INSTITUTIONAL FOOD SERVICE DISTRIBUTER

• Fresh, Frozen, Canned or Dry

• Paper Goods & Chemicals
• Full-Line Wholesale Supplier

Toll Free:
866-662-6446
www.specfoodinc.com

417-623-2222
3232 Enterprise Ave.
Joplin, MO 64804
 WHO WE ARE
Inside
2010 COMMUNITY PROFILE

04 Chamber Staff 07 Chamber Program

05 Board of Directors Sponsor Levels
06 Who We Are - Joplin, Missouri 08 Programs and Committees
10 Make The Most of Your Chamber
2010 COMMUNITY PROFILE &
MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY
320 East 4th Street COMMUNITY SERVICES
Joplin, MO 64801 12 Foundation - Cultural - Resources
Telephone (417) 624-4150
Fax (417) 624-4303
Website: www.joplincc.com
FACTS & STATS
19 Newcomer Information - Getting Settled In
We wish to thank all the organizations and
individuals that graciously shared their
photographs and editorials: HOMES & NEIGHBORHOODS
Accent Photography by Terra 23 We Would Like To Welcome You To Our Neighborhoods
Anthony Gude
College Heights
Don Wilkinson
Eyeworksdesign.com
HEALTHCARE
27 Comprehensive - Respected - Quality
Freeman Health System
Helicopter Advantage, LLC Jennifer & Roy
Harding for providing the aerial photography.
Hobart Design Group
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
Joplin Catholic Schools 34 Excellence - Commitment - Inspiration
JPD
JFD
MSSU
Residence Inn
GETTING OUT AND ABOUT IN JOPLIN
George A Spiva Center for the Arts 42 Area Attractions & Entertainment 46 Shopping
45 Lodging & Dining

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
48 Workforce - Innovation - Diversity
Copyright © 2010 GateHouse Media
All rights reserved No part of this publication may be
reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including a photocopy, recording, or any
information retrieval system, without permission in
LEADERSHIP JOPLIN ALUMNI CLASSES
writing from the publisher 57 Lifetime of Leadership

02 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

 FRANK FLETCHER AUTO WWW.FLETCHERAUTO.COM

ToyoTa - scion chrysler - dodge  Ford - lincoln

Mercedes-benz nissan
3111 e. 32nd st.
2209 s. rangeline rd. Jeep - hyundai Mercury 2327 s. rangeline rd.
417-626-9200       888-474-4551 3111 e. 32nd st. 3015 Turkey creek blvd.
417-437-1177       888-474-4551 417-781-1177       800-243-8554
417-781-6100 417-623-5660
 Who We Are Your Joplin Area Chamber of
Commerce (JACC) is 5-Star Accredited
by The United States Chamber of
Commerce for its sound policies,
effective organizational procedures and
Professional Development.
An entrepreneurial spirit and readily
available workforce combined allow
small businesses to flourish in

CHAMBER positive impact on the community.

Local Chambers of Commerce are
Accredited for a period of five years and
Southwest Missouri. The Joseph
Newman Business & Technology
Innovation Center, known as “The Joe,”
is an economic development tool

STAFF
Talent
Caryy Beaslley
Workforce Development
Manager
Kim Lestter, IOM
Vice President
Stevve Russelll
Director, Joseph Newman
Business & Technology
Innovation Center Technology Innovation Center
Cinndy Weiss
Staff Accountant
are rated Accredited, 3-Stars, 4-Stars, or
5-Stars by The U.S. Chamber.
Your Joplin Area Chamber of
Commerce has been accredited for the
past 25 years and our current
Strength Passion accreditation is valid until 2012.
Accreditation is the only national
program that recognizes Chambers for
their effective organizational procedures
and community involvement. Your
Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce is
proud to be a 5-Star Chamber to best
serve the needs of you, our Members!
The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce
Sherri Cloyd Lisaa Kellly Gingger LaM
Mar, IOM is an energetic, progressive force, which
Executive Assistant Administrative Assistant Business Development Director
sees that future economic prosperity
and improved quality of life go hand in
hand. JACC works to provide the
venue for all of its community’s
strengths: economic, educational,
physical and spiritual well being.
A strong blend of energy, creativity and
an unrivaled commitment define the
staff of 15 individuals who are
Stepphanie McG
Grew Jefff Meredditth Rob O’B
Brian, CEcD
D
Special Events Manager Member Relations Coordinator President passionate about the work they do and
the people they serve. In 2008, the
Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce was
recognized as the number one “Best
Places To Work” in their employee
category by Joplin Tri-State Business
Journal.
Today, the JACC is a member
organization of more than 1,100
Leaa Schrooer Kirstie Smith Tonnyaa Sprenklle businesses and professionals from the
Administrative Assistant, Communications Director Finance Director Joplin area. We are business people who
Joseph Newman Business &
share a common dream and the passion
for economic prosperity, developing an
environment that cultivates the arts and
a superior lifestyle for all of those who
call Joplin, MO home. With a small
town population, but a big city market
area, Joplin stands at the crossroads of
America -- both literally and
figuratively. We are “small town
Kevinn Wellchh Karenn Yates friendly” with big city convenience.
Director, Southwest Missouri Administrative Assistant
Development Alliance
The JACC plays a guiding role in the
foundation of the newly formed Young
Professionals Network as they define the
needs of their generation in our
ommunity. Their mission statement,
Connecting, Developing and
mpowering Young Professionals to
ead our Community,” allows the
neration to focus on Community
volvement, Political Awareness and
designed to accelerate the growth and
success of entrepreneurial companies
through an array of business support
resources and services. The Joe
currently is at 100% capacity, housing
nine companies with approximately 52
total employees and generating a payroll
of $3 million.
Large companies and manufacturers are
welcomed as well, with friendly tax
incentives and clean, modern industrial
development areas advocated by the
Chamber, creating the necessary
dynamics for expansion and successful
relocation.
The JACC has a prominent presence in
both state and local government, where
it boldly advocates for business interests
in the Southwest Missouri area
supporting legislation that will address
business concerns, improve economic
development and transportation and
promote the long-term success of
southwest Missouri communities
through improved educational
opportunities, healthcare and
community enhancement. The elected
Board of Directors supports the work of
active, grass roots committees that
comprise the various divisions of the
Chamber: Member Services, Economic
Development, Workforce Development,
Business Development and Community
Development.
To JACC members, building a better
community is more than a business
commitment; it takes volunteerism as
well. More than 300 volunteers work
through the Chamber to support and
celebrate business and community
events. Both volunteers and staff
partner with education, creating youth
leadership training and opportunities.
The Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce
exists for one purpose: To promote
you, your business and this community.
We are here to strengthen our members
and stimulate regional prosperity. We
are a professional staff, we are a resource
for your success, and we are a voice for
your business in legislative affairs. We
are YOU, the members of the business
and professional community.
We are Your Joplin Area Chamber of
Commerce!

04 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

 Who We Are
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Leadership Vision Integrity
The Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Joplin Area Chamber of
Board of Directors Commerce are comprised of volunteers and business leaders who are
making life good in Joplin today, tomorrow and the future!

Executive Committee

Larryy Boyyd Sethh Derm

mott
Zimmer Radio Inc. Keller Williams Realty of
Southwest Missouri

Susan Adaams Dann Haywoorth Bradoon Freed Mike Wigggins Shellly Kraft
Able Manufacturing & Assembly, LLC BKD, LLP Above Par Transportation, Inc. Granny Shaffer’s Restaurant Kraft Insurance Services
Chairman of the Board Chairman Elect Treasurer Vice Chairman of Vice Chairman of Community
Vice Chairman of Workforce Development Vice Chairman of Economic Development Business Development Development

Dougg Doll Stevvenn Graaddy

Arvest Bank Freeman Health System

Seaan Anddersoon Micchellle Duccre’ Terryy Hickllin Chuuck Broownn Mike Pallmer
General Mills Community Foundation of Candy House Gourmet Chocolates Warten, Fisher, Lee & Brown, LLC Empire District
Co-Vice Chairman of Southwest Missouri Co-Vice Chairman of Co-Vice Chairman of Electric Company
Economic Development Vice Chairman of Member Services Member Services Workforce Development Past Chairman of the Board

Scoott Hutsonn
Cycle Connection Harley-
Chaarlles Keeter
Osborn Paper Company
Ex-Officio Directors
Davidson/Buell

Gary Shaaw Mark Rohrr Dr. C.J. Hufff Dr. Mattt Prrocttorr Dr. Brucce Speck
Fredd Osboornn Gary Pullsippher Mayor of Joplin City Manager, City of Joplin Superintendent, President, Ozark President, Missouri Southern
Commerce Bank St. John’s Regional Joplin School District Christian College State University
Medical Center

Dr. Allann Marbble Priscillaa McK

Kinnney Mike Graay Darieus Adam
ms
Larry Waarrenn President, Crowder College RELAY for business BKD, LLP Associate Commissioner,
Atlas Risk Management, LLC Chairman, Young Chairman, Joseph Newman Business Western District
Professionals Network & Technology Innovation Center

JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 05

 Who We Are
JOPLIN, MISSOURI
Joplin is blessed with a rich history. Joplin is named
after Reverend Harris Joplin, founder of the area’s first
Methodist congregation. The discovery of lead in the
area and the promise of riches brought settlers from all
over the country. Despite its humble beginnings in
1873, Joplin would eventually be crowned the Zinc
Capital of the World. Joplin’s precious heritage is
directly linked to 75 years in the zinc and lead mining
industry. Huge dark caverns below the earth’s surface,
rich in zinc and lead deposits, created and then
transformed Joplin from a small mining town into a
formidable city and the pride of the Tri-State Mining
District.
The mining district was comprised of Jasper and
Newton counties in Missouri, Cherokee County in
Kansas and Ottawa County in Oklahoma. From 1875
to 1950, The Tri-State Mining District was the
world’s leading producer of lead and zinc concentrates,
accounting for 50% of the United States’ zinc
production and 10% of its lead production. The
1920’s were the golden years for the district. Peak
mine output was attained in 1926 when 4,000 railway
cars loaded with ore left the district each week. During
this period, more than 500 million tons of ore were
produced, resulting in excess of $1.5 billion dollars.
The ore discovery not only shaped the social and
economic character of the region, but it also proved to
be a tremendous national asset. Nationally, the ores
mined from the region played a significant role in
helping the U.S. and their Allies win both World
Wars.
After the end of World War II when the price of
minerals collapsed, Joplin’s dominance in the mining
06 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PAST PRESENT
industry ended. Growth faltered ever so slightly, but
residents picked up the pieces and survived. The
development of nationwide transportation sustained
Joplin’s popularity, first with the construction of the
famous Route 66, a continuous paved highway that
ran from Chicago to Los Angeles. All along Route 66,
as it meandered through the heart of the Joplin area,
restaurants, motor courts and service stations sprang
up to cater to motorists. Interstate 44 was a modern
highway system designed to link all parts of the
nation. Running along the southern edge of Joplin, it
opened a whole new area of town to the south in
1958. As a result, traffic and business were funneled
away from the downtown. The business district
shifted and residential suburbs sprouted outward in all
directions.
Today, no longer dependent on mining, Joplin has
adapted to the country’s ever-changing economy.
Covering about 35 square miles, the city is situated
near the geographic and population centers of the
nation, and is home to major employers such as Con-
Way Truckload, Eagle Picher Technologies, TAMKO
Building Products, AT&T Communications, FAG
Bearings and Leggett & Platt (Fortune 500) located in
nearby Carthage.
Joplin is equally supported by its tourism and
entertainment industries, and one of the only
metropolitan communities servicing southwest
Missouri and the four state area (the city is within an
arm’s length of Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas).
Joplin is the hub city. Although the nighttime
population is only about 49,000, Joplin sees a major
influx of workers, shoppers, diners and travelers
FUTURE
throughout the day, bumping its daytime population
to well over 275,000. This surge in population is
generated thanks to the two major highways that
service the area, Interstate 44 and U.S. 71. A short
bypass around the eastern edge of Joplin, Route 249,
an extension of I-49 North. These heavily traveled
highways bring millions of tourists from all walks of
life through Joplin’s borders every year, making the
town the four-state center for tourism and culture.
Considered Missouri’s fourth largest metropolitan
area, Joplin’s diverse and brisk economy supports the
needs of industry in this rapidly growing region. The
local economy realizes $220 million direct income
each year from tourism which is supported by more
than 2,000 hotel rooms and 150 restaurants. In
addition to excellent schools, churches and
community activities, Joplin offers a cost of living that
is among the most desirable of any city of its size in
the country. ACCRA (American Chamber of
Commerce Researcher’s Association) currently
computes cost of living in Joplin to be 82% of the
national average for metropolitan areas.
While certainly not immune to the nation’s faltering
economic trends, Joplin’s future is stable. Due to its
central location in the Midwest, Joplin doesn’t seem to
dive as deep into economic downturns as do other
parts of our nation. Joplin is a good place to live, and a
good place to do business. Whether you’re a visiting
relative, a passing traveler, a commuting worker or a
potential resident, Joplin has everything you need.
 Who We Are
CHAMBER PROGRAM SPONSORS
The important work accomplished by the
Chamber each year would not happen without the
additional financial investments made by some of
the community’s leading businesses. The following
organizations are partners in the Chamber’s
mission to strengthen our member businesses and
stimulate regional prosperity.
Every fall, JACC conduct’s a Total Resource
Campaign (TRC) during an eight-week period. We
offer Chamber sponsorships for the upcoming year
for programs, events and publications to member
businesses. It is only during this campaign, the
Chamber asks the membership to participate
financially by using their marketing dollars.
Because of Member sponsor partnerships, annual
events and programs are developed and enriched
such as TREK, Leadership Joplin and Business
Expo. At the same time, this allows for new ones to
form such as Young Professionals Network and
Social Media luncheons
Our sponsorship program represents many
opportunities for all of our members, whether large
or small, with varying marketing budgets. In
addition to our Chairman, President and Director
levels, other individual events/programs are open
for sponsorships of all investment levels. We are
eager to help market your company in the
community as well as provide effective programs
and events that meet the needs of more than 1,100
members, students and the regional community.

CableONE Community Bank & Trust

EaglePicher Techologies, LLC Roper Honda
Empire District Electric Company
First State Bank
Fox-14
Freeman Health System
General Mills
Heartland Technology Solutions
Home Pro
City of Joplin BKD, LLP
KOAM-TV Commerce Bank
Sign Designs Downstream Casino Resort
Southwest Missouri Bank
The Joplin Globe Publishing
Sign-A-Rama Company
St. John’s Regional Medical Center
Joplin School District
Stronghold Data
U S Bank, N.A. Joplin Tri-State Business Journal
KODE-TV
KSNF-TV
Lamar Advertising
Missouri Eagle
Missouri Southern State University
Show Me the Ozarks Magazine
Warten, Fisher, Lee & Brown, LLC
Weed Whackers, Inc.
Zimmer Radio Inc.

JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 07

PROGRAMS AND
Advocates - Partnerships - Accomplishments
Preserve and improve the
economic prosperity of the
Joplin region.
• Public Policy: Serve as the
business advocate in the
Joplin area, influencing
governmental action that is
beneficial to our members at
the local, state and federal
levels.
• Joseph Newman Business
& Technology Innovation
Center: Support
development of small,
technology oriented
companies by restoring new,
Chamber Foundation-
owned property for use as
an incubator-type facility.
08 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Enhance the quality of life in the Joplin region
and be the principal advocate for its business
community.
• Community Enhancement: Improve the
appearance of Joplin’s residential, business and
public areas by developing and supporting
programs that encourage Joplin community
beautification and aesthetic preservation
through programs such as Cinema Under the
Stars, Adopt-a-Street/Park and Community
Pride Starts Inside.
• Leadership Joplin: Support the Chamber’s
Foundation and create the potential for
community leadership by exposing participants
to the challenges and opportunities in the
community through a series of nine sessions.
• Cultural Affairs: Actively support and promote
increased awareness of the community’s arts
and entertainment resources, as well as partner
with community leaders to enhance the
opportunities.
• Leadership Joplin Symposium: Created to
continue strengthening the leadership abilities
and knowledge base of our business
community, with bi-annual events bringing in
local, regional and national speakers.
• Young Professionals Network: Created to
connect, develop and empower young
professionals to lead our community.
• Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation: Promote
charitable endeavors which fall within the mission of the Joplin Area
Chamber of Commerce, with special emphasis on supporting
charitable, cultural, and educational programs and projects through
which the community’s quality of life will be enhanced.
• Joplin Business and Industrial Development Corporation: Provide
a continuing revenue source to support the economic development
efforts in the Joplin area, and to finance and market speculative shell
buildings.
• Joplin Capital Corporation: Offers gap financing to businesses
located in a determined blighted district for projects that could not
be financed through conventional means.
• Joplin Industrial Development Authority: Administer the issuance
of industrial revenue bonds within the incorporated limits of the
City of Joplin. Continue development and marketing of the
Crossroads Business Park and maintenance of Joplin-Webb City
Industrial Park.
• Jasper County Industrial Development Authority: Administers the
issuance of industrial revenue bonds throughout Jasper County with
the exception of the area covered by the Joplin Industrial
Development Authority.
• Missouri I-49 Coalition: Encourages and supports funding levels at
both state and federal level to upgrade US 71 to Interstate 49.
• Southwest Missouri Development Alliance: Serves as a regional
economic development organization that markets nine cities in
Southwest Missouri for the purpose of business attraction.
• Main Street Joplin: Market and foster the development of the core
downtown business district.

