The SandWitch
Downtown Columbia got another new eatery Aug. 27 when the SandWitch opened inside Eastside Tavern on Broadway. The horror film-themed sandwich shop is the brainchild of entrepreneur Sage Izadi. Sandwich names fit the scene, with options such as the Texas Chainsaw Massacre or the Scarface, the SandWitch’s take on a classic Cuban.
Student Hackathon
The University of Missouri hosted its second annual Hackathon Oct. 3 to 5. During the weekend, teams of students worked on websites, mobile applications and hardware hacks.
Best Places to Work
Missouri Business and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2014 Best Places to Work Conference Oct. 23. The conference featured presentations from top executives on employee retention and creating a positive work environment. The 2014 winners of the Best Place to Work Award were also presented. This year’s recipients included Onshore Outsourcing, Veterans United and Big Cedar Lodge.
Startup Weekend
Columbia’s annual Startup Weekend came to a close Oct. 5, and the top three teams were selected. Startup Weekend, which gives entrepreneurs the chance to pitch business ideas in front of judges, awarded cash prizes of $500 to $2,000. This year’s winners were Equipment Share, Ombiance Yoga Mats and The Wandering Turtle.
Scoutandnimble.com
Scoutandnimble.com launched nationally on Oct. 20. The website, which Columbia resident and founder Jesse Bodine describes as “the Etsy of designer rooms,” provides a creative space for interior designers to arrange mock rooms and allows customers to buy pieces featured in the designs directly from the site.
MU Hospital’s Stroke Program
MU Hospital’s Stroke Program received two national honors from the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association. It received the Stroke Gold Plus Achievement Award and the Target: Stroke Honor Roll Award.
Entrepreneurial Teaching Lab
A new entrepreneurial teaching lab has opened in the Agricultural Engineering building at MU. The Archer Daniels Midland Center for Agricultural Development provides students with hands-on opportunities to brainstorm solutions to problems facing the agriculture industry. Students develop a timeline and budget to manage their solutions, and faculty act as advisers and coaches. The lab was made possible by a $1 million gift from Archer Daniels Midland Co., one of the world’s leading agricultural processors. The teaching lab is part of the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.
Smoothie King
The smoothie franchise Smoothie King signed a five-store development agreement for Missouri with franchisee Jackie Floyd. Over the next few years, Smoothie Kings will be opening in west Columbia, east Columbia, downtown and Jefferson City.
Stoney Creek’s 20th
Stoney Creek Inn, which will now be known as Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center, celebrated it’s 20th anniversary with a company rebrand. The company’s logo, signage and marketing materials were changed to show the urban influence of the chain’s 14 property locations.
MU Health Care and Columbia Surgical Associates
Effective Jan. 1, 2015, Columbia Surgical Associates and the MU Health System will affiliate in an effort to expand health care options to patients across central Missouri.
WVEN
MU professor Tammy Jones has co-founded an organization, the Women’s Viticulture and Enology Network, to improve representation among women in the grape and wine industry. The program pairs female research students from across the country with researchers in their corresponding field.
Stephens College Grad Programs
Stephens College introduced two new graduate degree programs, a Master of Physician Assistant and a Master of Fine Arts in Television and Screenwriting. The physician assistant degree will be in collaboration with local health care facilities, and the Master of Fine Arts degree will include 10 days of classes each semester at Jim Henson Studios in Los Angeles.
MidwayUSA
MidwayUSA received the 2014 Bizrate Circle of Excellence Award in recognition of its online customer experiences. Midway was one of 140 companies out of 6,000 evaluated to receive the award.
35th Campus
Columbia College’s 35th campus will open January 2015 in Mesquite, Texas. The newest location will be inside the workforce and continuing education building on the Eastfield College campus.
MU Researcher receives $1 million from CDC
MU researcher Leigh Tenkku Lepper received more than $1 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to enhance prevention efforts for fetal alcohol syndrome.
Donald W. Reynolds Institute
With the Donald W. Reynolds Institute’s latest gift of $10 million to the MU School of Journalism, the foundation became the university’s first $100 million donor.
