Show-Me MO Success

This episode, host Luke Dietterle speaks with Kim Mildward, project partner in Nodaway County for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative and Missouri Rural Food Access Partnership, and Bill McKelvey, Program and Project Support Coordinator with MU Extension, to discuss Nodaway County's efforts to increase access to healthy, local food. Kim shares how the community has mobilized around food access a...

This episode, host Luke Dietterle speaks with Kaylee Paffrath, President and CEO of the Moberly Area Economic Development Corporation (MAEDC), and Sarah Kennedy, an MU Extension Community Development Field Specialist who works with the Missouri Supporting Early Childhood Administrators (MO-SECA) program, about efforts to improve access to child care in Moberly, Missouri. Together, they explore wha...

This episode, host Luke Dietterle speaks with Dr. Toni Sturdivant, Director of Early Learning at Mid America Regional Council, JeT'aime Taylor, Executive Director of Starting Early in Kansas City, and Elizabeth Ireland, Program Manager for RISE-MO at the Center for Family & Policy Research at the University of Missouri, to discuss child care needs across Missouri and the broader Midwest. Descr...

This episode, host Luke Dietterle speaks with Taylor Clark, Field Specialist in Community Development with MU Extension, and Jamarcus Williams, Superintendent of the Charleston, Missouri School District, to discuss the Neighborhood Leadership Fellows (NLF) program. Taylor Clark describes NLF as an applied civic leadership program designed for those already leading within their organizations who ar...

In this episode, the host, Luke Dietterle, sits down for a chat with Laura Mize, a code enforcer and Neighborhood Specialist with Excelsior Springs Community Development, and David Burton, an MU Extension Field Specialist. This episode explores how Neighboring 101 isn't just for new homeowners. Laura leveraged her connection with her community as a code enforcer to figure out who might benefit fro...

This episode, host Luke Dietterle speaks with Adrienne Ohler, Associate Director of Policy Research for the Financial Research Institute, and Alex Antal, Principal at the Regulatory Assistance Project, to discuss the Regulated Utilities Leadership Institute (RULI). Alex Antal explains the unique business context of regulated utilities and how they differ from other investor-owned firms from a mana...

This episode explores how employers and community members can support individuals who are or have been justice-involved in finding meaningful employment. We discuss the challenges they face, the resilience and skills they bring, and the pathways that help them rebuild their lives while strengthening our communities.

This episode, host Luke Dietterle speaks with Elena Stephenson, field specialist in community development, and Rachelle Gardner-Roe, a fiber artist and poet, following up on our previous episode on the Dorothy Day Cabin almost two years ago! Rachelle Gardner-Roe describes what her experience was like as the inaugural artist in the Dorothy Day Cabin residency program, along with the stories of how...

This episode, host Luke Dietterle speaks with Ashley Beard-Fosnow, Executive Director of the Missouri Humanities in Kansas City, and Matt Pezold, field specialist in labor and workforce development. Ashley Beard-Fosnow describes her current experience with humanities work and how she still uses the lessons from the Labor Studies program in her position, along with the hands-on perspectives she gai...

This episode, host Luke Dietterle speaks with Hillary Green, an immigration paralegal with Lathrop GPM in Kansas City, and Matt Pezold, field specialist in labor and workforce development. Hillary Green describes her experience as a law student balancing full-time work and responsibilities with her studies, and the way that MU Extension’s Labor Studies Certificate program provided courses that fit...

This episode, host Luke Dietterle speaks with Kris Knutson, founder of Shot Bot LLC, and Kris Bockting with Missouri APEX Accelerator. Kris Knutson developed the programming and hardware design of Shot Bot’s mobile targeting system, an advanced system of targets to enhance firearm training for law enforcement. After realizing the potential for this product to serve police training practices, Shot...

In this episode of Show Me MO Success, Luke Dietterle interviews Guy Renshaw of T&C Stainless and Becky Nace from the Mid-America Trade Adjustment Assistance Center (TAAC). TAAC helps businesses in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska compete against foreign imports by improving operations and profitability. Guy’s company, T&C Stainless, manufactures stainless steel tanks for biotech and p...

In this episode of Show Me Mo Success, host Luke Dietterle explores the entrepreneurial journey of Jonathan Johnson and Kellen Grantham, co-owners of Tee Time Entertainment in Webb City, MO and the Missouri Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Missouri Southern State University Director Katie Kelly. The podcast delves into how these young entrepreneurs developed their concept for a climate-...