COMMITTEES
Support the Chamber’s Foundation by
improving the quality of life and economic
prosperity in the Joplin region through
programs and partnerships to enhance the
educational and training opportunities
available to students of all ages.
• Business Education Alliance: Create
strong partnerships between businesses
and schools at all levels.
• Golden Apple: Recognize excellence in
teaching in Joplin’s public and private
schools, K-12.
• Tomorrow’s Leaders Today (TLT):
Develop leadership skills in youth who will
generate positive action in the community
and help resolve future community
challenges.
• TREK (Teaching Reading to Every Kid):
Develop coaching/mentoring relationships
between “at risk” students and community
volunteers.
• Youth Outreach Workforce Partnership:
Partner with business, industry and school
representatives with the goal of equiping
high school students with skills necessary
to enter the workforce and completion of a
high school diploma.
Who We Are
Increase the value of Chamber membership by
providing services that include networking and
promotional opportunities as well as programs to
strengthen business skills.
• Ambassadors: Represent the Chamber at ribbon
cuttings, groundbreakings and other ceremonies, as
well as participate in retention programs acting as an
information resource to the members.
• Leads Groups: Offering a unique atmosphere (twice
a month) to our members to meet local business
professionals, share knowledge, exchange business
leads and information in a non-competing
atmosphere.
• Membership: Promote the mission and work of the
Chamber to prospective and new members and
provide opportunities for members to promote their
businesses.
• Not for Profit Alliance: Linking business and not for
profit resources by addressing the needs, highlighting
the activities and celebrating the accomplishments of
the not for profit JACC members.
• Special Events: Provide opportunities to engage
members and promote Chamber benefits such as the
quarterly Good Morning Joplin breakfast, monthly
First Friday Coffee and Business After Hours events
and annual Hot Links Golf Tournament, as well as
other networking events.
JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Act as the principle advocate and provider of
services for the area’s business community.
• Business Expo: A quality showcase for
members to promote their businesses to
other businesses as well as the general
public.
• Chamber Connection: A quarterly
networking event in which businesses have
the opportunity to showcase their products
and/or services.
• Seminars: Topics of interest presented for
the small business owner.
• Small Business Council: Serve as the
advocate for the small business community;
educate and promote small business
through interactive communications and
networking.
• Small Business Resource Library: A
condensed library of periodicals, literature
and helpful technology tools to assist those
in business with current business issues.
• Small Business Month: An annual
celebration in honor and support of
member businesses.
• Small Business of the Year: A yearly award
program recognizing member businesses.
09
 Who We
MAKE THE MOST
Are
OF YOUR CHAMBER
Volunteer Opportunities Betterment
At work for more than 90 years, the Joplin Area
Chamber of Commerce (JACC) has been promoting
Joplin businesses and working for the betterment of
the community since 1917.
“The Chamber is, at heart, a business organization,”
said Rob O’Brian, Chamber President. “Like most
Chambers, it’s an organization of businesses who
really are interested in promoting a good business
climate.”
We are among the select few accredited for twenty-five
years with a five star rating by the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce. In 2008 we were named a finalist for the
American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE)
Chamber of the Year. In 2003, your Chamber was
recognized as the very first Missouri Chamber of the
Year and in 2007 and 2008 we were named a “Best
Place to Work” by Springfield Business Journal and
Joplin Tri-State Business.
The Chamber's program of work would not be
accomplished without the many resources provided by
our numerous member volunteers. Giving of time,
talents and sometimes even finances, men and women
from throughout the region are making a positive
difference in Joplin’s business climate through their
volunteer efforts. And there's always room for more!
Why volunteer? In addition to the fact that it's good
for the community, it's also good for you! Volunteers
make contacts with like-minded business
professionals, gain valuable leadership experiences and
receive increased visibility for themselves and their
organizations. More than 300 volunteers work
through the Chamber to support and celebrate
business and community events. Both volunteers and
staff partner with education, creating youth leadership
training and opportunities.
“As a business organization, we provide a lot of
information to our business members,” says O’Brian.
“They’re looking for more specific things beyond just
general demographics.”
“For instance, they may want to know ... the
demographic of (their) market within a mile of their
location or an hour’s drive of their location. What’s the
consumer buying power? How many people live in
that designated area?”
“We can provide them with that information.”
10 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
This program is integral for the Joplin business
community, as small companies (those with 50
employees or less) make up about 88 percent of the
Chamber’s membership.
Making up the other 12 percent of the Chamber’s
more than 1,100 members are large corporations and
companies, and the Chamber works equally hard to
support those businesses. A number of development
areas have been set aside for such prospective
companies, and the Chamber works to provide tax
incentives for new construction, equipment and
facilities.
JACC has a prominent presence in both state and local
government, where it boldly advocates for business
interests in the Southwest Missouri area. The elected
Board of Directors supports the work of active, grass
roots committees that comprise the various divisions
of the Chamber: Member Services, Economic
Development, Workforce Development, Business
Development and Community Development.
The JACC mission isn’t solely geared toward the
business sector. Its philosophy is that an improved
quality of life for Joplin residents is a very integral step
toward creating future economic prosperity.
In this vein, the Chamber has worked in cooperation
with the City of Joplin to improve conditions in the
Joplin area. It worked to pass a public safety sales tax
that would increase funding for the City’s police and
fire departments.
“When you have a community of 49,000 at night and
a quarter of a million during the day, that puts a lot of
strain on the public safety services,” says O’Brian. “We
wanted to reduce that strain and be sure that there was
adequate public safety across the spectrum.”
The sales tax, passed in November of 2006, has so far
added more than $2 million in additional revenue for
the City. Those funds have been used to hire and
equip eight new police officers and three new
firefighters. The City has also purchased three new
police cars and a system of mobile data computers for
both the police and fire departments. In the coming
year, the City expects to hire 11 more police officers
and three additional firefighters.
The City’s long-term projections for the sales tax
funds include building two new fire stations to
decrease the average fire response time in the outlying
suburbs. Coupled with the increased personnel and
the expected police training facility, these efforts
should decrease the City’s ISO rating, which governs
property and insurance rates in the area. With a
lowered ISO rating, insurance and property rates will
be less expensive for current and prospective citizens.
The Chamber worked closely with the Joplin Schools
to pass a $57.3 million bond issue for new facilities.
The revenue paid for two new middle schools and the
renovation of the existing North Middle School. East
and South Middle Schools were completed on
schedule and students are now ejoying these state of
the art institutions. Students in the Joplin Public
Schools can continue to look forward to great things
to come. The district received the Accredited with
Distinction honor for the sixth year in a row.
Although seemingly at service on strictly a corporate
level, the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce provides
services for all of Joplin’s tourists, residents and
potential citizens. You don’t have to own a business to
employ its help.
The Chamber is one of Joplin’s main distribution
points for local phonebooks. It is also the main source
for information about the community. Whether you’re
looking for business brochures, maps of the city,
information on real estate or lists of available rentals
and apartments, the Chamber of Commerce can help
you get what you need. The Chamber website,
www.joplincc.com, is an important tool for members
of the Chamber as well as those looking to visit or
locate to Joplin and the surrounding areas. Visitors to
the site can find Chamber events, community
information and links to more than 1,100 business
members. The Chamber is here as a service to the
community and it will work in that regard indefinitely,
just as it has since 1917.
In short, imagine the knowledge, ideas and
experiences of thousands of professionals all in one
centralized area - the Joplin Area Chamber of
Commerce. We are the organization you need to help
your business grow. The Joplin Area Chamber of
Commerce means business – for your business!
Make the Most of Your Chamber!
 community
servicesFOUNDATION - CULTURAL - RESOURCES
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Three minutes and thirty seconds. The time i
takes to listen to a song on the radio, or the
amount of time you’ll wait in a grocery line
to check out. Time doesn’t seem that
important to many of us, unless we’re
needing assistance due to an emergency.
And that short three and a half minutes is the
average time it takes for a Joplin Police officer to
respond to a high priority call. The efficiency at
which the department operates is a continuation
of its motto: Service With Pride.
The Joplin Police Department’s vision is a
peaceful and safe community where citizens and
visitors experience hometown values and a
superior quality of life. The department is
organized into four bureaus: patrol, investigations,
administration, and support services, which
includes accreditation management and crime
analysis. And speaking of accreditation, the
department set out in 2005 to seek this status
from the Commission on Accreditation for Law
Enforcement Agencies, Inc. JPD opened its
policies and procedures for review, and garnered
an opportunity to show that they met nationally
recognized professional standards of conduct
and procedures to make sure they are in
compliance. Accreditation award is proof that the
department meets these standards and “walks
the talk” of professional conduct.
There are 586 law enforcement agencies in
Missouri. Of these, 438 are muncipalities with
only 11 having more than 100 sworn officers. In
July 2008, the Joplin Police Department became
one of only 21 agencies in Missouri to be
accredited and one of only seven departments
with more than 100 sworn officers. As an
accredited agency, the department sets high
standards to ensure the effective delivery of law
12 Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce
enforcement services to the community.
Accreditation benefits an agency in terms of
potentially reduced liability insurance costs,
stronger defense against lawsuits, enhanced
conviction rates in criminal prosecutions, greater
accountability within the agency, support from
government officials, increased community
advocacy and recognition for excellence.
As the City has expanded to the south, east and
west, the population was growing away from the
main station located near 3rd and Main Streets.
One of the most significant uses of the 2006
public safety tax was the addition of the South
police station at 115 East 34th Street. Now in
2010 the department will employ 111 total staff.
Two of those are DWI (driving while intoxicated)
enforcement officers, and two detectives
specializing in computer investigations. The
department boasts specialty divisions such as
S.W.A.T. team, K-9 unit and a Special
Enforcement Unit to execute solutions for crime
prevention. On an average, eight officers are on
patrol daily along with 10 detectives and six to
eight officers on special assignment, such as
school resources and the special enforcement
unit.
Strong ties to the public are enforced with several
neighborhood services, such as the
Neighborhood Watch program where 188
neighborhoods are registered with the
department, car seat checks and a Citizen s
Police Academy. Four D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse
Resistance Education) officers work actively
within the school district and instructed nearly
700 Joplin students about the facts concerning
drug use and to make smart, healthy decisions
with their lives.
Another new division, Heartland Crime Stoppers,
Inc. was launched in 2009 within the department
and is a non-profit group made up of citizens
against crime. Based on the principal that
“someone other than the criminal has information
that can solve a crime,” Crime Stoppers offers
cash rewards to anyone furnishing anonymous
information that leads to the arrest of criminals,
including those committing serious felony crimes
and fugitives. The community, media and law
enforcement officers work closely together to
solve and reduce crime. Hopefully, under the
secure tips line or web connection, people can
shed the reluctant attitude to get involved and
form a partnership with local law enforcement
agencies in an effort to reduce and solve crime in
the Joplin area.
JPD - providing the finest professional law
enforcement services found in the state of
Missouri.
JOPLIN FIRE
DEPARTMENT
Where there’s smoke, there’s
fire. And where there’s fire or
any other type of emergency,
you can depend on the
services of the Joplin Fire
Department.
Five strategically placed
stations serve a coverage
area of approximately 45
square miles in and around
the City. The usual
population of about 49,000
citizens explodes daily to
nearly 275,000 with the
influx of workers,
shoppers and people
passing through the City,
increasing the
possibilities of an
emergency. Time is of
the essence when the
department is
responding to a call, and the 76-
member strong team of firefighters and
equipment. One will be at the far
paramedics is ready to spring into action, 24
west side of town near the new Wildwood
hours a day, seven days per week, 365 days a
subdivision; the other is expected to be near the candidates have been hired by the six
year.
Crossroads Industrial Park on the City’s far east departments. If not selected by one of the
As the population of Joplin expands, so does the side. Architectural design for the western station departments, they must re-certify after one year.
need for additional locations and personnel. The is expected in early 2010, which will house 15
2006 Public Safety sales tax has provided the additional firefighters and three new pieces of Beyond the most obvious service of extinguishing
funding for two additional fire stations and equipment - an engine, brush truck and light fires, the Joplin Fire Department actually spends
rescue unit. Construction of the eastern much of their emergency response time on
ocation is expected to follow in two to three medical related requests for service. The Fire
ears. The tax revenue will also aid in the Department provides Advanced Life Support
eplacement of the department’s 100 foot (ALS) paramedic first responder service to the
adder truck in 2010. community. This involves the fire trucks with
paramedic trained firefighters responding to
Currently, the City’s Insurance Services Office
citizens with injuries and medical conditions
SO) rating is a “3.” The ISO rating is an
requiring immediate treatment. The Joplin
mportant tool in setting residential and
paramedics provide life saving initial care ranging
commercial insurance rates.
from advanced airways and medications to
Joplin has collaborated with five other defibrillation and assist the transport ambulance
departments (Redings Mill, Neosho, Nevada, on their arrival.
Strafford and Logan/Rogersville) in the
southwest Missouri area to form a Regional Another division of the Fire Department involves
Firefighter Recruitment Testing program. Emergency Management, which entails the
Prospective candidates can test to become planning, mitigation and response to all hazard
refighters by taking a video written test disasters-not just those involving smoke and
covering areas of math, reading, mechanical flames. The goal is to have a plan in place to
aptitude, human relations characteristics, reduce the risk of injury during other instances,
and a job validated physical ability test. The such as severe weather, tornadoes and flooding.
est is offered every six months. Should a Educating the public on preparedness to any type
candidate pass the test, he or she is put into of disaster is a win/win situation.
a “pool” of qualified firefighters from which
he six departments can select a new The department also provides a wide range of
employee. This saves the department time non-emergency services, and hosts a number of
and money when the need to locate a new community events, public demonstrations and
irefighter arises. The candidates benefit by open houses. Firefighters are particularly active
only needing to take one set of tests to be in the Joplin schools where they promote and
eligible for hire by numerous departments. teach fire safety. Public building inspections,
n the first year of this program over 120 first-aid training and issuing free smoke detectors
have participated in the test and over 45 to those in need round out some of the
department’s additional duties.

Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce 13

 J
Joplin
lin
Jopli n
oplin
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Great Connections
onnections Daily
to
Joplin
Great Destinations
ns

flygreatlakes.com
eatlakes.com
es.com
JOPLIN REGIONAL AIRPORT
Travelers seek convenience and affordability
when flying, and the new terminal facility of the
Joplin Regional Airport provides all of the services
of a large airport. Non-stop service to Kansas
City International Airport, a major hub in the
Midwest, is provided by Great Lakes Airline with
three round trip flights offered daily. With gasoline
prices still unsteady, flying Joplin offers
passengers a cost savings in comparison to
other airports to make connections. Plus, in
Joplin, parking is free, loading and unloading
can be done at the covered curbside, and
check-in and security procedures are much
more convenient. Once you arrive in Joplin,
Hertz and Avis rental cars are conveniently
located on-site.
Mizzou Aviation is the airport’s fixed base
operator, providing fueling, charter and
aircraft services, as well as flight instruction.
In 2009, the Airport hosted its first Aviation Airplane and helicopter rides were
Business Expo to promote and encourage also offered. With a number of local businesses
aviation-related businesses by providing an tied to the aviation industry, supporters hope to located 1/2 mile east of that
opportunity to showcase their equipment and use the event to generate jobs, local investment same intersection off of Highway 171. Owned and
services. Planners hope to hold the event and economic activity within Joplin and the operated by the City of Joplin, the Airport serves
annually. Regional aircraft owners, operators, surrounding community. the commercial, military, cargo, general, and
manufacturers, service providers, customers and corporate aviation needs of the region. Overall,
other industry personnel took part, with new and The Commercial Terminal is located at 7331 North the active airfield covers 970 acres, has three
vintage light sport aircraft on display, as well as Highway 43, and can be accessed by traveling runways and is home to the Aviation Industrial
corporate and general aviation exhibitors such as 11⁄2 miles north of the intersection of Highways Park. An additional 230 acres supports the light
Cessna, Hawker/Beechcraft, Piper and others. 171 and 43. The general aviation entrance is industrial/commercial activity in the Airpark

14 Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce

Business Center. More than 100 aircraft are based
at Joplin Regional Airport.
The Joplin Regional Airport has recently been
rejuvenated with a thorough renovation, including
the replacement of the 50-year-old air traffic
control tower and construction of the new
commercial terminal facility. The new air traffic
control tower and facility is a high-tech 90 foot
structure, complete with a 2,100 square-foot
base building. The tower houses all necessary
equipment and controller facilities for air traffic
control and monitoring, while the base building
houses FAA field technicians and navigational
equipment.
Serving as the front door to our community, the
Joplin Regional Airport generates $22 million
annually for the area’s economy.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Whether you own a vehicle or not, you can make it
from one end of Joplin to the other by riding one of
the City’s three “big green machines,” better known
as the Sunshine Lamp Trolleys. The trolley system is
revolutionizing public transportation in Joplin.
Previously, one route covered the northeastern area
of Joplin, but with demand ever-increasing, the
organization expanded in 2009 to include two
additional routes and vehicles. The routes intersect
at different locations, allowing riders to exit one
trolley and board another to reach a location in a
different portion of the City. Comfortable seating
with air conditioned/heated interiors lets passengers
enjoy this inexpensive method of travel year round.
Federal economic stimulus money in 2010 will
provide additional stops, bringing the number to 57
total. The money will best be put to use by
constructing benches with covered shelters at each
stop, allowing riders cover from nature’s elements.
Bike racks will be added to each bus, with six
completely enclosed bike lockers to be built at the
office at 602 South Main.
The Trolley rides continue to cost $1.00, but the
City will offer a half-fare program to those who
qualify, including riders who are 60 years of age or
older, disabled or receive Medicare. All vehicles are
ADA accessible, and the new southwestern route
stops at Joplin’s two major hospitals. The trolley
operates Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and
Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.. There is no service
on most major holidays.
The City’s Metro Area Public Transit System (MAPS)
offers transportation on a pre-scheduled basis via
curb-to-curb van service. The van travels Monday
through Saturday to the residents of the greater
metro and rural area.
Another public transportation service stationed in
Joplin is OATS, Inc., which serves 87 counties
throughout the state. Locally, OATS serves nearly
30,000 Missouri residents. Their mission is to
provide reliable service to transportation-
disadvantaged Missouri residents so they can live
independently in their own communities.
Along with two national bus lines serviced by
Jefferson Bus lines and Greyhound, there are
numerous taxi and limousine services
available.
JOPLIN PUBLIC LIBRARY
When you say library, a person instantly
thinks “books.” But when you say Joplin
Public Library, there is so much more to the
facility than the average shelf after shelf of
library books. Not to be misunderstood -
there are hundreds of thousands of books,
along with many other amenities. For
example, both an elaborate children and teen
reading section, information on historical
topics with its online resources, three formats
of audio books (audio tape, CD and
Playaways), along with hundreds of DVDs
and VHS titles. Fun-filled programs and
events are scheduled for children and pre-
teens. Free computer/internet access is
available for card-carrying members.
Located inside the Library is the Post
Memorial Art Reference Library, featuring
European art and antiques from the Winfred
and Elizabeth Post collection, as well as
monthly exhibits by area artists and
collectors. And if you’re wanting to look into
your past and research the relatives, the
library features a local history room that is
loaded with numerous genealogy records.
The Library is open from 9:00 a.m. – 8:00
p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9:00 a.m. –
6:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1:00 –
5:00 p.m. on Sundays. Library cards are free
to Joplin residents.
A FOUNDATION OF LIFE
Joplin is a community rich in religious spirit.
The City itself was named after a preacher -
the Reverand. Harris G. Joplin - who settled
here in 1839. A person cannot travel very far
Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce
in Joplin without coming into contact with a church.
The downtown area is dotted with multiple historic,
artistic steeples. Thousands of voices can be heard
each Sunday morning and Wednesday evening
joining in song and prayer in the more than 140
churches in and around Joplin.
Citizens from Joplin and the surrounding area put a
great deal of emphasis on worship. People in the
area embrace and practice their spiritual beliefs on a
very practical, daily basis. While the beliefs of the
worshipers vary, Joplin has a rich history of respect
and appreciation for the faith of each resident’s
neighbors. This explains why so many ministers and
City leaders come together for monthly prayer
breakfasts, consolidate during a shared civic event
or participate in a joint ministry with our Sister City,
Bethlehem. Joplin participates in the National Day of
Prayer where participants from many different
beliefs and religious backgrounds come together to
pray for unity, for guidance and for continued
religious freedoms for our nation.
There are several parochial school systems - the
Joplin Area Catholic Schools, Martin Luther School
and College Heights Christian School - along with
two Bible colleges - Messenger College and Ozark
Christian College.
Not all Joplin churches are Protestant. There also is
a Synagogue that serves area residents of the
Jewish faith and a Muslim Mosque.
One of the most important faith-based organizations
is the Joplin Area Ministerial Alliance, which is a
fellowship of Christian ministry leaders, working
toward a unified effort, to represent God and
facilitate outreach to the greater Joplin
community. Religious leaders meet on a regular
basis for fellowship, prayer, and to help guide the
City on state and national issues, as well as meeting
religious needs on a community-wide basis.
15
 YOUTH % TEEN MINISTRY AND
OUTREACH
Several local organizations offer youth mentoring
and an environment that develops their lifelong
learning and social skills.
Both “Young Life” and “Wyld Life”
interdenominational high school and middle
school outreach clubs continue to flourish in
Joplin. Leaders are committed to being involved
with kids’ lives - from supporting them at their
sporting events to listening to them talk about
what’s important to them. They also help kids
consider the direction of their lives, and they offer
hope for their future. Kids’ lives are dramatically
impacted when caring adults come alongside
them, sharing God’s love with them. Because
their leader believes in them, they begin to see
that their lives have great worth, meaning and
purpose.
Students in Joplin and the surrounding area
gather annually for the “See You At The Pole”
event every September. They gather at their
school’s flagpole before school and share
fellowship and prayer.
THE BRIDGE
The teen years have been labeled one of the most
difficult periods of a person’s life. Faced with peer
pressure, insecurities, and confusion, teenagers
in Joplin are fortunate to have a safe, well-
managed Christian-based facility to socialize and
enjoy activities in tune with their interests, while
strengthening their relationship with God.
Located on 60 acres that sit in the Hammons
Sports Park, the 64,000 square foot
entertainment center, boasting equal parts
ministry and attraction, is celebrating ten years in
teen outreach ministry. Thousands of teens have
visited the Bridge through the years. Currently,
directors are restructuring and have divided the
facility into three venues:
The Bridge is a Junior High activities center open
on the weekends and features active games, fun,
food and trained staff who share God’s story with
them through prayer, scripture, the church and
the Gospel story. The Bridge is home to a 40 foot
rock climbing gym, cage basketball, internet café
and wireless hotspot, network and arcade
gaming.
The Foundry Music Venue is geared toward high
school students. There is live music, specialty
food and drink, free wireless internet, Mac G-5
computers, pool, table games and more,
providing a great place to connect, relax and
enjoy friends in a truly unique atmosphere. The
Foundry is dedicated to the celebration of music,
art, film and culture. Several concerts featuring
local, regional and national acts are scheduled
annually.
Autumn Ramp Park is one of the premier skate
and BMX parks in the country and is open to all
16 Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce
ages. Kids interested in alternative sports are
encouraged to try their skills on a board or bike.
The Autumn Ramp Skate Park has 20,000 square
feet with balcony viewing and ramps to challenge
athletes of all skill levels. The Autumn Ramp
Skate Park hosts a free session each Wednesday
night along with a Bible study. Additionally, The
Autumn Ramp Skate Park is home to the
JoMoPro BMX contest each April. Check out The
Autumn Ramp Skate Park and BMX Shop, which
offers a wide selection of the best apparel and
equipment in the industry.
Any legitimate teen ministry program in the area
is invited to share the use of the Bridge for
gatherings such as lock-ins, weekly meetings,
concerts or even Super Bowl parties! By offering
this service, the Bridge can accomplish its desire
to facilitate the ministry alongside others in the
community who share a similar passion and
mission.
The Bridge has something for everyone. Bridge
staff members are highly qualified and well-
trained individuals that are committed to the
celebration of youth culture and individuality.
They desire to build relationships with teenagers
of all sorts and reveal the hope and love offered
by God to each generation. Staff and volunteers
will strive to always bring truth, faith, kindness,
and love (the things of God) into the equation.
OUTREACH
“Giving back” - a concept adopted by many
Joplin residents as they respond to the needs of
those less fortunate. The Salvation Army is an
evangelical Christian organization that devotes
billions of dollars and thousands of volunteer
hours to disaster relief, social services and other
charitable causes. Soul’s Harbor provides an
emergency shelter, as well as meals, emergency
housing and food baskets, among other
necessities.
Emergency food rations are available at We Care
of the Four States at the Abundant Life Christian
Center and the Forest Park Baptist Church Food
Pantry. Workers at Crosslines Churches of the
Joplin Area help to distribute items that meet the
needs of low-income families.
Lafayette House serves as a safe emergency
shelter for victims of domestic violence.
There also are a number of outreach programs
and ministries found in Joplin, such as Saturday
Night Live, which supports those in the addiction
recovery journey. Watered Gardens offers a
variety of services and items basic to many
families, all of which are provided by Christians.
Because this ministry is formed of several
denominations, literally thousands of services and
items have been provided to potentially meet the
needs of every individual in our community.
JOPLIN BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
If you’re a family where both parents work and
have school aged children, it’s a constant worry
about what to do with the kids for those few
hours after school until parents arrive at home.
Summer care becomes an even bigger worry. The
Boys & Girls Club of Joplin can take care of the
situation. In operation for more than 52 years, the
club provides a safe, nurturing and caring
environment for youth ages 6-18 through after
school and summer programs.
Club services and programs promote and
enhance the development of boys and girls by
instilling a sense of competence, usefulness,
belonging and influence. Members often spend
more time in this facility than in their own homes.
All members receive help completing homework,
access to a fully-equipped computer lab, plus
gym and recreation time. Each member
participates in drug and alcohol prevention
programs that help them realize their worth and
potential in life. The Club also provides an
evening meal throughout the school year, as well
as breakfast, lunch and a snack during summer
programs.
In 2010, the club will look at strengthening the
teen program by offering a Keystone Club and
Ce n t r a l
“ At Central Christian Center We Care About YOU!

