Maplewood Community. The Maplewood location just hired a new manager (Michelle P.) in December of 2013. She is very excited to start attending Maplewood events and to get active in the community. In 2013 Crown plans to get to know all our fellow chamber members buy hosting a business after hours.

Is there anything new and exciting coming from Crown Vision Center in 2013? Twice a year our product teams goes to an international eyewear show to purchase the most fashionable and cutting-edge eyewear available. We are excited to update our current inventory with new collections from brands such as Ray-Ban, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Coach, Prada and many more! Keep an eye out for these new collections this spring! Be sure to check out CrownVisionCenter.com for the latest trends and styles in eyeglasses and sunglasses.

What sets Crown Vision Center apart from your competition? At Crown Vision Center we thrive to have excellent customer service, as well as, provide convenience to patients with our 21 St. Louis locations. Crown is also very active in the community. Crown is proud to be a sponsor and major contributor to the Kids Vision for Life foundation (KV4L). KV4L provides St. Louis school children who are in economic need with free vision screenings, free eye exams and free eyeglasses. This year KV4L will visit 65 elementary schools, screen over 12,000 kids, conduct 1500 eye examinations and dispense over 1200 pairs of glasses.

What is the latest fashion trend when it comes to eyeglasses? Fashion trends often repeat themselves and designer eyeglasses are no different. Right now thick frames (also known as the geek chic style) are back in action. Ray-Ban 5279 is considered to be a favorite amongst geek chic trendsetters. Lace is also a hot commodity that has been popping up lately! The new Lace collection from Dolce & Gabbana contains ophthalmic and sunglasses that are available in styles ranging from cat-eye to oversized lenses.

Glasses and contacts are great but I’d prefer to not have to mess with either one. Does Crown Vision Center offer LASIK? Crown Vision Center has offered LASIK surgery to the St. Louis community for over 12 years and has performed over 5400 procedures.  Patient’s can go to any of our 21 locations and receive a FREE LASIK consultation to find out if they are a LASIK candidate. Our Laser Center is a State Licensed Federally Accredited surgery center located at 12601 Olive Blvd., Creve Coeur, MO 63141.  This is where all LASIK procedures, post-op appointments and pre-op appointments are completed. Don’t forget to ask about the various ways to pay for your LASIK surgery – we are very affordable!

What else should I know about Crown Vision Center? Crown Vision Center is dedicated to providing you with the best service possible. We have built relationships and contracted agreements with a number of insurance companies to help you get the best rate on services, eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses and LASIK. We accept almost all insurance plans: Anthem, Coventry, EyeMed, HealthLink, VSP (OON), and many more.  We also are a fully-integrated eye health provider, which means we can treat various blinding eye diseases and conditions such as Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration, Retina problems, Cataracts and more.

Business name: Girls on the Run St. Louis

What does Girls on the Run do?
Girls on the Run St. Louis (GOTR-STL) empowers girls for a lifetime of healthy living. We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. GOTR-STL provides an innovative physical activity, positive youth development program in the Greater St. Louis area. The program, for girls in 3rd-8th grades (8-14 years), combines training for a 5k (3.1 mile) run with life skill lessons designed to encourage healthy habits and active lifestyles. They strive to increase each girl’s fitness level and self-esteem as well as teach them skills that will help them navigate the pressures of adolescence and reduce the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors. We work to reduce adolescent pregnancies, eating disorders, depression, suicide attempts, the occurrence of substance/alcohol abuse and childhood obesity.

Tell me about your program?
The GOTR-STL program utilizes an academically evaluated curriculum delivered in small groups by 2 volunteer coaches (min.) per program, twice weekly for 10 weeks, resulting in a coach to girl ratio of 1:3. The curriculum contains 20 lessons focused on specific life skills such as healthy decision-making, conflict resolution, healthy eating, body image, leadership, teamwork & goal setting. Each team participates in a community service project of its own design. At the end of the program, the girls participate in a 5k as the culminating achievement of the previous 10 weeks.

How long have you been in Maplewood?
We moved to Maplewood in June, 2010.

What are you most proud of with your Girls on the Run experience?
In 2012 we began celebrating our 10th anniversary and serving more than 10,000 girls! In 2011-2012, we operated programs in more than 225 schools serving more than 4,500 girls. In the 2012-2013 seasons, we will serve more than 5,000 girls in more than 240 schools in 19 counties across eastern Missouri and western Illinois. Our program is offered in 55 school districts and 43 independent schools within our service area. The Greater St. Louis community has embraced our mission and helped us work to empower a generation of young girls in our region!

