Trenton Missouri Chamber of Commerce

Stay up to date in the latest in Trenton, Missouri news and events. The Chamber updates this page with news quite often, so be sure to check back regularly!

October 2010

Missouri Day Festival

Join us for the 26th annual Missouri Day Festival. For more information, click on one of the links to the right under "Missouri Day".

Trick or Treat Night

Trick or Treat Night, sponsored by the Chamber Ambassadors, will be held again this year on Monday night, October 25th. This is a chance for parents to take their children to the Rock Barn at the fairgrounds for some fun games and candy collecting (not to mention seeing the silly grown-ups dressed up in weird costumes!). More information will be available as the date draws near. If you have questions in the meantime, please conact the Chamber at 660.359.4324.

September 2010

Women on the Run

Relax, Revive, Renew! Join Green Hills Community Action Agency's (GHCAA) Women's Health Services for a fun-filled girls day out at the Ketcham Community Center this September 25th.

The first annual GHCAA Women's Expo will feature tons of great information and vendors, as well as several speakers and classes focused on helping the women of today learn to slow down! Speakers for this event will include Sandi Williams, Sylvia Gomez, Christina Ferguson, Lisa Schilling and Terri Henderson.

There's sure to be something for everyone at the GHCAA Women's Expo! Vendors will include: crafts and gifts, bath and body, health and nutrition, beauty products and more! Come by and join GHCAA for a girls day out!!

For more information on GHCAA and the services they offer, check out their website at www.ghcaa.org. To download an application for the Women's Expo, visit this page.

August 2010

Art in the Park

Art in the Park will be held again this year in the Sesquicentennial Park on August 28th. Join the Friends of the Arts in kicking off their new season! For more information, check out their website at trentonarts.com

July 2010

Better Woman Conference July 23 & 24

Trenton First Assembly of God invites all women to join them for a women's conference that's sure to be a blessing. Guest speaker will be Kerry Clarensau. The conference is being held at the First Assembly of God in Trenton, located at 1107 East 11th Street, on July 23rd and 24th. On Friday, July 23rd, the evening begins at 6:30pm with dinner being served in the Family Activity Center (FAC). Evening services should conclude by 9:00pm. On Saturday, July 24th, the morning begins at 9:00am with breakfast being served in the FAC and services to conclude around 11:30am. Limited child care is available for both services. All attendees will be entered in a drawing for door prizes. Come and enjoy some fun, food and fellowship and look for the Lord to do great things among our women!

Free Movie Night

Citizen's Bank & Trust, in conjunction with Trenton Downtown Improvement Association (TDIA), is sponsoring a family movie night Saturday, July 10th in the Sesquicentennial Park. The movie, The Blind Side starring Sandra Bullock, will begin at 9:00pm and is free to the public. Those interested in attending will need to bring their lawn chairs, unless you'd like to sit on the grass.

April 2010

BarlowGirl Concert

On April 8th this year, be looking for BarlowGirl to come to Trenton. BarlowGirl is three sisters, Alyssa, Lauren and Becca Barlow. BarlowGirl has always represented an interesting dichotomy; tender-hearted, beautiful young women who aren’t afraid to take an aggressive, almost warrior-like stance when it comes to spreading the gospel and serving God. That fiery obedience reverberates throughout their latest release, Love & War. They have five albums out and are currently on their Love & War tour. You can read more about BarlowGirl at www.barlowgirl.com/about. Tickets will be $10 if purchased in advance and $12 at the door. There are also a limited number of All-Access passes ($30 each), which include meeting BarlowGirl. Check back for ticket locations. If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact KULH 105.9 The Wave Radio Station in Chillicothe at 660.646.2255 or check out their website.

Tammy Cochran Benefit Concert

Come see Tammy Cochran live in concert to benefit the Northwest Missouri Chapter of The Dream Factory!

Straight from Nashville, TN, Tammy is a country music recording artist with Straybranch Records. In 2002, her hit recording “Angels in Waiting” hit the top ten on the country music charts. Tammy currently has four albums out, two of which are independent. To learn more about Tammy, please visit her webpage.