410 Virginia • Joplin, MO

417.781.5982
Service times: Sundays - 10:30 AM & 6:00 PM • Wednesday - 6:30 PM Dr. Hank Deslatte
Pastor

Watch “To Strengthen Our Wings”

Sundays - 8:00 AM & 10:30 PM on KOAM-TV7
10:00 AM on KODE-TV12

www.centralchristiancenter.org
Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce 17

Torch Club. These are programs that promote
leadership development and provide
opportunities for youth in and out of the club to
participate in activities in academic success,
career exploration and community service.
Members will tour local colleges and trade
schools in the area to aid their decisions in a
career field. The Club even offers a summer
course which offers a curriculum to teach and
promote responsibility when dealing with money.
The youth are informed on how to spend, save,
invest, borrow and manage debt wisely. Joplin
Boys & Girls Club - The Positive Place for Kids!
ARTS & CULTURE
More than 60 years ago, George A. Spiva
embraced the vision that the arts should be
available to one and all. Thanks to his tenacity, art
is alive and well in Joplin inside the Spiva Center
for the Arts. Located at 3rd and Wall, the center is
a place to see art, to learn about art, to create art
and to collect it. It’s a place to be inspired, a
place to feel at home.
Spiva has become a leading center for visual arts,
presenting exhibits that showcase and reflect the
vitality and complex experiences of the human
condition. Year-round rotating exhibits showcase
local and regional talent as well as national and
international artists who work in a variety of
mediums. Depending on the exhibit, visitors
might see paintings, sculptures, drawings,
textiles, or even an assemblage art created from
recycled materials.
The center’s Main Gallery features the work of
nationally and internationally acclaimed artists,
while the Regional Focus Gallery ensures an
accessible and dynamic venue for emerging area
artists. Annual events such as Spiva’s
Membership Show, 12x12 Auction and the Great
Holiday Bazaar offer an inspiring array of work by
four-state area artists. The center’s gift shop
features artist-made originals, from jewelry to
blown glass, pottery and fine art. Spiva serves a
large geographic area that stretches from
southwest Missouri into southeast Kansas,
northeast Oklahoma, and northwest Arkansas.
Fine arts come alive in Spiva’s educational
18 Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce
programs, where students of all ages explore
their creativity through many media and
techniques. Studio classes, workshops and
outreach programs inspire, provoke and evoke a
deeper understanding and enjoyment of artistic
expression in the participants.
Spiva Gallery of Missouri Southern State
University is housed in the Fine Arts Building on
campus, which was the original location of Spiva
Center for the Arts. The Center provides exhibits
of educational and artistic value to increase
student and public knowledge and appreciation
of art. The gallery has approximately 325 running
feet of exhibition wall space. It presents
exhibitions of visual art which are national,
regional and local in scope.
PhotoSpiva is a national competition hosted
annually by Spiva. Founded in 1977, PhotoSpiva
has become the longest-running photographic
competition of its kind in the U.S. The objective of
PhotoSpiva is to “present an exhibition of
excellence in photography, celebrating the scope
and vigorous activity of today’s contemporary
photographers.” Celebrating its 34th year, Spiva’s
acclaimed national photography competition
results in an exhibition of excellence—a
“snapshot” of contemporary photography
featuring notable works by amateurs and
professionals. You’ll see everything from digital
images to traditional black and white to hand-
tinted photographs made with a pinhole camera.
The exhibit is almost a snapshot of current issues
and practices in contemporary photography.
Another art studio has popped up in the
downtown district. Recognizing a “growing niche”
for art directed toward the younger crowd,
Momentum 8 Studio offers displays that are “hip
and trendy.” Primarily operating as a display
gallery for artists wanting to sell their work,
Momentum 8 also offers handmade jewelry and
other items.
On permanent display in Joplin City Hall is
Thomas Hart Benton’s only autobiographical
work - Joplin at the Turn of the Century, 1886-
1906 - and one of the man’s most endearing
creations. Dedicated on Joplin’s 100th birthday in
1973, the gigantic work depicts early Joplin and
its mining history. Accompanying the mural is the
fascinating Evolution of a Mural exhibit, telling the
story of the development and Benton’s thought
processes behind his creation. It includes the
artist’s rough sketches and drawings as he
prepared to ink his monumental work. In the
spring of 2010, an additional public mural will be
featured alongside Benton’s mural, a piece
created by his grandson Anthony Gude. This
mural has been commissioned through JACC’s
newly formed Cultural Arts Committee.
Pro Musica was founded in 1981 with the mission
to foster interest in, appreciation for, and
enjoyment of classical music in Joplin and the
surrounding four-state area. Ageless music for all
ages is the mantra for the organization. In its first
season Pro Musica presented one concert, the
St. Louis Brass Quintet. In its 25th year, Pro
Musica brought some of the world’s most
celebrated musicians to perform in Joplin.
The Pro Musica Concert Series presents chamber
music ensembles of the highest professional
quality (open to the public at no charge), a
biennial Symphony Orchestra performance and
the annual Joplin PoPs concert.
In addition to the formal concerts, Pro Musica
provides educational outreach and enrichment to
local schools and Missouri Southern State
University, as well as to the social service, civic,
and business communities. Through school
concerts, lecture/demonstrations and special
events, Pro Musica reaches nearly 6,000 people a
season. In the past, Pro Musica has worked in
collaboration with Spiva Center for the Arts,
Freemen Health System and St. John’s Regional
Medical Center to make the arts part of a larger
cultural picture in the four states.
During the 1930’s, an active group of Thespians
had been staging plays at Joplin High School, the
Paramount Theatre, the Scottish Rite Temple and
anywhere else they could find a stage. In 1939
this group incorporated into Joplin Little Theatre
(JLT) and today is known as the longest
continuously running community theatre west of
the Mississippi. Today, Joplin Little Theatre
proudly looks back on a rich history of continuous
activity, presenting high quality productions to the
people of the Four-State Area.
The theatre produces musicals and plays which
are presented throughout the year, with local
actors and actresses auditioning for parts to each
play. Composed completely of passionate
volunteers, the highly respected organization also
sponsors an annual Children’s Summer
Workshop.
Other local theatre groups include the Southern
Theatre at MSSU’s Taylor Auditorium; the Stained
Glass Theatre of Joplin, which is a full-time, not-
for-profit Christian theatre committed to serving
Christ through the arts, and Stone’s Throw
Theatre in nearby Carthage.
 All area codes are 417 unless otherwise noted.

GETTING SETTLED IN
UTILITIES IMPORTANT COMMUNITY LISTINGS
AT&T Telephone Ambulance/Emergency/Fire/Police...........911
www.att.com Area Agency on Aging......................781-7562
New Residential ....................800-288-2020
New Business.......................800-499-7928 Animal Control .................................623-6122
Service Repair Center............800-246-8464 Better Business Bureau ...................862-4222
CableOne Chamber of Commerce (JACC).........624-4150

Newcomer Information
www.cableone.net Community Blood Center
112 East 32nd Street, 64804........624-6340 of the Ozarks ...................................626-8323
Empire District Electric Company Community Clinic .............................624-5500
www.empiredistrict.com
Convention and Visitors Bureau .......625-4789
602 South Joplin Avenue, 64801 ..625-5100
Customer Service .........................624-0300 Joplin Humane Society, Inc. .............623-3642
Missouri American Water Company Housing Authority ............................624-4514
www.mawc.com Missouri Career Center ....................629-3000
2650 East 32nd Street,
Missouri Veterans Commission
Suite 121, 64804..........................627-3800 Joplin ...........................................629-3538
Customer Service ..................800-256-6426 Carthage ......................................359-1515
Missouri Gas Energy METS Ambulance .............................623-3347
www.missourigasenergy.com
520 East 5th Street, 64801...........626-4814 Police
Customer Service ..................800-582-1234 Emergency. .......................................911
Non-Emergency........................623-3131
Sewer Maintenance
www.joplinmo.org SCORE – Springfield/Joplin ..............890-8501
City of Joplin ...................624-0820 Ext. 565 Small Business Administration
Springfield....................................890-8501
DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES Small Business
www.dor.mo.gov Development Center.........................625-3128
1110 East 7th Street, Social Security Office.......................623-8314
Suite 6, 64801..............................623-9700
Tri-State Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce ....................625-6691
POST OFFICES Voter Registration
Post Office ................................800-275-8777 Jasper County ..............................625-4390
www.usps.com Newton County .............................659-2910
Main Station
101 North Main Street, 64801 ......623-6176 CITY OF JOPLIN
www.joplinmo.org
Station A
3115 South Main Street, Suite 6, 64804 City Hall
................................................... 623-4488 602 South Main Street, 64801......624-0820
City Manager ......................624-0820 ext. 200
HOSPITALS Airport Manager ..............................623-0262
Freeman Health System ...................FHS-1111 City Attorney ......................624-0820 ext. 225
www.freemanhealth.com City Clerk .................624-0820 ext. 220 or 221
Freeman East
832 East 34th Street, 64804 City Planner ........................624-0820 ext. 510
Freeman West Emergency Management
1102 West 32nd Street, 64804 ....................................624-0820 ext. 260, 261
St. John's Regional Medical Center .781-2727 ....................................................or 623-5858
www.stj.com Community Development
2727 McClelland Blvd., 64804 & Planning ..........................624-0820 ext. 570

JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 19

 All area codes are 417 unless otherwise noted.
Engineering Department .....624-0820 ext. 530
Finance Department ...........624-0820 ext. 252
Fire Department ...............................623-0403
Fire Chief.........................624-0820 ext. 300
Health Department ...........................623-6122
Museum Complex
www.joplinmuseum.org................623-1180
Library
www.joplinpubliclibrary.org ..........623-7953
Licenses .............................624-0820 ext. 242
Memorial Hall ..................................623-3254
Municipal Court ...............................624-0820
........................ext. 230, 231, 232, or 233
Parks & Recreation
www.joplinparks.org.....................624-6937
Police Department ...........................623-3131
Police Chief .....................623-3131 ext. 402
Public Works Director .........624-0820 ext. 502
Recycling Coordinator ........624-0820 ext. 501
Schifferdecker Golf Course ..............624-3533
Sewer Billing ......................624-0820 ext. 244
Taxes ..................................624-0820 ext. 241
Traffic Violations .................624-0820 ext. 232
CITY OF JOPLIN OFFICIALS
City Council (Terms of Office)
Mayor - Zone 1 (2002-2010)
Gary Shaw....................................781-5982
................................................or 781-1919
Mayor Pro Tem - General
(1997-1998)(2002-2010)
Mike Woolston .............................626-5526
General:(1998-2010)
Phil Stinnett..................................624-8822
................................................or 623-3712
General: (1982-1990)(2008-2012)
Bill Scearce ..................................781-5285
................................................or 439-8900
General: (1988-1996; 2000-2004;
2006-2010)
Jim West ......................................782-0055
................................................or 624-6644
General: (2006-2012)
Morris Glaze .................................782-1990
................................................or 623-0088
Zone 2: (2006-2012)
Melodee Colbert Kean...................624-2394
Zone 3: (2008-2010)
Dr. Benjamin Rosenberg ...............781-2220
Zone 4:(2008-2010)
Michael Seibert ...........................782-3759
20
JOPLIN SCHOOL BOARD
www.joplinschools.org
Superintendent Dr. C.J. Huff ..........................................................................................625-5200
President Michael D. Landis (2010)...............................................................................781-8320
Vice President Randy Steele (2011) ..............................................................................483-2428
Jeff Flowers (2011) .......................................................................................................781-0498
Jim Kimbrough (2012) ..................................................................................................781-6929
Ashley Micklethwaite (2010) ........................................................................................781-2724
Phil Willcoxin (2011) .....................................................................................................206-0260
Anne Sharp (2012) ........................................................................................................623-2695
JASPER COUNTY OFFICES/OFFICIALS
www.jaspercounty.org
Joplin Number Carthage Number
Carthage Courthouse .............................................................................................800-404-0421
Assessor's Office
Personal Property.................................................625-4355 ......................................358-0437
Real Estate...........................................................625-4356 ......................................358-0440
Auditor's Office ....................................................625-4366 ......................................358-0406
Circuit Court
Circuit Clerk's Office.............................................625-4310 ......................................358-0441
Child Support Division...............................................N/A ...........................................237-1022
Division I ..............................................................625-4318................................................N/A
Division II .............................................................625-4320................................................N/A
Division III - Probate .............................................625-4325 ......................................625-4370
Division IV - Associate Circuit Court .....................625-4371 ......................................358-0450
Division V - Associate Division ..............................625-4316................................................N/A
Division VI - Associate Division .............................625-4366 ......................................237-1096
Juvenile Court/Officer...........................................625-4300................................................N/A
Public Defender....................................................627-0467................................................N/A
Small Claims Court...............................................625-4316................................................N/A
Emergency Management......................................623-5858................................................N/A
Family Court .............................................................N/A ...........................................237-1096
Collector's Office
Personal Property.................................................625-4324 ......................................358-0409
Real Estate...........................................................625-4386 ......................................358-0411
County Clerk's Office ...............................................625-4307 ......................................358-0416
County Commissioner's Office.................................625-4350 ......................................358-0421
Eastern District Commissioner ................................625-4350 ......................................358-0421
Western District Commissioner ...............................625-4350 ......................................358-0421
County Engineer ......................................................781-0643................................................N/A
Election and Voter Registration ...............................625-4390 ......................................358-0413
Jail ..........................................................................624-1601 ......................................358-8177
Jasper County Health Department .......................877-879-9131...................................358-8111
Prosecuting Attorney...............................................625-4314 ......................................358-0433
Public Administrator ....................................................N/A ...........................................358-4268
Record Office................................................................N/A ...........................................359-1100
Recorder's Office .....................................................625-4375 ..................358-0431 or 358-0432
Sheriff's Office
Emergency Calls Only ...............................................911 ....................................................911
Non-Emergency Calls...........................................625-1600 ......................................358-9100
Treasurer's Office .........................................................N/A ...........................................358-0448
JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
 All area codes are 417 unless otherwise noted.

NEWTON COUNTY OFFICES/OFFICIALS LOCAL COMMUNICATIONS/MEDIA

Joplin Number Neosho Number Print Media
Assessor ......................................................................N/A ...........................................451-8200
Real Estate...........................................................659-2921 ......................................451-8218
*The Big Nickel ................................624-4100
Personal Property.................................................659-2920 ......................................451-8258
2916 East 20th Street, Joplin, MO 64804
Circuit Court www.bignickel.com
Circuit Clerk .........................................................659-2950 ......................................451-8210
Child Support .......................................................659-2950 ......................................451-8210 *The Chart .......................................625-9311
Division I...................................................................N/A ...........................................451-8210 MSSU, 3950 East Newman Road,
Division II..................................................................N/A ...........................................451-8210
Joplin, MO 64801
Division III .................................................................N/A ...........................................451-8210
www.thechartonline.com
Civil Defense Director...................................................N/A ...........................................451-4357
County Collector ......................................................659-2900 ......................................451-8217 The Chronicle of Grand Lake ..(918) 782-4408
www.newtoncountycollector.com P.O. Box 757
Langley, OK 74350
County Clerk ............................................................659-2910 ......................................451-8221
www.grand-chronicle.com
County Commission .................................................659-2910 ......................................451-8223
County Surveyor...........................................................N/A ...........................................451-2727 The Current, Etc. ..............................540-7633
1617 South Main Street, Joplin, MO 64804
Election and Voter Registration ...............................659-2910 ......................................451-8220
www.thecurrentetc.com
Emergency Management .........................................623-5858 ......................................451-8255
Health Department .......................................................N/A ...........................................451-3743 *Encore Publishing ..........................624-4100
2916 East 20th Street, Joplin, MO 64804
Jail ..........................................................................659-2929 ......................................451-8311
www.bignickel.com
Juvenile Officer .......................................................659-2990 ......................................451-8236
Prosecuting Attorney...............................................659-2940 ......................................451-8242 *Grace Magazine .............................623-3480
117 East 4th Street
Public Administrator ....................................................N/A ...........................................451-8271
Joplin, MO 64801
Recorder of Deeds ...................................................659-2930 ......................................451-8224
Sheriff *The Joplin Globe
...........................................................................Emergency .................................911 .......911 Publishing Company ......................623-3480
...................................................................Non-Emergency Calls................623-2282451- 117 East 4th Street, Joplin, MO 64801
8300 www.joplinglobe.com
Treasurer ......................................................................N/A ...........................................451-8226 *The Joplin Herald ...........................623-3480
117 East 4th Street, Joplin, MO 64801
TRANSPORTATION www.joplinherald.com
Joplin Regional Airport
www.jlnairport.com....................................................................................................623-0262 *Joplin Tri-State Business Journal ..625-6699
407 South Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 101
Great Lakes Airlines
www.flygreatlakes.com .............................................................................................625-4824 Joplin, MO 64801
www.joplintristate.biz
Mizzou Aviation
www.mizzouaviation.com ..........................................................................................623-1331 The Morning Sun ....................(620) 231-2600
MAPS (Metro Area Paratransit System) ........................................................................626-8607 701 North Locust, Pittsburg, KS 66762
The Sunshine Lamp Trolley............................................................................................626-8609 www.morningsun.net
*Show Me The Ozarks Magazine .....455-9898
IMPORTANT NUMBERS 18724 Highway 59, Neosho, MO 64850
Missouri's No Call Program ...................................................................................866-662-2551 www.showmetheozarks.com
Missouri Consumer Fraud ......................................................................................800-392-8222 *Springfield Business Journal .........831-3238
Missouri Veterans Commission 313 Park Central West, Springfield, MO
Joplin.........................................................................................................................629-3538 65806
Carthage....................................................................................................................359-1515
www.sbj.net
Missouri Highway Patrol
Carthage....................................................................................................................359-1500
*JACC Members

JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 21

 LOCAL RADIO STATIONS
KBTN (99.7 FM) www.997KBTN.com
KCAR (104.3 FM) www.COOL1043.com
KDMO (1490 AM) www.ontheradio.net
KIX (102.5 FM) www.KIX1025.com
KJMK (93.9 FM)
www.LITEROCKJOPLIN939.com
KJML (105.3 FM www.ROCK105KJML.com
KKLL (1100 AM) www.hereshelpnet.org
KKOW (96.9 FM) & (860 AM)
www.kkowfm.com
KMOQ (107.1 FM) www.Q1053.com
KMXL (95.1 FM) www.951mikefm.com
KNEO (91.7 FM) www.KNEO.org
KLOVE (90.7 FM) www.KLove.com
KOKC (93.5 FM) (1520 AM)
KQYS (1420 AM)
KQYX (1450 AM)
KRPS (89.9 FM) www.krps.org
KSEK (99.1 FM) www.rockrevolution991.com
Kissin (92.5 FM) www.Kissin925.com
KWXD (103.5 FM) www.oldies1035x.net
KXDG (97.9 FM) www.BIGDOG979.com
KXMS (88.7 FM) www.mssu.edu/kxms
KZRG (1310 AM) www.1310KZRG.com
KZYM (1230 AM) www.1230thetalker.com
KITG (89.5 FM) www.KITGradio.com
KHST (101.7 FM) www.Star1017.net
LOCAL TELEVISION NETWORKS
CableONE, www.cableone.net (not a direct site
specifically for Joplin)
KCLJ (TBN) Channel 46 (with PAX)
KFJX (FOX) Channel 14, www.fox14tv.com
KGCS (MSSU) Channel 57
KJPX PAX-TV Channel 47, www.kjpxtv.com
(not a direct site specifically for Joplin)
KODE (ABC) Channel 12, www.fourstateshome-
page.com
KOAM (CBS) Channel 7, www.koamtv.com
KOZJ (PBS) Channel 26, www.kozj.edu
KSNF (NBC) Channel 16, www.fourstateshome-
page.com
ON LINE MEDIA SERVICES
www.fourstateshomepage.com
www.joplin.com
www.joplincc.com
www.joplinglobe.com
www.joplinindependent.com
www.joplintristate.biz
www.sbj.net
www.shopjoplin.biz
www.shopthefourstates.biz
www.visitjoplinmo.com
22
All area codes are 417 unless otherwise noted.
NATIONAL OFFICIALS
President Barack Obama
White House, Washington, DC 20500
Vice President Joseph Biden
Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20500
Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond .............................................................................202-224-5721
274 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
Missouri Office.......................................................................................................864-8258
300 South Jefferson, Suite 401, Springfield MO 65806
Senator Claire McCaskill ........................................................................................202-224-6154
SH-717 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
Missouri Office.......................................................................................................868-8745
324 Park Central West, Suite 101, Springfield, MO 65806
Representative Roy Blunt .......................................................................................202-225-6536
217 Cannon House Office Building, Washington DC 20515
Joplin, Missouri Office............................................................................................781-1041
101 North Range Line Road, Box 20, Joplin, MO 64801
Springfield, Missouri Office ....................................................................................889-1800
2740B East Sunshine, Springfield, MO 65804
STATE OFFICIALS
Governor Jay Nixon ................................................................................................573-751-3222
Room 216, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101
Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder ..........................................................................573-751-4727
Room 224, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101
Secretary of State Robin Carnahan ........................................................................573-751-4936
Room 208, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101
State Auditor Susan Montee ..................................................................................573-751-4213
P.O. Box 869, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0869
State Treasurer Clint Zweifel ..................................................................................573-751-2411
P.O. Box 210, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0210
Attorney General Chris Koster ................................................................................573-751-3321
Supreme Court Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101
State Senator Gary Nodler......................................................................................573-751-2306
Room 423, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101
District 126 State Representative Ed Emery ..........................................................573-751-2165
Room 312, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101
District 127 State Representative Tom Flanigan ....................................................573-751-5458
Room 314, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101
District 128 State Representative Bryan P. Stevenson ...........................................573-751-7082
Room 408A, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101
District 129 State Representative Ron Richard ......................................................573-751-2173
Room 206A, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101
District 130 State Representative Kevin Wilson .....................................................573-751-9781
Room 413B, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101
District 131 State Representative Marilyn Ruestman ............................................573-751-9801
Room 302B, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101
JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
 homes &
Something for everyone - a simple definition of
the vast selection of living arrangements
neighborhoods
COMMUNITY - LIFESTYLE - HERITAGE
available in and around Joplin. Whether it’s a
historic Victorian built during the turn of the
century, a trendy loft apartment, a state-of-the-
art architectural beauty or a practical starter
home, Joplin has everything a potential renter
or home owner could ever want.
Joplin is rich with pleasant suburban
neighborhoods and beautiful subdivisions.
Wildwood Ranch, located west of Joplin and
dubbed “Missouri’s premiere master-planned
community,” is one of several subdivisions
witnessing significant growth over the past year.
Multi-acre lots are currently available, offering a
variety of home building sites with breathtaking
views of the woods and Shoal Creek. Quality
upper-end housing is available for a fraction of
the price expected in rival markets, with lovely
newer subdivisions such as Oak Point, Hidden
Valley, Arbor Hills and Westberry Farms, or in
traditional older neighborhoods such as the
gracious Roanoke area.
Many subdivisions are located less than three
miles from Joplin city limits. These include
Shoal Creek Drive, Dennis Acres, as well as
Grand Falls Plaza and Gateway Drive. Others
that are popular include Callaway Ridge, Valley
View Estates, Water’s Edge, Sunset Ridge and
Chesterfield Estates.
One of the country’s most affordable areas to
live (the median house price is $66,549
compared to the national median price of
$177,900), Joplin and the surrounding area
enjoy housing costs far below the national
averages. In fact, Joplin area residents are
realizing the American dream of home ownership
in record numbers. Those relocating to the
community from other areas of the country find
greater purchasing power complimented by the
lowest residential property taxes in the Midwest.
Lower housing costs combined with a growing
employment base create an excellent
opportunity for real estate investments. In
addition, there is a variety of rental property
reasonably priced from $350 to $650 per month.
For those whose passion is historic homes,
clustered downtown just west of the Main Street
business area is the Murphysburg Residential
Historic District. It houses an eclectic mix of
architecture from the late 19th and early 20th
century. Many of these grand homes represent
Victorian and post-Victorian architecture. Home
and garden tours of the district are offered to
tourists at annual special events. Historic
Murphysburg Preservation, Inc., a not-for-profit
corporation, works to preserve the integrity of
the district and raise public awareness, in hopes
of again mimicking the splendor of the city’s
mining “boom” days.
In connection with Joplin’s mining past, the
Sunshine Lamp District - located between 1st
and 10th Streets on Main, ties in with that
history. Sunshine lamps, were tiny lights hung
in front of miners caps to light their way, thus
the historic name for the district. With that in
mind, the goal of the Sunshine Lamp District is
to reshape Joplin’s downtown into some of the
City’s premiere living spaces for residents of all
ages, ranging from young professionals to
seniors. Along with Main Street Joplin, a not-for-
JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
profit organization dedicated to supporting and
promoting the revitalization of the downtown
community, several buildings have been targeted
for not only an exterior facelift, but a complete
interior renovation as well. Some of those
include:
• $9.4 million renovation to both the Zahn and
Ridgway buildings, offering nearly 50
apartments
• $9.5 million renovation to the eight-story
Frisco Station building housing 57 senior
apartments
• $2.3 million renovation to the Olivia Lofts and
Grand Dining Hall, offering 30 units of loft
living within five stories
• $2 million renovation to the
Chrismans/Howsman building now called
Main Street Place, adding 26 lofts within five
stories
One of the largest makeovers is taking place at
the Gryphon Building, or better known to Joplin
residents as the Bagcraft building. Constructed
in 1915, the structure was built for the Inter-
State Grocer Company as a warehouse,
processing and distribution facility. The five-
story building with its sophisticated facade
design became an immediate landmark due to
its height. Architecturally ahead of its time with
reinforced concrete pillar construction, the
building was equipped with many state of the art
amenities, such as elevators, a sprinkler system,
pneumatic package and speaking tubes and a full
telephone exchange. The building has been
occupied by KFSB radio station, Joplin Building
23
 Material Co. and Vickers, to name a
few, with Bagcraft as the last tenant.
The building has been vacant since
1994.
Upon its completion in the Spring of
2010, the building will feature
120,000 square feet of class “A” office
space, with retail and restaurant
space on the ground floor, a fitness
center for tenants, outdoor courtyard
and more than 400 parking spaces.
Owners will offer downtown Joplin
“modern business amenities with
historic class.” The building will be
LEED (Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design) certified as a
green building and is placed on the
National Register of Historic Places.
The Home Builders Association of
Southwest Missouri, chartered in
1978, continues to be the area’s
recognized leader in the housing
industry.
This is achieved by promoting quality
housing and customer service, by
continuing to be actively involved in
industry issues and standards, and by
providing education and community
support. Members keep abreast of
industry issues and make a
commitment to use only quality
THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY
602 S. Joplin Ave. • Joplin, MO 64801 • (800) 206-2300
Learn about our Smart Energy Solutions at www.empiredistrict.com
24 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
products. The Home Builders
Association supports education with
scholarship programs for students
going into the building industry, and
participates in the area Habitat for
Humanity homes built in the Joplin
area.
Joplin’s real estate market remains
firmly geared around the homeowner
and the market includes many
charitable organizations whose sole
mission is to help those in need.
Founded locally in 1989, the Joplin
area Habitat for Humanity is a not-
for-profit Christian housing ministry
dedicated to eliminating substandard
housing and to make adequate,
affordable shelter available to God’s
families in need. They recently
completed their 29th home. Last year,
a three bedroom home for a single
mother and her two children was built
entirely by women volunteers.
In 2007, the organization opened
ReStore, which specializes in keeping
used equipment and supplies out of
landfills so it can be put to use in the
Habitat for Humanity homes.
Supported also by corporate and
business donations, Habitat’s ReStore
offers everything for your home at a
discounted price. Such items include
home furnishings, windows, tile,
siding, doors, lumber, etc.
Another great service is Hearts &
Hammers, a not-for-profit human
service organization that provides
home repairs to the elderly, the
disabled and single parent or low-
income families. The focus of Hearts
& Hammers is to improve the quality
of life for individuals in need. The
mission is to enhance the well being
of the community by providing free
home repair and maintenance for
homeowners who cannot perform the
work themselves because of physical
or financial limitations. An annual
workforce of roughly 350 volunteers
have beautified more than 200
homes, raising the overall quality of
life for Joplin residents.
As part of Joplin’s overall goal of
beautifying the community, the City
of Joplin maintains a recycling center
within the city limits. Home to a
household hazardous waste collection
facility, the center helps Joplin
residents maintain a high quality of
living through easy-to-access
collection facilities and outstanding
service to the community.
Healthcare
COMPREHENSIVE
RESPECTED
QUALITY
y ,
institution continues the legacy of Mercy
with nationally recognized patient care and
innovative technology.
St. John’s in Joplin is a 367-bed facility with
2,200 skilled employees and a medical staff
that consists of 250 physicians and
specialists representing more than 40
medical specialties, as well as 600 volunteers
and 50 area leaders.
Effective November 1, 2009, the Sisters of
Mercy Health System (Mercy) finalized
sponsorship of St. John’s Regional Medical
Center and all its affiliates. Headquartered
in St. Louis, Missouri, Mercy operates 19
other acute hospitals, two heart hospitals,
physician practices, outpatient clinics,
health plans and related health and human
services. Providing more than 4,000 licensed
beds, Mercy’s coverage spans a seven-state
area, including nearby hospitals, physician
offices and other operations in Springfield,
MO, Rogers, AR, and Independence and Fort
Scott, KS.
Mercy also provides a managed care
subsidiary (Mercy Health Plans), home
health programs, skilled nursing services
and long-term care facilities. Mercy is the
eighth largest Catholic healthcare system in
the United States. It is sponsored by Mercy
Health Ministry, an entity established by the
Catholic Church to oversee the healing
ministry and Catholic identity of Mercy.
Medical professionals are continually and
consistently introducing the newest medical
technology to the region, as well as the most
advanced medical procedures. Some
examples include a 64-slice CT inside the
Regional Heart Center, a 1.5 Tesla Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine inside
JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
help groups to increase physical activity
and healthy diet. In particular, this grant
will be used to increase and promote the
number of walking and bicycling trails
throughout the area.
For area high school students, St. John’s
offers a Health Careers Club. The purpose is
to educate local students about career
opportunities in the health care field.
Students hear presentations from
physicians, nurses, technicians and other
hospital staff.
As a facility entrusted with the healing
ministry of the Catholic Church, St. John’s
makes a significant impact on the health
and well-being of the communities it serves.
St. John’s touts a long list of awards and
accomplishments. Listed here are just a few:
• The only hospital in Joplin to be
accredited by the Joint Commission Gold
Seal of Approval.
• Named for five 100 Top Hospital Awards in
recent years by Thomson-Reuters
• 100 Top cardiovascular hospital (2006),
100 Top national hospital (2006 & 2008)
100 Top hospital performance
improvement leaders (2006)
• 100 Top Heart Hospital (1999)
• Top 25 hospitals in Peripheral Vascular
Bypass Survey by Money Magazine
• Three Patient Satisfaction Awards by
HealthStream American College of
Surgeons Commission on Cancer
Accreditation with Commendation.
For a complete list of National and
Regional accreditations and awards for
quality standards and patient care go to
www.stj.com
27
 FREEMAN HEALTH SYSTEM
John W. Freeman donated his
family home in 1922 as the site
of the first Freeman Hospital.
Little did he know that through
the dedicated medical
community in Joplin, his gift
would grow into one of the top
medical facilities in Missouri.
Freeman Health System is a not-
for-profit community owned and
locally governed facility which
provides full-service healthcare
to the fourstate area. The health
system’s mission is simple:
“Improving the health of the
communities we serve through
contemporary, innovative,
quality healthcare solutions.”
Freeman, a 404-bed, three-
hospital system providing
comprehensive healthcare and
behavioral health services to an
area that includes 450,000
residents from Missouri, Kansas,
Oklahoma and Arkansas, offers a
comprehensive range of services
including cancer care, heart and
vascular care, orthopaedics,
neurosurgery, and behavioral
healthcare. Freeman was the first
hospital in Missouri and sixth in
the nation to earn
registration from the
International Organization for
Standardization (ISO), most
recently achieving ISO 9001:2008
registration, and is accredited by
the Healthcare Facilities
Accreditation Program. The ISO
registration confirms the
dedication of Freeman to
improving and monitoring the
delivery of patient care and
continually measuring quality.
Last year, Freeman took care of
416,512 outpatient visits,
116,026 emergency/trauma/
urgent care visits, 21,610
admissions, 14,462 surgeries and
2,646 births. The Freeman
medical team, which includes
300 physicians representing 60
specialties, uses the latest
techniques, best practices and
technologies to provide life-
saving care close to home.
Freeman Health System is
comprised of four main divisions:
• Freeman West - providing full-
service general acute care
• Freeman East - providing
outpatient care, post-acute care
and behavioral health services
• Freeman Neosho - providing
general acute care
• Ozark Center - providing
behavioral health services
28 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Throughout its history, Freeman
has added new technology,
established programs and
provided community outreach to
better meet the increasing
demand for excellence in
healthcare. Due for completion
in 2010, Freeman Surgery Center
will offer a wide range of
outpatient procedures and
support multiple specialties. This
new facility will give area
residents the opportunity to
receive cost-effective care with
easy access and convenience
without a hospital admission. In
the area of mental health, Ozark
Center, the area’s largest and
most comprehensive behavioral
healthcare provider, will move
forward with two new building
projects in 2010. The first is
Poplar Place, a $1.4 million, 15-
unit apartment complex that
will provide transitional housing
for Ozark Center patients who
are without housing or who
desire daily interaction with a
counselor. Additionally, two four-
plex housing units for students
graduating from Turnaround
Ranch, a 24-hour residential
care facility for youths suffering
from emotional, behavioral or
developmental disorders, is also
under construction. Young
people who leave the ranch at
age 18 often find it hard to live
on their own. These four-plex
housing units will help young
adults age 18-22 take the next
step toward independence.
After opening the Gary & Donna
Hall Tower at Freeman West with
greatly expanded emergency and
trauma services, the health
system continued another push
forward to create the new
Freeman Women’s Center on
32nd Street. This facility
enhances the health and well-
being of women of all ages
through a unique environment
of personalized education,
support, clinical excellence and
state-of-the-art technology.
Services for women are offered
in a spa-like setting in one
centralized, convenient location.
Other recent service additions
include a Sexual Assault Nurse
Examiner (SANE) program, in
which a registered nurse with
advanced clinical and forensic
skills works with community
agencies to aid sexual assault
victims. Also, a commitment to
the quality of life of older adults
prompted the opening of the
Freeman Center for Geriatric
Medicine, offering specialists and
services in one location on East
32nd Street.
Freeman Health System also
operates a number of outreach
clinics in Anderson, Carthage,
Neosho, Nevada, El Dorado
Springs and Lamar, Missouri.
Additionally, Freeman offers
three clinics in Kansas and two
in Oklahoma. These clinics
provide access to primary care
physicians and specialists for
patients in communities
surrounding Joplin.
Looking to the future, Freeman
encourages its doctors, nurses,
technicians, support staff,
managers, and volunteers to
think of innovative ways to
improve care to patients. For
example, a new program called
Operation Education works with
surgical patients before their
surgeries to teach them what to
do to speed their own recoveries.
Also, Freeman leads the way in
the establishment of walk-in
clinics, such as Freeman Urgent
Care, as a convenience for people
needing minor medical care or
those without a primary care
physician. To fight the growing
obesity and diabetes epidemics,
Freeman has teamed with a new
endocrinologist, a physician who
specializes in diagnosis and
treatment of conditions affecting
the endocrine system, to treat
patients for conditions such as
diabetes, thyroid disease,
menopause, obesity, and growth
problems. While the nation faces
a looming physician shortage,
Freeman, a teaching hospital,
trains doctors onsite in
collaboration with the Oklahoma
State University Graduate
Medical Education Consortium.
Another plus, many of the
medical students and resident
physicians enrolled in the
program decide to make Joplin
their home after they complete
their course of study at Freeman.
And finally, to steer the
community through healthcare
challenges on the ever-changing
horizon, Freeman continually
searches out new sources of
funding, through Freeman
Foundation, to bring new, life-
changing technologies and
programs, such as Ozark Center
for Autism, to the Four States.
AIR AMBULANCE
MedFlight is based at St. John’s
Regional Medical Center in
Joplin, Missouri. MedFlight was
 Daniel J. Brothers, O.D.
Larry J. Brothers, O.D.
Dennis W. Bezold, O.D.
Melissa Y. Brown, O.D.
Doctors of Optom Eldon R. Repsher, O.D.
Comprehensive Vision Ca e
Contact Lenses

2013 S. Joplin St. (417) 624-5005

Joplin, MO 64804 http://www.visionsource-joplin.com (800) 214-5005

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JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 29

 the first critical care air
ambulance to serve the Four
State area when operations
began in October 1992. The
service is approaching one
million accident free miles flown
and has transported nearly 6,000
patients to date. MedFlight’s on-
board flight team includes an
EMS pilot, critical care Flight
Nurse and critical care Flight
Paramedic.
EagleMed air ambulance service,
based at Freeman Health System,
is a leading provider of critical
care emergency air transport
services. EagleMed enhances air
medical services to this region by
providing faster, more
dependable air transportation to
a wider service area,
accommodating more patients.
Literally a “flying ICU,” the crew
consists of one RN and one
Paramedic or two RN’s on some
flights plus one highly trained
and qualified pilot.
AMBULANCE SERVICES
Metro Emergency Transport
System (METS) is the primary
emergency medical service
provider for western Jasper
County in Missouri, using a fleet
of emergency vehicles providing
speedy service to Joplin and the
surrounding communities. There
are four ambulances in operation
at all times, three in Joplin and
one in neighboring Webb City.
The service area encompasses
100 square miles, including the
towns of Joplin, Webb City and
Carl Junction, as well as smaller
surrounding communities and
rural areas. METS also provides
non-emergency services, ride-
along trips as well as public
training focusing on CPR classes.
BLOOD AND PLASMA
COLLECTION
Each day, it takes more than 275
blood donations to meet the
needs of patients in the two
Joplin hospitals, as well as the
surrounding 36 hospitals in the
four state area. The Community
Blood Center of the Ozarks and
the Greater Ozarks Chapter of the
American Red Cross are both
blood banks collecting,
distributing and protecting the
region’s medical blood supply.
BioLife Plasma Services, also in
Joplin, is an industry leader in
the collection of high quality
plasma that is processed into
lifesaving plasma-based
therapies.
30 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
CHARITABLE HEALTH CARE
SERVICES
The Ronald McDonald House of
the Four States is a ‘home away
from home’ for families of
seriously ill children, ages 0-18
years, or ill expectant mothers. It
is more than just a place to stay
and it’s more than just walls and
a roof. It is a temporary,
affordable home where families
and their children receive
support from other families and
volunteers during a time of stress
within the family. The
Community Clinic of Joplin and
ACCESS Family Care provide
primary medical care for those
without insurance or who lack
access to healthcare services, for
children and adults alike.
Children’s Miracle Network raises
funds to help sick and injured
children, assisting families in a
14-county area. Donations also
help Freeman Neonatal Intensive
Care Unit (NICU) and buy
pediatric emergency medical
equipment for area agencies.
CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Millions of Americans each year
have discovered relief from
nagging, chronic back pain
through chiropractic care, the
natural and effective way to treat
the body and promote health
care. Chiropractic physicians are
highly trained doctors
specializing in the science of the
function of the spinal column,
the body’s muscular structure
and the nervous system. There
are many practices in Joplin, and
aside from “natural healing,”
these area offices offer corrective
exercises, lifestyle advice,
nutritional counseling, spinal
screenings, and a few even offer
physiological therapeutic
procedures.
COUNSELING AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES
It doesn’t matter what time of the
year it is, counseling and
psychological services are
necessary services available for
every age group and background
in Joplin. There are numerous
faith-based counseling services
available as well, in both private
practices and through not for
profit groups. To find a specific
Joplin-based office or
organization catering to a
specific healthcare need, search
for one or more options within
the “Business Directory” found
elsewhere in this book or online
at www.joplincc.com.
CRISIS INTERVENTION
A crisis can spawn at any
moment, whether it’s abusive
behavior, violence, suicide,
pregnancy or mental and
emotional problems. It requires
professionals who have
specialized skills and experience
dealing with various crises. There
are nearly a dozen crisis
intervention centers located in or
near Joplin. Several of these are
nonprofit and do not charge a fee
for their services.
DENTAL/ORTHODONTICS
There are more than two dozen
dentists and orthodontists in
Joplin offering comprehensive
dentistry in a relaxed,
professional environment.
Attention to detail and
commitment to continuing
education ensure optimum oral
health, function, comfort and
aesthetics in general, as well as
cosmetic and sedation dentistry.
Orthodontic treatment can be
successful at any age. When
treatment is begun early, the
orthodontist can guide the
growth of the jaw and guide
incoming permanent teeth.
Braces and Invisalign can correct
dental problems and give the
benefits of a beautiful smile.
HEARING
Joplin has highly trained clinical
audiologists specializing in
extensive hearing services.
Services include hearing
evaluations, hearing aids, repairs
and educational audiology.
HEART AND VASCULAR
SERVICES
Freeman Health System Heart &
Vascular Institute and its team of
cardiologists, cardiothoracic and
vascular surgeons have dedicated
themselves to performing the
most advanced cardiac
procedures and searching for new
and improved ways to prevent,
detect and treat heart disease
throughout the Four State region.
Full service cardiothoracic and
vascular programs include bypass
and valve surgery, cardiac
catheterization and interventions,
respiratory care,
electrophysiology, pulmonary
functions, vascular diagnostic
services, EECP therapy, and
rehabilitation. St. John’s Center
for Heart Care, located in St.
John’s Regional Medical Center,
has for more than 20 years
provided experienced and
sophisticated cardiovascular
services.

OrthopaedicSpecialists
of the Four States, LLC
444 Four States Drive Ste. 1
Galena, KS 66739
MO: 417-20-ORTHO
(417-206-7846)
J. Timothy Ogden, M.D.
J. Christopher Banwart, M.D.
Jonathan L. Grantham, M.D.
Brian J. Ipsen, M.D.
Robert F. Stringer, D.O.
Paul W. Toma, D.O.