I’m a male- is there any way I can get involved with GOTR?
Of course! GOTR-STL is a volunteer based organization with more than 2,000 volunteers each year. Our team coaches are trained volunteers with a minimum of 2 coaches per team. We also welcome volunteers to participate on our race committee or help on race day each spring and fall. Volunteers help in our office at the start of each season to prepare program materials and for race preparation. We also encourage volunteers to become a running buddy at our race and run with a girl as she crosses the finish line. Volunteer opportunity information is available on our website at http://www.girlsontherunstlouis.org/get-involved/.

What are some of your favorite places to go/ things to do in Maplewood?
We are very proud to call Maplewood our home! We enjoy all the wonderful community events, delicious food and the wonderful walkability/running opportunities in Maplewood.

If you could add one thing to the Maplewood community what would it be?
We are always so excited about any new neighbor that moves into the Maplewood community! We love how supportive everyone is of each other.

Is there anything else that you would like to share?
We appreciate the wonderful community that is Maplewood. Maplewood-Richmond Heights Elementary and Maplewood-Richmond Heights Middle Schools both have wonderful Girls on the Run and Girls on Track teams at their schools with committed coaches from the community!

Business name: The Hermann London Real Estate Group

How many employees do you have?

We have about 30 Realtors.

How long have you been in business and how long have you been in Maplewood?

We have been in business for 5 years, and in Maplewood for 4.

How is the real estate market looking?

I’ve been impressed by how its improving.  Homes are selling.  Our Property Management division is doing well too because leasing is on fire right now

What is the biggest thing happening for your business right now?

We have just had a few great new agents join us, and I am excited by all of the fresh ideas, perspectives, and experience that they are bringing to us.

Is there any particular business or professional accomplishment that you are most proud of?

We really enjoy doing the 5K for Maplewood. Its so rewarding seeing all the people here in costumes, and its great seeing how much the charities appreciate our support.

What are some of your favorite places to go/ things to do in Maplewood?

We go to The Post a lot.  We love Saratoga.  We also really enjoy going to the great events that our Chamber puts on.

Is there anything else that you would like to share?

We want more of our businesses and residents to get behind our 5K, we bring hundreds of people to Maplewood.  Come, open your business, get involved, etc.

The Hermann London Group will be participating in the Maplewood Christmas Tree Walk on December 7th, 2012. They will be having an open house with free cookies and refreshments. The Hermann London Groups website is: http://www.hermannlondon.com/

Business Name:    JugoPlus Architects

Business Owner:  Patrick Jugo

Number of Employees:   1 – Singularity has its benefits, but by no means poses limitations.  In this age of digital connectivity, professional collaboration allows projects of all sizes to be accomplished, while maintaining the efficiency and simplicity of a sole proprietorship.

Years in Business:  9 years as JugoPlus Architects -  21 years in the profession

Years in Maplewood:    All 9 as a business . . . 18 as a resident

Describe in one or two sentences the nature of your business?   JugoPlus Architects is a full-service, commercial architecture, interior design and planning firm that also offers general contracting services on projects it designs.  Unlike the traditional Design-Build process, which is typically contractor-led, JugoPlus offers a cost-conscious, design-focused delivery that facilitates a seamless transition from design and documentation through to the built environment.  Just ask one our clients that have benefited from this delivery model.

What is the biggest thing happening for your business right now? The expansion of Penzeys Spices on Manchester into the adjacent building, 7342 Manchester.  The scope necessitated the design and construction of a complete shell and interior renovation of the century-old 7342 building for Owner Rob Birenbaum, while giving the existing 7338 Manchester Penzeys store a complete interior face-lift, insuring business could continue as usual throughout the entire process.  They move a lot of spice out of that store every day and could not afford a retail interruption!

Is there any particular business or professional accomplishment that you are most proud of?  Profitably enduring the past 5 years of the design and construction market ‘bottom’.

If you’re curious to see how JugoPlus can assist on your next project, just call or stop over.
JugoPlus Architects, LLC.
7310 Vine Ave.
Maplewood, MO  63143
Phone:  314.781.9303
Cell:      314.374.2662
JugoPlus@Swbell.net

David and Jean Cowell have a unique partnership. They have been married 21 years, co-owned Cowell Engineering for 16 years, and co-owned their building at 3008 Sutton in Maplewood for 8 years.

