A Conversation With ... Suzy McElmurry

The chamber has approximately 260 members, primarily businesses, and then we do have a few individuals. We have members from (Monett) and 14 other cities in the surrounding area. The chamber is 60 years old, incorporated in 1946. I am in my sixth year here.

What’s the chamber’s role in helping to bring business to Monett?

The best way that you can have commerce is to grow existing businesses and industry. We always welcome new members or businesses to our community, and do whatever we can to help them establish their business in Monett. We work with the city and with a group of businessmen when we have prospects that come in.

But your focus is on helping to grow existing businesses – how do you do that?

We try to stay in close contact with our members. We have an industry council. All of the industries meet and we discuss things that are important to them, everything from work force to health care … what they need to grow. With our small businesses, we have a monthly function. One month, we’ll have a breakfast, Monett Morning, and then the next month, we’ll have a Dutch-treat luncheon, and at the luncheons, we focus on specific things that will assist our small-business members.

What makes Monett a good place to do business?

We have a large, steady industry base. We have one of the best airports in the state of Missouri, and that allows corporate jets to fly in and out. Monett’s airport is the fifth-busiest in terms of landings and takeoffs, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation. Many of our industries have their own jets that they fly in and out. There are seven new housing developments in process now. Lowe’s opened in March, and there are two new strip malls going in. Population is between 7,500 and 8,000, but … there are more than 12,000 jobs.

What are some of the key businesses in Monett?

EFCO, a window manufacturer, which is in the process of expanding and adding 200 employees; Miracle Recreation, which is a playground equipment manufacturer; Tyson; Jack Henry & Associates; Hydro Aluminum of North America; Schreiber, just to mention a few. There are many smaller manufacturers and businesses, machine shops. Some things that it would probably surprise you to know are made in Monett include golf cart frames, small animal cages, metal cabinets for tools for oil companies in the Middle East, stock ingredients – International Dehydrated Foods is here – for bouillon, soups and gravies. Airplane engine parts – there’s a wide gamut of products and supplies.

With all of that activity, are there issues with finding an adequate work force?

There are some, and that is something that the chamber is really focusing on right now, helping to develop a future work force. We’re working very closely with our high school career center. The industries are having tours for counselors and teachers to let them see what types of jobs are available in Monett, and we’re trying to emphasize the benefits … of working here. Interestingly enough, we have a large work force that drives into Monett. We have people coming from Ozark and Springfield and Joplin.

What other goals is the Monett chamber pursuing?

We are in the process of developing a leadership program that I think will be a great benefit to our members and to our community. We’ve met with the Springfield chamber and the Joplin chamber. We want to look at successful programs. We are looking at ways to incorporate cultural commerce. We have a lot of Hispanic businesses in Monett, and we are working to be inclusive. Our membership application has now been translated into Spanish. The biggest project we have going on right now is that we are building a new chamber of commerce building. When I say ‘we,’ it really is the community. The land was donated, dollars have been donated, brick, roofing. It’s on the premise that it will actually cost very little money if everyone gives a little bit.

The other thing that we are working on that is important to this community is transportation and good highway systems. We work closely with MoDOT and have been successful in being able to get some roads expanded. We have a tremendous amount of truck traffic that comes through Monett, and I think that that will become an issue if it’s not planned carefully, and we are looking at that.[[In-content Ad]]