KS: 620-783-4441 James D. Smith, M.D.

Toll Free: 1-877-783-4441 Mark E. McNemar, D.O.

It’s Provided
• Outpatient Therapy
• Spacious Garden Homes
• Senior Apartments
• Transition Care Units for short term therapy
• Assisted Living
• Skilled nursing care
• Reclaim® Rehab
(Physical-Occupational-Speech Therapies)
• Hospice care
• Worship services
• On-site chaplain
• Beautiful courtyards and patios
• Delicious restaurant style dining
• Beauty and barber shop
• Planned activities, outings,
arts and crafts
• Scheduled transportation
• 24 hour staff
• Pharmacy services
201 S. Northpark Ln. • Joplin, Missouri 64801
• Medicare/Medicaid accepted
417.623.4313
JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 31
 The hospital’s commitment is most
visible in the technological advances
and equipment utilized, nicely
complementing the cardiovascular
specialists’ expertise. The hospital
also offers a dedicated area inside the
Level II Trauma Center for those
experiencing chest pains. Physicians
and nurses, specializing in the
evaluation of heart attack symptoms
and their overall treatment, staff this
unique center around the clock.
Currently, St. John’s offers the
Coronary Computed Tomography 64-
Slice CT Imaging Unit—Angiography,
or CCTA procedure. St. John’s is the
first hospital in the region to offer
this innovative way for its physicians
to obtain the information they need
to diagnose cardiovascular disease,
stroke and chest pain.
There are also numerous private
physicians in the region who
specialize in cardiovascular disease
and prevention.
HOME HEALTHCARE/HOSPICE
Home care providers in southwest
Missouri serve patients of all ages,
from infants to seniors in the
comfort of home. Trained hospice
staff understand the unique
emotional, spiritual, social and
physical needs of patients and
families coping with a terminal
illness. Registered nurses and
therapists visit patients at home to
give follow-up care after surgery,
illness or trauma.
Hospice is a concept of care that
recognizes that the entire family is
affected by one person’s illness.
Hospice exists to provide support and
care for the terminally ill people so
they and their families might live as
fully and comfortably as possible.
Hospice services are provided to the
patient/family by a team of
professionals and trained volunteers.
These services are not intended to
take the place of care by family
members/significant others but
rather, to guide and support them in
the care of the patient.
MAMMOGRAPHY
Mammograms - X-ray photographs of
the breast are probably the most
important tool doctors have to help
them diagnose, evaluate and treat
women who have breast cancer.
In 2009, Mercy St. John’s Regional
Medical sponsored, “Fight Like A Girl”
- a promotion to encourage breast
cancer awareness. The hospital sold
hoodie sweatshirts embellished with
crystals that said “Fight like a Girl”
32 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
on the back for $25 each. The
proceeds went to support breast
cancer prevention. The hospital’s
unique mobile mammography bus
traveled around the area, offering
mammograms lasting 15 minutes or
less. St. John’s offers free or low-cost
mammograms to women who can’t
afford them or do not have health
insurance.
Mammograms are one of the many
services offered inside the Freeman
Women’s Center. Digital
mammography, the latest technology
for breast health, is available inside
the Women’s Pavillion on the center’s
main floor. Free or reduced cost
mammograms are also available for
income-eligible women.
H.O.P.E. 4-You Breast Cancer
Foundation supports women and
mammograms. Their goal is to find a
cure for breast cancer. Until then,
they are a source of support for those
touched by the disease.
OB/GYN
Freeman Health System offers the
region’s finest maternity care and a
wide variety of prenatal classes.
Freeman Maternity Center, designed
to give new mothers and their
families the comforts of home inside
a secure hospital, delivers more than
2,600 babies each year. Nine birthing
suites are available inside the
Malarie Hickey Jaccaud Birthing
Unit, with 25 private postpartum
rooms and 24-hour nursery care. For
the specialized needs of babies born
prematurely, Freeman provides the
region’s only Level III Neonatal
Intensive Care Unit (NICU) staffed by
board-certified neonatologists. For
women’s convenience, comfort and
care, Freeman Women’s Center
houses nine gynecologists and
obstetricians, the region’s only
board-certified perinatologist caring
for women with high-risk
pregnancies, diagnostic services, and
access to specialty health products all
under one roof.
Splashed either in traditional pink or
blue, more than 100 healthy babies
are born each month in the Sister
Kevin Kirwan Birthing Center inside
the St. John’s Regional Medical
Center. This facility is comprised of
highly qualified physicians, nurses
and diagnostic specialists. The 12
birthing suites offer a calm, home-
like environment in which to bring a
child into the world. The Birthing
Center also sponsors a variety of
classes to assist parents and families
in preparing for their new arrival,
including prenatal childbirth, child
and infant CPR, breast feeding, infant
care and sibling preparation.
ONCOLOGY
Freeman Health System’s cancer
program was the first in Missouri to
achieve approval with commendation
by the Commission on Cancer of the
American College of Surgeons. At
Freeman Cancer Institute,
comprehensive cancer care includes
diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation,
education and lifestyle management
all in one, convenient location.
Technology is at the forefront with
full radiation therapy capability
featuring the Varian SmartBeamTM
IMRT system, a linear accelerator
radiation system, and ExacTrac® X-
Ray 6D System by BrainLAB. The
cancer care team includes board-
certified hematologists/oncologists
and a radiation oncologist. The
Freeman Cancer Institute also brings
together the many services necessary
to provide comprehensive care for
patients and families dealing with
cancer.
St. John’s Center for Cancer Care
offers patients the most extensive
cancer program in the 19-county
area around Joplin, with the best
technological resources available.
The American College of Surgeons
Commission on Cancer accredits St.
John’s Center for Cancer Care. The St.
John’s Radiation Oncology
Department features two linear
accelerators equipped with multi-leaf
collimators, prostate seed
implantation, a convenient,
outpatient procedure for the
treatment of prostate cancer.
There are other physicians
throughout Joplin and the
surrounding area who offer various
cancer services.
OPHTHALMOLOGY
There are numerous vision clinics,
surgery centers and private
optometrists available for any vision
problem. Joplin-based clinics offer
comprehensive eye examination,
optical dispensing, surgery, vision
therapy, contact lenses, laser vision
correction and low-vision services.
PHYSICAL
THERAPY/REHABILITATION
Physical therapists provide services
that help restore function, improve
mobility, relieve pain and prevent or
at least limit permanent physical
disabilities. There are more than 15
centers to meet all the physical
therapy and rehabilitation needs of
Joplin and the surrounding
communities.
PHYSICIAN/HOSPITAL
ORGANIZATIONS
Both major medical centers -
Freeman Health System and St. John’s
Regional Medical Center—support
their own physicians’ organizations
while private practice doctors have
their choice of affiliation or
independence. Landmark Hospital of
Joplin is a joint venture with
Freeman Health System, St. John’s
Regional Medical Center and four
local Joplin physicians. The Joplin
facility is licensed for 30 beds and
designed to expand to 42 beds as the
need for long term acute care
services grows.
SPORTS MEDICINE
Between high school sports, YMCA
and youth-related games, and even
adult softball and football leagues,
injuries are as common as winning
and losing teams. To help prevent
injured athletes, there are several
sports medicine centers to help heal
wounds, breaks and bumps. On-site
athletic trainers also help out at local
sporting events and clinics.
Certified athletic trainers, licensed
physical therapists, fellowship-
trained sports medicine physicians
and board certified orthopedic
surgeons are available in Joplin.
Sports medicine centers offer
comprehensive programs for
prevention, treatment and
rehabilitation of sports-related
injuries, including joint replacement
procedures, multiple fractures, foot
and ankle difficulties, and shoulders.
Such techniques have reduced
recovery time dramatically in recent
years, revolutionizing the treatment
of joint injuries.
SURGERY SPECIALISTS
Ambulatory surgery centers (ASC),
also known as outpatient surgery
centers, are comprised of
freestanding independent facilities
where outpatient surgery is
performed.
There are dozens of surgical
specialists available in general
surgery, thoracic surgery, urological
surgery, ophthalmology, orthopedic
and plastic, as well as reconstructive
work. The Four State Surgery Center
and Joplin Surgical Arts are state-of-
the-art ambulatory surgery centers
for all outpatient surgical needs,
delivering the highest quality of
outpatient surgical care. Specialties
include General Surgery,
Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology, Plastic
Surgery, Pain Management, Facial,
Podiatry, Orthopedic and
Otolaryngology (ENT).
 EXCELLENCE IN
EDUCATIONEXCELLENCE - COMMITMENT - INSPIRATION

Excellence, commitment and inspiration are what the co-curricular activities and athletics that keep Joplin
Joplin area schools will deliver when enrolling your students involved and provide strong character-
children either in public or private based schools. building opportunities through teamwork and
Education is a vital part of Joplin’s future. individual effort.
With a wide variety of clubs and organizations such
PUBLIC SCHOOLS as SkillsUSA, National Honor Society, Future
Business Leaders of America, Student Council,
The community of Joplin knows that childhood and
Debate, Future Farmers of America, yearbook,
teen education is of the utmost importance to both
drama clubs, math clubs, and more, students have
the individual and to the community at large. The
the ability to explore their interests and stay engaged
new East Middle School is a brick and mortar
in meaningful, fruitful activity.
testimony to the outstanding support that the
community has put forth, along with the recently Joplin has a strong tradition of athletics ranging from
completed South Middle School and renovation and baseball state championships to a history of
expansion of the North Middle School with powerful football teams. The students have the
finalization set for the summer of 2010. opportunity to participate in baseball, basketball,
football, soccer, tennis, golf, softball, volleyball,
New facilities are a wonderful asset to any school swimming, track, cross country, wrestling, dance,
district; however, without the hard work of teachers and cheer.
and students pursuing high achievement levels, the
halls would not seem so bright. The schools of Joplin
are considered to be among the upper echelon in STAFF
academic performance in the State of Missouri.
• Total Number of Certified Staff (teachers,
For several consecutive years, the district has counselors, etc.) – 620
received the prestigious Distinction In Performance • Total Number of Classified Staff (custodians,
Award given annually by the State. These awards drivers, secretaries, etc.) – 489
were given in recognition of increased student • Manageable Class Sizes: Ratio of Students to
achievement on state tests along with ACT college- Classroom Teachers – 21 to 1
entrance exam scores that consistently exceed the • Low Teacher Turnover: Teacher Retention Rate –
state and national averages. Joplin has also recently 93.5%
received the Commissioner’s Award of Excellence for
Administration Building:
Professional Development – an award recognizing
1717 East 15th Street,
the high quality professional development programs
417.625.5200.
available to Joplin teachers. www.joplinschools.org.
An exciting example of academic recognition has
been awarded in 2009 as four Joplin High School
students were named Commended Students in the
2010 National Merit Scholarship Program, along
with a senior student being honored as a semifinalist
in the National Achievement Scholarship Program.
The Joplin School District features an early
childhood center, thirteen elementary schools, three
middle schools, state-of-the-art high school and a
technical center.
With over 7,000 students, the district is large enough
to offer diverse and exciting opportunities for
students, yet small enough to offer the individual a
personal learning experience.
Joplin schools boast an extensive range of extra and

34 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

With
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education,
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 EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATIO
COLLEGE HEIGHTS
CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
College Heights Christian School has gained a
reputation for academic excellence for more than 30
years. This school has achieved levels of record
enrollment and waiting lists for many grade levels.
This coupled with a Christ centered learning
environment puts CHCS at the top of the area’s
schools.
The school was established in 1978 as a private,
nondenominational, not-for-profit school. CHCS has
grown to offer its students a comprehensive college
preparatory pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade
program, with progressive classes taught with a
biblical worldview. College Heights Christian School
is accredited by the North Central Association of
Colleges and is also a member of the Association of
Christian Schools International.
grades 9-12, and each graduating class averages from the IRS in 2007 and annually awards
42 students. With 47 certified teachers, this creates a approximately $100,000 through the school’s Tuition
very favorable 13 to 1 student/teacher ratio. The Assistance Program. Funds are available to those
certified teachers and staff go beyond the typical who qualify.
classroom to exemplify Christ and provide Christian
training in a compassionate environment. Located at 4311 East Newman Road, the school’s
phone number is 417.782.4114. Website is
In 2009, the school had six “Bright Flight Students” www.collegeheights.org
(top three percent in Missouri), one National Merit
Scholar, and one National Merit Commended
Scholar. The average ACT score was 24.4 in 2009
compared to the national average of 21.1. Nearly
750 students have graduated from CHCS in the past
31 years.
Class offerings now include preschool programs for
3 and 4 year olds, half-day and all-day
kindergarten, a morning and afternoon extended
day program, Spanish language instruction at all
grade levels, enrichment classes, college & university
prep, and an honors program.

The school has been enlarged four times since 1978.
Facilities have grown from two hallways of
classrooms and a cafeteria, to a facility of over
140,000 square feet. That expansion includes 41
classrooms, a science lab, computer technology lab,
band & choir rooms, conference room, playgrounds,
gymnasium, and administrative offices. A new
soccer field was added to the campus in 2005.
Enrollment has also increased over the years from
78 students in grades K-8 to nearly 600 students
enrolled for the 2009-2010 school year.
Approximately 170 students attend high school
College Heights Christian School competes in the
Missouri State High School Activities Association.
CHCS leads the way with award-winning fine arts
programs including vocal and instrumental music,
drama, and art. Sports programs include baseball,
basketball, cheerleading, cross-country, football,
golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track, and volleyball.
Some programs begin at the elementary level.
Through its student enrollment, CHCS has
successfully brought together more than 90 different
churches in the Four-State area.
CHCS received its own 501c3 not for profit status

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
MARTIN LUTHER SCHOOL
The students at Martin Luther School are known as
the “Flames.” The name is entirely appropriate for
students at a school where the objective is a high
quality education with the teachings of Christ and
Christian values as a central focus.
Accreditation as well as the National Federation for
Accrediting Non-Public Schools.
Martin Luther School is centrally located in Joplin at
2616 Connecticut Avenue and the phone number is
417.624.1403. Website is www.immanueljoplin.org

The mission statement says, “At Martin Luther School

our mission is to nurture students in the Christian
faith, prepare them for daily living and discipleship,
and develop their God given abilities by educating
the whole child.”

Children from pre-school age to 8th graders attend

the school in a child-friendly atmosphere that prides
itself on an excellent student/teacher ratio of a low
11.42 and averages a total of 150 students.

Martin Luther, a private Lutheran school, is

accredited by the National Lutheran School

36 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

 Q Accredited
Accredited by North Central
A
Association (NCA)
Q Member
ember of Association of Christian
Schools International (ACSI)
Q Average
verage ACT score of 24.4 in 2009
Q Member
ember of Missouri State High
School Activities Association
Q Offering
ffering fifteen athletic
programs
Q Spiritual
Spiritual growth through
daily Bible classes, weekly
chapel, and missions
acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles, as
les,
[[no
nol-ij] noun from study or invvestigation; general erudition:
knowledge of many things.

the position or function of a

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avy opposition.

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JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 37

 EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
THOMAS JEFFERSON
INDEPENDENT DAY SCHOOL
“Our mission is to provide an educational
environment that will enable every child to reach his
or her full potential.” Established in 1993, Thomas
Jefferson has held a strong objective to provide an
excellent educational experience for students and to
prepare them for college and beyond.
Today 260 students are enrolled in grades Pre-
Kindergarten through 12th. The school employs 29
full-time teachers, 75% of whom hold advanced
degrees in their disciplines.
A classical Western civilization curriculum
emphasizes classic literature, the humanities, studio
and performing arts, the sciences, language study,
and technology. Advanced technology is important
at the school, evident in that upper classes are
provided a laptop computer, all classrooms are
outfitted with wireless projectors, and
videoconferencing is used to enhance the classroom
experience.
In just a few short years, Thomas Jefferson has
distinguished itself both academically and in athletics
at the state and national level. Graduating students
often receive merit scholarship offerings at selective
universities across the country.
The school is located at 3401 East Newman Road,
Joplin, MO. The website is www.tjeffschool.org and
phone 417.781.5124.

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
The mission statement for the Joplin Area Catholic
Schools is strong and clear; the goal is to provide
students with a strong academic and Catholic faith
foundation.
“Our goal is to teach young people to integrate
Christian values into all aspects of life. We provide
students with educational and social skills needed to
be active, productive members of the community and
Church. We endeavor to graduate young adults who
are effective witnesses to the presence of Christ in the
world.”
ST. PETER?S MIDDLE SCHOOL
The religious education program at St. Peter’s
promotes personal faith development and self-
discovery. All students receive morals and values
training surrounded in a loving Christian
environment. A strong emphasis is placed on the
development of civic responsibility and self-
discipline. Academically, critical thinking is strongly
encouraged at St. Peter’s, along with a strong
curriculum that emphasizes the basics.
MCAULEY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
McAuley shares a long and storied history with its
host city Joplin. Founded in 1885, the high school
has a long tradition of helping to build strong
character traits and leadership in their students in a
Christian environment. Ninety-five percent of
students participate in student organizations, fine art
presentations, academic and athletic competitions,
and service projects. These activities coincide with
morals and values training to help develop excellent,
participatory citizens along with future leaders of the
community.

ST. MARY?S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Exciting opportunities in academics and extra
activities characterize life for the young students who
attend St. Mary’s. A science fair, book fair, the
student’s school newspaper and the Missouri
Reading Circle Program are but a few of the
examples of fun-filled learning at the school.
Students at the school consistently score high on
yearly national achievement tests. St. Mary’s prides
itself on caring teachers that help students develop a
Christian value system that they will take with them
throughout school and beyond.

38 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

BUSINESS & EDUCATION
Businesses continue to play a vital role
with the schools in the Joplin area.
Through their active support, the Joplin
Area Chamber of Commerce has
developed and sustained programs
targeted at every level of the
educational system and the partnership
between businesses and schools
continues to flourish.
For nine years TREK – Teaching
Reading to Every Kid, a 23 week
coaching program designed to improve
student achievement in reading and
math, has significantly contributed to
the success of the Joplin Schools. TREK
helps the entire Joplin community by
taking a proactive approach to helping
third and fourth grade students who are
not performing at grade level. It also
helps the community by strengthening
the educational foundation at an early
age. The TREK program makes it
possible for students who need extra
reading and math skills to catch up with
their classmates. TREK brings another
adult into a child’s life that cares about
them and shows it by devoting their
time as a one-on-one tutor. Over 100
business and community volunteers
work once a week with a student to
improve basic skills.
An active leadership program for area
high school seniors, Tomorrow’s Leaders
Today brings approximately 45 soon to
be high school graduates together to
introduce them in five sessions to
various businesses, industries and
volunteer opportunities available to
them once they embark upon their
careers. The sessions are taught by
community leaders from the business,
industry and government sectors.
Now in its fifth year; business, industry
and schools with one goal designed the
Youth Outreach Workforce Partnership
to assist high school students entering
the workforce acquire the necessary
skills to enable them to be reliable
employees and give them the vocational
direction to adapt to today’s ever-
changing job market. The students
selected for this program participate in
job readiness components such as job
applications and interviews, customer
2009 GOLDEN APPLE
AWARD WINNERS
service skills and job retention skills.
Key emphasis is also placed on the
need to stay in school and receive a
Amanda
high school diploma. DeLaCerda
Grade K-2
For 25 years, the Golden Apple
Awards have recognized excellence in
the teaching profession and informed
the public of the exceptional quality of
instruction in the Joplin community.
Each year four outstanding
Don
representatives of the teaching Crites
profession are honored for their Grade 3-5
dedication and ability to inspire
students of all backgrounds and abilities
to reach their full potential through the
educational process.
Finally, many member businesses are Laura
involved in the Business Education McDonald
Alliance which partners them with Grade 6-8
individual schools. These partnerships
take many forms, from furnishing
necessary supplies to mentoring
students to classroom presentations.
Businesses are welcome to participate
and a ready and willing school can be Richard
found for all. Tate
Grade 9-12
MISSION STATEMENT:
Wichita Technical Institute is committed to serving our stu-
dents by providing quality education in a variety of specialized
careers. We will achieve this by instilling in them the skills and
attitudes that are essential to becoming successful employees
in a diverse work environment. WTI strives to develop stu-
dents’ knowledge and commitment to their future by providing
them with the tools necessary to succeed in their chosen field
while setting standards that will help each individual stu-
dent develop the personal character and self-respect that
is vital to his/her success after graduation.
• COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY AND
NETWORK ADMINISTRATION
• INTEGRATED ELECTRONICS
TECHNOLOGY
• MEDICAL ASSISTANT
• MEDICAL INSURANCE BILLING
& CODING SPECIALIST
• HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING &
REFRIGERATION TECHNOLOGY
Both day & evening classes
Customized training for your business.
WTIJoplin
Campus
1715 N. Range Line
Joplin, Missouri 64801
417.206.9115
www.wti.edu
JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 39
 EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
EDUCATION AT
THE HIGHEST AREA COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES

MISSOURI SOUTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY

3950 East Newman Road, Joplin, MO 64801
(417) 625-9300
www.mssu.edu
CROWDER COLLEGE
Is a state-supported, comprehensive university 601 Laclede Avenue, Neosho, MO 64850
offering programs leading to bachelor's and (417) 451-3223
master's degrees, with a strong commitment to the www.crowder.edu
liberal arts and international aspects of education.
Enrollment for 2009-2010 is 4,115 full-time Is a two-year school facility which emphasizes learning and
students and 1,587 part-time students. converting students into responsible citizens. Enrollment in
2009-2010 was 4,407 students.

