Kicking our May's chamber business of the month by introducing everyone to Discovery Youth Center! They opened in 2005 and are still operating under the current ownership. At this time they employ 22 staff members which include teachers and support staff. They currently provide a safe, learning environment for 100 kids with a max capacity of 150. Stayed tuned all month while we learn more about the day care & learning center!
When we spoke with Discovery Youth Center we asked how did Covid affect their business? During Covid times they never laid off any staff! They were able to meet the states requirements and remain open which allowed essential workers to drop off their kids. Grant money and PPE loans helped fill the gaps to keep staff employed. In 2022 they updated the playground using money gained from a back to business state grant. The new playground is more modern and it has improved safety features. Over the years they have received benches donated by Ultra Site.
Red Bud Veterinary Service has been selected as the April chamber business of the month. What a perfect time to select them as it’s pet first aid awareness month! In 2019 Dr. Ryan Jacob and Dr. Shannon Melliere purchased the clinic from Dr. Church who was the long time owner of the practice. Dr. Shannon currently operates as a silent partner as she also owns and operates an office in Waterloo. With Dr. Ryan being the main doctor at the practice they recently hired Dr. Fuller to help treat furry patients.
They primarily work with small animals, and occasionally get some exotic animals in the clinic. The clinic does offer “urgent care” situations in the event your animal becomes ill or injured. Otherwise, they mainly operate based on scheduled visits. Their main focus is on regular checkups, preventative care, dermatology and Dr. Ryan specializes in orthopedic services. Their beliefs are to have great communication with their clients, keep them up to date with the condition of their animal, keep the animals comfortable and happy! Here is a recent post they shared on how to help your animals during storms. ⛈ Does your dog have a storm or other noise phobia? We can help with that. If you need something to help your pet get through these stressful situations, give us a call to find out what we can do to help!
Another fantastic service that Red Bud Veterinary provides is outside of Red Bud. They provide clinical services to shelters and animal control departments throughout the metro east. They typically will pickup the animal that needs help, bring them back to the Red Bud clinic and preform the services required. By doing this the animal can then be put up for adoption and essentially given a second life!
Saturday night we had the privilege of awarding our 2023 Citizen of the year. This year’s recipient is not one but two. Kalin and Kathy Liefer. Here is a short excerpt from their nomination: I have asked both, “why more?”, and both respond without hesitation; “because it makes the town better”. It’s that attitude that had has kept their focus on continuing to grow their company from 30 team members to now nearly 200, while prioritizing that the jobs remain local. This emphasis on continuing to hire from within the community and surrounding areas has allowed nearly 800 team members to work and support themselves and their families throughout the years. Kalin and Kathy have been and will continue to be selfless in their servitude towards to the town and the members of it, in an effort to reach their ultimate goal to make Red Bud better. We thank Kalin and Kathy for all the have done and will do to make Red Bud such a wonderful community.
Our March “Chamber Business of the Month” is Hi-Way Motors!
Hi-Way is a third generation, locally owned, car dealership & service shop. Hi-Way has been in business since 1954! Now owned and operated by Jared Horrell. Jared & his team of 9 are a staple in the community & offer great service to all.
When sitting down with Jared and getting a better understanding of his business, what really jumped off the page to us was the tenured staff. Not only has Jared been with Hi-Way since 2008, but the nucleus of his team has been together for many years. One being his Service Manager Todd & sales manager Dustin, who’s both been with him since 2016. While many businesses are struggling to attract and retain employees, Jared has created an enjoyable culture that exceeds expectations.
We asked Jared many questions, one being “why do people buy from Hi-Way?”. In short, Jared said that people buy from them because they are car dealers, not salesmen. There process is very informal. He & his staff are knowledgeable and try and give his customers enjoyable experiences. One of his favorite things to hear once the purchasing process is done from a customer is “is that it?” He wants the customer experience from start to finish to be painless and enjoyable.
To continue our highlight of Hi Way Motors, we wanted to feature more about what they do & how they do it. They aren’t your typical used car delearship. All throughout the year, they have not only newer vehicles, but also premium versions of those vehicles. You’ll see plenty of Rough Country accessories on their vehicles plus brand new wheels and tires. Regardless of year, make, or model, they all have two things in common: they all go through the mandatory 131 point inspection in shop, and they are all CLEAN! Jared & the team take a lot of pride in both.
When it comes to their mechanic shop, they spend a lot of time tuning up their own vehicles, but they also offer all their services to the community. So when you’re in need of vehicle repairs or maintenance, please keep Hi Way in mind.
Lastly, Jared was happy to explain how business has changed for him over the last few years. Years ago, listings on Craigslist were a huge source of marketing. Craigslist basically got replaced by auto trader. And believe it or not, Facebook marketplace has become a popular spot to drive business!
As we know, Hi-Way is a third generation business that represents Red Bud in all the best ways. They treat every person who walks on the lot as family. They follow through with what they promise. They invest in their staff & business to find ways to keep evolving. They really are the type of business that makes our Town great.
So thank you to Jared, his family, and the Team at Hi-Way for allowing us to peel back the curtain and better understand who you are.
Our first Business of the Month is none other than IGA!
First things first- What’s IGA stand for? Independent Grocers Alliance!
The newest ownership has owned the business for 27 years and are happy to serve the community.
One of the first questions we asked Bryon was “what do you love about the community of Red Bud?” In summary, Byron talked about all the families coming in throughout the years & seeing kids grow up and become adults and still shopping at IGA. He and the rest of the seasoned staff have enjoyed watching the community continuously support their business.
In our last post, we asked “what’s the biggest seller” , and Milk was the correct answer!
In our conversation with Byron, we asked about what struggles they are facing with all of the rapid changes, and he said supply chains issues were the biggest problem. Luckily for them, staffing has been great. But the supply issues in regards to inventory is the biggest hiccup. So if you go to IGA and they are missing Brooks Chili Beans, it’s not from a lack of effort from the staff. They just can’t get them! Byron mentioned that product in particular was tough to find. But all in all, it’s hard for them to predict what will be available & what won’t, but he appcreaties the community being so patient with them.
On another note- we asked Byron “what changes in the industry over the years were most surprising?”. He answered with- The amount of Products we get over the years have been crazy. Before they had the regular groceries, and over the years they have expanded the line of products. One thing in particular that was surprising to Byron was bottled water. He remember when it first hit the shelves and he thought to himself, no way people will buy this stuff. As we all know, it’s now become a household fixture.
We normally award Citizen of the Year at our annual dinner, but due to the pandemic we were unable to have our dinner. With the help of his family we were able to surprise 2021’s recipient. This years Citizen of the Year is Alan Mueth. His devotion to the history and community is unsurpassed by any. From all of us at the chamber and the community, Congratulations on a well deserved award!
Pictured is Chamber President Twyla Schulte and the 2019 Citizen of Acheivement Award, Jerry Moll
Jerry Moll and his Family
Jerry Moll with past award recipients! What a great group of people!
