Eagle Eye News On Demand

Columbia-based MU Health Care is inviting you to a May 23 open house for its brand-new $232-million Children's Hospital in Columbia, which is opening in phases. It will fully open in June. You'll be able to take a tour that day, which is a Thursday. The University of Missouri's Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs Nim Chinniah joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." Mr. Chinniah predicts you'll be blown away with what you see on the tour. MU Health Care is the second-largest employer in Columbia/Boone County. Mr. Chinniah oversees clinical operations at MU Health Care: seven hospitals, 81 clinics and about 8,000 employees. He tells listeners MU Health Care currently has revenues of about $2-billion. One of the issues that Mr. Chinniah emphasized was recruitment of physicians and specialists. He tells listeners that MU Health Care has recruited NINE neurosurgeons in the past two years, and outlines their work in planning stages for a new intraoperative MRI. Mr. Chinniah

May is foster care awareness month. Missouri Governor Mike Parson will begin his day tomorrow morning by presenting a proclamation for foster care month to the state Department of Social Services (DSS) children's division leadership team and to foster youth. Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries in Boone County began in 1991. Coyote Hill Foster Care Ministries chief executive officer Bill Atherton appeared in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." Mr. Atherton describes Coyote Hill as a safe place for every child impacted by foster care. Mr. Atherton, who grew up in Oklahoma, earned his master's degree in social work. Coyote Hill encompasses about 300 acres and has seven foster homes and more than 30 employees. Mr. Atherton tells listeners that about 50 children live at the property, while another 250 children are served in various foster homes in the Columbia, Jefferson City and Hannibal areas. Host Fred Parry and Mr. Atherton also discussed Coyote Hill's rich history, which

The Columbia Housing Authority was founded in 1956. Its mission is to provide safe, healthy and affordable housing to low-income Columbia/Boone County residents and families. Columbia Housing Authority chief executive officer Randy Cole joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." The Columbia Housing Authority currently serves about 2,000 households and about 4,000 residents. Mr. Cole grew up in western Missouri's Liberty, which is a Kansas City suburb. He played football and baseball in high school and earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Mizzou. Mr. Cole has worked numerous jobs in his career, including a stint in then-Columbia city manager Ray Beck's office. He also managed weatherization and low-income energy assistance for Central Missouri Community Action. Mr. Cole also previously worked for the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC). He tells listeners that the Columbia Housing Authority has 76 employees and that they own and maintain

The Columbia Housing Authority was founded in 1956. Its mission is to provide safe, healthy and affordable housing to low-income Columbia/Boone County residents and families. Columbia Housing Authority chief executive officer Randy Cole joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." The Columbia Housing Authority currently serves about 2,000 households and about 4,000 residents. Mr. Cole grew up in western Missouri's Liberty, which is a Kansas City suburb. He played football and baseball in high school and earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Mizzou. Mr. Cole has worked numerous jobs in his career, including a stint in then-Columbia city manager Ray Beck's office. He also managed weatherization and low-income energy assistance for Central Missouri Community Action. Mr. Cole also previously worked for the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC). He tells listeners that the Columbia Housing Authority has 76 employees and that they own and maintain

The Columbia Housing Authority was founded in 1956. Its mission is to provide safe, healthy and affordable housing to low-income Columbia/Boone County residents and families. Columbia Housing Authority chief executive officer Randy Cole joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." The Columbia Housing Authority currently serves about 2,000 households and about 4,000 residents. Mr. Cole grew up in western Missouri's Liberty, which is a Kansas City suburb. He played football and baseball in high school and earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Mizzou. Mr. Cole has worked numerous jobs in his career, including a stint in then-Columbia city manager Ray Beck's office. He also managed weatherization and low-income energy assistance for Central Missouri Community Action. Mr. Cole also previously worked for the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC). He tells listeners that the Columbia Housing Authority has 76 employees and that they own and maintain