OZARK CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

1111 North Main Street, Joplin, MO 64801 FRANKLIN TECHNOLOGY CENTER VATTEROTT COLLEGE
(417) 624-2518 2020 Iowa Avenue, Joplin, MO 64804 809 Illinois Avenue, Joplin, MO 64801
www.occ.edu (417) 625-5260 (417) 781-5633
www.franklintechjoplin.com www.vatterott-college.com
Trains students for Christian services through
undergraduate Bible College education. Specializes in getting students trained for Offers career skills for a better life. Though enrollment
Enrollment in 2009-2010 was 633. a career through relevant education and changes every 10 weeks, end of the year numbers
hands-on training. Enrollment in 2009- were 400.
2010 was 880.
NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA A&M COLLEGE
200 I Street, NE, Miami, OK 74354
(918) 542-8441
MESSENGER COLLEGE www.neo.edu
300 East 50th Street, Joplin, MO 64804
(417) 624-7070 Is a state-supported college offering associate
www.messengercollege.edu degrees through educational needs of the local
community. Enrollment in 2009-2010 was 2,045.
Is a Christian institution specializing in
educating men and women for effective
Christian service and professional
competence in ministry. Enrollment was PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY
about 100. 1701 South Broadway, Pittsburg, KS 66762
(620) 231-7000
www.pittstate.edu
WTI – JOPLIN CAMPUS
1715 North Range Line Road, Joplin, MO 64801 THE GORILLA! PSU is the only university in the nation with
(417) 206-9115 a gorilla as a Mascot. A reputable state-of-the-art
www.wti.edu nationally recognized technology center. A College of
Business where faculty's commitment and hard work
Mission Statement: Set standards of education helped achieve AACSB accreditation. More CoSIDA
and provide programs in technology, which Academic All-Americans than any other NCAA Division II
enables students to develop personal character, institution this decade.
self-respect, and basic knowledge/skills to
become employable in their specialized fields. Fall 2009 Enrollment at Pittsburg State University - 7,277.
Enrollment in 2009-2010 was 170.
40 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
 Health, Medical,
Computer &
Technical Trades a 60 year traditio n as a partner
par ner you can count on.
Medical Programs Trade & Technical Programs
• Dental Assistant • Automotive Technology
• Medical Officer Assistant/Biller Coder • Collision Repair
• Practical Nursing
• Respiratory Therapy
• Graphic Arts U GRAPHIC DESIGN U COMMERCIAL PRINTING
• Surgical Technology • Heating & Air Conditioning
• Veterinarian Assistant • Machine Tool U PHOTOGRAPHY U MAILING & FULFILLMENT
• Pharmacy Technician • Welding
1818
1818 Broadway U Parsons, KS 67357
Iowa Street Campus MSSU Campus
2020 Iowa 3950 East Newman Road 800-835-0588
Joplin, MO 64804 Joplin, MO 64801-1595 w w w. s u n - g r a p h i c s . c o m
417-625-5269 417-659-4400

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JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 41

 ENTERTAINMENT
Because Joplin is Missouri’s fourth largest
metropolitan area with nearly 500,000
people in the area and 250,000 visiting on
weekends, it only makes sense to have plenty
of entertaining activities to keep everyone
active and happy.
The coming year will see a number of events
occurring throughout the Joplin region.
Notable events include Boomtown Days, the
Joplin Keltoi Renaissance Festival,
Emancipation Park Day, Freedom Fest and
the Pro-Am BMX Competition.
Boomtown Days is the City’s premier annual
festival happening in June at the historic
Landreth Park. It’s a family-friendly event
geared toward quality entertainment and
activities for all ages. The three days include
concerts, musical acts, carnival rides, face
painting, fireworks, kid’s activities, the
famous Boomer, culture, crafts, souvenirs,
food and so much more. Boomer Buttons can
be purchased at various locations in Joplin
and are good for admission during all three
days.
Freedom Fest is Joplin’s Independence Day
celebration, topped off by the largest
firework display in the four-state area.
Music, food and fun are the names of the
game on July 4th, held annually at Landreth
Park.
ATTRACTIONS&
This year marks the fifth annual Missouri
Pro-Am Skateboarding & BMX Competition
(JoMoPro), one of the country’s premier
skate and BMX competitions. Riders
compete in amateur, intermediate and
ENTERTAINMENT
professional classes from all over the nation,
including medalists from the X-Games and
Dew Tour who will compete for a $45,000
purse.
DESTINATION - ENJOYMENT -ACTIVITIES LOCAL EVENTS AND
ENTERTAINMENT
• St. John’s Regional Medical Center
Matters of the Heart Conference
• Ozark Christian College’s Preaching &
Teaching Convention
• PhotoSpiva
• Feathers in Flight, Birdfest
• Boomtown Days Half Marathon
• Dogwood Trailblazers Walking Club
• Missouri Southern State University’s
Homecoming Week
• Youth Sporting Events
• Route 66 Mother Road Marathon
• Boomtown Days
42 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
GOLF
Joplin is home to four golf courses, three
public and one private. With the mild
winter temperatures in Joplin, avid
golfers can find a course to play any time
of the year.
• Eagle Creek Golf Club - Bald Eagle
Course: 18-hole, public, 6,628 yards,
par 71
• Range Line Golf Course: 9-hole,
public, 1,753 yards, par 30 and mini
golf
• Schifferdecker Golf Course: 18-hole,
public, 6,123 yards, par 71
• Twin Hills Country Club: 18-hole,
private, 6,842 yards, par 72
FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT
Route 66 Carousel Park offers a nice
hometown amusement park, complete
with carnival rides, a Ferris wheel, go-
carts, bumper boats and 36 holes of
miniature golf. Party rooms and catering
are available.
On the days when golf is out of the
question, how about a night at the
bowling alley? Carl Richards Bowl has
two locations in Joplin on Fourth Street
and North Range Line, and has 72
bowling lanes at both sites.
Northstar 14 is Joplin’s premier movie
experience. Located behind Northpark
Mall, the facility houses 14 theaters, all
with surround sound and stadium seating.
Also provided are concessions, an upper
deck arcade and party rooms. The Route
66 Movie Theater in Webb City is a
renovated old-style theater on south Main
Street, offering $5 movies on weekends.
There’s an old fashioned drive-in theater
in Carthage. Route 66 Drive-In is a
completely restored facility with original
glass-block ticket boot and neon signs.
On summer nights, there are two movies
for the price of one.
OTHER ENTERTAINMENT
In addtion to the movies, there is a
paintball venue in Joplin, Paintball Ridge
at 3483 Coyote Drive, offering all kinds
of strategic games beneath a canopy of
trees.
Lazer City, just south of the Northpark
Mall, is the area’s only laser tag facility,
featuring a 4,000-square-feet arena with
black lights, fog and heart-pounding
music.
 Resort
in Oklahoma. Buffalo Run Casino
FIT NE SS rs a venue of entertainme nt and
e, there isn’t offe
For those who like to stay in shap con cert s.
a few
a home in Joplin that isn’t within the
minutes drive of a fitness center.
The Jop lin Downstream Casino and Hotel is
s with in est to Jop lin offe ring
Family Y operates two facilitie newest casino clos
ition al
pect ively , nort h and s, live ente rtai nme nt, trad
Joplin’s city limits (res lin
concert
of slot
ing Jop table games of chance, plen ty
south facilities) and has been keep plus 222
residents happy and healthy for
more than machines, a stylish poker room,
ly, the two YM CA faci litie s s insi de this eye- pop ping 12-s tory
100 years. Current room
roug hly
serve nearly 13,000 members, and tower.
red youth and
200,000 participate in Y-sponso
50-plus
adult programs. There are also
fitn ess and activity clas ses, air- conditioned PARKS & RECREATION
gymnasiums and weight rooms,
as well as The Joplin Parks and Recreation
t parks,
indoor and heated swimming poo
ls, a you th Department maintains 23 differen
acre s of
gym, three racquetball courts and
free which constitutes nearly 950
childcare. land.
of size,
But the two YMCA facilities aren
’t alone The four largest parks, in terms
ming pools. are McClelland Par k (166 acre s), home to
when it comes to weights or swim rts, ole disc golf cou rse; of the ten oldest original minor
league
ll cou ular 18-h Street,
Sporting facilities offering bask
etba a very pop
acre s), whi ch Another Joplin resident, Gabby park s still bein g utili zed in the nati on.
pools include Schifferdecker Park (160 dina ls to a
gymnasiums and Olympic-sized prem ier pub lic golf managed the St. Lou is Car
Becker is the home of the ann ual USA
ter, the houses the City ’s
Millennium Tennis and Fitness Cen ’s three World Seri es title in 193 1.
Baseball and Premier Baseball
c Fitn ess Cen ter, Cur ves for Women, course, as well as one of the city the
Oly mpi
s and public swimming poo ls; Lan dret h Park
The City recently introdu ced a new , $6 Tournaments each summer, as well
Rhino Fitness Center, Just us Girl diam ond , four to Joplin Missouri Souther n Stat e Uni vers ity
Power House Gym. (160 acres), with a base ball million JoplinAthletic Complex ther
sand volleyball courts, a walking
trail and
resi den ts. Loc ated just nort h of Lions. Gabby Street Field is ano
(140 d ball park in Joplin.
T amphitheater; and Wildcat Park Schifferdecker Park, this mul ti-p hase pop ular base
OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMEN acres), hom e to the Wil dca t Gla des
project includes state-of-the-art
of the The field is the site of national,
Because Joplin lies in the heart Conservation and Audubon Center,
as well
opportunities for baseball, socc
er and and
para dise , man y Cre ek. Field regional and local Little League
Ozarks, an outd oor as boating acce ss to Sho al tennis enthusiasts. The Baseball base ball gam es all
residents enjoy outdoor activitie
s, be it ensions other amateur
ular Ewert was designed by utilizing the dim summer long.
hunting, fishing or camping. Wh
ite-taile d Ewert Park houses the ever-pop of St. Louis’Busch Stadium , mak ing it
gees e are just a chil dren -the med water
deer, quail, pheasant, duck and Aquatic Center,
y, spra y available for both high school and The Leggett & Platt Center at MSS
U is
avai labl e in the four that has a zero dep th entr ue ing
some of the wildlife park
plen ty of collegia te leve l team s for thei r leag an 80,0 00 squa re foot cent er seat
lodg es are playgrounds, lily pad wal ks and
state area. Hunting resorts and d poo l is play, as well as tournament play
. The field 3,200 for basketball, is home to MSSU
ne Lod ge and shady structur es.A simi lar- size
also quite popular. Claythor will be available seven days a wee
k. basketball and volleyball teams.
The
Show Me Birds Hunting Resort
offer located inside Cunningham Park. faci lity also incl ude s the St. Joh n’s
befo re plex
advanced, upscale skeet shooting The City of Joplin’s Soccer Com track, a wooden parquet floor for
one of
heading out on supervised hunts. RECREATI ON offers a wonderful plac e to play
two synthetic basketball
ts with basketball,
t major town with the country’s fastest growing spor rts and the capability of hosting
Joplin is readily accessible to eigh Joplin has always been a sports four fields that can be divided up
for play cou
ter stre ams and a opp ortu nitie s for both volleyball and other sports
lakes, numerous clear-wa wide varieties of and brightly lit. Fields are availabl
e
rtai nme nt and vaca tion atin g in and wat chin g spor ting competitions.
number of ente particip seven days a week.
Trail is ball lege nd
attractions. The Frisco Greenway events. Joplin is where base venerable Memorial Hall was
g the old St. tsto p in 195 0 players Joplin’s
four miles of trail that runs alon Mickey Mantle play ed shor The Tennis Complex gives tennis built as heartfelt memorial to
a the
lroa ds, perfect min or leag ue rt
Louis and San Fra ncis co Rai for the Jop lin Min ers, a ten lighted courts and enough cou men and women of Joplin who served
before
for hiking, running and biki ng. team in the Western Association, space to host a multi-level tournam
ent
ed forces. Dedicated to
call to the Yan kees the eati ona l mat ches . The in the arm
getting the and numerous recr vete rans in 1925, the hall can
allow a those
CASINOS following year. Grandstand Court is designed to seat mor e than 2,500 and is home to a
ed in the
Vegas-type great view for spectators interest wide variety of sporting and
There are more than a dozen Las peti tive play . Cou rts the
ss the bord er final rounds of com community events, concerts and
casinos located just acro n from 8:00 a.m . to 9:00 p.m .
will be ope Olympics.
built Special
seven days a week. The facility was has
thanks to the passage of a park
s-based The Four Seasons Sports Complex
ona l, divi sion al
tax in 2001. been hosting state, regi
l invi tati ona l base ball and
and nationa
Joplin plays host to amateur and softball tournaments as well as
even ts year -rou nd. is
professiona l spor ting
has basketball, volleyball, soccer, tenn
Of all the sports, amateur baseball and othe r com peti tion s for 20 year s.
,
made the largest mark on the City The indoor and outdoor complex
ball
adding to Joplin’s already rich base includes five softball fields, a 21,0
00-
tradition. re foot air dom e, a 4,00 0 squa re
squa
foot clubhouse and batt ing cag es.
ary
Here are a few of the City’s prim
e is
sporting facilities: For more information on what ther
tact the Con vent ion
stadium to do in Joplin, con
Joe Becker Stadium is a historic eau at 800 -657 -253 4
3, one & Visitors Bur
at 3rd & High and was built in 191

JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 43

 and www.visitjoplinmo.com or the pecan treats and other sweet
Joplin SportsAuthority at 417-625 delights. The other location is in
-
4792 and www.joplinsports.org. downtown Joplin, at 510 South
KentuckyAvenue. But “sweet toot
hs”
beware; there are windows here
ATTRACTIONS showing the actual candy being
Joplin’s attractions are varied, made.
The facility also includes a larg
ranging from historic e retail
showroom with all the yummy Can
preservations to scenic garden dy
House products, from candy bask
sanctuaries. Attractions just ets to
candy towers to chocolate fountain
outside Joplin’s borders can s.
Both locations are open daily and
range from Vegas-like casinos offer
tours by appointment and free sam
to a federal monument ples.
dedicated to one of the
GRAND FALLS
area’s greatest men. If
you’re looking for it, you can Grand Falls on Shoal Creek is the
largest,
probably find it right here in Jop continuously flowing natural wat
lin. Below erfall in
are a few of Joplin’s most frequen Missouri, plunging 25 feet. Carved
ted from chert
attractions. movies and flint, the falls are a natural
complement to
and video games. It’s the the seasons of Joplin.
ultimate teen hangout. The Brid
WILDCAT GLADES CONSERVA ge is part
TION ministry, part entertainment. It’s JOPLIN MUSEUM COMPLEX
& AUDUBON CENTER a place where kids go to be
with friends, and a place where This complex is home to the Eve
One of Joplin’s newest attractions ideas can be exchanged. rett J. Ritchie Tri-State
, this Located at 3405 South John Q. Mineral Museum, the Dorothea
unique natural treasure offers mor Hammons Blvd., the Bridge B. Hoover Historical
e than is 64,000-square feet of “Fun.”T Museum, The Empire District Elec
three miles of paved and natural here’s a 40-foot rock tric Company
trails, as climbing gymnasium, cage bask Museum, the Joplin SportsAutho
well as anAudubon Center — help etball, an Internet Café and rity Sports Hall of
ing folks arcade gaming. Inside the Autumn Fame and the National Historic
experience native landscapes, plan Ramp Park, there’s al Cookie Cutter
ts and 20,000 square feet of ramps and Museum. The purpose of this stat
animals. jumps for the best skate e-of-the-art complex is
and BMX stunts. to tell the story of Joplin and the
Tri-State Mining
Here, you’ll find 27 acres of Che It’s also home to the Joplin, Mis District. By displaying historical
rt Glades souri Pro Am Skateboarding collections, the and mineral
(flint); did you know there are only and BMX contest each April. The Joplin Museum Complex provides
60 acres Foundry Music Venue is
left in the world? dedicated to the celebration of inspiration for future generations
music, art, film and culture, to better understand
showcasing local, regional and the economic and social history
Ultimately, it’s a place where a pers national acts. The Bridge is of Joplin. The Everett
on can open every day except Monday and J. Ritchie Tri- State Mineral Mus
trek a woodsy trail, crawl through is free, with activities eum has one of the
an Ozark priced separately. wor ld’s most exceptional collections
cave or enjoy the splash of Shoal of lead and zinc
Creek. ores. The Dorothea B. Hoover Hist
The area is home to numerous aqu orical Museum
atic and emphasizes the growth and deve
land animals. The Audubon Cen GEORGE WASHINGTON CAR lopment as the result of
ter VER NATIONAL the area’s mining heritage and incl
showcases a 1,300 gallon aquariu MONUMENT udes a circus room, a
m along 1927 fire engine and a doll collecti
with a wildlife viewing area and The young boy known as the“plan on.
a preschool t doctor” tended a secret
section complete with interactive garden while observing the day-to- The Museum Complex is located
exhibits. day operations of a in Schifferdecker Park
Spaced along the trails are five successful 19th century Missour and open daily except Mondays.
outdoor i farm. There is a nominal
learning stations. The facility and admission fee and group discoun
Nature and nurture ultimately influ ts are available.
surrounding grounds are open year enced Carver on his
-round journey to becoming one of Ame
and are free to the public. rica’s premier agriculture REPTILE WORLD ZOO
scientists. The national monume
nt was created in 1943 and Thi s unique facility showcases an ama
includes a museum, a Discovery zing collection of
THE BRIDGE Center — a hands-on exotic reptiles and creepy, crawly
learning experience with a thea things, including
New to the Bridge this year is a ter, historic displays and cobras, pythons, anacondas, allig
comfy area discovery areas — as well as a self ators, crocodiles,
complete with couches, cozy cha - dragons, iguanas, tortoises and
irs and guided nature trail. It is open dail tarantulas.
lights, with free y
year round except major holiday
s. SANDSTONE GARDENS
CANDY HOUSE GOURMET A premier 38,000 square foot hom
e interior gallery and
CHOCOLATES bist ro positioned as a shopping dest
ination in the
Midwest offering euro-stone coll
In 1970, an old rock tavern in ections and botanicals.
Redings Mill on Highway 86 was
transformed into a quaint little PRECIOUS MOMENTS PAR
K & CHAPEL
candy shop. Creator Sam Butcher began draw
ing the endearing
teardrop-eye children he called“
Today, the Candy House has Precious Moments”in
1974, as gifts for family and frie
two Joplin locations, and is nds. His work has
evolved into some of the most reco
still known by customers gnizable art in the
world, spawning the creation of
worldwide for wonderful the Precious Moments
Park & Chapel in 1989 in nearby
hand-dipped chocolates, Carthage. Hundreds of
guests visit each year and the park
English toffee, caramel showcases beautiful
murals of the Precious Moments
characters depicting
beloved stories from the Bible.