Cowell Engineering is a small business focusing on structural design and engineering solutions for commercial construction. David and Jean’s combined 5 decades of engineering experience give them the depth of experience and knowledge to solve the variety of interesting problems presented to them. As structural designers they are typically members of a multi-disciplined design team which includes architects, mechanical and electrical engineers, civil engineers, interior designers and contractors. They are responsible for assuring that the building the team is designing is safe for all environmental and human actions. They are experts in understanding the effects of wind, rain, snow, earthquakes and occupants on buildings. Their profession is highly technical and requires continual learning to keep pace with the latest research in building performance. 

David and Jean are proud of the work they have done in the St. Louis region and across the country. Projects of note in the St. Louis area include Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Maryland Heights, the Lamborghini Dealership in Chesterfield valley, High Performance Automotive Training Center at Ranken Technical College in St. Louis and Webster Groves Animal Hospital in Webster Groves, MO.

In addition to running a successful business, David and Jean volunteer their time. Jean was a member of the Forest Park Master Plan Executive Committee which assisted in crafting and ultimately approving the Forest Park Master Plan. She continues to be involved with the restoration of Forest Park as a 16 year member (4 years as chair) of the Forest Park Advisory Board. David and a small group of concerned citizens spearheaded a ballot initiative in the City of St. Louis to change the City Charter. A Charter Amendment requiring a public vote to sell, donate, give away or otherwise use public park land for non-park uses was approved with a 70% majority by City voters. Both David and Jean have attained their LEED Green Associate credential through the US Green Building Council extending their knowledge and reinforcing their commitment to sustainability in the built environment.

David and Jean value their membership in the Maplewood Chamber and the Chamber’s hard work in creating and sustaining an interesting, forward-looking and vital community for both small and large businesses.

To see more Cowell Engineering projects, visit their website at www.cowelleng.com, find them on facebook at www.facebook.com/CowellEngineering or follow them on twitter at @CowellEng_DLC.

HR etc!! began out of Mary Kausch’s truck 21 years ago … literally! It started as an answer to her frustration of being in the wrong job within Corporate America.

She had an unyielding yearning to learn more about her innate strengths and how to use these strengths consistently to earn her living. She was determined to know more of her own human nature and to help others overcome similar frustration.

Now with a team of six, Mary, Chief Insight Officer of HR etc!!, Turns Workforces into Forces of Nature. Mary knows people- specifically employees and employers – through studies of and experiences with human nature. She knows what employees need to be their most productive and to thrive. The key to Mary’s powerful insight is her ability to recognize that every employee is, first and foremost, a person – a multidimensional human being.

Using her proprietary tool called the Employment Partnership, Mary ensures that your company receives a return on its investment for compensating employees, and the employees consistently share their intelligence, skills, knowledge, abilities, attitudes and aptitudes in exchange for the compensation.

“Think of me as your human resources department,” Mary said. “I can help you with everything from building strategic teams, to facilitating staff retreats. But mostly, I make sure your work force fits your mission, vision and values. I know how to attract, recruit, select and hire the best employees for your company. Then I help retain them, develop them and transition them to the positions that fit them and your company the best. When everyone is thriving, everyone is more productive.”

Mary saves you time, money and energy with her three-step process of Dig In, Cultivate and Grow:
She’ll dig in by using assessments, focus groups and surveys to discover valuable information and insights that provide guidance for creating and/or changing what is required for maximizing employee productivity.
She’ll help you cultivate by getting to know you, your company and your team members through structured and intentional interaction. She helps you gain clarity and confidence, so you align natural strengths and inclinations with what needs to be accomplished.
You grow through Mary’s expertise in cultivating the synergy required for employees to become naturally aligned with what they need for being their most productive.

“I’m an educator at heart,” said Mary. “Whether I’ve got your employees seated in a conference room or hanging from a zip line, my focus is to find their inner strengths so they can fulfill both your needs and their own. Because when employees are thriving, so are you and your company.”

Experiences inside boardrooms and in the great outdoors have created for Mary a unique confluence of knowledge, wisdom and insight that she brings to not-for-profits, companies and associations of all sizes. She facilitates, consults and speaks across the United States and Canada.

Mary earned her degree in Human Resources and Communications from Southwest Missouri State University. She has gained nearly 30 years of experience in the realm of human resources and organization development from her work as a self-employed, independent consultative facilitator and speaker, as well as from former positions within Health Systems Management, Citicorp, Whirlpool and the Tecumseh Leadership Center.

Mary and her company, HRetc!!, have resided in Maplewood for the past 14 years, where Mary has been actively involved with the Chamber for the past seven.

Check out Mary’s capabilities at www.hretc.com, call her at 314-409-6622, and follow her on Twitter @marykausch.