Opening for Ms. Cochran is former Trenton resident and MU Tigers quarterback, BP Willie (Brad Perry), singing Willie Nelson songs.

Concert is to be held at the Ketcham Community Center on the campus of North Central Missouri College on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 7:00pm. Doors will open at 6pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children and are available at the Ketcham Center, Trenton Chamber of Commerce and Ron Dougan. You can also purchase tickets at the door the night of the concert, as there is no reserved seating. All proceeds will stay local in the surrounding area to grant dreams to seriously and chronically ill children ages 3 to 18 to help put a smile on their faces as well as the entire family. Your help is needed and greatly appreciated. If you would like to be a sponsor, there are three levels of corporate sponsorship as well as an opportunity for individual sponsorship. For each sponsor who makes a donation of $250 or more, they will receive the following: name listed in program on their level of giving, advertising on KTTN FM 92.3 and Trenton Republican-Times, as well as the opportunity to have a banner in the Ketcham Center. A Gold Sponsorship is $1,000 ; a Bronze Sponsorship is $500; a Silver Sponsorship is $250; an Individual Sponsorship (Patron) is $100 (will have listing in Program and Advertising).

If you have any questions about the event or the Dream Factory, you may contact Ron Dougan by phone at 660.359.0100 or by email at rdkclife@att.net.

February 2010

Annual Meeting Re-Cap

Our annual meeting this year was attended by approximately 120 people. We were joined by guest speaker, Mike Arbuckle, who is the Senior Advisor to the General Manager/Scouting and Player Development for the Kansas City Royals. The North Central Missouri College baseball team also joined us for the evening and were the servers. Mr. Arbuckle presented NCMC Coach Donnie Hillerman and his team with a donation.

Each year, the Chamber awards one Ambassador for their outstanding service and involvement in the Chamber and one business for the same reason. The award for Ambassador of the Year was given to Melissa Sims and the award for Business of the Year was given to Wright Memorial Hospital. Congratulations to our winners!

October 2009

Missouri Day Re-Cap

Our 25th Annual Missouri Day Festival was a great success! We are so thankful to all those who volunteered their time to make this 25th year so memorable for all those in attendance. We anticipate having many more memorable Missouri Day festivals in years to come.

We were very privelged this year to have had several bands participating in our annual band festival. A total of thirty-four bands marched in the parade and fifty-one bands participated in the competitions throughout the day. For more information on the marching band festival results, you can click here.

September 2009

Missouri Day T-Shirts PRE-ORDER

The Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce Missouri Day 25th Anniversary Commemorative T-Shirts. Help celebrate 25 years of this wonderful festival here in Trenton by purchasing this special t-shirt.

T-shirts are available by pre-order only. The deadline is October 1st. Please stop by the Chamber to purchase your t-shirt. The shirts will be ready to pick up at Kinnison Embroidery the week of Missouri Day. The t-shirts will be grey and will feature a design created by Jennifer Farmer of Trenton. Prices are $13 for S-XL and $15 for XXL and above.

August 2009

Trick or Treat Night

The Trenton Ambassadors of the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce will host its sixth annual “Trick or Treat Night” on Monday, Oct. 26 at the Rock Barn.

Businesses and organizations are being invited to participate in the event, which being held to provide area children with a safe place to “trick or treat.” As in the past, participants will set up decorated booths with candy and other Halloween-related items and children will be allowed to visit each booth to pick up their “tricks” or “treats.” There will also be face painting available.

Children are encouraged to dress up for the occasion as are those who have a booth at the event. A pirate theme is being used at this year’s activities, which will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

There is no cost to businesses and organizations for participation, with the only requirement being that each group provides the decorations and items for their own booths. The Ambassadors will provide tables on which to place items.

If an organization or business would like to participate, but cannot have a booth, the Ambassadors will accept monetary donations, which will be used to purchase candy for distribution at the Ambassadors booth during the evening.

Persons wanting more information or who would like to participate can contact Diane Lowrey at 359-2212, Debbie Carman at 359-2836, Bonita Price at 359-2232 or Linda Eads at 359-6999.

