Monroe County Forum to Feature Area Success Stories

Representatives from four area businesses will share their insights into not only surviving in this economy, but on improving and expanding their businesses at the Monroe County Economic Development Council's Annual Forum on Wednesday, February 16th.

Columbia Centre and Mokka Kaffeehaus, both of Columbia, are sponsors for the Forum.

Serving on the panel are:

• Steve Carter, Principal, Knight Hawk Coal;
• Jared Nobbe, Sales Manager, Wm. Nobbe & Co.;
• Mary Kay Prader, Owner and Executive Director, Lighthouse Child Care Centers;
• Bill Rebholz, Executive Director, Monroe County Surgical Center

The panel will be moderated by Bob Lewis, President/Principal for Development Strategies, Inc., a St. Louis company that specializes in economic research and planning.

These four companies share in common the ability to be adaptable, to focus on customer needs, and remain stable and even grow at a time when other companies are struggling.

For example:

• Monroe County Surgical Center recently broke ground on a new out-patient surgical center, scheduled to open later this year.
• Knight Hawk Coal has grown from 15 employees to 350 and dramatically increased its coal extraction.
• Wm. Nobbe has increased their Professional Landscape Contractor business over the last several years by partnering with John Deere Landscapes Company.
• Lighthouse Child Care Centers have steadily added new locations and new types of services to their portfolio.

Forum attendees will have a chance to ask questions of the panelists after the moderated part of the program.

The event will be held at The Falls Reception & Conference Center in Columbia. Doors open at 7 a.m. and the event will conclude around 9 a.m. Seating for the Forum is limited, so advanced registration is requested by February 11th. Registration cost (including breakfast) is $20 per person, either through the University of Illinois Extension website or by phone at (618) 939-3434.