Beauty

Three Businesses, One Beautiful Vision

From salon chairs to wedding aisles, Kaylee Concannon has built a collection of businesses centered on making women feel their absolute best. Article by Shea Sullivan Kaylee Concannon has always been a dreamer, noticing little details and finding reasons to romanticize everyday life. A wife and mother of two, she has also always loved beauty. She initially studied marketing, but a college biology class brought sudden clarity. “It hit me like a brick that cosmetology was the avenue I was meant...

Style + Beauty

Beautiful Moments Begin with Betz

A Columbia family tradition designed to honor every meaningful moment. Article by Shea Sullivan | Photography by Sarah Jane Photography In the heart of downtown Columbia, a visit to Betz Jewelers feels less like stepping into a traditional fine jewelry store and more like being welcomed by family. That feeling is intentional. For four generations, the Betz family has built its business around personal relationships, expert craftsmanship and the privilege of helping customers mark the moments...

Style + Beauty

A Healthier Kind of Glow

Bringing a customized, natural-looking glow to clients wherever they are Article by Shea Sullivan | Photography by Sarah Jane Photography For more than 20 years, Jacque Truesdell has cared for others as a registered nurse. When she began learning more about the long-term effects of sun exposure, her love of a sun-kissed look inspired a new way to help people feel their best. She launched Golden Glow by Jacque , a mobile spray tanning business centered on confidence, convenience and skin...

Arts + Culture

Where Handmade Still Matters

For more than 40 years, Bluestem has connected shoppers, local artists and meaningful handmade craftsmanship. Article by Shea Sullivan In downtown Columbia, Bluestem Missouri Crafts is the kind of place where a hand-thrown mug, a carved wooden bowl and a pair of handcrafted earrings each come with a story worth keeping. That story began in October 1983, when five artists—Sandy Litechy, Mary Benjamin, Marilyn Verner, Sue Luger and Cindy Messer—shared a dream of creating a place where...

Life + Culture

Unchained at Last

Giving neglected dogs the freedom every family companion deserves. Article by Shea Sullivan For many dogs, freedom is something most of us never think twice about. It's chasing a tennis ball across the backyard. Curling up on the couch after a long walk. Greeting their family at the front door with an excited tail wag. But for far too many dogs, life has looked very different. When Melody Whitworth moved from South Florida to Missouri, she was shocked by what she saw. Neighborhood after...

Life + Culture

Raising Kids Intentionally

A business runs on mission, vision, and values. So should the most important organization you'll ever lead. Article by Julia Myers The strongest influence on a child usually comes from family. I grew up eating PB&Js in the parking lot of Six Flags, because I'd logged 600 minutes of summer reading to earn the ticket inside. I knew my parents valued two things: reading, and affordable fun we could share as a family. What I didn't know then was that they were teaching me with their actions as...

Travel

The School House

A Historic Stay in Rocheport Where Missouri's Past and Present Meet Article by Shea Sullivan | Photography by The School House The bell that once called students to class now greets visitors arriving at the School House in Rocheport. More than a century after it first opened as a school, the historic building continues welcoming guests, offering a stay rooted in Missouri history, hospitality, and small-town charm. For Andy and Chandrika Hickman the School House wasn't part of a long-term...

Arts + Culture

ART Off the Trail

Where visitors experience the creative process behind Gloria Gaus' landscape paintings. Article by Shea Sullivan | Photography by Sarah Jane Photography On weekends in Rocheport, Missouri, visitors biking the Katy Trail or exploring the historic river town often find Gloria Gaus at work. Sometimes she's at the easel, working on a landscape painting. Other times she's organizing the gallery, greeting visitors, or talking with travelers about the favorite places they've explored. In fact, some...

Professional Services

Built to Last

A man cave project reveals Burns’ approach to building spaces people love Article by Shea Sullivan | Photography by Sarah Jane Photography In Columbia’s tight-knit community, trust is built through relationships, consistency, and quality work. For Garrett Burns, founder of Built By Burns, that foundation was first forged alongside his father on job sites that still stand strong today and strengthened through 10 years at Shindler Homes alongside mentor Phillip Shindler. Now building his own...

Health + Wellness

Men's Health Crisis: A Different Approach

A conversation with Dr. Jeremy Maxwell, Chiropractor, The Wellness Way–Columbia Article by Dr. Jeremy Maxwell | Photography by Sarah Jane Photography Stop Waiting Until You Break Most men don’t wake up one day and suddenly fall apart. It’s gradual. Subtle. Easy to ignore. You start waking up more tired. You don’t recover like you used to. The weight creeps up. Your drive mentally, physically, even in your relationships starts to fade. But you push through. You tell yourself it’s normal...