Customer Appreciation Day

To show just how much we value your membership and business over the past years, the Trenton Chamber of Commerce & License Bureau is planning to hold a Customer Appreciation Day on Friday, August 21st, 2009, from 11am - 2pm. We will serve hot dogs, cookies, and soda - all free of charge! So stop by 617 Main Street in Trenton and grab a bite to eat! Thank you for all your business over the years and your continued support! We hope to see you there.

Art in the Park

Art in the Park, an old favorite, is revived on Saturday, August 29, in downtown Trenton at Sesquicentennial Park. This is the kick-off for the 44th year of programs from Grundy County Friends of the Arts, as well as the start of the Season Ticket sales.

Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy all the events that are planned for the afternoon and evening. There will be music by local artists, crafts, concessions, sidewalk sales, Bed Races and lots of fun for everyone.

Music starts at 5:00 with Trenton Brass, and continues with other area musicians. At 6:30, you won’t want to miss the Bed Races and after that the music will continue (and there might even be some dancing in the streets)! Arrive earlier in the afternoon to take advantage of the craft sales, sidewalk sales and concessions.

For further information call Cathy Smith at (660) 359-3763 - Barbara Todd at (660) 673-6369 or visit the website at www.trentonarts.com. For Bed Race information call Troy Smith at (660) 359-2224.

July 2009

Chamber Day at the K

The Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the first ever “Trenton Chamber Day at the K” to watch the Royals play the Texas Rangers. This event will take place on Saturday, July 25th @ 6:10pm. Tickets will be $26 per person and will be located in the family-friendly Outfield Plaza which has several activities for children as well. Tickets will be made available for purchase to Chamber Members only, but Chamber members can bring along anyone they want, including non-members. There has been a lot of interest in this event and so we anticipate the tickets will sell very quickly. Tickets go on sale Monday, July 6th. Stop by the Chamber to pay for and secure your tickets. Contact the Chamber for any additional questions.

License Bureau Open for Bidding

The management of the Trenton License Bureau is currently up for bid as of June 8th. The following is quoted from the Department of Revenue’s website, www.dor.mo.gov. “As Gov. Jay Nixon’s effort to improve customer service and accountability in Missouri state government continues, interested citizens and groups will be able to bid on the management of … local motor vehicle license offices. Bidders will have five weeks (or until July 14) to respond to bid proposals [for Trenton] overseen by the Office of Administration (OA). Teams from the Missouri Department of Revenue will evaluate the bids.”

The Trenton License Bureau staff are unable to answer any questions regarding the bidding process as directed by the Office of Administration, Department of Purchasing and Materials Management (DPMM). If you have questions, you may contact Mary Call at the DPMM at (573) 751-1695 or you may email her at mary.call@oa.mo.gov. The License Bureau local and other fees collected for FY 2008 totaled $62,212.35. Expenses amounted to $62,012.95. We appreciate our customers very much!

Missouri Day 2009 Theme Chosen

The theme for the 2009 Missouri Day Festival has been announced. The votes of several Chamber business members have decided that the theme will be “Missouri Day 25th Anniversary - A Festival Full of Tradition: 1984 - 2009”. Missouri Day falls on October 17th - 18th this year.

We have already filled the Rock Barn with vendors, however courtyard, pavilion, and flea market spaces are still available. The courtyard is filling fast as well, so we urge those of you interested in a courtyard vendor space to contact us with your application as soon as possible! Courtyard booth space costs only $70 for a super high traffic area. 2009 is shaping up to be a bumper year for the Missouri Day Festival!

This site features an online application and there is an option for online payment as well. Alternatively, you may also register for a booth space at Missouri Day by calling the Chamber at 359-4324, or by dropping by the office. We’re more than happy to help you find the right spot for your business. Booth space begins as low as $50, so what are you waiting for? Make your business presence known this year at Missouri Day!

More details on the 25th annual festival will be released later this summer. If you have any questions about becoming a vendor or about volunteering at this year’s festival, please contact the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce at trentonchamber@grundyec.net or by calling (660) 359-4324.