Boone Health is the sixth-largest employer in Columbia/Boone County, according to the latest statistics from Columbia Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI). REDI says Boone currently has 1,581 employees. Brady Dubois is celebrating his six-month anniversary this weekend as Boone Health’s chief executive officer and president. Mr. Dubois joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. Mr. Dubois grew up in southeast Texas and south central Louisiana and worked on his grandmother’s farm. He tells listeners he learned the value of hard work and family while growing up there. He graduated from Southwest Texas State in San Marcos and provided bedside care for five years before joining the U.S. Navy for eight years from 2000-2008. He later worked at northwest Missouri’s Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, serving on the Jefferson City-based Missouri Hospital Association’s board at that time. Mr. Dubois later worked in Detroit before the Boone oppor

Columbia had another bloody week last week, with two brutal homicides and another suspect charged with threatening to cut the heads off of children at the Islamic Center. Police chief Jill Schlude joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." Recent crime was a major topic, including Monday night's killing of a 22-year-old man in Douglass park. Graphic court documents indicate Kejuan Allen's throat was cut and that he was stabbed 20 times. The suspect also allegedly used a taser/stun gun on Allen. Mr. Parry asked about that murder and the other recent violence we've seen in Columbia. Chief Schlude is focused on trying to get CPD fully staffed. She tells listeners that they have 37 officer vacancies. Chief Schlude says she had two job offers on her calendar for this week and that another 11 officers are currently in the Academy. The chief didn't mince words about the staffing levels she has, noting CPD currently has a two-person traffic unit and that the st

Historic William Woods University in mid-Missouri's Fulton was founded in 1870 and began as an orphanage for daughters who were orphaned during the Civil War. It has a rich, 154-year history. William Woods president Dr. Jeremy Moreland is the school's 13th president in its 154-year history. President Moreland moved to Fulton in 2021, coming from St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens. He was provost at the University of the Rockies in Denver before that. President Moreland joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable", touting major progress in numerous areas. President Moreland notes their incoming class last fall of 456 students is the largest in university history, adding they're expecting even higher numbers in the fall. He also notes we'll see football for the first time this fall in the school's 154-year history. William Woods has added SEVEN new intercollegiate sports programs in the past two years, plus a marching band for the first time ever. They'

This past week was one of the bloodiest in Columbia in recent memory, with two separate murders, two other victims suffering gunshot wounds and at least five shots fired calls. Friday’s shooting near south Columbia’s Bethel prompted Columbia Public Schools (CPS) to lockdown. The violence was a major topic of discussion this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable”. Host Fred Parry’s guest was longtime Columbia business leader, banker, attorney and radio personality Bob Roper. Columbia Police are currently 37 officers short. Mr. Parry blasted Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe on the program, saying he wishes she would spend half of the time “she spends at climate conferences on law and order.” A frustrated Parry tells listeners that the Columbia city council’s priorities are “out of whack.” Mr. Roper agrees and says the council focuses on too many other issues like homelessness. Roper says resident surveys year after year show that the top priorities for residents are public safety and street and sidewalks. F

The Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture's (CCUA) main campus is at Clinkscales and Ash. While CCUA is separate from the popular Columbia Farmers Market, they do work closely together. CCUA executive director Billy Polansky joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning for an hour on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable" to discuss the organization, the social impact of CCUA on the local community and numerous upcoming events, including the Veterans Urban Farm spring kickoff event on April 23. Mr. Polansky describes the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture as a non-profit which aims to connect people to food through the land. He says CCUA has about 23 staff members and more than 600 volunteers. Mr. Polansky says those volunteers contributed more than 9,000 hours last year. The Columbia Farmers Market starts its 44th year on Saturday April 6 from 8 am to noon under the newly-completed MU Health Care Pavilion. The Columbia Farmers Market had its busiest season on 2023, with 182,256 visitors:

