Nicholas Rummell

Source List:  Business and Economy

Reporting 306

LOCAL:

ADD 3M
Chamber of Commerce, Columbia — 874-1132, 300 South Providence Road

Contacts:  Greg Steinhoff (President/CEO, Option Care, Chair of the Board of Directors, 2001-2002)

                   Lynda Baumgartner (Chair-Elect)

                   Al Plummer (Community Affairs Division Director)

The Chamber is a nonprofit organization with 1,500+ members who are members of the Columbia business community.  Can offer insight into small and big business of Columbia.

Shelter Mutual Insurance — 445-8441, 1817 Broadway Street

Major insurance company in Columbia, also very big nationally.

MU School of Business — 882-6272 (Finance), 882-6556 (Management), 882-3282 (Marketing), 882-4463 (Accountancy)

Contacts:  Dr. Thomas Dougherty (Professor and Management Chair) 882-4412

                   Dr. Steve Ferris (Professor and Finance Chair) 882-9905

                   Dr. Lisa Scheer (Professor and Marketing Chair) 882-4829

                   Dr. Earl Wilson (Professor and Accountancy Director) 882-3225

City of Columbia Economic Development — 442-8303, 300 South Providence Road

STATE:

Associated Industries of Missouri — 634-2240 (phone), 634-4406 (fax), Jefferson City

Contacts:  Jim Kistler (Director of Industrial Relations)

AIM is the self proclaimed “voice of over 1,500 small and large businesses” throughout Missouri.  They act as a sort of lobbyist, influencing legislation (they are based in the capital).  AIM was also involved in a Supreme Court case in 1994 concerning Missouri’s “additional use tax,” which imposes taxes to compensate for money lost between interstate commerce.

AIM is also affiliated with Missouri Business United (MoBiz), a political action organization, dedicated to electing candidates to the House and Senate who want to make Missouri better for business.

Missouri Department of Economic Development — 751-4962

Contacts:  Joe Driskill (Director)

MoDED is great to get the state’s official position on economic issues, as well as official statistics on Missouri’s revenues and general economic well-being.

Missouri Department of Insurance — 751-4126

Contacts:  Scott Lakin (Director)

                   Randy McConnell (Public Information Officer)  751-1165

MoDOI can help with issues concerning insurance, both business and governmental (which can both have large bearings on business and economy…just take the World Trade Center disaster and the effects on the insurance industry, and therefore essential parts of Missouri’s economy).

Missouri Department of Revenue — 751-3930

Contacts:  Carol Fischer (Director) 751-4450

MoDOR can assist you with questions concerning taxation, as well as revenues collected.

Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations — 751-4091

Contacts: 

MoDLIR can help with issues concerning employee security, collective bargaining, business mediation and workers compensation.  Also has info/links on workplace safety and health regulation.

Missouri State Public Interest Research Group — (314) 454-9560, St. Louis

Local chapter of the national business watchdog group.  Focuses on environmental and consumer protection.  Decidedly left-wing, it also advocates for getting Big Business money out of politics.

NATIONAL:

U.S. Chamber of Commerce — (202) 659-6000

South Central Regional Office — (405) 350-1075

Contacts:  Brett Hamm (Executive Director, South Central Office, located in Oklahoma)

U.S. Department of Commerce — (202) 482-4883

Contacts:  Verna Learnard (Bureau of Economic Analysis) (202) 606-9900

Good for checking on GDP, GNP and national assets.  Can also check on economic statistics by state.

Better Business Bureau — (703) 276-0100, Arlington, Virginia

BBB of East Missouri and Illinois — (314) 645-3300, St. Louis

Check out the histories of companies and businesses, or follow up on binding arbitration in collective bargaining cases. 

National Federation of Independent Businesses — 1-800-NFIB-NOW

Contacts:  Mindi Boyagian (Director Media Communications)  (202) 554-9000

                   Brad Jones (local lobbyist)  634-7660

Get the scoop about what the NFIB wants from statewide and national legislation concerning small and independent businesses.  Considered the most influential national advocacy group for businesses, with over 600,000 members nationally.

Federal Trade Commission — (202) 326-2222

Midwest Region — Chicago

Contacts:  C. Stephen Baker (Director) (877) 382-4357

The FTC deals with antitrust law, consumer protection and puts out monthly reports on economic issues facing the country.