June 2009

Business After Hours Returns

The Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the revival of Business After Hours, a meet and greet program for Chamber members. Chamber members and their guests can interact in a relaxed social environment and exchange ideas for the betterment of area business and community alike.

Business After Hours events offer Chamber members a wonderful networking opportunity, and are ideal for meeting fellow area professionals and establishing long-lasting business relationships. The BAH events are always free to Chamber members, and members are encouraged to attend.

In addition, acting as a Business After Hours host affords your business a unique opportunity to showcase and promote your products and/or services to potentially hundreds of other Chamber members.

We are actively seeking a hosts for upcoming Business After Hour events, if you and your business would be interested in hosting, please contact the Chamber! We are confident that together we can make this program a success, and look forward to seeing you at our next event!

May 2009

New President Announced

A Trenton native will be returning home to assume the role of president of the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce.

Jordan Ferguson, a graduate of Trenton High School, will begin his new duties on Monday, June 8. He replaces Terri Henderson, who resigned earlier this year to take a position with the Green Hills Community Action Agency. Ferguson is the son of Mark and Brenda Ferguson of Trenton.

Currently employed by Learfield Communications in Jefferson City, Ferguson is excited to be returning to Trenton. “Christina (his wife) and I have been wanting to get back to Trenton for awhile,” Ferguson said. “We love Trenton and this was an excellent opportunity to get to come back and be a part of the community that we have a passion for.” Christina is the former Christina Woodard, daughter of Eric and Rochelle Woodard. She will be returning to Trenton to take a position with Wright Memorial Hospital as a dietician.

“This really worked out for us,” Ferguson said. “We both wanted to be able to come back here at the same time and the hospital has been pursuing Christina for awhile. When this job opened up, the time was just right and we decided to make the move.”

Ferguson will again be working with his former boss, Hy-Vee Food Store assistant manager Chad Boyd, who now serves as chairman of the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Boyd was Ferguson’s boss while working at Hy-Vee when he was in high school and college.

Ferguson holds an associate of arts degree from North Central Missouri College and a bachelor’s degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia. What his job will entail with the chamber is still a work in progress. “We’ve not really discussed it a whole lot,” Ferguson said. “I know that I want to be involved in the community to help make Trenton a more attractive place where people will want to live and spend their money. I know there will be other things I will be involved in as well.”

”We as a board and as ambassadors are excited to bring back one of Trenton’s own in this role,” Boyd said. “We look forward to having him live in the community and look forward to working with him to help Trenton become a stronger place to live and work.” Boyd went on to say that Ferguson’s job will entail “helping to promote and grow local business and create excitement for the community.”

Story credit: Republican Times

April 2009

Henderson Tapped as Energy Director for Local CAA

Trenton, MO- Green Hills Community Action Agency is proud to announce the hiring of Terri Henderson to serve as their Energy Services Director. The position is a new one within the organization and was developed to capitalize on the growing demand for energy conservation, energy efficiency and the development of “green” initiatives. Mrs. Henderson will be responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing programs related to energy conservation and education. She will manage the operation of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and coordinate with the agency’s Weatherization Department to identify potential customers, enhance partnerships with area utilities and provide energy educational opportunities.

Mrs. Henderson will join the agency’s staff on May 1 and her office will be in the agency’s Central Office at 1506 Oklahoma Ave. in Trenton. Mrs. Henderson has an extensive background which includes managing major accounts for the Xerox Corp., has worked in legal contract development, implementation and management; wrote curriculum for management classes as a certified corporate trainer; and performed field underwriting for homes and businesses. She graduated from Trenton High School, North Central Missouri College in Trenton and Missouri Western State College in St. Joseph.

“We are ecstatic to have on our team someone with Terri’s experience, enthusiasm and creative thinking. All of these traits will be needed as we initiate the Energy Services Department and strive to become leaders regarding energy issues as they relate to our general community and families striving to become self-sufficient,” noted GHCAA Executive Director Scott Long.

