CEO Roundtable w. Fred Parry

Columbia-based Socket has recapitalized their company and brought in new majority owners to raise money. Socket president Carson Coffman emphasizes that the original shareholders are still owners and are active in the company. The new majority owners are Charlotte-based Pamlico Capital and Oak Hill Capital. Mr. Coffman and Socket Fiber executive chairman Jim Gleason joined host Fred Parry Saturday...

Orant Charities of Africa aims to make sustainable impacts in Malawi by supporting women and communities in programs ranging from health care to water and sanitation to education to the environment. Orant Charities says clean water is scarce in Malawi and they work to bring water to villages there. Orant Charities of Africa founder Michael Tenny, chairman Tom Brennan and board member Lynda Baumgar...

Boone County Presiding Commissioner Kip Kendrick is bullish on Boone County, from the hundreds of millions of dollars being spent on I-70 improvements to the Midway interchange growth to company expansions. Commissioner Kendrick joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable":

UM System President Dr. Mun Choi and the UM Board of Curators say Mizzou's $250-million Memorial Stadium football project will elevate the fan experience. President Choi joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable" program. They discussed Memorial Stadium, the north end zone project and numerous other topics. "When you see the north end zone from the road o...

Columbia College’s new president says his main priority has been listening and learning, since he started on March 1. Dr. Toby Arquette joined Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." Dr. Arquette has started the process of working with faculty, staff, students and the board to co-create the next chapter for Columbia College, which is celebrating its...

While Columbia/Boone County is seeing cranes and construction equipment across town, there is still a lot of poverty. Love Columbia says one in five Columbia residents are living in poverty and struggle to make ends meet. Housing costs are a challenge for many as well. Jane Williams, who co-founded Love Columbia 18 years ago, joined Fred Parry in-studio for the hour on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundta...

A growing company that crafts premium meat snacks has opened a 300,000 square foot production plant in mid-Missouri’s Mexico. Western Smokehouse Partners’ plant is located in the former Soft Surroundings in Mexico. Western Smokehouse Partners chief executive officer Matt Bormann, a Mizzou graduate, joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Mr. Borm...

MU Health Care is the second-largest employer in Columbia/Boone County, according to 2025 statistics from Columbia Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI). MU Health Care chief executive officer Ric Ransom and chief medical officer Ambulatory care Dr. Laura Morris joined Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable”. Mr. Ransom says MU Health Care has abo...

This weekend’s edition of 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” features the 19-year-old owner of a Columbia start-up company called Great Shine Exteriors. Kellan Mugisha’s company cleans windows and gutters, provides power washing and installs Christmas lights. Mugisha joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the program. Parry praises Kellan’s work ethic and the quality of his work. Kellan Mugisha was bo...

Columbia-based Sara Fougere Catering has earned three straight first-place “Best of Columbia” awards from the readers of Zimmer’s “Inside Columbia” magazine. Sara grew up on a cattle farm in western Missouri’s rural Richmond and earned her degree in food science from the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR). Sara Fougere joined host Fred Parry in-stud...

939 the Eagle's Mike Murphy is also the publisher of Comobuz.com. He launched Comobuz three years ago. Mike joined 939 the Eagle's Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on the "CEO Roundtable" program and they tackled numerous topics, including a proposed one percent sales and use tax in Columbia for public safety, the transmission line issue and the recently-approved pedestrian safety ordinance....

Columbia’s first female police chief has focused on recruitment and retention as chief. CPD was more than 40 officers short when Jill Schlude was sworn-in as police chief in December 2023. They currently have about 14 vacancies. Chief Schlude joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable”. One of main issues Fred and the chief discussed was viole...

Boone County’s sheriff is proud of the brand-new $20-million sheriff’s office regional training center. Last weekend’s grand opening celebration drew several hundred people. The 50,000 square feet facility includes a 160-seat training room, a 100-yard indoor gun range, classrooms and a driving simulator. It will also provide classes and specialized training for current and prospective officers and...

“Missouri Independent” deputy editor Rudi Keller is the dean of the Missouri Capitol Press Corps in Jefferson City. The 65-year-old Keller joined host Fred Parry for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. They spoke in-detail about Missouri’s budget, the Chiefs, friction between Republicans and Democrats in the Missouri Senate and about news media coverage of state...

The retired Landmark Bank chairman who has studied economic trends in Columbia/Boone County for 38 years says the decision by Central Bank to go public is a smart move. Former Landmark Bank chairman Jeff MacLellan joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. “What they’ve done is they now have access to capital markets. And for a bank...

A company headquartered in mid-Missouri’s Holts Summit has been named by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the nation for nine straight years. The company is PFS Brands, the parent company of Champs Chicken, Hangar 54 Pizza and Cooper’s Express. Company founder and chief executive officer Shawn Burcham joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday mor...

Columbia-based Impact Support Services describes itself as a leading provider for residents with disabilities in Boone County. They strive to be the best provider in all services offered. Impact Support Services says studies show that workers who have disabilities are more likely to stay in jobs longer, reducing high turnover costs. Impact Support Services executive director Don Lafferty joined ho...

Columbia’s Center for Urban Agriculture (CCUA) is a nonprofit organization that aims to connect people to food, agriculture, farms and gardens. CCUA executive director Billy Polansky joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” CCUA houses the popular Columbia Farmers’ Market building, which holds 100 vendors. Mr. Polansky updated listeners on...

The Columbia Orthopaedic Group (COG) has grown a lot from its humble beginnings in a small house on Broadway in 1965. It is now located 60 years later in an 80,000 square feet facility on Keene. COG surgeon and vice president Dr. Shawn Sahota joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Dr. Sahota emphasizes that the needs of the patient come...

A co-founder of a Columbia-based organization that serves pregnant women and new mothers in need describes itself as a “maternity home on steroids.” St. Raymond’s Society co-founders Mike Hentges and Steve Smith joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable”, along with Super Start preschool director Abby Skiles. Their facility is at the former Ronald McDonal...

The founder of new Columbia start-up company Be There Immersive came to Columbia in 1992 to work for Datastorm Technologies on Lemone Industrial drive. Businessman Eric Margheim joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” to discuss Be There Immersive, which uses virtual reality as a storytelling device. Mr. Margheim grew up in rural Illinois...

A veteran Missouri lawmaker will be in his eighth and final year in the Missouri House in January. State Rep. Dave Griffith (R-Jefferson City) joined hosts Randy Tobler and Stephanie Bell live this morning on 939 the Eagle's "Wake Up Missouri," Rep. Griffith is a longtime Missouri House Veterans Committee chair and tells listeners that he'll be focusing on bills that he hasn't been able to pass in...

939 the Eagle's Mike Murphy of Comobuz reports a major investor fight is impacting Columbia-based EquipmentShare. Murphy reports a former board member is suing, claiming that the Schlacks family made insider deals and pushed him out to keep him quiet. Murphy quotes EquipmentShare as calling the claims bogus. Mike Murphy joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roun...

Job Point in Columbia was founded 60 years in 1965 by the Cosmopolitan Club. It started by helping people with disabilities and began as Advent Enterprises. Job Point president John Scalise joined Fred Parry in-studio for 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." Job Point aims to become Boone County's first public charter school. Mr. Scalise discussed that and Job Point's history on the Roundtable. John...

Historic William Woods University in mid-Missouri’s Fulton has an acting president. Former UPS executive Romaine Seguin worked at UPS for 38 years before retiring in 2021. She graduated from what was then William Woods College, earning a full scholarship and pitching on the softball team. The acting president joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Ro...