Join host Luke Dietterle as he chats with Angela Stephens, founder of Re-Focus The Creative Office, and Allen Waldo, a Missouri APEX Accelerator Specialist. Angela shares her journey of creating organizational tools, inspired by her son's struggles with ADHD. The episode highlights Refocus' impressive growth, reaching $500,000 in sales last year, and Angela's collaboration with the Missouri APEX A...

Join Show Me MO Success host Luke Dietterle as he speaks with MU Extension Field Specialist Mistti Ritter and MU Extension Digital Ambassador Steve Glauber as they discuss the impact of MU Extension's Digital Ambassador program in Hillsboro, MO as part of MU Extension's Broadband Initiative.   We discover how Steve's community has benefitted from Steve's knowledge and communication of the Digital...

Join host Luke Dieterle in this episode of Show Me Most Success as we explore the inspiring story of the Missouri Health Back-to-School Community Fair. Featuring guests Carol Boe Thompson and Jeanette Berkley-Patton from UMKC School of Medicine, and Elena Stevenson from MU Extension, we discuss how this collaborative event promotes holistic health and school readiness. Discover how partnerships wi...

Join Show Me MO Success host Luke Dietterle as he discusses the Sermon Anderson mural at the Englewood Arts Center in Independence, Missouri.  The mural is a vibrant tribute to Roger T. Sermon Jr. and Mitch Anderson, two influential figures in the city's history. Spearheaded by Tammy Parsons and Thad McCullough of West End Connection, this project aims to preserve LGBTQ+ history and honor the duo'...

Join host Luke Dietterle as he chats with Ryan Foster, Veteran and graduate of the Military Veteran Training for Sustainable Urban Farming Initiatives. Listen in as they discuss how Ryan became involved with the program and is now applying knowledge gained through the program on his own farm. We also hear from Dr. Juan Cabrera-Garcia, Assistant Research Professor at University of Missouri-Kansas C...

Join host Luke Dietterle as he chats with James Tiffany, Veteran and graduate of Heroes to Hives, a program that seeks to address wellness of veterans through free professional training and community development centered around beekeeping. We also hear from MU Extension Labor and Workforce Development specialist Dr. Amy Patillo on her experience assisting with Heroes to Hives.

Join guest host Mike Quinata as he chats with Bucky Pescaglia, Fayette, MO resident and CEO of the multi-generational company MOPAC Lumber. Listen in as they discuss how Bucky’s family formed MOPAC Lumber over 40 years ago, and how Bucky is now working to pass down the company.   We also hear from Missouri SBDC Business Counselor Paul Zacharias on how he helped Bucky navigate the succession planni...

Join host Luke Dietterle as he chats with MU Extension Labor Studies Certificate graduate Ben Cowell on his journey into the world of labor. We also hear from Doug Swanson, MU Extension Field Specialist in Labor and Workforce Development, on his experience teaching in the Labor Education Program and preparing current and future union leaders. 

Join host Luke Dietterle as he chats with Paige Speers on her journey as a traumatic brain injury survivor, advocate, and founder of Choose Greater Health, a directory that provides resources and support to brain injury survivors and caregivers. Listen in as they discuss how Paige launched Choose Greater Health and continues to advocate for other brain injury survivors.    We also hear from Missou...

Join host Mike Quinata as he chats with Jennifer Bardot, founder, owner, and author of the G.R.I.T. Collection Company about her journey from small business owner to international bestselling author. Listen in as they discuss how Jennifer came up with the G.R.I.T. concept and put it into motion during the pandemic using the very principals that she shares with her audience. Jennifer was the keynot...

Join host Mike Quinata as he chats with Allan Arias on his journey to small business success. Allan moved from Costa Rica to Kansas City and started his own construction company, now the prospering Compass Constructors. We also hear from MU Extension APEX Accelerator procurement specialist Jeff Rosenblatt on how he helped Allan gain momentum in the government marketplace.   

Join host Luke Dietterle as he chats with Raine McDevitt on her journey into the building trade through the St. Louis Missouri Works Initiative’s BUD program. The BUD program is six-week program that serves as a recruitment tool to encourage more minorities and women to get into the union building trades. Raine has found her niche in the building trade and joined Local 18 in January. We also hear...