A former Trenton City Council Member, Mrs. Henderson is well-known for her civic involvement. She was the chairperson of events for Trenton’s Sesquicentennial Celebration and served as Festival Director for the Missouri Day Festival. She serves on the boards of the Trenton Rotary Club and the Grundy County Museum. Most recently she has served as the President of the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce.

Mrs. Henderson and her husband, David, have three adult daughters, Haley, Abby and Mady. Mrs. Henderson is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Dockery and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Vencill, all of Trenton.

Green Hills Community Action Agency works through partnerships to make self-sufficiency a reality for individuals and families by empowering them to achieve the knowledge, skills and motivations needed to build strong families and communities.

Chamber President Terri Henderson Resigns

Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce President Terri Henderson has recently resigned to take a position as Energy Services Director with Green Hills Community Action Agency in Trenton. Mrs. Henderson is credited with growing the chamber and its program to bring tangible value to members. In 2005, the Member to Member Discount program was implemented in which members receive discount cards to be used at participating businesses. In addition, Chamber Member Business Highlights in Republican Times and the chamber newsletter have been written by Mrs. Henderson which focus on goods and services offered by each business. The chamber website has been re-designed to better market serve members and to attract new residents and business recruits.

Under Mrs. Henderson’s leadership a Spring Fling Expo was held during which vendors have displayed merchandise and services to the general public. Currently, a committee which is comprised of ambassadors and board members is working on a sports theme expo to replace the Spring Fling Expo. In addition, a radio auction has been held each fall that helps to market area businesses, as well as serving as a fund raiser for the chamber. Chamber members, unlike year’s past, are not solicited for funds on a regular basis. Most contacts with chamber members result in a tangible value to the members, as opposed to simply asking for funds.

During Trenton’s Sesquicentennial, Henderson served as chairperson for events. Over 50 activities were organized to pay tribute to Trenton’s rich history. The chamber office served as Sesquicentennial headquarters to market 150th merchandise and to organize the events. Over 400 persons volunteered to help with the success of this event. The $60,000 profit earned from the 150th celebration was utilized to build the Sesquicentennial Park at historic 5 Points in downtown Trenton, to fund a mural in downtown Trenton, to purchase display cases for the Grundy County Museum, to help renovate the fair grandstand, to help renovate the C.F. Russell Stadium, and to help fund the new Grundy County Food Panty building.

Two professional music CDs were produced with Henderson serving as producer. The first one entitled “Welcome Home to Trenton”, was part of Trenton’s Sesquicentennial celebration and contains 5 songs that were written by area composers. The second “My Gratitude to God” was a pilot project to market the chamber services of professional CDs that would market chamber businesses music, services solutions, or consumer information to market a respective business. Jennifer Farmer, graphic designer and webmaster, has provided the design work for these two projects.

Hundreds of marketing brochures and support materials have been done to inform consumers about Trenton businesses and attractions. Henderson has represented Trenton at various tourism events throughout the state during her tenure.

The latest member benefit designed by Mrs. Henderson is called Terri’s Top Pick. Each week the Republican Times newspaper runs a feature on a member business. During the current tough economy, the chamber has focused on driving revenue to member business. Terri’s Top Pick has resulted in increased sales of the goods and services that have been featured.

In asking Mrs. Henderson to reflect back on her years with the chamber, she was quoted as saying, “I feel that I am leaving the chamber in a very good position. We have increased financial stability and have focused on our members 100% of the time. I have the best board in Trenton; these competent and dedicated community leaders will insure that the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce is here for years to come.”

Parties with questions or who are interested in submitting a resume are invited to contact Tina Capeder.

Follow Us On Twitter

For those of you who Tweet on Twitter, you can now follow the Chamber of Commerce! Click here to see what the fuss is all about. (We can also be found on Facebook & MySpace!)