VP Culture organizational psychologist Randal Weidenaar has done workshops for numerous organizations, including the University of Missouri, Columbia-based EquipmentShare and MFA and for the city of Moberly. Mr. Weidenaar joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." Mr. Weidenaar focuses on leadership and employee engagement. VP Culture is a consulting firm that focuses on valuing people and creating cultures of valued people. Mr. Weidenaar tells listeners that they do that one leader at a time and that they lead people to value themselves and others. He grew up in Chicago and has lived in Europe as well, and he defines corporate culture as an emotional current within an organization:

Columbia native Dr. John Miles has been with Columbia Orthopaedic Group (COG) for 24 years. Dr. Miles, a leader in the local medical community, is a spine surgeon. Many of you remember his late father, who was an engineering professor at Mizzou. Dr. Miles' mother, Dr. Beverly Miles, is a well-known chiropractor/artist and is still alive. Dr. John Miles joined host Fred Parry Saturday morning in-studio for the hour on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." Dr. Miles and Fred tell listeners that Columbia had approximately 30 orthopaedic surgeons 15 years ago, and that number has doubled now to about 60. Dr. Miles tells listeners that's due to demographics and trends. Dr. Miles also tells listeners that there's a shortage of primary care physicians in Columbia. Some mid-Missourians are relying on urgent care for their primary health care. Mr. Parry and Dr. Miles also discussed numerous other topics during their interview, including the Health Cooperative in mid-Missouri, along with Boone Hospital Center and St. Mary'

Columbia Orthopaedic Group (COG) was founded in 1965 on Broadway in downtown Columbia. It started as a white frame house near Boone Hospital Center. COG built their current 72,000 square feet state-of-the-art facility at Broadway and Keene in 2008. The current facility includes an in-house ambulatory surgery center, doctor offices, exam rooms and an imaging center. Longtime former Columbia Orthopaedic Group president Dr. Mark Adams joined host Fred Parry Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." Dr. Adams, who served as COG's president for 18 years, emphasizes their humble beginnings and growth. He notes the bedrooms in that 1965 white-frame house served as exam rooms. Dr. Adams tells listeners that COG today sees 700 visits each day, adding they have 27 physicians and more than 225 employees. Mr. Parry and Dr. Adams also discussed numerous other topics on the show, including the $10-billion merger between St. Louis-based BJC HealthCare and Kansas City-based St. Luke’s. Dr. Adams tells listener

939 the Eagle's Fred Parry, who hosts the "CEO Roundtable" program, describes Comobuz.com as the best journalism coverage of the city of Columbia. Comobuz.com publisher Mike Murphy joined Fred in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on the popular program. They tackled a number of topics, including the April recall election involving first ward city councilman Nick Knoth, the April second ward race between Lisa Meyer and Robert Schreiber III and the contentious issue involving short-term rentals. You’ll soon have to pay the same five percent lodging tax that hotels pay, when you stay at a Columbia Airbnb or other short-term rental property. Columbia’s city council voted 5-1 last week to approve the new regulations, which will take effect in June. The council has been working to develop land use regulations to govern short-term rentals since 2018. Fifth ward councilman Don Waterman cast the lone “no” vote. Sixth ward councilwoman Betsy Peters, who owns an Airbnd, abstained from voting. They will require short

Columbia-based Coil Construction has built numerous shopping areas, restaurants, medical facilities and entertainment facilities that you and your family members have visited for the past 49 years. They include Columbia's Missouri Heart Center, Level Up at Columbia Mall, Shakespeare’s South and the Broadway Bluffs shopping center. Randy Coil founded Coil Construction in 1975. His son David is now Coil's president. David is only the second employee to be company president. Coil Construction owners Randy and David Coil joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. They addressed the promotion in-detail. Randy Coil tells listeners that 70 percent of second-generation businesses fail nationally. He describes his son as a "relentless partner", saying David Coil is frequently the first to arrive at the office and the last one to leave. Randy says that work ethic earned him the respect of fellow staff members. They also discussed the importance of culture in a cons

