Business organization cites 16 startups
Sixty members and guests recently gathered at the Northwest Missouri Enterprise Facilitation annual meeting in Savannah.
NWMEF is a nonprofit organization that works to provide business coaching and other resources for entrepreneurs across a six-county region in northwest Missouri. Counties served include Atchison, Andrew, Gentry, Holt, Nodaway, and Worth.
Accomplishments celebrated during the gathering included assistance rendered to 16 business startups during 2015. The enterprises are tied to the creation of 17 new jobs, according to an NWMEF release.
In total, the organization claims to have helped in the creation of 81 new businesses and 282 jobs since it was established in 2006.
Annual meeting highlights included recognition of Enterprise Facilitator Keli Morris for “business coaching and delivery of NWMEF client services through 2015.”
In addition, NWMEF Chairman Jerry Ingle voiced the board’s appreciation to outgoing vice chair Virginia Vernon.
Also, board members Bob Alldredge and Jim Jacoby were honored with the organization’s RAVE award for “exemplary service and efforts above and beyond in assisting the goals of NWMEF.”
Turning to the current year, the board approved officers for 2016. Ingle, Jeanne Rost, and Sister Christine Martin will continue serving as chairman, treasurer, and secretary respectively. The newly elected vice chairman is Ken Henggeler.
Other attendees at the annual meeting included 1st District state Rep. Allen Andrews and 12th District state Sen. Dan Hegeman.
Speaking in addition to Ingle were entrepreneurs Tara Wilmes of Tara Wilmes Insurance, Stanberry; Matt Gaarder of Rapid Elite, Maryville; and Cheryl Mitchell of Miss Doyles’ Soapery, Savannah.
“It is rewarding to me to see the wide scope in all types of enterprises,” Ingle said of the presentations. “The ultimate goal of NWMEF is to assist anyone trying to establish a new business or grow an existing business and do everything possible to ensure their success. It gives you a good feeling to know you had a small hand in that.”