March 2009

Terri's Top Pick of the Year - TK Greetings

Based on customer comments sent to the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce website, TK Greetings, a popular card line which was developed by local entrepreneur Twyla Keuhn, was selected as Terri's Top Picks Winner for 2009. Ironically, the card line was actually the first product selected as part of the program which was introduced by Chamber President Terri Henderson last year. Since assuming the role as Chamber President, Mrs. Henderson has prided herself in delivering tangible value to chamber members and to take driving revenue to members to a whole new level. With the cooperation of Republican Times Newspaper, products have been selected and featured in the paper, as well as on the chamber website. Members of the public may fill out comment cards on the website to give feedback on the product. Several area customers made positive comments about TK Greetings.

As co-owner of The Gift Nook with her husband R. W., Mrs. Keuhn constantly looks for product lines that are fresh, new, and exciting. Her idea of developing and marketing the cards was met with a bit of skepticism by her partner. He was a bit surprised when the chamber newsletter arrived with a feature story on TK Greetings. There are times when customers will actually return a commercial card back onto the shelf and opt for the TK Greeting line. This interesting and diverse line finds its roots several years ago when Twyla, as a young Brownie Scout member, began taking pictures with a small box type camera with the Brownie insignia on the side.

The Keuhn family has made taking a vacation each year a priority. For years, Twyla would clip grocery coupons and take the money saved to go toward the vacation fund each year. Currently, the Keuhns have traveled in all 50 states and all but 3 provinces of Canada. They particularly like national parks, having been to Yellowstone National Park 17 times. Also among Mrs. Keuhn's favorite places to visit and photograph are Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. She enjoys taking photos early in the morning, during the evening, or with the sun peaking through dark rain clouds.

In 1979, the family upgraded photography equipment to a 35mm camera. As a self-taught photographer, Twyla utilizes over 700 photos in the popular card line with 76 various card stocks in both vertical and horizontal orientation making over 150 stocks and thousands of possible combinations. The high-quality card stock provides a nice back drop for the eye pleasing photos. There is a tracking number on each card that aids in re-prints and re-ordering card stock and photos. The front of the card includes an actual high quality, high resolution photo along with themes such as birthday, get well, thinking of you, thank you, sympathy, friendship, religious themes. Some are blank and can be used for all occasions. The back of the card notes the destination (Alaska, Michigan, Wyoming, Missouri, etc.) that is featured on the card.

Several local buildings such as the Grundy County Courthouse, Grundy County Jewett Norris Library, the Hall House, and Crowder State Park are among favorite cards for area consumers. One local family had Mrs. Keuhn produce a set of custom cards for them focusing on flower gardens in their own yard. She is willing to work with customers for custom work. TK Greetings is popular with both men and women of all ages.

Mrs. Keuhn states that many people find a photo of a place of national interest that they have been and share their memories of traveling there. She enjoys sharing the common interest of traveling and capturing special moments that others may enjoy too.

While Twyla states that she would have been happy to only sell the first dozen cards, it is safe to say that several dozen have been sold at this point. What began as a hobby has turned into one of the main product lines in the store. She is very proud of that unexpected accomplishment.

The Gift Nook is the oldest, continual business in the Eastgate Shopping Center. Those who know the Keuhns and enjoy shopping there, appreciate the high-level of customer service delivered by R.W., Twyla, and their employees. Recently, grandson, Ryan, has recorded a popular radio spot with his Grandma. He, too, does a great job of marketing the store.

The cards, including envelope and matching clear sleeve, sell for $3.25 making them very competitively priced with other card lines offered in the store. The card styles are suitable for both male and female recipients, as well as people of all ages.

Drop by The Gift Nook from Monday through Saturday to select your favorite TK Greetings card for that special someone. The quality of these cards is sure to make them keepsakes for scrapbooks and memory boxes for years to come.

Business of the Year Announced

Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri was recently named Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce Above and Beyond Business of the Year for 2009. The bank originated in Unionville, Missouri in 1900. In 1992, Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri purchased the building from American Bank of North Central Missouri and began operations here. There are locations in: Trenton, Unionville, Mercer, Bethany, Gallatin, Centerville, Iowa and Leon, Iowa.

Currently, Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri in Trenton has 13 employees comprised of 4 loan officers, 1 assistant cashier, 2 loan secretaries and 6 customer service representatives.