44 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

 DINING
Joplin has long been a hub of dining out in
the four-states. Residents from throughout
the area travel to Joplin to go out to eat, as
can be evidenced by the parking lots on
Range Line, Main, 32nd and 7th Streets on
Friday or Saturday night.
Over 150 restaurants serve customers in
town and they range from coffee shops and
bistros, to local eateries open only for
breakfast and lunch, to upscale fine dining.
Landmark, historical restaurants in town
include: Fred and Red’s Chili House
(established 1923) famous for spaghetti red,
tamales and chili; Wilder’s Steakhouse
(established 1929) is one of the finest dining
establishments in the four-states, featuring
steaks, seafood and an expansive wine list;
Casa Montez a Joplin tradition for 45 years,
serving original Mexican recipes featuring
fajitas, tamales and their famous cheese dip.
Another of the older established restaurants
in town is Granny Shaffer’s Restaurant,
known for its fried chicken. This local
establishment has been serving great
breakfasts and lunches to Joplin patrons for
many years.
More recent additions to Joplin’s dining
include nationally known names like The
Olive Garden, Outback Steakhouse,
Cheddar’s, Rib Crib, Buffalo Wild Wings,
Golden Corral.
Locally flavored restaurants include Jim
Bob’s Steak and Ribs, Columbia Traders,
Hackett’s Hot Wings , Club 609, Red Onion,
Mythos, Caldone’s and so many more. If it’s
a glass of wine you are interested in, The
Vinery Wine Shop has a nice selection of
wine for any taste with a comfortable
downtown seating area.
As the years go on, Joplin is sure to maintain
a huge selection of great eateries and will
continue to be a destination for
families and visitors from
throughout the area who come to
town to shop and go out to eat.
LODGING
The lodging industry of Joplin
provides business travelers, tourists
and destination travelers, a vast
variety of accommodations perfect for
any budget or situation. Joplin has long
been a crossroads for travelers going
back to the days of Route 66 and ModelA
Fords and continuing on with the
construction of Interstate 44 and Highway
71. Wayfarers have continuously found
exemplary, friendly service and fine
accommodations throughout the decades.
Boasting a total of 2,072 rooms in 24
hotels along with fine bed and breakfast
quarters, the City is apportioned with
exceptional hospitality to serve
professional conventions along with
ample rooms for regional sporting
events.
Several of the larger hotels in town
offer convention space to
accommodate substantial business
conventions. The Holiday Inn is
situated adjacent to the Holiday Inn
Convention Center, which provides 40,000
square feet for professional meeting
space. The Hilton Garden Inn has 2,000
square feet available in a modern,
convenient facility. The newly remodeled
LaQuinta Inn has more than 4,000 square
feet of space that is a perfect setting for a
smaller convention. Most recent addition
to the area is Downstream Casino and
Resort, which offers a place for large
events and conventions.
Joplin Memorial Hall is also available for
events. Located in the central part of the
city, the historic hall offers a full 7,000
square feet of space. The Foundry,
located at The Bridge facility, offers a
spacious 7,000 square feet available for
all types of events and meetings.
LODGING&DINING
Upscale lodging is available at a number
of Joplin facilities for those wishing to
enjoy a romantic weekend or shopping
excursion. Two-room suites are also
available for those needing to stay in town
for a longer term. For even lengthier
stays, corporate apartments are available
ACCOMMODATING - MEMORABLE -TASTY
for rent, fully furnished with kitchens and
all the conveniences of home.
JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 45

SHOPPING
It makes economical sense to shop
local.
This is something the Chamber
feels very
strongly about and encourages
everyone to
take advantage of Joplin’s arra
y of shops.
Joplin has everything a shopper
would
possibly need! Joplin is Missour
i’s fourth
largest metropolitan area, with
a daytime
population reaching an estimated
250,000.
Joplin’s shopping experience beg
ins with
Northpark Mall, offering 108 stor
es, shops, Lamp District.
booths and restaurants inside. Maj
or retail
stores inside the mall include J.C.
Penney,
Macy’s and Sears.
There are numerous other specialty
shops
from shoes to sporting goods to
electronics, Spandex Bike Shop, The Vinery Wine
just to name a few. Boosting Nor
thpark
Mall’s appeal is the addition of
Vintage
Stock in 2009, an entertainment
super-store.
Hopefully, the store’s 18 couches
, blue ray
and gaming areas will entice visit
ors to
extend their shopping stay. Northpa
rk Mall
plans to host several events and
promotions
in 2010, including a wedding fair,
boat and
RV show and a Seniors fair.
A themed food court in the mall
follows the
history of Historic Route 66, enco
uraging
guests to make the time to sit dow
n, eat and varieties are endless with Slumberland
ejoy the journey.
The Northpark Crossing Shoppin
g Center,
located at 4th and Range Line Roa
d,
features Kohl’s Department Stor
e, Dress
Barn, Michael’s, Kirkland’s and
Bed, Bath
and Beyond. Just south of Northpa
rk
Crossing is Joplin’s Target store.
Along with Northpark Mall and
Northpark
SHOPPING
Crossing, another reason that shop
pers
come from far away is the wonderf
ul variety all in Joplin! Joplin, where you can find
of stores which can be found up ever ything you’re looking for without
and down
Range Line Road. Just north of leaving the immediate area!
Interstate
44 is Sam’s Club.
COMMERCE - CONVENIENCE - PLENTIFUL
46 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Wal-Mart presence is also
found on Range Line Road with
three supercenters in the
immediate area.
You can find anything from
shoes to office supplies at
places like Red Wing Shoes
and OfficeMax. Other major
retailers include Academy
Sports, Lowe’s, Sutherland
and Home Depot. Children and
adults
alike will enjoy the newly renovate
d Toys
R Us/Babies R Us and the eclectic
can be
found near Pier One Imports.
Needless to say, if you can’t find
what you
are looking for on Range Line Roa
d, then
it probably doesn’t exist!
A recent, multi-million dollar effo
rt by
City officials has rejuvenated the
downtown area, renovating turn
-of-the-
century-era buildings into upscale
gift
shops and boutiques, even giving
the area
a whole new name, Joplin’s Sun
shine
The many stores located along this
stretch of Main include: Momentu
m8
Studio, Upstairs Boutique,All Thi
ngs
Grand, Creative Car Audio, Spo
kes and
Shop, Columbia Traders and Salo
n Blond
& Day Spa, while historic busines
ses like
Newton’s Jewelry and Pearl Bro
thers
Hardware are longtime icons. The
$1
million renovation effort continu
es in the
downtown area, which is sure to
entice
more businesses.
Shopping for your home? Madison
Lane
Interiors, Better Living Store and
many
others make shopping for your hom
e easy.
Need furniture or appliances? The
Furniture, Wayside Furniture, Wes
tco,
Ashley Furniture, Mardick Furnitu
re
Store and MetroAppliances and
More,
just to name a few.
Specialty shops located in Joplin
include:
Candy House Chocolate Factory
,
Suzanne’s Natural Foods and Cou
rtney’s
Candles & Creations, Inc. If you
r mode of
transportation is a bicycle, scoo
ter,
motorcycle or automobile, you can
find it
ever
B A N K L O C AT I O N S

MAIN BANK RANGE LINE

802 S. Main St. 2433 S Range Line Rd.
Joplin, MO 64801 Joplin, MO 64804
417.623.8860 417.623.3100
FAX: 417.625.3663 FAX: 417.625.3679
WEBB CITY FIRST FINACIAL
(inside Price Cutter) WEALTH
1010 S. Madison Suite M MANAGEMENT
Webb City, MO 64870
417.673.4100 417.621.6777
FAX: 417.673.7288 888.656.3662

JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 47

 Economic Development
JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
WORKFORCE - INNOVATION - DIVERSITY
ines
Des Mo es
344 mil
Joplin is consistently poised for
growth. After surviving the
recession era in the early 1980’s,
City
Kansas es St Louises aggressive guidance among civic
150 mil 280 mil
n City leaders put Joplin on the fast
Jeffersoes
206 mil track for economic development
and expansion.
Ft Scotts eld
62 mile Springfis
74 mile In the early 1990’s business in
Wichita es
214 mil
JOPLIN Branson s Joplin began to take hold with a
5 mile dynamic change to the retail
sector. Large scale development
Tulsa es
is
Memph es occurred along Range Line Road,
109 mil 355 mil
h
Ft Smit es
particularly around Northpark
a City 103 mil Mall. Bigger national chains such
Oklahom es
ck
Little Roes
214 mil 263 mil as Toys R Us, Hastings, Ashley
Furniture and Pier 1 Imports,
chose Joplin as a new location.
Dallas es Growth steadily moved away from
350 mil the downtown district, and made
an additional move south on
Range Line to 32nd Street, where
it continued to spread west along
32nd to Main. With such easy
access to I-44 and Highway 71,
there was not only a boost in
retail business, but larger
industries and bigger name
companies such as CFI (now Con-
Way Truckload), Cliffstar and
General Mills Bakeries and
Foodservice opened their doors.
Joplin continually benefitted with
the positive impact this growth
produced.
After the 9/11 attacks in 2001,
on a national level, there was a
mass economic downturn. While
Joplin certainly was not immune
to the impact of this event, the
city was able to rebound more
quickly due to its very diverse
economic base and centralized
location within the U.S. Joplin saw
a shift in growth again when the
opening of “call centers” such as
AT&T, NCO and Aegis became
popular resulting in the increase in
the labor market. By late 2007-
08, the boom in the housing
industry hit town, and Joplin once
again watched steady incremental
growth with an impulsion of the
48 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
real estate market.
National trends do trickle to the
Midwest, but Joplin city economic
leaders are looking ahead, and
have a plan in place to preserve
the City’s heritage and expand
toward the future.
Emphasis has been placed on the
quality of life in Joplin. “Livability”
of the community means giving to
its residents attractive amenities
such as walking and nature trails,
upgrades to the City’s park
systems, and an increased focus
on the arts and entertainment.
Education plays a key role in the
attraction of residents and
business to Joplin. Currently,
Joplin’s public schools are
Accredited with Distinction, but
the District and City officials don’t
plan to become lax in their
planning for the future. Two new
middle school shave recently been
completed with multiple
renovation projects slated to
some of the older facilities. By
taking this progressive, forward
approach, the District is creating
a good environment for students
to learn.
Here are just a few businesses
and organizations that have been
created to enhance development
in Joplin:
• The Joseph Newman Business
and Technology Innovation
Center — Supports
development of small,
technology-oriented companies
in restoring Chamber-owned
property as an incubator-type
facility.
• Joplin Business and Industrial
Development Corporation —
Finances, constructs and
markets speculative shell
buildings to help local firms
expand and attract new
companies to the area.
 • Joplin Capital Corporation — Furnishes • Stable property tax base 25.2%
small business loans and/or equity for • Lower cost of living
projects that could not be financed
through conventional means. • Reasonable transportation costs 28%
• Joplin Industrial Development Authority • Affordable housing
13.2%
— Owns and promotes the Crossroads • Multiple opportunities for employment
Business and Distribution Park and
Joplin/Webb City Industrial Park. Joplin is a good place to live, and a good
Administers issuance of industrial revenue place to do business. 1.4%
bonds. 1.8%8% 9.3%
FAG Bearings is making a $40,000,000 2. %
• Main Street Joplin — Markets and fosters investment to produce wind turbine bearings 3.2

%
4 .0 %
7.1%

4.0
the development of the core downtown and Modine Manufacturing is investing
business district. $25,000,000 to retool and accommodate
• Workforce Investment Board - Provides production of new exhaust gas recirculation
Leisure/ Education & Pro essional &
up-to-date labor and wage information, coolers that help reduce emissions in diesel re/
9.3% Education Professi &
Hospitality 13.2% Health Services 7.1% Business Services 1.4% Information
engines, both for over-the-road trucks and t t S S
including data on any specific business 3.2% Government 4.0% Construction 4.0% Finance 28.0% Manufacturing
sector, in the Joplin regional market. farm equipment.
ent Co st
Trade/Trasnportation/ nance
Natural Rescources
Provides intake, prescreening, testing and 25.2% Public Utilities 2.8% Services 1.8% & Mining
Of course, there is the continuing renovation
other services to support expanding and work up and down the Sunshine Lamp
new businesses. District in downtown Joplin. This ambitious
Downtown revitalization was made in Major Employers
Joplin Growth response to a past survey in which 74
percent of Joplin residents wanted to see the *Freeman Health System................................3,139
Recently, the City has undertaken a project
downtown area revitalized. To that end, the *Con-way Truckload .......................................2,677
to revitalize its Main Street downtown
area stretching between 1st and 10th *Leggett & Platt, Inc......................................1,834
district. It has refurbished its sidewalks and
streets has already seen, and will continue to
added new lamp posts. Multiple businesses *St. John's Regional Medical Center ................2,480
see, extensive refurbishment with new
have chosen to locate in the downtown *Joplin School District....................................1,200
sidewalks and streetcapes. The city is also
district, giving their storefronts handsome *Downstream Casino Resort...........................1,129
encouraging private sector investment by
face lifts. Restaurants, art galleries and
providing grants to refurbish building facades *EaglePicher Technologies, LLC .......................1,022
several specialty shops have chosen to call
downtown. These grants will pay for up to 50 *Crossland Construction Company......................870
downtown home.
percent of façade restoration costs. *Wal-Mart, Inc. of Joplin ...................................920
Why choose Joplin? There are a lot of
*NCO/Systems & Services Technology, Inc. .........751
components that make Joplin appealing:
Building Permits *AT&T Mobility .................................................688
• Centrally located in the Midwest While building and housing permits were TAMKO Roofing Products, Inc...........................645
• Relatively temperate climate, consequently down in 2009, compared to 2008, *Empire District Electric Company ......................663
resulting in stable utility bills construction continues to occur in Joplin
*Missouri Southern State University ...................733
*Aegis Communications Group ...........................575
*Webb City R-VII School District .........................506
Population - Household Growth 1999-2009 *City of Joplin ..................................................480
Number of Households Number of Population Population *General Mills ..................................................471
180,000 Joplin Metro Households Joplin Joplin Metro Area City of Joplin
*Missouri Department of Transportation .............466
171,691

171,278
169,031
166,807

*Able Manufacturing & Assembly, LLC ................280

165,010
163,693
162,400
161,500
160,600

*Tri-State Motor Transit Company ......................417

157,322
150,800

146,000 *Jasper Products, LLC......................................400

*Ozark Center ..................................................400
*LaBarge, Inc. Electronics Division......................395
*Cardinal Detecto Mfg ......................................375
112,000 Americold Logistics .........................................350
*H.E. Williams, Inc. ..........................................350
*Buffalo Run Casino..........................................355
*Economic Security Corporation .........................340
78,000
*FAG Bearing Corporation .................................310
69,404

*Wyandotte Nation Casino ................................300

67,468

66,730
65,142

48,080 64,639
64,890
46,500 63,500
46,000 62,800

46,400 62,200
45,504 61,552
45,400 60,100

*Bill’s Electric, Inc. ...........................................250

*Southwest Missouri Bank ................................235
49,100
47,056

47,147
46,876
46,504

44,000
*Joplin Workshops ...........................................208
*Modine Manufacturing Company .......................200
*Names and Numbers ......................................210
19,400 19,101 19,300 19,200 19,300 19,794 19,923 21,006 19,391 19,451 21,362
*Rock-Tenn ......................................................190
10,000
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 *JACC Members

JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 49

 2009 Joplin City and Metro Population by Percent

0-14 Years 15-24 Years 25-44 Years 45-64 Years 65+ Years

15.4% 19.8% 13.8% 21.6%

16.6% 14.5%
20.6% 22.1%

27.63% 27.7%

City Median Age: 35.1 Metro Median Age: 36

lagging national economy. In
2007, Joplin saw a record
construction year, when $128 million
in building permits were filed with the
City. In 2008, value of building
permits totaled $87 million still above
the $84.7 million annual average.
Some of the million-dollar-plus
projects filed in Joplin during the
fiscal year included the finishing
touches to Freeman Health System’s
new Women’s Health Center, and
$24 million among two buildings on
the Missouri Southern State
University campus.
The Joplin School District had the
largest single building permit in the
City with its $19 million renovation
and addition project at North Middle
School. The two new middle school
projects, totaling over $40,000,000
are located just outside of the City
limits and not reflected in City
building permit numbers.
Source: City of Joplin
Innovation
Inspiring innovation and job creation
is the focus of the Joseph Newman
Business and Technology Innovation
Center. Designed as a business
incubator for technology-based
businesses such as software
development, “The Joe,” supports the
entrepreneurial spirit while creating
new jobs, emphasizing the
development of new products and
services and expanding the local tax
base. The Center is one of six state- numerous trucking companies,
certified innovation centers and is a including Con-way Truckload,
joint project of the Joplin Area headquartered in Joplin, and one of
Chamber of Commerce and the the premier transportation
Chamber Foundation, with support companies in the United States.
from the City of Joplin, State of Eagle Picher Technologies, LLC, FAG
Missouri and U.S. Department of Bearings and Leggett & Platt
Commerce. (Fortune 500) are noted companies
It’s not just new business contributing in the Joplin region.
to Joplin’s successful growth; long-
term businesses are experiencing Unemployment Rates
growth opportunities as well. Major
With a weakening national economy
employers in Joplin include Freeman
in 2009, unemployment rates in the
Health System, St. John’s Regional
U.S. and Missouri increased. While
Medical Center, General Mills, Aegis
not immune to the national impact,
Communications and Able
Manufacturing & Assembly, LLC, just the Joplin Metro Area rates are still
to name a few. lower than Missouri and the country
as a whole. In November 2009, the
Joplin is blessed to be home to Joplin Metro Area unemployment

50 Million
Joplin Building Permits 2009-1999
128.1 Million

124.5 Million

120 Million
$

97.8 Million

$
90 Million
87 Million

86.6 Million
75.4 Million

71 Million
$

70.7 Million
$

64.2 Million

$
60 Million
60.7 Million
$
$

$
46 Million

$
$

$
30 Million
$

0
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999

52 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

 • COMMUNITY PROFILES
• CHAMBER DIRECTORIES
• ASSOCIATION GUIDES
• MAPS

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Joplin, MO 64801
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Joplin, MO
Agents for Na ional Van Lines, Inc on Interstate moves US DOT #76628
417.781.8572

JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 53

 2009 Joplin City and Metro Household Income
Households 2009 $
24,999 and Under $
25,000 - $34,999 $
35,000 - $49,999 $
50,000 and Above
City Metro
Number of Households 21,362 66,730
Persons per household 2.50 2.65 31.7% 29.0%
35.6% 37.9%
Housing
Number of new home starts since 1999* 2,997 14.5%
14.9%
Number of residential sales* 1,873
17.8% 18.6%
Average value of homes (Joplin/Metro Area) $90,000
Median price of homes sold in 2009* $88,650
City Metro
Average number of days on the market 130

2009 Joplin Household Income rate was 7.9%. However, that homes. Empire is one of the top as the Missouri Chamber of
50000
compared favorably to the State investor-owned utilities Commerce’s Fast-Track
of 9.4% and National nationally in use of wind power. Company of 2008.
Metro
unemployment rate of 10%.
The Joplin Area Chamber of
47,876

Earlier this year, Able

Manufacturing & Assembly, LLC Commerce coordinates Joplin’s
46,457

City
44000 Going Green of Joplin received “honorable economic development
Many local companies are mention” from The Eastern partnership. For more than a
$

42,387

“going green” looking for ways Shawnee Tribal Enterprises’ decade, the Chamber, City of
$

41,488

to cut costs by adopting Excellence in Environmental Joplin, Joplin Industrial

38000 practices friendly to the Stewardship Award of efforts to Development Authority, Joplin
$

environment. For example, demonstrate an outstanding Business and Industrial

$

Joplin-based Empire District effort in instituting, utilizing or Development Corporation and

Electric Company signed, in
2004, a 20-year contract with
32000
PPM Energy to purchase the
energy generated at the 150-
megawatt Elk River Wind farm
project located in Butler County, environmental impact through
26000 Kansas. Empire purchases
26,203
25,693
providing successful the Empire District Electric
environmental projects and/or Company have worked together
conservation measures. The to support businesses locating
company has taken a number of and expanding in this area.
steps to improve its
recycling, education, scrap

approximately 550,000 reduction and efficient utility

10%
megawatt-hours of energy usage. By combining green

9.4%
annually from the project, which efforts with production
$

20000 is equivalent to the annual improvement, Able’s

Average Household Average Household Average Household energy usage of about 42,000 performance led to recognition
Income Expenitures Expenitures
(Minus Shelter & Transportation)

7.9%
Unemployment Rates Joplin Metro Area 1999-2009
Joplin Missouri United States
6
6.1%
6.1%
6.0%
5.8%

5.7%
5.6%

5.6%
5.5%

5.4%
5.3%

5.3%
5.2%

5.2%
5.2%

5.1%

5
5.1%
4.9%

4.9%
4.8%

4.8%
4.7%

4.5%
4.4%

4.3%

4
4.0%
3.9%

3.5%
3.5%
3.4%
3.2%

0
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

54 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Resource Guide for Business
JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Chamber of Commerce coordinates Jopl
economic development partnership. For more than a
decade, the Chamber, City of Joplin, Joplin Industrial
Development Authority, Joplin Business and Industrial
Development Corporation and the Empire District
Electric Company have worked together to support
businesses locating and expanding in this area.
Among the services provided are:
• Business relocation assistance
• Business expansion and retention assistance
• Site selection assistance
• Local and state development assistance
programs
Financing assistance
Enterprise Zone incentives
Tax credits
Tax abatements for new and expanding
industry
Industrial Revenue Bonds
Job training programs and funding
Infrastructure assistance
• Trade area information and demographics
• Available buildings
• Joplin area economic development
investment opportunities
• The Chamber offers an extensive small
business library, a number of workshops and
seminars tailored for small businesses and
networking programs to bring buyers and
sellers together.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
BUSINESS ASSISTANCE AND BUSINESS RESOURCE GUIDE
REGULATIONS STATE OF MISSOURI
CITY OF JOPLIN
DIVISION OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
www.joplinmo.org
MISSOURI CAREER CENTER
UILDING DEPARTMENT Shirley Click .................................417-629-3000
teve Cope ......................417-624-0820 ext. 519 www.missouricareersource.com
ervices: Handles all building permits and Services: Job posting, pre-screening of
nspections and addresses code violations. applicants for businesses, labor market and wage
data.
BUSINESS LICENSES
Linda Foulks .....................417-624-0820 ext. 242 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AUDITORS
Services: A business license is required in most MISSOURI DIVISION OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY
instances. Please call for specifics. David Rice....................................417-629-3128
www.dolir.mo.gov/es/
ENGINEERING Services: Perform unemployment tax audits and
Jack Schaller ...................417-624-0820 ext. 531 assist employers with unemployment tax
Services: Design, construction and general questions.
information on city-owned infrastructure,
including streets, sidewalks and sewers. WORKERS' COMPENSATION DIVISION DEPARTMENT
OF LABOR AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Tim Wilson ...................................417-629-3032
David Hertzberg................417-624-0820 ext. 500 www.dolir.mo.gov
Services: Oversees all city public works services Services: Review and adjudication of workers'
including streets, sewers, sidewalks and compensation claims. Workers' compensation is
drainage. covered by private insurance in Missouri.
SEWER SERVICE TAXPAYERS SERVICES BUREAU
John Matheson ................417-624-0820 ext. 565 Missouri Department
Services: Addresses all requests for of Revenue ...................................417-629-3070
pretreatment of waste water; works with industry www.dolir.mo.gov
on compliance issues. Services: Sales, use and withholding tax
INDUSTRIAL PRETREATMENT SEWER SERVICE numbers and certificates. State income tax
Jana Walker .................................417-624-3615 returns.
Services: Establishes criteria for pretreatment of
wastewater; works with industry on compliance
issues.
ZONING AND PLANNING/COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Troy Bolander...................417-624-0820 ext. 510
Services: Plat and site plan approval, zoning
maps, rezoning applications. Community
development.
WASTE DISPOSAL AND RECYCLING
Mary Anne Phillips............417-624-0820 ext. 501 Joplin Re
Services: Provides businesses and industries gional Biz
with information regarding solid waste disposal; Let You
Center
provides information on recycling aspects. Business r James J
Recycling Drop-Off Center - 1310 West A Street. Gro w .
-------------- Hill
- • ------
•
Call for more information. REFE
RENC
•
---------
E LI
BRAR
Y
JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 55
 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND JOSEPH NEWMAN BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION CENTER
Economic Gardening Assistance
ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATIONS Steve Russell ...................................................................417-624-4150
JOPLIN BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION www.joplinregionalbizcenter.com
Rob O'Brian......................................................................417-624-4150 Services: Provide targeted information to assist the business community.
www.jbidc.biz Research and provide demographic, expenditure statistics, GIS information
Services: Constructs and sells speculative industrial buildings. and other important business data.

