Columbia Chamber of Commerce

06/12/2026

🎉 BIG night for the Columbia Chamber community! Last night, we gathered in the Elevation Ballroom at the new tower of The Broadway to celebrate the 2025-2026 program year, honor our incredible volunteers, and announce our award winners — followed by a reception and live music by C. Rock City at The Roof. 🎶
And of course, the moment everyone was waiting for — our 2026 award winners! 🏆
🌟 OUTSTANDING CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

Brandi Huebner, The Heist
🌟 COLUMBIA CHAMBER LEGACY AWARD

Vicki Russell, Columbia Daily Tribune
🌟 EMERGING PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Tristan John, First State Community Bank
🌟 DEBIN BENISH OUTSTANDING BUSINESSWOMAN AWARD

Jessica Macy, Partner For Better
🌟 AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR

Amanda Jacobs, Jacobs Property Management

Congratulations to each of these outstanding honorees! Your leadership, dedication, and contributions to our community are truly inspiring. 💙

We also want to recognize outgoing Board Chair Mathew Gass, our Board of Directors, and all committee chairs for their service this past year.

Thank you to our sponsors for making this celebration possible, and to everyone who came out to honor our 2026 winners!

A huge thank you to our sponsors who made this celebration possible: Presenting Sponsor Columbia Housing Authority; Gold Sponsors KOMU 8 & Mid Missouri's CW and Veterans United Home Loans; Silver Sponsor Hitachi Energy; Outstanding Citizen of the Year & Columbia Chamber Legacy Award Video Sponsor Visionworks Marketing Group; Leadership Appreciation Gift Sponsor Centerstone; Print Sponsor Shelter Insurance Companies - Main Office; Award Plaques Sponsor D Sport Graphics; Entertainment Sponsor Moore & Shryock - Real Estate Appraisers; Program Entertainment Sponsor The COMO 411 and Bathroom Sponsor QuesTec Mechanical; Table Sponsors First State Community Bank, City of Columbia, MU Health Care and Simmons Bank

06/09/2026

05/18/2026

🎓✨We are SO proud to shout out one of our absolute favorites — Farheen! ✨🎓

You may know her as our incredible Women's Network Director (because she's been out here running all the things 💪), but behind the scenes she's ALSO been putting in the hard work to earn her Master's in Public Affairs with an emphasis in Nonprofit Management from the University of Missouri! 🐯❤️

Farheen, you have been juggling SO much with so much grace, and we couldn't be more proud to celebrate YOU! Join us in congratulating this amazing woman on her incredible achievement!

05/15/2026

Bring Your Own Coffee, bring a friend, and come connect! ☕
Join us Thursday, May 21 from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at the Columbia Chamber of Commerce for our Chamber BYOC Networking Event. A relaxed, no pressure morning to meet fellow Columbia business owners, share what you are working on, and build real connections.
Members and non-members welcome! Grab your spot here: https://business.comochamber.com/events/details/chamber-byoc-12483?calendarMonth=2026-05-01

05/01/2026

04/28/2026

We're proud to introduce the next finalist for Small Business of the Year 2026… Optimized CFO + Controller Services!

At Optimized CFO & Controller Services LLC, strong financial leadership is at the heart of everything they do. This small but mighty, female-owned firm believes that when organizations have clarity in their finances, the people and communities behind them are stronger for it.

Serving Missouri-based businesses and nonprofits through outsourced accounting, Controller, and CFO services, OCFO delivers tailored financial solutions through a fractional model — giving organizations access to high-level expertise without the full-time price tag. Guided by their core values of clarity, camaraderie, and continuous improvement, they don't just crunch numbers — they partner with clients to optimize operations and move their businesses forward.

This is what it looks like when a business truly invests in the success of those around them.

Big results, smart strategy, and a whole lot of heart — that's OCFO! 💼📈

04/24/2026

We're proud to introduce the next finalist for Small Business of the Year 2026… Partner for Better!

At Partner for Better , strengthening the organizations that make our community thrive is at the heart of everything they do. With a mission rooted in equity and access, this women-owned firm understands that real impact starts with making high-quality support available to nonprofits of every size — right here in downtown Columbia.

Serving nearly 50 nonprofits and funders each year through strategic planning, grant writing, program evaluation, leadership coaching, and training, their results speak for themselves. Since 2022, they have helped local nonprofits secure over $12.5 million in grant funds, completed 14 large-scale evaluations, coached 39+ nonprofit leaders, and trained well over 5,000 nonprofit professionals.

Help us recognize a business that shows up for this community in a big way, each and every day.

When nonprofits are strong, communities are stronger — and Partner for Better is proof of exactly that! 💪🌟

04/22/2026

It's not just Administrative Professionals Day, it's "Monique Day"! 🎉

We truly can't imagine our days without her! Monique has changed us for the better — her presence alone has made our team, our culture, and everything we do so much stronger.

She is an incredible resource, always bringing positivity, warmth, and a smile to everything she touches. Like a rainbow after a storm, Monique has a way of brightening even the toughest days and reminding us why we love what we do. 🌈

Her dedication and support make such a difference every single day, and we are so grateful she's in our corner.

Thank you for everything you do, Monique — we appreciate you more than words can say! 💛

04/21/2026

We're proud to introduce the next finalist for Small Business of the Year 2026… Cooper's Ridge Event Venue !

At Cooper's Ridge, creating unforgettable moments is at the heart of everything they do. With a mission rooted in personalized service, their team understands that real impact starts with turning your vision into a reality — from the very first planning conversation to the last dance of the night.

Nestled on 38 breathtaking acres just 15 minutes outside of Columbia, their industrial modern venue offers a stunning backdrop for weddings, corporate events, and private parties of all kinds. By partnering with a variety of local vendors, they customize every detail — décor, meals, and furnishings — to make each event as unique as the people celebrating it.

Let's get this party started — Cooper's Ridge is ready to make your next event one for the books! 🎉🥂🍾

04/15/2026

We're proud to introduce the next finalist for Small Business of the Year 2026… CoMo Premium Exteriors !

At CoMo Premium Exteriors, craftsmanship is at the heart of everything they do. With a mission rooted in quality and integrity, their team understands that real impact starts with doing the job right — protecting the homes and businesses that families and communities depend on.

Offering roofing, siding, gutters, windows, doors, soffit, fascia, and decks for both residential and commercial properties, they bring over 16 years of expertise to every project across Mid-Missouri. Their approach reminds us that the structures we build aren't just materials and labor — they're shelter, security, and pride of ownership.

Join us in celebrating a business that is making a meaningful difference in our community every single day.

Let's raise the roof for CoMo Premium Exteriors! 🏠