When entering the bank, one cannot help but notice that several of the employees have been there for years. Customers appreciate "relationship banking". Long term employees pride themselves in the relationships that they have built with customers throughout the years. Rosa Hobbs, Linda Lamp, Deanna Washburn and Kathy Rorebeck were among the first employees hired in 1992 by Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri. Other employees include: Jim Cox, Rick Klinginsmith, Amy Lewis, Marlisa Klinginsmith, Tracy Kralicek, Marsha Kennedy, Tawny Epperson, Karen Shull and Amy Spencer. The President and CEO of Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri is David Tribble.

If one considers the employee retention rate of Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri it is outstanding particularly in these changing times. Mr. Cox is quick to acknowledge his high quality employees. They are treated well by the bank and actually like what they are doing. In addition, many customers have "favorite tellers" that they repeatedly go to. It is all about having relationships with customers. At Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri, customers are not simply account numbers, they are friends. Those personal relationships attribute to good employee retention, phenomenal growth in business, and customers who feel valued. The lobby is a good place to visit with old and new friends.

Jim Cox is the local facility manager. The lending team in Trenton includes Mr. Cox, Rick Klinginsmith, Deanna Washburn and Amy Lewis. Collectively they have over 70 years of experience and believe in building solid relationships with their clients.

The bank offers all of the typical banking services, including some on site professional investment services, offering investments in stocks, bonds and mutual funds. The bank provides internet banking and a new web page to make on-line services readily available.

Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri prides itself in a quick turn around with most loan decisions and getting not only a decision but loan dollars in the customer's hands in hours, not days. The bank is agriculturally based, meaning that a large percentage of its portfolio is comprised in agricultural loans. However, they also specialize in commercial, consumer and mortgage lending.

When selecting a winner for Above and Beyond Business of the Year, the Chamber Executive Board looks for candidates who support not only the chamber and its activities, but also gives to the community as a whole. The bank's philosophy is that "if you are doing business in a community, it is highly important to give back to that area".

In talking about Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri, one employee had this to say, "The bank provides a platform that allows us, as employees, to support local civic groups and organizations, special interests or projects by providing the time and money to do so." Several of the employees have been very active in the community for several years. Last year, several employees were active in Trenton Area Business Women, Rotary Club, United Way, Lions Club including Missouri Lions Football, American Heart Association, and the American Cancer Society by sponsoring a team for the Relay for Life. The bank also supported Kiwanis, the local Food Pantry through a donation to Share the Harvest program, as well as making a donation in 2007 to help replace the Food Pantry's building. They also support the North Central Missouri Fair plus other local fairs with money and prizes, and sponsored a candidate, Amy Lewis, for the renewed Leadership Trenton.

They contribute to various school activities, including the annual Farmers Bank of Northern Missouri, N.A. scholarship for a chosen high school senior; Trenton High School senior night; sponsor candidates for Girls' and Boys[ State activities plus the "Leadership in Practice" forum; the Trenton Quarterback Club, and the THS Foundation Trust. They support Trenton Fire Pups, Galt Fire Department, the Spickard Fair Board & Fall Festival, and donated funds to the Royal Rangers for flags. The bank made donations to the Women's Shelter, North Central Missouri Children's Advocacy Center, Grundy County Health Department for the School Health Fair, and Special Olympics. Several employees are involved in various church and sorority activities as well.

The activities to assist the Chamber of Commerce speak for themselves. Currently, Deanna Washburn is serving as Treasurer for the Chamber. Marlisa Klinginsmith is currently Chairperson of the Ambassadors. In addition, Rick Klinginsmith has served on the Chamber Board and as an Ambassador in the past. Besides being active on the Chamber Board and the Ambassadors, they have assisted with the planning and preparation for the Missouri Day Festival, with the bank sponsoring the baby show for the festival; contributed for and assisted with the radio auction; participated in all the other fund raisers throughout the year, donated for the Chamber sponsored Halloween party, and the annual shop local Chamber promotion for Christmas.