You may have heard used in recent years called "concierge level healthcare", which means direct primary care. Direct primary care means your primary care billing and payment arrangements are made directly with your medical providers, without sending claims to insurance providers. Columbia-based Big Tree Medical founder Dr. Adam Wheeler and Big Tree Dr. Pavel Svintozelsky joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable" program. Dr. Wheeler grew up in southwest Missouri's Bolivar before earning his undergraduate and medical degrees from Mizzou. Dr. Svintozelsky grew up in Ukraine and graduated from medical school in Washington State. Dr. Wheeler tells listeners that employers should consider Big Tree Medical if they want their health care benefits to be less expensive and better for their employees. He describes direct primary care as a great business model, saying it incentivizes focusing on patients. Dr. Wheeler describes direct primary care as good for patie

Columbia city manager De'Carlon Seewood is celebrating his second anniversary on the job. He became city manager in January 2022. Mr. Seewood joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable" program. Mr. Seewood, who has 28 years of experience in local government, grew up in East St. Louis Illinois, before moving to Kansas City at the age of 12. He graduated from Kansas City's Rockhurst University, before earning his master's degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia. He began his career in mid-Missouri's Osage Beach, before moving to Fulton, Ferguson and Berkeley and then to Columbia. Mr. Seewood and Fred focused on numerous topics during the show, including his hiring of new Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude and the current CPD restructuring. Mr. Seewood tells listeners that the overwhelming majority of citizens he's heard from who served on interview panels and who attended forums are pleased with Chief Schlude's hire. Mr. Seewood also addressed January's brut

Central Bank of Boone County is Columbia’s largest bank, with approximately $3-billion in assets. The bank has 14 branches, including numerous Columbia branches and locations in Boonville, Ashland, Centralia, Hallsville and Sturgeon. Central Bank of Boone County president Ed Scavone joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Round Table." Mr. Scavone is one of Columbia's top business and banking leaders. He moved to Columbia in 1978, at the age of 14. His mother-in-law worked for Central Bank in Moberly. Mr. Scavone has spent 29 years with Central Bank, including four years as president of Central Bank of Boone County. Inflation and housing were two of many topics Mr. Scavone and Mr. Parry tackled on the show. Mr. Scavone tells listeners that the big spender is the government, adding that the inflation we're seeing now has been driven by federal COVID dollars and by federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. Fred and Mr. Scavone also discussed the local econom

Columbia's Parks and Recreation department has 78 parks, ranging from its largest, Cosmo park, to 20 neighborhood parks. It has 82 full-time employees and another approximately 600 part-time employees, with an annual budget of about $18-million. Columbia Parks and Recreation director Gabe Huffington joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." Mr. Huffington grew up in southwest Missouri's Buffalo, and began his career in golf course management. He's been with Columbia Parks and Recreation for 15 years, including about a year as director. Mr. Huffington tells listeners that Columbia's Activity Recreation Center (ARC) and the Columbia Sports Fieldhouse have been packed recently, as people make New Year's resolutions about fitness. He also discussed one of the fastest growing sports in the United States: pickleball:

An annual tradition for 939 the Eagle host Fred Parry is to interview former Landmark Bank chief executive officer Jeff MacLellan on the final show of the calendar year for the "CEO Roundtable." Mr. MacLellan has spent 35 years studying economic trends in Columbia and Boone County. He joined Fred in-studio Saturday morning for the hour on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable" program. Mr. MacLellan tells listeners that when he started in the banking industry in 1973, there were about 18,000 banks nationwide. He says that number is about 4,000 today. He also addressed the issue of Columbia's rising home costs, saying the median home sold in Columbia in 2023 was about $343,000. Mr. MacLellan also addressed the traditional three pillars in Columbia's economy: education, health care and insurance. He notes there are about 55,000 to 60,000 students in Columbia, counting the 18,000 students at Columbia Public Schools (CPS). The University of Missouri and MU Health Care continue to be, by far, the two largest employer