JOPLIN CAPITAL CORPORATION MISSOURI ENTERPRISE BUSINESS ASSISTANCE CENTER

Tonya Sprenkle .................................................................417-624-4150 Springfield, Missouri
www.joplincc.com Kendall Cobb............................................................................800-956-2682
Services: A multi-bank entity that furnishes gap-financing to entrepreneurs www.missourienterprise.org
and small business owners located in Joplin’s economically underserved Services: Quality management systems, manufacturing improvements,
areas. business strategies and management, marketing, product development,
environmental programs and information technology.
JOPLIN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
ALLIANCE FOR BUSINESS
Rob O'Brian .....................................................................417-624-4150
Crowder College
www.joplincc.com
Nancy Kenney .........................................800-783-8053 or 417-455-5713
Services: Industrial Revenue Bonds; developer of Joplin/Webb City www.alliance4biz.com
Industrial Park and Crossroads Business and Distribution Park. Services: Customized training in the areas of assessment, leadership,
HEARTLAND PTAC quality, safety and industrial technology. Experiential learning on the
Crowder Conquest Ropes Course. Coordination of all state training
PROCUREMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER
funding programs.
Missouri Southern State University
Terri Bennett....................................................................417-625-9538 CROWDER COLLEGE-WEBB CITY CAMPUS
www.heartlandptac.mssu.edu Cyndi Adamson .................................................................417-673-2345
Services: Assists small businesses in locating and obtaining government www.crowder.edu
contracts. Services: Technical & general education courses.

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Missouri Southern State University
Don Schultz .....................................................................417-625-9327
www.mssu.edu
Services: Certificate and associate degree programs and customized
training in machine and machining technology, CAD/CAM, manufacturing
management information systems and reverse engineering, machined
prototypes, computer design and information systems.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTER
Missouri Southern State University
Tia Strait..........................................................................417-625-9703
www.mssu.edu
Services: International market research, marketing development,
translation services, referral to other international trade support
organizations.
MID-AMERICAN MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY CENTER
Missouri Southern State University
John Glahn .......................................................................417-625-3123
www.mssu.edu
Services: Manufacturing management and engineering consulting; shared
manufacturing product design and manufacturing project management for
small firms.
JOSEPH NEWMAN BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION CENTER
Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce
Steve Russell ...................................................................417-624-4150
www.newmaninnovationcenter.com
Services: Assist entrepreneurs, small businesses and existing industry.
Springfield, Missouri
Janice Bowman ................................................................417-890-8501
www.sba.gov
Services: Small business loan guarantee programs and management
counseling.
SCORE-SPRINGFIELD/JOPLIN
Springfield, Missouri
John Fleming ....................................................................417-890-8501
www.springfieldscore.org
“Counselors to America’s Small Business” provides small business
counseling and training to help America’s entrepreneurs succeed.
SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER
Missouri Southern State University-Small Business Technology and
Development Center
Jim Krudwig.....................................................................417-625-3128
www.mssu.edu
Services: New business start-up evaluations, business plan review,
financing guidance, one-on-one consulting in most small business areas.
SOUTHWEST MISSOURI DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE
Kevin Welch .....................................................................417-624-4150
www.swmissouri.com
Services: The Alliance is a regional economic development organization
that markets nine cities in Southwest Missouri for the purposes of
business attraction. Alliance members include: Anderson, Carthage, Carl
Junction, Joplin, Lamar, Mt. Vernon, Neosho, Pineville/Jane & Webb City,
as well as The Empire District Electric Company, Harry S Truman
Coordinating Council and the Workforce Investment Board of Southwest
Missouri.

56 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

LeadershipJoplinAlumniClasses LIFETIME OF LEADERSHIP

the class members develop a broad Each year the 35 members of the and healthcare executives. The local
Leadership is about effective and
appreciation of the unique quality of life Leadership Joplin program reflect the orientation, the breadth and the
responsible citizenship. The Leadership
in the Joplin area and an understanding diversity of this area. They include small relevancy of the curriculum provide a
Joplin program provides that foundation
of the complex issues they face as business owners, members of financial valuable experience for newcomers and
for the development of a sustainable, vital
stewards of the community. This will be institutions, public servants, attorneys, long-time members of this region.
community whose vision is based on an
informed and committed business our 27th year and more than 560 people business administrators, not for profit
community. During the six-month course, have graduated from the program. and social service agency representatives

CLASS OF 1984 Judith Marcum

LaVaughn Mouser
Teresa Taylor
Michael Wittenmyer
Dale Owen
Lee Elliff Pound
CLASS OF 1993 Rebecca McGill
Curt Medlin
Bruce Anderson Stephen Murray Cindy Seidler Christine Brixey Richard Moore, Jr.
Jim Damm Hodge Carter
Daryl Deel
Candy Shelley
Pamela Shute
CLASS OF 1989 Steve Stocks
Linda Ellard-Brown
Brian Moritz
James Patterson
Thomas Atteberry Jean Vasquez
Bill Eichman Loren Smith Sue Flucke William Pennington
Rex Erisman Amy Bass Dale Washburn
Larry Stark Kelli Frazier Rebecca Scorse
Mike Gilpin Evelyn Brady Gerald Worthington Michael Gibson
Robert Turner Kristi Seibert
Nancy Good K.C. Brockman Leon Glover
Eric Wood Raymond Shepard
Kerry Johnston Carol Wrabl
Kimberly Bryant CLASS OF 1991 Travis Jones Donald Thompson
Tom Keckley Joe Cartright Markus Carter Karen Lawson
John Wright Gloria Turner
Connie Kinslow William Chapman William Cashman Jeffrey Leeka
Kenneth Zantow Randall Wood
John Lima Russ Childs John Corcoran Sandra McFarland
Frank Manning Brad Fagan Michael Mitchell
Eugene Mense CLASS OF 1987 Steven Graddy
Douglas Doll
Robert Fisher David Niebur CLASS OF 1995
Mike Moore Carolyn Allen Marilyn Grant Steven Owen Matthew Adrian
Kenneth Foster
Kathy Norris Timothy Baker Tom Harter Barry Perry William Aquino
Bill Perusek John Harrell
Daniel Brothers Steve Harter Daniel Pieper Beth Billings
Doug Shaffar Robert Matteo
Roger Caldwell Daniel Hayworth Barbara Hollaway Proctor Andrea Bosshart
James Smith Paul Corley Stephen Holt Stephen Menke Barbara Cope
Bradley Reeves
Tim Whelan Richard Dodson Walter Jacob Karen Morgan Charles Elliott
Patricia Richard
Chuck Winscott Dorothy Douffet E.L. Jordan Kenny Neal Margaret Robinson Carolyn Ferguson
Mark Dougherty Jon Kramer Tim Perry Rich Schramm Jean Garman
CLASS OF 1985 David Dougherty Patricia Lonardo Donna Simmons
Wendy Swartz
William Scorse, III Corrine Hawkins
Celia Allman Randy Evans Nancy Loome Beverly Scroggins John Hipple, Jr.
Deborah Fowler Mickey Mitchell Marsha Wallace Amy Sieglinger Kelly Lamborn
Robert Baker
Bernie Gaydos Mike Palmer Stephen Williams Harold Spieckermann Ellen Letterman
John Bryan
Ted Greis Timothy Robinson Michael Williams Marianne Stephenson Steven Mayden
Karen Buchanan
Bruce Copeland Donald Lawellin Teddy Steen Bruce Woodard Cheryl Stephenson Sallye Miller
Roberta Finley Marcia Long Danny Thomas Dean Vander Wilt Shirley Mutz
Tom Fitzsimmons Arlen Rasmussen Ron Thompson CLASS OF 1992 Cathy Wheeler Lynn Onstot
Janet Garoutte Dorothy Reeves David White Kevin Williams Deborah Pettyjohn
Richard Armfield
Steve Hall Michael Rouse Wayne Wilmes Scott Wright Kristy Letts Robinson
Larry Shumaker Connie Brewer William Roderique
Douglas Hauser Bonnie Wright
Marsha Brown
Terry Heckmaster Guy Thomas CLASS OF 1990 Coleen Cameron
James Rupert
Lee Anne Howsmon Doug Warbinton
Michael Wightman
Ed August Marcy Cossey CLASS OF 1994 Kristi Santee
Glen Shaulis
Ric Johnson Gene Baker Lisa Balmas
Katherine Crites Michelle Smith
Shawn McKenzie Wendy Belden Cathy Beck
Carole Eastman
Patti Phillips CLASS OF 1988 Donald Brister Ronald Gatz Stephanie Brammer
David Starrett
Elizabeth Taylor
John Pinzino Merle Allen Rick Brown Byron Brooks
James Redmon Keith Hilsabeck Scott Teaford
W.H. Autry Gary Brown Darrell Ideker Kit Brothers
Terry Sargent David Urban
John Bass Bill Carlsten Catherine Johnson Jean Campbell
Lea Schroer Shirley Webb
David Burnette Jeff Casto Kelly Chenoweth
Bruce Stansberry Gregory Knapp Daniel White
Mark Cochran Rick Cowan Gregory Clark
Robert Stark Ronda Korf Wendy Widder
Laura Titus Diggins Bradley Cox Molly Creswell
Connie Tuggle Cary Marion Kevin Wilson
Robert Edman Christy Evans Rebecca Denig
Charles Wallace Shannon McCallister Wendi Kelly Ziler
Debra Franks Debra Fraser Kevin Doran
JoAnn Freeborn David Glenn Kathleen Millgard
Carl Francis
CLASS OF 1986 Linda Garza Dennis Harber Duane Myers Christy Herrin Hamilton CLASS OF 1996
Bill Gipson Robert Harrington Greg Powell James Heneghan Joel Alumbaugh
Philip Brassie
Alice Lassiter Brown Fred Green Cecil Hull Colette Rohrer Teresa Hoffman Everett Benson
Doris Carlin Becky Harry Theresa Kenney Shyla Schilling Jon Howard Wesley Braman
Clarence Carter Susan Irish Bob Krause Lawrence Stewart Jody James Randy Burleson
Lisa Clark Barry Langford Robert LaDue Steve Stockam Tina Jones Rebecca Carson
Bob Dall Maurice Ledin Sheila Maerz Mary Lou Thomas Susan Jorgensen Tracy Coe
Michael Ganagan Peggy Lentz Deborah McCoy Jimmie Thomas Rick Keller Frank Cope
Deborah Gardner Charles Lonardo Theresa Ohler Charles Thornberry Richard Kenney Karen Fritchey
Jeffrey Johnson Richard Schurman Donna O’Keefe Annette Thurston Jeffrey Knutzen Richard Hobart
Patricia Kruse Elsie Scribner Tracey Osborne Kellie Vestal James Loome Cheryl Holyfield

JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 57

 Margaret Kaltefleiter Craig Tankersley Lanny Drummond Shelly McIntyre Steven Reed CLASS OF 2008
Nick Kanakis Clive Veri David Endicott Sherrel Melin Bridger Robinson
Emilie Keeton Ron Watford Barbara Hicklin LeRae Miller Jerry Ross Loretta Bailey
Shirley Kennedy Bob Williams Jason Higdon Tracy Myers Bert Russel Cary Beasley
Michael Leone Phil Wise Kurt Higgins Ryan Rivers Robert Sager Angie Besendorfer
John Lopes Mark Johnson Veronica Scheurich Jason Trenary Jana Blankenship
Kathy Bynum
Keith Moeller CLASS OF 1999 Shane Kannarr Tamra Schultz Rob Waggoner
Cindy Crayne
Denise Mounts Marc Kaufman Kim Vann Ashley Wheat
Sharon Benford Elizabeth Dumm
Robert Nunnally Greg Kuntz Brad Ward
Rodney Blaukat Rebecca Dunham
Jane Obert Tracy Lemmons Michael White CLASS OF 2006
Justin Buerge Reed Dunn
Mark Reynolds Sharon Love Mark Williams
Becky Carter Chad Adams Carla Graham
Crystal Spencer John Matheson (class speaker)
Dan Chiodo Eric Boyd Jerrod Hogan
Tony Stark David McCulley Jim Zaleski
Bernie Clegg Melodee Colbert (class speaker)
Todd Taylor Linda McIntosh
John Cook Tony Diggs Jon Hunter
Sunny Turner
Janice Turner
Richard Crow
Kayla Muskrat
Mary O’Neal
CLASS OF 2004 Jeff Flowers Sherry Lawrence
David Dillon, Jr. Amy Barnhart Nolan Head Holly Lawson
Laticia Waddell Janie Robbins
Liz Erickson Ilene Bates Tara Horinek Rosemary Lawson
Terry Walker Rebecca Simmons
Peggy Fuller Brian Berkstresser Paula Hurl Lindsay Matush
David Wallace Marshall Smith
Kimberly Gilman Karol Bowman Ryan Jackson Brad McIntyre
Doug Wright Michael Sneed
Greg Golden Andrea Brown Jeff Jones Brandon Myers
Roger Gronewold James Southwick
Chad Brown Susie Jones Scott Pennington
CLASS OF 1997 Jenny Hill James Teats
Teresa Walker
Melissa Brown Tim Langston Jennifer Richards
Rob Baxter Barbara Hogelin Kent Caudell Melissa Lauck Justin Roberts
Jerry Lane Jan Watson
Belinda Belk Doug Domer Mary Little LeeAnn Robertson
Wayne Malzahn Olivia Woolsey
Christopher Beyer Rob Duke David Morris Lisa Robinson
Dave Bodiford Alice Malzahn Don Durborow Ryan Rupar
Robin Psajdl
Ann Butts Cole Mashburn CLASS OF 2002 Kandy Fort Todd Pefferman Susan Ryan
Gary Cameron Walta Moore Gary Box Mike Gray Peter Salmon
Matt Proctor
Heather Colson Brian Ollenburger Melinda Brown Scott Haar Lindsay Sargent
(class speaker)
Steve Evans Linda Parise Jeff Burkett Dina Hensley Emily Stanley
Gary Rowe Stuart Puckett
Morris Glaze Scott Burleson Bob Honeywell Mark Stefan
Dwane Russell Jason Robinson
Susan Hoechst Doug Crandall David Johnson McGee Stoller
Jerri Sargent Shaen Rooney
Wes King John Cruzan Brian Karch Becky Thomason
Chris Schafer Meredith Shields
Lester Kline Jack Davis Mike Karr Angie Thomure
Cheryl Simpson Troy Stovern
Cindy Layne Kevin Gaudette Eric Kellstadt Bob Vance
Cathy White Heather Swarens Tashena Vickers
Bill Lee Carrie Sue Genisio Pat Leutzinger
Colin Winnie Alice Taft
Jay McBee Pamela Harrison Sherry McCormack
Linda Trenary
Janis McGrew Amy Yaryan Robert Hess Gina McGaughey
Jeff Walters CLASS OF 2009
John Nicholas Beth Kownslar John Meyer Kim Avondet
Ann Windsor
Michael O’Leary CLASS OF 2000 Ginger LaMar Kevin Mock Troy Bolander
Ron Pence Betty Baker Kathy Landis Tina Montez Stephanie Brady
Amy Potter Melinda Bayless Michael Landis Michal Moss Early CLASS OF 2007 Jeffrey Carrier
David Renken DeAnn Benford Todd Lutz Brian Phillips David Black Joe Craigmile
Kimberly Rhea Charles Bentlage Blake Mertens Kelli Price Sharon Bollin Chris Erisman
Cindy Schwartz Nancy Bilson Chance Morgan Joy McDonald Terry Claar Darren Gallup
Sheila Smith Paula Bone Billy Parker (class speaker) Debra Cunningham Michael Gandy
Janice Steele Cindy Broady Eric Secker Gayle Sawyer Chris Evans Joni Good
Doug Studyvin Tiffany Brooks Victor Sly Kirstie Smith Susan Flowers Drew Hartley
Jeff Thurman Jason Butterfield Robert Smith Todd Tarter David Fuller C.J. Huff
Patricia Tikkanen Joe Caputo Tonya Sprenkle Eric Weber Stephanie Garber (class speaker)
David Weaver Donovan Caviness Ryan Springer Payton White Brooke Haneborg Alyssa Hunter
Linda Wheelan Mark Elliff Kristen Sweet Ken Williams Tim Holder Richard Huskey
Andy Falls Mark Tozzio Debra Hoyt Adrienne Jackson
CLASS OF 1998 Christie Hunt Kobi Watford
Kevin Welch
CLASS OF 2005 Kathy Keepper Toby Johnston
Tracey Albright Dave Kindel Susan Adams Amy Lane Shelly Kraft
John Littlefield Tammy Willhoit Lori Langerot Susan Laudwig
Matt Allen Deb Allison
Julie Maus Lisa Workman John LeBoeuf Jayna Long
Tracy Asbell Amy Baird
Dale Blanchard Gregg Murdock Seth Bayless Brian Lorimer Kathy Manning
Deron Burr Wayne Noethe CLASS OF 2003 Stephen Carlson (class speaker) Shannon McKinney
Tony Noronha Debra Bainbridge Wanda Cox Julie Martinez-Smith Priscilla McKinney
Robin Dill
Jeff Nusser Brandi Baker Stephen Crane Ashley Micklethwaite Garen McMillian
Ann Dryden
Tim Nyander Matthew Barnhart Marcy Crawmer Justin Moll Ryan Melton
Chad Evans
Alice Ann Oliver Beth Bass Lisa Fletcher Lisa Nelson Jeff Meredith
Scott Fields
Fred Osborn Cynthia Oliver Dan Mitchell
Mike Gayman Frank Buchanan II Robert Gephardt
Troy Richards Andrew Perigo Jim Moss
John Good Darelyn Cooper Diane Higgins
Blake Spivak Doug Phipps Sherri Rheums
Lonnie Heckmaster Dana Costley Shelly Hunter
Mark Uhler Bill Qualls Mary Romero
David Hertzberg Shane Cowger Jeanne Jewsbury
Shane VanDalsem Valerie Searcy Jack Schaller
Mark Hickcox Tracy Crider Camri Jacobson
Linda Vannoy Ryan Stanley Breck Skidmore
Kristy Jackson Seth Dermott Jessica Johnson
Mick Ward Jeff Starkweather Jen Smith
Craig Koele Stephen Doerr Jasen Jones
Leasa Frye (class speaker) Scott Stinnett John Snider
Cathy Lamp
Anissa Lathim CLASS OF 2001 Christina Gaines Mark Liter Ken Surbrugg Logan Stanley
Kevin Tomlin Aubree Templeman
Brian Marlow Donny Allen Tracy Gipson Robin McAlester
Jeremy Vanderbol Amanda Triplett
Camilla Marshall Gina Atteberry Rhonda Gorham Karen McGlamery
Melinda Walker Oleg Tyurikov
Lana Nelson Thomas Bourbeau Sherry Hembree Stephanie McGrew
Kathy Watson Linda Whitteck
Paula Pillen Becky Brill Dick Higgins Charlotte Miller
Connie Wilkins Kim Woodard
Shala Rogler Britt Burr Jenny Hocker Roy Murdock
James Smith DeDe Harmell Stephanie Howard Heidi Nonnenmacher Austin Woodard
Jasa Suiter Todd Chenault Ryan Kerschen Anne O’Dell Susan Wray
Jason Talley Lance Clark Jay Logal Jason Osiek Mary Wynn

58 JOPLIN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

REASON NO. 128

patient satisfaction

THERE ARE HUNDREDS

OF REASONS TO CHOOSE
ST. JOHN’S.
At St. John’s we strive to make sure every patient receives
the best possible care. To help us meet this goal, we conduct
regular surveys of our patients. This survey information is
analyzed by the Department of Health and Human Services
and recorded on their website, www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov.
According to this data, St. John’s is performing above
national and state averages in nearly every area. What we
are most proud of, however, is that a majority of our patients
say that they would definitely recommend St. John’s to
their friends and family.

HERE’S ONE MORE.

For the second time in the last three
years, St. John’s has been named one
of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® by Thomson Reuters. This
recognition means that St. John’s has demonstrated superior
clinical, operational, and financial performance. St. John’s and
the other 100 Top Hospitals have higher survival rates, keep
more patients complication-free, and have lower expenses.

417-781-2727
2727 McClelland Boulevard, Joplin, MO
ww.stj.com
ww j. | www.100tophospitals.com
100toph a s com
www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov
hospit lcompa . . o When it matters most. | Think St. John’s.
FILLING ALL YOUR TRAVEL NEEDS

CAR RENTALS DAILY COMMERCIAL SERVICE GENERAL AVIATION

Hertz: 417-623-6242 Great Lakes Airlines Mizzou Aviation
Avis: 417-624-6360 flygreatlakes.com 417-623-1331
1-800-554-5111