The bank sponsors an Easter Egg Hunt each spring for children in the area. They are especially proud of the fact that they host an annual Customer Appreciation Lunch just to say "Thank you for your business" to their patrons.

February 2009

Ambassador of the Year Announced

The Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce recently announced that Debbie Carman is this year's Above and Beyond Ambassador of the Year 2009. Working for PDQ as General Manager, it is no accident that she works for a company whose name stands for "People Delivering Quality" In working with Debbie on numerous community service projects she "delivers quality" in all that she does. Born in the Half Rock community to Betty Smith and the late Jack Smith, Debbie Carman, recipient of the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce Above and Beyond Ambassador of the Year for 2009, is proud to call rural Missouri her home. After moving to Newtown and graduating from high school there, Debbie was married to the late David Carman. She attended Trenton Junior College. She has three children: Joshua, Angela, and Nathan, as well as 8 grandchildren.

Prior to assuming her current role as General Manager of PDQ, she was a real estate agent. At PDQ, she wears many hats including managing 3 supervisors who oversee over 30 employees, performing HR functions, and is a "jack of all trades" according to owner Phyllis Dible. Ms. Dible credits Debbie for delivering a very high level of customer service.

As General Manager of PDQ Cleaning Services Incorporated, Debbie Carman is proud to be a part of the growth that PDQ has made in employing over 30 people and servicing clients from St. Joseph to Brookfield and from the Iowa line to Carrollton. Debbie has assisted in a team approach at PDQ that has helped lead to the success of PDQ. She believes in giving people opportunity and has watched the success of many of the PDQ employees due to the opportunity that PDQ gave them. If someone applies for a position at PDQ, and they are not a good fit, Debbie has gone above and beyond to help them find suitable employment at other companies. People helping people is what PDQ is all about. Good employees and supervisors who really care about their employees, as well as a willingness to work with employees, and offering praise and pride have all collectively helped employees achieve success that they might not have thought possible.

When given the opportunity to teach employees to give back to their respective communities, Debbie is always willing to help owner Phyllis Dible with this rewarding task. During PDQ's 10th anniversary, PDQ led the community in organizing many Trenton businesses and organizations in cleaning all of Trenton's parks. Debbie took a lead role in this event, which led to her leadership role, along with fellow Ambassador Sharon Barnett, to co-chair the annual Community Pride Clean Up which is sponsored by the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce. The cleanup has grown and evolved from a one day event to a whole week of community clean up.

Debbie's community service philosophy is that "everyone should give back and should be proud to be a part of Trenton". She encourages young, emerging leaders in Trenton to get involved. While she gives to her community, she believes that she is rewarded by having a chance to work with other business leaders and to learn from them. In the past, she has learned a great deal from the late Elizabeth Linker, the late Leroy Miller, and the late Joe Ferris while working in the real estate industry. She encourages all leaders to find mentors to help guide them professionally and personally. By finding out what has been successful in the past, Debbie believes that we can learn from those who came before us.

In speaking about her fellow Ambassador members, she states that they are "a wonderful group of professional, business people that I have learned a great deal from." As a group, the Ambassadors, according to Mrs. Carman, "have ambition to get things done".

When asked what inspires her each day, she credits her faith and fellowship from the First Christian Church, as well as her family who has given her support during good times and during bad times. She enjoys motivational books and seminars with her favorite book being "Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. She also enjoyed a Dale Carnegie class that was taught by Dr. Robert Sloan.

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January 2009

Now Hiring - 2009 Census Takers

The U.S. Census Bureau is recruiting temporary part-time census takers for the 2010 Census. The pay is good, the hours are flexible, and the work is close to home. Census taker jobs are excellent for retirees, college students, persons who want to work part-time, persons who are between jobs, or just about anyone who wants to earn extra money while performing an important service for their community. Interested parties should visit this website.

Trenton Magazine Now Online

Visitors can now view our recently published Trenton magazine edition "Home Is Where The Heart Is" online as a PDF. We hope you will enjoy reading through it and finding out something new about Trenton! Click to view the PDF.

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