CEO Roundtable w. Fred Parry

A May 30, 2024 memo from Columbia Utilities director David Sorrell to city manager De’Carlon Seewood recommends proceeding with building a new transmission line connecting the Persche Creek and Grindstone substations along a path that follows Scott Boulevard, Vawter School road, Nifong and Grindstone Parkway. Columbia voters approved a $63-million bond issue to finance the project in April 2015, b...

Love Columbia says one in five Columbia residents live in poverty and that many others struggle to make ends meet and find livable wage jobs. The nonprofit organization says there is not enough affordable rental housing here, adding that few income-based public housing units have been built in the city in the past 45 years. The group also says increases in wages have not kept pace with the cost of...

The Columbia Housing Authority (CHA) was founded in 1956. Its mission is to provide safe, healthy and affordable housing to low-income Columbia/Boone County residents and families. That includes vulnerable residents. It also includes elderly residents who live at Oak Towers and elsewhere. Columbia Housing Authority chief executive officer Randy Cole joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour th...

Columbia’s municipal elections are less than three months away. Columbia mayor Barbara Buffaloe is seeking a second term in April and has at least two challengers: businessman Blair “Murph” Murphy and Mizzou journalism instructor Tanya Heath. Ms. Heath also ran in 2022. Mr. Murphy co-owns Johnston Paint and Decorating on Buttonwood. Comobuz publisher Mike Murphy, who also anchors afternoon newscas...

The former chairman of Columbia’s Landmark Bank says Columbia’s economy is much more diversified in late 2024 than it was when he moved to town in 1987. Former Landmark Bank chairman Jeff MacLellan says Columbia’s three economic pillars used to be education, healthcare and insurance. He joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable" program, telling listeners tha...

An increased emphasis on public safety and a renewed focus on the pension plan are top priorities for the Columbia Police Officers Association (CPOA). CPOA president Matt Nichols joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. Mr. Nichols describes CPOA as the voice for the men and women who serve the Columbia Police Department, who decid...

The retiring Columbia Public Schools (CPS) superintendent will be paid regularly on his $261,000 annual salary through December 31 and then will receive a lump sum payment of $667,000 in January. 939 the Eagle's Mike Murphy, who publishes Comobuz, broke that story in late November. He joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." Mr. Murphy out...

Columbia businessman Ryan Kreuger has sold men's clothing at Bingham's downtown and has managed two AT&T stores for Mid-American Wireless. Today, Mr. Kreuger owns RTK Properties and also helped start Boulevard Realty. RTK Properties is a property management company. Mr. Kreuger joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable" program. They discussed in-det...

Caring Hearts and Hands of Columbia is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to taking care of people at the end of their life. Nurse Jackie Reed and Deb Portell of Caring Hearts and Hands of Columbia joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable" program. Ms. Reed tells listeners that their home "basically takes the place of a person’s...

Missouri's winningest coach in any sport is longtime Mizzou wrestling coach Brian Smith, who’s written a brand-new book that will be released on Monday. Coach Smith has led his team to a 334-120-3 record in 27 years of coaching. His book called “Tiger Style” comes out tomorrow morning, and he’ll be signing books Monday evening from 5-7 pm at Memorial Stadium’s Columns club, which is on the east si...

An organization that serves pregnant women and new mothers in need is in its new location at the former Ronald McDonald House near Keene in Columbia. St. Raymond’s Society co-founder Mike Hentges and chief programming officer Shauna Balk joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable" program. Mr. Hentges tells listeners that their vision is to save lives...

Columbia/Boone County voters head to the polls on Tuesday to cast ballots in November's general election. No-excuse absentee voting in Boone County has been heavy. More than 19,000 voters had already cast ballots as of Friday morning, according to Boone County clerk Brianna Lennon. We're waiting for updated numbers from Friday and Saturday. 939 the Eagle's Mike Murphy, who publishes Comobuz.com, j...

Boone County’s longtime sheriff is hoping voters statewide approve Amendment 6 next week. Sheriff Dwayne Carey joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour this weekend on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable.” Sheriff Carey tells listeners that Amendment 6 would correct a recent Missouri Supreme Court decision that overturned a $3 fee that's been in place since 1983. Sheriff Carey addressed critics w...

Columbia’s CALE school on West Nifong was founded by Dr. Susan Deakins and Dr. Jill Brown three years ago, starting with ten students. Dr. Deakins and Dr. Brown joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. They say the school now has 81 students, because parents know there is a need. CALE is officially called Columbia Academy for Learning and Enric...

Columbia-based Shelter Insurance is the seventh-largest employer in Columbia/Boone County, according to 2024 statistics from Columbia Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI). REDI says Shelter has 1,382 employees here. Shelter's new president is a familiar name in mid-Missouri: Rockne Corbin. Mr. Corbin joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CE...

State Rep. Doug Mann (D-Columbia) is not seeking re-election in November. Representative Mann was elected to the Missouri House in 2022 and is wrapping up his first term in Jefferson City. Democrat Gregg Bush, a nurse who ran for Columbia's city council last year, faces Republican John Lane in November. Mr. Lane owned Johnny's Beanery in Columbia and is a former Missouri Restaurant Association pre...

Columbia Regional Airport (COU) manager Michael Parks remains optimistic about twice-daily service between COU and Charlotte. Mr. Parks and Columbia Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI) vice president Bernie Andrews joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable." Mr. Parks tells listeners that the grant from the U-S Department of Transportation i...

Columbia-based Socket Internet is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Socket was founded in 1994 and moved its headquarters to its "new" location on Columbia's Clark Lane in 2007. Socket’s network operations center operates an extensive network throughout Missouri, featuring redundant connections to the internet from both Kansas City and St. Louis. Socket serves hundreds of cities, including Columbi...

Columbia residents have noticed the increase in homelessness in the city, especially near the I-70 exits and in the downtown area. 939 the Eagle’s Fred Parry, a former Boone County commissioner who hosts the “CEO Roundtable” on 939 the Eagle, says churches and their congregations are carrying a large part of Columbia’s social services burden, including helping the homeless. Mr. Parry’s guest on Sa...

Retiring Stephens College president Dianne Lynch is in her 16th and final year as president of the nation’s second-oldest college. Stephens College was founded in Columbia in 1833 and has a rich 190-year history. President Lynch joined host Fred Parry in-studio this weekend on 939 the Eagle’s “CEO Roundtable” program. Stephens has welcomed its largest undergraduate class in a decade, with its fall...

Columbia-based Crockett Engineering Consultants was founded by Bill Crockett 39 years ago in 1985. It's provided clients with civil engineering and land surveying for projects of all sizes during that timeframe. Crockett promises the ability to deliver and the ability to make it easy. Crockett started small in 1985 with an office on I-70 Drive, across from Columbia's Cosmo Park. Today, they are li...

Mike Murphy and Al Germond on Columbia Buzz

UM System President Dr. Mun Choi is in his eighth year as system president, and in his fifth year as Mizzou's chancellor. It's no secret that other universities have tried to recruit him for his success at Mizzou. President Choi joined host Fred Parry in-studio for the hour Saturday on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable," and they addressed the issue during the one-hour interview. President Choi tell...

2024 statistics from Columbia Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI) show that Midway USA is one of the top 25 largest employers in Columbia/Boone County. Midway USA founder Larry Potterfield joined host Fred Parry in-studio Saturday morning on 939 the Eagle's "CEO Roundtable" program. Mr. Potterfield tells listeners that they currently have 360 employees. He describes his company as s...

Two familiar names in mid-Missouri, Larry Atterberry Sr. and his wife Judy, founded Atterberry Auction & Realty Company 54 years ago, in 1970. Tim and Crystal Elliott of Columbia purchased Atterberry Auction & Realty Company in 2019 and the company continues to grow across mid-Missouri. They broke ground for their new headquarters earlier this year. Tim Elliott joined host Fred Parry in-studio for...